Rita Stella Galieh – Insight

Rather than offer Rita Galieh a standard interview, I asked her to share part of her life with us – either a story about how she met her husband, her testimony of faith, or a story of heritage from her family’s past.  Rita offered to share about her faith.

RitaPicI became a genuine follower of Jesus in my first year at Art School. When I first met my husband at a Youth For Christ meeting, he challenged me by asking did I use my gifts for God. I hadn’t ever thought to as I wasn’t good missionary material, but decided if the Lord could use them I would.

Our God is a wonderfully creative Being. And I feel privileged to use my gifts in His service, writing my own songs and drawing while my husband preaches. I love writing historical novels around the Victorian era, its customs intrigue me. Despite these differences,  people still struggle over the same temptations, conflicts and yearnings to find true love. So through the lives of my characters, I can weave God’s loving forgiveness and promise of salvation to all who follow His Son, Jesus.

In my first Australian novel, Fire in the Rock, I delved into my Jewish roots for my heroine.

Last week I reviewed Rita’s book, Signed Sealed Delivered. You can read it here. Rita, what are you working on now?

 Right now I’m polishing Books II and III in my trilogy, with Book I already published as Signed Sealed Delivered.

Thanks for joining me on my blog, Rita. For more information about Rita and her books, go to http://www.ritastellagalieh.com/.

Signed Sealed Delivered – Rita Stella Galieh

From the Back Cover:

S S & D cover enhancedHow could she believe in her future when she couldn’t escape her past?

Book I of the Watermark Women Trilogy is the story of Megan Trevallyn, a young English governess who stands accused of a heinous crime.

 The cast of characters whose lives entwine with Megan’s destiny is as follows:  Cornelia Cantrell, the scheming mistress of the Mayfair mansion; Captain Charles Cantrell, her love; Lieutenant John Stafford, her nemesis; Ezra Montefiore, an ardent suitor. And her Christian mentor, Caroline Chisholm, the bane of all who practice excessive adherence to rules and regulations in the new colony.

Journey with her as her heart is broken by a traumatic fraudulent report. Megan will encounter duplicity by those of her household who stand to gain most by her transportation to a harsh penal colony in Australia.

Stripped of everything except her faith, upon her arrival will she survive the daunting challenge she faces? And will this be a land of promise…or perdition?

Amanda’s Review:

As a lover of historicals, particularly Australian historicals, I had to read this novel. And Rita Galieh didn’t disappoint. Signed Sealed Delivered really brought out the hardships that serving women faced in the 1800s. Without money or title, Megan Trevallyn has difficulty proving her word against those who would seek to ruin her life. Therefore, she ends up being transported to Australia in a sad case of injustice. We follow Megan as she tries to live with what has happened to her, and maintain her faith in God in the midst of her troubles.

This novel held my interest from the beginning. One thing after another happens to this poor girl and I had to keep turning the pages to see if any good would come of it all. The pace kept me turning pages right through to the dramatic climax of the story and to its satisfaction. The only thing I would say is I would have liked to see more of Megan’s internal struggle with what had happened to her as I felt this deeper side of the story was glossed over at times.

If you love historical novels with a fast paced story line and plenty of tension, Signed Sealed Delivered is for you.

About the Author:

RitaPicPassionate about faith-based fiction, Rita focuses on the Victorian era with all its undercurrents. With two novels released by a traditional Australian publisher and several US Cup of Comfort anthologies, she blogs weekly at http://inspirationalromance.blogspot.com.au with nearly 1000 hits per month.

She studied art at the Sydney National Art School and now enjoys painting pictures with words. A graduate of Emmaus Bible College, together with her evangelist/violinist husband, George, she writes scripts and is a co-speaker on a Christian radio program broadcast Australia-wide. And each year she and George combine art and music with a message for a month of ministry in Thailand in Buddhist government schools, prisons, orphanages, hospitals, and churches.