Guest Post: Tess Hilmo

photo credit: Jenni Howell Photography

A big thanks to Tess Hilmo for joining us today to talk about the inspiration for one of the characters in her middle-grade novel, With a Name Like Love.

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One of my favorite quotes is from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

What lies behind us and
What lies before us
Are tiny matters
When compared to
What lies within us.

I have this saying taped up on my office wall and it served as inspiration for one of the characters in With a Name Like Love, Jimmy Koppel.

Jimmy comes from an extremely difficult and abusive situation and yet he never allows himself to doubt his own self worth. Even when everyone seemingly turns away, he has this undercurrent of understanding and strength to guide him.

As I was writing this story, I had a sibling diagnosed with cancer. It was emotional and frightening for all of us but she seemed to be a steady beacon in the storm that surrounded her. It was as if this challenge in her life brought her back to center and distilled what was truly important: faith, family, forgiveness. I couldn’t help but also be inspired by her strength as I wrote about this boy who needed to rise above his circumstances and find peace in his world, however broken it may be at the time. Their challenges may have been different, but their response was very much the same.

The good news is that my sister braved her treatments with grace and is in full remission. What happened to Jimmy? Well, that can be found out by reading the novel … but both have helped remind me that we have inner strength far beyond what many of us may believe. Both have been a great source of hope and inspiration.

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Tess Hilmo's Website | Book Study Guide | Amazon | Goodreads

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Giveaway

Enter to win a copy of Tess's novel, With a Name Like Love! Thanks to Blue Slip Media.