Spot light on Golden Keyes Parsons

If you would like to win a copy on In the Shadow of the Sun King leave a comment at the end of this post.

*Golden, please tell us a little about you.

Well, first of all, thank you so much for this opportunity. I am a child of the King who is so grateful for what God has done in my life. I accepted Jesus as a teen-ager, and have never gotten over it.

I am married to my college sweetheart, Blaine for 46 years now. We have three grown daughters, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandsons, but I am much too young for great-grandchildren, you understand J

I got started late in my writing career, with my first novel just being published with Thomas Nelson, Inc., but I have been in ministry ever since I became a Christian. I am an ordained minister, and have a passion that the church be what it should be. My degree is in Ecclesiology (Church Structure). My husband and I just retired from the pastorate.

*What was the best gift you have ever received?

The “spiritual” answer would, of course, be my salvation, my family – I’m so grateful for the blessings that I enjoy. But I’ve already alluded to that above.

Thinking about a birthday or Christmas gift … A couple of years ago we were at a marriage conference in Arizona. One of our daughters had arranged for us to stay at a Marriott resort with bonus points that she had earned. My birthday was that week and our girls went together and gave me a whole day at the spa there. Oh, my goodness, what a wonderful day. It took me a bit to relax and not feel absolutely decadent, but the Lord seemed to tell me, “Would you just relax and let me pamper you today?” So, finally, I did. I got a massage. I sat in a huge beautifully tiled Jacuzzi. I swam; sat under a cabana; had a gourmet lunch. It was wonderful.

*What other books have you written either published or not?

“In The Shadow Of The Sun King” is my first published novel. I have written a Bible study for women, which we self-published, “The Wise Woman Builds.” I have also written a couple of non-fiction general inspirational books, which have not been published, “Thirty-one Ways to Mess Up Your Marriage,” “Spiritual Spring Cleaning,” “The Simplicity of Jesus,” and a Biblical fiction novella, “Trapped! The Woman Taken In Adultery.”

*What did you do to celebrate selling your novel?

Actually, we did not do anything. We kept saying that we needed to, but our lives have been in such chaos recently—my husband had a heart attack, we moved, retired—that it just never happened.


*Please tell us a little about In the Shadow of the Sun King.

This is a story based on my family genealogy. It chronicles the plight of the persecution of the French Huguenots in 17th century France through a fictionalized story line. The historical facts are accurate, but the plot is fiction.


*What do you enjoy most about writing Christian fiction?

Creating story, which expresses truths that perhaps might be more palatable to accept in fiction, rather than sounding so “preachy” or “teachy” in the non-fiction arena. I’m a teacher by gifting, so that always seemed to be a problem in my non-fiction efforts.

*What would you like readers to take away from In the Shadow of the Sun King?

An appreciation of the price that our ancestors paid for our faith.

*Okay for a little fun if you were a candy bar what would you be? Why?

Hmmm. Good question. A piece of gourmet chocolate with nuts in it. My friends tell me that I have an elegant, classic presence about myself. (That always startles me, but it has happened so much through the years, that I guess I do.) But underneath that cool, reserved, classy exterior are some hidden treasures to chew on.

*Tell us about your favorite Animal? Flower?

My favorite flower is definitely lilacs. I absolutely love them, and would decorate my house with armloads of them if they were available. I also love all the bulb flowers – tulips, hyacinths, daffodils.

Animal? I’m not what you would call an animal lover. Sorry. I don’t dislike them, and we always had pets when the girls were growing up. I cared for and rode horses literally every day as a pre-teen. And animals seem to love me – they always snuggle up to me when we visit friends – cats and dogs both. But at this stage in our lives (empty nest), I prefer not to have the responsibility of animals. I do like labs, and if we were to have pets again, that would probably be the direction I’d go. Our middle daughter and her husband raise and train labs.

*If money was not an issue where in all of the world would you want to travel to?

I’ve been to England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Israel. I would love to go to France and see the country I’ve been writing about, especially Versailles. Versailles is a major character in the first two books of the series, but I’ve never been.



*Do you have any advice for novice or aspiring writers?

If you feel God has called you, and you have a passion to write, never quit. Continually perfect your craft, and never quit.

*Can you tell us what you are working on now?

Book #2 in the “Darkness to Light” series, “A Prisoner At Versailles.”

*I am so happy that you were able to visit with us. Do you have any last parting words for the readers?

I feel so honored to be an author, writing from the perspective of a Christian worldview. Thank you for reading my efforts.

*Where can readers find you?

http://www.goldenkeyesparsons.com/