About the Book

Book Title: Out of North Korea

Author: Alana Terry

Genre: Christian Thriller/Suspense

Release date: June 25, 2018

A single photograph could cost his life …

Ian McAllister has searched the world over, hunting for that all-elusive perfect photograph.

He finds it on a tourist trip to North Korea when he stumbles upon a young street kid foraging for roots.

Unaware that this single act will brand him a spy and cost his freedom, Ian takes the shot.

Now he must pay the penalty.

A true-to-life novel about an American imprisoned behind North Korea’s closed borders.

A gripping tale of courage, faith, and hope from award-winning Christian novelist Alana Terry.

About the Author

Alana is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second.

Guest Post from Alana Terry

Have you seen in the news that the leaders of North and South Korea have both publicly stated their willingness to promote peace on the Korean peninsula? It was certainly a historic moment, and this part of the world has earned its place in global headlines.

My interest in North Korea, however, goes back over a decade, when as a young mother I received a prayer burden for the people of North Korea. Fast-forward to five years ago when my debut novel was released. The Beloved Daughter follows the life of a young girl who is sent to prison camp because of her father’s Christian faith. In addition to winning several awards, The Beloved Daughter gave an expression to my prayer burden to see North Korea free to worship the one true God.

Out of North Korea is unique among my other titles because it’s the first story that focuses on an American in North Korea. Ian McAllister is captured and held in a Pyongyang prison because of a photograph he took of a young homeless boy. I hope the message leaves you as inspired and encouraged as I was when I was writing it.

What I like most about this author is her ability to take subjects that are difficult to talk about and put them in a story that is intriguing and realistic. She has never been one to hold back and always writes with confidence. Her stories are gripping and powerful. This story started off with an image we see in movies and  I gasped as the drama played out. I always walk away from her books with a better  understanding of how much God loves us. 

Ian is in way over his head and I'm not sure he will be able to talk his way out of this mess he is in. How intimidating would it be if you were in a foreign country being questioned by people who want the truth ? You can feel your life hanging by a thread and any hope of some special force team rushing in to save you is just a dream. Ian is not having a good day when he is locked up in a North Korean prison. Day after day, he is starved, uncomfortable and asked repeatedly to write down the reason he is in their country. I could feel the frustration as each time he writes, they reject his confession. Ian at some point will have to find strength in order to survive.

I loved reading how Ian found a sense of humor during his captivity. When he decides to write a confession he is sure his captors will think is a joke  , the real terror begins. He has made a huge miscalculation and his time is about to get down right uncomfortable. One picture taken to capture the true essence of how the people are treated there will forever haunt him. It made me think of all the homeless people we have right here in our own country. We walk around them as they beg for help. We turn the other way, when we should be reaching out to help them. Ian talks about the injustice we Americans are guilty of in our own backyard. I can see why some people may be turned off by Christianity. We have a bible that tells us how to be the hands and feet of Jesus, but are we following His example? The author really speaks truth through Ian  as the story reflects how Christians are judgmental and at times unforgiving. 

Ian being a prisoner in North Korea has really opened his eyes to the injustice of the world.  We condemn a country for mistreatment of people, yet we do the same thing in our own country. Ian is really a reflection of many of us. As he sits as a prisoner, he sees how little he has done for others. The time Ian spends in prison is heartbreaking. His time there is everything I imagined of a place that is surrounded by torture and death. The story brought tears to my eyes as Ian tries to hang on to hope that someday he will be released. I have to say that this story will stay with me forever. It is a story that reaches deep into your soul and pulls the ugliness out. I wish I has a grandma Lucy praying for me. She is the example of someone that never gives up praying. Will her  steadfast faith keep Ian's hope alive? Can he find a way to endure his plight and find his way to Jesus? If you have doubts about your faith, struggling with circumstances, then this book is written just for you. 

" I see hope where before there was only despair."

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

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Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Alana is giving away a grand prize of a $30 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/d06d/out-of-north-korea-celebration-tour-giveaway