Sunday, June 17, 2012

Irrepressible Grace Bridges and new Splashdown books

News from Down Under---Grace, in Uniform, with Tribbles.
Now--what can get cooler than that?

Kia Ora!

Whew! Where did May go? No matter. June brings new and exciting events to Splashdown waters. Read on!


New Release






Book Three of The Reality Chronicles


The Day shall declare the reality revealed by fire...


Destinies are forged in the dark night of the soul. Kaylee and Nathan pursue a zombified Crystal to rescue her soul if they can. A vision of death propels their mother, Gabrielle, to chase them in order to prevent its fulfillment. Her wizard friend, Josh, accompanies her to keep his promise to protect her. A mysterious religious leader wants to seduce Kaylee to violate her morals. And a demonic being seeks to bury the reality of the ring through temptation and deceit. Through their twisting journeys, each encounters their destiny. Including the ring.



...Reality's Fire is revealed, and no soul can hide from its judgment.



Reality's Fire is currently available for purchase at the usual places. Click over to Splashdown Bookshop for more information and links.



Now Available




She joined the knighthood for the scholarship program.



A thwarted assassination attempt drags Caissa Ocren into a secret war between elemental spirits and dragon worshippers. More accustomed to solving puzzles than wielding swords, she undergoes a crash course in survival from a mercenary minstrel, a shape-shifting druid, and a legendary spirit warrior. An ancient book may hold the answers she seeks, but understanding requires the memories of a wizard. With time against her, Caissa faces the hardest lesson of all—how to serve when the cost is her life.


Available for purchase at Amazon, Kindle Store, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. Click over to Splashdown Bookshop for more information and links.


Bragging Rights



Two Splashdown releases took silver medals in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards: the speculative anthology Aquasynthesis and YA fantasy Finding Angel.

Congrats to the authors of Splashdown Books and Kat Heckenbach!

...and speaking of bragging rights...

Two Splashdown authors are engaged in a Brag-Off this very moment. Who will win and who will dance and sing the wonders of the other on YouTube?
You can just bet that link will be posted here. Stay tuned...





unConventional


Splashdown Books publisher Grace Bridges attended the unConventional Speculative Fiction conference in Auckland last weekend and got herself elected Padawan to the President of writers' group Speculative Fiction New Zealand.


We always knew she was going places. Weird, weird places. And her Tribbles are going with her.



Coming Soon


Keep your eyes open. New book releases coming all year, including Splashdown's first non-fiction book (shhh. It's still a secret)! But before that, look for something new from our Darkwater paranormal line, plus another exciting anthology.


That's it for June, folks. Busy, busy, busy down here at the bottom of the world and everywhere a Splashdown author writes, but we plan to keep you on top of it all.


God's blessings.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Fruit of My Spirit, with Deanna Nowadnick

Welcome author Deanna Nowadnick, who shares about her book, Fruit of My Spirit.




Book Description:
Paperback: 114 pages
Publisher: Rhododendron Books
ISBN: 978-0983589723
EBook: 2438 KB

Buy on Amazon
Buy on Barnes &Noble


Hi, Deanna! Tell us what you love about this book


I love that I got to tell my story. I did not intend to write a book. I just wanted my sons Kyle and Kevin to know how I met their father. One story became two stories, two stories became four stories, and suddenly I was announcing to anyone within earshot, “I think I wrote a story.” Now I love that I get to share my story. It’s been an absolute joy and delight to hear back from readers and reviewers, to learn how they have connected to my tales of challenge and hope. We laugh over camping fiascos. We wonder about those plaid pants from 1973. We mourn losses. Without ever meeting, without ever sharing a latte, we’ve bonded in ways that I have truly treasured.



That's great! Can you share something unique that you learned during the writing and publishing of this book?


I learned that there is nothing as cathartic as sharing our experiences in writing. Words, sentences, and paragraphs give order and meaning to so many things that get thrown into our mental box of memories. We all have a story to tell. During my first book signing, the single most repeated comment was, “I have a story to tell.” I quickly began to focus on ways to empower and encourage others to share their own story in a way that is most meaningful to them. For Christmas, my aunt sent me a wonderful cookbook of favorite family receipts. I don’t cook. I’ll probably never use a single recipe, but open opening the package, I sat down and read the book cover to cover. You see each page had a paragraph or two about my aunt, most stories unbeknownst to me. Not everyone will write a book, but everyone can share their story.



What's coming down the road for you?


The first draft of Book 2 is done. Signs in Life: Meeting God at the Corner of Grace and Mercy tells of those times when God has come alongside and guided, directed, and turned me. This book is another collection of short stories, this time recounting when God has met me at life’s crossroads, when I’ve been “on point” with God, not because of anything I’ve done, but because a loving, gracious, merciful God has been there time after time, again and again.

 I love that title. Thank you, Deanna, for sharing yourself today.


About the Author:
Fruit of My Spirit is my first book. My “day job” is with The Planner’s Edge, an investment advisory firm in Washington State. The boss and I have been together for 22 years. Today I’m his Client Service Coordinator. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of his practice and working with his clients. And since I telecommute, I have even more time to write! I live in Monroe, Washington in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I’m the mother of two delightful young men, one who has read the book and one who has decided it’s just way more information about Mom than he needs at this point in life. I’m active in my church, editing the monthly newsletter and playing the violin during worship services. I love to knit, I adore chocolate, and most important I enjoy a blessed marriage to my best friend, Kurt.


Want to connect with Deanna?

·         Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FruitofMySpirit

·         Twitter: @DeannaNowadnick

·         Blog:http://fruitofmyspirit.com/blog/

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

The Christian Olympics, and free gifts

Today Only you can get a copy of S.E. Gregg’s
Kindle book: The Christian Olympics for only
$3.99 and a bundle of free gifts and prizes. Hurry,
a special prize for the first person that buys a copy.

S. E. Gregg’s book The Christian Olympics-Going
for the Gold Crowns
,the unveiling of the Bible’s
comparison of the Christian race/life to
the Olympic Games, has been “Enthusiastically
recommended as inspirational reading for all practicing
Christians “ by Midwest Book Review
Take a look and see what we have to offer you:http://www.christianolympics.org/index_2.html



About the Book: The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crowns, the unveiling of the Bible's comparison of the Christian race to the Olympic Games, is the spin-off from the newspaper article titled "The Christian Olympics are still going on!" written by the author.

Today more than ever Christians are discouraged in their walk with God because of the multitudes of personal problems, suffering, and worldly events that have occurred. Some have given up, lost hope in their faith, and/or don't feel that living holy lives matters anymore. The Christian Olympics will stir up Christians, igniting their spiritual fires to look forward to what is ahead. When Christians see themselves as players in an Olympic game, it gives them a new understanding and exhilaration for the Christian life, as spiritual athletes. Readers will actually visualize themselves in a spiritual athletic competition which has never been done before in a Christian book.


About the Author:
A marathon runner in the Christian Olympics for several decades, S. E. Gregg is a Bible school graduate and the founder of Sound Doctrine Christian Ministries. An award winning author, gifted Bible teacher and Bible curriculum writer, Gregg has authored the best-selling books,"Evangelism Counseling- How to Counsel People About Salvation","The Christian Olympics-Going for the Gold Crowns" and the salvation tract,"God Became A Man". The salvation tract has been translated into the Burmese language and over 100,000 have been printed. Gregg lives in the Philadelphia,PA area.
www.Christianolympics.org

Follow the Blog: The Christian Olympic blog is a list of articles about worldly events that are happening along with sports and how they relate to the Christian marathon.
http://christianolympics.blogspot.com



RUN THE RACE WITH ENDURANCE !!
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT !!
KEEP THE FAITH !!
PRESS TOWARD THE MARK !!

FINISH THE COURSE !!
REACH FOR THE FINISH LINE !!!

RECEIVE CROWNS OF GOLD !!!!!

THE CHRISTIAN OLYMPICS-GOING FOR THE GOLD CROWNS" BY S. E. GREGG
The unveiling of the Bible's comparison of the Christian race to the Olympic Games.
WWW.CHRISTIANOLYMPICS.ORG
VICTORY@CHRISTIANOLYMPICS.ORG

Monday, June 11, 2012


Introducing Tim Fox's new book
Journeys: An Ice-Age Adventure

Journeys; An Ice Age Adventure

About the Book
Twelve year-old Mark Jamison is a thinker and a worrier. Ten year-old Barry is attuned to nature, but his focus quickly shifts from one item to the next. The brothers’ lives are further complicated by family tragedies. Their dad’s deployment to Afghanistan and their mom’s illness both ended badly. Rather than a wonderful journey, life has been hard. But when the boys discover a mastodon tooth and a spear point in the Baraboo Hills, powerful forces are unleashed that carry them across ages and propel them onto the adventure of two lifetimes. The brothers journey with mastodons and Paleo-Indians amid the landscape of Ice Age Wisconsin. They face giant predatory mammals, as well as predators of the human variety. They witness acts of courage and sacrifice. And through it all, the boys gain more of the strength, wisdom, and hope needed to face the obstacles of life’s journey.

Journeys; An Ice Age Adventure is a story that inspires excitement, laughter, and tears. Above all, it reminds us of the importance of hope and a sense of wonder.

Links
Journeys; An Ice Age Adventure website
ISBN 978-0-9856411-0-8
*teacher guide available here  

About the Author:
After a fourteen year teaching career, I had a fierce desire not only to write, but to pass on something special to my own kids. I love the Wisconsin landscape and feel a strong pull to its Ice Age connections – glacially sculpted landforms, fossil finds, Paleo Indian artifacts. These fuel my imagination and are part of what impelled me to write Journeys; An Ice Age Adventure.

Tim Fox is a personal fitness trainer and “Olympic-style” weightlifting coach. He can’t resist picking up big, heavy things!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

M E D I A R E L E A S E

Contact: Carolyn Howard-Johnson, publicist

E-mail: hojonews@aol.com

ISBN: 978-1468172362

Release Date: July 15




Coming to Book Expo America

World Traveler/Author Has Big Goal: To Help Others Understand America
Book Expo America, New York--Author Lance Johnson will sign the new English edition of his book What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to understand crazy American culture, people, government, business, language, and more at the Independent Book Publishers Association booth #3044 at Book Expo America on Thursday, June 7, at 10:30 am. The famous tradeshow is at Javits Center in New York City.


As the title suggests, this book is for “foreigners,” which Johnson redefines as anyone not sufficiently familiar with American culture to meet their goals for success. They may be citizens from foreign countries who still lack sufficient knowledge to meet their travel or business needs. They may be among the multitudes of foreign-born, naturalized citizens who have lived in the U.S. for years and still struggle with everything from etiquette to language. They may be first- and even second-generation Americans whose immigrant parents did not fully expose their children to American culture—an all too common occurrence—and they now struggle with the mainstream. They may be students who are studying in America or those who would like to.


Originally published in simplified Chinese by Oriental Press in China, this unique book has been endorsed by U.S. and foreign ambassadors like Clark T. Randt and Zhou Wenzhong. Jay Gajjar, India language professor says, “The A to Z chapters are nicely written and informative. The language is simple and presented in a fine sequence. This is a realistic bible of modern America.” The new English edition has been updated and expanded. What many notice is that Johnson is willing to paint a picture of the America he loves—warts and all.


Lance Johnson has traveled in, taught in, visited, or lived in 81 counties and 49 of the 50 American states. His understanding of his own culture increased as he learned more about the cultures of others. He also began to understand why some foreigners throw up their hands at what they see as a crazy Americans and their crazy language. He brings this rare understanding to his new book.


Johnson will sign and give copies to publishing professionals at the famous Book Expo America where the publishing industry convenes .


Learn more about the book and the author at: www.howtodoitfrugally.com/A_to_Z.htm


Equation of life: Knowledge + Understanding +
Acceptance = A Better World for All.
~
Lance Johnson, author of What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z.


‘###


(Photos, book cover, media kit available electronically or by post upon request.)

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Tammy Hill: Book Launch! Supernatural novel for Teens

Knowing - a series of gifts


Knowing: A Series of Gifts , a supernatural novel for teens is available today! Purchase your copy and enter to win a Kindle!

Visit:

http://www.tammyhillbooks.blogspot.com/p/knowing-launch.html

For the Skinny!

Buy the book

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Maureen Lang: Why I Write, and Other Thoughts

Maureen Lang joins me this week. Welcome!

She is a reader who figured out at a very young age how to write what she wants to read. She penned her first novel at age ten, and has been writing ever since. In fact, she’d rather be writing or reading than doing just about anything else—but with a family and a dog depending on her for breakfast, lunch and dinner, she feels like she’s in the kitchen more often than at her desk or in her favorite chair with a book. Maureen is the author of a dozen books and has been nominated for a Christy, Rita and Carol. She’s won a Holt Medallion and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, but none of that compare to the day her daughter told her she was a good writer. Ah, recognition at home is rare indeed. Visit Maureen on the web at www.maureenlang.com

I asked her a few questions, starting with "Why do you write what you do?"

About why I write my books…

All of my books were inspired by something specific. My war books go back to my childhood, hearing my dad and uncles “discuss” the war (although that was World War Two and I wrote about the First World War). I was too young to follow most of that, but I knew all that war-talk came with great emotion. With my “disability” books—i.e., a book that includes a child with a disability—those came from my everyday life, being the mom and an aunt to handicapped children. Bees in the Butterfly Garden is the first book that came out of a title. Usually I’m title-challenged, but one day I was looking out at my garden, one I’d planted with the hope of attracting butterflies. All I saw were two huge bees. Feeling sorry for myself, I said “I don’t get butterflies; all I get are bees. Bees in the butterfly garden.” But hey! I stopped what I was doing immediately (writing another book, actually) and wrote that down, because I recognized that it would make a great title. All I needed to do was write a book to go with it. And I did.

1. What’s been a favorite work experience you’ve had so far in life?

Every time I write a book, no matter which one—and some have undoubtedly been easier to write than others—at some point the characters begin to take over. It’s all I can do to keep up with them, recording what would be a natural progression of events as designed by the kind of people populating the story. That, without a doubt, is the best moment I’ve ever had as a writer. I feel like a storyteller then, when I’m as caught up in the story as any reader would be. It’s hard for my typing fingers to keep up!


2. I love that, Maureen. If you could do anything you want, what would it be?

I’m sure I’m not the only writer who’s answered this question by saying I’d write! I guess if I could write anywhere, it would be with mountains in the background, perhaps a lake or ocean not far off . . . a garden full of flowers that never grows a weed, maybe a horse to ride (with a barn taken care of by someone else, of course . . . ).

3. One man's weeds are another man's flowers, you know. I'd like to be fed. What’s the most exotic place you’ve traveled?

I’m not sure it’s exactly exotic, but I went to Belgium to research my Great War Series, and it was absolutely wonderful. I walked the same streets my characters walked, saw the same historic buildings they would have seen. I loved every minute of it, and felt so affirmed by God that I was doing what He’d wired me to do: I’m supposed to make up stories He approved of. That’s my job.


4. I think that's pretty exotic - especially in the name of work. What do you see outside the closest window right now?

While I live in a very nice neighborhood, the scene out my window isn’t very scenic. I see other houses similar to mine, green grass, flourishing trees and bushes. My mailbox. It’s a neat, orderly scene, but not especially inspiring. It’s a good thing I have a vivid imagination, because most of the time I’m not seeing what’s around me anyway. I’m living in another century altogether.


5. A mailbox has so many possibilities! What do you tell people when they ask “and what do you do?”

I actually hope this doesn’t come up, for a variety of reasons. If it does, I say I’m a writer. They always seem both interested and skeptical—maybe a little impressed when I say I’ve had a dozen books published. But then they assume I make a lot of money, which isn’t the case (they sometimes ask how many books I’ve sold, which is the same as asking how much money I’ve made). Many times people admit they’d like to write a book, too, which I encourage, but then they sometimes expect that I can introduce them to an easy track to publication. Unfortunately, there isn’t one.

6. LOL - I hear you on that one. Where’s your favorite place to grocery shop?

Super Target, without a doubt.


7. My youngest daughter in law takes advantage of that store! I'd have to drive an hour, but I think I'd learn to love it too.  How about a new tack: What, to you, is worship?

I love two forms of worship. Although I don’t sing very well, I love my church and I love participating in the worship time. I love the words of worship songs, and they remind me of so many aspects of God’s presence in my life.


But I also feel very close to God when I’m in the revision phase of writing my books. I often don’t remember certain scenes or lines and sometimes when something seems just right, I think it must be a gift to have the right words fit into a story. I believe anyone who is following the way God wired them to be—musicians with a gift for singing or playing, or an accountant with a flair for numbers, or a teacher with the ability to convey knowledge—must feel that same approval from God. An affirmation that we’re doing what God designed for us to do. A connection to something that seems so right and fitting, accompanied by thankfulness to be able to do what God wants me to do. It’s a form of worship that I absolutely love to experience.



Thank you, Maureen. It's been a joy getting to know you better. Maureen's latest book, Bees in the Butterfly Garden, a light-hearted romance which releases June 13, is available for pre-order from several online book sellers.