Healing Grief: Hiking Through book review

Hiking Through

By Paul Stutzman

Revell

ISBN: 978-0-8007-2053

$13.99

May 2012

Inspirational Memoir

Healing grief is different for everyone: some try, some don’t, some make rash decisions or none at all. Paul Stutzman through-hiked the Appalachian Trail one summer two years after his wife’s death from cancer.

Leaving his career as a restaurant manager and taking the hike, Stutzman says he needed a greater purpose than simply making a drastic change in his life. His goals were twofold: “to remind men to appreciate what they have today—don’t take your family and your wife for granted.” Secondly, he wanted to write a book showing “that the Christian life doesn’t have to be boring.”

And boring this book is not. From the prologue where the author states he uses only trail names to identify his trail brothers and sisters so they can claim plausible deniability if ever accused of any of the stunts, to the rain, sleet, festivals, and fear, Hiking Through is a great journey book that’s more than a guide; it’s a quest for peace.

Taking the trail name Apostle, Stutzman begins his journey with a photo op, then hiking north from Georgia to Maine over four and a half months. Starting in April with thirty-five pounds of tent, bear bag, and notebook, Stutzman hoped to walk a thirty-mile leg one day, one of the few goals he never met. I’ve become addicted over the past few years to follow Interstate highways and freeways ever since accidently driving the entire length of I65, and I enjoy hiking, but Stutzman’s pictures helped me decide to continue to enjoy “through drives.” More photos are available on his web site hikingthrough.com. He’s begun a “biking through” adventure as well.

Walk with the author as he meets wonderful and exotic hikers with names like Sailor, Bubbles, Sir Entity, and Litefoot as they walk through fourteen states in all kinds of terrain and weather, beautiful scenery, and dangerous overnight conditions as well as enjoyable ones such as old stagecoach stops and hotels. I’m a sucker for the history and details Stutzman shares about the various places along the trail, such as Civil War sites, and general early Americana. The life-lessons Stutzman shares? Well, I’ll let you discover those as you read.

Available May 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: Finding Angel

Finding Angel

Kat Heckenbach

 c. 2011

Splashdown Books

ISBN: 9781927154137

$6.99 ebook

Speculative fiction, YA

An Angel appears out of nowhere…a young girl, wandering along a country path in Florida, in her possession, but no memory. When the Masons find the lost girl, they name her “Angel” for the letters on her bracelet and soon she becomes part of the family.

The Mason collect stray children, including a set of twins who are older than Angel, and a younger boy, Zack, who holds onto Angel’s heart and appreciates her fascination with magical creatures and her reading tree. Eight years pass, and at fourteen, Angel has made a new life, albeit one with a gaping hole.

As much as Angel is infatuated with mythical creatures, Zack loves nature and bugs, and shows her a beetle. Promising to help identify it, Angel visits the library and instead discovers that a new boy, Gregor, has come to town. Gregor unlocks the missing pieces of Angel’s life by taking her “home” to a place of myth and mist, like Glockamorra or Brigadoon. Toch Island is “sort of” in Ireland; “hidden” so it can’t be taken over by technological development, a place where the Empowered do not have to hide their Talents. It’s a place where the magical creatures are true, Elves live and make music, and dangers are real, so real that Gregor has lived as an orphan since the age of ten after the evil Dawric killed his family. Angel stays with Gregor while her memories gradually surface and she relearns her Talent. But Gregor harbors secrets. Is she safe with him? Where are her parents? And what about the new murders in the community?

Chapters are interspersed with scenes of concurrent events that build like pieces of a puzzle. Each chapter and segment has a title that hints at what’s to come.

Although the teens seem too young to live on their own, Heckenbach’s deft handling of the characters feels rich and fully alive. Gregor knows his duty and is ready to fulfill his destiny, and Angel reunites Toch as no one else can.

The author’s word choices are bright and succinct, in voice appropriate to age and magical world. There are instances of danger and murder and resulting emotions that children younger than sixth or seventh grade might find disturbing. Occasional long segments of description and internal thought, months spent relearning Angel’s identity, were sometimes slow but fascinating, and an end that flies up your face shouldn’t disrupt the great pleasure of immersing yourself in the world of Toch, the Empowered, and a future full of bright possibilities and dreams that will come true.

Spring Bible Study Expo! Online, Free

Save the Date for the 2012 Spring Bible Study Expo

Women’s Bible Study enthusiasts meet online this May to hear from the authors of 2012’s most popular Women’s Bible Study books. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend the live, free, online event, Thursday, May 17, 2012, from 1-5 PM Central Time, at www.BibleStudyExpo.com.

Every year, thousands of Bible Study leaders progress from one study to the next by visiting bookstores to check out options, getting suggestions from attendees or friends, and attending the spring Bible Study Expo full of interviews with the authors of the most recently released Bible Study books for women.

The Bible Study Expo features Women’s Bible Study authors Sheila Walsh, Pam Farrel, Cindy Jacobs, Mary Kassian, Renee Swope, Babbie Mason and many more from publishers including Harvest House, Thomas Nelson, Multnomah, Baker, Bethany House, Moody and others.

During the Expo, each author is interviewed for 15 minutes with the opportunity to share the story behind her most recent release. In addition, each will clearly define the target audience for her book and tell a little bit about herself.

“It’s a great way for Bible Study leaders to get to know the authors and to learn more about the newest Bible study books available to them this year,” explains Expo Hostess, Marnie Swedberg.

 ******************

The Bible Study Expo was founded in 2009 to support Women’s Bible Study leaders.  The Expo itself includes four hours of live-streaming online audio interviews with the authors, including one free book give-away during each segment.

It’s 100% free to attend and anyone is welcome to pre-register now at www.BibleStudyExpo.com.

“It’s such a fun format, because there is no need to travel, to find childcare or to spend money,” says Swedberg. “It’s just a great time online getting to know the Bible Study book authors as well as other Bible Study leaders from all over the world.”

To register to win free books or to attend the live, online event, visit www.BibleStudyExpo.com today!

Bible Study Expo is a subsite of www.Marnie.com, providing encouragement, practical help and God-focus to women since 1996. In addition to her role as Expo Hostess, Marnie is the online mentor to thousands of leaders from over 30 countries, the manager of the family restaurant and retail store, the author of 12 books and the host of a weekly radio talk show.

For more information about the Bible Study Expo, visit http://www.Marnie.com/media.php

Meet Valerie Comer

Valerie Comer's life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie grows much of her own food and is active in the local food movement as well as her church. She only hopes her imaginary friends enjoy their happily ever afters as much as she does hers, gardening and geocaching with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters. Check out her website and blog at http://valeriecomer.com.

1. What’s been a favorite work experience you’ve had so far in life?
I don't have a degree in anything, so work outside the home for me has always been about needing a paycheck. I was thrilled to stay home when our kids were young but have been working retail ever since. A huge blessing for me is the job I've had for the past eleven years. (Wow! That long already?) I work in a small town flooring shop for two guys who've owned the business forever. They do everything outside the building, and I handle just about everything inside. Still, there are hours every day where things are quiet and I can do 'my own thing.' God gave me this job so I would have no excuse not to write, and I'm really thankful for it. Yes, my boss guys know and are fine with how I spend my time when duties aren't calling me. They want (and deserve!) signed book copies, but aren't entirely sure they're up for reading Christian romance.

2. If you could do anything you want, what would it be?
You wouldn't believe how long I stared at that question. I think the older we get, the smaller our dreams become as reality sets in. My first response is something like: renovate our house and farm. Then I thought it would be cool to take our granddaughters somewhere awesome on a vacation, but they're too young, one of them being an infant still. Then I thought of missionary work and other needs around the world. What would I really do, if I could do anything? Food, clean water, and salvation to all. See? I CAN think big!

3. What’s the most exotic place you’ve traveled?
In the early months of 1980, I spent three months in Bolivia with my sister and her family who were missionaries there at the time. They've spent most of the intervening years there as well, coming on home staff just a couple of years ago. Bolivia might not seem exotic to many as it is the poorest country in South America, but for this Canadian girl, it was polar opposite of anything I'd experienced before. Parrots on shoulders, fleas in the beds, bugs and snakes everywhere, multiple foreign languages. Remote tribal stations where clothing was optional (not for the missionaries or their guest!), where UNO was the game of choice until 3 a.m., where small planes landed on short grassy strips in a spray of standing water. Bolivia was a life-changing experience for me.

4. What do you see outside the closest window right now?
I'm answering these questions while at work, and only a sliver of a (large) window is visible to me from here. It is filled with a parked vehicle and the building across the street. Looks like some sunshine out there, which is awesome after a steady and cold downpour yesterday. I should have answered this from home, where I could have talked about plum trees, gardens, or cows in the pasture.

5. What do you tell people when they ask “and what do you do?”
I tell people I'm a flooring salesperson, an author, a wife, mom, and grandmother (yay!), a farmer, gardener, beekeeper, and local food advocate. Then I take a deep breath and tell them I'm a child of the King. I wear a lot of hats, but my favorite is my princess crown, followed by my Grandma hat, then my authorial--what do authors wear on their heads?

6. Where’s your favorite place to grocery shop?
My very favorite place to get food is from our own beehives, freezer, fridge, and pantry loaded with canning. In summer, I often come home from work and head out to the garden to see what's for supper. My next most favorite place to get groceries is our local farmers' market, where my daughter-in-law is the manager. It runs from the beginning of May to just before Christmas, and I can buy just about anything there. Doesn't keep me out of the supermarket, of course, but it's a good effort.

7. What, to you, is worship?
Doesn't Psalm 46:10 sum it up well? "Be still, and know that I am God."

8. When you take all of the things that make you unique, how does that come out in your writing?
I'm not good at urban-environment stories. Give me small towns, farms, and gardens any day of the week. For my first novella, out May 1 from Barbour in a 4-in-1 collection called Rainbow's End, my co-authors and I created a geocaching outreach event for our characters to participate in. Geocaching is simply using GPS (global positioning system) units found on smart phones or specialized instruments to locate specific spots out-of-doors, where the cache's creator has hidden a small treasure chest. Barbour Publishing describes our novella anthology like this: "Join a geocaching adventure in the spectacular Lake of the Ozarks wilderness, with Lyssa, the reluctant volunteer whose former nemesis is now her chief sponsor; Madison, a city girl paired with an outdoorsy guy who gets on her very last nerve; cautious Reagan, who meets an equally cautious guy; and Hadley, who doesn’t know enough about guys to realize she’s met a womanizer. Will they find the treasure they’re looking for … or something else entirely?"

My novella is Topaz Treasure, first of the four: Closet believer Lyssa Quinn steps out of her comfort zone to help coordinate the Rainbow’s End geocaching hunt her church is using as an outreach event. She’s not expecting her former humanities prof–young, handsome, anti-Christian Kirk Kennedy–to be at the Lake of the Ozarks at all, let along in a position to provide sponsorship to the treasure hunt. How can she trust someone who once shredded her best friend’s faith? Kirk’s treasure hunt takes him down a path he hadn’t intended as he searches for opportunities to connect with Lyssa and her intriguing sparkle. How can he convince Lyssa there is more than one kind of treasure? And can she remind him of the greatest prize of all?

Thank you, Valerie, that sounds fascinating!

Buy Rainbow's End: (various links)http://valeriecomer.com/rainbows-end/
Connect at:
• Website: http://valeriecomer.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/valeriecomer.author
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/valeriecomer
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/valeriecomer
• Blog: http://valeriecomer.com/blog
• Blog: http://romancingamerica.com

It's HERE! The Great Blog Hop - chance to win a Kindle!

Join Our Mailing List (Blog Hoppers, sign up here, check the John 3:16 Readership Box)

Email: (for Kindle drawing, May 7-May 14)

For Email Newsletters you can trust

                        



Welcome to the 1st John 3:16 Giveaway Blog Hop! As one of the members of this great network of Christian Authors, I am excited to participate in this event! We have come together this week to showcase our books and to give you, our readers, a chance to win some great prizes as you "hop" from blog to blog. A different prize is offered at each blog site (no purchase necessary), however if you want to have a chance to win one of two Kindles the network is giving away, the only requirement is that you sign up for the John 3:16 ezine newsletter. (Located ABOVE and at the top right side column of the John 3:16 blog site.)

(See official rules here.)

At the other blogs, each author will require that you leave a comment (and a valid email address) so they may contact you if you win a prize offered on their blog site. May I also suggest that you show your love and appreciation to each blog host by either following them on Twitter, or "liking" them on Facebook or even subscribing to their blog. It won't help your odds of winning a prize but I know each author would be thrilled and very encouraged!

BLOG PARTICIPANTS : (If you leave a comment here and please join my blogger network if you'd like, I'll enter you in a drawing for a $10 Starbucks card. I only need a follow-up e-mail (name-at-address.com). 

So tell your friends about the John 3:16 Giveaway Blog Hop! It's going to be a great week of fun! Just click on the links below to go from blog to blog! Happy hoppin'! Blog Hop Participants:

Blog Hop Participants:

1. Lorilyn Roberts (John 3:16 Blog) – http://john316mn.blogspot.com/
2. Lynn Dove – Word Salt (Host blog) - http://wordsalt.wordpress.com/
3. Laura J. Davis - http://interviewsandreviews.blogspot.com/
4. Paulette Harper - http://www.pauletteharperjohnson.blogspot.com/
5. Carol A. Brown - http://connectwithcarolbrown.blogspot.com/
6. April Gardner - http://www.aprilwgardner.com/
7. Sue Russell – http://www.suerussellsblog.blogspot.com/
8. Thomas Blubaugh - http://tomblubaugh.net/
9. Susan F. Craft – http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com/
10. Heather Bixler – http://heatherbixler.com/
11. Joy Hannabass – http://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/
12. Deborah Bateman - http://www.DeborahHBateman.com
13. Kimberley Payne - http://www.fitforfaith.blogspot.com/
14. Rose McCauley – http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com
15. Lisa Lickel - http://livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com/
16. Alice J. Wisler - http://www.alicewisler.blogspot.com/
17. Amanda Stephan - http://www.thepriceoftrust.com/
18. Saundra Dalton – http://gracetolivefree.blogspot.com/
19. Tracy Krauss - http://www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com/
20. Ashley Wintters - http://ashleyschristianbookreviews.blogspot.com/
21. Deborah McCarragher - http://www.godmissionpossible.blogspot.com/
22. Lorilyn Roberts - http://lorilynroberts.blogspot.com/
23. Anita Estes - http://anita-thoughtsonchristianity.blogspot.com/
24. Martin Roth – http://www.military-orders.com
25. Kenneth Winters – http://www.lostcrownofcolonnade.com/
26. Eddie Snipes – http://www.eddiesnipes.com/
27. Diane Tatum - http://tatumlight-tatumsthoughts4today.blogspot.com/
28. Janalyn Voigt - http://janalynvoigt.com/
29. Alberta Sequeira – http://www.albertasequeira.wordpress.com/
30. Tammy Hill – http://tammyhillbooks.blogspot.com/p/blog-hop.html
31. Marcia Laycock – http://www.writer-lee.blogspot.com/
32. Nike Chillemi - http://nikechillemi.wordpress.com/
33. Elaine Marie Cooper - http://wp.me/PVo1a-1vM
34. Sidney W. Frost - http://christianbookmobile.blogspot.ca/2012/05/welcome-to-john-316-giveaway-blog-hop.html
35. Jairus B. King – http://ministerjking.blogspot.com
36. Bill Burt - http://kotbooks.blogspot.com/
37. Kathy Eberly - http://authorkathyeberly.blogspot.com/
38. Bob Saffrin - http://bobsaffrin.com/
39. Theresa Franklin - http://theresa-lifesjourney.blogspot.com/
40. Ray Lincoln - http://blog.raywlincoln.com/
41. Lilly Maytree - http://www.lillymaytree.blogspot.com/
42. Yvonne Pat Wright - http://www.spicetoeternity.co.uk/1/post/2012/05/come-blog-hopping-with-john-316-marketing-network-members-for-gifts-and-prizes.html
43. Pauline Creeden - http://fatfreefaith.blogspot.com/
44. Katherine Harms - http://livingontilt.wordpress.com
45. Brenda Wood - http://heartfeltdevotionals.wordpress.com/
46. Deborah Malone - http://deborahsbutterflyjourney.blogspot.com/
47. Melissa Main – http://www.mainwriters.com/
48. Kevin Main - http://mainchristianbooks.com/
49. Sandy Humphrey - http://www.kidscandoit.com/blog/
50. Felice Gerwitz - http://www.writingandpublishingblog.com/
51. Hallee Bridgeman - http://www.bridgemanfamily.com/hallee
52. Lisa Mills - http://www.authorlisamills.com/blog/

What's New At AllWriters'?

Want to write fiction? Want to write memoir? Want to write poetry? Learn how at AllWriters’ – in one day! WAUKESHA – Amazing author and teacher Jesse Lee Kercheval comes to AllWriters’ and does the impossible! Kercheval herself writes it all – fiction, memoir, poetry – and in one day, she’s going to teach you how as well! In Miniature Madness: A One Day Workshop in Three Genres, Kercheval encourages writers to do it all! This workshop uses in-class exercises to write miniature, but whole short-short stories, memoir pieces and poems. Designed to be supportive, productive and helpful for every level of writer, beginner to advanced, this one-day class is especially suited to writers who want to explore a new genre or to shake up and revitalize their writing by taking on new challenges. A one-page writing assignment (along with a helpful set of examples to read and inspire) will be sent in advance so students can hit the ground running (and writing). Be prepared to have your writing take off! Miniature Madness will take place on May 12, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event has a fee of $85, which includes lunch, catered by Café de Art! You can register by calling 262-446-0284, or going online at www.allwriters.org., click on Celebrity Saturdays. AllWriters’ is located at 234 Brook St., Unit 2, in Waukesha. JESSE LEE KERCHEVAL is the author of eleven books of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Her most recent books include the short novel Brazil, winner of the Ruthanne Wiley Novella Memorial Contest; the poetry collection Cinema Muto, winner of a Crab Orchard Open Selection Award; and The Alice Stories, winner of the the Prairie Schooner Fiction Book Prize. Her first story collection The Dogeater won the Associated Writing Programs Award in Short Fiction. Space, her memoir about growing up near Cape Kennedy during the moon race, won an Alex Award from the American Library Association. Her other books include The Museum of Happiness, Dog Angel, World as Dictionary and the writing textbook Building Fiction,. She is the Sally Mead Hands Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she was the founding director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing. AllWriters’ Workplace and Workshop offers on-site and online writing courses in all genres and abilities of creative writing, as well as coaching, editing, and marketing services. Kathie Giorgio Director, AllWriters' Workplace & Workshop LLC Author, "The Home For Wayward Clocks" 234 Brook St., Unit 2 Waukesha WI 53188 Phone: (262) 446-0284 AllWriters' Website: www.allwriters.org Kathie's Website: www.kathiegiorgio.org

Book Review: The Discovery by Dan Walsh

The Discovery
By Dan Walsh
Contemporary romance
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group
April 2012
ISBN: 9780800719814
$14.99

The best of contemporary and historical blend

Michael Warner’s family history goes no further back than famous author grandfather Gerard Warner. That fact never bothered Michael until his sister, Marilyn, makes a scene at the reading of Gramps’ will.

Then he was exasperated. When Gramps’ literary agent offers a ghost-written book deal for an exclusive biography, Michael gets nervous. He’d grown up both loving and in awe of Gramps, and it seems disrespectful trying to pry information out of the grave. Marilyn says their grandfather promised the secret of their family tree would come out after his death. But do they really want to know?

Michael’s bride, Jenn, suggests he use their inherited wealth and new home in Charleston, Gramps’ estate, to look around, see if there isn’t something he can find about the family while she’s away packing up their Florida apartment. Michael doesn’t need much encouragement and not long after he discovers Gramps’ typewriter case is more than what it appears. Gerard Warner’s life and reputation is left in Michael’s hands. Will he do the right thing?

The Discovery reveals a little-discussed, little-known case of espionage and terrorism in the United States during World War II. Mind-control, loyalty, fear, espionage and collusion would win Hitler new territory, or fail the Third Reich. But which part did Gerard Warner take? Hero to the Reich, or Hero to the US? And why?

An Impossible Love, Gramps’ last unpublished manuscript, can either bond the family or ruin the beloved image of long-time internationally-best-selling author, along with Michael’s dreams and desires to follow in his beloved Grandfather’s writing footsteps.

This is my favorite book of Dan Walsh’s. His style has matured to the point where he can wrap his readers in a soft old comforter and set us in front of a fire and weave a mesmerizing tale of the love of a good woman able to turn the world on an edge. Walsh has become comfortable in his ability to let his characters speak for themselves, even when they’re telling someone else’s story. “Say you’re going to make something of your life. Do something meaningful. Cure some disease. Break some work record. But don’t do it as Ben Coleman or Gerhard…whatever your last name is.”

Good advice for anyone in any age. Walsh is always spot-on with research and life during the era. This book felt less like a report and let us live his characters and their discoveries. Both a contemporary love story and historical, Walsh blends today and yesterday in luscious southern charm.

This post originally appeared on Bookshelf on Tilt


Meet Marcia Lacock, author of newly-released novel A Tumbled Stone
Posted on April 25, 2012

Katherine was thrilled to introduce her readers to Marcia Laycock, winner of the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone. As her newest book, A Tumbled Stone is released, she took the opportunity to ask her a few questions.

 

Katherine: Marcia, both of your books examine a major contemporary cultural issue. One side of the issue calls it “A woman’s right to choose.” The other side of the issue calls it “The human right to life.” It is a prickly subject both politically and socially. Why do you want to write about this subject?

Marcia: I believe this subject is close to the heart of God. He is always concerned about those who cannot speak for themselves or defend themselves. An unborn child is the epitome of this demographic. Unfortunately it is a subject that is too often swept under the rug, to use a cliché, and the innocent continue to suffer. I also wanted people to try to understand the stresses and difficulties a person with an unwanted pregnancy feels. I hope that after reading A Tumbled Stone the reader will have more compassion for these women.

Katherine: How did you come to be a writer?

Marcia: I started writing short stories and poems for my dolls. They didn’t complain so I kept it up. Then my aunt gave me a copy of Emily of New Moon for my eleventh birthday. I discovered you could call yourself a writer and determined that someday that’s what I’d be. It took many years but I published my first short story in 1990 and began writing articles for a local paper about that same time. I self published a compilation of my column in 2002 (a second edition was recently released), a second devotional book in 2005 and then my novel, One Smooth Stone won me the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award and was published. The sequel, A Tumbled Stone was just released by Word Alive Press.

Katherine: Tell us how you come up with characters. 

Marcia: Characters often grow out of something I hear or see. For instance, the main character in One Smooth Stone developed after a woman asked me a profound question – “Can you imagine what it would be like for someone to discover that his mother had tried to abort him?” I did imagine and the character of Alex Donnelly emerged. He’s very much a composite of many people I knew while living in the Yukon, in Canada’s western Arctic.

Andrea, the main character in A Tumbled Stone, developed slowly as the book unfolded. She too is a composite of many people I’ve known, young women in search of their own identities who struggle to make the right choices in their lives.

Katherine: Where do you write?

Marcia: I share an office in our home with my husband who is a pastor. We’re church planting right now, so we don’t have a church building where my husband would ordinarily go to work each day. It’s been an interesting adjustment and a challenge for us both as we sit back to back at our computers.

Katherine: What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, writing-related or not?

Marcia: I’m probably most proud and humbled of the fact that my husband and I, in spite of all our flaws somehow managed to raise three wonderful daughters who are a joy to us in many ways. God’s grace is evident in their lives and I’m very thankful for them. There was a time when I believed I would never have children (see my website for the story) so to have three beautiful daughters and now two great sons-in-law continues to amaze me.

Katherine: In your opinion, what is the greatest danger or pitfall in the life of a writer?

Marcia: Believing that it’s your talent that changes lives. I’ve had many people tell me amazing stories about how something I wrote changed them in some way. It’s important to remember that only God can do that. He uses our words to affect His purposes. We’re just being obedient in putting the words on paper. It’s an incredible privilege and blessing to be used in that way.

Katherine: Why did you choose to write this book?

Marcia: To be honest, initially it was because I had to write a sequel! But then as the book and the main character began to take shape in my head I got excited about what I could do with it. I wanted to write a book about a young woman struggling with an unwanted pregnancy and this gave me the opportunity.

Katherine: What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

Marcia: That writing is a ministry. It’s a hidden ministry that takes hours of sitting in a room alone but the end result can be lives changed for Christ.

Katherine: Tell me a little about A Tumbled Stone.

Marcia: Andrea Calvert had to run away. She couldn’t stay on the farm, shaming her parents. She couldn’t face being pregnant and alone. She would take care of this on her own. As she struggles to make life-changing decisions, Andrea discovers a diary and the wrenching story about her family’s dysfunction.

Katherine: How does this book minister to readers?

Marcia: I hope A Tumbled Stone will prove to be a healing book both to those who may have had an abortion or are considering one, as well as to those who feel passionately about this topic. I hope the readers will come to a deeper understanding of God’s grace and mercy that is extended to all of us.

Katherine: If I met you in an airport where we shared coffee over a table in a crowded food court, what would you want me to remember about you as we hurried to our separate gates to board our flights?

Marcia: I guess I would hope that you would remember me as a gracious person willing to listen and understand.

+ + +
The more I learn about the author of A Tumbled Stone the more I see the way scripture shapes her work. Marci’s favorite scripture is “Let us consider therefore how we may spur one another on to love and good deeds.” (Hebrew 10:24) This verse inspired the name of her blog and much of the direction of her books.

Learn more about Marcia at her website www.vinemarc.com or email her at Marcia@vinemarc.com

View the book trailer for One Smooth Stone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz1VG59-Aiw

                                       
You can purchase Marcia’s books at www.vinemarc.com or go to http://tinyurl.com/7xun8nv where you can also purchase any of her books.

Read other Interviews here:
http://connectwithcarolbrown.blogspot.com/
http://lorilynroberts.blogspot.com/2012/04/tumbled-stone-by-marcia-laycock.html

Free Kindle Book: Moses, Steps to a Life of Faith

Having trouble viewing this email? http://www.amazon.com/Moses-Steps-Life-Faith-ebook 
 Get your free Kindle ebook Thursday, April 26, through Saturday, April 28.

     



Free Kindle book by a John 316 Marketing Network author for your new Kindle reader

To join the John 316 Marketing Network as a reader, click on the link. There will be future free offerings just like this one for subscribers.

Location: To submit application or learn more, click here


Moses, Steps to a Life of Faith 
by  Bob Saffrin

...traces Moses' life showing how God used an ordinary man and shaped the events of his life to bring him to the place where he could be mightily used to accomplish God's purposes. This book is about how God built faith into a man.

God is a dreamer. One day He had a dream and then He thought to Himself, "Who will I get to fulfill this dream?" And then He made you. He created you to fulfill a dream. You are made for a purpose. 

Moses, Steps to a Life of Faith, is about knowing God's dream for your life and believing Him to accomplish it in you. This could be the most exciting thing that's ever happened to you. To enter into God's plan for your life is to become the person He made you to be and to finally find the fulfillment and joy that you have been seeking your whole life.

MOSES, Steps to a Life of Faith 
Treat yourself, you deserve it, and don't miss out on this one-time offer!

Our Price: $00.00 Thursday to Saturday, April 26 to April 28, at Amazon

Get your Free Copy by Clicking on this Link!

I invite those who read the book to post a review on Amazon.

You can reach me by email at bobsaffrin@gmail.com and on my blog 

~Bob Saffrin

About the Author:
Bob Saffrin lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with Barb, his wife of 45 years and their beagle Rocky.  Bob and Barb have two children and four grandchildren. Bob loves the outdoors and has been on many backpacking trips in the rugged Boundary Waters area of Minnesota including winter camping. 
In his 20s, Bob began a fascination with the Bible.  After reading the New Testament several times and convinced that God had died on the cross to save him, Bob asked Jesus into his life and began a wonderful lifelong relationship.  His fascination with the Bible became a love for God and for his word. 

Bob has been teaching and preaching for over 35 years as a Bible teacher and pastor. He has also lead teams to India for short term missions trips for 10 years. Retired from pastoring now, Bob's passion now is to share the insights that God has given him over the years with a broader following using the written word.

 BONUS OFFER

Taste and See, A Sampling of First Chapters 

 free on KINDLE! I can't guarantee for how long, but check it out before it is too late!

Get $2.99 Nook ebook of Taste and See
Get free Kindle ebook of Taste and See
Check out the John 316 Marketing Network Blog

 Enjoy TASTE AND SEE video

A Visit With Diana Brandmeyer

Christian author Diana Lesire Brandmeyer writes historical and contemporary romances. She’s also written We’re Not Blended-We’re Pureed, A Survivor’s Guide to Blended Families. Once widowed and now remarried, she writes with humor and experience on the difficulty of joining two families.

Visit her blog

and Twitter @dianabrandmeyer

Facebook 

A Bride’s Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee

Heaven’s Stolen His Heart

After witnessing the ravages of the Civil War, Travis Logan vowed to give up doctoring. But when fellow steamboat passenger Caleb Wharton collapses at his feet, Travis knows he must lend his aid. As the old man lies dying, he makes Travis promise to take care of his land and find Heaven. Travis can’t help but wonder what Heaven has to do with a real place, so he heads to Caleb’s farm to fulfill his promise.

Weeks of facing marauders and caring for her father’s home have finally taken their toll on Heaven Wharton. When an unknown young man charges the house, Heaven attempts to fire a warning shot but ends up shooting the man instead. Shocked, she and her sister, Angel, drag a semi-conscious Travis into the house and nurse him back to health.

As Travis and Heaven both struggle to control their destinies, will they learn that only a heart that follows God can ever find peace on earth? - Book coming this spring.

We’re Not Blended, We’re Pureed A Survivor’s Guide to Blended Families

By Diana Lesire Brandmeyer and March C. Lintvedt

Can two families learn to cohabitate? In peace? Ever?

Combine:
One widowed mom with two sons.
One widowed dad with one son.
Blend for 20 seconds until right consistency.
But hit the wrong button, and this family is not blended-we’re pureed!
Are you terrified that you’ve turned into a vision of the fairy-tale wicked stepparent?
Do you paste on a smile and pretend your family is a vision of 1950s Main Street America, while at home the battle lines are etched in the driveway and signed with the kid’s initials?
Don’t dismay. God is with you. This engaging, readable book is held together with humor, liberally peppered with informative commentary, and includes clinically sound information and proven communication tools. Find real-world advice to help you when your own words fail.

Holy Humor, Batman!

April is Holy Humor Month 

 

By Deborah DeArmond

 

The month of April is in fact, the time set aside to celebrate a good chuckle, a guffaw or a hearty laugh as part of a faith-filled life. It’s Holy Humor Month!

 

The Bible is clear that God believes humor should be on the agenda as a healthy habit. Proverbs 17:22 NKJ “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”

 

The word “laugh” or “laughter” is mentioned in the Bible approximately 200 times. Much of that laughter falls into some categories that do not feed our hearts like medicine. Consider if you will:

• The laugh of unbelief. Sarah, who laughs at the idea of having a child in her 90’s. (Gen 18:11-12, 15)
• The laughter of a fool. God compares the laughter of a fool to the thorns afire beneath a pot – he is so foolish he laughs and doesn’t even see his end coming. (Ecc 7:6)
• The laughter of derision. Often this is related to God’s amusement at the foolishness of man in spiritual things. (Ps 2:1-4, Prov 1:24-26)
• But the fourth type of laughter is a healthy expression and brings to our lives richness, like medicine. He has given us many reasons to laugh! Here are a few good examples of why God’s people can have a good laugh:
• Lack of fear. “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” (Prov 31:25 NLT)
• Happiness and connection. “Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down.” (Rom 12:15 MSG)
• Joy. “God will let you laugh again; you'll raise the roof with shouts of joy.”  (Job 8:21 MSG)
• Relief. “Good people will watch and worship. They’ll laugh in relief.” (Ps 52:6 MSG)
• God is acting on our behalf. “When the righteous see God in action they'll laugh, they'll sing, they'll laugh and sing for joy.” (Psalm 68:3 MSG)
• Good fortune. “We laughed, we sang, we couldn't believe our good fortune. We were the talk of the nations—'God was wonderful to them!' ” (Ps 126:2 MSG)
• It is a gift to God. “Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.” (Ps 100:2 MSG)
• There is a time for laughter, according to the Ecclesiastes 3:4 “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”

 

In other words, while life here on this planet is no joke, there are times when laughter is appropriate, healthy and pleasing to God. 

 

So tune up those vocal chords and let loose a giggle or guffaw, a chortle or chuckle, a snicker, a snort or a shout. Let it fly and exclaim to the world the JOY of the Lord!

 

Bio: Deborah DeArmond is an experienced and sought-after coach, trainer and speaker, having worked with audiences at all levels. She has 30 years of expertise, training and teaching in the areas of relationship, communication and conflict resolution. Known for her dynamic style and ability to engage her audiences with a sense of fun along with her direct style, Deborah mixes creativity, humor, and insight and delivers her message on point every time.

 

Deborah is co-founder and featured author at MyPurposeNow.org, an online site for Christian women 50+. Additionally she is a featured author for two online magazines, Destiny in Bloom and Living Better at 50. She is a CLASSEMINARS, Inc. graduate.

 

Israeli Anthology Selects American’s Poem

Los Angeles, CA--Carolyn Howard-Johnson's poem “Sympathizing with Tantalus” was published in Voices Israel 2012 poetry anthology.

Editor Johnmichael Simon says, “This promises to be one of our most diverse and exciting anthologies and contains more than 220 poems from Israel and overseas.” It also includes the winning entries of the 2011 Reuben Rose Competition and details for entering the 2012 competition. See our website www.voicesisrael.com . Voices will be released in June of 2012.
Voices is affiliated with Cross-Cultural Communications in New York; World Poetry, Vancouver; and University English in Israel.

Howard-Johnson has studied at UCLA with Suzanne Lummis, editor of Speechless the Magazine (http://www.speechlessthemagazine.org ) which featured her chapbook Tracings (Finishing Line Press). Her poem “Endangered Species” won the Franklin Christoph prize and her chapbooks have been honored by MyShelf.com, The Compulsive Reader, and Military Writers Society of America.

She also coauthored the Celebration Series of chapbooks with Magdalena Ball. Find them at http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/poetry_books.htm. Here is an excerpt from the poem that combines the unfathomable beauty and complexity of the universe with the time-honored myth.

Science challenged, I manage
            with Achenbach's translations,
                        KC Cole's poetic file-folders
                                    for the cosmic-impaired.

Like Tantalus, I grapple
            exhausted,
                        forever
                                    thirsty,
            fruit I desire beyond my reach.
 

Learn more about Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s creative work at http://carolynhoward-johnson.com.

Triumph Through Trial, Theresa Franklin's new novel

Triumph Through TrialBy Theresa Franklin

About the Story:

The stress of living a dream public persona and a nightmare private reality threatens to destroy a family unit, taking each member in its wake. Through a variety of physical and emotional weapons, one by one they will crumble.

Cynthia is beautiful, educated, secretary of the church, and happily married with wonderful children. She is an accomplished hostess and the picture of Christian love. She has the perfect marriage and life—well, not exactly perfect. Her husband, children, church members, and life in general seem to get in the way of her perfect life. Feeling robbed of the life she so richly deserves, Cynthia lashes out and her family pays the price.

Michael is successful, educated, and deacon of the church with wonderful children. Michael and his children have a close relationship. They count on him for advice, guidance, and unconditional love. Serving God is one of Michael’s greatest joys. He and his children delight in helping others. Michael loves every part of his life except for his marriage, which is stressful and unfulfilling to say the least.
Karen is the eldest child and bears the brunt of emotional destruction welded by her mother. Kevin is the only male offspring and uses humor and sarcasm as shields to protect himself. Kathy, the youngest, is sweet and seldom is a victim in the war, but lately watching the slow erosion of her family is taking a physical toll on her.

Michael longs for the marriage that Cynthia believes they have and dreams of providing a safe haven for their children. After twenty-five years of marriage, Michael is losing hope of his dream becoming reality. Can he match the public persona and the private reality? What will it cost to get that kind of marriage and home-life? Is it worth the cost? Who will pay the cost?

About Theresa:

Theresa Franklin grew up in Houston, Texas. After graduation she attended East Texas Baptist College. There she met her husband on a blind date. They married a short time later and moved outside of Beaumont, Texas where they raised their three children. 

Theresa taught school for 12 years. Students with disabilities won her heart and she became Director of Special Education in an effort to better serve them. She retired in 2010 and began writing children’s books. She has now broadened her skills and written for adults.

Theresa is the author of children’s books, Don’t Forget Daddy and A Sunny Tomorrow. Her adult books include non-fiction Journey to Fulfillment and fiction Triumph Through Trial.  She has written one curriculum guide for the novel Night of the Cossack, a historical fiction for young adults by Tom Blubaugh, titled Night of the Cossack, Lesson Plan. Soon to be released is another adult fiction titled Reflections of Rosalyn.

Theresa is now making plans to build a new house that will serve her and her husband for many years to come. She is looking forward to moving to her chosen community and becoming active in the local church. That won’t be possible until after her daughter’s wedding in June.

Theresa Franklin
http://theresa-lifesjourney.blogspot.com
http://storiesforchrist.com
http://twitter.com/#!/theres2franklin
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000359278111

Other Books
Journey to Fulfillment
Don't Forget Daddy
A Sunny Tomorrow

Random Inspiration with FunMistress Shellie Neumeier

Random Inspiration with Shellie Neumeier

Mark Twain once told a reporter he loved taking notes during dinner parties. Notes not of business ventures, directions, or financial advice, but of stories, gossip, and banter. From real life came Twain's inspiration. I think we'd have gotten along famously.

I write young adult and tween fiction because those are the people I spend most of my time with. I listen to their conversations as I chauffeur them from practice to games to friends' houses. Their lives become animated in the stories they tell of their school days and overnights. If that isn't enough to inspire the most fantastical fiction, their imaginations are. Simply asking a ten year old what type of adventure they'd like to take or what world would they make, brings setting and plot inspiration in heaps.

Of course there's nothing like people watching to add creativity to one's characters. Last summer I spent four hours with a girl, no older than twenty, maybe twenty-two, as she tattooed my ankle. (That's a tale for another telling.) She talked about her gruff grandfather, a former naval officer, who thought colored tattoos where not of the same caliber as the old greenish ones. Her voice softened as she spoke of her mother and quickened when she mentioned her boyfriend. And the lack of any fatherly stories spoke volumes. She became the inspiration for a dystopian heroine in my current work in progress.

If all else fails, there's always the grocery store. So many characters, so many products with their miracle cures and what-if invoking promises that it would be hard not to find inspiration for someone, something, some adventure within. So where do I find the inspiration for my fiction? By watching and listening and asking questions. Or as my husband would say, "No one and nothing is safe from [my] writing."

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

Hands down, meeting other authors is the best experience writing has provided. Not only have I been able to rub elbows with folks I viewed as “writing rock stars,” but I’ve learned that authors are some of the quirkiest, sweetest, funniest, strangest people you’d ever love to meet. There’s never a dull conversation when talking to authors!

2. If you could do anything you want, what would it be?

Ooooh, anything?? Can I live at the spa and have other people clean my house while I read great works of literature (or chick lit, depends on the day)? No, wait. On second thought I’d rather spend a week on an island with my family and friends. How cool would that be, to bask in the sun, explore island cities, and play in the turquoise waters. Yup, that’s what I’d want to do.

3. What’s the most exotic place you’ve traveled?

Exotic might be an interesting adjective to describe Poland, but it is the most foreign community I ever visited. Especially considering the timing of my visit. The Iron Curtain held firm and stretched its shadow across the Polish borders. Everything from the people to the weather seemed grey and saddened.

4. What do you see outside the closest window right now?

The trees in my front yard are swaying in the breeze while two brown birds (type unknown) skitter through the overgrown grass. If I watch long enough, my neighbor’s dog will bounce about their front lawn. She’s a boxer and never seems to run or walk. She bounces.

5. What do you tell people when they ask “and what do you do?”

I tell them I’m a cashier at Walgreens. I am. I used to tell them I write, but that statement seemed to complicate things. They’d tell me about their latest writing projects or how their Aunt Bertha wrote a memoir and wants to get it published, did I know anyone who could help her **winks.** Sometimes they’d get super impressed and ask me what I’d written and where they could find copies. That was cool, until they got to know me better and discovered I’m like everyone else. No need to be super impressed. Now I save the “I’m an author” for some time deeper in our conversation or relationship. Seems to fit better that way.

6. Where’s your favorite place to grocery shop?

Hmm, favorite place would have to be the farmer’s markets. Doesn’t matter where, as long as it’s fresh. Veggies never tasted so good, you know. Oh and the fresh cheese and baked goods, yum. Wow, thanks Lisa, now I’m hungry and it’s March! J.

7. What, to you, is worship?

I’d love to have an amazing answer here, but worship to me is pretty simple. To me, worship is giving myself completely to God. Whether that’s singing, ministry, cashiering, motherhood, wifedom, it’s all in there as long as I’m doing it for God.


The Wishing Ring (book one in the Adventures of Cory and Ally),
published by MuseItYoung, ASIN: B0073UHRM4
Buy it on Amazon

The King’s Seal (book two), published by MuseItYoung
To be released 12/2012
Other books by Shellie:
Driven,a YA supernatural book from Risen Books
available from Amazon
and A Summer in Oakville, a romance, from BlackLyon Publishing
available from Amazon

Blog Hop NEWS! Win a Kindle!

Only one month to go until the John 3:16 Giveaway Blog Hop –

May 7^th – 14^th!

Join over fifty authors and bloggers who will be offering great books and other prizes on their blogs during that week. As a reader, you just “hop” from blog to blog and sign up to win some great prizes at each blog.

But wait…you also have a chance of winning one of two Kindles!

How’s that for fun?

Tell all your friends and join us May 7^th – 14^th for the

John 3:16 Marketing Network Giveaway Blog Hop!

Releasing Today: the next Triple Threat Club murder mystery

This time, it's one of their own.

Eyes of Justice, a Triple Threat Novel

By Lis Wiehl, with April Henry

Inspirational Suspense

Thomas Nelson

c. 2012

ISBN: 9781404163537

ISBN: 9781595547088 - hardcover

$14.84

Stepping into the fourth title of this series is like meeting old friends and being utterly shocked by the turn of events. I am torn about reading the first books.

An FBI agent, a federal prosecutor, and a local Portland Oregon television news crime reporter have a special relationship, and together they call themselves the “Triple Threat Club.” There are lines not to cross, sources and resources to share, family problems and faith, and deep commitment to justice amongst them—and now, someone is out to seek revenge on all of them.

Cassidy Shaw is a bundle of energy, seesawing through an exciting life of revolving boyfriends, recognition as a local celebrity, the high stakes of investigating and reporting on criminal activity. To her friends Nicole Hedges, a single mother, and Allison Pierce, she’s the former cheerleader who loves an audience as much as putting a sleazebag behind bars. When Cassidy is super-late to dinner, the girls are shocked to their core at the reason.

The balance of this novel is a challenging investigation involving Nicole pushing the limits of her new boss in the local FBI field office and her career as she forces and fast-talks her way into the middle of an investigation which is clearly not hers. The fact that the local cops may have reason not to be as cautious as Nicole might be only fuels her determination to find justice. Allison is in similar hot water in her office when her boss, who is considering seeking higher elected office, receives a complaint from the police for meddling in police business. But how can they ignore evidence, especially when it appears they’re next? Tragic murder, a framed cop, a stalker, a stripper, and an emotionally detached skip tracer all provide pieces of the puzzle that make up the Eyes of Justice.

Fully developed characters that feel familiar, excellent without being overwhelming detail and breath-taking action will keep the reader turning pages. Told in the viewpoints of Nicole and Allison, the authors occasionally introduce other point of view characters beginning half-way into the story which aren’t entirely necessary to advance the story, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. Those who enjoy Lynette Eason and Vickie Hinz and other female crime investigator novels will love the Triple Threat novels.

An electronic copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.

New From Delia Latham - Gypsy's Game

Book 3 in The Solomon's Gate series

Gypsy Lovell stands to inherit an enormous amount of money from a father who never gave her anything but a ridiculous name. Even now, he doesn’t make it easy. A stipulation in the man’s will demands that Gypsy be married in order to claim what is hers.

Desperate for the monetary windfall that could save her ailing mother’s life, Gypsy visits a Christian dating agency, hoping to find a temporary husband. Someone easy to handle for the required six months, and easy to get rid of when she no longer needs him.

Jal Garridan is neither of those things, but he's willing to take on the challenge presented by the beautiful stranger—on his own terms.

What Gypsy doesn’t know is that Solomon’s Gate is a dating agency with a Divine connection. What she finds there may save more than her mother’s life. It may save Gypsy’s soul.

I'm so excited about this finale to the Solomon's Gate books, and look forward to hearing what you think of it. :)

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble