Monday, May 14, 2012

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

Monday, May 7, 2012

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 DoveWord 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 Russellhttp://www.suerussellsblog.blogspot.com/
  8. Thomas Blubaugh - http://tomblubaugh.net/
  9. Susan F. Crafthttp://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com/
  10. Heather Bixlerhttp://heatherbixler.com/
  11. Joy Hannabasshttp://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/
  12. Deborah Bateman - http://www.DeborahHBateman.com
  13. Kimberley Payne - http://www.fitforfaith.blogspot.com/
  14. Rose McCauleyhttp://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 Daltonhttp://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 Rothhttp://www.military-orders.com
  25. Kenneth Wintershttp://www.lostcrownofcolonnade.com/
  26. Eddie Snipeshttp://www.eddiesnipes.com/
  27. Diane Tatum - http://tatumlight-tatumsthoughts4today.blogspot.com/
  28. Janalyn Voigt - http://janalynvoigt.com/
  29. Alberta Sequeirahttp://www.albertasequeira.wordpress.com/
  30. Tammy Hill – http://tammyhillbooks.blogspot.com/p/blog-hop.html
  31. Marcia Laycockhttp://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. Kinghttp://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 Mainhttp://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/

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

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 CafĂ© 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

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Book Review: The Discovery by Dan Walsh

Product Details

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.

Friday, April 27, 2012

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

Thursday, April 26, 2012

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


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

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


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.