Tuesday, November 12, 2024

The Wanderer Scorned by Natasha Woodcraft

About the Book

Book: The Wanderer Scorned

Author: Natasha Woodcraft

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Release date: March, 2024

“It all started with the banishment. As soon as the truth was known about their disobedience, my parents were driven from the Garden planted for them by the LORD God, Yahweh Elohim. A garden pleasing to the eye and filled with every kind of food. Yet for them, it had not been enough.”

Kayin lives in the shadow of his parent’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden and its lingering cloud of shame. He believes in the Creator but struggles for affirmation. When suffering comes and sibling rivalry threatens, Kayin wrestles with God, grasping at shards of faith. But his cries drown in the noise of his own doubts and fears, until his youthful faith lies shattered, replaced by a twisted dance of pride and jealousy.

As Kayin spirals further, misunderstandings within the family dynamic dominate, and whispers of temptation slither through the cracks. Then a chance at redemption presents itself. With flames of forbidden love still raging hot, Kayin and his brother bring sacrifices to Yahweh.

No one foresees the resulting tragedy.

The Wanderer Scorned is the first instalment in The Wanderer Biblical fiction series, immersing readers in the world of Genesis 4. This exploration of the first murder brings the Bible to life in a fresh way, delving into the character of the Creator God and His earliest interactions with humankind.

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.

Author Interview

● What was your process to align your book with your target audience?

I sort of failed at this! Ha ha. I wrote about Cain & Abel because I felt the Lord prompting me to write it, only to realize it’s really tough to find an audience for. It’s technically Biblical fiction, but it goes far beyond that, as an exploration of God’s character and His interactions with the very first humans. Because the maincharacter is an anti-hero figure, it’s also unique! I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to write to market. Those who love it, love it, but not everyone will, and that’s ok.

● What was the most challenging part of writing your book?

Presenting Kayin (Cain) as a character that people could relate to and engage with, even though he’s the “bad guy” and we know the outcome of his story. We know the what, but we don’t know the why. A lot of scripture is like this: we’re told such and such happened, and God leaves it up to us to figure out why and how, and what lessons we’re to draw from that. This requires a closeness to Him that study alone can’t produce, a dwelling with the Holy Spirit. That excites me, but also challenges me.

● What was the most enjoyable part of writing your book?

I love delving deep into the Bible and asking those big questions. Writing a whole series based on Genesis 4 has given me opportunity to spend five years in one chapter of the Bible – reading, praying, researching and repeat. It’s hugely impactedme and drawn me into a greater understanding of the Scriptures and a closer relationship with Jesus, the living Word. My prayer’s that it will do so for you, too.

● Are any of your characters based off of yourself or those close to you?

They’re based off my understanding of the text and the name meanings. Biblical names often reveal something about the character, and I weave this into the story. For example, Abel means “breath”. This alludes to his short life but also, another word for breath is “Ruach,” which is the Hebrew word for the Spirit of God, suggesting Abel was imbued with God’s Spirit, and that’s why he knew what to sacrifice. I love transporting my readers back in time by using the Hebrew rather than English names (hence Kayin rather than Cain), but the characters themselves definitely bear relation to people I know. I’m not going to reveal who though. That would be telling!

● Do you have a favorite time of day you are most productive in your writing?

I’m a morning girl! However, I rarely get the chance to write early anymore because I have 4 kids to get to school and loads of animals to feed. So, it has to fit around them all. I am constantly needing God’s grace in this, as I’d far rather be writing than anything else ;-)

● What is your next big goal as an author?

The Wanderer’s Legacy is releasing in the spring. It’s based on the end of Genesis 4, about Lamech and his two wives. Imagine being the first woman whose husband takes a second wife? I’m exploring that from Adah’s point of view, and how patriarchy and polygamy first crept into the world. It has so many lessons for today. I’d love many people to engage with it and explore the scriptures with me.At

About the Author

Natasha Woodcraft lives in a slightly crumbling farmhouse in the UK with her family of boys and menagerie of animals. She holds an honours degree in Theology and believes stories have power to communicate deep truth and transform lives. Also a songwriter, Natasha peppers her emotional prose with poetry and song.

More from Natasha

Q & A with Natasha Woodcraft

You’re an Author from the UK. Tell me more about that.

That’s right. I’m a Brit, which is great but has its challenges, like negotiating single quotation marks! There’s a massive lack of Christian fiction here. It’s not stocked in secular bookstores, there are few Christian bookstores left, and there aren’t many big conventions or publishers. I’m part of a team passionate about changing the landscape. We offer support services to authors and publishing services. Please pray for us and our country, and support British writers if you can.

Who do you share your home with?

My husband, Ben, and four sons ranging from 15 to 7. Plus a dog, 2 cats, 3 goats, 9 chickens and 16 quail (though they don’t all live in the house.) It can get a little crazy…

Sounds like it. How do you find time to write?

Good question. My mornings are usually taken up with feeding/cleaning kids and animals. My afternoons with working for the family business or publishing house. Before tea, I’ll be out picking vegetables and pulling weeds – we try to grow as much as we can ourselves. Writing gets squeezed into late nights, early mornings and quieter days. It’s my downtime and my favorite time spent with Jesus.

You write Bible-based fiction. What specifically?

The Wanderer Series is based on the story of Cain & Abel in Genesis 4. It came about because I woke up one morning wondering what prompted the first murder (no kidding; my brain is weird.) I’d been pondering Jesus’ words about murder and anger in the Sermon on the Mount and praying about what I should write for a while. Suddenly, I knew it had to be a reimagining of Cain’s story – from his perspective.

Hang on. From Cain’s perspective?

Yeah. Though there’s certainly a place for them, I personally dislike stories that are too simplistic. Where bad guys are really bad and good guys are really good – that kind of thing. The Bible teaches us that we all need grace (especially me), and as regards Cain – I don’t think he was much different to any of us. Writing from his perspective gave me opportunity to spend a lot of time in the Word of God, exploring Cain’s slide into sin in a way that challenged me to examine my own heart.

That’s some heavy stuff. Did you have any background that helped you tackle this story?

Sure. I have a degree in Theology, and I’ve also studied English Literature and Creative writing. Mostly though, it was a case of leaning heavily into what God wanted to teach me through this book and hoping some of that resonated with my readers. The reviews so far say it has!

What would you say to those questioning whether Bible-based fiction is right for them?

I totally understand the fear surrounding this genre. I felt it myself when I started writing and that was something I had to take to God and trust Him with. “Is it even ok to write these stories?” I asked.

Essentially though, it isn’t much different to a sermon. It’s exegesis and expansion of the scripture, just presented differently: in fiction rather than non-fiction. I’ve researched, covered my writing in prayer, and had pastors check my work. I’m super careful about handling scripture faithfully but state where the story comes from my imagination. It isn’t intended to replace the Bible. Quite the opposite – I hope it will inspire people to pick the Bible up. I even include an appendix that explains decisions I made, and study questions, at the back.

My hope and prayer is that Jesus will be glorified as lives are touched by this ancient story reimagined. If you’re still not sure, why not give The Wanderer Scorned a go? You don’t know until you try…

Blog Stops

A Reader’s Brain, November 13 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, November 13

Back Porch Reads, November 14 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 15

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 16 (Author Interview)

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 18

Fiction Book Lover, November 19 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, November 20 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, November 21 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 21

Guild Master, November 22 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, November 23 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 24 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Natasha is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5496

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown by Xochitl Dixon

About the Book

Book: Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown

Author: Xochitl Dixon

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Release date: October 1, 2024

Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown, follows a young boy on a joyously affirming adventure that celebrates all shades of brown, from the darkest to the lightest.

From new school desks to freckles and moles, from fresh pastries to cedar canoes, brown is everywhere around us. God created and used brown to color the giant California redwoods, the Grand Canyon walls, busy beavers building dams, great horned owls hoo-hooing, and his image-bearers.

Everywhere that I go
I’m searching to see
something wonderfully, marvelously
brown—just like you and like me!

Illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor Award artist Sara Palacios and written by Xochitl Dixon, Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown takes kids on a tour of the U.S. to seek and find all the brilliant and beautiful shades of brown—from ivory to ebony—that God created. Readers will be encouraged to love the skin tone God chose for them as they observe how the spectacular shades of brown are reflected in their communities and the world around them.

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.

Author Interview

1. What was the most challenging part of writing your book?

Researching the brown things, choosing which ones to use for the book, and writing meaningful rhymes were the most challenging things to do, though I enjoyed the process.

2. How do you weave Biblical truths into your writing?

Before I even begin writing a book, God gives me Bookend Bible Verses. These verses are the foundational truth on which I build my stories. The first verse is where I begin my story. The final verse is the last message I want the reader to experience ̶ God’s words not mine, because His Word is life-transforming. The Bookend Bible Verses are so much a part of the books I write that the pages are illustrated.

3. Are any of your characters based off of yourself or those close to you?

Everything I write comes from a personal place, no matter what genre I am writing, so my characters are often a combination of myself and the people God places in my life.

4. Was your writing process spontaneous as it came to you or very planned and organized? Why?

I know the whole story, where I’m starting and going before I begin writing. While brainstorming, I write a skeleton outline. However, I leave that outline open to change as I prayerfully write the first draft.

5. Do you have a favorite time of day you are most productive in your writing?

I live with chronic pain and fatigue, so I write whenever I feel well. This can happen anywhere at any time, not always in convenient places or at reasonable hours of the day or night. However, no matter where or when I am writing, I enjoy coffee and Dove milk chocolate nearby to help me stay focused on work.

About the Author

Xochitl (So-Cheel) Dixon, author of Waiting for God: Trusting Him for the Answers to Your Prayers, is a regular contributor for Our Daily Bread, the bestselling God Hears Her compilations and blog, and Tyndale’s NLT Go Bible for Kids (September 2024). Equipping readers to grow closer to God while nurturing an authentic loving community, she shares biblical encouragement, celebrates ethnic diversity, and advocates for disability awareness with her beautifully diverse family and her service dog, Callie, featured in the 2021 ECPA Christian Book Award Children’s Book Finalist Different Like Me, Diferente como yo, What Color is God’s Love? and Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown.

More from Xochitl

I’m a first-generation Mexican American raised by Spanish-speaking immigrant grandparents and parents, who taught me to be invisible and believed assimilation would lead to a better life for me. The racism and colorism I experienced throughout my life caused me to grapple with my identity, self-worth, and my sense of belonging. However, I was in third grade the first time I stood against injustice. In my teen years, my passion for celebrating ethnic diversity and standing against injustice while advocating for disability awareness and inclusion grew.

Then, in 1994, I married a man who shared my passions. As a first-generation Mexican American raised by immigrant parents and grandparents, a wife to a Black man, a stepmother to a Black son, and a mother of a biracial son, my commitment to stand against racial injustice became even more personal.

I submitted my life to Christ in 2001 and began asking the Holy Spirit to make me more like Jesus. That same year, after a student used a racial slur toward our biracial son, I wrote Different Like Me.

As God empowered me to love Him and my neighbors with a healthy and holy perspective, God began to grow our beautifully diverse family. My youngest granddaughter, whose father is Black, shared that kids teased her because she doesn’t look like her sisters, who share the same white father. I assured her that the melanin God uses to color all skin is brown, from the lightest to the darkest shades. Then, I told her that I would be writing Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown.

In 2020, Our Daily Bread published Different Like Me. As I edited What Color is God’s Love? and Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown, God continued affirming that He did not create the divisive and oppressive systems that label His image-bearers as “white” or “black” and feed the ignorance of racism or colorism. Instead, He designed melanin to include every spectacular shade of brown from the darkest ebony to the lightest ivory, even in those He created with birth marks, vitiligo, and albinism.

God intentionally selected every skin tone for every person He created and loves, His image-bearers. He calls every shade of brown good, including the shade of brown He used when He created you and me. As we celebrate our God-designed ethnic diversity, we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ as we love God and all our neighbors together.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, October 28 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 29

Lots of Helpers, October 30

Guild Master, October 31 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, November 1

Leslie’s Library Escape, November 1

Texas Book-aholic, November 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 3

Fiction Book Lover, November 4 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 6

A Reader’s Brain, November 7 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, November 8

Labor Not in Vain, November 9

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Xochitl is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5480/

Monday, November 4, 2024

The Locket’s Revenge by LE Richmond

About the Book

Book: The Locket’s Revenge (Chronicles of the Undersea Realm Book 2)

Author: L. E. Richmond

Genre: YA Fantasy (Little Mermaid Retelling)

Release date: October 22, 2024

A Trinket Could Unleash a Tempest

Locklyn Adair thought that finding the Sea Enchantress would lift her family’s curse. But the ramifications of her desire for a tail reach further than she could ever have dreamed. Now the entire Undersea Realm is in peril, as Circe, armed with the locket capable of controlling the Loch Ness monster, journeys to the North Sea in pursuit of revenge.

Darin Aalto’s specialty is tracking down treasure. When it looks as though a magical locket has fallen into evil hands, he joins Locklyn and her crew on an expedition to recover it, hoping to find a key to his past identity along the way. Despite having no memory of the Mermaid leading the quest, he wonders if she was more than a friend all along.

As a vengeful enchantress, fiery monster, and impending war threaten the Undersea Realm, Locklyn and Darin must decide what they are willing to sacrifice in order to stop the locket’s revenge.

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.

Author Interview

How do you weave Biblical truths into your writing?

○ I try my best to write a good story and let the Biblical truths enter as organically as possible. But all of my books have a Creator referenced in some form because I strongly believe that any world without a Creator is impossible. The other common element in all my stories is redemption. None of my books end in despair because I know that nothing is beyond God’s reach, and I want my writing to reflect that.

● Was your writing process spontaneous as it came to you or very planned and organized? Why?

○ I am definitely a pantser. My usual process for book writing is to jot a bunch of random notes on the back of an envelope and then start writing. This is mostly due to my personality since I don’t tend to be super organized, but it is also because I love the process of drafting, so when I get a new story idea I can’t wait to jump into it.

● Do you have a favorite time of day you are most productive in your writing?

○ I have three little children, and my most consistent time to write is in the afternoon during their naptime.

● How many books do you personally own?

○ About three bookshelves worth (however many that is 😊).

○

● What is your next big goal as an author?

○ My next big goal as an author is to win a major award. The Mermaid’s Tale was a finalist for the Carol Awards this year, and I would really love to someday see a shiny gold sticker on one of my books.

About the Author

L.E. Richmond was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest by an American writing teacher and a German bookseller. Her childhood largely consisted of imagining stories for her Playmobil

characters and checking out as many books from the library as would fit on six library cards. Now she spends her time chasing three little Muggles, reading aloud to the hazel-eyed young man who has her heart, and attempting to transfer the stories in her head into words for others. Her passion is for words and stories that thrill the soul, and she is endlessly amazed by the One who not only used words to bring this world into being but also crafted the most epic story of all time.

More from L.E.

Somebody is going to die. But they didn’t at first.

Minor spoiler alert, a character is going to die near the end of The Locket’s Revenge. But in my first draft of this story, this person didn’t die. It wasn’t until I was going back through and trying to flesh out the book a bit that I realized that this character needed to die. My family knows that I am a discovery writer, but they still laughed when I told them how so-and-so squeaked through alive on the first draft, but the death sentence came in the second one. To me, this is actually one of the most fun things about being a discovery writer. During the drafting process, I get to experience the story for the first time, just like any reader. Most of the time, I don’t actually know what is going to happen next. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, October 31

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 1 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, November 1

Artistic Nobody, November 2 (Spotlight)

Fiction Book Lover, November 3 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 4

A Reader’s Brain , November 5 (Author Interview)

Inklings and notions, November 6

Simple Harvest Reads, November 7 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, November 8

Stories By Gina, November 9 (Author Interview)

Min Read and Reviews, November 9

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 10

Holly’s Book Corner, November 11

Guild Master, November 12 (Spotlight)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, November 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, L.E. is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5483

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Unison Parenting by Cecil Taylor

About the Book

Book: Unison Parenting: The Comprehensive Guide to Navigating Christian Parenthood with One Voice

Author: Cecil Taylor

Genre: Parenting/Family, more specifically Christian Parenting

Release date: September 17, 2024

Singing in unison is when all voices sing the same note, at the same time, to emphasize the text. Similarly, families need to parent in unison to emphasize the message they want to send to their children.

Cecil Taylor uses his personal parenting experience, and those of the families he’s taught and ministered to over decades, to create unique foundational strategies for unison parenting within a Christian context. Learn how to stay on the same page throughout the trials of parenting, provide children with a solid faith foundation, and balance loving nature with firm boundaries to create a warm, stable environment where the child and parent can eventually collaborate to bring the child to full, responsible adulthood.

Whether in a traditional or nontraditional family structure, Unison Parenting leads parents through the ages and stages of childhood into mature adulthood. Additionally, Cecil lays out parenting fundamentals to manage your child’s growing need for independence during their teen years, while gradually building trust through incremental decision-making.

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.

Author Interview

What was your process to align your book with your target audience?

I first had to realize that my book is not designed from cradle to diploma. I don’t address the diaper days. My book really starts when children are old enough to realize their role in the family and do their first chores, perhaps age three to four.

I also realized that families exist in many combinations. Only 46% of U.S. children live in households that are considered traditional: Man + Woman + First Marriage. That means the majority of children live in what are considered non-traditional families, and I needed to address their unique living situations as well. That’s why I have a chapter dedicated to just non-traditional families.

What was the most challenging part of writing your book?

A majority of the material first came from parenting classes that I taught for fifteen years to seven hundred families in my church. I quickly discovered that a given lesson doesn’t necessarily map well to a book chapter. So the challenge was in deconstructing and reconstructing the material in a format that would make sense to readers. Just because something was taught in a lesson series didn’t mean it qualified for the book.

After creating the new construct, the next challenge was how to supplement and enhance that base with my new thoughts, new material, and new research.

Was your writing process spontaneous as it came to you or very planned and organized? Why?

Oh, every book is very planned and organized. I don’t write anything until I know where I’m going end to end. From teaching adult Sunday School for decades, I have developed a style where I lead the learner to a particular point, so I need to understand the beginning, the middle, and the conclusion.

The same applied to this book. Actually, I created one chapter and content sequence, didn’t like it, and started over. I didn’t completely rip it up, but I did move chapters and content within those chapters quite a bit. You might think of it as a puzzle. Once the puzzle took shape, I began writing.

Did you learn anything new during your writing process?

This book is the first that I’ve written through a more traditional publisher. Part of the learning was their publishing process, but a part was also understanding another way to write the book itself.

A major transition arose because I have always used Associated Press style standards, coming from a journalism background. But the publisher required Chicago Manual style, which contains substantial differences. I rebelled against this at first before realizing that the styles are pretty much six of one and half a dozen of another. I had to get over myself and return to the Oxford comma I learned in grade school and had wrenched out of me by journalism.

How many books do you personally own?

This question sent me on a counting expedition, because I had no idea. I estimate that I own a little over two hundred books. My wife, who both reads more and buys more than I do, probably has 350, from which I borrow. A retired musician, she also owns perhaps two hundred books of sheet music. These 750 books are spread across five bookcases and a pile along one wall of our bedroom.

About the Author

With more than 30 years’ experience as an adult Sunday School teacher and as many in youth ministry, Cecil Taylor has impacted lives in local churches throughout his adult life. He founded Cecil Taylor Ministries to broaden that impact, teaching Christians to live a 7-day practical faith through books, video studies, and speaking engagements. His ministry is cross-denominational, focused on the common struggle Christians face in putting their faith into practice and applying scripture and faith principles to life situations.

Cecil has written three previous books, all of which have been awarded across international, national, and regional contests. For each book, Cecil has created a study guide, a video study, and downloadable free leader guides.

More from Cecil

Would you like to know the surefire, guaranteed way to get your teen to open up and talk to you? You’ll find it in my new book, Unison Parenting: The Comprehensive Guide to Navigating Christian Parenthood with One Voice.

Unison Parenting is the culmination of my fifteen years leading parenting classes in my church, my thirty years of youth ministry, and my raising of three children (one adopted) to adulthood. I taught and tested the parenting advice with seven hundred families that attended my classes, so I am convinced the structure and tips you’ll find in the book are well-proven.

One of those tips is how to get your teen to talk to you. I have never had anyone return to me to say that the technique doesn’t work; in fact, they laughingly complain that the technique works too well, and they can’t get their teen to stop talking!

An overarching theme of the book is, of course, getting and staying in unison as parents, but not only as parents – as a family. Another way to put it is a spirit of collaboration. You begin building this collaboration when the children are young, and as they grow, you expand the collaboration to partner with them on the common goal of helping them become mature adults who make good decisions.

I can tell you from experience that the collaborating spirit of such a family continues into adulthood, fostering solid on-going relationships and a desire for family community, even across distance.

This is not to say that my wife and I were perfect, nor that our children were perfect. We all made regrettable mistakes along the way. Our learnings, plus the positive and negative experiences of families I encountered over decades, will help you avoid pitfalls as you create a unison atmosphere among parenting partners and with your children.