Sunday, May 31, 2020

Say & Pray Bible by Diane Stortz


About the Book


Book:  Say & Pray Bible
Author: Diane Stortz
Genre:  Bible stories, board book
Release Date: 2015

Curl up together and experience the Bible in a fresh, new way. Young children will enjoy pointing to and naming objects on each page for early learning. Most important, they’ll discover favorite, age-appropriate Bible stories, with Scripture verses and short prayers that also hide God’s Word in young hearts.



Click HERE to get your copy!




My Review

This book is adorable, very colorfully illustrated, and is a perfect combo of learning language for little ones while learning about the Bible and the God that loves them. Each page has a Bible story with animals, people of the Bible, and nature labeled for little ones to pick out. Each section contains a short Bible verse. This book is perfect for infants, toddlers, and young preschool age to learn about God and develop language skills at the same time. My three year old loved the bright colors and picking out the different labeled animals and people. I think the author really hit the nail on the head to provide a book with a dual purpose for your little ones. This would be a great gift as well for the little one in your life!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own.



About the Author


Diane Stortz is a multipublished author who writes to make God’s wonders known to the next generation. Her children’s releases include the best-selling Say & Pray Bible and I AM: 40 Reasons to Trust God, both from Tommy Nelson. Diane’s books for women, A Woman’s Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year and Encountering God’s Heart for You, both from Bethany House, encourage women to get to know God through His Word, the Bible. Diane and her husband have two married daughters and five grandchildren—all boys! Visit her at www.DianeStortz.com.

More from Diane

Once upon a time there was a little boy who loved his books. Long before he could talk, he loved turning pages, looking at the pictures, hearing his grandpa name the objects in the pictures, and pointing to those objects.

And once upon a time there was a grandma looking for a truly age-appropriate Bible storybook for that same little boy. And the best ones she found still contained too many words.
And she wondered . . .

Why not write a Bible storybook that could be designed especially for babies, toddlers, and young preschoolers? With the shortest stories you’ve ever seen, and with labeled objects and people in the illustrations that little ones could point to and name?
That’s how my book Say & Pray Bible began.

I wanted a book with age-appropriate, SHORT Bible stories. Babies and toddlers LOVE turning pages. Listening to long stories has to wait until they’re older.

I wanted short Bible verses and prayers to go with the very short stories.

And I wanted the illustrations to have lots of LABELED objects to encourage little ones to point and name.

Some days you might just read the stories. Another day, just the verses. Yet another reading, just the prayers. And some days, you might just talk about the pictures.

Most children begin to say single words with meaning, always nouns, at 12–18 months. This is the stage when children can point to—and eventually name—photos or illustrations of objects in their books.

Around 24 months, children begin to say two-word, noun plus verb sentences, such as “Cat run.” In time, sentences become longer and include adjectives and adverbs, but no function words: “Big cat run fast.” Last to develop is the use of function words (such as the and an) and more complex sound combinations and sentence forms.

Human beings seem to be hardwired to acquire language and learn to speak—evidence that, as the Bible says, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139). But there’s a lot we can do to help little ones develop language skills and expose them to God’s Word at the same time!



Blog Stops

Through the Fire Blogs, May 25 (Author Interview)
A Baker’s Perspective, May 28 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, June 2 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, June 5 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)



Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Diane is giving away the grand prize package of a signed copy of the book, a signed copy of the companion book (Say & Pray Devotions), and a $10 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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When I Meet You by Olivia Newport


About the Book


Book:  When I Meet You
Author: Olivia Newport
Genre:  Christian fiction
Release Date: May, 2020

Book 3 in the Tree of Life Series: A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Faith Journeys on Family Trees

 A trunk abandoned at Denver’s Union Station more than a century ago leads Jillian and Nolan to untangle the mystery of its contents—including correspondence with the head of Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency Denver office. While Nolan digs into the legalities of the findings, Jillian searches for the descendants of a stolen identity who might not be who they think they are on Colorado ranch land. When Drew seems anxious to hear what Jillian has to say but his Great Aunt Min slams the subject closed—twice—Jillian is all the more determined to find out what happened to the woman who never claimed her luggage, why Min doesn’t want to talk about it, and what will happen for Drew if he gets the answers he seeks.

When I Meet You is the third book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. You’ll want to return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys.



Click HERE to get your copy!



My Review

I am still just in awe of this series- it seems every book just gets more and more interesting and I can't wait for the next in the series. The dual timeline in this book is done so seamlessly that my mind can just follow the story so easily. Our two heroines from both timelines are formidable, complex, and both on an unforgettable journey. Who knew a genealogist could be so relatable? The premise of this book being an abandoned, unopened trunk from railroad days really made me instantly intrigued at what secrets would be unfolded. The plot pace is perfect to just keep you glued to the page until you finish the book. Along the way, and without being preachy, the author weaves in an amazing faith journey to boot. The Pinkerton involvement in the book really gave it that extra bit of intrigue as well. I highly recommend this book and the entire series for any fiction reader.


I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own.  



About the Author


Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. Her husband and twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of Pikes Peak.

More from Olivia

Stolen Identity or Stolen Secrets?

 Years ago I made a business trip to a country in Asia. Somehow I managed to pack for two weeks in carry-on luggage. This was before everyone started carrying electronic devices that required a bag of their own, and the impoverished area I visited had only intermittent electricity anyway.
When it was time to come home, my luggage met the requirements to keep it with me as I traveled halfway around the world through several airports. But at the boarding gate, a woman pushed a cart stacked with six oversized and overstuffed suitcases, insisting she had to take all of them on the plane. Her argument was that she couldn’t risk losing her personal belongings. She was moving back to the States, this was everything she owned, and she just wasn’t having this nonsense about abiding by the same limitations as the other 300 people in line or that none of those bags would fit in an overhead compartment anyway. The airline staff began waving people around her to get the large aircraft boarded on time for an international flight. She was one of the last people to take her seat—without her bags.

I admit I prefer keeping my bags with me and getting in and out of airports quickly. And once my bags didn’t come off the same plane I did, and it took a few hours for them to be delivered to me.
But what happens to truly unclaimed baggage? One-half to one percent of baggage that goes through American airports is never claimed. Airlines will try for ninety days to find the owners. If they can’t, they have to do something with it. Generally it’s sold, sight unseen, to the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Alabama. There it is opened and sorted into what can be cleaned and sold in their store, what might be donated, and what has no value and is disposed of as trash. They find some pretty interesting things!

But my brain goes back to the curious question of why the baggage is unclaimed in the first place.

It’s not just because the airline lost it. We’ve all seen the lines of suitcases that baggage handlers remove from the circling conveyer belt because they’ve been around enough times that it’s obvious no one is there to pick them up after the flight. People got off the plane and left the airport without their bags. Why?

My new book, When I Meet You, raises the same question about travel in the railroad era. A trunk abandoned at Denver’s Union Station more than a century ago surfaces, leading genealogist Jillian and her lawyer father, Nolan, to untangle the mystery of its contents—including correspondence with the head of Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency Denver office. While Nolan digs into the legalities of the findings, Jillian searches for the descendants of a stolen identity who might not be who they think they are on Colorado ranch land. When Drew seems anxious to hear what Jillian has to say but his Great Aunt Min slams the subject closed—twice—Jillian is all the more determined to find out what happened to the woman who never claimed her luggage, why Min doesn’t want to talk about it, and what will happen for Drew if he gets the answers he seeks.

When I Meet You is the third book in the Tree of Life series. Return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys.

Visit www.olivianewport.com or find me at www.facebook.com/OliviaNewport.


Blog Stops

Lighthouse Academy Blog, May 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
CarpeDiem, June 1
Hallie Reads, June 2
Betti Mace, June 3
Bigreadersite, June 4
Worthy2Read, June 5
Mary Hake, June 9
Remembrancy, June 9
Moments, June 10



Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

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Sunday, May 24, 2020

A Mosaic of Wings by Kimberly Duffy

About the Book

Nora Shipley has one goal--to carry on the legacy of her late father by taking over the scientific journal he started. To that end, she's fought to be taken seriously among her male classmates and graduate as valedictorian of Cornell's entomology program. When pressures to settle down rise to a fever pitch, she impulsively joins a research expedition in Kodaikanal, India, to prove herself in the field and win a scholarship.

But India holds several surprises--she is impressed not only by the beauty of its natural wonders, but also by the gentle nature she discovers in the rival classmate who accompanied her, Owen Epps. Instead of exploring, however, she is forced by the expedition leader to stay at camp and illustrate exotic butterflies the men of the team find without her. During the many quiet days, Nora befriends Sita, a young Indian girl who has been dedicated to a goddess against her will.

In this spellbinding new land, Nora is soon faced with impossible choices--between saving Sita and saving her career, and between what she's always thought she wanted and the man she's come to love.

Buy your copy HERE



My Review

As debut books go, I have to give this author a lot of credit. Her descriptions of the backdrop really transported you to historical places and really transported you to India. The entomology was described in a way that was understandable for someone with no background in that area. The romance was slow blossoming and sweet. The hero and heroine were certainly complex and grew together and individually. The plot had interesting twists and turns, and the section with Sita really made an interesting peek into Indian culture and friendship. With that said, I feel like this author has some development to do. The plot took a while to get to the heart of the story, and that may discourage some readers from continuing past the first few chapters. The entomology was just too much- it almost seemed to interrupt the flow of the story. We needed more of the story in India with Sita- I longed for that section to be fleshed out more. Overall, this author is surely not to be missed and is really brimming with potential. Check it out if you enjoy a solid historical romance.


I received a complimentary copy of this book, a favorable review was not required, and all opinions given are entirely my own.



About the Author

Kimberly Duffy enjoys writing historical fiction that takes readers back in time and across oceans. Her books often feature ahead-of-their-time heroines, evocative settings, and real-life faith. When not writing or homeschooling her four children, she enjoys taking trips that require a passport and practicing kissing scenes with her husband of twenty years. A Long Island native, she currently resides in southwest Ohio.

Ann Marie Lee is a Los Angeles based actress and audiobook narrator who has appeared on television and on stage.
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Thursday, May 21, 2020

Oliver’s Moving Day by Vicky Sluiter


About the Book


Book: Oliver’s Moving Day
Author: Vicky Sluiter
Genre:  Children’s book
Release Date: December 3, 2019

It’s moving day, and five-year-old Oliver is excited for the adventure ahead. He is full of questions as, along with big sister Edith, Mommy, and Daddy, Oliver moves from The Big City to The Country.

He has never been to The Country and has only seen pictures in his books. What will it be like? Where will they live? Will there be lots of people and tall buildings? Join Oliver and his family as they wave goodbye to The Big City and journey through the suburbs and into The Country. Will Oliver have his questions answered? Read along and find out!



Click Here for your copy!


My Review

 Oliver’s Moving day is a cute little story with and curious little boy named Oliver. The illustrations were particularly cute and colorful and set the scene for young children. The story taught us about different places people live like the city and the country and neighborhoods- or living in an apartment or home. The length of the passages on each page were usually pretty short, but on some pages was a few paragraphs long, which I thought was too much for the preschool-young grade school age children this book would appeal to. I think it would encourage children to learn about places outside where they live, and to stay curious and look at life as an adventure to learn about new things. It was a sweet story, and it was very simple- just a nice little story to read together to your young ones. I think they will really enjoy looking at the illustrations and being curious along with Oliver.


I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own.



About the Author


Vicky Sluiter has had a passion for reading since she was four years old. She started with the back of cereal boxes and moved on to everything else, including books, magazines, and t shirts. As a wife and mom, gramma to five boys, and the proud owner of a bearded dragon named Elliott, she has learned what boys like Oliver want to read. You can follow Vicky’s blog and book reviews at vickysluiter.com.

More from Vicky

I love writing children’s fiction because children are so much fun. So lively and expressive. You never really know what will happen when a child is involved but usually it will involve laughter. I have five grandsons so have experienced this many times over the years. The boys are ages 5 yrs to 14 yrs. Being at different stages the house is full of fun when they are all together. The youngest adores the oldest, and it’s reciprocated even if he won’t admit it. The middle three enjoy hanging together and getting into mischief. This Gramma loves every second of it!
The idea for a little guy on a farm was birthed when I was taking classes in writing fiction for children 30 years ago. I grew up on a hobby farm in farm country so the setting was pretty natural for me. And all the neighbors were boys so that’s what I’m used to. I could drive a tractor and bale hay right along with them. Having Oliver move from The Big City to The Country was inspired by my three youngest grandsons. That’s what they did and when they come to visit me they get excited to see the tall buildings in The Big City. And yes, they actually use that phrase. They are thoroughly convinced that Oliver’s Moving Day was written about them. In a way it was!
I’m so glad I didn’t give up on my dream. It was temporarily set aside, but in the right season it bubbled to the top again. Never let go of your dreams!



Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Vicky is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of the book and toy truck!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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Sunday, May 17, 2020

Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano

About the Book

When Miss Beatrix Waterbury's Chicago-bound train ride is interrupted by a heist, Mr. Norman Nesbit, a man of science who believes his research was the target of the heist, comes to her aid. Despite the fact that they immediately butt heads, they join forces to make a quick escape.

Upon her arrival in Chicago, Beatrix is surprised to discover her supposedly querulous Aunt Gladys shares her own suffragette passions. Encouraged by Gladys to leave her sheltered world, Beatrix begins working as a salesclerk at the Marshall Field and Company department store. When she again encounters Norman on a shopping expedition, he is quickly swept up in the havoc she always seems to attract.

But when another attempt is made to part Norman from his research papers, and it becomes clear Beatrix's safety is also at risk, they soon discover the curious way feelings can grow between two very different people in the midst of chaos.


Buy your copy HERE


My Review

Jen never, and I mean never, disappoints. Beatrix and Norman will have you glued to the page immediately with their quirks, their disputes, and their beautiful complexity as hero and heroine. Norman is quite the unexpected hero as a quirky, yet endearing scientist type. Beatrix acts anything but an heiress, and the dialogue and humorous situations that arise between the two teasing each other is quite the story. Did I mention some action from as early as page 1 as well? As always, Jen's sub-characters always contribute to the story in their own way and every page transports you to the time and place. I love how the hero and heroine speak properly and in tune with the 1880s, and yet they manage to banter and be really down to earth characters to relate to at the same time. All the while, Jen spins a tale of a delicate, blossoming romance, with a light thread of faith as well as a visit from previous heroines in the series. Jen's historical descriptions, development, plot twists and continuity, and one of a kind characters weave together seamlessly for an unforgettable historical romance. If you're not a fan already, pick up this book and you will understand why so many are. 


I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own.

About the Author

Named One of the Funniest Voices in Inspirational Romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today Best-Selling Author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publisher Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. When she’s not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO. She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/ or visit her on the web at www.jenturano.com. She is represented by the Natasha Kern Literary Agency.

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Sunday, May 3, 2020

Hope Lies Ahead by James & Geoffrey Banks


About the Book


Book:  Hope Lies Ahead
Author: James & Geoffrey Banks
Genre:  Christian non-fiction, Christian living, family and relationships
Release Date: April, 2020

No prodigal is beyond the reach of God

 Every inch of my body was in pain and my skin was crawling. I couldn’t think straight or even form coherent sentences . . . How did I end up like this? –Geoffrey Banks

Geoff’s situation seemed hopeless: a heroin addict going through a nightmarish detox on the floor of an overpopulated jail cell. He had made a mess of his life.

His parents felt their son slipping away. They loved him so much and felt so powerless. And so they prayed—through the hurt, the questions, the frustrations. And through it all, God walked with them.
Hope Lies Ahead shares Geoff’s prodigal journey and James’s perspective as his father. Each man writes his own story and candidly addresses the spiritual and practical challenges families with prodigals face. As someone who loves a prodigal, you’ll know you are not alone and that there is hope!



Click HERE to get your copy



My Review

Wow- what a honest, real book this is. While there are Christian books on the market regarding prodigal son stories, the ones I have seen are either only from the parent's perspective or the prodigal's perspective, but never together in one book. I absolutely loved how they jumped back and forth between both stories from both sides, because it just really spoke to my heart and really made it an understandable and full experience along with the authors. This book really isn't a self help or how to guide, but an honest story of mistakes and triumphs from both sides of the story, and reminds us of the God who never gives up on us and never stops loving us. I recommend this book for either a prodigal looking for help, or a parent struggling with their prodigal child, or even pastors and lay leaders as a resource to minister to those going through this. It really is inspirational, deeply painful, and overall points us back to our one, true God.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own.




About the Authors


Dr. James Banks is the author of Prayers for Prodigals, Prayers for Your Children, Praying the Prayers of the Bible, Praying Together, and Praying with Jesus. Through books, blog posts, and magazine articles, he regularly encourages people to pray. Dr. Banks has been a pastor and church planter for more than twenty-five years and lives with his wife, Cari, in Durham, North Carolina. They have two adult children.



Geoffrey Banks serves as the high school coordinator at Port City Community Church in Wilmington, North Carolina. He loves reaching students where they are and helping them walk with God. He is an avid surfer and skater. Geoffrey struggled with heroin addiction throughout his teens and early twenties before coming to know Jesus and having his life radically change. Now he is host of the podcast Too Many Christians, which explores beliefs in the pursuit of ultimate truth.


More from Geoffrey and Dr. Banks

From James
My son, Geoff, and I chose to tell our story in Hope Lies Ahead because we believe it’s what God would have us do. So many families suffer in silence when their loved ones go down prodigal paths, and we want them to know they are not alone. God truly offers hope when it seems like none can be found.
Geoff and I could only write this book because of God’s kindness to us. Like the father in the parable of the prodigal, “My son was lost and now is found,” and I’m still celebrating. Geoff is so much more than his past sins and mistakes. He is a new creation, made stronger in the broken places by God’s amazing love. Today God uses him to reach people in ways that would not have been possible had he not been down such difficult roads. God wastes nothing—redemption is a precious, priceless thing.
God never gives up on us. He goes to lengths that defy reason to save us and love us back to Himself. Even when our children make choices that break our hearts, God doesn’t abandon them. He loves our prodigals even more than we do.
Jesus is still “a friend of sinners.” No one is beyond God’s reach. When answers to prayer are long in coming, He Himself is the best answer. In the rough and raw places where we feel numb or even nothing at all, God is able to meet us with help and healing as we cast our cares on Him.
So if you find yourself in a similar situation, keep loving, keep praying, and keep the lines of communication open. God can empower us in love beyond what we think is possible, and give us the wisdom and direction we need to face each day.
From Geoff
Substance abuse is so prevalent in our world right now. There is no specific socioeconomic class, community, or age that struggles with it, it is everywhere. With that being the reality, there is a lot of negative stories out there. All over the news you hear of overdoses, arrests, and other things related to this topic going on. My heart behind writing Hope Lies Ahead is that people will find some hope in the midst of an incredibly difficult time.
It is an up close and personal book for both my father and I, and that is on purpose. We looked at both of our failings, our strengths, and where we could have done things differently. For us it was an honest dialogue about what our journey through substance abuse as a family was like and how we came out on the other side. I hope that it can be the start of an honest dialogue for a lot of other families as well that will point everyone involved toward our one hope—Jesus.
As you read through Hope Lies Ahead, you will see a little bit of yourself in both of us. At times I am pretty hard on my father for some of the things that he did. The thing that I want to remind the reader of is that even when he made mistakes, it was done out of love. He wasn’t the religious Bible thumper I sometimes make him out to be but rather was driven by a deep love for his kids that sometimes got expressed in the wrong way. I think that his perspective is so unique because now he recognizes those moments for what they are and is able to help other people not fall in those same traps. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for my parents, and this experience ended up sharpening both of us.
Based on what we learned going through this experience, I would say to a parent of a prodigal  above all else, maintain relationship. Let them know you love them even when they make huge mistakes. Let them know that if they ever want help you are right there waiting. Make sure they are aware of their options as far as treatment goes and when the opportunity arises to get them there, jump on it. Do it immediately. Don’t wait.
I think we often find ourselves wanting to preach. Addiction can be an infuriating disease to experience, whether you are the one who is addicted or a family member is. In the midst of that anger and frustration, we need to be reminded that our battle is not against flesh and blood. Your war isn’t with that person, it is with the sin that is dominating their life. Don’t exchange your relationship with them for an off handed comment or a sermon about their behavior. It isn’t worth it.
My prayer is that people reading this book will be encouraged in their situation and that they turn first to Jesus. I believe that ultimate redemption looks like Jesus on the cross. It is when something meant for evil gets turned around and used for good. There are many stories of people going through addiction and then using their experience to help others out of it. There is nothing more beautiful than a giant struggle becoming an incredible strength.



Blog Stops


Andrea Christenson, April 26 (Author Interview)
Genesis 5020, April 29
For the Love of Literature, April 30 (Author Interview)
A Baker’s Perspective, May 2 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, May 4 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, May 7 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)


Giveaway


To celebrate their tour, James and Geoffrey are giving away the grand prize package of Hope Lies Ahead, Prayers For Prodigals and $10 Amazon Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Posted by at 3 comments:

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Mortal Sight by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads


About the Book


Book:  Mortal Sight
Author: Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Genre:  Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Release Date: April 14, 2020

When Worlds Collide, Shadow Wrestles Light

 Seventeen-year-old Cera Marlowe wants a normal life; one where she and her mom can stop skipping town every time a disturbing vision strikes. But when a girl she knows is murdered by a monster she can’t explain, Cera’s world turns upside down.

Suddenly thrown into an ancient supernatural battle, Cera discovers she’s not alone in her gifting and vows to use her visions to save lives. But why does John Milton’s poem Paradise Lost keep interrupting her thoughts?

In a race against time and a war against unearthly creatures, will decoding messages embedded in the works of classic literature be enough to stop the bloodshed and protect those she loves?


Click HERE to get your copy!




My Review

I thought this YA Urban fantasy was really a gem of creativity, individuality, and a lot of action and suspense. As a debut novel, I was thoroughly impressed especially at the relatability of the characters to the YA audience of today. The action was non-stop and kept you glued to the page. The artistic shoutouts especially to Milton gave it an unexpected and deeper meaning. The fantasy aspect was not so out there that you got lost in all the verbiage and names. I enjoyed exploring the alternate world we get to visit, and thinking on how it would feel to have visions like our hero. The action is dark but exciting and clean, so safe for any age young adult reader especially if they enjoy fantasy or possibly even a dystopian vibe. I look forward to more from this talented, artistic author!


I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own.



About the Author


Sandra Fernandez Rhoads is a Cuban-Colombian born in Queens, New York but currently lives in Dallas, Texas. Her previous experience includes earning a M.A. in her 17th century crush, John Milton, writing scripts and performance pieces, directing theater, acting, and running an employment consulting and marketing company. As an AFA-NIET National Finalist in Public Speaking, she welcomes an audience and dreams of playing the theme to Jurassic Park on her cello, named Lysander. Mortal Sight is her debut novel.


More from Sandra

I am so excited to share this story. The original story seed for Mortal Sight came from the premise: what if someone never felt like they belonged in this world because they really didn’t? They were born for a place they didn’t know existed, an unseen realm. And if so, what things in our everyday world would shout out this truth, point to this other world, and try to get their attention to let them know that the restlessness is intentional and they were called to something bigger than themselves. The use of art and literature throughout the story comes from my own love for art and the artist community. The unique way artists look at the world could point to this other realm. I chose Milton’s Paradise Lost, in particular because the poem speaks of things invisible and unseen wars. I have a deep love for artists and the creative community and love encouraging others to tell stories through art, whether it’s visual, music, poetry, dance, writing, etc. It’s in art’s narrative that we see broken pieces of ourselves. This story came from the idea that art could create common ground, kickstart community, and maybe even change the way we see ourselves, others or even the world.



Blog Stops





Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Sandra is giving away the grand prize package of Mortal Sight hardback with exclusive signed bookplate, plus bookmark/Sticker/Button, $30 Amazon gift card, hardback copy of Paradise Lost, and writing Journal of Pierre Auguste Cot’s The Storm!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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