tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064407008416281312024-03-28T07:17:29.125-07:00A Reader's Brain All about Christian Fiction & Christian Living! Reviews of upcoming authors, giveaways, and contests! Enjoy!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.comBlogger435125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-55570567783840018052024-03-20T22:00:00.000-07:002024-03-20T22:00:00.258-07:00Call to Embrace by Maryann Landers<p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8Gh8Mn6-tToNWt5Rnfaw7ZbjCuyWR03t3yyNiNK6Kz7qdRficgR7Agqfa_ZNXKxSMpqHEybmkKZMHoTJlt5K-KPcvn_YcwzLCzy2CeCIl6mtd58Q_G5Aky-4c45mXQC0nWsuWyJzg4v84B7AVtOyyeAQXtzOwnBj7xi1y5HB8UWJDKdQKZP0dIUyZTkk/s851/IMG_7552.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8Gh8Mn6-tToNWt5Rnfaw7ZbjCuyWR03t3yyNiNK6Kz7qdRficgR7Agqfa_ZNXKxSMpqHEybmkKZMHoTJlt5K-KPcvn_YcwzLCzy2CeCIl6mtd58Q_G5Aky-4c45mXQC0nWsuWyJzg4v84B7AVtOyyeAQXtzOwnBj7xi1y5HB8UWJDKdQKZP0dIUyZTkk/s320/IMG_7552.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JiUPjGPR-ypLahWBywGVEw7F64bqA7eUia9IcVAQonvFvSVbgqJ_peepkZy-xxKKpqnlOc0n3yMTqOnt4LpY5ZhWyHU7yVz1WplYVEp3ijkLC-V1fi8qqDtH9JZvvzXpi92Tsdk-3C4E7NDvHI-nsclyY0PIA-cL0MyuqxVTGHXYhNXka9ruviMgVHKW/s640/IMG_7553.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JiUPjGPR-ypLahWBywGVEw7F64bqA7eUia9IcVAQonvFvSVbgqJ_peepkZy-xxKKpqnlOc0n3yMTqOnt4LpY5ZhWyHU7yVz1WplYVEp3ijkLC-V1fi8qqDtH9JZvvzXpi92Tsdk-3C4E7NDvHI-nsclyY0PIA-cL0MyuqxVTGHXYhNXka9ruviMgVHKW/s320/IMG_7553.jpeg" width="200" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Call to Embrace</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Maryann Landers</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Christian Women’s Fiction</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>November 1, 2023</p><p><strong>She’s detached in a stormy marriage because of both of their unfaithfulness. Now she faces the aftermath of her compromise with an unwanted pregnancy. Will fleeing bring her the freedom she yearns for?</strong></p><p>Emily Corentin wants to escape the jagged edges of her brokenness. She believes the only option she has is to take her young daughter, leave her husband, and end the unintended pregnancy with an abortion. But her plans take an unexpected turn when the homeless shelter she finds is not the type of help she wanted. She’d buried religion years ago with the death of her Gran. Any God-fearing place will only confirm how much God abandoned her.</p><p>An offer from a shelter volunteer may be the lifeline she and her daughter need, but Emily only sees it as a means to an end. The unlikely friendship that follows, draws her closer to the answers she may have carried with her all along. But rash decisions bring new challenges that drag her further into a sea of helplessness.</p><p>When all hope is lost in despair will she be washed away by the patterns of her past? Or will she answer the call to embrace the mercy of the cross and in turn bring reconciliation to her marriage?</p><p> </p><pre>Cick <a href="”https://amzn.to/3OvzoG9″">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><pre><br /></pre><pre><br /></pre><pre>I received a complimentary copy of this book, and</pre><pre>All opinions given are my own and not an endorsement </pre><pre>Of all author’s opinions. </pre><p> </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">1. Why did you want to become an author?</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">I wanted to share the extraordinary stories of the women I know here in Alaska </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">2. What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why?</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">Reworking the plot line and setting because I was protecting the identity of who the book is based on. However, my friend did support me sharing her story. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">3. What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">It is inspired by a true story of a young woman whose path I crossed during a very difficult time of her life. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">4. Which character in your book do you relate to the most?</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">Ada</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">5. If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about?</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">I do know them. If we could sit around a table though now after the twelve years have passed I think we would cry a lot of tears of joy. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">6. What did your research process look like for this book?</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">I mainly researched the area that I set the book in. The summer before I wrote the book I was visiting South Central Alaska and it intrigued me.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">7. What made you choose the setting/time period for this book?</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">The time period follows the true story and then I chose South Central Alaska because of the key features in the story with the ocean and the church with the lit cross. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">8. Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how?</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">Yes, I did simply because of the overarching theme of the book. I realize it will not be </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">“</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">go to</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">” </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">for many because they will make assumptions about it without opening the cover. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">9. How did you celebrate when you completed your book?</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">It looks different with each book. It</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">’</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">s ranged from nothing all the way to a trip to Wrangell where one of my books was set and I spent a few days there with interviews, author signing and hosting a ladies luncheon.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">10. Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you</span></span><span class="s5" style="background-color: white; direction: rtl; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">’</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">re writing?</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">Coffee</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">11. What message do you hope readers take away from your book?</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #970e53; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">That there is hope no matter what circumstance you find yourself in and God is with you. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAIVtSb5rU-Ol6mAo_PB1Ok0vtJBBbJZLx5oD1WndjxHzSxpXdgytjSqS6LMrf5GXuOoWSmD1c4vyPT31c1WqbYjwerXpI_SDzrDIX4KjKf4e9UwZEreBtJhutgw4qqKxPuasM4uqJLA7HwRocERW9KsE0sgMmq9Px-pHNgTuKTEC_KENqdVO_6Tlzucx/s575/IMG_7554.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAIVtSb5rU-Ol6mAo_PB1Ok0vtJBBbJZLx5oD1WndjxHzSxpXdgytjSqS6LMrf5GXuOoWSmD1c4vyPT31c1WqbYjwerXpI_SDzrDIX4KjKf4e9UwZEreBtJhutgw4qqKxPuasM4uqJLA7HwRocERW9KsE0sgMmq9Px-pHNgTuKTEC_KENqdVO_6Tlzucx/s320/IMG_7554.jpeg" width="267" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Alaskan based author <strong>Maryann Landers</strong> writes women’s faith filled fiction based on true stories of extraordinary women of her magnificent state. She loves to showcase the unique north and give her readers a little taste of rustic Alaska.</p><p>While writing in her log home in the woods she is also looking forward to her next adventure with her Alaskan husband, juggling mom tasks such as crafting homemade meals from moose and caribou meat, building DIY projects from scrap wood piles and guiding her teens in their homeschooling.</p><p>Her first novel in the Alaskan Women of Caliber Series; Alaskan Calibration released June 2021.</p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Maryann</span></h1><p>Call to Embrace is inspired by a true story of a young mom that I met over 13 years ago as I walked alongside her during a difficult time of her life. A year and a half ago I stood in the Pacific Ocean dip netting for salmon near the mouth of the Kenai River. As the waters tugged at my waders, I remembered the church set on the hill behind me where a cross is always lit as a beacon and I thought there is a story here. With anticipation, I prayed what God wanted me to share. What unfolded is the plot line of my friendship with that young mom set in the stunning geographical area of South-Central Alaska.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"The Sacred Line Lit"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://thesacredline.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">The Sacred Line Lit</a></span>, March 11</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://inspiredbyfiction.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Inspired by Fiction"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Inspired by Fiction</span></a>, March 21</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, March 22</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, March 23</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vickysluitercom.wordpress.com/author-spotlight/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Vicky Sluiter"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vicky Sluiter</span></a>, March 24 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Maryann is giving away the grand prize package of a Alaskan themed gift pack including: one signed copy of the book, a half pint sized jar of canned salmon (caught and canned by the author from the mouth of the Kenai river where the book is set), a cross necklace and a promo code for a free audiobook version of the novel!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2a7a2/call-to-embrace-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2a7a2/call-to-embrace-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-62171410084493183862024-03-19T22:00:00.000-07:002024-03-19T22:00:00.139-07:00The Samaritan’s Patient by Chevron Ross<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLHjq4wpkdN_wE6JGgoBhSuWThTY9D0eyF2XldUu2YzER23jqIIaqQO_GA4Yzqx180aqiYpMcC59RH6MCGIq7Jp9LjgK-QPdmvT-yvnypDNxpnDPt4DqaThhuZL8J0Y2ZCbmVLt5LXRemAdtNgTjjtEnHHQDG9Zmm4OIeRbekRQByyXztH3fSXqNv0KxX/s851/IMG_7541.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLHjq4wpkdN_wE6JGgoBhSuWThTY9D0eyF2XldUu2YzER23jqIIaqQO_GA4Yzqx180aqiYpMcC59RH6MCGIq7Jp9LjgK-QPdmvT-yvnypDNxpnDPt4DqaThhuZL8J0Y2ZCbmVLt5LXRemAdtNgTjjtEnHHQDG9Zmm4OIeRbekRQByyXztH3fSXqNv0KxX/s320/IMG_7541.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYG-Bx0HnMl418IG3u41yO04uSkz_amV4R9962iMkphKP4Xb7N9rRQKTneXSnz4EXZCzfPpWuTA1wO7EeGCo9U05GLXjdQ-9JlBoTFIp1LmDlN1ENDJU1nSTuHEXNU_7r23BXHc3zp4HApjq2hhNMeevxwdmEYcb9L-Fj9qrZc_WusCBW7pco4_B12WiDR/s1024/IMG_7540.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYG-Bx0HnMl418IG3u41yO04uSkz_amV4R9962iMkphKP4Xb7N9rRQKTneXSnz4EXZCzfPpWuTA1wO7EeGCo9U05GLXjdQ-9JlBoTFIp1LmDlN1ENDJU1nSTuHEXNU_7r23BXHc3zp4HApjq2hhNMeevxwdmEYcb9L-Fj9qrZc_WusCBW7pco4_B12WiDR/s320/IMG_7540.jpeg" width="213" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>The Samaritan’s Patient</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Chevron Ross</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Contemporary Fiction / Teen Christian Fiction</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>January 25, 2024</p><p>Teenager Paige Abernathy awakens after a severe beating to find that she suffers from amnesia, and that everyone seems to hate her.</p><p>She has only flashes of memory until the night a grieving parent attacks her in her hospital room. Paige then remembers her role as creator of an online group where members talk about ways to commit suicide.</p><p>After recovering from the beating, Paige embarks on a journey of penance to atone for a disaster born of good intentions. Her odyssey launches her on a mission of mercy and into new danger.</p><p><em>The Samaritan’s Patient</em> is a thought-provoking novel about navigating the treacherous waters of social media.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/42dVOBF”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><pre><br /></pre><pre><br /></pre><p>I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. </p><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></div><div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">1. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">Why did you want to become an author?</span></div><p class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I never intended to become an author, and I don’t think of myself as one. God is the author</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. I’m just a typist.</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">When </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">He </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">put the idea</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> for </span><span class="s7" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Weapons of Remorse</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> into my head</span><span class="s7" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">seven years ago, I knew that </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">He</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> wanted it to be about a Christian man struggling with his conscience as a gun rights advocate. Once I had that foundation, everything else fell into place.</span></p><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">2. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why?</span></div><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I really struggled with the opening scene of </span><span class="s7" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">The Samaritan’s Patient </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">once I realized how critical it was to subsequent events in the book. God kept giving me these feelings that something wasn’t right and sent me back to the start over and over again.</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> I probably spent more time on that scene than any other.</span></p><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">3. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">What/Who</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"> inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></div><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s7" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">The Samaritan’s Patient</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> might never have been born had I not seen a PBS interview with two </span><span class="s7" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">New York Times </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">writers, Megan Twohey and Gabriel Dance, on December 16, 2021. These reporters did an extensive investigation into a website on which subscribers discussed committing suicide and shared methods for doing so. Most visitors to the site were thirty or younger. There were 1.2 million messages. At least forty-five suicides in multiple countries were linked to the site.</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> Everything else </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">in the book just seemed to grow naturally from that news story.</span></p><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">4. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">Which character in your book do you relate to the most?</span></div><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Strangely, </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">the one I still think about most is Norris Tankersley</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> the man who </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">tries to break into</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> the hospital emergency room</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. Al</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">though he’s nothing like me</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">, h</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">is personal journey from darkness to light is so </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">moving.</span></p><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">5. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">What message do you hope readers take away from your book?</span></div><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">That God </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">loves each of</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> us so much that He involves himself</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> in every experience of our lives.</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> And that </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">H</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">e expects us to care about each other as </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">H</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">e cares about us.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXt3_BvYRrXFZ7DvkAGh_1ALE0mQKxjyqcfKwkupkQKARsMc4_kj4ye4QS_d-Uykno6gS48YV39iajSql42ZAeUEna0kjqoII3Qs-8Ja3D_gLZT1mKbHS7j-P8SysbaPKHCo_5O7CAf9FAZzH-_ozBOUBQK_ITxpN_iqUsK1RlHDuesDsZ0WnNOdZQNqAR/s230/IMG_7542.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="230" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXt3_BvYRrXFZ7DvkAGh_1ALE0mQKxjyqcfKwkupkQKARsMc4_kj4ye4QS_d-Uykno6gS48YV39iajSql42ZAeUEna0kjqoII3Qs-8Ja3D_gLZT1mKbHS7j-P8SysbaPKHCo_5O7CAf9FAZzH-_ozBOUBQK_ITxpN_iqUsK1RlHDuesDsZ0WnNOdZQNqAR/s1600/IMG_7542.jpeg" width="230" /></a></div><br /><span underline=""><br /></span></div><p><strong>Chevron Ross</strong> is a pseudonym for someone unimportant. He is not a writer, but God keeps putting ideas into his head that somehow turn into stories. If you like them, be sure to offer God a prayer of thanks.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><h1>More from Chevron</h1><p><strong>Behind the Scenes</strong></p><p>This novel might never have been born had I not seen an interview on PBS with two <em>New York Times </em>writers, Megan Twohey and Gabriel Dance, on December 16, 2021.</p><p>These reporters did an extensive investigation into a website on which subscribers discussed committing suicide and shared methods for doing so. Most visitors to the site were thirty or younger. There were 1.2 million messages. At least forty-five suicides in multiple countries were linked to the site.</p><p>At the time of this broadcast, I had just completed my second novel, <em>The Seven-Day Resurrection,</em> and was wondering what to do next. The PBS interview was so shocking that I could not stop thinking about it. What motive could a person have for encouraging strangers to kill themselves? What could one possibly gain from such an endeavor? And what could provoke someone to throw away the gift of life at such a youthful age?</p><p>Each of my novels has been the result of an inspiration from God. Once He puts an idea into my head, it consumes my imagination until I cannot stop working. As you might imagine from the title, <em>The Samaritan’s Patient </em>is a blend of two stories: the famous parable of Jesus in the Bible, and a young person with good intentions who gets caught up in a social media nightmare.</p><p>God did all the work on this book. He created the character of Paige Abernathy and told me how to build the novel around the circumstances of her personal life—her parents, her friends, and most of all, her Christian faith. He also created the crisis that launches her on a journey of new experiences and personal growth.</p><p>I am amazed and grateful that God would choose someone so ordinary and unaccomplished as myself to do this work. Each novel God has written through me has been a great personal gift, and a reaffirmation that God has a plan for each of us. I pray that <em>The Samaritan’s Patient </em>will be as great a blessing to its readers as it has been to me.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"The Lofty Pages"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.theloftypages.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">The Lofty Pages</a></span>, March 9</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, March 15</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Splashes of Joy "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Splashes of Joy</span></a>, March 16 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.guildmaster97.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Guild Master"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guild Master</span></a>, March 18 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Library Lady's Kid Lit"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</span></a>, March 19</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a></span>, March 20 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, March 21</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Artistic Nobody</span></a>, March 22 (Author Interview)</p><p center=""><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOitZntKQYnmzkiVxIlS543DCBin2bM71rVZmoEliKq7fDltRKKbXNu1QLXY87XQZOEWsWjYU6gVYmIau_jql5IVSZZvcT3pkLux0yUzjxF4ofj-lRrhPkEdPU5vNxc8uhXHyqXKxqKcr3Yh6CC2ex7hhHQEc_SkCEw5x91hdc_Kmy8mvHkEqDrIcxal7E/s940/IMG_7543.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOitZntKQYnmzkiVxIlS543DCBin2bM71rVZmoEliKq7fDltRKKbXNu1QLXY87XQZOEWsWjYU6gVYmIau_jql5IVSZZvcT3pkLux0yUzjxF4ofj-lRrhPkEdPU5vNxc8uhXHyqXKxqKcr3Yh6CC2ex7hhHQEc_SkCEw5x91hdc_Kmy8mvHkEqDrIcxal7E/s320/IMG_7543.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate his tour, Chevron is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2a555/the-samaritan-s-patient-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2a555/the-samaritan-s-patient-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-62791913756857756482024-03-13T22:00:00.001-07:002024-03-13T22:00:00.153-07:00Fences Left Broken by Kristen Terrette<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPut_JkeEWHJgHe1Jj9MA_fIcaJEFRQk6vLP563W_R3yl5ICCqASVFh5SVFkzIupl29_bsx6Xk3hyphenhyphenbgII83xGYEmHcMWw6QyyDDtY_dbhYuCsI_j_8wX2TUIOBf-6yajWcYSfWe6gdf3OFvT6R0D2XR4qDhsFYzu3kj4I0aXnsrZjHwwja1nSkQvMrQSU/s851/IMG_7506.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPut_JkeEWHJgHe1Jj9MA_fIcaJEFRQk6vLP563W_R3yl5ICCqASVFh5SVFkzIupl29_bsx6Xk3hyphenhyphenbgII83xGYEmHcMWw6QyyDDtY_dbhYuCsI_j_8wX2TUIOBf-6yajWcYSfWe6gdf3OFvT6R0D2XR4qDhsFYzu3kj4I0aXnsrZjHwwja1nSkQvMrQSU/s320/IMG_7506.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p center=""> </p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJM-0TE5X7x-z9aZok_Swgc6igE0pnSEo4ZHJJnhHOnqbggFelvAhIxPaGcKS09B8AowjnIlxpPMTQ-FyjiKhEXiFKIV_Cbr2xPXRAWzfpFz3FQ3BRNu1EppRrwLtwghXZmyJpod2KjqMTNLxr3QpJaA9b5I__HLf-FyIzmEcEbzrD_U6VB9pSjNOUY-N/s1024/IMG_7507.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="678" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJM-0TE5X7x-z9aZok_Swgc6igE0pnSEo4ZHJJnhHOnqbggFelvAhIxPaGcKS09B8AowjnIlxpPMTQ-FyjiKhEXiFKIV_Cbr2xPXRAWzfpFz3FQ3BRNu1EppRrwLtwghXZmyJpod2KjqMTNLxr3QpJaA9b5I__HLf-FyIzmEcEbzrD_U6VB9pSjNOUY-N/s320/IMG_7507.jpeg" width="212" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Fences Left Broken</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Kristen Terrette</p><p><b>Genre: </b>YA</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>October 13, 2023</p><p>Mia’s father is dead, and her mother has left her in the rural Mississippi Delta town of Marigold with family she’s never known. Her two sets of grandparents are separated not only by a fence dividing their properties, but by skin color and a deep-seated hatred for each other which none of them will discuss.<br />When Mia learns their mutual hatred concerns a long-ago murder, she and her new friends set out to uncover who was murdered and why. Their search leads them to unspoken secrets and buried tragedies, stretching from the years of the Great Depression to the Freedom Summer Movement of ‘64.<br />Mia hopes to reconcile her grandparents by finding the truth. But can broken family fences be truly mended in the face of decades of unforgiving hate?</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/4bb5tgb”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><pre><br /></pre><pre><br /></pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview </span></h1><h1><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; text-indent: -18px;"><br /></span></h1><h1><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; text-indent: -18px;">1. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; text-indent: -18px;">Why did you want to become an author? </span></h1><h1><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Honestly, I had stories and characters running through my mind that needed to come out!</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; text-indent: -18px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; text-indent: -18px;">2. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px; text-indent: -18px;">What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why? </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">By far the most challenging part of bringing this story to life is all about correctly capturing my biracial main character’s life and understanding of the world around her. I am a literary agent as well, and certainly know the faux pas involved here with a white woman writing a biracial character. I took this very seriously. I had four sensitivity readers give feedback on the book. I interviewed a biracial girl and her biological white mother. (These are good friends of mine, so I could be real, and so could they!) I tried many times to figure out how to write this fascinating story (inspired by true events) that God had planted inside me without making Mia a biracial teen, but I couldn’t do it. So, I just started writing. And I’m very proud of the story. And my feedback from both black and white readers has been wonderful. This is not a white-hero story. This is a forgiveness story.</span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; text-indent: -18px;"><br /></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; text-indent: -18px;">3. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px; text-indent: -18px;">What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Watching a documentary started it all, revealing the little-known historical facts of the massive role Mississippi landowners played in the Civil Rights Movement and Freedom Summer. In the 1930s, sharecroppers became some of the first black landowners under Roosevelt’s New Deal and became essential to the civil rights movement. The documentary is called </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Dirt and Deeds in Mississippi </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">(</span><a href="http://https/vimeo.com/ondemand/dirtanddeeds/"><span class="s7" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">https/vimeo.com/</span><span class="s7" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">ondemand</span><span class="s7" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">/</span><span class="s7" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">dirtanddeeds</span><span class="s7" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">/). </span></a><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">As I watched it, I couldn’t help but think, </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">there’s a story here</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">…</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> And this thought led me to think about all the families before and after </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">the </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">30s and 60s this would’ve affected. And so, the story of Mia was born.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">4. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Which character in your book do you relate to the most?</span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Probably Chloe. She tries hard to walk strong as a Christian and to notice what’s going on around her. She’s a helper, which is what I try to be. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">5. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about? </span></div><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Basketball. Living in the country. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">6. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What did your research process look like for this book? </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What made you choose the setting/</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">time period</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> for this book? </span></div><p class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">After seeing the documentary mentioned above, I outlined the different time periods that the book would “slip” too. I needed the years of these events to work with the generations of people. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">So, between 15-30 years apart. The New Deal was in the 1930s, which left WWII in the late 30s/early 40s, then Freedom Summer and what became known as Mississippi Burning in the 60s. Then, I scoured the internet about all these events. I purchased and read </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">books, and</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> watched documentaries about these events as well. And, since I LOVE history, I LOVED every minute of researching. </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">7. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how? </span></div><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Actually, no.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> I am very comfortable talking about race, racial reconciliation, and social justice. I’m super passionate about these topics. </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">8. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">How did you celebrate when you completed your book? </span></div><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I don’t remember, probably just moved right on to the next book! Or maybe moved on straight to writing the dreaded synopsis, lol. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">9. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing? </span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Popcorn and Coffee! Always those two things!</span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">10. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What message do you hope readers take away from your book? </span></div><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s9" style="color: #434343; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">That holding bitterness inside is like a festering disease. Release it and forgive!</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s9" style="color: #434343; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">And, what you see or hear or even think is not always true. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0deEBbnbVZrrofzi5Qt7o129zm5WL2tpvafQtnNKDGfDFZvHKFvC5r9HGUWtTSWtnvP1WAEJ4508-rlzJqV4RDq-T3a0-fDQHh4VvRhRBIr9HzucKK6PxkDpVjooj5VyjdOb44BHfgPWdMjkcixJuMZz_YxjBh5c-UH-cKDAr9Fr8JiyurUMLTPed0fFC/s1024/IMG_7508.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="679" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0deEBbnbVZrrofzi5Qt7o129zm5WL2tpvafQtnNKDGfDFZvHKFvC5r9HGUWtTSWtnvP1WAEJ4508-rlzJqV4RDq-T3a0-fDQHh4VvRhRBIr9HzucKK6PxkDpVjooj5VyjdOb44BHfgPWdMjkcixJuMZz_YxjBh5c-UH-cKDAr9Fr8JiyurUMLTPed0fFC/s320/IMG_7508.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>With a background in education and theology, <strong>Kristen</strong> served as a children’s ministry director and women’s leader for many years before returning to her first love—writing the stories playing out in her head. She dove into the publishing world writing numerous articles, devotionals, and novels in both the Romance and Young Adult genres. After managing an international blog and a publishing house’s social media feed, she found herself as an intern at the esteemed literary agency, Writers House, in the summer of 2022.</p><p>This landed her a job with Martin Literary Management where she now takes on author clients of her own. Stories are her thing and authors are her people. When not on her computer writing, editing, or emailing, or with her nose in a book, you can find her getting a little too loud from the sidelines of a kids’ basketball or football game. She’s also a recent transplant to rural Georgia where she thrives on jogging her forty acres terribly, drinking coffee while birdwatching, and daydreaming of new book characters, plotlines, and making her client’s dreams come true (which are her dreams as well).</p><h1><span underline="">More from Kristen</span></h1><p>All you need is a spark.</p><p>When people find out I’m an author or have read one of my books, I’m often asked how I came up with the story. My answer is always the same. They all begin with a spark, a small idea, sometimes even taking root first in a remote corner of my mind, that says, “There’s a story there.” And that one spark lights, then it quadruples, over and over until it ends up a bright and thriving fire.</p><p>The spark for <em>Fences Left Broken </em>was a documentary from 2016 called Dirt & Deeds in Mississippi which told of “the largely unknown and pivotal role played (in the Freedom Sumer Movement and the Voting Rights Act) by black landowning families in the deep South who controlled over a million acres in the 1960s.” This documentary was fascinating and linked generations who had no idea just how important they would end up being in a much-needed and changing time in history. Black sharecroppers who benefitted from an agricultural program during Roosevelt’s New Deal became landowners overnight. Skip ahead a few decades, and these same landowners, or their heirs, had the power to force change.</p><p>In the sixties, Mississippi law said that if you were a landowner, you could vote, which opened doors for black families. But, also, these black landowners had leverage. Land was king. Land was also collateral. So when Freedom Summer came along and the wave of black Southerners tried to register to vote, these black landowners had a unique advantage.</p><p>Blacks and whites who were volunteering for the Freedom Summer Movement were arrested, often on bogus charges like disrupting the peace and put in jail. But guess what? Black landowners put their land titles up as collateral and got these people out on bond.</p><p>Even crazier, out of the hundreds of arrests and bail bonds issued that summer, not ONE failed to follow through and appear in court. Not ONE person charged with a bogus crime was found in default, their bail revoked, and the bond kept. This means not ONE black family who put their land up as collateral lost it.</p><p>Historians have gone so far as to say the success of Freedom Summer and the result of the Voting Rights Act wouldn’t have been possible <em>without</em> these families risking it all for the sake of justice and equality.</p><p>This documentary was my spark. I got to thinking about these families. They were real people, now generations of people, living in these intertwined communities. What would this have looked like through the years? What became of these families? Where are they now?</p><p>And the rabbit trail of my mind began. That spark ignited, and I followed it, outlining potential events that could have happened to families in Mississippi before and after the 1960s, and it all led to my main character, Mia. And <em>Fences Left Broken</em> was born.</p><p>I hope you enjoyed learning some little-known history, and a little tidbit of my writing inspiration. And I hope you are curious to find out more about Mia’s story!</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Tell Tale Book Reviews"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Tell Tale Book Reviews</a></span>, March 8 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, March 8</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, March 9</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Artistic Nobody</span></a>, March 10 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, March 11</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Gina Holder, Author and Blogger"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger</span></a>, March 12 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, March 13</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a></span>, March 14 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theloftypages.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"The Lofty Pages"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Lofty Pages</span></a>, March 15</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Modern Day Fairy Tale"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</span></a>, March 16 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.carolkeen.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blogging With Carol "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blogging With Carol</span></a>, March 17</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Library Lady's Kid Lit"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</span></a>, March 18 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, March 19</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.guildmaster97.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Guild Master"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guild Master</span></a>, March 20 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.beccahope.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Becca Hope: Book Obsessed"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Becca Hope: Book Obsessed</span></a>, March 20</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Fiction Book Lover"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Fiction Book Lover</span></a>, March 21 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtFA_a5XTQBHqXqMO-DUlpAwIpnQoQ0Ve8YpOi3rz2_dpTjHYWuwI25TRRL8LP6J8yG9YNFgUX53iwak8AVssXPKATqdibwcvOuXQmCJVkUfZXnHvy9irqdXLzRG2xMvSA1Lu2ojaXs6zPGN24orPpjpNAsE-CotED3WddxGtIBgPNp_i8YfpmJjiTlQk/s940/IMG_7509.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtFA_a5XTQBHqXqMO-DUlpAwIpnQoQ0Ve8YpOi3rz2_dpTjHYWuwI25TRRL8LP6J8yG9YNFgUX53iwak8AVssXPKATqdibwcvOuXQmCJVkUfZXnHvy9irqdXLzRG2xMvSA1Lu2ojaXs6zPGN24orPpjpNAsE-CotED3WddxGtIBgPNp_i8YfpmJjiTlQk/s320/IMG_7509.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Kristen is giving away the grand prize package of a $75 dollar Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2a553/fences-left-broken-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2a553/fences-left-broken-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-68433844452282551892024-03-13T22:00:00.000-07:002024-03-13T22:00:00.154-07:00The Guardian by Cathy McCrumb<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQsB5g80Sid7q5LRe-m3kfPD74fwN42xBM2lq5XlVJH4kFj47mHNfnL8bqbiKS9iwN8OLAMTNXwnwYtmcYHUGLe0Akvj8ZOqULtPIHXayBDLdbNL6BTLCo9-6Fg3i0cjFyRWoQCGMSeKZi6bfQ8a5awl0S0sSjbxy7SNBm4W5gklXvV9nJhMkS2SZLnjw/s851/IMG_7503.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQsB5g80Sid7q5LRe-m3kfPD74fwN42xBM2lq5XlVJH4kFj47mHNfnL8bqbiKS9iwN8OLAMTNXwnwYtmcYHUGLe0Akvj8ZOqULtPIHXayBDLdbNL6BTLCo9-6Fg3i0cjFyRWoQCGMSeKZi6bfQ8a5awl0S0sSjbxy7SNBm4W5gklXvV9nJhMkS2SZLnjw/s320/IMG_7503.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0wtSJMpoFYKqh3sJ1fk1en2BZ_Q8qac_Ttxt1qKuziuj99RqY6nGK35uVonwjMsm3su7Sfou7wiUh4v0P9bbF_oYq1AhyphenhyphenBtIkpHa2ogVuS9RQ3fuxR3by1z0IbHOig_IqzzAnWOFDX1CimGG9k2FmXPz8C_nav4NwzIthmt_z_YD_N2f3kRTgvDoiEc2/s1024/IMG_7504.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0wtSJMpoFYKqh3sJ1fk1en2BZ_Q8qac_Ttxt1qKuziuj99RqY6nGK35uVonwjMsm3su7Sfou7wiUh4v0P9bbF_oYq1AhyphenhyphenBtIkpHa2ogVuS9RQ3fuxR3by1z0IbHOig_IqzzAnWOFDX1CimGG9k2FmXPz8C_nav4NwzIthmt_z_YD_N2f3kRTgvDoiEc2/s320/IMG_7504.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Guardian</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Cathy McCrumb</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Science Fiction</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>February 20, 2024</p><p><strong>The Recorder’s fate has been sealed, but the Consortium is not the only enemy. </strong></p><p>Labeled an aberration by the Consortium, the Recorder is not yet free. Time is running out as an engineered bioweapon wreaks havoc on friend and foe alike.</p><p>Stopping both the biological agent and the people who created it is no easy task, especially since the Recorder and her friends are trapped on a research station infested with behemoth insects. Without Consortium technology, the probability of neutralizing the threat falls to nothing. In order to save her allies, the Recorder must activate a drone, but her success might destroy any hope for freedom, a future, and a name.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3StRwTm”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><pre><br /></pre><pre><br /></pre><p>I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">1.</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">We live in a fallen world that doesn’t value people, and yet as Christian</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">s, we are called to love each other. There is lip-service to love without much lovingkindness. What if the world kept going in that direction? How would a person find love and acceptance if everywhere she turned, she faced rejection?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">2. </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">What did your research process look like for this book? </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I spent a lot of time reading historical essays about the Soviet Union and even more time on NASA’s websites and NCBI (</span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">National Center for Biotechnology Information</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">). That sounds more dry than it is. I find science fascinating. Finding the story inside the history and science is a treasure hunt. I will not, however tell you more than, yes,</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;"> I spent</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;"> scores of hours studying insects. </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">Studying c</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">ats, however, </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">was much </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">more fun. </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">There are cats in the novels, so yes, </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">I say that the cat videos were totally research</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">. In fact,</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;"> I</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">’m</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;"> completely </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">convinced </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">that </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">people will still be watching </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont17" style="font-size: 1.7em; line-height: 20.4px;">cat videos hundreds of years in the future. </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">3.</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">What made you choose the setting/time period for this book? </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">The setting chose me. That sounds tongue in cheek but really, this started with a dream I’d had.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">More seriously, I </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">had been searching for solid science fiction that didn’t denigrate God, human life, and faith. This probably is one of the things that drew me to writing in this genre. That dream</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">became the foundation for what is now chapter two in </span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Recorder</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">4. </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing? </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I love apples and cheese. Lately that’s been my snack. Almonds are dangerous because when I am focused on writing, I’m not always aware of mindless eating. Coffee and I have a volatile relationship, but </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Egyptian</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> licorice tea has been a source of comfort. (I drank a lot of tea while writing this series. It’s the Recorder’s favorite drink.)</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">5</span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">.</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">What message do you hope readers take away from your book? </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">This is by far my favorite question. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">It is my hope that readers come away knowing that they are each valuable and unique. They each matter. They are never alone, either, for the God that made the universe is working upstream. There is only one of you. What an amazing and precious thought!</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfabcZYhvnSV7JVS1j5mpPSEuKeAVibcK_CkjKR-dLi9O6M5qoqPpm5b7-Fq4QJWZTYACMWlyypRNkxJ-MjTswX4tne-Fv5ogJTfGViFbRzqBilzftTXnFzLWZ-IKuZZuhAVAq5-atO8g2jIjfhGETxHdJfIzDkGxhZUc9RmKET-Hbx_lfU5hcPh-eHdhd/s1024/IMG_7505.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfabcZYhvnSV7JVS1j5mpPSEuKeAVibcK_CkjKR-dLi9O6M5qoqPpm5b7-Fq4QJWZTYACMWlyypRNkxJ-MjTswX4tne-Fv5ogJTfGViFbRzqBilzftTXnFzLWZ-IKuZZuhAVAq5-atO8g2jIjfhGETxHdJfIzDkGxhZUc9RmKET-Hbx_lfU5hcPh-eHdhd/s320/IMG_7505.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Cathy McCrumb </strong>graduated from Biola University with a degree in English Literature and a love for stories. She and her husband, whom she met while writing letters to soldiers, have five children and currently live within the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. While writing is one of her favorite things to do, she also enjoys reading, long hikes and long naps, gluten-free brownies and raspberries, and crocheting while watching science fiction movies with friends and family.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Cathy</span></h1><p>Someone asked me recently why I wrote <em>Guardian</em>. My answer was that the whole Children of the Consortium trilogy is my love song to people who feel left out.</p><p>In the first novel, the Recorder—a young woman with no name, no family, and no friends—doesn’t see her life as valuable. As she discovers friendship and love, however, she realizes that every person in the system is unique, and this by definition must include her, too.</p><p>How often do we doubt our own value and that of the people around us? In a world that prioritizes youth, beauty, health, and success, many people are on the outside, looking in. I suspect that deep down, a lot of us wrestle with who we are and how we fall short of this external measuring tape.</p><p>The truth, however, is very, very different from the lie of worthlessness. While we have names (and don’t usually encounter two-meter insects, for which I am extremely thankful), we frequently forget that as humans, even though we are fallen, we are made in God’s image. Furthermore, as Christians, we have been both called and adopted.</p><p>Zephaniah 3:17 says that the Lord is with us. He takes “great delight” in us and rejoices over us. What an amazing, beautiful, and comforting image. The One who formed the stars, who breathed life into every human on the planet rejoices over YOU.</p><p>My prayer is that you find hope and joy in the midst of darkness, whether or not you find friends in the pages of these novels. Look to the Lord and hold fast to the fact that you are unique and valuable. Because even when you feel like you’re on the outside looking in, you are <em>never</em> alone.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Locks, Hooks and Books</a></span>, March 7</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tabithabouldinauthor.home.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Through the Fire Blogs"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Through the Fire Blogs</span></a>, March 8 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, March 9</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Splashes of Joy "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://www.splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Splashes of Joy</a></span>, March 10 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, March 11</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Artistic Nobody</span></a>, March 12 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.guildmaster97.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Guild Master"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guild Master</span></a>, March 13 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a></span>, March 14 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Modern Day Fairy Tale"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</span></a>, March 15 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wishfulendings.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Wishful Endings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Wishful Endings</span></a>, March 15</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://simpleharvestreads.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Simple Harvest Reads"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Simple Harvest Reads</span></a>, March 16 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://vickysluitercom.wordpress.com/author-spotlight/"}" data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial, sans, sans-serif"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blossoms and Blessings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blossoms and Blessings</span></a>, March 17 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theloftypages.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"The Lofty Pages"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Lofty Pages</span></a>, March 17</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Fiction Book Lover"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Fiction Book Lover</span></a>, March 18 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blogging With Carol "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://www.carolkeen.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Blogging With Carol</a> </span>, March 19</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vickysluitercom.wordpress.com/author-spotlight/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{"1":0,"2":"https://vickysluitercom.wordpress.com/author-spotlight/"}" data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Vicky Sluiter"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vicky Sluiter</span></a>, March 20 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsSUbVNoFaoaAUf-w47yolNhf8A9QztVBSZR7q_QEGQVVSlU8piTVxJyTRQtQ9cppltpzRk-T-5HsTfK9zko9Y3C4uezoz6IIrZuolhTLwLLZo-I0EFxlkUlC8MzQouwHrZ9cPZWmfXqtJYufIR4ih_Ei8uW8cdTJyz_ZGNTInCT7Uj1G0Vh85Et76Aoc/s1024/IMG_7504.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsSUbVNoFaoaAUf-w47yolNhf8A9QztVBSZR7q_QEGQVVSlU8piTVxJyTRQtQ9cppltpzRk-T-5HsTfK9zko9Y3C4uezoz6IIrZuolhTLwLLZo-I0EFxlkUlC8MzQouwHrZ9cPZWmfXqtJYufIR4ih_Ei8uW8cdTJyz_ZGNTInCT7Uj1G0Vh85Et76Aoc/s320/IMG_7504.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Cathy is giving away the grand prize of a copy of Guardian!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2a552/guardian-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2a552/guardian-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-25052974152270810382024-02-28T22:00:00.000-08:002024-02-28T22:00:00.248-08:00Leading Ladies by Amber Weigand-Buckley & Lisa Burris Burns<p> </p><br /><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33LsKK1Q27MN4C71yRRYybP5H2nwvNsQup70lH2OmsrDWoFifnlm5SLc729SJLlRE9glHzCJE4hafDNgWUwTjTYISyHBjDI1vshXQLCsEta2A90cPeN7P0DmDIWp3KkGcxrAOs068sLMHYXOvrR01rAimiTn_HgwonAkJ65szJhiZlr0cl_ANjmc8ir09/s1024/IMG_7462.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33LsKK1Q27MN4C71yRRYybP5H2nwvNsQup70lH2OmsrDWoFifnlm5SLc729SJLlRE9glHzCJE4hafDNgWUwTjTYISyHBjDI1vshXQLCsEta2A90cPeN7P0DmDIWp3KkGcxrAOs068sLMHYXOvrR01rAimiTn_HgwonAkJ65szJhiZlr0cl_ANjmc8ir09/s320/IMG_7462.png" width="233" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Leading Ladies: Discover Your God-Grown Strategy for Success</p><p><strong>Authors: </strong>Amber Weigand-Buckley & Lisa Burris Burns</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Christian Leadership and Religious Leadership</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>May 25, 2023</p><p>SISTERS, IT’S TIME TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS!</p><p>Find out how to step up to God’s calling as these daring women redefine what leadership looks like. Authentic and heartfelt stories of world-changing women leaders of every hue, background, and job description, teach us by example how to battle to find our passion, connect with our gifts, and maintain forward-focused momentum in every season of life.</p><p>Join authors Amber Weigand-Buckley and Lisa Burris Burns — along with Babbie Mason, Candace Payne, Jacquelyn Marushka, Martha Bolton, Katy Nichole, Kymberlie Joye, and so many more powerhouse women–as they explore leadership purpose, and living a life that counts.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/48YQl3R”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p><br /></p><p>I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all authors’ opinions. </p><h1><br /></h1><div><span underline=""><div><span underline=""><br /></span></div></span></div><h1>Authors’ Interview</h1><div><h1><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-2b4517ec-f19e-56a6-f2b6-06f57979b96e" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-2b4517ec-f19e-56a6-f2b6-06f57979b96e" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Why did you want to become an author?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #9900ff; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lisa: I have been a wordy book girl all my life. I love vocabulary and spelling. But in all honesty I don’t think I ever imagined co-authoring a book! I was doing freelance articles, and in that process writing just started to make sense. Amber pulled me into doing magazine articles and the next thing I knew we were on this adventure together. It’s been a huge blessing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amber: I grew up in the magazine world, and writing a book wasn't initially a dream. However, I felt a strategic moment guided by God, leading me to share my perspective through the book, "Leading Ladies." It became an opportunity to help others change their self-perception.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. What was the most challenging part of the writing process for you and why?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #9900ff; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lisa: The book gave us a huge opportunity to ghost-write for some amazing women with fantastic stories. Trying to maintain their voice from our interviews with them was time consuming and yet so important. We were stretched in a way that I can honestly say grew us. So it was a great bonus in just becoming a better communicator and writer.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amber: </span><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most challenging part was creating a cohesive feel with numerous contributors and conducting interviews for ghostwriting. The lack of a clear outline made it come together organically, and maintaining a powerful yet non-repetitive narrative was a significant challenge.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. What did your research process look like for this book? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amber</span><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: The research involved over 35 women through intensive interviews, including writers and non-writers. Zoom sessions with my co-author ensured a powerful and poignant book without repetition, a process that proved to be demanding yet rewarding.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #9900ff; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lisa: Yes! What Amber said. So many loooooonnnggg Zoom sessions, but so very worth it. </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. What was something new you learned while writing this book? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #9900ff; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lisa: I’ve always been the one that comes in and fluffs the flower arrangement one last time, or pushes for the final polish on the vocalists solo. While writing the book I discovered that I really love the tweaking process involved in editing thoughts! </span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. What audience did you have in mind when writing this book? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amber: Initially, the book was meant for women like me—those questioning their purpose, feeling lost, or equating their worth with accomplishments. God guided me to speak to women and remind them of their inherent value and purpose.</span><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. How did you balance keeping your book informative yet engaging as a non-fiction? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #9900ff; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lisa: It’s pretty safe to say that Amber and I are creatives to our core, so we were actively looking to “up the sparkle” in this area! The book was intentionally broken up by chapter content, pause & reflect questions, and an applicable closing prayer. There are letters of encouragement, and added quote pages with amazing graphic design. When it comes to formatting and design, Amber is your girl! I think it all worked together beautifully. It keeps the reader engaged and allows them to bite off as much as they want at the time.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #9900ff; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lisa: For sure the amount of pages we were going to complete was a big step out of our comfort zone! While I’ve had the opportunity to do several freelance writing projects that were much smaller ventures, the book did bring initial feelings that were daunting.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amber: Despite my challenges with ADHD, the need to write 60,000 words pushed me out of my comfort zone. Surprisingly, the book's structure, with bite-sized stories, catered to non-readers. Each chapter being short and easily digestible became a benefit during the process.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. How did you celebrate when you completed your book? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: #9900ff; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think the initial sigh of relief when Amber pushed “send” on the final manuscript was probably heard around the world! Seriously though, we hit the ground running to attend the National Religious Broadcasters Convenvention in Orlando, Florida. We were able to promote the book there and had some downtime to put our feet up poolside in the evenings.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: #9900ff; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lisa: Coffee in the morning always makes my day start happily!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amber: While writing, my co-author and I frequented a coffee shop called Blooms. Although it's now closed, they had amazing pastries. My go-to drink at Blooms was an Irish cream breve. Of course, I celebrate most of my milestones with coffee—getting out of bed for example.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. What message do you hope readers take away from your book? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amber: I hope women realize their worth and unique contributions. The book aims to convey that everyone, including leaders, faces struggles, and success should be measured by personal fulfillment rather than societal standards.</span></p></h1></div><h1><br /></h1><h1>About the Authors</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4iPTBegtswnsR_AmoP6-9aZ6sdKAgJqxxreM_91brNwuLfYCdFJWerTBVUDDbfAlGH14g6emOFB-5W7NzG_n981F0LhNgU2Nr-Yg53wxItvZJBrup1M7Xmy6IAsmQ4KB3WsAtPcSU1ueeMLEKBLUfiDqJGtsSE7RVB2KHdxAl4dD_QZNoLt0nF3lBjZQ/s712/IMG_7463.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4iPTBegtswnsR_AmoP6-9aZ6sdKAgJqxxreM_91brNwuLfYCdFJWerTBVUDDbfAlGH14g6emOFB-5W7NzG_n981F0LhNgU2Nr-Yg53wxItvZJBrup1M7Xmy6IAsmQ4KB3WsAtPcSU1ueeMLEKBLUfiDqJGtsSE7RVB2KHdxAl4dD_QZNoLt0nF3lBjZQ/s320/IMG_7463.png" width="238" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Meet Amber</strong></p><p><strong>Amber Weigand-Buckley</strong> is an author, speaker, multi-award-winning magazine editor, and art director, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (awsa.com) marketing director, Bold Vision Books’ creative director, and owner of #barefacedcreativemedia (barefacedcreativemedia.com). The Springfield, Missouri native navigates bipolar and anxiety disorder while embracing her best life. At its peak, her mental illness almost caused her to take her own life. Amber is a mental health advocate who knows that a diagnosis does not disqualify you from God’s leadership call.Amber, whose vision birthed <em>Leading Ladies: Discover Your God-Grown Strategy for Success</em>, is energized by helping world-changing women of all hues, backgrounds, and walks of life to find their wings, hone their skills, and take their God-call to the next level.</p><p>She has two grown daughters, Saffron, Imogen, and one teen Penelope, with Philip, her British hubby of 28 years, two Great Pyrenees pups—Stanley and Stuart, and a zoo of exotic pets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGaI20agYvsNMxljYLUWR_StrhP7plA7kyiGpGaWvtNG8vIRoUHKwbu2tjpehsbXJGsnd7RoXLwdBQF8GTPe7gMxc9ZTAEc-WxQdy40Ii_iYKHtQlbTfGfArcO6bPICgSak5jtjOghnSPWs5bdp4xrlhQh2S2-aZqxeULoLCvfMzgVcD7PXt1YTdgdtaD/s744/IMG_7464.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="558" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGaI20agYvsNMxljYLUWR_StrhP7plA7kyiGpGaWvtNG8vIRoUHKwbu2tjpehsbXJGsnd7RoXLwdBQF8GTPe7gMxc9ZTAEc-WxQdy40Ii_iYKHtQlbTfGfArcO6bPICgSak5jtjOghnSPWs5bdp4xrlhQh2S2-aZqxeULoLCvfMzgVcD7PXt1YTdgdtaD/s320/IMG_7464.png" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Meet Lisa</strong></p><p>The diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder initially shattered <strong>LISA BURRIS BURNS</strong>’ ministry dreams as a vocalist and worship leader. Despite this, God opened opportunities for her journey and abilities to expand beyond what she ever anticipated for herself — to acting, stage performance, set design, and writing. As a vocal and performance coach with K.C. Superstar, a Kansas City-based competition likened to “American Idol,” she is passionate about fine-tuning artists’ creative expressions. Lisa thrives on the artistic process, especially everything yarn and crafty.</p><p>This avid Kansas City Chiefs fan lives with her husband, Randy, in Blue Springs, Missouri. The Burns have served in marriage and family ministry since 1988. They have six fantastic children, two amazing son-in-loves, and five adorable granddaughters.</p><h1><span underline="">More from Amber and Lisa</span></h1><p>Are you ready to discover your God-given gifts and move in forward in all that He’s called you to be? Leading Ladies: Discover Your God-Grown Strategy for Success will help you identify your unique leadership abilities.</p><p>For a limited time, get the inspirational song “Lead Me On” recorded by Michaelah Weaver for FREE when your register as a Leading Ladies VIP at leadingladies.life.</p><p>Let “Lead Me On” be your empowering anthem as you read Leading Ladies and learn to boldly walk in your purpose. Download the song and book excerpt now at leadingladies.life!</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Godly Book Reviews"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://proverb31titus2godlybookreviews.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Godly Book Reviews</a></span>, February 16</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, February 27</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, February 28</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a></span>, February 29 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNik0oUQTUFRRf3hSousmq2fA7aoYaMe3oFx5JX62c1O1M88Q4t1Meg1k_jxrsb-ZSPXXfEabsWFARxQjWEwOaxbE7Ad7YcLWA431qeMgEvAg2s6Om-DlfvHifj6qzTAUMTfyuTJbtLEysBQ1r3CEPKrX_Q-xJ4pC3x1_ms6p8lShdOpiou8VnUZdZ1dAU/s940/IMG_7465.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNik0oUQTUFRRf3hSousmq2fA7aoYaMe3oFx5JX62c1O1M88Q4t1Meg1k_jxrsb-ZSPXXfEabsWFARxQjWEwOaxbE7Ad7YcLWA431qeMgEvAg2s6Om-DlfvHifj6qzTAUMTfyuTJbtLEysBQ1r3CEPKrX_Q-xJ4pC3x1_ms6p8lShdOpiou8VnUZdZ1dAU/s320/IMG_7465.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate their tour, Amber and Lisa are giving away the grand prize package of a copy of the book and a $50 Amazon gift card!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2a0cf/leading-ladies-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2a0cf/leading-ladies-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORa01VAGv32tDPsyLzi7xQocq5kuLCd_1ytE1jR0ohY7TK6DUYi2IyJD9i5lCYXgNlenjXv0BWEGP9RPHZK1Sd0BBLXkgE8M2erNt4KfGnooPJtP3aIdFkvwzzWh8RlPLSZ_gS-_qfuRWA7slc_DUOiGuGa1GQmqseRYzqHR3pj7iMcuKxPt6rQiIfR4C/s851/IMG_7461.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORa01VAGv32tDPsyLzi7xQocq5kuLCd_1ytE1jR0ohY7TK6DUYi2IyJD9i5lCYXgNlenjXv0BWEGP9RPHZK1Sd0BBLXkgE8M2erNt4KfGnooPJtP3aIdFkvwzzWh8RlPLSZ_gS-_qfuRWA7slc_DUOiGuGa1GQmqseRYzqHR3pj7iMcuKxPt6rQiIfR4C/s320/IMG_7461.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-61249450561344956362024-02-24T22:00:00.000-08:002024-02-24T22:00:00.135-08:00Torch by Sofia Simpson<p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbpPW2BvJ1XT4T56jLDE96jKzhGzyOalq7vGFy64wEaHvHCT4-yHb6EN0mVNEGMlVejmZQBNMt07mSXrFBh-kkpd785wY89nlMIO5Z4gjgV-17UH1IcyAqP3DhLW6oiVWRF21ihhGnC6ZD9OukUvCV6bEKj5IcN0TyPWtlPWbHKv44ve9odHQ3ERwDAmI/s851/IMG_7441.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbpPW2BvJ1XT4T56jLDE96jKzhGzyOalq7vGFy64wEaHvHCT4-yHb6EN0mVNEGMlVejmZQBNMt07mSXrFBh-kkpd785wY89nlMIO5Z4gjgV-17UH1IcyAqP3DhLW6oiVWRF21ihhGnC6ZD9OukUvCV6bEKj5IcN0TyPWtlPWbHKv44ve9odHQ3ERwDAmI/s320/IMG_7441.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjiLQrOfkBih33yeB45ec23b0_F5asS3KytZTDSpXflZt5m43doFGICgtdBEJXluUjuRfPX8FizvDfcpHe_iq-cJjUuZGmEmNmptYRbLz1dFEVtS_vFZ3L0qjDra9K2D2Msizoj1Jno6OjSH15F84WpJkAl80OaPA6wHJNNREJGM3RLx4G_5M8pWm_T_q/s1024/IMG_7442.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjiLQrOfkBih33yeB45ec23b0_F5asS3KytZTDSpXflZt5m43doFGICgtdBEJXluUjuRfPX8FizvDfcpHe_iq-cJjUuZGmEmNmptYRbLz1dFEVtS_vFZ3L0qjDra9K2D2Msizoj1Jno6OjSH15F84WpJkAl80OaPA6wHJNNREJGM3RLx4G_5M8pWm_T_q/s320/IMG_7442.jpeg" width="240" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book:</strong> Torch</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Sofia Simpson</p><p><b>Genre:</b> Young Adult Christian Fantasy</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>February 6, 2024</p><p>Relentlessly pursued by the Extremists, Vela and Linc embark on a perilous journey toward a hidden Elemental community in the Canadian mountains. It’s a place where couples of different elements thrive, raising families while living off the grid.</p><p>These Elementals, like the Extremists, are searching for the portended Chosen Child, the one who will unite the clans. Vela is forced to accept she might be a part of this prophecy whether she likes it or not.</p><p>Vela is more than intrigued by a mixed Elemental in the community who single-mindedly pursues her. Faced with a choice between two very different men makes committing to Linc as her Intended harder than she imagined.</p><p>Can Linc win the fight for her heart? Will this prophecy be her undoing or the Elementals’ salvation?</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/4aIoAhF”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><h1><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; text-indent: -18px;">Why did you want to become an author? </span></h1><h1><span underline=""><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I love telling stories and sharing my faith as I do it. I know Christian Fantasy is not a widely read genre, but I love writing it. It’s a joy to flesh out in a story what it’s like to experience peace. Or, when you doubt or struggle, writing that moment when a character realizes God was with her all along. That’s my life on those pages. I’ve experienced all the joys of walking in faith and to share that in the conflicts and struggles of a character’s life as they recover or discover their faith is wonderful.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I would say myself and my life inspired me in the main themes of Torch. Vela, my main character, doubts her path in this book. I’ve experienced so much of that as I’ve gone </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">along in</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">this </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">road</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> called life. I’ve had moments like hers where I’m not sure I should be going the direction I’m going and seriously doubting whether it’s God’s plan for me to be there. It was </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">pretty cathartic</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> writing this theme out in this book. It reminded me of those moments that God assured me I was right where I needed to </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">be</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> or I needed to make a change.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I love this question. I would have so many questions about Elemental life and what it’s like producing fire out of your hands and helping a seed grow into a plant. I’d want to know the rush those feelings produced. Mainly, though, I’d talk about their story. It’s a good question to ask as I write the next </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">books</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">, actually</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. How do they feel about what’s happened in their life? </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What emotions evoked from what happened in the past books and how did they carry forward into the next book?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What did your research process look like for this book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Extensive. I had to learn how to live off the grid. My search engine will provide some very interesting revelations with what I had to learn. I had the chance to interview someone who </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">actually lives</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> off the grid and so I was able to glean a lot of amazing info on how a toilet can work, with flushing water. Or, how to cook using a battery. It was all extremely interesting. The most fun was finding recipes for things like bread on a </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">stick, since</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> they had no stoves.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">How did you celebrate when you completed your book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I was naughty and went way off my diet and went and got a Chick-fil-A meal. It was the tastiest and most satisfying meal ever!</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEmXUiomrdknGLFkrtgFP6WtC8ZbpUctB8g11Q_bmF4G9tDDog1doTatNpt5AY9ZxLjO_1PCGIVYRROVxJoijsYCl5tH-QYvJ9HFnz-uCkVBI7VyAv2KWo2swHJc7fjI-C_PbOoOFYOHHeRylj61z2La0u2pvudY_4fb6zJw0oJK7ARrr1KrUXqHFpp9c/s312/IMG_7443.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="312" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEmXUiomrdknGLFkrtgFP6WtC8ZbpUctB8g11Q_bmF4G9tDDog1doTatNpt5AY9ZxLjO_1PCGIVYRROVxJoijsYCl5tH-QYvJ9HFnz-uCkVBI7VyAv2KWo2swHJc7fjI-C_PbOoOFYOHHeRylj61z2La0u2pvudY_4fb6zJw0oJK7ARrr1KrUXqHFpp9c/s1600/IMG_7443.jpeg" width="312" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Sofia</strong> grew up moving constantly. Never in one place more than three years, there was plenty of time to daydream during long car rides. College finally gave her a chance to study what she had always dreamed of doing, writing her stories.</p><p>She obtained a B.A. in Journalism, married her handsome husband and had two amazing sons.</p><p>A big believer in dreaming big, Sofia loves speaking to youth, encouraging them to find hope no matter what their life looks like. Sofia is a daughter of the Lord first and foremost and finds inspiration with the stories like King David and Esther.</p><h1><span underline="">More from Sofia</span></h1><p>This book has been my absolute favorite to write. I switched my POV to first person, and it made all the difference in the world as far as getting into my character’s head. I’ve been so intimidated in writing in first person POV, so I’m so happy I went out on a limb and tried it. The story flowed so easily once I did! I wrote the first draft of this book in 10 weeks! I got on an intense writing schedule, stuck to it and voila! Out popped this book.</p><p>I loved every minute of it, especially the researching part. Researching how to live off the grid was fascinating to me, and it couldn’t have been more interesting. It really made me understand how people lived without modern conveniences. Well, in my book, they lived with modern conveniences thanks to generators and the Elementals’ gifts and abilities, but they had to make their own soap, butter, cheese, sometimes, clothes. I learned how a toilet can work thanks to gravity and setting up the pump on a hill. It’s all fascinating to me and I hope everyone finds it fun to learn, too, all while a great story unfolds!</p><p>The following recipe was so neat, I had to include it! And, yes, it’s in the book. They had to cook bread without an oven, so this worked nicely so they could still enjoy some fresh cooked bread.</p><p>This recipe was copied from the following link from Veganonboard.com:</p><p><a href="”https://veganonboard.com/campfire-bread-on-a-stick-recipe/”">Campfire Bread on a Stick Recipe – Vegan on Board</a></p><p>Ingredients</p><ul><li>1 tsp dried yeast</li><li>1 tsp sugar</li><li>2 ½ cups (300 g) flour</li><li>⅞ cup (200 ml) warm water</li><li>2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil</li><li>1 tsp salt</li></ul><p>Dough:</p><ul><li>In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients into a moist dough. No need to knead!</li><li>Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size – about 1 hour.</li><li>With floured hands, briefly ‘knock back’ the dough by making it into a ball.</li><li>Tip the dough out onto a floured surface and divide into 8 pieces.</li></ul><p>Shaping your breadsticks:</p><ul><li>Start by stretching the dough into a strip and then roll it into a long sausage shape.</li><li>Twist a strip around the end of your sticks. Pinch the dough together to secure the end if necessary.</li></ul><p>Cooking Over a Campfire:</p><ul><li>Either hold or prop up your stick over the fire.</li><li>Choose a spot over hot embers for best results.</li><li>Keep rotating until all sides are browned.</li><li>Enjoy your freshly baked bread!</li></ul><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Artistic Nobody</a></span>, February 15 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Tell Tale Book Reviews"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tell Tale Book Reviews</span></a>, February 16</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Library Lady's Kid Lit"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</span></a>, February 20</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Tell Tale Book Reviews"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tell Tale Book Reviews</span></a>, February 21 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Acacdemy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, February 24</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a></span>, February 25 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theloftypages.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"The Lofty Pages"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Lofty Pages</span></a>, February 25</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, February 26</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tabithabouldinauthor.home.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Through the Fire Blogs"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Through the Fire Blogs</span></a>, February 27 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blogging with Carol "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://carolkeen.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Blogging with Carol</a></span>, February 28</p><p center=""><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwqU202_BS_dCxnA73mPq5YxvoRXXrJIrXCVQct1iSDQknKN6E2_H2qbIMY0dfvaqnpxrZqOfkDwDqeoHJHx6r7N8txnzMdhqNsxrz2tkE5KmNlv2njkkVo2Stn2mT0M0ony53oq63v9JYG4CiWyJi77SovVqF0F2JyJKDHw7uddjrQlpPheHo2LLB24g/s940/IMG_7444.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwqU202_BS_dCxnA73mPq5YxvoRXXrJIrXCVQct1iSDQknKN6E2_H2qbIMY0dfvaqnpxrZqOfkDwDqeoHJHx6r7N8txnzMdhqNsxrz2tkE5KmNlv2njkkVo2Stn2mT0M0ony53oq63v9JYG4CiWyJi77SovVqF0F2JyJKDHw7uddjrQlpPheHo2LLB24g/s320/IMG_7444.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Sofia is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and copy of the book!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/29dba/torch-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/29dba/torch-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-3845466116402046022024-02-14T22:00:00.000-08:002024-02-14T22:00:00.149-08:00War Songs by Brett Nelson<p> </p><p center=""></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwhkP1QqnJe1AP3NV3WldiZgpM9eXHehxQoURuGlIKS3xdM5XvgD0rTka2hNQktrDn_PqFMQtpSgOVV-oTAbkoSQDcw7DZgV9mlGUbzGj_R-ME2qWCvI5YmCVjP7KBtegnO-ENB0pLmaAiK62sCimq70VQ1GV6shCPqePc7GqTl-iVwSvm0QwJJMysqbC/s851/IMG_7424.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwhkP1QqnJe1AP3NV3WldiZgpM9eXHehxQoURuGlIKS3xdM5XvgD0rTka2hNQktrDn_PqFMQtpSgOVV-oTAbkoSQDcw7DZgV9mlGUbzGj_R-ME2qWCvI5YmCVjP7KBtegnO-ENB0pLmaAiK62sCimq70VQ1GV6shCPqePc7GqTl-iVwSvm0QwJJMysqbC/s320/IMG_7424.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3B5YM8xRomaefJWaxRkZy2OZoayc_f1pslp9PBYhbsyUkby47u3Mv5bO7CtxWZXiqbhFER62GGZFigZEwqQm1ultjQQIAXh-xo-08mcSsoTBrtxQX5UF2yITU8BauUV2VE7_Qtb3Lqrc2Z8dRyGaJnKd_HQyL0pAFkI-sq5Co7f4z6mGYdRyPcpff-cQn/s1024/IMG_7425.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3B5YM8xRomaefJWaxRkZy2OZoayc_f1pslp9PBYhbsyUkby47u3Mv5bO7CtxWZXiqbhFER62GGZFigZEwqQm1ultjQQIAXh-xo-08mcSsoTBrtxQX5UF2yITU8BauUV2VE7_Qtb3Lqrc2Z8dRyGaJnKd_HQyL0pAFkI-sq5Co7f4z6mGYdRyPcpff-cQn/s320/IMG_7425.jpeg" width="200" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>War Songs</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Brett Nelson</p><p><b>Genre:</b> Contemporary Christian Fiction/Spiritual Warfare</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>February 6, 2022</p><p><strong><u>Trigger Warning</u>: </strong>WAR SONGS is free of profanity and sexual situations (There is some mild slang terminology spoken by fallen angels and certain human characters, ex: c**p, w**re, etc). Also, there is one short scene in the book that depicts violence with very minimal graphic details that could be triggering and/or upsetting for some readers.</p><p><strong>There is an invisible realm around us that we can neither discern with our eyes nor hear with our ears. This invisible realm is where the powers of darkness and light reside. They can see and hear us, but we cannot see and hear them.</strong></p><p>Jenner Alekson is a leader in his praise and worship band that travels extensively in the tri-state area of Cape Kennington, North Carolina. He makes little money in his chosen profession, yet the rewards he reaps in obedience to his call of ministry are eternal, and that’s enough for him.</p><p>Always happy with all aspects of his existence, Jenner is blindsided when his life suddenly catapults into turmoil, and he is thrust into a crossroads where discontentment, anger, and loss of desire to carry the gospel with his song takes root in an otherwise sheltered and stable life.</p><p>Unbeknownst to Jenner, his wife Hyacinth, and best friends Camden and Lucas, a spiritual war rages around them. The powers of darkness will try their best to derail Jenner’s spiritual walk, his marriage, his ministry, then ultimately his life.</p><p>Meanwhile across the country, rough and gruff long-haul trucker Arnold Collins leads a different kind of life. He’s a recovering drunk who chases women and is unhappy with an unloving, belligerent wife who could out-cuss any man who ever dared to challenge her. Without a warm and inviting place to call home, Arnold prefers the wide-open road before him.</p><p>As he rumbles across the terrain of small-town America one lonely night in his eighteen-wheeler, grumbling about his unfulfilling lot in life, he happens upon a radio preacher. Not interested in religion, he flips past the station with mutters of disdain, but for reasons he cannot explain, he is compelled back to it and hears a sermon he doesn’t understand but can’t get out of his mind.</p><p>Will the schemes of the powers of darkness pull Jenner away from the faith that means everything to him? And will the same powers prevent Arnold from finding the faith he needs but never wanted?</p><p><strong>Heaven and Earth, light and dark, good and evil, are about to collide in ways Jenner and Arnold and those they love could never imagine.</strong></p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3GHEYB1″">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><pre><br /></pre><pre><br /></pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions given are my own and are not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.</p><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">? </span></span></b></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Hi Katie. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be on your blog and </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">to </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">talk about my books.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Every book has its </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">own set of </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">challenges and </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">War Songs</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> was probably one of my most challenging books to </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">write</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">First</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, the book allows readers </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">a glimpse </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">not only into the physical realm but also into the spiritual realm </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">where</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> angels and fallen angels</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> (demons)</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> reside. For me, it’s interesting to imagine how angels and fallen angels interact with humans when humans have no idea what is going on around them in the spiritual realm. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Prior to writing this book I had read a couple of spiritual warfare </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">books,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> but I didn’t like the approach the authors took because they depicted spiritual warfare as </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">creep</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">y</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">things that go bump in the night (ex: lamps turning on for no reason, window shades popping up when no one was in the room to do it, and pictures falling off the wall.) These things, however, are not the biblical approach to spiritual warfare, so I decided </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">for my fourth novel that I wanted to tackle writing a book on spiritual warfare that was closer in alignment with what scripture says it is.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Since I don’t have the ability to see into the spiritual realm</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> for myself</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, and </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">since </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">the Bible doesn’t give in depth views of the spiritual realm</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and what happens there</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, it was often a challenge to not only imagine but also </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">to </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">put to paper how I thought that </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">realm </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">might look. Since it’s Christian </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">FICTION</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, that allows for a little wiggle room, but it was important to me that</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">overall,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> it </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">felt</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> genuine and realistic to readers, so that wasn’t an easy balance to find for me as an author. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I also know that most readers who pick up </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">War Songs</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> will most likely be a Christian, but </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">we all know that </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">most Christians have widely varying convictions on Bible interpretation and Bible doctrine. Though I did my best to keep it in line with scripture as far as my understanding allows, I know there will be a faction of readers who won’t like how I envisioned </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">the story</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> because it somehow contrasts with their own ideas of how spiritual warfare and the spiritual realm works, and thus may give bad reviews</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> for a challenging topic that none of us </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">really </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">have dogmatic proof of how spiritual warfare </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">actually</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> looks</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and operates</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. At the end of the day, my prayer is that as people read </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">War Songs</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, they will keep an open mind and look past what they agree/don’t agree with and at the heart just enjoy delving into an interesting topic.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Since there are angels and fallen angels in the book, another big challenge was finding interesting names for them. In my opinion, angels/fallen angels need names uniquely different from human names. After struggling with finding cool names, an idea finally hit that worked. I gave each of the fallen angels a specific “job” or personality trait to describe how they would spiritually attack the humans, so I looked up the Latin names for the word of that fallen angel and used a derivative of that word to come up with the fallen </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">angels’</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> name</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">For instance, for the fallen angel of anger, the Latin word </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">f</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">or anger is “</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">ira</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,” so I </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">gave the name of Iracun to the demon of anger.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">The Latin name for discouragement is “Animi </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">debilitatem</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">”, so I named the demon of discouragement “Animi.”</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">The Latin name for fear is “</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">timor</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,” so I named the demon of fear “Timora.”</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I also struggled with using offense as the character’s spiritual downfall because I was afraid readers would view it was a weak way to bring a character down. When I spoke with a pastor about my concerns, though, he was adamant that I </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">needed to follow</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> my instinct and use offense in the story because Christians (and everyone, really) need stiff reminders that our enemy Satan can use </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">the</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> perceived “</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">simple</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> thing</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s and emotions</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">” to steal, kill, and destroy a person’s life.</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> As they say, knowledge is power, and when we know how our enemy operates against us, that knowledge equips us to </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">live in victory</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">despite his best efforts.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">As soon as I decided to go ahead with the topic of offense, </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I was still nervous about </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">it,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> but </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">my spirit was</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> also </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">at peace.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Which character in your book do you relate to the most</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">?</span></span></b></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I think I relate to several of the characters in the book, especially to Jenner, the main character. He is a singer in a non-famous praise and worship band, and they travel the tristate area ministering through music. As a singer myself, that is </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">a</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> definite </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">area where</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> he and I relate. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">In the book, I wanted to not only delve into how the spiritual realm meshes with the physical realm, but I also wanted to touch on the spiritual downfall of a faithful </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">and true </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">believer. I didn’t want his downfall to be the typical drugs, alcohol, or sexual sin that so many writers use to propel their stories</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> (not that there’s anything wrong with those storylines because they are very important subjects to tackle)</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. After much thought and prayer, I decided to give Jenner a battle to deal with that was more subtle: the sin of offense</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">toward</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> another believer </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">in the character’s life</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Offense left unchecked can cause anger and bitterness</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> all of which can very quickly poison a Christian</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">’</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s and even a non-Christian’s soul. I have received so many affirming emails from readers </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">thanking me for writing the book, and </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">who were touched and blessed by how it opened their eyes to how spiritual warfare possibly works</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Earlier </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">this</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> year</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, though,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> I got a very nasty email from a woman who “enjoyed the book” but was angry that I chose offense as the catalyst for Jenner’s spiritual downward spiral. She was livid that Jenner “didn’t get over his petty hurt feelings faster.” She then gave an exhaustive list of every little thing that she hated about the book. At first, my heart was </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">wounded</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> by her horrible nitpicky attitude and </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">blatant </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">bullying</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> (because she claimed to be a Christian</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and Christians are supposed to love</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> each other</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, not attack </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">each other</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">)</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, then I stopped and realized that she is </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">exactly</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">the type of person who </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">needed</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> to read the book</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, even if it forced </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">out of her </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">an inappropriately negative outburst</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. She was literally offended that I wrote a book that pointed out how something as subtle as a small offense can fester and grow until it poisons a person’s soul and their outlook on life and the people in it. Even though she was very angry about the book, I</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> decided </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">that </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">rather than be hurt</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> (easier said than done!),</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> I would</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> pray for her often that the Holy Spirit </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">would</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> touch</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and heal</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> the area</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> in her life where </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">the </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">book obviously hit a nerve. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I also relate to Jenner’s best friends, </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Lucas</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and Camden, because they served as the lighthearted and fun characters in the book. I’m for sure a healthy mix of Jenner, Camden, and Lucas because I have a serious side as well as a fun and lighthearted side. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">As much as I hate to admit it, I even relate a little to Arnold. He’s an older, crusty, bitter on life truck driver whose marriage is on the rocks. He’s a bit feisty at times and speaks his mind, and anyone who knows me knows that I have a definite feisty, outspoken side. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">In short, if you take a pinch of this and a pinch of that from each character, you’ll have a </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">pretty close</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> physical embodiment of Brett Nelson.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">? </span></span></b></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I love my characters so much. After spending a year creating them, giving them physical attributes and personalities, an author can’t help but walk away with a deep love for his characters, even the ones that aren’t as likeable. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">- With Jenner, since I too am a singer and used to travel in a Southern Gospel band, </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">we would for sure talk about music and the dynamic of group travel. Since I know what it’s like to experience immense hurt at the hands of people inside the walls of the church (I mean, who doesn’t understand that on some level? Statistically, more Christians report experiencing hurt from other </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Christians</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> way more than from non-Christians. That’s a statistic that I would love to see change in a positive direction). We’d have an in depth talk about what he experienced, how he reacted, and how he could have handled certain things better. His growth arc </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">was subtle from beginning to end</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, and once you’ve lived through that, it’s a testimony worth digging into and talking about at some point when your heart has healed.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">- I would love to sit and have a long talk with Arnold and Alice. In all honesty, they aren’t the type of people that I would gravitate towards when seeking out friendships because </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">they</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">both have</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> a chip on </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">their</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> shoulder</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, they’re grumpy,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">they’re</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">not believer</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> (yet </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Arnold especially is</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> searching for something to believe in even though he doesn’t know how to get there or even what he’s searching for.) I’d love to try </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">and</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> talk some sense into </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">both of their</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> stubborn and cranky disposition</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">.</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">P.S. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">For those who love to hate Arnold and Alice, Book Two in the War Songs series goes into professional editing in January and will publish in Spring of 2024. Arnold and Alice are the main </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">characters in</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> book two because I wanted to delve more closely into who they are and why the</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">y</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> turned out the way </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">they</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">did. I look so forward into getting that book out there</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and I hope people love it as much as I do</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">-I also would like to smack Janie upside the head then have a coming-to-Jesus talk with her. She thinks she’s the best Christian that ever walked the Earth, but her actions don’t match the words that she speaks. I think we all probably know at least one person like that, and yes, she is modeled after someone I </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">know</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. I changed everything about the character of Janie</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> so the real person will never see themself in her (not that they’d ever read </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">one of my</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> book</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, anyway, and if they </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">did,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> they’d probably never see the correlation</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I’ll never name them, so don’t ask</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">…LOL </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">-One last person I’d love to talk with is Aunt Deborah. She is a gem of a person who is just kind and loving and </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">somehow </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">knows what to say to people when th</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">ere’s something they need to hear (she shows up in book two, too!)</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. She’s the type of person that most people instinctively </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">would </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">like and trust.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What message do you hope readers take away from your book</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">? </span></span></b></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I touched on this in an earlier question, but I think it’s the perfect way to end the interview. I realize that due to the nature of spiritual warfare, there will be people who won’t like the story I told because it doesn’t jive </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">exactly </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">with their own vision of what spiritual warfare looks like, and that’s fine. As I said, it’s a </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">relatively unknown</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> topic that the Bible doesn’t speak in depth about so all any of us can do is take what little we know about it and imagine how the whole picture </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">looks</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I had one Amazon reviewer who didn’t like that Jenner didn’t take his issues with another person in the church (the incident that caused </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">his</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> offense to fester and grow) and discuss it with his pastor. In real life, </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">that’s ultimately what I would have done</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">that’s what I would encourage any person to do</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> in such a circumstance</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. That’s the smart thing to do if you encounter church hurt and have a hard time getting over it. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I even briefly considered that as a plot point toward the end but decided against it. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">There are many reasons why a person would choose not to go to a pastor about such a thing. Maybe they realize their </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">re</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">action to the incident isn’t a huge deal and they don’t want to bother a pastor with such a small thing</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> they know they need to get over</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. Maybe they’re embarrassed </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">to be caught struggling with such a “small thing.” Maybe their pride won’t allow them to talk to a pastor</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> (pride is another subtle spirit killer, but that’s a story for a different book)</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. Maybe, </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">as </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">in Jenner’s case, I suspect he’s just a ‘suffer in silence’ type of guy</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> (because aren’t most guys</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and even a lot of women</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">?)</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> My point is</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> that</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> people don’t always do things the way other people around them think they should.</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> Like it or not, that’s life when imperfect people live and interact with other imperfect people.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I’ve had several people who reached out to tell me how much the</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">y</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> loved the book, “but wouldn’t it have been great if you had…” {fill in the blank}. The truth is, there were so many things I </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">could have</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> done in the book that I chose </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">not for many reasons, space constraints being the main one</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I do the same thing when I read books. “Why didn’t they do this?” or “Why didn’t they do that.” </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">There are</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> a thousand things I could have had my characters do differently, but we authors can only fit so much in a book</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> before it falls in the way of </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">War and Peace</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> (a whopping 1,200+ page tome)</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Sometimes we allow characters to be bothered by apparently silly things. Sometimes we have them react to things in ways that aren’t always healthy or smart or logical</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, but that’s ultimately how we learn life lessons. A</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">ll</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> of us humans</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">if we’re honest, </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">are</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">not </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">immune </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">to</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> doing </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">things that others around us would consider dumb.</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> That’s how we </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">authors </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">give </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">our </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">books</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> not only</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> an edge of reality</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> but also a dose of the unexpected.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">My prayer is that</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> at the heart of the matter, my readers will walk away and see the deficiencies in the characters </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">and</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> as a result</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> maybe make better decisions in their own lives. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I pray something in the book will help a reader to assess a situation in their own life and </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">they’ll remember that small offenses can take destroy a person’s life just as much as drinking, doing drugs, and other perceived “bigger” sins. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I pray that readers will never forget there is an invisible war raging around us and that “our struggle isn’t with flesh and blood people, but with invisible forces in heavenly places.” </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Finally</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, I pray that readers, even if they don’t agree with 100% of how I chose to build the story, they’ll see the bigger picture and hunker down to enjoy a good, clean read.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p></span></div><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW0IJH5_mrYcQ8MafgSaLafIQlfGGHtb4cqyh_UK7uxlKSecvejjA-FvGeT2UaT-OwBe_-D7fN5y5341KCHPvh8COBjOSN11xeH4yoCB8KboYHo69f-T0_HXozGtnDupRGU0dX7fRXRD-9Jl84TOLtDipDyzM63CB1tmdVnwp4OMtUa4MJvVU1FMNx18z/s960/IMG_7426.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW0IJH5_mrYcQ8MafgSaLafIQlfGGHtb4cqyh_UK7uxlKSecvejjA-FvGeT2UaT-OwBe_-D7fN5y5341KCHPvh8COBjOSN11xeH4yoCB8KboYHo69f-T0_HXozGtnDupRGU0dX7fRXRD-9Jl84TOLtDipDyzM63CB1tmdVnwp4OMtUa4MJvVU1FMNx18z/s320/IMG_7426.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Brett Nelson</strong> is an Amazon TOP 5 BEST-SELLING author. “When Raindrops Fall” and “War Songs” hit #4 and #2 respectively in the Christian fiction genre, and “A Christmas to Live For” hit #9 in Christian Fiction. He lives in Arkansas, where he was born and raised. He wrote his first novel in 2012, just to see if he could. His goal is to write stories of fiction that are clean, easy to read, fun, and that injects a layer of his faith into every novel. In short, he desires that his readers would finish every novel having experienced a tapestry of emotions from a good healthy cry, fits of amused laughter, soul-splitting inspiration, and everything in between. He has published five novels to date. Book #2 to “War Songs” will publish in Spring 2024, and he is also currently working on Book #2 for “When Raindrops Fall.”</p><p>His novel “A Christmas to Live For” won the Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal in Christian Fiction in 2021, and “War Songs” won the Global Book Awards Silver Medal in Christian Fiction in 2022.</p><p>Other than writing, reading is one of his favorite things to do on a lazy, rainy day (or a sunny day, or at the beach, or…well, you get the picture).</p><p>He enjoys reading the novels of lesser known authors, because you never know when you’ll uncover a new favorite.</p><h1><span underline="">More from Brett</span></h1><p>“War Songs” was my fourth published novel, and I wrote it because I love books about spiritual warfare. The few that I’ve read, though, lean more on the occultic side than biblically based, which was what I wanted. Spiritual warfare isn’t pictures falling off walls for no reason, or seeing a shadow in the corner, or things that go bump in the night, which is how books that I’ve read tend to depict the subject of spiritual warfare. So, I decided to tackle the subject for myself and write a novel that I would want to read. I’m blessed to have received amazing email feedback about the book from all over the country and even from readers in Pakistan, Germany, the UK, and Canada.</p><p>One question that I’m asked a lot is how I came up with the unique angel and demon names (ex: Animi, Mataio, Roga, and Mortol, just to name a few.) In the book, I gave each demon a specific job and/or specialty (discouragement, anger, etc) then I researched the Hebrew/Greek root words for the emotions that the demons represented and created a name based off the root word. It made for some great demon names, even if I do say so myself.</p><p>As an author, I rarely use the names of people I personally know in my books. I like to use unique character names that no one in my life has, hence the names of my main characters in “War Songs,” Jenner and Hyacinth. To help find character names, I often go to baby name websites and search until just the right unique name comes along, and the minute I see it, I just know that will be the character’s name. That said, I have given a few special people in my life a shoutout in the books by using their name for a smaller secondary character then giving the character an outlandish personality that is nothing like the person whose name I used.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Book Reviews From an Avid Reader"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Book Reviews From an Avid Reader</a></span>, February 8</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Artistic Nobody</span></a>, February 9 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, February 9</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, February 10</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Fiction Book Lover"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Fiction Book Lover</span></a>, February 11 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, February 12</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Guild Master"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guild Master</span></a>, February 13 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, February 14</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a></span>, February 15 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tabithabouldinauthor.home.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Through the Fire Blogs"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Through the Fire Blogs</span></a>, February 16 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.beccahope.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Becca Hope: Book Obsessed"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Becca Hope: Book Obsessed</span></a>, February 16</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tblbkreviews.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lily's Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lily’s Corner</span></a>, February 17</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, February 18</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blossoms and Blessings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blossoms and Blessings</span></a>, February 19 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Splashes of Joy "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://www.splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Splashes of Joy</a></span>, February 20 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://litteraegaudium.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For the Love of Literature"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For the Love of Literature</span></a>, February 21 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLBRDhjdkZDqcVjDl1UNIdr2t2RFsZ9dUan7yPKuRZGOpKWCWw971AEDi52VXArSwyf0ZHkNAxF-UpU3Lp6QpUf8VA01cBDQ6nxbBZ4keIyp7zf3IYg73zxol9fiY_F-DznevARo-edtwMVoiPfgizx0UdoNkanQIgJ6nyJE0wyCYFxZrLUcYUcHoa0jX/s940/IMG_7427.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLBRDhjdkZDqcVjDl1UNIdr2t2RFsZ9dUan7yPKuRZGOpKWCWw971AEDi52VXArSwyf0ZHkNAxF-UpU3Lp6QpUf8VA01cBDQ6nxbBZ4keIyp7zf3IYg73zxol9fiY_F-DznevARo-edtwMVoiPfgizx0UdoNkanQIgJ6nyJE0wyCYFxZrLUcYUcHoa0jX/s320/IMG_7427.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate his tour, Brett is giving away the grand prize package of a $100 Amazon Gift Card, an autographed hardback copy of the book, and a bookmark!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/29c51/war-songs-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/29c51/war-songs-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-55022095126603324842024-02-07T22:00:00.000-08:002024-02-07T22:00:00.352-08:00Winds of Ruach by D. M. Griffin<p> </p><p center=""></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zpeT38In4bn8OdnYHfZHqqhE9qkf4jgg54eKonzMV5FeqeFk3QfrPIJEqZwv5jX6MUm4cOL7eyaegQ9jVOaRahR2PaoQnpqis1XLhYb3EMBS1abOAPNLb4c3KnA3eZJn4OGotX3rcGk852g3s9Vgy1dyRQM4xKUe0ErKQLzpaf6jIm1s86Qml82lDvBy/s851/IMG_7408.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zpeT38In4bn8OdnYHfZHqqhE9qkf4jgg54eKonzMV5FeqeFk3QfrPIJEqZwv5jX6MUm4cOL7eyaegQ9jVOaRahR2PaoQnpqis1XLhYb3EMBS1abOAPNLb4c3KnA3eZJn4OGotX3rcGk852g3s9Vgy1dyRQM4xKUe0ErKQLzpaf6jIm1s86Qml82lDvBy/s320/IMG_7408.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1XdiWLUG9YYwkyRLFyJFA053YnbvjJQ_k2usfAiFsQH4h7O4zLOnojgwO5h6lom3aFXrorFDg5wfi3n3m9KSzK9zH1A90Hg2zbb1k7psH2onyNtgTaTIXvQIhMuqS-Gs1I5ih0O568S4edsr2Fp222rRW0ajXCw4PfIoY4W89LlLhehtDX9hrKN9rxP2/s1024/IMG_7409.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="642" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1XdiWLUG9YYwkyRLFyJFA053YnbvjJQ_k2usfAiFsQH4h7O4zLOnojgwO5h6lom3aFXrorFDg5wfi3n3m9KSzK9zH1A90Hg2zbb1k7psH2onyNtgTaTIXvQIhMuqS-Gs1I5ih0O568S4edsr2Fp222rRW0ajXCw4PfIoY4W89LlLhehtDX9hrKN9rxP2/s320/IMG_7409.jpeg" width="201" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Winds of Ruach</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>D.M. Griffin</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Biblical Fiction</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>October 18, 2022</p><p>Winds of Ruach is a compilation of five novellas fictionally traversing a period in Israel’s history that spans three hundred years. God used the prophets to speak to His people during a tumultuous time when faith was challenged and spiritual discipline was necessary. Five prophets lived out the message of God in a way that girded their faith and inspired those who truly listened to God’s voice. Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Obadiah, and Malachi were God’s chosen spokesmen.</p><p>Book One: Jonah felt he had every right to be angry when tragedy struck his household. He would soon learn that anger was a barrier to a right relationship with God no matter how justified the source of that anger. What happens when Jonah realizes that his deep-seated anger might cost him everything? Will he learn to embrace his forgiving God?</p><p>Book Two: Nahum was a victim of God’s wrath as it fell on the land of rebellious Israel. Intimidated for the majority of his life with little memory about his origin, Nahum struggles to trust God for vindication. Grappling to understand why everything keeps going wrong, will Nahum surrender to the only One who can truly defend him?</p><p>Book Three: As a child, Habakkuk’s faith was pure and unadulterated. As a priest serving in the Temple, however, Habakkuk realizes that something is keeping him from experiencing the fullness of that faith. He doesn’t truly trust God’s heart toward him. Will he learn to be brave despite the circumstances that threaten the very existence of the Temple?</p><p>Book Four: Obadiah lived in two worlds while feeling as if he spiritually belonged to one. Born to an Edomite father and Jewish mother, he was constantly at war with his brother. How long would it take for Obadiah to learn that the Lord was with him in the battle? Even if he lost it all, would having God be enough?</p><p>Book Five: Malachi wrestles with what he knows to be true about God and how his life is unfolding in contrast to that knowledge. What does it mean to worship with a pure heart, not with ulterior motives? As God has the final say with His people, will they listen and faithfully wait for the promised future of redemption?</p><p>Explore the themes woven into the books of the minor prophets through these fictional journeys that reveal how mighty the Winds of Ruach (Spirit) truly are as they blow across history into today.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3RvbrAN”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><pre><br /></pre><pre><br /></pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">1. </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">Why did you want to become an author?</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; line-height: 21.6px;">Becoming an author happened quite by accident for me. I wanted to share some stories with a dear friend of mine and was looking for a way to make them more presentable. I didn’t want to give her a binder full of paper. She was always my ‘Barnabas,’ encouraging me to write more. That first devotional book was only the beginning. Now, fifty books later, I laugh at how it all started. I think if I had known back then, I might have been too overwhelmed. It all happened one book at a time. </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">2. </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why?</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; line-height: 21.6px;">The most challenging part of writing Winds of Ruach was the timing of it. I was in the middle of writing another series and this one came as a complete inspirational surprise. I had to balance my time wisely to keep </span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; line-height: 21.6px;">to</span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; line-height: 21.6px;"> my writing schedule. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to pick up where I left off </span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; line-height: 21.6px;">i</span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; line-height: 21.6px;">n the other series. But God is good even in the distractions.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">3. </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">I was inspired by the themes found in the minor prophets as I read through them during my daily Bible reading plan. In the story of Jonah, I pondered the many layers of anger and considered our ‘rights’ to be angry, especially with God. In the story of Nahum, I pondered the effect of tragedy in life. In Habakkuk, I pondered the ramifications of faith that isn’t genuine. In Obadiah, I wove</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> the theme of our divine identity with cultural expectations. Finally, in Malachi, I considered the wisdom of remaining silent and speaking out. Overall, God’s sovereignty shines as themes of destiny and promise mingle throughout the stories. </span></p><div><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></div><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">4. </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">Which character in your book do you relate to the most?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px;">I think I most relate to Malachi as he struggles to figure out his placement in the grander narrative of God’s plan. Even though others believe in him, Malachi has a difficult time believing in himself. </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">5. </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">What message do you hope readers take away from your book?</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I hope after reading Winds of Ruach, readers see the beauty in the sovereignty of God even as history repeats itself and the times we live in feel as unsettled as it did a long time ago</p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">.</span></p></span></div><h1>About the Author</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxrDHkSdn27ARSJHR4ZpS-pWblKL3yvRZo6Fbli8U5oGwcXCBARCNs4inOn2i46hWSdn7hbJQbr2XY-_fw9KRcGbsAtuwyC4Z48MJodwwYtlBDNZRKHI4djmPY3JFBItUnW7zTBSjp_orUbcPz3flgBopojJ-9vaFkCXDwjNzlIGVj5yqM6tDiBchti7C/s1024/IMG_7410.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxrDHkSdn27ARSJHR4ZpS-pWblKL3yvRZo6Fbli8U5oGwcXCBARCNs4inOn2i46hWSdn7hbJQbr2XY-_fw9KRcGbsAtuwyC4Z48MJodwwYtlBDNZRKHI4djmPY3JFBItUnW7zTBSjp_orUbcPz3flgBopojJ-9vaFkCXDwjNzlIGVj5yqM6tDiBchti7C/s320/IMG_7410.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>D.M. Griffin</strong> currently resides in Northern California with her husband. They met in middle school a few days after she was transplanted to the West Coast at the tender age of twelve. She has three adult children who have been an endless source of delight and inspiration. She also has a precious new grandchild who brings her joy.</p><p>As a native New Hampshire girl, she fondly remembers spending her summers there as a child. Thick accents, small towns, and fascinating weather stirred the imagination of her young heart. She has always had a fondness for stories thanks to her imaginative mother who would make up wild, adventurous tales to tell her while tucking her into bed as a child.</p><p>She truly believes that a book that sits on a shelf unread is like a planted seed that never blossoms. Nothing delights her more than sharing a story.</p><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">More from D.M.</span></h1><p>I am a creature of habit who thrives on predictability. That being said, Winds of Ruach fell outside my comfort zone. If you have ever heard the phrase – if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans – you get the idea. I was deep in the throes of researching and writing a twelve-book series on the disciples of Jesus. My schedule was set. The routine was fixed. I had spent two years dedicated to The Follower Series. In between writing the first draft of book seven and editing book one, I was divinely halted. I didn’t exactly hit a block, so to speak. Instead, I was inspirationally diverted. It frustrated me for a short time.</p><p>Looking back on it now, I realize it was a blessing in disguise. At the time, my daily bible reading took me through the book of Jonah. Jonah 4:4 snagged my attention like a burr clinging to a pant leg. “Is it right for you to be angry?” That single phrase snared my heart with a compulsion to self-reflect. That meditation took me to places I had not been before. I followed the thread of anger woven throughout my life. Not the anger that manifests itself in hot, fiery outbursts but the hidden, silent anger that can turn into deadly pride or unrecognizable prejudice.</p><p>Anger wears many disguises. Some of those are loneliness and grief. I began wondering what might have happened in Jonah’s life to make him, a man of God, so angry that he would directly and blatantly disobey the Lord. The first short story was the beginning of a five-month diversion in my predetermined writing schedule.</p><p>I was inspired by other verses as I walked the landscape of Scripture through the books of the minor prophets.</p><p>With Nahum, I pondered how tragedy affects the trajectory of a life. With Habakkuk, I explored the difference between authentic worship and disingenuous faith. Obadiah is a short and sweet book of the bible, but it packs a punch. The theme of the resulting short story is about claiming one’s true identity as a child of God. Finally, Malachi wove the final thread into the fabric of this anthology which is ultimately about the Spirit of God moving through history to accomplish His will and purpose. Malachi is a story about knowing when to remain silent and when to ask questions of God. As I wrote Winds of Ruach, I thought about the importance of destiny and promise.</p><p>Some of my early readers asked me which was my favorite prophet. Honestly, the only way I could answer that question is to say that it is whichever story I am reading at the time. I was greatly blessed while writing Winds of Ruach, drawing out biblical themes I had never noticed before. These five prophets are near and dear to my heart. Truly, the imagination is a gift from God. And yes, I did go back to the ‘routine’ in writing. It took three and half years (half a year over my schedule) but the series I was working on prior to Winds of Ruach is now complete. God is good even in the distractions.</p><h1 center=""><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Fiction Book Lover"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Fiction Book Lover</a></span>, January 31 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a></span>, February 8 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mary.a.hake" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Mary Hake"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mary Hake</span></a>, February 8</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, February 9</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, February 10</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Modern Day Fairy Tale"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</span></a>, February 11 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Little Homeschool on the Prairie "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://reneek-littlehomeschoolontheprairie.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Little Homeschool on the Prairie</a></span>, February 12</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lightsinadarkworld.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lights in a Dark World"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lights in a Dark World</span></a>, February 13</p><h1 center=""><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI04k6JfBtJnLAnXZ1g7N5OooNE9sm0PC4nvvpigB6IsagzrnD88oEtEzq7ibJ3K5l16JS6cY61WttyufDtTsi266vEifWiaTOiSZS8n0sM0U41jqLJoj1qM-d-lo4rLqJ2o611tZLYQWsiXjEmPfb78yw86z_Lc7zJ9HYiERiodBNX1kSNkVbhHuYjW1y/s940/IMG_7411.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI04k6JfBtJnLAnXZ1g7N5OooNE9sm0PC4nvvpigB6IsagzrnD88oEtEzq7ibJ3K5l16JS6cY61WttyufDtTsi266vEifWiaTOiSZS8n0sM0U41jqLJoj1qM-d-lo4rLqJ2o611tZLYQWsiXjEmPfb78yw86z_Lc7zJ9HYiERiodBNX1kSNkVbhHuYjW1y/s320/IMG_7411.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, D.M. is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card & copy of book!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/29b07/winds-of-ruach-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/29b07/winds-of-ruach-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-27182531770122637512024-01-30T13:55:00.000-08:002024-01-30T13:55:28.018-08:00No Matter What by Jennifer Carr<p> </p><p center=""></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz02XF6sm7Pv_ft4xDAsSdIAnhu_wVNaxmEGUpllDRKLIsFZD5z8TWdXiUU66tidWrgH162a3xHlOLAHZ1o05avSZPvP1BStp23W0l7ccTkJSMvYNHINhQB7FlJZN81sBnCtB8Vywy5oiipnCbiDI7weybcxHC4mwp1O7mundTNsGP85QnMKbD63r5viMp/s851/IMG_7387.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz02XF6sm7Pv_ft4xDAsSdIAnhu_wVNaxmEGUpllDRKLIsFZD5z8TWdXiUU66tidWrgH162a3xHlOLAHZ1o05avSZPvP1BStp23W0l7ccTkJSMvYNHINhQB7FlJZN81sBnCtB8Vywy5oiipnCbiDI7weybcxHC4mwp1O7mundTNsGP85QnMKbD63r5viMp/s320/IMG_7387.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pm4LJVjEhIzu7w8IrLlFg07qAH3SYUWRvhXSAIhKAir6E55Sb40DycXmZH4Z1ZwTOun5zHxtZeDoRNJRxar6Mwdawd4oVKhkBEy6Rf07n5ualoerxGIPst_bfQgchcRko6kKmRoV0FbhHjRmrq4p_AFkupO9edt5Z_cHkuBPT4YxLR8IixyEDJqm3rQ9/s1024/IMG_7386.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pm4LJVjEhIzu7w8IrLlFg07qAH3SYUWRvhXSAIhKAir6E55Sb40DycXmZH4Z1ZwTOun5zHxtZeDoRNJRxar6Mwdawd4oVKhkBEy6Rf07n5ualoerxGIPst_bfQgchcRko6kKmRoV0FbhHjRmrq4p_AFkupO9edt5Z_cHkuBPT4YxLR8IixyEDJqm3rQ9/s320/IMG_7386.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span underline=""><br /></span></div><p><strong>Book: </strong>No Matter What</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Jennifer Carr</p><p><b>Genre:</b> Christian Romantic Suspense</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>October 14, 2022</p><p>Jess Hayley, with her exceptional skill of deciphering people’s thoughts and emotions through body language and microexpressions, encounters Bryan Carsen, a member of the U.S. Army Cyber Force, setting her on an unforeseen path that challenges her beliefs and abilities.</p><p>As Bryan becomes embroiled in a covert investigation, Jess comes to grips with the consequences of his actions, which are further complicated by the arrival of a mysterious box of evidence that endangers everything she holds dear. Caught in a perilous web of intrigue, trust becomes elusive, and Jess must navigate a world turned upside down, even questioning the trustworthiness of those closest to her.</p><p>In the midst of turmoil, Jess confronts the unsettling possibility that someone she trusted deeply may have harbored long-hidden secrets. Despite enduring numerous challenges, she must summon the strength to open her heart and rediscover the capacity to trust.</p><p>Amidst the uncertainty and concealed truths, Jess’s journey unfolds, marked by twists and turns, self-discovery, resilience, and the intricate interplay between perception and reality, showcasing the deep impact of unexpected encounters and the courage needed to move forward in the face of pain.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3MO0CXV”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview </span></h1><div><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">1. Why did you want to become an author? </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Complete transparency alert – I never set out to become an author. I know, that probably sounds unlikely considering, but it’s true. I sat down one day and decided I wanted to write a story because I needed to know how a dream I’d awoken from ended. It snowballed and turned into chapters and eventually into an entire book. When I finished that book, I needed to make sure my characters were OK and </span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">thriving</span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> so I wrote the second book (</span><span class="s4" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">The Lost and Found)</span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">It was at that point I realized that being an author was something I could see myself doing for a </span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">really long</span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> time. Now, my third book (</span><span class="s4" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Fall When You’re Ready </span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">– not related to the </span><span class="s4" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">No Matter What </span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">series) comes out February 1 and the second book in that series is halfway written. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">2</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about? </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I would love to hang out with </span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Marí</span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. She’s a feisty older woman from the Dominican Republic who loves Jesus and her family fiercely. I’d want to hear her entire life story just to see how her faith started and grew into the bulwark we see in </span><span class="s4" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">No Matter What</span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. She also tells it like it is so I’m pretty sure she and I would get along great. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p class="s7" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">3</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. What did your research process look like for this book? </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s5" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: museo-sans-rounded; line-height: 21.6px;">I love research. That’s true for my writing and life in general. I’ve always been curious by nature so finding answers is something I’m </span><span class="s5" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: museo-sans-rounded; line-height: 21.6px;">really good</span><span class="s5" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: museo-sans-rounded; line-height: 21.6px;"> at. I also like KNOWING things – anything and everything.</span><span class="s5" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: museo-sans-rounded; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s5" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: museo-sans-rounded; line-height: 21.6px;">For </span><span class="s6" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: museo-sans-rounded; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">No Matter What</span><span class="s5" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: museo-sans-rounded; line-height: 21.6px;"> I spent hours </span><span class="s5" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: museo-sans-rounded; line-height: 21.6px;">every day </span><span class="s5" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: museo-sans-rounded; line-height: 21.6px;">researching Cybersecurity, the military, FBI procedures, even Dr. Ekman’s emotional awareness research. There were days I just knew I was probably on </span><span class="s5" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: museo-sans-rounded; line-height: 21.6px;">some kind of watchlist</span><span class="s5" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: museo-sans-rounded; line-height: 21.6px;"> based on my Internet searches. Thankfully, I’m still in the clear, but my browser history is testament to my love of research even if I’m not writing a book!</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">4</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how? </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s4" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">No Matter What</span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> is my debut novel. Publishing this book was terrifying from the moment I texted my husband and said (as I had about four chapters worth of material on the page), “I think I’m going to write a book.” </span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I’d never considered writing fiction before even though I was always making up stories in my head. And there are already so many great authors out there who write amazing books, I wasn’t sure why I would even attempt it. </span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Not to mention</span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> I don’t love the idea of my work potentially being criticized</span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> (who does?).</span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">After much encouragement, I continued the story and the next hurdle I faced was letting someone else </span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">actually read</span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> what I had written. I sent it to my husband and of course I assumed his high praise was biased for obvious reasons. And after a few more back and forth conversations of, “Are you sure?” “Yes, I’m sure.” I sent it to a couple of other readers who gave similar feedback. </span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Probably the absolute biggest step outside of my comfort zone was clicking “Publish”. It felt like </span><span class="s3" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">something so much bigger than myself but to this day I’m so thankful I did it and I look forward to doing it more and more.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">5</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. What message do you hope readers take away from your book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s8" style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 21.6px;">There is always hope</span><span class="s8" style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 21.6px;">, no matter what</span><span class="s8" style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span><span class="s8" style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 21.6px;">In the wise words of </span><span class="s8" style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 21.6px;">Marí</span><span class="s8" style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 21.6px;">, “</span><span class="s8" style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 21.6px;">“The Lord tells you and he tells me in Isaiah chapter 43 verse two, </span><span class="s9" style="color: #0070c0; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">When</span><span class="s9" style="color: #0070c0; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;"> you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.</span><span class="s8" style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 21.6px;"> He did not say there would be no water or fire. He said when there is, he is there, and you will live. I had to cling to this verse for many months when it felt like there was no way through. Now you must do the same. Because if he says that he will take you through, that means there is another side where there is no water.</span><span class="s8" style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 21.6px;">”</span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQuSK0DsATtPhW0nFn_HCD9k0D64ZW-DCkl5fA0T6iZOltEB08Dyh1BVp1Z86czYVh9BGVysdRLTtSWlNKXKgFtVC_2UMjc0WsNcmnpdmlGL6ifrIB-hPiALEmzaPBFvMycRLP0GXOmwO_IBWTVkpE_tbf5H1-iSrKlq6FGFs4X4TDHlv2P8cGZGpRdz4/s1024/IMG_7388.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQuSK0DsATtPhW0nFn_HCD9k0D64ZW-DCkl5fA0T6iZOltEB08Dyh1BVp1Z86czYVh9BGVysdRLTtSWlNKXKgFtVC_2UMjc0WsNcmnpdmlGL6ifrIB-hPiALEmzaPBFvMycRLP0GXOmwO_IBWTVkpE_tbf5H1-iSrKlq6FGFs4X4TDHlv2P8cGZGpRdz4/s320/IMG_7388.jpeg" width="233" /></a></div><br /><span underline=""><br /></span></div><p>A wife, mom, author, marriage and family counselor, a former AP Psychology teacher, and a podcaster, <strong>Jennifer</strong> draws from her life experiences and imagination to connect with her readers and listeners through the written and spoken word.<br />Married to her childhood best friend and the mom of a creative daughter, Jennifer enjoys a quiet life on their farm in Alabama.<br />When she’s not wearing one of her many hats, you’ll find her tucked away with a book and what’s likely her third coffee of the day.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Jennifer</span></h1><p>I loved writing this book. There were days that words poured out of me as though a dam had broken. Other days I stared at the screen until my eyes felt crossed and only touched the keyboard to text my husband how absolutely uninspired I was.<br /><br />The day before I clicked PUBLISH, I reread the entire book cover-to-cover, word-for word and just as I had the first time through, I smiled, I cried, my heart swelled, and it shattered into pieces. Then it was gently put back together as I was reminded of the hope that is always waiting for us, no matter what. </p><p>One of my favorite quotes from the book:</p><p><i>“…if you will let God redeem your losses, you might find that he restores you, too…”</i></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Book Reviews From an Avid Reader"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Book Reviews From an Avid Reader</a></span>, January 20</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, January 21</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; 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margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, February 2</p><p center=""><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiob8x2XvECqtuJSYgm5gPyW4LEQ25Nf7SeKAW-zb65c7Wmm2W1fbmP4ph2qSefj1U0hyphenhyphenMC2YSc4LSGXqiK1eiKSLP3jj5pTOe3QpdNDA9nizDuxrgZCZSpjHEcVjj0coj1rpvZ-GtlsCB8hr_DJblYYWT28x6fQJqpWumqkFrl0An2QiA98yM987rPI6lS/s1024/IMG_7386.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiob8x2XvECqtuJSYgm5gPyW4LEQ25Nf7SeKAW-zb65c7Wmm2W1fbmP4ph2qSefj1U0hyphenhyphenMC2YSc4LSGXqiK1eiKSLP3jj5pTOe3QpdNDA9nizDuxrgZCZSpjHEcVjj0coj1rpvZ-GtlsCB8hr_DJblYYWT28x6fQJqpWumqkFrl0An2QiA98yM987rPI6lS/s320/IMG_7386.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a Six Month Subscription to Kindle Unlimited ($60 value) and a copy of No Matter What!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/297d0/no-matter-what-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/297d0/no-matter-what-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-55778736777106239752024-01-28T22:00:00.000-08:002024-01-28T22:00:00.275-08:00Muldoon’s Minnesota Darling by E.V. Sparrow<p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirx8oPrspRyWlfLJwpWbvLz2U70kxAZopsplJWGgmxg-2a44-TiDOixMZeRRNTbj2lNwfE764tKjEmTsWyvb5ZLblBktUgVmvp8CrliWq95fvdFfKi5LVQdcmZY_lOILQa2c5PrqWqhxqqvGllCi_FCWsdzPAPoMr_xV2Nyga3BI-A40tH5vMKgGIy3CNW/s851/IMG_7374.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirx8oPrspRyWlfLJwpWbvLz2U70kxAZopsplJWGgmxg-2a44-TiDOixMZeRRNTbj2lNwfE764tKjEmTsWyvb5ZLblBktUgVmvp8CrliWq95fvdFfKi5LVQdcmZY_lOILQa2c5PrqWqhxqqvGllCi_FCWsdzPAPoMr_xV2Nyga3BI-A40tH5vMKgGIy3CNW/s320/IMG_7374.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NYSb8nVW0SnMpKoUOLznBAMthU5S6kgEqcKPOh-oKeukDXzYQPNi21YfbxtJFn2nLCLG8U3TsgAnexJT8_BcsaomuHxwF5SZaDDhYuiqfEhPeFL8Li4HEGhZNkS2MQtDUgn5hXitR945DdbcRJ-lybxW1ZAkB1tyjso0FHeaK_OScdK__64MZgxeqST_/s320/IMG_7375.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NYSb8nVW0SnMpKoUOLznBAMthU5S6kgEqcKPOh-oKeukDXzYQPNi21YfbxtJFn2nLCLG8U3TsgAnexJT8_BcsaomuHxwF5SZaDDhYuiqfEhPeFL8Li4HEGhZNkS2MQtDUgn5hXitR945DdbcRJ-lybxW1ZAkB1tyjso0FHeaK_OScdK__64MZgxeqST_/s1600/IMG_7375.png" width="200" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Muldoon’s Minnesota Darling, a Novella</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>E.V. Sparrow</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Historical fiction</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>May 10, 2023</p><p><strong><em>A heartsore widower with hidden fears and little faith…<br />The naïve daughter of a farmer guarding a repulsive secret…<br />A township unaware of the hidden menace amongst them…</em></strong></p><p>Heartbroken from losing his family and his farm, Mick Muldoon is hopeful as he emigrates to America with his siblings. All he finds is despair and no work. Were America’s rumored promises of plenty all lies? Would God ever hear and answer his prayers?</p><p>Seventeen-year-old Shauna McGann is determined to marry Mick Muldoon despite her mother’s objections. His past and his limp might repulse others, but not her. What burdens Shauna is her terrible secret – a secret she promised her friends she would keep. Now Shauna needs help and protection. Could she trust Mick, or will she lose everything by telling him?</p><p><strong><em>Will Mick finally be free of loss and find success in America? Will Shauna overcome her fears and finally feel safe?</em></strong></p><p>In this Muldoon’s Misfortunes prelude novella, author E.V. Sparrow creates a provoking tale of flickering faith and enduring hope through an emigrant’s efforts to adapt, and a young woman’s unprejudiced love.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/4a1VadG”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><pre><br /></pre><pre>I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all</pre><pre>Opinions given are my own and not an endorsement </pre><pre>Of all authors opinions. </pre><p> </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">1. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Why did you want to become an author?</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">My first goal was writing my favorite travel and mission stories, then being an author came after. My critique group insisted I was ready! My goal is the same—to lead readers to encounter God’s unexpected </span></span><a name="_Hlk150865563"></a><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">presence.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">2</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why?</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Research! Always research. For historical fiction it’s crucial for the era and details to be right. I will imagine a scene in my outline, then discover certain details don’t match reality, and must go back and edit. It works out well, but I’ve learned to adjust to the changes for creative aspects.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">3. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">My dad’s family</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">.</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> They were raised with faith in God—the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but for many reasons battled with how to be in a relationship with God. My tagline is Encounter God’s Unexpected Presence in all my work, and these characters experience this. In my life, God has worked this way. He shows up in the most stunning ways to help, encourage, protect, and guide me. It took me years to recognize His personal touch.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">4. If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about?</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">They worry me! I want to help them grasp God’s love for them and hopefully keep them from destructive paths while they search for acceptance and belonging. I’d want to know more about their choices and tell them about why I made mine. </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">5. What made you choose the setting/time period for this book?</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Because I’m inspired by a few relatives, they emigrated to America in 1866, and I’m using specific events in their lives</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">.</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">The era chose me!</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0tiVzSAIjhX52guhSRCrv6g0Eo_xmCSU1Ki02uXYslBoJcfmUKX_d04xwmSOB4JVqoWYoYd0zvYqDtga1zfLGYJ8rDWX1FW3_RGdZ71KSTT013rPsayeYWK1lxTyiqQqW2zKKLK9K-MdmPNQXSHu-9YD-3N07xCd8oUQTuDFH8-6iRYvSpIHYmlcfOEy/s240/IMG_7376.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0tiVzSAIjhX52guhSRCrv6g0Eo_xmCSU1Ki02uXYslBoJcfmUKX_d04xwmSOB4JVqoWYoYd0zvYqDtga1zfLGYJ8rDWX1FW3_RGdZ71KSTT013rPsayeYWK1lxTyiqQqW2zKKLK9K-MdmPNQXSHu-9YD-3N07xCd8oUQTuDFH8-6iRYvSpIHYmlcfOEy/s1600/IMG_7376.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>E.V. Sparrow</strong> is a short story writer turned novelist. Her readers encounter God’s unexpected presence through her character’s escapades. Her own adventures she wrote about involved traveling in over twenty countries. Sparrow lived on an Israeli kibbutz, worked for the U.S. Army in Bavaria, and hopped a freight train for a weekend.</p><p>A highlight for Sparrow is when Guideposts and Bethany House Publishers accepted four of her anthologized stories before she signed a 3-book historical fiction series contract with Celebrate Lit Publishing.</p><p>Her father’s family’s immigration from Ireland, their letters and documents, and some family stories inspired her current historical fiction novels.</p><p>In E.V.’s personal and church life, she ministered through prayer, worship, mission teams, and in Divorce Care and Singles. California native relocated to North Carolina, E.V. Sparrow and her husband enjoy family time with their grandchildren and exploring their new state.</p><h1><span underline="">More from E.V.</span></h1><p>I’m writing books inspired by my father’s family because they believed in God but wrestled with their faith. Faith doesn’t come easy for every believer. We grapple with intimacy with God, but does God battle with us?</p><p>My oldest brother shared some stories of our great-grandfather, who emigrated here after losing his wives and children in Ireland. Yes, at least two families. I wondered, how could a suffering heart and soul survive those losses? Our great-grandfather’s inner turmoil didn’t change once he resettled in America. I read letters he wrote to his son—our grandfather and sifted through family photos. Certain aspects from the timeline of great-grandfather’s life fashioned my main character, Mick Muldoon. Mick encountered God’s unexpected presence several times without recognizing it.</p><p>Thinking through a Scripture verse, 1 Corinthians 13:13, (NIV) “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love,” reveals what remains when all else we are accustomed to is gone. I assume hope is as powerful as faith and love. It’s a triangle of strength for us until it goes wobbly. What happens when one or two of the three stabilizers are weaker than the others? Wounded, confused, and resilient characters named Mick, Orla, and Liam Muldoon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUal6lozg8nWATpIoSpISkR99h0Huy0sXXLgX8VRBjxSrGH6KSy-9CIiTo8FgAX9ryVmLGQ-FgKQPqFjSXjI02SgoTYSHQMmZ-n0RgY3tojAj-sEzIFO7fuEhgvlhnEJZDrtPeFdlQYqTGyx4lgG5tZc4a6KB-roE02T-_bMenyKDVwJZlIJ51UKlI9be/s300/IMG_7377.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="300" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUal6lozg8nWATpIoSpISkR99h0Huy0sXXLgX8VRBjxSrGH6KSy-9CIiTo8FgAX9ryVmLGQ-FgKQPqFjSXjI02SgoTYSHQMmZ-n0RgY3tojAj-sEzIFO7fuEhgvlhnEJZDrtPeFdlQYqTGyx4lgG5tZc4a6KB-roE02T-_bMenyKDVwJZlIJ51UKlI9be/s1600/IMG_7377.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, February 3</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, February 4</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Library Lady's Kid Lit"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</span></a>, February 5 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3uCgbFkMdnOZXbNPTJRCBI0E5xIqBOXtxmqB9pvd141rAAmYXovKuNKahktTZ8AZMisrOaGrYHFFlNPzgGupoMtFXMlrUv3PPpHVChNLyvx4nL-7grPADHwUlI_fCp1mwdqNxwVp76vC57ugINnx1D9nmB-kduvU8KNS9a5QcTyPhJcbD_xcfE41hbXw/s940/IMG_7378.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3uCgbFkMdnOZXbNPTJRCBI0E5xIqBOXtxmqB9pvd141rAAmYXovKuNKahktTZ8AZMisrOaGrYHFFlNPzgGupoMtFXMlrUv3PPpHVChNLyvx4nL-7grPADHwUlI_fCp1mwdqNxwVp76vC57ugINnx1D9nmB-kduvU8KNS9a5QcTyPhJcbD_xcfE41hbXw/s320/IMG_7378.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, E.V. is giving away the grand prize package of an eBook copy of Muldoon’s Minnesota Darling and an Amazon $50 gift card!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/299bb/muldoon-s-minnesot-darling-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/299bb/muldoon-s-minnesot-darling-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-11606529743230222022024-01-23T22:00:00.000-08:002024-01-23T22:00:00.145-08:00Aivan: The One Truth by Kayla E. Green<p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGQIpiHFYaMfNNcWpaL8yVVjLpzV4eEJEFZ3ruPeDK-nqQohJNQvKmJg00FpcOlWKXeKL2FfJcrOf6vmusKNndgZP8XCiN9ujevQ-gO3j37NVVFncBegZmd_yvQ_kibJEdRCcWPB9-dQ_GDrl5YIldWRZfhTnr4pn2GT6VlbYC9lkLqTZTkrFFMDq2R8w/s851/IMG_7359.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGQIpiHFYaMfNNcWpaL8yVVjLpzV4eEJEFZ3ruPeDK-nqQohJNQvKmJg00FpcOlWKXeKL2FfJcrOf6vmusKNndgZP8XCiN9ujevQ-gO3j37NVVFncBegZmd_yvQ_kibJEdRCcWPB9-dQ_GDrl5YIldWRZfhTnr4pn2GT6VlbYC9lkLqTZTkrFFMDq2R8w/s320/IMG_7359.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xCCXf5MlMXVTPMmau8Zo7yiAk6JxbkMx4L_4336mkWDFJNZYV_GcRY7vYtB1hgpiehMUGR4ywq2qnnVdvJ3g1dcsG3YyYcd1GpL-IAD3V966WshahmQ_A07M0VAPKJuC7R9dB7GI6oqr5uEXH9NqsZAWX58rT7M4Z2LOYx7kyaHiUyudMCVhUiz34Tvp/s1024/IMG_7360.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xCCXf5MlMXVTPMmau8Zo7yiAk6JxbkMx4L_4336mkWDFJNZYV_GcRY7vYtB1hgpiehMUGR4ywq2qnnVdvJ3g1dcsG3YyYcd1GpL-IAD3V966WshahmQ_A07M0VAPKJuC7R9dB7GI6oqr5uEXH9NqsZAWX58rT7M4Z2LOYx7kyaHiUyudMCVhUiz34Tvp/s320/IMG_7360.jpeg" width="207" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Aivan: The One Truth</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Kayla E. Green</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Young Adult Christian Fantasy</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>July 23, 2022</p><p>Two young people from opposite sides of the Great Continent must make sense of their life.</p><p>Rune has grown up all of her life in the mountainous northern nation of Kansanai. As granddaughter of the Senior Elder, she has been a devout believer of the Vihishki gods her whole life. Yet, when a prophet challenges the Vihishki gods against his Aivan, the One Truth, everything she thought she knew is turned upside down. Will she be able to let go of the life she thought she deserved for something far greater than what she could have ever imagined?</p><p>Rolf goes through the motions of everyday life in the southern nation of Etalentin. Yet, his routine is disrupted when a voice claiming to be the one true God speaks to him. Listening to his heart, he follows Aivan, but he is thrown temptation after temptation on his journey. Will Rolf be able to resist the temptations in order to fulfill Aivan’s plan for him?</p><p><em>Aivan: The One Truth</em> is a story about self-discovery, identity, and faith.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3sw8ypy”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><pre><br /></pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.</p><p><br /></p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview </span></h1><h1><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">1. Why did you want to become an author? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s3" style="color: #980000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I have made up stories since childhood, and I entered my first writing contest when I was in 8th grade–the story was about two middle school students who opened Pandora’s Box and had to close it before the school was destroyed by the ghosts released! The following year I excitedly joined my high school newspaper. Being a part of journalism helped me grow tremendously as a writer in terms of grammar, audience focus, overall skill, and confidence. I took a step back from creative writing in college as academic writing took up a lot of my time; however, in my early twenties I began to mindfully write again while working through a lot of grief. The more I wrote, the more at peace I felt. I crafted stories and poems that God placed on my heart, and after much prayer pursued publication. I don’t think there was ever a moment I said, “I’m going to become an author.” I simply have always been an author–even before any of my work was published. I think, because of imposter syndrome and anxiety, it is often easy to minimize our own abilities. I urge everyone who writes to embrace their passion and openly declare that by crafting stories they are indeed authors!</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">2. What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s3" style="color: #980000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">The prophet Elijah and his experiences discussed in 1 Kings inspired an important scene in </span><span class="s4" style="color: #980000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Aivan: The One Truth</span><span class="s3" style="color: #980000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. In fact, several key instances in Rune and Rolf’s journeys pulled inspiration from the Old Testament. In doing so, I wanted to weave biblical truth within the fantasy narrative of two young people trying to make sense of the world around them and their role within said world. My prayer is that readers will see that just as Rune and Rolf have Aivan, we all have God, the one true constant and source of redeeming love, in our own world. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">3. Which character in your book do you relate to the most?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s3" style="color: #980000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">In </span><span class="s4" style="color: #980000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Aivan: The One Truth</span><span class="s3" style="color: #980000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">, I most relate to Rune. She has her life planned out and has a difficult time when everything falls apart. In her heart, she knows where her faith should be placed but still struggles with doubts and fears exacerbated by societal pressures. When I was young, I experienced similar internal battles as Rune. Writing books that reflect real-life situations for children and teens, even within a fantasy setting, is important to me. I strive to write books that I would have been drawn to as a young reader while sharing the truth about God’s redeeming love. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">4. Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s3" style="color: #980000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">When writing, I tend to hyper-focus and not snack while in “the zone.” However, I really like recharging with hummus, crackers, and cherry-flavored water. If I want something special, I’ll get a refresher with lemonade and a cake-pop from Starbucks—it’s one of my favorite ways I ‘treat’ myself! </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">5. What message do you hope readers take away from your book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s3" style="color: #980000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">It is my prayer that with reading </span><span class="s4" style="color: #980000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Aivan: The One Truth</span><span class="s3" style="color: #980000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">, readers walk away comforted by the fact that we were made resilient and we can rebuild when our plans fall apart, empowered knowing that the one true God in our own world loves them, and filled with hope at the reminder that light will always prevail over darkness.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCQevMcJlp0pz1hvK1qMjAbEmXkK2LtcA31h1HRu93MgeVL8x-wyK7_j2q-C7G1t1BsYMlTf1dkOppQuD-MqYdHEV1HQJCNlq3jTbHDAlb1fPce8NJ1vB4cHXRIh0Q4rGtRuVSd_CYFHNH7Mm3IbTT0FdYD-IGB_HX1JVwlglhPERqdI28ARHCgHbsqOz/s1024/IMG_7361.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="755" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCQevMcJlp0pz1hvK1qMjAbEmXkK2LtcA31h1HRu93MgeVL8x-wyK7_j2q-C7G1t1BsYMlTf1dkOppQuD-MqYdHEV1HQJCNlq3jTbHDAlb1fPce8NJ1vB4cHXRIh0Q4rGtRuVSd_CYFHNH7Mm3IbTT0FdYD-IGB_HX1JVwlglhPERqdI28ARHCgHbsqOz/s320/IMG_7361.jpeg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Kayla E. Green</strong> is a school librarian, speculative fiction author, and poet who adores her husband and their furbabies. When she isn’t writing, reading, or taking photos for her bookstagram, she loves singing loudly and off-key to KLove Radio, napping, and pretending she’s a unicorn. Her award-winning YA fantasy novella, <em>Aivan: The One Truth</em>, and her inspirational poetry collection, <em>Metamorphosis</em>, are now available through book retailers. Kayla also has stories and poems featured in various anthologies, contest-winning stories published with Clean Fiction Magazine, and several flash fiction stories available online through Havok Publishing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Kayla</span></h1><p>Working in education, it often is disheartening to see how much darkness bombards today’s youth. With <em>Aivan: The One Truth</em>, the forthcoming Chronicles of the One Truth series, and all my writing, my primary goal is to offer young readers a beacon of hope in this dark world. Alluding to many stories and lessons found in the Old Testament, <em>Aivan</em> is a fast-paced novella designed to capture young readers and pull them into the world of the Great Continent. It is my biggest prayer with this book that Rune and Rolf’s journey in this fantasy narrative will serve as a guiding light to lead readers of all ages to seek truth in our reality—the truth that can only be found through our one true God.</p><p>One of my current projects is developing a companion devotional for <em>Aivan: The One Truth</em> as well as the full-length novels that will be part of the complete Chronicles of the One Truth series (which will be released at a later date). The devotional would be a tool for parents, teachers, and pastors to use along with the book to help young readers understand the themes and biblical parallels.</p><p>Two major themes within the novella center around identity and purpose. Rune’s struggles with disappointment with shattered dreams and the heartache of feeling lost, alone, and unfulfilled are struggles that are arguably universal. In looking at Rune’s journey, young readers as well as adult readers can recognize the real-world challenges of identity: <em>Who exactly are we?</em> In today’s world, there is a constant battle between God and society. How can one embrace their identity as a child of God when the world demands us to rage and rebel against that title?</p><p>In Exodus 3:11 (NIV) Moses asks God, “Who am I?” after he is told to go to the Pharaoh to rescue the Israelites. God tells Moses, “I am with you,” (Exodus 3:12, NIV). Similar to Moses’ walk of faith, Rune, like us all, must learn to accept the truth. Like Aivan in the fantasy novella, our God, the one true God, is always with us. We may not immediately—or ever—understand His plan; however, through Him we are whole, redeemed, and loved. And in that, we have great purpose.</p><p>I pray that whoever reads <em>Aivan: The One Truth</em> finds parallels to our own world and finds solace knowing that we <em>are</em> because God is the great “I Am.”</p><p>In my upcoming companion devotional, I will explore the concepts of identity and purpose from a biblical perspective. Anyone who wants updates on this, should follow my blog and subscribe to my newsletter to be the first to know!</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Splashes of Joy "}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Splashes of Joy</a></span>, January 11 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.carolkeen.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blogging With Carol"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blogging With Carol</span></a>, January 22</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Library Lady's Kid Lit"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</span></a>, January 23 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Reader’s Brain</span></a>, January 24 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oqSLxhJBXR25sIBtumCciOyQNVkL0YMmUTdIf2zkhinOnaLQNYs6zk9Kr6LIe6vk8n9gcLY8PYkyd345FTySn8wsKQK1u_XjKnHGFqzNJAwM7dfMhnWfJWK5mJMdvynkoqrK5V7OjEwUqPdr25-YJIv6HdfCGYCD6lJnfEycPe8o28lNcfsDquvrjRPE/s940/IMG_7362.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oqSLxhJBXR25sIBtumCciOyQNVkL0YMmUTdIf2zkhinOnaLQNYs6zk9Kr6LIe6vk8n9gcLY8PYkyd345FTySn8wsKQK1u_XjKnHGFqzNJAwM7dfMhnWfJWK5mJMdvynkoqrK5V7OjEwUqPdr25-YJIv6HdfCGYCD6lJnfEycPe8o28lNcfsDquvrjRPE/s320/IMG_7362.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Kayla is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback of Aivan: The One Truth, a paperback of Metamorphosis, an Aivan inspired booksleeve, Rune and Rolf character art cards, and a $50 Barnes and Noble gift card!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2958a/aivan-the-one-truth-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2958a/aivan-the-one-truth-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-56981992827826816342024-01-19T22:00:00.000-08:002024-01-19T22:00:00.342-08:00New Chicks at the Peaceable by Caryl “Grami” McAdoo<p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAmDJoCvErvxkXZt-nnrvwjPyKFJ04KwzKVy4fnkqY-kvVjHQV-pA1FD8PTFdK3lATPRd-DCVuW1wfK4O6zG6rJBb70QznQISzghZDpArj5bmUljOnGG4MKSKArotnj-JCuConPUTJtPW4aFhu2O-t0NAaGVddQlBJg0qsGqJ6a88z4ZzxCYTLU9Egv_L/s851/IMG_7355.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAmDJoCvErvxkXZt-nnrvwjPyKFJ04KwzKVy4fnkqY-kvVjHQV-pA1FD8PTFdK3lATPRd-DCVuW1wfK4O6zG6rJBb70QznQISzghZDpArj5bmUljOnGG4MKSKArotnj-JCuConPUTJtPW4aFhu2O-t0NAaGVddQlBJg0qsGqJ6a88z4ZzxCYTLU9Egv_L/s320/IMG_7355.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0qaKIJ-yRHXU6NWS8bFcku1819-dBDS-tvKMPB7KtfER4yK1nnEe5bVBYky83R3vfOkSjai_hXE8jQVuUyU0f4wCHt7-2p03OcochhU1Vivx_FrNvDaLXZNK9UcIBZb65gYHSebrvsseQemX1syiSTubTzV3pHX-hqgIU9NErWH50qsr5OpPDTVimgaR/s1024/IMG_7356.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0qaKIJ-yRHXU6NWS8bFcku1819-dBDS-tvKMPB7KtfER4yK1nnEe5bVBYky83R3vfOkSjai_hXE8jQVuUyU0f4wCHt7-2p03OcochhU1Vivx_FrNvDaLXZNK9UcIBZb65gYHSebrvsseQemX1syiSTubTzV3pHX-hqgIU9NErWH50qsr5OpPDTVimgaR/s320/IMG_7356.jpeg" width="320" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>New Chicks at The Peaceable</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Caryl “Grami” McAdoo</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Children’s Animals Picture Book</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>November 23, 2023</p><p>Chickens from newborns to old hens have a “pecking order” but bullying is never right! What to do if you’re bullied by those around you!</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/47qzSog”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p> </p><p>I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: bold;">1. Why did you want to become an author? </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">I always loved reading and writing. It seemed the natural thing to do. My mother wrote a book (HOW TO HEAR GOD AND KNOW HIS VOICE) and her father wrote a book, so I came from a long line. My granddaughter Lillian became a published author at age six, so she’s the fifth generation!</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">As an adult and a Christian, I wanted to write stories that would give God glory and bring my readers into a closer walk with Him. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">2. What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why? </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">Hearing God as to its premise. From the beginning I thought NEW CHICKS at the Peaceable was to be about bullying. When I finally asked His help to finish it—I was getting nowhere fast—Holy Spirit clearly showed me it was to be about fear . . . not being afraid.</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">3. What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">That would be Almighty God. Yes, He cares about me writing a children’s book for preschoolers. He inspired a friend to ask me to give her flock a new home because she was moving. I had no chickens before that.</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">Then I loved my hens sitting a nest and hatching sweet fluffy peepers and wanted to share!</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">4</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">. What did your research process look like for this book? </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">I loved going outside and just sitting with my chickens to watch the chioks antics and hen’s teaching them. Of course, I carried my camera (my phone) with me!</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"> I did look up/google a few facts for questions I had, but that was the extent of my research for this book! </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">😊</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">5</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">. What message do you hope readers take away from your book? </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">That fear is a sin. I know it will be subliminal for the little ones, but there will be a grownup reading it, right? Too many Christians will argue that it okay—even beneficial—to be afraid, when that is totally opposite to God’s Holy Word.</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">Scripture tells us that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. He tells us three hundred and sixty-five times in the Bible to “fear not!’ “Be not afraid!” That’s once for every day of the pagan Romans’ calendar we complacently follow. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200001px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999px;">How did He know their pagan calendar would have exactly 365 days? As the books in this series says, He knows everything! </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p> </p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJV774qbPlynbcv_en6s1VTUg67-Rbs5SxidO1FrEUk0WjRIt9JMP6lz1vhIaFG5J7fx8pe0HQWw-G8FeOM1ywaJ7vrkeIrIn2JgTFhf0phF_1stK0pB9PXwkypvCs5tlQT-tT5niJgebCVZUm9eJl83wCBcLs7sPMPKjx1m_0Yt1302Rc_qkcUHZ6523/s600/IMG_7357.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="424" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJV774qbPlynbcv_en6s1VTUg67-Rbs5SxidO1FrEUk0WjRIt9JMP6lz1vhIaFG5J7fx8pe0HQWw-G8FeOM1ywaJ7vrkeIrIn2JgTFhf0phF_1stK0pB9PXwkypvCs5tlQT-tT5niJgebCVZUm9eJl83wCBcLs7sPMPKjx1m_0Yt1302Rc_qkcUHZ6523/s320/IMG_7357.jpeg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Award-winning, Christian author <strong>Caryl McAdoo</strong> prays her story brings God glory. Of her best-selling novels, readers love her historical Christian romance family sagas most, but also enjoy their contemporary cousins, Caryl’s Biblical fiction, her new historical mystery series, and tales for young adults and mid-grade booklovers as well as the new picture books for the still younger set. The majority of reviewers award her stories five-stars and praise Caryl’s writing style and the depth of her characters, feeling as though they get to know them well.</p><p>The prolific writer loves singing the new songs God gives her almost as much as penning new novels—hear a few at YouTube! She’s been married to Ron fifty-five years, and they share four children and twenty-seven grandsugars. The McAdoos live at The Peaceable in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door.</p><h1><span underline="">More from Caryl</span></h1><p>As the chicken population grows at The Peaceable Farm & Bookery, troubles come–all based all on the true story! One of our beautiful ‘Golden Laced Wyandotte’ hens got broody and wanted to sit on a nest and hatch a clutch of chicks!</p><p>The wee peepers, designated the “Songsters” and named Reba, Celine, Loretta, and Miley (the last by a reader’s daughter), experience the famous and proverbial “pecking order” chickens are so famous for. In human terms that can be called bullying though, and so Goldie, their mother teaches the girls how to respond those bully chickens!</p><p>Grami loves her “backyard birds”, and so does O’Pa! She expects the name of the twenty acres she and O’Pa live on in Red River County—The Peaceable—to be the spur for all its inhabitants to cohabitate peacefully with one another—and that includes the chickens!</p><p>She and O’Pa, her husband of fifty-five years have bought an incubator to hatch purebred chicks then raise fine, healthy birds to their laying age—usually four to five months—before finding them forever homes. We love our flock, and the babies grow so fast. Watching them is so much fun and relaxing, too!</p><p>Grami knows each hen and rooster by name, and they all are so affectionate! They come running whenever I head out the door (mostly because they want to see if I brought any food! 😊) I love thinking about what they are saying to each other with all their clucking and purring and cackling!</p><p>This is why the books are partially written from the hens’ point of view as our first animals’ series, The River Bottom Ranch Stories featuring horses and goats and dogs among other wild animal characters. And all those farm animals were real ones that we owned and loved, too—like the chickens!</p><p>This series ‘Grami’s Stories for Children’ also has a narrator speaking throughout—that’s me, Grami McAdoo! I talk to the children through a few pages full of dialogue to teach them about poultry and things of God. In <strong>NEW CHICKS at the Peaceable</strong>, I talk about bullies and how Jesus teaches us to respond, how they can be scary, but God is always with us and sends His angels to protect us!</p><p>The illustrations are photographs of our real chickens and The Peaceable Farm & Bookery. In the back of the book, there are a few pages of “Chicken Terminology” and fun “Chicken Facts” to teach the little ones more about the wonderful world of chickens!</p><p>I pray the precious little ones so dear to God’s heart will love the story and be blessed by it! 😊</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</a></span>, January 9</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lotsofhelpers.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lots of Helpers"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lots of Helpers</span></a>, January 10</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, January 21</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Fiction Book Lover"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Fiction Book Lover</span></a>, January 22 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpl2ZE8wdCLePbhKUCMkO7S63lsMS4e_V4RZBVcs_y5ef3HZvmJvj38ZycGQbV-prLYva6H2Vua1YhcVUFts8jU0v4KJ_OsKLQqhlynPHN_DB5CXvA1DihRXAf8EeRb08u79JbpCemUubatOdPuTkQpdeTy0BSvDCsEXhYsGCDpMzbfqrfiwo_n-OnEKl/s940/IMG_7358.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpl2ZE8wdCLePbhKUCMkO7S63lsMS4e_V4RZBVcs_y5ef3HZvmJvj38ZycGQbV-prLYva6H2Vua1YhcVUFts8jU0v4KJ_OsKLQqhlynPHN_DB5CXvA1DihRXAf8EeRb08u79JbpCemUubatOdPuTkQpdeTy0BSvDCsEXhYsGCDpMzbfqrfiwo_n-OnEKl/s320/IMG_7358.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/29587/new-chicks-at-the-peaceable-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/29587/new-chicks-at-the-peaceable-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-69101956376852856832024-01-11T22:00:00.000-08:002024-01-11T22:00:00.149-08:00The Girl and Her Noble Steed by Kirthana J Fanning<p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiMKZOT_YCpWw102x60cyxjlo_wwa1rTpWkhAOCqZ-ikyQwsM968KdeiuwNbG1xmQF0KXOgAV4bTHL2yIzJVnWNii48Lm2rI5UUhuAVHfVDZmFK1wuIDfHwfzxPjPKAzcEKcDYxfLghef1X3LBIFE7fmyXWEIv2ezkwtZ2GyFulDgATwgnnO3eyd5fE2H/s851/IMG_7321.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiMKZOT_YCpWw102x60cyxjlo_wwa1rTpWkhAOCqZ-ikyQwsM968KdeiuwNbG1xmQF0KXOgAV4bTHL2yIzJVnWNii48Lm2rI5UUhuAVHfVDZmFK1wuIDfHwfzxPjPKAzcEKcDYxfLghef1X3LBIFE7fmyXWEIv2ezkwtZ2GyFulDgATwgnnO3eyd5fE2H/s320/IMG_7321.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdYA3UmLbu6f-u9iDAcV5O1ShMzASOlVXoUrGzgbbt27hiKYkehd1wC9UVNjYPh3MT1Ezic033ZTYjRz65u1mBK9ZsvT9MD_y76AJ0XjoBKQQCOqCQuLUQJTfcGa99ePoPX0_kO3P9wM-CgmG_jZsRkPhCdmcsugm2GV5WjYhs_PZ20EGfejZYiPdZLEZ/s320/IMG_7322.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="211" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdYA3UmLbu6f-u9iDAcV5O1ShMzASOlVXoUrGzgbbt27hiKYkehd1wC9UVNjYPh3MT1Ezic033ZTYjRz65u1mBK9ZsvT9MD_y76AJ0XjoBKQQCOqCQuLUQJTfcGa99ePoPX0_kO3P9wM-CgmG_jZsRkPhCdmcsugm2GV5WjYhs_PZ20EGfejZYiPdZLEZ/s1600/IMG_7322.jpeg" width="211" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book:</strong> The Girl and Her Noble Steed</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Kirthana J Fanning</p><p><b>Genre:</b> Children’s Fiction (Chapter book)</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>September 5, 2023</p><p><strong>Embark on a remarkable journey with an orphan girl determined to conquer a thrilling race.</strong><strong> </strong>Overcoming obstacles with the power of prayer, she’s joined by a cantankerous farmer and his singing, dancing miniature donkey.<br /><strong>Together, they defy the odds, showcasing the strength of faith, courage, and friendship.</strong></p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/40K84ZK”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. </p><p> </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><ol id="docs-internal-guid-17f2173e-f9cc-3669-58d7-f55392acaaed" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why did you want to become an author? </span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've always had a deep passion for writing and storytelling, even since my childhood. It's been a part of who I am. However, the calling to become a Christian children's author came from 'Uppity Stairs,' and I also use these words in the book.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a voracious reader, I've always been drawn to the enchanting world of fairy tales and fiction. Yet, I felt a desire to create stories that not only entertained but also brought something edifying to the Christian soul. This realization led me to the path of becoming an author with a Christian focus.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I believe that storytelling is a powerful medium to convey valuable messages and inspire young minds. As a result, I made the decision to combine my love of fairy tales, adventures, and fantasy with the principles established by Jesus and his teachings. I wanted to create stories that not only captivated the imagination but also left a positive and lasting impact on the hearts of young readers, instilling faith, hope, and moral values through the magic of storytelling. That's why I became a Christian children's author—to share these inspiring tales with the world.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><ol start="2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The inspiration for the main themes found in "The Girl and Her Noble Steed" comes from my Christian faith, and the teachings of Jesus, such as faith, trust in God, courage, and compassion, have always been a source of inspiration for me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the book, I wanted to convey the importance of faith and trust in God, showing how characters rely on divine guidance to overcome challenges. Jesus frequently urged his followers to be strong and steadfast in their faith, which served as inspiration for the themes of courage and perseverance.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friendship and loyalty are also central themes, reflecting a sense of community and love. Divine guidance, as a recurring motif, serves to remind young readers of God's involvement in their lives, instilling a sense of faith and reliance on a higher power.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adventure is woven into the narrative to encourage young readers to explore their own lives and embrace new experiences. The valuable moral lessons in the story promote kindness and compassion. Lastly, the belief in miracles throughout the tale highlights God's boundless power and reinforces the message of faith and trust in Him.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><ol start="3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about? </span></p></li></ol><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh, meeting my characters in real life would be an absolute delight! I'd definitely start by raving about how enchanting Ginobe sounds and express my excitement about being in such a whimsical place. Then, I'd dive into some lighthearted chatter about the funny and quirky stories that happen around town. After all, who doesn't love a good laugh?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next, I'd be all ears to hear about their dreams and aspirations. It's amazing what you can learn from characters, and who knows, their dreams might just spark some unexpected plot twists for future stories. Gathering information about neighboring islands is a must – after all, it's essential research for those thrilling sequels in the series.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And speaking of upcoming events, I'd be sure to ask about their plans for Easter. Are there any unique traditions or celebrations in Ginobe? I'd like to soak in all the local culture and traditions.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, I'd humbly request their creative inputs on what they think would make a fantastic story for book 2, set to launch in Easter 2024. After all, who better to brainstorm with than the characters themselves? With their whimsy and wisdom, I'm sure we'd cook up something truly magical together!</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><ol start="4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing? </span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When it comes to writing, I do have some favorite beverages and snacks that keep me fueled and focused. My all-time favorite drink is a refreshing virgin piña colada. There's something about the tropical flavors that transport me to a creative oasis.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But when I'm in the mood for something warm and cozy, I can't resist a comforting herbal tea. The soothing aroma and gentle flavors really set the mood for writing. And for those moments when I crave a bit of a kick, a spicy hot chocolate with a hint of heat adds an extra layer of inspiration.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, when it comes to snacking, I have to admit I'm quite the grazer. I find myself rummaging through every snack I have in the house throughout the day. It's a nibbling adventure! However, I'm trying to be mindful of my sweet tooth. It's an ongoing battle, you see.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><ol start="5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What message do you hope readers take away from your book? </span></p></li></ol><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The message I truly hope readers take away from my book is a profound sense of inspiration, encouragement, and entertainment. I want them to feel inspired by the characters' journeys and the themes of faith, trust in God, courage, and compassion. I hope they find encouragement in the characters' perseverance and the belief that even in the face of challenges, they can overcome with faith.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most importantly, I aspire for readers to believe that with God, all things are possible. I want them to carry this message of unwavering faith and the boundless power of divine guidance with them long after they've finished reading. Ultimately, I aim to provide not only an engaging story but also a source of spiritual nourishment and hope for young hearts and minds.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note from the Author: I humbly and hopefully ask all you kind-hearted souls to lend your support to my Kickstarter campaign for 'The Girl and Her Noble Steed.' Your contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a significant impact in getting this book out there and bringing its future series to life. Together, we can make sure this award-winning, heartwarming story reaches children, filling their lives with Christian faith-based, uplifting tales. Thank you for planting a seed of love in my journey and being part of this incredible adventure!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's the link: </span><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/347960943/787598163?ref=2op2bf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/347960943/787598163?ref=2op2bf</span></a></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span></div><div><span underline=""><br /></span></div><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCbPJBAdb92K2VcTO59z3skYE3ZGbF56Ox-JnWMe6jreyHtKOClOrO7GMLjy-YYqHnO9jUN6Lam0PfdnR3rUYVSYUxKzYomBsJWvSm7ZnZUsSwbT-Q79Eco3eg7vOP7E3hRmDddtETwFuMdiDChqhSZn2cKO9KLxQ-igsIWrPohLJSRhioz4hLtzM2R03/s320/IMG_7323.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCbPJBAdb92K2VcTO59z3skYE3ZGbF56Ox-JnWMe6jreyHtKOClOrO7GMLjy-YYqHnO9jUN6Lam0PfdnR3rUYVSYUxKzYomBsJWvSm7ZnZUsSwbT-Q79Eco3eg7vOP7E3hRmDddtETwFuMdiDChqhSZn2cKO9KLxQ-igsIWrPohLJSRhioz4hLtzM2R03/s1600/IMG_7323.png" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Kirthana J. Fanning</strong> is a children’s book author who is passionate about empowering young readers with God’s word and inspiring them to live boldly in Christ. Her stories are full of adventure and lessons that will help young minds grow and flourish. She believes that sharing God’s love and miracles through her writing will leave an indelible mark on the world, one heart at a time.</p><p>With two decades of experience as a television producer and writer in Southeast Asia, Kirthana uses her expertise to craft stories that will help young people navigate through life’s challenges with faith and grace. When she’s not writing, Kirthana volunteers as a remote youth fellowship leader and lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two huskies.</p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Kirthana</span></h1><p>Reflecting on a significant milestone in my life, one I deeply cherish, I can’t help but think about the journey I’ve traveled. It all started in the shadows of fear, discouragement, and neglect during my childhood. However, it was the profound influence of God’s word, the power of prayer, and the unwavering support system that surrounded me that illuminated my path in countless ways.</p><p>For 13 years, I grappled with consistency and security in my previous job as a TV producer and content head. I felt a void in my life, a sense that something was missing. So, I turned to prayer and patiently waited for God to reveal His will for me. And He did just that, leading me to become a children’s author dedicated to writing Christian faith-based books that encourage and inspire young hearts, guiding them closer to Christ.</p><p>”The Girl and Her Noble Steed” emerged from my desire to create a book brimming with adventure and faith. Through this book, I hope to teach children that a miracle is just a prayer away and that nothing is impossible for those who love and believe in God. This knowledge was not readily available to me while I was growing up, and I don’t want any child to miss out on a relationship with Jesus.</p><p>Now, let me share a fun fact about the book. Just like the quirky words that fill the pages of “The Girl and Her Noble Steed,” I too have a penchant for using quirky words in my everyday life. It’s a small touch of my personality that adds an extra layer of charm to the stories I write.</p><p>So, what’s my goal? It’s simple. I aim to bring smiles to children’s faces while sowing the seeds of wonder and wisdom in their minds. Why, you may wonder? Once upon a time, I was a wide-eyed dreamer navigating the complexities of growing up. But then Jesus found me, and in His love, I discovered peace and comfort. Now, I’m on a mission to remind kids that they are truly amazing. I want every child to understand that they are special and important and that God’s love for them is boundless.</p><p>This is just the first book in a series, and I plan to release Book 2 just in time for Easter, continuing the journey of faith and inspiration for young readers.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For the Love of Literature"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://litteraegaudium.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">For the Love of Literature</a></span>, January 6 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jodiewolfe.com/blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Jodie Wolfe - Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet</span></a>, January 6</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, January 11</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a></span>, January 12 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, January 13</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vickysluitercom.wordpress.com/author-spotlight/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Beauty in the Binding"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Beauty in the Binding</span></a>, January 16 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Artistic Nobody</span></a>, January 16</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lightsinadarkworld.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lights in a Dark World"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lights in a Dark World</span></a>, January 17</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Library Lady's Kid Lit"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</span></a>, January 18 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, January 19</p><p center=""><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsep7eP4BFUnCn1sIoBzaoYBJ1hBsnJUwAWngzO2QOoLEjd-DQvVLaImKhE6QreweCt3pviq9CB_CzlRoGoT78AhEaj4S4MeYYKNImmbqrbe1J0iuEEd0G082QxTXy1hnFloTz6oVGheIh81g3AxkMX-MXks6y2-PZdk-2divLL5dHXLFwoa-IOiVcbQ-/s940/IMG_7324.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsep7eP4BFUnCn1sIoBzaoYBJ1hBsnJUwAWngzO2QOoLEjd-DQvVLaImKhE6QreweCt3pviq9CB_CzlRoGoT78AhEaj4S4MeYYKNImmbqrbe1J0iuEEd0G082QxTXy1hnFloTz6oVGheIh81g3AxkMX-MXks6y2-PZdk-2divLL5dHXLFwoa-IOiVcbQ-/s320/IMG_7324.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Kirthana is giving away the grand prize package of themed gift basket with a $50 Amazon gift card, signed hardcover copy of the book, a bookmark, a sticker, a bracelet and a keychain!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2979a/the-girl-and-her-noble-steed-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2979a/the-girl-and-her-noble-steed-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-26720537357739323222023-12-18T22:00:00.000-08:002023-12-18T22:00:00.139-08:00Falling for a Real Cowboy by Karen Baney <p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EHp7Zy1DgUIGnyNB4xSHTlMpcQD5uDBhXefmR5YUxJzizZlUbsBmj34BtmEPs011bJ4wUluO9616mjtWCOwWcjKHziopiiFDxEY49j1304Ow9VS73JEeWjE6mk12FUEZTivvtJhAkcBUGT0_tJgqV2DLIBgFbs-W1LkRQjVJckU1rmBSEU_zvcz_GdbI/s851/IMG_7284.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EHp7Zy1DgUIGnyNB4xSHTlMpcQD5uDBhXefmR5YUxJzizZlUbsBmj34BtmEPs011bJ4wUluO9616mjtWCOwWcjKHziopiiFDxEY49j1304Ow9VS73JEeWjE6mk12FUEZTivvtJhAkcBUGT0_tJgqV2DLIBgFbs-W1LkRQjVJckU1rmBSEU_zvcz_GdbI/s320/IMG_7284.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzKlDCU0ioHTVsPN3oec1iCSU7yrbOQG7yYYWsEtdIyc-tl5Gwpn29HhaeFYgv0QJCsXr2RDHOYklj9iEsPSrLanvwNmqfkGQAlv_Dm631Mg6SyDPSJYs2OL5sXd8K8jhhNWAutNcV9ouAfGlHdOGipAbbh1lbj6LNTADv-L5oS1RQa6ZEJtWKPKOLd8P/s1024/IMG_7285.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzKlDCU0ioHTVsPN3oec1iCSU7yrbOQG7yYYWsEtdIyc-tl5Gwpn29HhaeFYgv0QJCsXr2RDHOYklj9iEsPSrLanvwNmqfkGQAlv_Dm631Mg6SyDPSJYs2OL5sXd8K8jhhNWAutNcV9ouAfGlHdOGipAbbh1lbj6LNTADv-L5oS1RQa6ZEJtWKPKOLd8P/s320/IMG_7285.jpeg" width="213" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Falling for a Real Cowboy</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Karen Baney</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Contemporary Christian Cowboy Romance</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>November 21, 2023</p><p><strong>She’s trying to resurrect her career. He’s sworn off women. Will this city-meets-country duo find love where they least expect it?</strong></p><p>Dalton J. Vargas the fourth has sworn off love. Women are just a distraction that keep him from running his family’s multi-million-dollar guest ranch near Wickenburg, Arizona. After his father announces an early retirement, the full burden of the ranch rests on his shoulders. When a city-slicker romance author stays at the ranch, Dalton’s perfect world turns to chaos.</p><p>River Sloane’s last workplace romance novel flopped—big time. Now her publisher wants her to write a modern-day cowboy romance, which she has resisted for years. When her publisher sends her to a dude ranch in the middle of nowhere Arizona, she must learn about cowboys and ranching to get her career back on track. One hunky cowboy stirs her heart and unexpectedly becomes her muse.</p><p>Will she let herself fall in love with the real cowboy or will she return to the life she left behind? Will Dalton open his heart to a new, lasting love?</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3QnDYpZ”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all authors opinions. </p><p><br /></p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">1. What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I had so much fun writing my historical Colter Sons </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">S</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">eries about a big family, and I wanted to write another series about a big family in a contemporary setting. So, I started researching dude ranches (guest ranches) in Arizona and the stories about the wonderful, entrepreneurial families I discovered inspired the idea behind Vargas Guest Ranch & Resort.</span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">One dude ranch made it very clear from their About Us page they were strong Christians and they also cared deeply about wheelchair-bound guests. My heart was deeply touched. This inspired how I developed the Vargas family. The second book in the series, </span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Falling for a Shy Cowboy</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">, deals with a single mom of a little boy whose legs were amputated.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">2. Which character in your book do you relate to the most?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">As a romance writ</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">er</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">, choosing to branch into a new-for-me subgenre, it was a lot of fun putting my heroine, River Sloane, in the same position. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I identified with her</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. M</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">any of her feeling</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">, thoughts, and prayers about this change are ones I felt and prayed throughout writing </span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Falling for a Real Cowboy</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I enjoyed poking </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">fun at my career through her character. I hope you enjoy some of the tongue-in-cheek </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Easter eggs.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">3. What made you choose the setting/time period for this book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I love writing stories set in Arizona. I</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> love the beauty of the desert and the rich history of the state. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">For thirteen years, I’ve traveled all over the state, researching the history and visiting many wonderful small cities and towns.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> During that time, my husband and I attended a parade and cowboy show in the fall in Wickenburg, Arizona. I’ve been dying to use the small city and surrounding area in a contemporary story</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. When brainstorming and researching for the Vargas Ranch Series, I discovered a wonderful</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> dude ranch in Wickenburg (and one in Mohave) that provided the inspiration behind the ranch, even though I decided to locate </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Vargas Ranch about 30 minutes to the west just north of </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Forepaugh</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. There’s a beautiful stretch of </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Bureau of Land Management land there with a peak—which I named Dalton Peak in the novel.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">4. Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">This is my first contemporary cowboy romance series</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. I know it may sound odd since I’ve written plenty of historical cowboy romances set on a ranch, but I felt intimidate</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">d thinking about writing on a modern ranch setting. In hindsight, I don’t know why. I’m glad I pushed through the feeling, </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">completed my research, and moved forward anyway. I really enjoyed building </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Vargas Guest Ranch & Resort as a setting and getting to know the town of Wickenburg, Arizona more.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">5. What message do you hope readers take away from your book? </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">The under</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">lying theme is about God’s timing. We see His hand in both Dalton’s and River’s characters as they face some huge challenges and experience love after some heartbreaking bad relationships in their pasts. Through it all, they </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">grow,</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> and dreams come true, </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">though </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">not in their desired timing, but in God’s perfect timing. It’s hard to </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">wait for the Lord when we want things to happen on our timeline. But when we do, we will find his peace.</span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iwZK6T2byMmcUTgG_Yl4bJVmyzZvuOZiRC_8GMrUHb9T55jKkmY5ZrYGauLIHRBlew-PITe2s3GPmeCygSgQykea2Li5PSOvhaDIs9HhiPrKnwaYuwnDF_SHA3p3z8kc4IdR4bRiPyp4zt8JJv3CBpiH2l1tvF_V1Pdyose-Dw9MUGQIt9AXtv30-tUO/s999/IMG_7286.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iwZK6T2byMmcUTgG_Yl4bJVmyzZvuOZiRC_8GMrUHb9T55jKkmY5ZrYGauLIHRBlew-PITe2s3GPmeCygSgQykea2Li5PSOvhaDIs9HhiPrKnwaYuwnDF_SHA3p3z8kc4IdR4bRiPyp4zt8JJv3CBpiH2l1tvF_V1Pdyose-Dw9MUGQIt9AXtv30-tUO/s320/IMG_7286.jpeg" width="246" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Karen Baney</strong> is passionate about writing stories full of flawed characters. She enjoys weaving together stories of second chances, redemption, and overcoming personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona in the late 1990s, she loves researching the state’s history and finding ways to seamlessly incorporate real history and real settings into her novels. In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry.</p><p>Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. Both Jim and Karen are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.</p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Karen</span></h1><p>Inspiration Behind the Vargas Ranch Series Brand</p><p>How many books about ranches and cowboys have you read, whether historical or contemporary and you wondered about their brand?</p><p>Hardly anyone describes the brand. Me either. In my historical series, I don’t think I’ve mentioned the brand for my ranch that appears in eleven books!</p><p>Well, for the Vargas Ranch Series, the brand plays a central role in describing both the family and their faith. In many of my series, I start with a theme verse, and the Vargas Ranch Series is no exception. When I read these verses in my morning devotion time, I knew this would be the anchor for the series.</p><p><em>With regard to the works of man,</em></p><p><em>by the word of your lips </em></p><p><em>I have avoided the ways of the violent.</em></p><p><em>My steps have held fast to your paths; </em></p><p><em>my feet have not slipped. </em></p><p><em>—Psalms 17:4-5 ESV</em></p><p>Then the family motto formed based on the second verse: <em>I do not deviate from the Lord’s plan.</em></p><p>Immediately, I latched onto the word “deviate” and how it might be represented in a brand: “dV8”. I sketched out the design, and then I had to back into how else the letters “d” and “V” might relate to the series.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrwst8BJuLNcCFyLEcN8ygPARmKse8t4Fi1SRvpr-qIeMkUQ89rElPbaN1YaOhfu5262HdAmH8usLPjxsgj_ZRluuejyUhL6H2KJ2QUQLX5tNy_dPBU74NWJ5gdtFn_r6Zk2hcnRAmkXU7a_muxNOpy5yuakuZ3MtWSqjd3lnoHZ3_AfXe1n5QCKKkoJ8/s300/IMG_7287.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="300" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrwst8BJuLNcCFyLEcN8ygPARmKse8t4Fi1SRvpr-qIeMkUQ89rElPbaN1YaOhfu5262HdAmH8usLPjxsgj_ZRluuejyUhL6H2KJ2QUQLX5tNy_dPBU74NWJ5gdtFn_r6Zk2hcnRAmkXU7a_muxNOpy5yuakuZ3MtWSqjd3lnoHZ3_AfXe1n5QCKKkoJ8/s1600/IMG_7287.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Then next thing I knew, I was searching for Spanish last names beginning with a “V”. As soon as I saw Vargas, I knew it was the perfect name for my Arizonan ranching family. The idea to make all the men’s name begin with a “d” also took shape. I scanned through my running list of cowboy names and quickly settled on the five brothers’ names: Dalton, Dylan, Derin, Devon, and Drake.</p><p>Now, I could have probably stopped there, but I love developing a rich family history for series like this. So, I decided to set the founding of the ranch in 1952 with Dalton J. Vargas, Senior. His son, Junior, named his son, Dalton J. Vargas the third, and Diego Vargas. The third or “Tres”, is the father of the five sons in the series.</p><p>I’ve really enjoyed weaving the family’s “dV8” brand, family motto, and theme verses into the first book in the series. They will make an appearance in all five books. So, I’ll leave you with:</p><p>“I do not deviate from the Lord’s plan.”</p><p>Blessings, dear readers!</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"lakesidelivingsite"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">lakesidelivingsite</span></a>, December 12</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, December 16</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial, sans, sans-serif"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Tell Tale Book Reviews"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tell Tale Book Reviews</span></a>, December 17 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Modern Day Fairy Tale"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</span></a>, December 21 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, December 22</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://litteraegaudium.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial, sans, sans-serif"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For the Love of Literature"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For the Love of Literature</span></a>, December 23 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://labornotinvain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Labor Not in Vain"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Labor Not in Vain</span></a>, December 24</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly's Book Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, December 25</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yHyDJL8JqdWYwIgQx83u4BwIaYmKYqsboQttd7N12-SPZKOqXL7CNg5GTnlI2Nz9tPQThFhMxXqtj6ccedqXIQpN_bgB5WOwkm2jiwlVjtCWwAUienFErXO3VmpnMkP_H1zGKXDxTyXhNcBLyQNAxUDv1Mxk9CQqOE51dTeQ2IEwZg1ZIWc14R1q9e4l/s940/IMG_7288.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yHyDJL8JqdWYwIgQx83u4BwIaYmKYqsboQttd7N12-SPZKOqXL7CNg5GTnlI2Nz9tPQThFhMxXqtj6ccedqXIQpN_bgB5WOwkm2jiwlVjtCWwAUienFErXO3VmpnMkP_H1zGKXDxTyXhNcBLyQNAxUDv1Mxk9CQqOE51dTeQ2IEwZg1ZIWc14R1q9e4l/s320/IMG_7288.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 gift card and a signed paperback copy of the book!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/293d2/falling-for-a-real-cowboy-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/293d2/falling-for-a-real-cowboy-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-5819092993664948312023-12-03T22:00:00.000-08:002023-12-03T22:00:00.154-08:00Countin on Jesse by Mary Pat Johns<p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lRrAEoX9lwr33xqs_jtgUia6vGxJdZRmphgswcz0zEvZ3wevf-bMhTh8FF9SROLqjOXTbfLQvxrVoHFFcSIRgxlC2S9zsMwnbauShLauvTr7GKpA-VmOd5uMi56bfNvHkySxZCDH20-u_WczmRr0sOGljJH7QJowasFmKSflpvOttX51WefWfQRqJbTV/s851/IMG_7240.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lRrAEoX9lwr33xqs_jtgUia6vGxJdZRmphgswcz0zEvZ3wevf-bMhTh8FF9SROLqjOXTbfLQvxrVoHFFcSIRgxlC2S9zsMwnbauShLauvTr7GKpA-VmOd5uMi56bfNvHkySxZCDH20-u_WczmRr0sOGljJH7QJowasFmKSflpvOttX51WefWfQRqJbTV/s320/IMG_7240.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfpNbZQ8c0clqbEOpxyaywsFDVvW21Majp4Uu3M5DkT8gqUcMutmRIudIQNOIvIIDJFL3wt4Qt5v23IH_N5qI0HTF6TFrLUb_G44060csd7-HRjcEMeKpzhVB0vdXYEVSosUYf_PpzCECKylHpN2TnUzWSrcm6BkOhwbn0mnHqk3oZtB88LuqddX8MjC0/s1024/IMG_7241.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfpNbZQ8c0clqbEOpxyaywsFDVvW21Majp4Uu3M5DkT8gqUcMutmRIudIQNOIvIIDJFL3wt4Qt5v23IH_N5qI0HTF6TFrLUb_G44060csd7-HRjcEMeKpzhVB0vdXYEVSosUYf_PpzCECKylHpN2TnUzWSrcm6BkOhwbn0mnHqk3oZtB88LuqddX8MjC0/s320/IMG_7241.jpeg" width="206" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Countin’ On Jesse</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Mary Pat Johns</p><p><b>Genre: </b>(Inspirational) Contemporary Romance</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>September 12, 2023</p><p>Peeps’ gym owner Jesse seeks accreditation. Accountant Brenna wants to help Jesse reach his goal. They’re a great team, but can she count on him when trouble strikes?</p><p>Accountant BRENNA MCKINLEY only wants what’s best for Peeps, the wildly popular gym in Valiant, Texas. But when money goes missing, and she’s the obvious suspect, will she be able to clear her name or face criminal charges? Keeping her dream job matters, but falling in love with her boss isn’t part of the plan. Neither is the creepy guy stalking her.</p><p>Young veteran JESSE JACOBS manages and co-owns Peeps, an exercise facility in Valiant, Texas. He needs help to gain accreditation for the gym, and his new accountant is all in. But is she who she seems? Too bad he’s falling for her like a man with no parachute. When the pressure builds, PTSD renders him moody and volatile, risking everything he loves.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/46BMbxZ”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p><br /></p><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why?</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span class="s4" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Countin</span><span class="s4" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">’ On Jesse</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> was my first full-length novel and I found </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">every step</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> challenging. </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">LOL. To say I didn’t know what I was doing would be a massive understatement.</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">I had trouble getting Brenna’s personality </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">to shine,</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> and</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> a</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> bajillion</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> rewrites</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">later,</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> I learned </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">how to plot a story.</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">Most of my previous writing was narrative, so </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">the concept of show </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">versus</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> tell was new—banged my head often on that one</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">.</span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> My son was the </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">main inspiration for</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> the </span><span class="s5" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Romance in Valiant</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> series. </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">After he deployed to Afghanistan,</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> the adjustment back to civilian life was</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> difficult. </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">I</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> translated</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> his journey through writing</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> into people, especially</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> vets, who</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> experience </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">traumatic events</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">, their journ</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">eys, and how they find their happily ever </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">afters</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">. </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">I struggled with the idea of story themes, until I realized the same themes</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> appear</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">ed</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> organically</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> over and over again in my books—rescue and redemption.</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">It’s</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">what Christ did </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">for us. We </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">were lost in our sin with no way of ever making it right until Christ rescued and redeemed us</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> through His sacrifice. </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">What made you choose the setting/time period for this book?</span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> Basically, I used the same time period as </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">my son’s deployment. It’s contemporary, but before </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">COVID. I</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> chose</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> this </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">time period because I was very familiar with it</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">. P</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">ragmatism also played a role.</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> I knew writing my first book would be a</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">n enormous learning curve, so I didn’t want to add historical research </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">to the mix. </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how?</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> What I didn’t realize was how much time it would take. I </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">couldn’t continue </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">some of my social outlets, and I particularly missed the regular Bible studies and lunches with</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">friends.</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">I had to make new </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">friends who understood the writing process</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> and</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> learn how to be part of </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">a</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> writing community. The</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">early critique groups I was </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">part of</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> and the</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Scrivenings</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> Press family of authors ha</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">ve</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> been </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">true blessings. </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">What message do you hope readers take away from your book?</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">In </span><span class="s5" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">Countin</span><span class="s5" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">’ On Jesse</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">, the </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">message I want readers to take away is </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">it’s okay to</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> ask for</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> help. God didn’t make us to operate solo</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">, and even though we</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> can know Christ, love Him, and </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">serve</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Him</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> to the best of our ability</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">, </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">we need other people to help us through </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">the</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> seasons of our lives.</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> Jesse</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;">, the main character,</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> learns this</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> through</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> what I hope is a rollicking good story. </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufB26fE6-6fl2OVH-MZo9_GRrTIxzahqjKDAM2DGYqwNzxdwKysNPdmQ84_bnDxnEMsDAH1MizbbUKCSbkViZH6sgrnrWgJo53k3WKWHhkVxPoorR05MIEAwUzaSbq9B6Z8bUMOk-m7LEAyUrUjqV3uq8aqPfmLFeX06EPb6WV7mwiSoC7XHIWadjsvFQ/s1024/IMG_7242.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufB26fE6-6fl2OVH-MZo9_GRrTIxzahqjKDAM2DGYqwNzxdwKysNPdmQ84_bnDxnEMsDAH1MizbbUKCSbkViZH6sgrnrWgJo53k3WKWHhkVxPoorR05MIEAwUzaSbq9B6Z8bUMOk-m7LEAyUrUjqV3uq8aqPfmLFeX06EPb6WV7mwiSoC7XHIWadjsvFQ/s320/IMG_7242.jpeg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Mary Pat Johns</strong>’ writing career began once she retired from years of teaching speech and writing. She’s written devotions for an online publication and had short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul. She currently writes a biweekly faith column for the local newspaper.</p><p><em>Countin’ On Jesse</em> is her debut novel, and she’s hard at work on the rest of the Valiant series. God put it in her heart to tell stories of brave veterans and their reintegration into civilian life after suffering the traumas of war. As she kept writing, her focus generalized to include ordinary people who learn how to move forward after devastating events. Her writing has a strong spiritual thread since she considers a return to faith in God the solution for what ails the civilized world.</p><p>She lives in South Texas with her husband and their two dapple dachshunds. Her grown children and five grandchildren are useful sorts who keep her grounded with her reading/writing obsession. You can find her at the gym, at her computer, or reading a good book.</p><p><em>Countin’ On Jesse</em> placed second in inspirational contemporary romance in the TARA contest. It was also a finalist in the Crown and the Maggie contests for unpublished authors.</p><h1><span underline="">More from Mary</span></h1><p>I wrote <em>Countin’ On Jesse</em> because I couldn’t NOT write it, though learning to write fiction was an act of faith. My son is an army vet and deployed to Afghanistan during the war. When he returned, the adjustment back to civilian life was difficult. The PTSD he suffered was real. His dad and I prayed often for his restoration. I also experienced an urgency to share how people recover from traumatic experiences, but it’s not my MO to tell a sad story. I used humor, but never downplayed the seriousness of the hero’s issues with PTSD and anger. My goal was to impart hope.</p><p>One added sweet note. My son helped me craft a short story as a prequel for the series. I believe it was healing for him to revisit the Afghanistan setting through the perspective of time and distance. Readers have shared they felt like they were in the story. In truth, there was an eyewitness. I’m forever grateful that he came home to tell me of such events.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</a></span>, November 27</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, December 3</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a></span>, December 4 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, December 5</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial, sans, sans-serif"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Beauty in the Binding"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Beauty in the Binding</span></a>, December 6 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Modern Day Fairy Tale"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</span></a>, December 6</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, December 7</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Holly's Book Corner"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Holly’s Book Corner</span></a>, December 8</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://litteraegaudium.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial, sans, sans-serif"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For the Love of Literature"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For the Love of Literature</span></a>, December 9 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Pause for Tales"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pause for Tales</span></a>, December 10</p><p center=""><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE0zBdaRpwi-4S8RttPv_YDGRHVFy-ZP9gxtYKthyphenhyphenalZfi5Icf9dN3dfkOeth_Xd1YIjsxbFFhbTjku8OG1nsYFjOS3NOXZgZSTUPlkbZQ7Q3TXyJ1zhbxASfj3RZJD8vgNt8mRVXZZN6n8y4V2eKIMhf6Al7sUBHPiPWod3a7q-BdIYTxBJxrmUlKR7j/s940/IMG_7243.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE0zBdaRpwi-4S8RttPv_YDGRHVFy-ZP9gxtYKthyphenhyphenalZfi5Icf9dN3dfkOeth_Xd1YIjsxbFFhbTjku8OG1nsYFjOS3NOXZgZSTUPlkbZQ7Q3TXyJ1zhbxASfj3RZJD8vgNt8mRVXZZN6n8y4V2eKIMhf6Al7sUBHPiPWod3a7q-BdIYTxBJxrmUlKR7j/s320/IMG_7243.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 gift Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/29099/countin-on-jesse-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/29099/countin-on-jesse-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-82159737080213029202023-11-29T22:00:00.000-08:002023-11-29T22:00:00.132-08:00Building Character Through Picture Books by Terrie Hellard-Brown<p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb8hMxnqhha33-jxjvqFB1SufRLTkIdy-hUYTqJXASWRe3vOTx9A1O8-2Bx5HzPF_o9c5pEtfvlXrJv6MwvhdNkOUqmaTgdYDBEzf6M133wVsjra3I6OWN2bl1SP8zJVJJDtXKX_tbiEN9ADkek6swKseNlJGIVlGyIMzMLrXZ9KAXiwdLvMUCVezLl0j/s851/IMG_7215.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb8hMxnqhha33-jxjvqFB1SufRLTkIdy-hUYTqJXASWRe3vOTx9A1O8-2Bx5HzPF_o9c5pEtfvlXrJv6MwvhdNkOUqmaTgdYDBEzf6M133wVsjra3I6OWN2bl1SP8zJVJJDtXKX_tbiEN9ADkek6swKseNlJGIVlGyIMzMLrXZ9KAXiwdLvMUCVezLl0j/s320/IMG_7215.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CM8zIMhDvx_XddlfOpp27AOYjhQ9T5mzymhMdyg6PJJ5BS47DiPlZ2sRDMI30LyS1QbQmLa-kHWoABqfUtC6kVtGuz4TzVKu29fvFZHAvZJNtt_MR4DLkf_sqN2ycqTRtGTFltgvnBA698DoTWHvHgmsI11WT978ILJONLvnhlu17dGLi3yX6X9HJQex/s1000/IMG_7216.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="625" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CM8zIMhDvx_XddlfOpp27AOYjhQ9T5mzymhMdyg6PJJ5BS47DiPlZ2sRDMI30LyS1QbQmLa-kHWoABqfUtC6kVtGuz4TzVKu29fvFZHAvZJNtt_MR4DLkf_sqN2ycqTRtGTFltgvnBA698DoTWHvHgmsI11WT978ILJONLvnhlu17dGLi3yX6X9HJQex/s320/IMG_7216.jpeg" width="200" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /> </strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Building Character Through Picture Books: 25 Family Devotions Based on Favorite Picture Books</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Terrie Hellard-Brown</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Devotional</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>May 27, 2023</p><p>Bring the Bible into bedtime. After reading the picture book together, families can read the short devotion, discuss compelling questions (questions for younger and older children provided), and end with prayer together as the children prepare to sleep. The book includes 25 devotions matched with 25 popular and classical picture books. Each devotion includes a section for parents to go further in the discussion or to add an activity to continue the conversation the following day.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/405oZ8W”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p> </p><div><span underline=""><br /></span></div><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><p><strong>Terrie Hellard-Brown</strong> uses her experiences as a mother of four (three on the autism spectrum), 35+ years in ministry (15 in Taiwan), and 35 years teaching to speak to the hearts of readers. She writes and speaks to empower children and adults to embrace everyday discipleship every day. She teaches workshops and writes devotional books, children’s stories, and Christian education materials.</p><p>Her podcast, <em>Books that Spark</em>, reviews children’s books that spark imagination, emotion, questions, and discussion leading to teachable moments with our kids.</p><p>Her blog discusses living as a disciple of Christ while discipling our children. She challenges us to step out of our comfort zones to walk by faith in obedience to Christ and to use the nooks and crannies of life to disciple our children.</p><h1><span underline="">More from Terrie</span></h1><p>As an English teacher, pastor’s wife, and missionary, I LOVE books. I’ve taught every grade from pre-K to community college in my career and taught the Bible to people who didn’t know anything about the Bible or Jesus, and through it all, I’ve come back to the joy of picture books and the simplicity of sharing stories that change lives. Of course, I love teaching Shakespeare, Dickens, and C. S. Lewis, but picture books are still where my heart is. So, it was only natural that I combined my two favorite things: picture books and the Bible.</p><p>My friends affectionately call me the Picture Book Lady since I have one to offer for almost any topic, event, or purpose. This new devotional book is no different. A dear friend said one day, “You should write a devotional book based on picture books!” Who wouldn’t jump at such a fun project!?</p><p>I chose some of my favorite picture books where I found connections to Scripture, and I began to write devotions to go along with each book. I wanted to use general market books so that we can use whatever book we’re reading with our children to make spiritual connections and bring in lessons naturally in those teachable moments. That’s how <em>Building Character Through Picture Books </em>was born.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</a></span>, November 20</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Library Lady's Kid Lit"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</span></a>, November 21</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Fiction Book Lover"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Fiction Book Lover</span></a>, November 22 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial, sans, sans-serif"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blossoms and Blessings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blossoms and Blessings</span></a>, November 24 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, November 25</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amoderndayfairytale.net/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Modern Day Fairy Tale"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Modern Day Fairy Tale</span></a>, November 26 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, November 27</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a></span>, November 30 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Artistic Nobody</span></a>, November 30</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, December 1</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial, sans, sans-serif"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Guild Master"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guild Master</span></a>, December 2 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, December 3</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Terrie is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 gift card and paperback copy of book!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/29096/building-character-through-picture-books-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/29096/building-character-through-picture-books-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-8895116546199721492023-11-28T22:00:00.000-08:002023-11-28T22:00:00.143-08:00Figs in Bloom by Bobi Gentry Goodwin<p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfmLwluN65W8hcjN7iqhLxR1pi4cO7OnVqTndW5sQ5jDazup_rr6xMDcuruMDmBzFaxHQrt9rKxgmDYgKnwy3fa-SE7twX26iSKlVo8vrESHHjpR1EkQ1v77UX3XVZ4G0DrlOZlpxGxrAevzEFcyJ2w99daP8it_kroC3-UdgyQWfQ6K8PZaOXoiKbdUS/s851/IMG_7212.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfmLwluN65W8hcjN7iqhLxR1pi4cO7OnVqTndW5sQ5jDazup_rr6xMDcuruMDmBzFaxHQrt9rKxgmDYgKnwy3fa-SE7twX26iSKlVo8vrESHHjpR1EkQ1v77UX3XVZ4G0DrlOZlpxGxrAevzEFcyJ2w99daP8it_kroC3-UdgyQWfQ6K8PZaOXoiKbdUS/s320/IMG_7212.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILlUuXIQ-SwZzadB3XlnjDggRnzi7obWc-UxA9R2Nb5NuzJZT1fDmm1R3ir6e4_XEWxTdjLi43jekLk2WmvcTtU__EFK7a_PKS3eFhBCM3zsbsDB1Ws-hP8jrRJvTsMrrh32MWkiIhAY82YjxAleVh4fmyGICUf36Cm5pO-MwfcdNpMd8u35ifV9XcCvb/s1024/IMG_7213.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="682" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILlUuXIQ-SwZzadB3XlnjDggRnzi7obWc-UxA9R2Nb5NuzJZT1fDmm1R3ir6e4_XEWxTdjLi43jekLk2WmvcTtU__EFK7a_PKS3eFhBCM3zsbsDB1Ws-hP8jrRJvTsMrrh32MWkiIhAY82YjxAleVh4fmyGICUf36Cm5pO-MwfcdNpMd8u35ifV9XcCvb/s320/IMG_7213.jpeg" width="213" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Figs in Bloom</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Bobi Gentry Goodwin</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Bible Study Curriculum for Girls Small Group Leaders/Parents</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>June, 2023</p><p>The Bible is rich with families, communities, songs, poems, principles, and power. It allows the reader to learn of God and His ultimate plan for His people through the coming of Jesus Christ. Stories of heroism, courage, perseverance, and pain fill its pages and are often displayed through the lives of Biblical characters.</p><p>The FIGS in Bloom Bible Study and Group Curriculum seeks to foster independence, growth, and spirituality in God’s precious girls by highlighting Bible personalities. FIGS is comprised of twelve lessons complete with Bible study, teacher tactics, scripture memorization, group games, journal writing prompts, and more. Biblical stories of hope, uniqueness, sacrifice, and love seek to encourage each student to blossom and take God with them as they learn to navigate the twists and turns of life.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3ZOt016″">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.</p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">1. Why did you want to become an author? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="color: #cc0000; line-height: 21.6px;">Creativity is an incredible gift. It was something I was born with. I started writing stories in elementary school. While other kids were out playing I was writing. Sculpting worlds, people, and places from my imagination thrilled me and I simply could not stop. Professionally, I ended up in a different career as my desire to help people was equally as strong, but I don’t believe they contradict one another. As a therapist, I use my creativity and skills to help people see their stories, change their stories, and even sometimes re-write their stories. Everyone has a narrative, and it is my passion to see it come to life whether real or imagined. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">2. What was the most challenging part of the writing process for you and why? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="color: #cc0000; line-height: 21.6px;">Finally ending a book is the absolute most challenging part of the writing process for me. I can re-write forever. Editing is never done. There is always more to the story. The finality of closing the computer, walking away, and resisting the urge to take one more peek is painstaking. I have found I have to set rules and firm boundaries with myself to survive each project. Placing projects in my </span><span class="s5" style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">absolutely done</span><span class="s4" style="color: #cc0000; line-height: 21.6px;"> folder has saved me more times than I am willing to admit. The visual reminder helps me to stay accountable, but more times than not I have considered changing the passcode on my computer. Some hardstops are better than none. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">3. What did your research process look like for this book?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="color: #cc0000; line-height: 21.6px;">Studying the Word of God for me has a multi-prong approach. Spending time in the Bible and prayer is always the first step in my process of launching into a Bible study. Secondly, I review other study materials on the chosen text or subject matter. I then return to Bible study, prayer, and meditation. Some of my steps also include consultation with other ministry leaders, reviewing commentaries, and researching historical facts, culture, and word studies. I also return to God throughout as I seek out His divine wisdom, direction, and guidance through the Holy Spirit as I navigate all those spaces. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">4. What audience did you have in mind when writing this book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="color: #cc0000; line-height: 21.6px;">This book is for a very specific audience. FIGS in Bloom is for the culture disruptor. The parent or group leader who wants to pour into a generation of girls that don’t just look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside too. The homeschooling parent, the life group leader, the community mom and dad who desires to do more, but would like a step-by-step practical resource to help them lead. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="color: #cc0000; line-height: 21.6px;">FIGS was birthed for leaders who understand that the Word of God is the best thing you can gift to a child. The intended reader is a parent or group leader who has decided to tangibly pour into teenage girls to plant seeds of truth and connection. The adult who believes being social is talking face to face and meeting eye to eye. The teacher who believes that liking something or someone is experiential, not only digital. The adult who wants to make a difference and is willing to take that chance. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">5. Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="color: #cc0000; line-height: 21.6px;">I had to answer this question. My true confession is that I am a foodie. Snack time is my time and a good cookie is worth its weight in gold. Oatmeal-raisin cookies stand heads above the rest for me and a bonus is that they are made with oats. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="color: #cc0000; line-height: 21.6px;">Snacks are essential I’m writing and on a very good day, I find my favorite mug which is a leftover from Christmas, pour myself a cup of hot Earl Grey tea, and find the perfect bite of my cookie. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YomhCdIPeJzpOA3gf_AoEsiCqevVuEXmy7jYJl616TjpPAFtaJnHshtk2HB2vviJ-9yf4ectYJtE4ZfNHypb1uorGBbSQZMYpmiMZfkGRJQfS0uep0MqfcNn4cmCnzcwnWUC86WhMqgnI7eXo1583J4kayd8oud28t59k4Cmrsq3NwldXXHXl1ks3Eka/s1024/IMG_7214.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="745" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YomhCdIPeJzpOA3gf_AoEsiCqevVuEXmy7jYJl616TjpPAFtaJnHshtk2HB2vviJ-9yf4ectYJtE4ZfNHypb1uorGBbSQZMYpmiMZfkGRJQfS0uep0MqfcNn4cmCnzcwnWUC86WhMqgnI7eXo1583J4kayd8oud28t59k4Cmrsq3NwldXXHXl1ks3Eka/s320/IMG_7214.jpeg" width="233" /></a></div><br /><span underline=""><br /></span></div><p><strong>Bobi Gentry Goodwin</strong> is a native San Franciscan. The Bay Area was where she first discovered her love for people and their stories. She has held a passion for writing since early childhood and as a Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist, her mission field has been working with women and children. Bobi is a spiritual growth enthusiast that writes inspirational fiction, Bible Studies, and blog articles. She has been a contributing writer to <em>Chicken Soup for the Soul</em> and her story “Gentrified” was featured in the anthology <em>Art in the Time of Unbearable Crisis</em>. She is a wife, mother of two, licensed minister, and an avid member of her local church. She hosts the Finding Forever Podcast and in her free time enjoys dancing, walking, and spending time with her fur baby.</p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Bobi</span></h1><p>Parenting a teenager is hard work! Finding ways to communicate with a teen can feel like finding a safe place to step into a field of landmines. One wrong word, one wrong look, and one wrong directive can lead to a literal explosion. With so much on their minds as they navigate hormones, social groupings, social media, and academics. How can parents find the space to sit them down and share the Word of God?</p><p>As a parent of two teenage daughters, many times I felt stumped. I couldn’t even get my words to move them, let alone God’s. But I knew His Word was exactly what they needed. What He says about them is much more valuable than anything I could offer, and that is how FIGS was birthed. FIGS in BLOOM is a Bible study guide centered around a social group approach to learning God’s Word in a non-threatening way. It is centered on a socialization approach that invites kids into a community grounded in food, fun, and fellowship.</p><p>FIGS served as a template to pull my teenage girls close while so many things sought to pull them apart. Hosting meetings in my home surrounded by my teenage girl and her friends allowed deep seeds to be planted in me and them. I learned, they learned. I laughed, and they laughed. I prayed, and they prayed. And I am certain that in the end, God got all the Glory!</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Splashes of Joy "}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Splashes of Joy</a></span>, November 17 (<span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Author Interview"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Author Interview)</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mary.a.hake/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Mary Hake"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mary Hake</span></a>, November 19</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, November 20</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Artistic Nobody</span></a>, November 21 (<span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Author Interview"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Author Interview)</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amandainpa.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"amandainpa"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">amandainpa</span></a>, November 25</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, November 26</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Guild Master"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guild Master</span></a>, November 27 (<span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Author Interview"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Author Interview)</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, November 28</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a> </span>, November 29 (<span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Author Interview"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Author Interview)</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cheriswalwell.com/visit-my-blog/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"JESUS in the EVERYDAY"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">JESUS in the EVERYDAY</span></a>, November 30</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Bobi is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of Figs in Bloom!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/28eee/figs-in-bloom-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/28eee/figs-in-bloom-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-31985376572942324712023-11-24T22:00:00.000-08:002023-11-24T22:00:00.132-08:00Unstick Your Mind by Mimika Cooney<p> </p><p center=""></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rIFyg9tRpdZVbUEKCznH98JaVAgmr3SV7pYcYSiLwzUiHRXIBIKEZYZxDU_5W9C9SubYbGb9h125mfUNkSsxnLUbB2krM3-3OhrDogtmW-wuS-vbUNRLoKKktMvnKULgMkzvGz0K_zP-Vxl3CJ29ZPwOnxwPtdoH4edE-audC4OxzYtBI4Fn3HDhVXim/s851/IMG_7186.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rIFyg9tRpdZVbUEKCznH98JaVAgmr3SV7pYcYSiLwzUiHRXIBIKEZYZxDU_5W9C9SubYbGb9h125mfUNkSsxnLUbB2krM3-3OhrDogtmW-wuS-vbUNRLoKKktMvnKULgMkzvGz0K_zP-Vxl3CJ29ZPwOnxwPtdoH4edE-audC4OxzYtBI4Fn3HDhVXim/s320/IMG_7186.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2T0IOyhJ1FXb-hCxPmg6X_14Ogp6xNVIDoxX7JiYqSblgfBecF5B4RPX4UhATGHGkXj2Qko_qSiUV3lhwMUkcpymvW3otRlph-_T3760M8vJecCwHjd-soYQJpsTf1WzpcHJs4_WNIxDPFAEejALYunEGb5aC22dfU6KSBSVJaMGgQ0qLpsntw_H1jY8N/s1024/IMG_7187.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="664" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2T0IOyhJ1FXb-hCxPmg6X_14Ogp6xNVIDoxX7JiYqSblgfBecF5B4RPX4UhATGHGkXj2Qko_qSiUV3lhwMUkcpymvW3otRlph-_T3760M8vJecCwHjd-soYQJpsTf1WzpcHJs4_WNIxDPFAEejALYunEGb5aC22dfU6KSBSVJaMGgQ0qLpsntw_H1jY8N/s320/IMG_7187.jpeg" width="208" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Unstick Your Mind: Shift Your Mindset, Develop Grit & Break Barriers</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Mimika Cooney</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Christian Non-Fiction, Mindset, Women’s Christian Living, Personal Growth</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>May 8, 2023</p><p>Do you question why you have negative thoughts? Every problem in life starts with a thought. Often we get stuck in perpetual cycles of bad thought patterns that cause us to repeat behaviors, over and over again.</p><p>But what if there was another way? What if we could unlearn the limiting beliefs, thoughts and ingrained patterns we learnt from childhood? What if we could free our minds and become who ever we wanted to be?</p><p>The good news is that you are not stuck with the brain you have!</p><p>You may think its is a pipe dream, but the reality is based on the concept of neuroplasticity. The brain is an amazing organ that is always learning.</p><p>Mindset is changing the way you think. You CAN learn new ways, new habits, and new success driven behaviors to finally achieve your goals.</p><p>Read this book for dealing with anxiety, and if you want to get over stress and anxiety. Come with me on a journey of self discovery and unlock the power of your mind!</p><p>Discover what elite athletes, CEO’s and high achievers do to unlock their full potential. Once you learn how to shift your mindset and develop grit, you will be positioned to break through any barrier holding you back!</p><p>In this powerful book you will discover…</p><p>* How to recognize limiting beliefs that are holding you back.</p><p>* How to take control of runaway thoughts that derail you.</p><p>* How to reinvent your habits for better productivity.</p><p>* How to partner with God to unlock your true potential and purpose!</p><p>This anxiety book for Christians is designed to help you move past stuck to successful.</p><p>Are you ready to change your life by changing your mind?</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3LUvGVk”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><pre><br /></pre><pre>I received a complimentary copy of this book, </pre><pre>All opinions given are my own and not an endorsement</pre><pre>Of all author’s opinions. </pre><p> </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">1. Why did you want to become an author?</span><span class="s4" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 21.6px;">As a child I loved writing in my journal and documenting my thoughts and feelings. I remember the joys of typing my first story on a typewriter in the early 1990’s. I knew there was something important and valuable in capturing and sharing words. Over the years my writing style morphed and I began to understand just how important books are. If you think about it, without scribes we would not have the bible today! Books outlast and outlive writers. I see it as a mission and a duty to put to paper what future generations will need to know. I like to think of writing as living out my legacy.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">2. What was the most challenging part of the writing process for you and why?</span><span class="s4" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 21.6px;">I’ve written eleven books so far and every book is just like a child. I love them all, and I worked hard to create and nurture them. Just like parenting, we face challenges when it comes to balancing time, staying creative and taking action to be productive. Without a plan and time blocked in my calendar, nothing would get done. I always love the ideation phase and planning, but I have to work on my mindset to stay motivated when I have to get a book finished. It’s amazing how procrastination likes to show up when you’re on a deadline, but I've learned that I can’t let it derail me. I make decisions ahead of time about my writing schedule so I stop arguing with myself when my mind is behaving like an unruly toddler having a fit.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">3. What did your research process look like for this book?</span><span class="s4" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 21.6px;">Having experienced a hard season of burnout and breakdown, I found myself in a place where I needed help. I sought out books, videos and podcasts on the topic of Christian mindset but I soon discovered a lack of biblical based content. Since I couldn't find what I needed, I decided to create the resources myself. I spent three years researching dry medical journals on neuroscience, reading other psychology based books, and taking several courses and classes. I spent lots of time in prayer asking God to reveal the truth in it all. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that neuroscience was confirming what the bible says is true that we are to renew our mind daily! The church tells us the scriptures, but I felt so much teaching was lacking the how. I’m a practical gal who likes to know why and how, so I set out to create a blueprint for walking out Christian mindset with step by step tools.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">4. What was something new you learned while writing this book?</span><span class="s4" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 21.6px;">The whole genre of mindset, neuroscience and biblical truths was a continual mind blowing experience for me. I don’t come from a psychology background, so I learned things the hard way by walking it out. Once I discovered how important it is to teach others how to renew their minds to change their lives, I took it up as a mission. My biggest lightbulb moment was realizing that God wants to work in us and through us when we are willing vessels. But we need to put in the effort to work through what I call the “junk in the trunk” to finally be free to flow in the spirit. When we partner with God, and allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds, it is amazing how our lie will change!</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.6px;">5. What message do you hope readers take away from your book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 21.6px;">The good news is that you CAN change your life by changing your mind! You are not stuck with the brain you have, nor do you have to allow the chains of the past to keep you stuck. My prayer is for readers to feel enthused by the news that they can practically change their mind, their brain chemistry, their habits, their relationships and their future. When we allow God to take us through the process of mind renewal, we come out the other side refined. I’ll be honest, the process is not easy, it will be hard at times and there will be tears. But the good news is if you follow the tools I lay out in the book, and you rely on God to highlight the areas that need work, you WILL become a new creation!</span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kRzG5gggjNT9TytiZ7FjB5LZjQXvnSEPIG0mZJLkLh1_u530MgOjWoU1ZLW26xZZ0y7Bnica7Z6IsU_10ozqWPBuzfIlgBx550eyGYtwBOgyw9ZT13ZBnu_MJY-yA4GaJz2e0ahs4eOlECsXidiM5Ow3Ln2RBOSO5ZeOTe_tjjVHMn1vxFJUpOoiHfFf/s960/IMG_7188.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kRzG5gggjNT9TytiZ7FjB5LZjQXvnSEPIG0mZJLkLh1_u530MgOjWoU1ZLW26xZZ0y7Bnica7Z6IsU_10ozqWPBuzfIlgBx550eyGYtwBOgyw9ZT13ZBnu_MJY-yA4GaJz2e0ahs4eOlECsXidiM5Ow3Ln2RBOSO5ZeOTe_tjjVHMn1vxFJUpOoiHfFf/s320/IMG_7188.png" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span underline=""><br /></span></div><p><strong>Mimika Cooney</strong> is a leading faith-based Christian Mindset Author and Speaker known as the “Personal Trainer for your Mind”. She empowers Christians to rewire their brain by combining neuroscience, positive psychology, and a faith-based approach. She loves to empower purpose-driven individuals to transform their lives by shifting their mindset habits and patterns, as they pursue growth to achieve extraordinary results.</p><p>Mimika is the creator of the “Unstick Your Mind“ a mindset mastery method, a transformative program that equips Christians with the tools to achieve their breakthroughs. Mimika will teach you how to unstick your mind, develop emotional resilience, and unlock your true potential by becoming the boss of your brain!</p><h1><span underline="">More from Mimika</span></h1><p>Unstick Your Mind was written from a place of deep pain and frustration. Having experienced anxiety, depression and disillusionment for years, I searched for sound biblical advice to help me get out of my mental rut. What I discovered was a lack of useful content that could help turn my compass toward Christ on my journey to mental wellness. After throwing myself into the world of neuroscience, positive psychology and coaching; I emerged with a fresh perspective and a passionate voice to help fellow Christians navigate the amazing miracle of renewing our mind God’s way. The good news is that you CAN change the way you think and completely overhaul your thinking when you focus on renewing your mind using biblical strategies and neuroscience.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Book Reviews From an Avid Reader"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Book Reviews From an Avid Reader</a></span>, November 13</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, November 14</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Reader’s Brain</span></a>, November 25 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://empowermoms.net/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"EmpowerMoms"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">EmpowerMoms</span></a>, November 26</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpCVvM_CKmlNkfcSPOCeYiem8rLjFf7f0J-PFvw1MsfutFOOFPlOIp1WOKyiQtVexUbx6D3FPbhgKFqwWuWeGABdmIga8A3cxVua4IgT6QNNUxK80AC3HodjuMEFGD5dZHEluHHsCl7xakNQhrJY49QP2UmglEVgxZNHRpVELDVR7OkI70Mgwc1W7prkN/s1024/IMG_7187.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="664" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpCVvM_CKmlNkfcSPOCeYiem8rLjFf7f0J-PFvw1MsfutFOOFPlOIp1WOKyiQtVexUbx6D3FPbhgKFqwWuWeGABdmIga8A3cxVua4IgT6QNNUxK80AC3HodjuMEFGD5dZHEluHHsCl7xakNQhrJY49QP2UmglEVgxZNHRpVELDVR7OkI70Mgwc1W7prkN/s320/IMG_7187.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Mimika is giving away the grand prize of a free Access to Mimika’s Course Mindset Make-Over and an eBook!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/28ee9/unstick-your-mind-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/28ee9/unstick-your-mind-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-40271974841195025972023-11-22T22:00:00.000-08:002023-11-22T22:00:00.150-08:00A Penny Saved by Terri Gillespie & Cynthia L Simmons<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><p center=""></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhk2SN7wVZQdhyUSOH2rRY1z2bMp3XLzc_um86ueIPGXFK2cUCKj5RoURWGv8SpXnCgsyh5rdHwpdcBkqoV-0c2y6TrFczbv0yCXzaZWZUAe4aA3fb0HYJJpENAeKfSCJbGXSXp9EJTbxmd6PUbQx5Es7bm-kXIg6XqF3u0ZQSKqzHdcwmDOxNKmhF657l/s851/IMG_7182.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhk2SN7wVZQdhyUSOH2rRY1z2bMp3XLzc_um86ueIPGXFK2cUCKj5RoURWGv8SpXnCgsyh5rdHwpdcBkqoV-0c2y6TrFczbv0yCXzaZWZUAe4aA3fb0HYJJpENAeKfSCJbGXSXp9EJTbxmd6PUbQx5Es7bm-kXIg6XqF3u0ZQSKqzHdcwmDOxNKmhF657l/s320/IMG_7182.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljJbjyRWXDRBpRtYvaUUvjWNqo9ZqnDnN7BCfThc2Cwaf4Id9b0-oBUONvvVTNTLaE4PFNQ55RxXFESZVBbU29fjqf7mAd9p9SMU9tK9ub1aUB-MdUEeFSWGvzz6jruKLO2AxL74XzhoVNIIXf-VToij_BBGkazKK2Fkaf0s_hpkuupn8XDVJPieEOpxA/s1024/IMG_7183.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="678" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljJbjyRWXDRBpRtYvaUUvjWNqo9ZqnDnN7BCfThc2Cwaf4Id9b0-oBUONvvVTNTLaE4PFNQ55RxXFESZVBbU29fjqf7mAd9p9SMU9tK9ub1aUB-MdUEeFSWGvzz6jruKLO2AxL74XzhoVNIIXf-VToij_BBGkazKK2Fkaf0s_hpkuupn8XDVJPieEOpxA/s320/IMG_7183.jpeg" width="212" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>A Penny Saved</p><p><strong>Authors: </strong>Terri Gillespie & Cynthia L. Simmons</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Middle-Grade Fantasy & Mystery</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>May 27, 2023</p><p>A Move, A Mess, A Mystery</p><p>Mason’s world turns upside down when he, his little sister, Olivia, and their mother move into their grandfather’s house.</p><p>Mason misses his cool friends. Unfortunately, R.B., the weird kid down the street, thinks he’s Mason’s new best friend.</p><p>Mason’s grandfather, a retired professor, stays in his office filled with musty, dusty books. Never realizing there’s a magical treasure hidden in plain sight. An 1860 Indian Head penny, named Penny, who is <em>alive</em>!</p><p>When Penny goes missing, Mason helps his grandfather look for her.</p><p>Will Mason find Penny and learn her secret?</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/46H70rk”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book, </p><pre>All opinions given are my own and not an endorsement</pre><pre>Of all author’s opinions. </pre><div><br /></div><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Why did you want to become an author? </span></span></p><div style="border: 1px solid transparent; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><img class="s5" src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/4294f363-8052-4289-aa7b-c0b20e69ddb7" style="float: left; height: 290px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 306px;" /><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">The desire to become an author began with my grandmother. She was my best friend and a spellbinding storyteller. I remember while my brothers played outside, I sat on the porch swing with Grandma as she spun tales that sixty-five years later, I still remember.</span></span></div><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Somehow, she could see the writer in me. Which was discerning because I had challenges with reading that took decades to overcome. </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">The definitive moment for me was when Grandma set an ancient Royal typewriter atop a rickety metal table, with a small stack of paper and said, “Write.” </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">My first “publication” on that old typewriter was </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Jilly the Teddy Bear </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">(1959</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">). That</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> ignited the fire to write and the hope that maybe I could see a real book with my name—not one bound with tape. </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Although I have written a women’s devotional (2008), it is stories I’m most drawn to. Those stories Grandma told me changed my life. How wonderful if I can do the same for readers.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why? </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">A Penny Saved</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> was co-written with Cynthia Simmons. Cynthia was very gracious, especially when</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> it came time to integrate</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> our writing. Cynthia is the history maven, and I love contemporary characters with strong voices. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">The challenge arose when </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I kept imposing my voice on the characters she was writing. As I said, she was very gracious. We ended up working it out and are both pleased with the story and these great characters.</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> And hopefully, I’ll be more sensitive in the subsequent Penny books.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">My inspiration was my grandson, </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">D</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">J. DJ wasn’t much of a reader in elementary school. He is bright, kind, compassionate, and a handsome young man. He’s also Black and I lamented that there are so few inspirational books for young people with strong Black protagonists. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What few </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">books I found he loved, and he has since become quite the reader. But still there is a dearth of inspirational novels </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">with Black protagonists </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">out there.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I knew that Mason would be much like DJ. In </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">fact,</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> the </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">artist</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">based her illustrations on </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">photos of </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">DJ.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Choosing to track Mason’s ancestors through the eyes of an 1860 Indian head penny, to post-Civil War </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Reconstruction era, will be a challenge in the upcoming books, but learning from the past will help Mason deal with his own questions about life and becoming a Christian man.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What made you choose the setting/time period for this book? </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Cynthia and I wanted to bring a strong historical perspective into contemporary times. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">In the beginning, for </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Mason, history is boring pages in a book and memorized dates. He has no idea of his connection with the past and a seemingly insignificant penny name Penny will turn his world upside down.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how? </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Both Cynthia and I stepped out of our comfort zones. She lives history, and I </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">live contemporary.</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> Like young Mason, until a few years ago, history was dry and brittle pages of dates</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> for me</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. I’m beginning to see that history is the story of people—the good and </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">the </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">cruel. Connecting the lessons from the past to Mason’s life today has been extremely satisfying</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, albeit emotional at times</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">.</span></span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Terri</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddFWHlqqPIk3kHJwN0ubOkv3CCt0ob3arT5vRgzuOEMRLFmcQ_xx-DWykNTPE50kqptdj8gmYjMcBI6ZvshSMYkNQ_J1J2UBIOfO-5HFjiFgHeqnF6zenqQHfnNFSGKqeVAWROTlYQzpKPVXNiAxCBBIGUeN8S_d9B7m5giysL8X566CYhf_ayCN32W_x/s1024/IMG_7184.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1024" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddFWHlqqPIk3kHJwN0ubOkv3CCt0ob3arT5vRgzuOEMRLFmcQ_xx-DWykNTPE50kqptdj8gmYjMcBI6ZvshSMYkNQ_J1J2UBIOfO-5HFjiFgHeqnF6zenqQHfnNFSGKqeVAWROTlYQzpKPVXNiAxCBBIGUeN8S_d9B7m5giysL8X566CYhf_ayCN32W_x/s320/IMG_7184.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Terri Gillespie</strong> is a multi-award award-winning author and speaker and YouTube personality. Terri lives with her hubby outside Atlanta. They have one adult daughter, who lives in Chicago with her husband and son. Terri was one of the managing editors of the bestselling Tree of Life Version of the Holy Scriptures.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Terri</span></h1><p>My grandson, DJ, loves to read, but there is a lack of inspirational and clean books with Black protagonists. DJ loves fantasy and mysteries, and as his safta (grandmother), I wanted a book that gives even more, a sense of legacy with a theme of looking past the exterior to the value underneath.</p><p> </p><p>When the strange, awkward R.B. offers to pray for Mason’s grandfather and then brings over his granny’s tuna casserole, Mason is touched and wonders if he has misjudged R.B.</p><p> </p><p>After tasting this recipe, would you change your mind?</p><p> </p><p><strong>Widow Savier’s (R.B.’s granny) Tuna Casserole </strong></p><p>2 (5 oz.) cans chunky-type tuna in water (drain well)</p><p>1 cup frozen peas</p><p>1⁄2 cup milk</p><p>3⁄4 cup butter-Ritz-like crackers, crushed or crushed potato chips (R.B. prefers the chips)</p><p>4 oz. (about 2-1⁄2 cups) thick egg noodles</p><p>1 can (10.75 oz.) cream of mushroom soup</p><p>1⁄4 tsp. garlic powder</p><p>Bit of butter (it is the south after all)</p><p> </p><ul><li>Preheat oven to 375°F.</li><li>Cook noodles according to package instructions, adding peas during the last 2 minutes of cooking; drain in strainer.</li><li>While noodles are cooking, in a separate bowl, mix together soup, milk and garlic powder.</li><li>Stir in the noodles and peas, then add the tuna.</li><li>Transfer to a 1-1⁄2 quart lightly buttered casserole.</li><li>Bake 15 minutes; top with cracker crumbs OR CHIPS. Continue baking 5 – 10 minutes or until heated through.</li></ul><p><strong>Serves 4,</strong> so Widow Savier doubles the recipe for Mason’s family so they have leftovers.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; 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color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vickysluitercom.wordpress.com/author-spotlight/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Vicky Sluiter"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vicky Sluiter</span></a>, November 21 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, November 22</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.carolkeen.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blogging With Carol "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blogging With Carol</span></a>, November 25</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blossoms and Blessings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blossoms and Blessings</span></a>, November 26 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Artistic Nobody</span></a>, November 26</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, November 27</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://janemouttet.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Library Lady's Kid Lit"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</span></a>, November 28 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://reneek-littlehomeschoolontheprairie.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Little Homeschool on the prairie "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Little Homeschool on the prairie</span></a>, November 29</p><h1 center=""><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQMk-RodRtkDkzzZVhUmvwg-JGebSQLOXJvUVrmHJJgpw4Tm9haIbwkenb1-kSWB9EQWTsycljv9EHp29-ocgoT5yy_8AlZQk6bSJMcmzb8ZomFehEJYdIb2R9gzfz52PDmEk7JwqjSOnxbPiKc7XmATrnmDH2jqG1ZjoxLh_c79U9zmK-cbY1MW-Dbfa/s940/IMG_7185.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQMk-RodRtkDkzzZVhUmvwg-JGebSQLOXJvUVrmHJJgpw4Tm9haIbwkenb1-kSWB9EQWTsycljv9EHp29-ocgoT5yy_8AlZQk6bSJMcmzb8ZomFehEJYdIb2R9gzfz52PDmEk7JwqjSOnxbPiKc7XmATrnmDH2jqG1ZjoxLh_c79U9zmK-cbY1MW-Dbfa/s320/IMG_7185.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Terri is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon Gift Card, signed copy of A Penny Saved, and A Penny Saved Mug!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/28eed/a-penny-saved-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/28eed/a-penny-saved-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-14655920803561792702023-11-20T22:00:00.000-08:002023-11-20T22:00:00.151-08:00Demolishing the Stronghold by Allen Brokken<p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax7kUUIQHR-iNRUkX6XiQlX-B8cWf7rqFKNxh1eZLEEesPyNy41lPvOzKf8krQUt24e4B7j_yaY0Kap1uLMzkeo_AZ3H2lB3j3JTkhmnu7HfLYMlfGzIxbGGfCfjsZwiRP9MYse-YybY32riVTPE9KbwmnkVY3stSeroJoT0w6UxQ9VQPAKFcNeo6-iGu/s851/IMG_7179.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax7kUUIQHR-iNRUkX6XiQlX-B8cWf7rqFKNxh1eZLEEesPyNy41lPvOzKf8krQUt24e4B7j_yaY0Kap1uLMzkeo_AZ3H2lB3j3JTkhmnu7HfLYMlfGzIxbGGfCfjsZwiRP9MYse-YybY32riVTPE9KbwmnkVY3stSeroJoT0w6UxQ9VQPAKFcNeo6-iGu/s320/IMG_7179.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4wYQ0xHijH-eeSra0gYqxYB0gXzq6iL45bs5jB1bfAyG21y3Y65nIrnO3FRyRb2AuSCntHe5oGt676tcz1I2_FDDd8HLpGUy0lMwN-O5uOAj53HfRcEQmLwN5jA3MPuJ6eOh521f8hrEm14rQVcoiNidHDphCcH9qAvDKexHoijsw6I9YclsVfbm6Crw/s1024/IMG_7180.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4wYQ0xHijH-eeSra0gYqxYB0gXzq6iL45bs5jB1bfAyG21y3Y65nIrnO3FRyRb2AuSCntHe5oGt676tcz1I2_FDDd8HLpGUy0lMwN-O5uOAj53HfRcEQmLwN5jA3MPuJ6eOh521f8hrEm14rQVcoiNidHDphCcH9qAvDKexHoijsw6I9YclsVfbm6Crw/s320/IMG_7180.png" width="213" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Demolishing the Stronghold</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Allen Brokken</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Middle Grade Fantasy</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>November 4, 2023</p><p class="”xmsonormal”">Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan finally found respite for their whole family in the grove surrounding the Wellspring of Life. However, the threat of the Dark One’s forces still looms over the Heathlands, and lighting the tower of Light in Blooming Glen is their only hope of cleansing their land of The Darkness once and for all. While the family plans a surprise attack on the stronghold at Blooming Glen, the Bishop calls forth the Calamitous Drake, a monster forged from the essence of The Darkness in the corrupted heart of the Iron Mountain. In the midst of the battle, the monster scatters the family, leaving Mother, Uncle, and Tye in the hands of Lord Refi’Cul and the evil giant Skull Crusher who aims to make Tye his wife and become the Master of the Heath Wardens</p><p class="”xmsonormal”">The children must take to the skies to forge a weapon capable of defeating the Calamitous Drake. Will Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan’s faith give them the strength to Demolish the Stronghold?</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/45kK4gi”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book, </p><pre>All opinions given are my own and not an endorsement</pre><pre>Of all author’s opinions. </pre><div><br /></div><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Why did you want to become an author? </span></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">As a kid, I always had an active imagination and took to writing as soon as I learned how. I began the Towers of Light Series as a story for my kids. I was traveling for work 4 days a week and spent a lot of lonely nights in hotels across the country. I started writing a story about them in a fantastic setting and then shared it on the weekends. They loved it.</span></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What/Who</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I began the Towers of Light Series as a story for my kids. I was traveling for work 4 days a week and spent a lot of lonely nights in hotels across the country. I started writing a story about them in a fantastic setting and then shared it on the weekends. They loved it. It also gave me a way to take Christian Worldviews and communicate it to them in a way that they would understand.</span></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What did your research process look like for this book? </span></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span><span class="s6" style="background-color: white; color: #020202; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">For this series</span></span><span class="s6" style="background-color: white; color: #020202; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s6" style="background-color: white; color: #020202; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> I did a bunch of research on the technology of 1700-1800 in America. A lot of it was </span></span><span class="s6" style="background-color: white; color: #020202; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">research</span></span><span class="s6" style="background-color: white; color: #020202; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> from trips to places like the Little House on the Prairie Museum and the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion. </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I really wanted to build out an American frontier feel for this series. </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">However, the most interesting stuff for this book came from learning about Hot Air Balloons in the 1800’</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span></span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What made you choose the setting/</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">time period</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> for this book?</span></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">The setting is inspired by Little House on the Prairie and the rural Midwest I grew up in. </span></span><span class="s6" style="background-color: white; color: #020202; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I was really inspired by the wilderness stories by Jack London as a child and I try to bring as much realism to my fantasy world as possible. </span></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s7" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.799999px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200001px;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how? </span></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s8" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">My readers really wanted me to add a dragon to this series. However, I kept telling them there aren’t any dragons on the Prairie. But they insisted, so </span></span><span class="s8" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I had to get </span></span><span class="s8" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">really </span></span><span class="s8" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">creative</span></span><span class="s8" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> with how I introduced a dragon into the story and come up with something unique, memorable and that fit the overall plot.</span></span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What message do you hope readers take away from your b</span></span><span class="s8" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">ook? </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s9" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I hope that people walk away knowing ultimate victory comes from God. That while we can follow his ways and solve big problems through his grace. He’s still in charge </span></span><span class="s9" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">and that</span></span><span class="s9" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> we should be humbled when he works through us in big ways.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDQVJSi2-W2NEKk250OrbeFnRVBFOEEsRbGEIzLBbuc-msqUtaN0kvQK2DY-qaP6pp7mtOl_dpD_JkXi1Iwuk-FYwTLCv6hunImAUb2H-rnw9vR-wAtoVGWBdniS51wbaRM34-mq6ZfPfTy0XMmrAlvy2Qeml6cyYD7yPSpFSlysXSjDRpkNo14Gamu7s/s1024/IMG_7181.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDQVJSi2-W2NEKk250OrbeFnRVBFOEEsRbGEIzLBbuc-msqUtaN0kvQK2DY-qaP6pp7mtOl_dpD_JkXi1Iwuk-FYwTLCv6hunImAUb2H-rnw9vR-wAtoVGWBdniS51wbaRM34-mq6ZfPfTy0XMmrAlvy2Qeml6cyYD7yPSpFSlysXSjDRpkNo14Gamu7s/s320/IMG_7181.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Allen Brokken</strong> is a teacher at heart, a husband, and a father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age-appropriate way. He’s dedicated 18 years to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his children are off to college, he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Allen</span></h1><p>As I worked to close out the Towers of Light series, I had to work hard to develop something new and different that still fit the 1800s frontier setting. I had a lot of pressure from my readers to bring a dragon to the prairie. On multiple occasions, I had to remind my biggest fans that there aren’t any dragons on the prairie. But they were insistent that dragons make an appearance.</p><p> </p><p>So, as I put the final touches on the previous book, Wellspring of Life, I thought that the censors spreading evil could bring evil things into the world to corrupt the prairie. So, the concept of a dragon formed from the censor’s smoke made a lot of sense. But what would a “Smoke Dragon” be like? I shared the idea with my Realm Makers critique group, and they helped form something that early feedback says works well. The dragon’s name, The Calamitous Drake, is also an homage to a line from “The Hobbit” that refers to Smaug as a great calamity.</p><p> </p><p>With a dragon flying about, I also had to devise a way for the kids to engage it in the air. This took significant research as I didn’t want to introduce giant eagles or something else that didn’t exist on the frontier. As I investigated different options, I discovered that hot air balloons were more common in the 1800’s than I thought. It turned out they served in minor roles during the Civil War and used a technology they called a gasifier to fill them up. I took some artistic liberty with that, and Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan now had a way to get off the ground to meet the dragon in the air.</p><p> </p><p>This story was so much fun to write, and early reviews from my biggest fans say it was the perfect end to the series.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Artistic Nobody</a></span>, November 11 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Fiction Book Lover"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://www.fictionbooklover.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Fiction Book Lover</a>, November 12 (Author Interview)</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, November 12</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, November 13</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, November 14</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Guild Master"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guild Master</span></a>, November 15 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lotsofhelpers.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lots of Helpers"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lots of Helpers</span></a>, November 15</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, November 16</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://janemouttet.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Library Lady's Kid Lit"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Library Lady’s Kid Lit</span></a>, November 17 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.carolkeen.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blogging With Carol"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blogging With Carol</span></a>, November 18</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blossoms and Blessings"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blossoms and Blessings</span></a>, November 19 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, November 20</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Reader’s Brain</span></a>, November 21 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://litteraegaudium.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For the Love of Literature"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For the Love of Literature</span></a>, November 22</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lightsinadarkworld.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lights in a Dark World"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lights in a Dark World</span></a>, November 23</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Beauty in the Binding"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Beauty in the Binding</span></a>, November 24 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><p center="">To celebrate his tour, Allen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/28d36/demolishing-the-stronghold-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/28d36/demolishing-the-stronghold-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-34839296395837402132023-10-30T22:00:00.025-07:002023-10-30T22:00:00.147-07:00Promise Me Christmas by Marguerite Martin Gray<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7BTgvBGapdtqYzSNFaV_1OFJA9CGi8I_zzOF7bUsc3oix0wgj8UC5DV1T5FhAn8oWfF0BNgYWDzODBPQkYXU95tqrRS6wHScQlpwuopMH4G2dfagz9W9VxhQO3u3nvUcXVcz27llqvx_2Uf4Aplo3Pry_f8RgtTE2YIsz6hHHzN5H63Mi-SqcehyVmTo/s851/IMG_7114.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7BTgvBGapdtqYzSNFaV_1OFJA9CGi8I_zzOF7bUsc3oix0wgj8UC5DV1T5FhAn8oWfF0BNgYWDzODBPQkYXU95tqrRS6wHScQlpwuopMH4G2dfagz9W9VxhQO3u3nvUcXVcz27llqvx_2Uf4Aplo3Pry_f8RgtTE2YIsz6hHHzN5H63Mi-SqcehyVmTo/s320/IMG_7114.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDatDkH4xVXwjVIenr9ivUSkb2cyv-JNI4N_4ntBx7oQ66a0mZagY9JZ9BHfwu_5-rot6uzXmr9zRHf7AJLaPIVdZauf1vseOOO8snotaHNI5sNgfJOHPL9tzYhOeXH9SzT7jLQpgWnOO_pexNfoeSdkYrooHQepIorQ1koxXLxvyZN56t0HTqbfcm8pzr/s522/IMG_7115.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDatDkH4xVXwjVIenr9ivUSkb2cyv-JNI4N_4ntBx7oQ66a0mZagY9JZ9BHfwu_5-rot6uzXmr9zRHf7AJLaPIVdZauf1vseOOO8snotaHNI5sNgfJOHPL9tzYhOeXH9SzT7jLQpgWnOO_pexNfoeSdkYrooHQepIorQ1koxXLxvyZN56t0HTqbfcm8pzr/s320/IMG_7115.jpeg" width="200" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Promise Me Christmas</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Marguerite Martin Gray</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Christian Historical Romance, Christmas</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>October 17, 2023</p><p><strong><em>Would Amy ever see him as anything other than a former Loyalist who destroyed her home? </em></strong></p><p>One more building, one more road, one more disaster reconstructed.</p><p>But George Elliot remains trapped in the past, reliving his role in the destruction of Charles Town. Through the support of his family and two Patriot generals, he is allowed to pursue a life among them but struggles to find purpose. Forgiveness lurks but has not quite settled his unsteady heart.</p><p>Amy Engle strives to help the men who are alive but hurting through her work at the hospital. Some men fail to grasp God’s forgiveness and struggle to heal mentally from the brutality of war…George Elliot being one of them. These men need a place to heal, and Amy proposes to open a mission to do just that with George at the helm. Amy’s prayer is that this will give George purpose and confidence.</p><p>What she didn’t count on was her heart’s commitment to the man.</p><p>With the devastation of war that left nothing unscathed, the people of Charles Town could use a dose of Christmas miracles. If there are any that remain after the devastation of war.</p><p><strong><em>Can they determine in their hearts to find comfort in love, promises, and forgiveness?</em></strong></p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3LstT9K”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions given are my own. </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I am fascinated with history and what men and women had to do to secure peace and a valuable way of life. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Our American history is full of characters and situations that involved faith, sacrifice, forgiveness, and determination. In this novel, the main characters face </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">a way of life after the American Revolution.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Freedom was gained with a price—lives lost, lives changed, </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">battle scars and wounds to incorporate in their new </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">lives</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">, financial ruin. Hope and forgiveness played a major role in moving forward.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Which character in your book do you relate to the most?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Elizabeth Elliott Lestarjette holds my heartstrings. I’ve seen her grow from an eighteen-year-old youth to a mature woman with children and a family. She endured things that she never thought possible in a world that changed and developed daily. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">In my lifetime, I’ve seen changes and stepped into a new world</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">unaware of what was expected of me. I’ve had to carve out my space and reinvent myself many times. Huzzah for </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">women willing to step out and accomplish things for the good of mankind</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">, even out of their own comfort zones.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Well, since I love history, I’d want to know about the day-to-day life in a “war” infested area. Charles Town went through battles, a siege, and an occupation. How did the families exist? How did they get food? What did they do with their children? One question I would ask is about relationships. Why would someone marry and have children during a war taking place at the backdoor? </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Life is hard enough in a peaceful environment. But a war? </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I’d ask them where they got their strength. Many were believers in our all-powerful God. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">That answers many concerns. The characters (and I) try to follow God’s directions.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What did your research process look like for this book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Promise Me Christmas leans on the research of the first five novels in the series, Revolutionary Faith. That research included about 45 books and months of research, some in Charleston, SC. For this extension, I researched the first years after the war, a time of reconstruction and new government. Every area of life had to be reinvented. A clean slate with new rules.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What made you choose the setting/time period for this book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">The American Revolution was the setting for the Revolutionary Faith Series. I chose that time after I did research for my family tree. These characters come from the pages of the first books. I tie up some loose ends and create new adventures and scenarios for the next phase of the new nation.</span></p></span></div><div><span underline=""><br /></span></div><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Vb8O9-VWWa6tUf7NVqVlTLXafToKDx2XWf6DBPTeO7Hs-6HOz_itWzNSEuSB4Ybw6KlcgmHF6PL40GEV2Jv-DBWiIV-0F0IG_wL4LLs-kIX57oCJ_nhjuxxgghfp9Kqk41SeTDCus1MjsWUXulrN3GZ-Mt41akFvU2-Ghmzsydv_mUGRaHWmFa1Szlhe/s598/IMG_7116.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="598" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Vb8O9-VWWa6tUf7NVqVlTLXafToKDx2XWf6DBPTeO7Hs-6HOz_itWzNSEuSB4Ybw6KlcgmHF6PL40GEV2Jv-DBWiIV-0F0IG_wL4LLs-kIX57oCJ_nhjuxxgghfp9Kqk41SeTDCus1MjsWUXulrN3GZ-Mt41akFvU2-Ghmzsydv_mUGRaHWmFa1Szlhe/s320/IMG_7116.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Marguerite Martin Gray</strong> is the author of Hold Me Close, Surround Me, Bring Me Near, Draw Me to Your Side, and Wait for Me– Revolutionary Faith Series Books 1-5, Labor of Love and Promise of Purity, Gardens in Time Series Books 1 and 2, and Room for Love, Suamalie Islands Year One. Besides researching her novels, she enjoys studying history and writing fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish online. She currently lives in North Louisiana with her husband and rescue pets. Her two adult children and t</p><p>wo grandsons keep her up to date and young.</p><h1><span underline="">More from Marguerite</span></h1><p>I have desired to revisit my beloved characters and charming Charles Town. The Lestarjette family and their potential adventures sprout to life in my imagination if not on paper. Marriages, jobs, children, new nation?</p><p>In <em>Promise Me Christmas</em> I get a glimpse into the colorful lives of familiar heroes and heroines, villains and enemies, major and minor roles as after war scenarios surface. As minor, supporting characters make their presence known, I realize in life there are no minor roles. Each human being has a purpose and a God-given mission.</p><p>Think about all the people who stand in the peripheries of your life. They are as important in the scheme of life as your close family and friends. In this novella, I hope to emphasize God’s promises and hopes through people who are flawed, hurting, healing, and making efforts to exist and prosper in a town devasted by war, death, and poverty.</p><p>We might not have gone through a war, siege, and occupation by enemy forces, but we can grasp the hopes and promises of Christmas through the lenses of sickness, death, broken relationships, financial woes, and natural disasters.</p><p>I hope you enjoy this Christmas novella from my heart of hope and promises to yours.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://familymgrkendra.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Happily Managing a Household of Boys"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Happily Managing a Household of Boys</span></a>, November 6</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://litteraegaudium.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For the Love of Literature"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For the Love of Literature</span></a>, November 7 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZ7U3NFRBIkxmZp-Uggu8eEDOrnLYXwEtIfNLvRMIXyEPEMlN7mTeiXAxRd7iUEbJl4unHm8sb0Jlp7H3QHFXnXOxwYg_y7dMiVDWFpCV0gyXiv3N4ynRywgjUcoksJ7iq1SCGZPwTiWsODO-93RUp0tczI4lwrDYNhsObwZ3hjo08hNadTdPGspISAS9/s940/IMG_7117.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZ7U3NFRBIkxmZp-Uggu8eEDOrnLYXwEtIfNLvRMIXyEPEMlN7mTeiXAxRd7iUEbJl4unHm8sb0Jlp7H3QHFXnXOxwYg_y7dMiVDWFpCV0gyXiv3N4ynRywgjUcoksJ7iq1SCGZPwTiWsODO-93RUp0tczI4lwrDYNhsObwZ3hjo08hNadTdPGspISAS9/s320/IMG_7117.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Margeurite is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2896e/promise-me-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2896e/promise-me-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-84712282454804487542023-10-19T22:00:00.001-07:002023-10-19T22:00:00.134-07:00Audiobook: The Two Cent Piece by Dennis Conrad<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRa2TUQfLmyphzEkk5ilIh3j7hsXVFT9bfaVAzBkR-HzQClZ2r7a-5QWDBRSS-mFKPTEejX9Odx24S5O_JhZt8O5VcgGFI7TrkRHotRhG_qxUAkWemStE8KznB5mmITpDumW2t2dRtdSLMnlBu3CysuTUjAqWkY_VGW1RzHcS49mHalqsC3u8mxUkynw/s851/The-Two-Cent-Piece.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRa2TUQfLmyphzEkk5ilIh3j7hsXVFT9bfaVAzBkR-HzQClZ2r7a-5QWDBRSS-mFKPTEejX9Odx24S5O_JhZt8O5VcgGFI7TrkRHotRhG_qxUAkWemStE8KznB5mmITpDumW2t2dRtdSLMnlBu3CysuTUjAqWkY_VGW1RzHcS49mHalqsC3u8mxUkynw/s320/The-Two-Cent-Piece.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong>Book: </strong>The Two-Cent Piece Audiobook</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Dennis Conrad</p><p><b>Genre: </b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Christian 1800s Historical Fiction</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-2ygkSqBNWJ0FKS4CCI2Smlk-eW37CqBbl4Vd_UnsIPQ57Iom5uDIpjNFMZklb-pEpCgoP_YQxFxbeqn-cjkuR_lAtfGJlKmvHb0h6Faqzd1-MIOHhMbk67GKn2WHMUUWiGyWvx41LtM5OCOsDvGF6uIP6YbqdxUOOApGsYps60fsFIqDDTs3mmpyg/s300/RGB300_Two-CentPiece-296x300.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="296" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-2ygkSqBNWJ0FKS4CCI2Smlk-eW37CqBbl4Vd_UnsIPQ57Iom5uDIpjNFMZklb-pEpCgoP_YQxFxbeqn-cjkuR_lAtfGJlKmvHb0h6Faqzd1-MIOHhMbk67GKn2WHMUUWiGyWvx41LtM5OCOsDvGF6uIP6YbqdxUOOApGsYps60fsFIqDDTs3mmpyg/s1600/RGB300_Two-CentPiece-296x300.jpeg" width="296" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><strong>Release date:</strong> August 2, 2023</p><p>Anne wonders what secret her three older brothers are hiding. When she finds out they joined to fight with the Union Army and would leave the next day, she gives them each one of her favorite two-cent pieces and says, “I want you to take one of my new two-cent pieces. I learned these coins are the first to have the words ‘In God We Trust.’ I just memorized Psalm 91:2. ‘I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.’</p><p>Out of a heart of love, Anne gives six of her special coins away hoping the message on the two-cent pieces will strengthen each person’s faith.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3BhqipS”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p> </p><h1>My Review</h1><div>I found <i>The Two-Cent Piece</i> to be a charming, educational, and faith based book for preschool age up to lower elementary age. The book was simple enough to keep kids' attention to finish the story in one setting, but along the way learn about the civil war, different coins of the past, and most importantly how to care for others like Jesus does. I found the illustrations to be very colorful and something a child would enjoy looking at to understand the story better. I think this book would spur many important conversations with a child about faith in Christ and how we can love one another. I also think some children may find a very worthwhile hobby in coin collecting that they didn't know about before. I could recommend this book for any child preschool age through about third grade.</div><div>Audiobook portion: The narrator had a pleasant, inviting voice and used different voices for different characters that were appropriate. I liked how it chimes when it is time to turn the page so children can follow along easily. </div><div><br /></div><div>I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own. </div><h1><br /></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;">A former coin collector for over fifty years, <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Dennis</strong>combines his love for the Bible, children’s literature, and sharing stories about the history behind coins.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;">He retired as a professor of Speech Communications from Barstow Community College. He and his wife served as English and public speaking teachers ten summers overseas.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;">He became a life member of the Numismatic Association of Southern California in 1973. He is also a life member of the American Numismatic Association.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;">Dennis is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a Fellow of the National Writing Project.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: start;">Learn more about coin collecting. Dennis offers free resources for children on his website about coin collecting: <a href="https://dennisconradauthor.com/coincollecting4/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">https://dennisconradauthor.com/coincollecting4/</a></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: start;" /></div><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Dennis</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br /></strong></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Collecting Coins Can Change Your Life! It Did Mine…</strong></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">As a child, my friends and I wanted to know everything about coins.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">We learned about coins through stories: <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Who</strong> was on each coin? <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">What</strong> were coins made of? <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">How</strong> were coins made? <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Where</strong>were they made? <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Why</strong> were some more valuable than others? and <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">How</strong> could I start collecting on my limited budget?</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Coin collecting is a hobby where collectors never stop learning! For example, when I started to watch coin prices, without realizing it, I was learning basic economics.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Over the years, I kept adding to my collection. Decades passed. I attended coin conventions, read books and articles about coins, and remembered where I had found and/or acquired each coin.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">One day, my wife looked at me. “Will you ever sell your coins?”</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">“No.”</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">That is when I heard God’s still small voice. </strong></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">God pointed out to me that my coins had become more important than Him. Without my realizing it, my coins had become an idol.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">At that time, at the top of the market, I sold my collection without regrets, and used the money to pay off my home mortgage. </strong></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Now, God has given me the privilege of writing stories about coins, and encouraging others to embrace a hobby that has given me a lifetime of joy.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Blessings to you and yours,</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;">Dennis Conrad</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://girlsinwhitedresses.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Girls in White Dresses"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Girls in White Dresses</span></a>, October 28</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://reneek-littlehomeschoolontheprairie.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Little Homeschool on the Prairie "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Little Homeschool on the Prairie</span></a>, October 29</p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><h1>Giveaway</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0x6P3KgqwB1FehtAKUV5A63_X6ABRDSlsDW3JnBlduI0Q6ky69QnCXOa1GTEsOtbUgmcnUbmXMXQlh7ZZKMRdwwo9Jhx-bICBqufgtxA6f_zDuWqn2-515YzOP04V04qtuIxdAUWsEkfHLbWw78e_UyBRJzb6VIW97y3IwHI8xUvdUDLiR22zMudxQ/s940/3bc6695a-5e29-4bf8-bd4e-29eef481bce7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0x6P3KgqwB1FehtAKUV5A63_X6ABRDSlsDW3JnBlduI0Q6ky69QnCXOa1GTEsOtbUgmcnUbmXMXQlh7ZZKMRdwwo9Jhx-bICBqufgtxA6f_zDuWqn2-515YzOP04V04qtuIxdAUWsEkfHLbWw78e_UyBRJzb6VIW97y3IwHI8xUvdUDLiR22zMudxQ/s320/3bc6695a-5e29-4bf8-bd4e-29eef481bce7.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center=""><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">To celebrate his tout, Dennis is giving away the grand prize package of a $75 Amazon Gift Card and a hardcover copy of the book!!</span></p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/28b28/the-two-cent-piece-audiobook-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/28b28/the-two-cent-piece-audiobook-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-54904345222456423842023-10-13T22:00:00.040-07:002023-10-14T06:59:13.611-07:00The Air I Breathe Karen Baney <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9K9o4sW6bZKgq0ZeSJaHpEUdIVGmEVUowgRw9H58i7UkJGIEo4rV84MT0zROWtYFJdlZR1lFuqiE6ToeFmhaDG3zcaUMAaPGw36axT2XTV7GCTlJtqw_oPY8Q55PcpcIRzDt-zHts1fMcrsaPdztmVD05KsKMiUYGpxq1L1P8l1Eic87bpcnOsFzOalZ/s851/IMG_7068.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9K9o4sW6bZKgq0ZeSJaHpEUdIVGmEVUowgRw9H58i7UkJGIEo4rV84MT0zROWtYFJdlZR1lFuqiE6ToeFmhaDG3zcaUMAaPGw36axT2XTV7GCTlJtqw_oPY8Q55PcpcIRzDt-zHts1fMcrsaPdztmVD05KsKMiUYGpxq1L1P8l1Eic87bpcnOsFzOalZ/s320/IMG_7068.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGfGQn42A4DqCbY-fti90Mwoqz8fmsl-pBkzmeRpuEJAvVQQ7_ez0JYfYh6lWLmT2e6dxPVxlPEkD5h-ZLq6C-861A2WrRNvKoSmt_XlLA2bm5Rd6imhOUvpA3t2lQFgeIMXg7MkDyrfh67XiaRHOI8XqlDvwjRMIqavCAb4TmfdWIHsHYbJr6bHPwhzA/s1024/IMG_7069.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGfGQn42A4DqCbY-fti90Mwoqz8fmsl-pBkzmeRpuEJAvVQQ7_ez0JYfYh6lWLmT2e6dxPVxlPEkD5h-ZLq6C-861A2WrRNvKoSmt_XlLA2bm5Rd6imhOUvpA3t2lQFgeIMXg7MkDyrfh67XiaRHOI8XqlDvwjRMIqavCAb4TmfdWIHsHYbJr6bHPwhzA/s320/IMG_7069.jpeg" width="213" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>The Air I Breathe</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Karen Baney</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Contemporary Romance</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>August 15, 2023</p><p><strong>Single mom, starting over Christian Contemporary Romance.</strong></p><p><strong>One moment of weakness changed everything.</strong></p><p>When life throws Kelly Sutton a curve ball, she packs up everything she owns to move to Arizona to be closer to her daughter’s dad. Starting over in a new town stresses Kelly and triggers panic attacks—something she thought she was over. When a panic attack comes on and the only person she knows in town can’t help her, his roommate comes to her rescue. Will Kelly find her footing again in this new town?</p><p>Matt Dixon has too much on his plate. He works as a financial analyst during the day while he goes to seminary at night. He also juggles an internship with his church to fulfill his dream of becoming a youth pastor. When he comes to the aid of his roommate’s ex, he never expects his life to go off the rails. Will he choose love for a woman over his dream?</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3PiYCsc”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><pre><br /></pre><pre>I received a complimentary copy of the book, </pre><pre>And all opinions given are my own. </pre><p> </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">- What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Kelly’s life as a pastor’s daughter came from my personal heartache after our pastor </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">(from a previous church) fell from grace. Life as the family of the pastor isn’t easy. Everyone has an opinion about you and how you should act or live. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">So,</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> when the pastor’s </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">family is in crisis, how the people in the church act can leave lasting scars or </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">welcomed healing. I tried to show many different angles of this from the good, the bad, and the ugly in this novel.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Regardless of how others act, we have a choice how we respond to </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">their actions, just like Kelly and Matt did. Forgiveness is always a good idea.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">-Which character in your book do you relate to the most?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">The overcommitted Matt. I tend to take on too much, then </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">freak out when I’m overwhelmed. Like Matt, I completed my degrees at night while working full time and volunteering</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. I remember how stressful that was. When Matt tries to fit a new relationship into the mix—well, that’s how I met my hubby. I was working full time while </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">carrying a full-time credit load at night. Insane? Yes.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">- If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I would </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">love</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> Matt and Kelly to be part of my home group. We would talk about life, work, </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">spiritual growth.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">- What did your research process look like for this book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">The Air</span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;"> I Breathe</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> intertwines a lot of my own experiences with the dynamics of a mega church, home groups, the settings, and more. The </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">most research I did for this book was for Kelly’s career as an event planner.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> Even though I am not a single mom, much of the inspiration comes from a few close friends of mine who are.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">- What made you choose the setting for this book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">The </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">setting is Chandler, Arizona, specifically near the mall area. It’s where my hubby and I moved when we </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">first got married. We had wanted to buy a house there, but prices were cheaper further out (Gilbert). I still have fond memories of th</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">at part of the Phoenix metro area.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> -</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What message do you hope readers take away from your book? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Regardless of our mistakes and sins, God forgives us—even when we repeat the same ones </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">over and over again</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">His love is </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">steadfast,</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> and His Spirit gives us life and strength to face </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">any challenge in life, even the ones of our own making.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0PwMmrn1MnJ7V9mOaiHmKvhFJLBWeCi6zfYchSwBctRj6mFS_2ZWmLDTmibGB0Ysa5jvU-iSjvCWQWYpC72bvWHojFmi99NKp80nAi3VicgpTFIdFWei0OzKnr9rIDBPDefFGTIEwlokZsPCwnpwiDJs3XrdADJj5VjL3nB20ofPa8WjlCXEPm-MQPr3/s999/IMG_7070.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0PwMmrn1MnJ7V9mOaiHmKvhFJLBWeCi6zfYchSwBctRj6mFS_2ZWmLDTmibGB0Ysa5jvU-iSjvCWQWYpC72bvWHojFmi99NKp80nAi3VicgpTFIdFWei0OzKnr9rIDBPDefFGTIEwlokZsPCwnpwiDJs3XrdADJj5VjL3nB20ofPa8WjlCXEPm-MQPr3/s320/IMG_7070.jpeg" width="246" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Karen Baney</strong> is passionate about writing stories full of flawed characters. She enjoys weaving together stories of second chances, redemption, and overcoming personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona in the late 1990s, she loves researching the state’s history and finding ways to seamlessly incorporate real history and real settings into her novels. In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry.</p><p>Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. Both Jim and Karen are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.</p><p> </p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Karen</span></h1><p><strong>Inspiration Behind the Novel</strong></p><p>The female main character in <em>The Air I Breathe</em>, Kelly Sutton, suffers from panic attacks. The inspiration behind this came from a real-life encounter. Around twelve years ago, my coworker and I took a break to walk around the office building we worked in. We saw a young woman leave the building. To our shock, we watched as she kneeled on the concrete sidewalk and bent over.</p><p>Concerned about her well-being, we rushed over to her and asked if she was alright. She said she was having a panic attack. I’ll never forget the sound of her wheezing.</p><p>I asked what we could do to help her and if we should call 911. She begged us not to call, so I knelt beside her, rubbed her back, and silently prayed over her. After ten minutes or so, she recovered enough to go back inside the office building. She told us that when people call 911, it embarrassed her. She knew how to cope with the panic attacks, but others didn’t understand and overreacted, making things worse for her. She thanked us for stopping and for listening to her.</p><p>Though we never crossed paths again, that encounter stuck with me. When I sat down to write Kelly’s story about starting over in a new city, I knew two things:</p><ol><li>I wanted to represent this experience through her character.</li><li>I wanted to tie her experience with the idea that God is the air we breathe (like the popular worship song’s lyrics).</li></ol><p>Many times, real-life provides inspiration for my characters or their trials and that was certainly true for many of the topics, besides the panic attacks, included in this novel.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"lakesidelivingsite"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">lakesidelivingsite</span></a>, October 2</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":2561,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":2575891}}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Gina Holder, Author and Bloggerr"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger</span></a>, October 3 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lifeonchickadeelane.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Life on Chickadee Lane"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Life on Chickadee Lane</span></a>, October 3</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, October 4</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Locks, Hooks and Books"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, October 5</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, October 6</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Texas Book-aholic"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, October 7</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"For Him and My Family"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, October 13</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">A Reader’s Brain</a></span>, October 14 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Splashes of Joy "}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Splashes of Joy</span></a>, October 15</p><p center=""><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwqdcibkxoUR2y4QXcnZbXVK1NgoippSv2Ys8t0tA2l2QjfM3VxiAHO010lgMz6vd22LP4xdtofV2Rwcmy4CVmuo3IfEgBZSp_dr3wFivGswpLhGf5uqhID2pp3ib6JYthVj2CW3ihFeoKFRiqz4Xjq1Dpscuhyphenhyphen8kPCDoFlkragIIwP_vuph4OaZFcdFt/s940/IMG_7071.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwqdcibkxoUR2y4QXcnZbXVK1NgoippSv2Ys8t0tA2l2QjfM3VxiAHO010lgMz6vd22LP4xdtofV2Rwcmy4CVmuo3IfEgBZSp_dr3wFivGswpLhGf5uqhID2pp3ib6JYthVj2CW3ihFeoKFRiqz4Xjq1Dpscuhyphenhyphen8kPCDoFlkragIIwP_vuph4OaZFcdFt/s320/IMG_7071.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 gift card with signed paperback copy of The Air I Breathe!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/2842e/the-air-i-breathe-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/2842e/the-air-i-breathe-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-60937761529677363892023-10-13T22:00:00.010-07:002023-10-13T22:00:00.143-07:00Ragabones by Daniel Tweddell<p> </p><p center=""> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wCYTkRDN7Y9guS8uDxli1ACa6aQYUBn5djSjhYKsZMhx6Isms057Xd4fhpTtnAe4nl-S0aTyS-fQTTDMfl0Bd_z76xCrqyW7-y_lvo86F52W684K-GxBqaSwtt4GkeiEBRWG92XGTDI5krlDy-UPqrxk-XURP7yq2QWdRmE8rEY2pcA5VIiFPposhx5a/s851/IMG_7063.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wCYTkRDN7Y9guS8uDxli1ACa6aQYUBn5djSjhYKsZMhx6Isms057Xd4fhpTtnAe4nl-S0aTyS-fQTTDMfl0Bd_z76xCrqyW7-y_lvo86F52W684K-GxBqaSwtt4GkeiEBRWG92XGTDI5krlDy-UPqrxk-XURP7yq2QWdRmE8rEY2pcA5VIiFPposhx5a/s320/IMG_7063.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong> </strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOplv5RSHUMxqvm2bMCqCxZ2_p2yXlm4yip0dEMif-UwVVsVDcOnxP_OkRXtBxSdOBrGLPVfGbZm0t3z9ZYW0zfalRA2IHcqKQCoDsk4_GaAsUB18-W_f6c4X6-dRaOJZbA2BsOW6G9f-6QRO6kXuMrj_kdwmjJG47h1RbAWUflnUKjtXkg5KYM1-L4pOd/s1024/IMG_7064.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOplv5RSHUMxqvm2bMCqCxZ2_p2yXlm4yip0dEMif-UwVVsVDcOnxP_OkRXtBxSdOBrGLPVfGbZm0t3z9ZYW0zfalRA2IHcqKQCoDsk4_GaAsUB18-W_f6c4X6-dRaOJZbA2BsOW6G9f-6QRO6kXuMrj_kdwmjJG47h1RbAWUflnUKjtXkg5KYM1-L4pOd/s320/IMG_7064.jpeg" width="213" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Ragabones</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Daniel Tweddell</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Fantasy YA</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>June 27, 2023</p><p>As if Josh having his memory stolen by an over-protective mother wasn’t enough, his older brother, Pete, wins every trophy and never lets him forget it. And oh yeah, Mom’s an ex-god of the underworld, so it’s no surprise their family has enemies.</p><p>Maybe that’s why Dad’s missing. Maybe that’s why ragged scars crisscross Josh’s throat. It’s definitely why Josh accidentally sprung the trap – the one that opened a portal and released the demon who now hunts them.</p><p>Turns out there’s another world; one with castles and dragons, and prisons that dangle into hell. That’s the world where Josh and Pete find Dad turned to stone, the world with entire cities enslaved by the demon. As the brothers race to undo Josh’s colossal mistake, Josh’s mysterious past comes to light, and Josh must choose between the fate of the world and the lives of his family.</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/3P6cswO”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><pre><br /></pre><p> I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">Author Interview</span></h1><div><span underline=""><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></div><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">1. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Why did you want to become an author? </span></div><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I grew up in the Bornean and Philippine jungle as a missionary’s kid. My neighbors had monkeys for pets. Just behind the tree line, “ex”-headhunters slipped through the shadows with spears and six-foot blow guns. It was the perfect incubator for a kid’s imagination. As an adult, I did a lot of things from writing high-octane video games with my friends to having my own companies. But I always loved castles, wizards, and monsters the best. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">After one too many years dreaming about writing a book, I took the leap. N</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">ow I write white-knuckle stories about magic woven with truths from my life's journey.</span></div><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">2. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why? </span></div><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Not giving up when I got stuck. Being stuck feels like it will </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">infect every piece of writing from here forward</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> and I’ll be stuck forever</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I had a chapter that just would not write. I labored on it for weeks and when it was done, I hated it. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">So</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> I scrapped it and wrote it again. And hated it again. I began to wonder if I could write it. Could I even write a book at all? Year’s earlier I’d promised myself if I had to edit 1000 times, I would. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">So</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> I tackled it for a third time, struggling with every word. The whole time, I knew I’d hate it. And when it was done, I loved it. Several of my readers said it made them cry. They posted quotes from it on their cubicle walls at work. I learned that </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">remarkable</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> writing doesn’t need inspiration, only tenacity … and a lot of prayer. </span></div><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">3. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What/Who</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?</span></div><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">The author that inspires me most is C.S. Lewis. I’ve never read a writer like him that can tell a gripping story full of deep profound truths without being preachy or slow. </span></div><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">4. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Which character in your book do you relate to the most?</span></div><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I think it would be Mom. We only get a glimpse of her in this book, but </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">her </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">heartbreaking backstory spans centuries and empires, as do </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">the</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> scars from her time as </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">god</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> of the underworld, binding her on the brink of insanity.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> There are hurts so deep, the human heart can never completely recover. Like having a stroke or losing a limb, we heal, but will never be the same.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> At the same time,</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">the good things in life b</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">ecome </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">richer and more flavorful and love is more intense</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">The people I know and read about, who have </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">suffered deeply</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> wouldn’t trade what they’ve gained for what they lost.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></div><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">5. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about? </span></div><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">One of the characters </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.6px;">is</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> real and </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">his</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">conversations with</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">the protagonist are as close to real as I could make them. I’ll leave it up to you to </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">figure out</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">who</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></div><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">6. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What did your research process look like for this book? </span></div><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><a name="_Hlk144924542"></a><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I hiked through caverns, chest deep in cold midnight-black rivers to see the bones of some ancient king murdered a mile beneath the South American Jungle. I walked among the lichen covered gargoyles and angels in the gothic district of Barcelona, Spain. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">rode a camel from the </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Arabian desert </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">through hidden siqs</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> (</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">narrow ravines</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">)</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> that led into the ruins of ancient</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Al-Batra</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">, a city carved from cliffs. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">And </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I also spent hours on Google.</span></div><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">7. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What made you choose the setting/</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">time period</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> for this book? </span></div><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Like most of my fantasy loving </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">friends</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">, I have a thing for swords, castles, and </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">thundering hooves. Can it really be epic fantasy without them?</span></div><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">8. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how? </span></div><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Hemmingway said, </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">“All you </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">have to</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.”</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Writing truth is </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">terrifying </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">b</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">ecause it’s raw and my deepest pain is exposed for everyone to see. But I love it for the same reason; it’s cathartic and exposing my secret</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;"> frees me from being a slave to them. It’s strange how many people write to tell me how my stumbling helped </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">them with </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">their walk. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Stories are the most fascinating paradox, exciting, teaching, healing, truth all within something completely made-up. </span></div><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">9. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">How did you celebrate when you completed your book?</span></div><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Hmm. I’m terrible at that. Now that you mention it, I’m going out to dinner with my wife. </span></div><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">10. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing? </span></div><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><a name="_Hlk144926674"></a><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">Coffee, and when my wife is being evil and </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">baking,</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">brownies.</span></div><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;">11. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">What message do you hope readers take away from your book? </span></div><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><a name="_Hlk144923677"></a><span class="s2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">I had a reader tell me they “totally felt the hand of God [and heard his] whispers in the writing.” I had others say how much the book encouraged them. Although I've dreamt of writing this story for decades, I had to be destroyed before I could honestly portray Josh's (the protagonist’s) journey. The truths about facing fear, about God making everything OK even when there is no way it can ever be, about suicide, and depression, as well as hope, and finding your destiny, they're all written from my journey through the depths of an utterly shattered heart to a life so good it feels like a fantasy novel. Whatever my readers might be going through, I hope the story encourages as well as entertains them. Maybe they’ll even meet Magic for themselves.</span></div></span></div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSg6CYj72B-4HMBPNQbEJHY69F2wVIB-i8sKicFhfq5PXDFGMobt4yJ-1iLu5k3j73ZIZRYfyyt-6njPqmlu2T1l9w0wnn6RxlwjYnZ6F694DyabAB98eJLGElQFlzBA5Ecn7NEGa4Hmi04mlIbiovwET6gXzu6mh6eDTxoeZWS29tvw7qtPKC_GuAPl7D/s1024/IMG_7065.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1024" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSg6CYj72B-4HMBPNQbEJHY69F2wVIB-i8sKicFhfq5PXDFGMobt4yJ-1iLu5k3j73ZIZRYfyyt-6njPqmlu2T1l9w0wnn6RxlwjYnZ6F694DyabAB98eJLGElQFlzBA5Ecn7NEGa4Hmi04mlIbiovwET6gXzu6mh6eDTxoeZWS29tvw7qtPKC_GuAPl7D/s320/IMG_7065.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Hi, I’m <strong>Daniel Tweddell</strong>. I grew up in the Bornean and Philippine jungle as a missionary’s kid. My neighbors had monkeys for pets. Just behind the tree line, “ex”-headhunters slipped through the shadows with spears and six-foot blow guns. It was the perfect incubator for a kid’s imagination. As an adult, I did a lot of things from writing high-octane video games with my friends to having my own companies. But I always loved castles, wizards, and monsters the best. So now I write white-knuckle stories about magic woven with truths from my life’s journey. I live in San Diego with my wife and 3 kids.</p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Daniel</span></h1><p>I had a visual of a soapbox derby with the cars lined up from worst to best. The worst was made of cardboard with garbage can lids for wheels. The best was polished mahogany, with chrome wheels and velvet seat covers. Can you see the kids’ faces? One brushes old coffee grounds off his hood. He can’t face the crowd. Another polishes a gleaming fender and waves to his fans. I realized the difference between these cars isn’t the kids … it’s the time they spent with Dad.</p><p>I’m fraught with blind spots, bad habits, and shortcomings. I also barely have enough time, energy, or insight to manage my own life. How do I have enough for the lives around me who are so hungry for something more? I realized I live in a 5-loaf/5000-mouth world. I’ll never be enough, but I don’t need to be. Instead, I asked God to make this life and this book a father/son project.</p><p>Although I’ve dreamt of writing this story for decades, I had to be destroyed before I could honestly portray this hero’s journey. The truths about facing fear, about God making everything OK even when there is no way it can ever be, as well as courage, hope, and finding your destiny, they’re all written from my journey through the depths of an utterly shattered heart to a life so good it feels like a fantasy novel. Whatever you might be going through, I hope the story encourages as well as entertains you. If you haven’t already, you might even meet Magic for yourself.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Guild Master"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;">Guild Master</a></span>, October 12 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; 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box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.carolkeen.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Blogging With Carol"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blogging With Carol</span></a>, October 21</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Beauty in the Binding"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Beauty in the Binding</span></a>, October 22 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Artistic Nobody"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Artistic Nobody</span></a>, October 23</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://simpleharvestreads.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Simple Harvest Reads"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Simple Harvest Reads</span></a>, October 24 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vickysluitercom.wordpress.com/author-spotlight/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Vicky Sluiter"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vicky Sluiter</span></a>, October 25 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6znCimLwXlYhdeJpSwMJxpFrdvOnLV6_4DZJV2-BYQQSA83dwZ1a4vWNqTAmGf9m5THM4TMI9uuPKI-Mmd1HgKTg0qqGLsjbdOgicbt0F0akKyG-_2V8OUX6IK-N__Bs75d4pPFx3OcWy4fjpssnBt_RZXhxq5KFHXvj1DTKqWMSchtR7xrjK65f_Mjy/s940/IMG_7066.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6znCimLwXlYhdeJpSwMJxpFrdvOnLV6_4DZJV2-BYQQSA83dwZ1a4vWNqTAmGf9m5THM4TMI9uuPKI-Mmd1HgKTg0qqGLsjbdOgicbt0F0akKyG-_2V8OUX6IK-N__Bs75d4pPFx3OcWy4fjpssnBt_RZXhxq5KFHXvj1DTKqWMSchtR7xrjK65f_Mjy/s320/IMG_7066.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate his tour, Daniel is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card & a print copy of the book!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/285e5/ragabones-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/285e5/ragabones-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506440700841628131.post-57261149126301234452023-09-30T22:00:00.001-07:002023-09-30T22:00:00.147-07:00Zuggy the Rescue Pug- Happy Howlidays by Jean Marie Alfieri <p> </p><p center=""></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI691Ni8RDeKtKQ86XoKbM3OraJMVZEaJqlUFFVAKLhASPG-t2j-CFiG3kJdnWCznDN6HZEELW0A5pNRsHDgIkOtOnmtAd1QTaZa0mjNCoz8myVHLUBia3c8HZsU9YwxodteAFsqI_WjKcFyYQjW0jG2nJrBtzOPqkERNgbwwqUCfMXFXYcvr50TCPcH4v/s851/IMG_7037.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI691Ni8RDeKtKQ86XoKbM3OraJMVZEaJqlUFFVAKLhASPG-t2j-CFiG3kJdnWCznDN6HZEELW0A5pNRsHDgIkOtOnmtAd1QTaZa0mjNCoz8myVHLUBia3c8HZsU9YwxodteAFsqI_WjKcFyYQjW0jG2nJrBtzOPqkERNgbwwqUCfMXFXYcvr50TCPcH4v/s320/IMG_7037.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><p><strong></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9ZlBFfp8CcdlWzGmshKE7fIADr6nBsJLqj8Q3BFWKnkiykIgqDQz9jhqJ4x9zuT5IJWy4jG9G3ZChfXH0ToUJzosJBGQnJ14zY-DAz_JyzysnEHLiY0gMLAKNo6bR3TTh0TOVrQVfJ91m5IELn4hbauK8Ke5g24wTC0aYcJtGHJIGdl7sr8wrkfu1Smm/s957/IMG_7038.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9ZlBFfp8CcdlWzGmshKE7fIADr6nBsJLqj8Q3BFWKnkiykIgqDQz9jhqJ4x9zuT5IJWy4jG9G3ZChfXH0ToUJzosJBGQnJ14zY-DAz_JyzysnEHLiY0gMLAKNo6bR3TTh0TOVrQVfJ91m5IELn4hbauK8Ke5g24wTC0aYcJtGHJIGdl7sr8wrkfu1Smm/s320/IMG_7038.jpeg" width="257" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /> </strong><p></p><p><strong>Book: </strong>Zuggy the Rescue Pug – Happy Howl-idays</p><p><strong>Author: </strong>Jean Marie Alfieri</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Kid-lit Activity Book</p><p><strong>Release Date: </strong>June 17, 2023</p><p>Three fun Zuggy the Rescue Pug stories in one action-packed activity book! First, Zuggy goes ‘Costume Crazy.’ How many does he model before finding the perfect Halloween outfit? Color them all. Then, Zuggy must save dinner from racing out the door, in ‘The Great Turkey Chase.’ Finally, Zuggy can’t stand the thought of the family having no presents this holiday. Can he work some Christmas magic? Only if the cat keeps his secret.</p><p>Packed with book club questions, puzzles, and games, this activity book makes a paws-itivly perfect gift for parents, teachers, and kiddos!</p><p> </p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/47t6GNW”">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p> </p><h1><span underline=""></span></h1><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1>My Review</h1><div>Zuggy is just too adorable on his holiday adventures that are fun and teach good lessons. The text included was appropriate for young school age children and had a good rhyme to it. The illustrations were all such that you can color the scenes which is fun. The activities that separated the pages of text ranged from tic tac toe, to word puzzles, to drawing. It really is a well thought out, meaningful activity book that would be great for a Christmas gift this year! Especially dog lovers :) </div><div><br /></div><div>I receive a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own. </div><h1><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdKvGxW9d17fhhMxisDPS16s2jrGkzI_M0Nzs8pcZ2le8DYfl1gByU8j3iYotMP8xIsH-7_fXic4fdftANMh9Z_Lr22117O9kB5fapO3cQzsEvMmd0Gx3MHj8oui_Yby9AEI6c97UMV2E4KRGUqgaRaM0liEcbwpPVqsJ0PJW9RphgWpyQxDVwxSTDYja/s1024/IMG_7039.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="938" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdKvGxW9d17fhhMxisDPS16s2jrGkzI_M0Nzs8pcZ2le8DYfl1gByU8j3iYotMP8xIsH-7_fXic4fdftANMh9Z_Lr22117O9kB5fapO3cQzsEvMmd0Gx3MHj8oui_Yby9AEI6c97UMV2E4KRGUqgaRaM0liEcbwpPVqsJ0PJW9RphgWpyQxDVwxSTDYja/s320/IMG_7039.jpeg" width="293" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>When <strong>Jean</strong>’s eyes locked with those of a smooshy-faced little dog who sat inside a kennel at the Humane Society, it was love! He captured her heart. She captured their many adventures in short story poems starring <strong><em>Zuggy the Rescue Pug</em></strong>. An author, speaker, and advocate for the adoption of senior dogs, Jean and her husband currently live with their three fur-kids in Colorado. They joke that although the humans pay the mortgage, it’s really the dogs’ house! Jean finds much of her writing inspiration from her “vintage puppies” and work at the Pikes Peak Humane Society.</p><p> </p><h1><span underline="">More from Jean</span></h1><p>Pug-Lovers Magazine recently sat down with America’s favorite rescue pug to interview him on the new trio of Howl-iday stories and activity books that were released last month. Here’s what Zuggy had to say.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Q: This is book #11 in an award-winning collection. How do you continue to be your Mom / Jean’s most influential writing inspiration?</strong></p><p>Zuggy: Oh, that’s easy. I just jump on her lap and wiggle around until I almost fall off and she tells me to settle down. Then I sit and stare deeply into her eyes and subliminally ask for a snack. She thinks I’m giving her story ideas, but it works for her, so I don’t ruin it.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Q: What is the best activity in these special edition books? </strong></p><p>Zuggy: The puzzles and games and coloring pages where you can decorate me! The book club questions are also a great feature. (Mom said she got the idea from her own reading club – thanks, Auntie Karen!)</p><p> </p><p><strong>Q: What is your favorite holiday? </strong></p><p>Zuggy: This pug is all about love and hugs, so Valentine’s Day is my fave. (I should have been named Very-Valentino, or Vee-vee for short! It’s so Ooo-la-la.)</p><p> </p><p><strong>Q: Do you ever get writer’s block?</strong></p><p>Zuggy: Every day around breakfast and dinner time I simply can not focus. I scour the kitchen for lost and forgotten kibbles and wait impatiently for my chef (I mean, Momma Jean) to prepare my next meal. Who could write in such conditions?</p><p> </p><p><strong>Q: Which story from this collection is your favorite</strong>?</p><p>Zuggy: That’s ruff. ‘Costume Crazy’ is based on a true story and I really enjoyed all the belly-rubs between wardrobe changes. ‘The Great Turkey Chase’ starts out sad but is so exciting, and I score a drumstick in the end, so that’s a super story. And ‘Santa Paws’ is full of surprises. I love them all!</p><p> </p><p><strong>Q: Where can friends and fans get this new book? </strong></p><p>Zuggy: The whole collection is available on Amazon and Jean will be signing copies on September 16, 2023, at the Humane Society’s Pawtoberfest, in Colorado Springs. Grab a beer and a book! And remember, she loves visiting schools (in person or remotely) so drop us an email to schedule a class visit: ZuggythePug@gmail.com</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Debbie's Dusty Deliberations"}" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; 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caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Cover Lover Book Review"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cover Lover Book Review</span></a>, September 29</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://guildmaster97.wordpress.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Guild Master"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guild Master</span></a>, September 30</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vickysluitercom.wordpress.com/author-spotlight/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4224,"10":2,"15":"arial"}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Vicky Sluiter"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Vicky Sluiter</span></a>, October 1 (Author Interview)</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://areadersbrain.blogspot.com/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A Reader’s Brain"}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Reader’s Brain</span></a>, October 1</p><h1 center=""><span underline=""><br /></span></h1><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9-I8qhZ8TZ62lQNMuoL6PxGMxh1uKoJY1RAv8UrI68s5WF_iNfbjWEjlo_KfEJHbt0ViJvRy-zQaleeZm7yq30cR4Q5Eug8_1TsKiPjyUOBRSItMni3us9ViFNgK7kLzEuUpT0KwYMLhfpkVE8Jqgdc4EkcIUyvqMOxZfajv4BwWkKkSV1tey4W_jPpt/s940/IMG_7040.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9-I8qhZ8TZ62lQNMuoL6PxGMxh1uKoJY1RAv8UrI68s5WF_iNfbjWEjlo_KfEJHbt0ViJvRy-zQaleeZm7yq30cR4Q5Eug8_1TsKiPjyUOBRSItMni3us9ViFNgK7kLzEuUpT0KwYMLhfpkVE8Jqgdc4EkcIUyvqMOxZfajv4BwWkKkSV1tey4W_jPpt/s320/IMG_7040.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span underline=""><br /></span></div><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Jean is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a print-copy of the newest special-edition activity book, “Zuggy the Rescue Pug – Happy Howl-idays”!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="https://promosimple.com/ps/27fb2/zuggy-the-rescue-pug-happy-howl-idays-celebration-tour-giveaway">https://promosimple.com/ps/27fb2/zuggy-the-rescue-pug-happy-howl-idays-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11319979128068286608noreply@blogger.com4