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Live By The Word -- Blog and News

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February 22, 2024 -- Join me today as I showcase February new releases: www.donnaschlachter.com/February-2024-new-releases

February 23, 2024 -- Join me as I share on Linda Rondeau's blog today: https://lindarondeau.com/snarksensibility/1787-A-KING-FOR-ALL



April 4, 2024 -- Join me as I share about Hearts of Midway on Linda Shenton Matchett's blog: http://www.lindashentonmatchett.com/



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April Fiction Releases

By ACFW • 20 Apr, 2024

What Happened? Unraveling A Long-Unsolved Family Mystery From WWII America

By PeggySue Wells • 18 Apr, 2024
Today I welcome author PeggySue Wells as she shares about her book, Unnatural Cause , offers readers the opportunity to claim a free short story. Read through to find the link. In Unnatural Cause , I wove in a long-unsolved family mystery that dates back to World War II. My very smart coauthor, Max Garwood, is a patent attorney and inventor. Max pitches brilliant plots to me and I craft a novel from his ten bullet points. Unnatural Cause, the recent book in the Marc Wayne Adventure Series, is probably equal parts Max’s fiction and my truth. My grandmother was one of ten children who grew up in a small, patriotic burg in the Midwest. When the US entered World War II, her oldest sister’s son, who had been a pilot since age ten, enlisted. Grandma’s young husband, my grandfather, also joined the military. On July 6, 1944, the troop train carrying freshly minted soldiers including my grandfather, left Indianapolis on their journey to the European war theater. As the sun went down in Tennessee, the train jumped the tracks, careened down a cliff, and crashed into a large rock in the river. Was it sabotaged? The largest troop train wreck in the nation, that tragedy continues to dramatically impact the sleepy town of Jellico. Grandma’s oldest sister was informed that her pilot son was killed in a test flight. Though they buried his uniform, many people said they saw him after the war. Family members who searched for him found his military record had been expunged. What’s a novelist to do with an excellent plot and a long-unsolved family mystery? Named after the herb, angelica, the tiny town of Jellico is the faithful keeper of the flame. Daily, people make the pilgrimage to the site of the devastation to ask questions and, as in my case, try to comprehend the moment that forever changed the dynamics of my family. In each of my novels, I take the reader somewhere you’ve never been before and tell you about something you didn’t know. Unnatural Cause explores what could have happened during World War II. Visit Jellico, tour the Atomic City, walk the patriotic cemetery in Ohio, and consider how what people did and why they did it impacts us today. From my research and the stories handed down through the family, I am certain the two vital men we lost during that war between good and evil did it right. The surprise ending honors them and, just maybe, offers some closure for those of us with unsolved family mysteries. Giveaway: Get started on the Marc Wayne Adventure Series with a complimentary copy of The Patent. In this free ebook , small-town inventor and patent attorney Marc Wayne goes missing when he helps his FBI sister, Mallory, on her first case. Click this link to get your free ebook of The Patent : https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3u1hk3h9ui A Peek Inside Unnatural Cause: Chapter One Mallory Wayne chambered a round in her SIG Sauer and holstered the gun inside her jacket. Between work and tonight’s assignment, she had skipped lunch in favor of practicing her aim at the shooting range. With a final look at her appearance in the full-length mirror, she left the locker room and went to meet her co-workers. “Your glow can only mean one thing.” Her supervisor, Logan Deverell, studied her as they met at the government vehicle. From the driver’s seat, Bradley Ralston grinned. “Does Mallory actually have a love life?” Mallory slid into the back seat leaving the front passenger seat for her supervisor. “Not everyone uses 900 numbers, Ralston.” The driver feigned shock as he put the car in drive. “Who told?” Deverell unwrapped gum and the smell of cinnamon lingered as he folded the stick into his mouth. “What brings little boy blue to D.C.?” “Marc is meeting with personnel of the Patent Office,” Mallory said, “to look over improved security for patents that are flagged with a secrecy order.” “I saw the director of the Patent and Trademark Office on tonight’s guest list,” Deverell put in. “Along with Marc’s name.” Raltson glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “I heard you did well as lead on your first project.” “Except for the part where I almost got my brother killed.” Mallory looked out the window, surprised at the lump that had jumped into her throat. The drive from the FBI building to the Russell Senate Office Building wasn’t far but D.C. traffic was notoriously slow. Located along Constitution and Delaware avenues, the Russell Building officially opened for the 61st Congress on March 5, 1909, making it the oldest of the United States Senate offices. Inside, Mallory and her coworkers made their way to the Kennedy Caucus Room, dedicated to the service of brothers John F. Kennedy, Edward F. Kennedy, and Robert M. Kennedy. Members of the FBI as well as the Secret Service had swept the room, the building, and the surrounding area in preparation for tonight’s occasion. Mallory checked the time, anticipating when her brother would arrive from Indiana for tonight’s event. Considered one of the grandest and most historic in the capital city, the room had served as the stage for important functions including Senate committee investigations on the Titanic, Pearl Harbor, and Watergate. John F. Kennedy had announced his candidacy for president of the United States in this setting. Tonight, Mallory expected a significant announcement about Senator Elgin Russell. A descendant of former Georgia Senator Richard Russell Jr. for whom the building was named, Elgin Russell’s stellar career had positioned him to be a promising candidate for the White House. With his background in law, Russell’s name had been discussed as a nominee for Supreme Court Justice. Mallory watched as guests began to enter the room. In the dance of politics, position, and power, people said hello to some and snubbed others. “Little boy blue is in the house.” Deverell’s voice came through her earpiece. She searched the incoming faces and spotted Marc. He saw her and came her way. “Do my eyes deceive me or is that a tie?” She touched the neat knot at his throat. “I’m impressed.” “My first.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “That scout badge for knots came in handy.” “We’ll grab a late dinner after and catch up.” “Deal.” He grinned and went to find his seat. Like so many other formal events that Mallory had been part of, the hall filled and buzzed with conversation that quieted when the emcee gave his opening welcome. The audience stood and clapped when Senator Russell took the podium. A young and handsome man, Mallory thought Russell had the clean-cut Americana charisma of a Kennedy. Much like a high school class valedictorian, he was currently Washington’s most likely to succeed. “I’d like for us to take a moment of silence in honor of the recent passing of our supreme court justice.” Russell bowed his head and the room became solemn. Mere weeks ago, Mallory recalled, the Supreme Court Justice Franklin Bell had dropped dead of a heart attack. The news had come as a surprise considering the Justice had been young and, according to his recent check-up, appeared to be in vibrant health. After 60 seconds, Russell broke the silence. “We salute the past and those patriots who stewarded our nation to this present moment. Leaving the past, we look now to the future.” The senator spoke at length about the state of the nation and the issues that were foremost in the minds of America’s citizens and her leaders. “With these in mind, I am here to–” But the pregnant pause before the dramatic announcement went overly long. Mallory studied the speaker’s face as his mouth contorted and his color paled. Sweat broke out on his forehead. In her earpiece, Mallory heard Deverell swear. Senator Elgin Russell clawed at his chest as his pallor changed from gray to blue. His wife stood and called his name. Then the room erupted in pandemonium as the Senator dropped to the platform floor. About PeggySue: PeggySue Wells is the bestselling author of 40 books and collaborator of many more. Action and adventure, romantic suspense, military romance, and cozy mystery are the page-turning novels by P.S. Wells including Chasing Sunrise , Homeless for the Holidays, and The Patent. How to live better, easier, and simpler is the focus of her nonfiction including Slavery in the Land of the Free and The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make. Connecting Online: PeggySue is the founder of SingleMomCircle.com Check out books and resources by PS Wells on her website: https://www.peggysuewells.com FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Peggy.Sue.Wells.Adventure FB Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/peggysue.wells Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggysuewells Website: https://www.peggysuewells.com and https://singlemomcircle.com

My Thirty-Five-Year Journey in Publishing My First Novel

By Ellen Fannon • 16 Apr, 2024
Help me welcome author and blogger Ellen Fannon as she shares about her very first book she wrote. And read all the way through to learn how you can enter a random drawing to win a free ebook. Honor Thy Father is my favorite of all the novels I’ve written. The book was a thirty-five-year work in progress, so I’ve come to think of all my characters as real people. When I first wrote the novel back in 1987, I didn’t know the first thing about publishing, and, as I’ve come to learn, not that much about writing, either. I submitted it to every publisher I could find, which, at that time, had to be done by snail mail. I still have the list, along with all the rejections. I shelved the project for a while, although periodically, I dusted it off, looked it over, and made changes. At the time I wrote Honor Thy Father, it was stored on the old floppy discs, which I later had to convert to usable files. Many years later, I decided if I was going to seriously try to publish my writing, I wanted it to be God-honoring. So, I completely rewrote the book making it Christian-based. Again, I tried to find a publisher, although this time, doing the work online, made the job easier. Again, I had the same results. Then I went to a Christian writers’ conference and learned how much I didn’t know about writing. I revised the book again, incorporating the tips and techniques I learned. Then I revised it several more times and obtained professional critiques and critiques from my Destin Word Weavers Christian writing group. I was blessed to find a traditional publisher, Winged Publications, who finally brought my dream to fruition. The only problem was the book was too long and had to be split into two volumes. Personally, I don’t like it when authors write a book that leaves readers dangling at the end so they have to read the next book in the series to get closure. But there I was—in the same situation, so Honor Thy Father was split into episodes one and two. The story centers around a family that is separated by a series of unfortunate circumstances. The book then follows each character through the next twenty-five years, telling the story from each main character’s point of view. Almost every chapter ends with a cliffhanger, so the reader has to wait to find out what happened to that character unless he/she cheats and skips ahead. When the patriarch of the family needs a life-saving bone marrow transplant, the family must come together and put aside misunderstandings and bitterness. Each character must learn to overcome adversity through faith and hard work, and ultimately, each character changes and grows. Honor Thy Father is a compelling story of loss, forgiveness, and redemption, and how God can turn tragedy into triumph. Giveaway: Subscribe to follow Ellen's blog, Good for a Laugh , and she'll draw randomly for one person to receive a free ebook: ellenfannonauthor.com About Honor Thy Father : Why should Adam’s daughters, with whom he hasn’t had contact for twenty-five years, honor him now when he needs a life-saving bone marrow transplant? Why should his son, who was kicked out of the house, honor his father? Is there any hope of reconciliation when twenty-five years of anger, bitterness, and divergent pathways have led family members down different roads of life? Honor Thy Father is the compelling story of loss and redemption and how God can turn tragedy into triumph. How does a family survive after being torn apart? Adam Wallace copes with the heartbreaking loss of his wife and daughters by immersing himself in his work. Charlotte withdraws from everyone and everything around her. Dana, living a life of privilege, does not even realize her loss. Katrina copes by trying to make everyone else happy. Scott copes by rebellion. Ultimately, they all come to realize that God can work through every situation to make beauty out of ashes. Links to Honor Thy Father : https://www.amazon.com/Honor-Thy-Father-Ellen-Fannon/dp/1959788027 https://www.amazon.com/Honor-Thy-Father-Ellen-Fannon/dp/1959788256 A Peek Inside Honor Thy Father: CHAPTER ONE CHARLOTTE The letter that forever changed Charlotte’s life arrived in the morning’s mail. Charlotte, however, did not see it until eleven forty-five. At exactly twenty minutes before twelve, after spending the morning in her little greenhouse, where she passed the hours repotting plants and clearing away accumulated debris, she walked into the kitchen, carefully wiping her feet on the mat just inside the door. A glance at the teapot-shaped wall clock told her she still had fifteen minutes to clean up and get lunch ready before Patrick arrived home from kindergarten. Enough time to sift through the mail which lay strewn by the front door under the mail slot. Perhaps today she would receive something from her publisher. No, she noted, with a tinge of disappointment, no familiar Greenleaf envelope. But wait, what was this? As she picked up the letter, a strange sense of unease worked its way up Charlotte’s spine. Although merely a simple white envelope, foreboding pressed in on her, causing her stomach to roil. The return address bore no name, only an unknown street in Los Angeles. The unfamiliar handwriting with Charlotte’s name and address provided no clue as to the sender. With shaking hands, she tore open the envelope and removed the letter. Dear Charlotte , it began. She skipped to the bottom. The signature read, Your stepmother, Katrina Wallace . Her heart fluttered erratically and seemed to drop to her stomach. Her stepmother? Who was this strange woman who presumed such a relationship? She hurriedly scanned the body of the letter. I know this letter will come as a shock to you, and I deeply apologize for the disruption of your life. Your father does not know about this, or he would never have allowed me to contact you. But I have no other choice and I am desperate. Your father has been quite ill. He has a highly fatal form of leukemia. Although he is now in remission, the doctors have given him only a five percent chance of remaining there. His only hope at this point is to undergo whole-body radiation and a bone marrow transplant from a close relative. It is risky for him, but there are no other alternatives. Please help us, Charlotte. Your father desperately needs you. Even if you do not prove to be a suitable bone marrow donor for him, at least come and make peace with him. It means everything to both of us and although you may not realize it, it is important for you, as well. All your expenses will be covered, of course. I am praying for you and anxiously await your reply. The same Los Angeles address and a phone number were underneath the signature. In the short minute that followed the revelation contained within the words penned on paper, her routine day and her safe, carefully constructed world spiraled out of its comfortable orbit. Still unable to fathom the depth of this request, Charlotte stared at the letter in her hand with a sense of unreality as her brain struggled to process what she had just read. How could this be happening to her now? Hadn’t she put her father out of her mind years ago? She had gone on, despite everything, and made a happy life with Jeff and Patrick. Why couldn’t the past be left in the past? About Ellen: Award-winning author, Ellen Fannon, is a retired veterinarian, former missionary, and church pianist/organist. She and her retired Air Force pilot-turned-pastor husband have fostered more than forty children, and have two adopted sons. She has published six novels, and her stories have appeared in One Christian Voice, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Divine Moments, and Guideposts; and her devotions have appeared in Open Windows, Guideposts All God’s Creatures, and The Secret Place. Please visit Ellen’s blog, Good For a Laugh , and sign up to follow her weekly blog at: https://ellenfannonauthor.com/subscribe/

Don't Ever Give Up -- Book and Author Spotlight

By Marjorie Wingert and Joan C. Benson • 04 Apr, 2024
Help me welcome author and blogger Joan C. Benson today as she shares about her newest co-authoring project with author Marjorie Wingert. Getting to know Joan and Marjorie: Joan C. Benson is an inspirational speaker, a former educator/reading specialist, a wife, mother to four, and a grandmother to eight precious ones. Her debut historical fiction, His Gift , was released in 2020. She co-authored God's ABCs, a twice award-winning children’s fiction, the first of four books in The Cornerstone Concepts for Kids series. Let’s Be One: God’s Human Race released in October 2023. The third of four books, Wonder of Life , came out in March 2024. Marjorie Wingert loves encouraging parents, equipping women, and connecting with children. She is a wife to Nathan and mother to one young daughter. She published her first children’s fiction book in 2020, Meet Mr. Caleb and created a CD with original music. Marjorie co-authored the award-winning children’s fiction, God’s ABCs, released in March 2023 followed by Let’s Be One: God’s Human Race , in October 2023. Wonder of Life came out in March 2024. Connecting Online" Links to Joan: https://www.joancbenson.com Facebook – author page: https://www.facebook.com/YIHAVEHOPE X: JoanCBenson@11Ccaj4life Amazon Buy Link for Wonder of Life and the other Cornerstone Concepts for Kids books (3 of 4 are published): https://amzn.to/4cBt8Y7 Book Spotlight: Wonder of Life by Joan C. Benson and Marjorie Wingert Children’s Fiction Picture Book (Ages: from lap readers-8) First Page: “God made the wonders of heaven and earth. He created the morning and night on the First. ‘Twas on the second, he shaped our big sky. Day Three he formed seas, and the land oh so dry!” If I could not write for some reason, I believe I would contribute to children’s ministry in some way. I began my teaching career as a 2nd-grade teacher and the children captured my heart. I remember wishing I could have taken a few of them home with me. Because young children are so transparent, easy to entertain, and “mostly” joyful, I find time spent with them inspiring. I have a strong desire to protect the youngest of our little ones with God’s truth so they will not be deceived in our anti-biblical culture. It is from that heart’s desire I was inspired to write the Cornerstone Concepts for Kids series with my co-author, Marjorie Wingert. Our children are vulnerable. They are unable to put on the armor of God without our help as their caregivers, parents, grandparents, teachers, etc. Our third book, Wonder of Life , is a story teaching God’s involvement in our lives from conception, and how God made his human children in His image. We were set apart from the animals. In a culture where life is “disposable,” our prayer is for children to learn how sacred they are from God’s perspective. We are pleased to offer this entertaining, rhyming, and beautifully illustrated book to Christian families as a tool to convey God’s biblical truth. My first novel, His Gift , is historical fiction for teenagers to adults. The novel was based on a true story from my mom’s life at the onset of the Great Depression. This piece of writing also represents my first real “roadblock” as a writer. I was an experienced writer, having written for educational publishers for years. However, I yearned to tell my God stories. I wasn’t clear how my book would ever get published in the independent market. I went to writing conferences, but often received conflicting editorial advice. Doubts reigned in my mind. Was His Gift even worthy of publishing? Since my story was based on family history, I thought it was funny (as well as frustrating) when an editor told me girls didn’t take chemistry in high school in 1929. I was told to rewrite it to show my main character in a sewing class to be more accurate. I knew my mom had taken chemistry in 1929 because she expressed her disdain for it. Another editor told me, “No one wants to read about The Great Depression. Too depressing!” Through these experiences, I overcame my frustration by setting aside the contrary voices and choosing to believe in myself despite the negative noise. I stood firm for the theme I wanted to share in a world where disappointment abounds and sometimes dreams go unfulfilled. God honored my perseverance. Eventually, I met an agent who believed in the message of His Gift who then found a Christian publisher who loved the story. The rest is history. My words of wisdom to everyone: “Don’t give up on your inspiration, your God-gifts, or your dreams. Persevere!” [WC 492 ]

How to Edit Your Novel

By Karin Beery • 02 Apr, 2024
Join me in welcoming author and blogger Karin Beery as she shares her insight into editing your own novel. The world changed in 2020. With weeks and months of time spent at home, people were forced to find ways to occupy themselves, and I’m convinced that anyone who’d ever said, “I’m going to write a book someday,” finally did. That was good and bad news for publishers, readers, and freelance editors. Good news—lots of submissions, possibly including the next big hit! Bad news—lots of submissions, often including raw drafts. Raw drafts are manuscripts so unpolished that it would take multiple rounds of editing to make the stories shine. Publishers aren’t interested in them, so they immediately send rejections. Readers won’t finish them or, if they do, will leave bad reviews. Freelance editors should be able to fill their calendars with them, but the amount of work needed to fix a raw draft can cost thousands of dollars that most authors don’t have. My goal as a freelance editor has always been to help authors produce better books, but that’s hard to do when a manuscript needs more work than an author can afford. That’s why I wrote How to Edit Your Novel: Practical Tips for Strengthening Your Story. As an author, I know how expensive it is to hire editors. I taught myself as much as I can by reading books, taking classes, and attending conferences. But even when I believed I knew the difference between showing and telling, editors would reject my story because there was too much telling. After studying fiction writing for years and still finding mistakes in my own manuscripts, I know the frustration and disconnect that happens. Having worked as a freelance and acquisitions editor, I also know what kinds of raw manuscripts authors are submitting. They have fascinating ideas, but their stories lack the most fundamental elements that engage the reader and keep them turning pages—relatable characters, engaging plots, and strong fiction-writing techniques. Having received an unbelievable amount of raw manuscripts in the past few years, I’ve transitioned many of my clients from editing to coaching services because their stories weren’t ready for editing. Instead of overwhelming them with the unexpected number of comments and edits needed to fix a raw manuscript, we talk one on one about their weak fundamental elements and how they can strengthen them. The response has been phenomenal. Instead of frustrated, dazed authors who don’t know how to process the massive amount of work in front of them, the authors are excited and re-energized by the idea of re-working their stories into books readers will love. As an editor, I have a finite number of hours each day to help authors. With How to Edit Your Novel, that number is infinite. I can’t (and won’t) promise that the advice in this book will guarantee a contract or amazing reviews, but I do guarantee that learning and applying the strategies in How to Edit Your Novel will help you produce a stronger, cleaner manuscript. About Karin: Author of hopeful fiction with a healthy dose of romance , Karin Beery also owns Write Now Editing , helping authors turn good manuscripts into great books. She lives in northern Michigan with her husband and pets. When she’s not writing, editing, or teaching, she and her husband drink too much (decaf) coffee, put up their Christmas tree the first weekend in November, and do their best to live every day for the Lord. How to Edit Your Novel is a 2024 Selah Award Finalist.

Tales of a Shelter Rescue Dog -- Book and Author Spotlight

By Jean Alfieri • 21 Mar, 2024
Help me welcome guest author and blogger Jean Alfieri as she shares about her latest release. Twisty and True Tails of a Shelter Dog Matchmaker is about displaced dogs that took the long and winding road instead of the straight path to happiness. It is also about how God has shown up in the lives of some of the more than a dozen senior dogs that have found refuge in our house through the years. As you travel through the book, you meet a charming pack of transformational canine characters. It’s a fun, quick read that includes timeless quotes, inspiring scripture, and paw-some thoughts. (See what I did there?) 😊 Getting to Know Jean and her book: What inspired you to write this book? I’ve often heard people say they could never work (or volunteer) at an animal shelter because it must be so depressing. My experience has been the opposite. Though some of the lost or abandoned pets experience terrible hardships, people coming together to give those animals another chance at life makes my heart smile. I captured stories that had amazingly (and unpredictably) happy endings. What do you hope people will gain from your new book? I hope it helps dog-parents recognize all the little ways God is present for them and their pets. Caring for animals is rewarding but isn’t always easy. I pray the book is an encouragement and that it inspires readers to share their own great spirit-filled pet stories. What did you learn while writing this book? Writing the book was fun but editing each story, reworking the title, deciding on the book lay-out and best cover design were challenging. I learned that the manuscript is only one (though a crucial) part of the whole package and each part of the book has its own special nuances. It all needs to work together to draw the reader in. About Jean Jean Alfieri is an author, speaker, and dog fan. She finds hope and joy in both her work at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region and in the lives of her adopted vintage puppies. She and her husband joke that although they pay the mortgage of their home in Colorado, it’s really the dogs’ house! Find out more @JeanAlfieri. Follow on FB, LinkedIn, YouTube and Insta. Connecting Online www.JeanAlfieri.com Twisty and True Tails of a Shelter Dog Matchmaker: Alfieri, Jean M.: 9798989697601: Amazon.com: Books What Others Are Saying About “Twisty and True Tails of a Shelter Dog Matchmaker: “Having worked in animal welfare for almost thirty years, these stories really resonated with me. “I am all too familiar with the sad souls, like Sweet Lady Jane, that have found their way to our shelter. More times than I can remember I have looked into the eyes of those senior pets, wondering what their story is and wishing they could tell me. “The story of Dean made me laugh. The little dog with the big voice was fantastic. I could feel his anguish over being alone and then his relief after being picked up and held. “I shed several happy tears reading through this wonderful collection of short stories that highlight the commitment, love, and sacrifice of working with shelter pets. It would make a great gift for anyone who has adopted a pet, or has donated to, worked in, or volunteered at an animal shelter. “In three words, this book is humorous, insightful, and heartwarming.” ~ Jamie Norris, Director of Animal Law Enforcement, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region

April New Releases

By American Christian Fiction Writers • 18 Mar, 2024
Check out the March new releases from ACFW: https://acfw.com/acfw-new-releases-march-2024 

Where is Your Vision?

By Sandra Kay Vosburgh • 17 Mar, 2024
Help me welcome author and blogger Sandra Kay Vosburgh as she shares about visions and books. Please read through to the end to learn how to enter a random drawing for 2 free print books (US only). Where’s Your Vision? One of my favorite hymns is “Be Thou My Vision.” Perhaps because it’s often my prayer. I tend to look at people, and when I grow discouraged by comparison, I have to ask the Holy Spirit to refocus my vision on Jesus Christ. What or who are you focusing on today? At others and their successes? At yourself and your failures? We read in Hebrews 12, … stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith … (Hebrews 12:1-2, AMP). It goes on to say, Just consider and meditate on Him … so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (vs.3). Have you grown weary? Are you losing heart? Then turn your focus on Jesus. At a writers’ conference a couple years ago, I was in my hotel room feeling a bit past prime. So many writers there were much younger (I’m 70), and I felt no agent or publisher would invest in a high-milage vehicle when a newer model promised a more profitable ride. Also, I felt my vocal tremor would put them off. After all, publishers expect their authors to do podcasts and speaking engagements. I was looking at my negatives, my weaknesses, my handicaps and not at the One who calls and equips. I was looking at people instead of meditating on Jesus. A pastor once said, “Looking at people will ruin your life.” I think we all understand his meaning. In my room that evening, I opened my Bible and read, Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (I Timothy 4:12). To me it said, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because of your age.” Don’t let anyone look down on you because of your handicap, or because of your weak platform, or because you use too many cliches in your writing. We cannot stop someone from dismissing us or discounting us, or even rejecting our work, but Paul was telling Timothy don’t let anyone’s perception or opinion stop you from doing what God has called you to do. And we, ourselves, should never allow what we perceive to be a hindrance to our ministry lead to discouragement and result in disobedience. We don’t know how God will use us, but we must remain restfully available for His purposes. With all the training we receive as writers, let’s not neglect training our eyes to look only to Jesus Christ. Not on ourselves, not on others, but on the One who has called us to write for His glory alone. Sign up to Sandra Kay’s newsletter here to be entered into a random drawing for Books 1 and 2 (print, US only) Link to books: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Collector-Sackets-Harbor-Mysteries/dp/1649172125 About Sandra Kay: Sandra Kay Vosburgh is a Bible teacher, women’s ministry director, and pastor’s wife. Her Sackets Harbor Mysteries series, set in the beautiful Thousand Island area, has won numerous awards, and The Girl in Her (to be released in November 2024) won the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Foundation Award.

The Bunny Side of Easter

By Linda Rooks • 07 Mar, 2024
Let's welcome author and blogger Linda Rooks as she shares about her latest children's illustrate book. As a high school student working on the school newspaper, I became fascinated by the discovery of a legend from India about the rabbit on the moon that seemed to mirror the Easter story about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. I thought about it often and couldn’t let it go. Years later I took on the challenge of taking the raw stuff of legend and turning it into a delightful story for children that not only uses the Easter bunny to point children to what Jesus did on the cross, but also introduces them to Asia’s iconic legend about the rabbit in the moon. For not only in India, but also in China, Japan, Korea, and even Mexico, the rabbit in the moon is such a popular figure that legends have arisen about him in each of their individual cultures. I knew children in America would love to know about him too. And so I wrote The Bunny Side of Easter . In The Bunny Side of Easter the heroism of a little bunny points children to the greatest hero of all, Jesus, but also tells how an angel rewards the rabbit by taking him to the moon where he can be seen from earth whenever there is a full moon. Readers are delighted to discover they too can see a rabbit in the shadows on the west side of every full moon when they know what to look for. There are three different ways to see him. Some people see a rabbit facing left with his ears back and an Easter egg at his feet. Others see the rabbit facing right with his ears flopped over and his head bowed as though praying. A third way to see the bunny is a smaller bunny at the top with his ears back and paws up praying. Some people see the smaller bunny racing over the top of the moon. For years, whenever my husband and I looked at a full moon, we talked about seeing the rabbit. But when I wrote The Bunny Side of Easter with illustrations, we discovered we were each seeing the rabbit in a different way. While I saw him looking to the left, my husband saw him facing right and praying. We’ve laughed about this many times. The final thing that makes the bunny on the moon such an intriguing addition to the celebration of Easter is that it’s because of the moon that Easter is celebrated on a different date each year. Easter always comes on the Sunday following the first full moon after the beginning of spring. This year, the first full moon of spring appears on March 25, and Easter follows on March 31. For parents who would like to let their children enjoy the Easter bunny but have qualms about how he fits into the Christian celebration of Easter, The Bunny Side of Easter fills the gap, taking readers on an exciting and charming adventure with hints of allegory that uses the heroism of the Easter bunny to point children to Jesus, the true hero of Easter. About Linda: Along with her children’s book, The Bunny Side of Easter, Linda W. Rooks is the award winning author of four books. Her writings have appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul, Focus on the Family, HomeLife, and Today’s Christian Woman. Linda has appeared on many TV, radio, and podcast interviews across North America. Click here for an autographed copy of The Bunny Side of Easter and a free puppet through Paypal. Connecting Online: Buy Direct: Buy from Amazon : Buy from Distributor Bunny Side of Easter website Facebook Pinterest Blog at lindarooks.com

Inspiration and Author Spotlight

By Karin Beery • 28 Feb, 2024
Help me welcome author Karin Beery as she shares the inspiration behind her latest release, Finally Forever. Finally Forever: For Aunt Linda Where do you get your inspiration? Readers love to know what inspires their favorite novelists. The list of inspirations is endless—everything from their lives, their friends’ lives, the news, and their imaginations. I’ve tapped into everything from local events and locations to bizarre snippets from my dreams. My favorite inspiration, though, is my family. As the middle of three daughters all born within 3.5 years, my sisters and I are close—we text daily, send too many reels to each other, and watch Michigan football together from three different states on a three-way phone call. Finally Forever is my first book to include a trio of sisters, and it’s been wonderfully easy to imagine how Caroline, Carmen, and Christine would interact. As much fun as it was to write about the sisters, however, this book really is a tribute to one of our favorite people: Aunt Linda. Our special-needs aunt spent most of her adult life living in a wonderful facility with a nurturing caregiver until she moved in with my husband and me more than a decade ago. Life outside of assisted living literally opened a whole new world up to Linda. One of her favorite aspects of life with family has been having her own television. For the first time in decades, she got to pick which shows to watch. I don’t remember why we started watching Dancing with the Stars, but it become a Monday-night routine for Linda and me. She’d get mad at the judges for criticizing the dancers, then tell me who she wanted to vote for that week. We watched every season for the three years that she lived with us. After finishing my last novel, I knew I wanted to write about a football player and a reluctant love interest. I’m not sure why, but my mind went to Dancing with the Stars. That led to a local fundraiser (Swingshift and the Stars Dance-Off for Charity). And that led to a story inspired by one of Linda’s favorite shows and an inspired-by-real-events fundraiser supporting a home for women like Linda. Linda lives with her sister now (my mom), but we still get together several times a year (though the Food Network’s baking championships have taken over as our Monday-night treat). Having a special-needs aunt has been an amazing blessing, and those years we lived together will always hold a special place in my heart. About Karin: Author of hopeful fiction with a healthy dose of romance , Karin Beery lives in northern Michigan with her husband and pets. They drink too much (decaf) coffee, put up their Christmas tree the first weekend in November, and do their best to live every day for the Lord. Buy Link : https://amzn.to/48n7nHZ Connecting Online: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinbeery/ https://www.instagram.com/karinbeery/ https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karin-beery
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