Tuesday, August 31, 2021

The Caregiving Season

 Caring for elderly parents is challenging. It’s a season of life that requires grace and strength that can only come from God. In The Caregiving Season, Jane Daly shares personal caregiving stories, offering practical advice to help you honor your aging parents well and deepen your personal relationship with Christ along the journey.
Jane Daly
Writing this was an emotional journey. I was finally able to grieve my father's passing, and I gleaned more appreciation for the impact his life had on me. It also helped me mend old wounds from on of my brothers. I hope you receive hope from my story. 
Links
Twitter: @queenjanedaly

The Hideaway

Now a USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestseller!
“A story both powerful and enchanting: a don’t-miss novel in the greatest southern traditions of storytelling.” —Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author
When her grandmother’s will wrenches Sara back home, she learns more about Margaret Van Buren in the wake of her death than she ever knew in life.
After her last remaining family member dies, Sara Jenkins goes home to The Hideaway, her grandmother Mags’s ramshackle B&B in Sweet Bay, Alabama. She intends to quickly tie up loose ends then return to her busy life and thriving antique shop in New Orleans. Instead, she learns Mags has willed The Hideaway to her and charged her with renovating it—no small task considering her grandmother’s best friends, a motley crew of senior citizens, still live there.
Rather than hurrying back to New Orleans, Sara stays in Sweet Bay and begins the biggest house-rehabbing project of her career. Amid drywall dust, old memories, and a charming contractor, she discovers that slipping back into life at The Hideaway is easier than she expected.
Then she discovers a box Mags left in the attic with clues to a life Sara never imagined for her grandmother. With help from Mags’s friends, Sara begins to piece together the mysterious life of bravery, passion, and choices that changed her grandmother’s destiny in both marvelous and devastating ways.
When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans.
“Two endearing heroines and their poignant storylines of love lost and found make this the perfect book for an afternoon on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.” —Karen White, New York Times bestselling author.

About the Author

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Lauren K. Denton now lives with her husband and two daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham. In addition to her fiction, she writes a monthly newspaper column about life, faith, and how funny (and hard) it is to be a parent. On any given day, she’d rather be at the beach with her family and a stack of books. The Hideaway is her first novel. Links
Website: laurenkdenton.com  

Cowboy Smith


 On a dark and snowy night, Cowboy first showed up in the small, mountaintop restaurant. He was a young man, who had straight hair going past his shoulders, and a long beard. He was mysterious and appeared to be a drifter. After stating that he was in search of a mountain lion that was killing his cattle, Amy Clayson’s curiosity about him became piqued. Her parents owned the restaurant and Amy was a comical, spunky twenty-something year old.

Amy was certain that she’d never seen him before, and that was a rarity in the tiny village. Yet, he not only knew her name, and the restaurant staff’s names, but he also knew the menu by heart. Cowboy appeared rude and cold hearted that night. However, there was something buried deep within his blue eyes that kept Amy asking for more.
Amy’s close knit family wanted her to stay away from Cowboy. Her lifelong friend, the deputy sheriff, begged her to leave the young man alone. All of her life she had followed the rules and minded her business. She prayed about the matter and felt that God had instructed her to help Cowboy. Now, something in her heart had changed. She was on a path that would either save the strange man or lead to her complete destruction.

No cuss words.
No sex scenes.
An inspiring and sometimes funny love story.

 

Glenn Soucy 
was born on July 3rd. He moved a lot as a child and hardly stayed in a house longer than two years. Mostly grew up in Massachusetts and Arizona in the Phoenix area. Glenn graduated high school in Las Vegas and joined the Air Force shortly after. He spent three years in Germany and was there for the first Gulf War and the fall of the Berlin Wall. He married his high school sweet heart and they have been together for over 26 years. Glenn has been writing steadily since age nineteen. He loves to read and write, fast moving books that are "roller coaster" rides. 
Links 
Twitter: @GlennSoucy1

Monday, August 30, 2021

The Long Way Home


 A kidnapping and vicious murder leave David Maguire and Jada Atwood with few options—remain in the clutches of their abductors or attempt an escape. But the attraction they discover for each other could change their lives. Will they find their way home or die in a Pennsylvania forest?

 

An award-winning author, June Foster is also a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. She is the mother of two and grandmother of ten. June began writing Christian romance in 2010. She penned her first novel on her Toshiba laptop as she and her husband traveled the US in their RV. Her adventures provided a rich source of information for her novels. In 2013, June's book Give Us This Day was a finalist in EPIC's eBook awards and in 2014 a finalist in the National Readers Choice Awards for best first book. Ryan's Father won The Clash of the Titles book of the month for January 2014 and was one of three finalists in the published contemporary fiction category of the 2014 Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Writing Contest and Awards. Deliver Us was a finalist in COTT's 2014 Laurel Awards. June has written four novels for Desert Breeze Publishing. The Bellewood Series, Give Us This Day, As We Forgive, and Deliver Us, and Hometown Fourth of July. Ryan's Father is available from WhiteFire Publishing. Red and the Wolf, a modern day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, and For All Eternity are available from Amazon.com and Smashwords. June enjoys writing stories about characters who overcome the circumstances in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find freedom to live godly lives. 
Links
Twitter: @vjifoster

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Proof And Edit: Comma Special (The Authorship Adventure Series Book 6)


Commas demystified – simple patterns, easy to recognize and put right.

Proof And Edit: Comma Special – Make peace with your commas the painless, effortless way.



The sixth module of the Authorship Adventure Series for writers provides a stress-free, definition-free, simplified explanation, with plenty of examples on the way commas should be utilized in writing. The book is divided into sections, by familiar pattern, each with one clear idea and samples of how the commas should be used in that specific instance, and also what could go wrong when these simple rules are ignored or mistaken. Polish your novel at next to no cost, and make your readers happy.

Use in conjunction with Proof And Edit 101 and How To Build A Novel - What works, what doesn't, and how to fix the unfixable, to improve more aspects of your writing, whether you intend to work alone or simply want to make your editors love working with you.

The Authorship Adventure Series is designed as a set of free resources for members of Paper Gold Publishing.


About Ella Medler

Ella Medler is a U.K. author and editor who lives in a corner of Heaven, in the East of England. She writes fiction in many genres -- some after her own tastes, and some to make her readers happy. Sometimes, those two happen to coincide.

A fierce supporter of genuine talent, Ella Medler founded a small press, Paper Gold Publishing, because she believes there are authors out there who deserve a chance to shine, authors who would otherwise fall between the cracks of a crumbling, forever-shifting industry. Her non-fiction series, The Authorship Adventure, is designed to help new and aspiring authors take the first steps through the tangle of indie publishing.

As an editor, Ella Medler has the tendency to nit-pick on plot issues while ignoring the type of rule that doesn't allow for a sentence to be finished in a preposition. Find out more about her publishing-related services here:
https://ellamedlerediting.yolasite.com/

Follow Ella on Amazon or BookBub to be advised of her new releases, or subscribe to Ella's newsletter here:
http://eepurl.com/cFpfdT

Ella Medler is active on all social media platforms, so all you have to do to find her is Google her name. She'd love to hear from you, whether you are a reader, a fellow editor or author, or another player in this publishing game. Drop her a line via ellamedler@gmail.com or contact her through any of the following sites:
http://www.papergoldpublishing.com/
http://ellamedler.webs.com/
https://ellamedler.wordpress.com/

And if you've enjoyed her book, leave a two-liner on the site you bought it from, or send her feedback via email. She'll love you forever for that.


LIST OF CURRENT AND UPCOMING TITLES


THE MARTIN LITTLE SERIES - fantasy

Martin Little, Resurrected (Book 1)
Martin Little Takes Epic Action (Book 2)


THE HUNTER SERIES - thriller

Blood is Heavier (Book 1)
Blood is Power (Book 2)
Blood is not Enough (Book 3)


ETERNAL SERIES - paranormal romance
in collaboration with K. S. Haigwood

Eternal Island (Book 1)
Eternal Immortality (Book 2)
Eternal Illusion (Book 3)
Eternal Innocence (Book 4 - Coming Soon)


THE CALIDORA SERIES - time-travel

Frozen Heart (Prequel)
Shattered Heart - exclusive to subscribers


ADDICTED TO LOVE ROMANCE COLLECTION
stand-alone titles - contemporary romance

Not Juliet - romantic suspense
Trial Run - holiday romance
Safe Haven (Coming Soon)
True Blue (Coming Soon)
To Catch A Guy (Coming Soon)


NEW TRICKS SERIES - romantic comedy

Plan A (Book 1)
Plan B (Book 2 - Coming Soon)
Plan C (Book 3 - Coming Soon)
Plan D (Book 4 - Coming Soon)


LIONHEART SERIES - contemporary romance

Someone To Turn To (Prequel) - temporarily available exclusively in the charity anthology This Beautiful Escape
Find a Lion's Heart (2018)
Heal a Lion's Heart (2018)
Tame a Lion's Heart (2018)
Break a Lion's Heart (2018)
Own a Lion's Heart (2018)


ADAMANTA SERIES - sci-fi
multi-author episodic series set in the same world

Iridia (episode 5 of season 1)
Belshazzar (episode 3 of season 2)


STANDALONE NOVELLAS

Calamity June - contemporary chick lit
Afire - erotica


AUTHORSHIP ADVENTURE SERIES - non-fiction

The Author Platform - How to build yourself a castle that will stand the test of time

How To Build A Novel - What works, what doesn't, and how to fix the unfixable

10 Sane Thoughts For Harassed Writers - How to gain perspective and turn setbacks into triumphs

Proof And Edit 101 - Easy basics guaranteed to save you time and money

50 Things No One Tells You About Book Publishing - And what to do about them

Proof And Edit - Comma Special

The Author Organizer - How to anticipate, survive and master the whirlpool of your publishing career.

Blazing Ends and Riveting Beginnings - Capture your readers' hearts from the first line and give them a finale they'll want to tell the world about. (Coming soon) 
 

 

Friday, August 27, 2021

Under His Wings

 Under His Wings is a bestselling devotional collection of real-life bird encounters enjoyed by the author. Joy had no idea when she moved from the city to the country that God was going to express His love for her and all of us in so many tender moments. You don’t have to be a birdwatcher to enjoy the stories or the life-changing truths in this delightful book.
Joy DeKok
I love words, and enjoy reading them as much as I do writing. My journey into both began when I was four and taught myself how to read. Somehow, I'd noticed the white space between the words she read and realized that's how to know where one word ended and another started. I listened to her say the words as I looked at each one. One day, I just "got" it. When she found me reading to my dolls and stuffed animals, she thought I'd memorized the stories, but handed me a new book and I could read most of it on my own.
That's when I started dreaming about putting my own words on the pages.
Later, I fell in love with libraries, paper, pencils, and pens. With my small weekly allowance (for cleaning my room or helping dust) I'd visit Ben Franklin or Woolworth's, and buy a new tablet, notebook, or pencil. I remember the day when I was allowed to buy a set of Bic ball point pens - oh my goodness! I had blue, black, red, and green to choose from and contained ink - a really big deal to me. It was like graduation day.
Links
Twitter:  @JoyEDeKok

Love Ain't No Soap Opera (Shadybrook Series Bk 1)

 It’s Mayberry meets Daytime Drama! A curvy Southern soap fan falls for a bad boy soap heartthrob in this Christian romance seasoned with humor and Southern charm.
If there is one lesson that Selah Morgan has learned from years of watching daytime television, it’s that life is more exciting if you are young, rich, and skinny. Ahh, soap opera . . . the land where women are strong, cherished, and cellulite-free, loved ones are never really dead, and irritating people can be recast. Praying for that kind of life, the thirty-something fears she’ll suffocate if she can’t escape her hick hometown, Shadybrook, Virginia, her plus-size body, her failing business, and her feuding family.
It’s almost too good to be true when she wins a trip to New York City and the opportunity to be the SoaperFan for her favorite show, The Winds of Change, as part of a publicity stunt. As she and troubled soap heartthrob, Cane Ashton, work together to save the struggling soap from cancellation, can she trust his growing affections or will her insecurities, his dark secrets, and her meddling momma cost her a dream job and a chance at love in the afternoon?
I write to empower and uplift women struggling with their body image and faith. My dream is that one person who reads my work will look in the mirror and, instead of repeating her daily “I’m so ugly, I’m so fat” mantra, says, “I am so loved.” God has shown me that, through writing, He can turn broken pieces and broken people—like a mosaic made of shattered glass and stone—into something beautiful. 
Links
Twitter:  @CurledCrusader

The Attributes of God

The foundation of all true knowledge of God must be a clear mental apprehension of His perfections as revealed in Holy Scripture. An unknown God can neither be trusted, served, nor worshipped. In this booklet an effort has been made to set forth some of the principal perfections of the Divine character. If the reader is to truly profit from his perusal of the pages that follow, he needs to definitely and earnestly beseech God to bless them to him, to apply His Truth to the conscience and heart, so that his life will be transformed thereby.
Something more than a theoretical knowledge of God is needed by us. God is only truly known in the soul as we yield ourselves to Him, submit to His authority, and regulate all the details of our lives by His holy precepts and commandments. "Then shall we know, if we follow on (in the path of obedience) to know the Lord" (Hosea 6:3). "If any man will do His will, he shall know" (John 7:17). "The people that do know their God shall be strong" (Dan. 11:32).
 
Arthur Walkington Pink was an English Bible teacher who sparked a renewed interest in the exposition of Calvinism or Reformed Theology. Little known in his own lifetime, Pink became "one of the most influential evangelical authors in the second half of the twentieth century." 

Link

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AX1ZC72/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o05?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thursday, August 26, 2021

The Watcher King

This is no ordinary kingdom. Therefore, it must have an extraordinary king!

If you love fantasy, mixed with a little horror, Malatthias Sonoseth will take you on an epic journey through the dark shifting forest with seductive, but undead creatures, and to the edge of the Cerulean Sea where worlds and time collide.
Malatthias, after the death of his father, suddenly finds himself the new Watcher King—a king who is not bound to his physical realm or time—a position he had not counted on for at least another 30 years. And something is eerily wrong. Ever since the violent invasion of the Nephilim, the forest seems to be dying, waters of the rivers are turning bitter, and the land is sinking.

Yahweh’s holy Warriors, who will arouse within Malatthias the Watcher powers he has inherited, have come to keep him in line, but will that backfire on them all? And just to complicate the matter the young Watcher King can’t decide between the love of a sultry shepherdess or the mysterious teenager raised by the Eldrids, the ancient Warrior Prophets.
Take this fantastical journey with the young Watcher King and unite the fragmented kingdoms of Pa’raGhon to search out, annihilate, and destroy the unwanted.
Deborah isn't famous for anything ... yet. Might be she's not looking for fame. It's kind of scary, you know? Too many public engagements. She writes a lot of weird, creepy stuff and tends to scare herself as well as innocent family members. A string of Christmas lights stays on right outside her bedroom door. It's better than a night light and easier to explain.

She was born in Hollandia, New Guinea (which apparently belongs to Indonesia now) in 1959. Her parents (a clothes designer and a pastor) traveled from New Guinea (by a US C-130 Hercules cargo plane, or some version thereof) to the Kingdom of the Netherlands where they stayed for a few cold years. Then they boarded the Ship of Maasdam and sailed round the Cape of Good Hope to Australia. After 12 years in Queensland she somehow found herself en route to Washington State in the USA. But she is now firmly, and sort of happily, planted in SoCal.
Deborah writes about writing and such on her blog Alten Ink: http://www.AltenInk.com. She loves to help newbie writers who are even more clueless than she is. Not really, we all have something to contribute, right? Trust me, we do.
She's more at home on her personal blog The Watchers: All Eyes Are On Him at http://gtargirls.blogspot.com because she gets to create poetry and creepy flash fiction. Mrs. Shackles visits quite often.
For the most part she spends her days blogging, editing, formatting, writing (mostly spec fiction: fantasy, sci/fi, horror) and publishing ... and she also swims a lot of laps because she eats way too much chocolate, bacon, and Jellie Bellies.
Links 
Twitter:@gtargirl

The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
About Jordan Cooper

Jordan Cooper is the pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Watseka, IL. He has a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Geneva College, an MTS from the American Lutheran Theological Seminary, an MTh from the South African Theological Seminary, and an MTh from the Wittenberg Institute. He is currently finishing his doctoral dissertation. He hosts the Just and Sinner podcast, has a Youtube channel, and runs a blog at JustandSinner.com. He is the author of several books on Lutheran theology. 
Links 

 

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Honoria and the Family Obligation

 Honoria is the shy sister - who would have thought she could land in quite as big a scrape as the audacious Serena?
When the eligible Mr Allison is to come to Fenton Manor to woo Honoria, there is a problem. She doesn't remember what he looked like. Crippled by her timidity, she hardly looked at him when they'd met during her first London season. But he had spoken to her father, determined to ask her for her hand. Her siblings, Serena and Benedict find this highly amusing, but after Honoria overhears a conversation between her parents about their finances she realises she must marry Mr Allison, and this constraint leaves her martyred and unhappy and unable to share her feelings.
When Mr Allison arrives, there is another problem. One to do with her sister Serena.
Mr Allison, (annoyingly handsome and kind) fails to propose as expected and leaves abruptly - but invites the confused family to stay at Bassington Hall, his own country home. His kindness to all her family leaves Honoria with no legitimate excuse to escape marriage. Mr Scribster, his ugly, unpleasant, unfeeling friend, guesses more than she would like and offers Honoria a place to concentrate her dislike and frustration.
Meanwhile Benedict embarks on an adventure with his rogue of an uncle, Wilbert, to save his childhood friend and neighbour Genevieve Horton who has become the unhappy Lady Sumner. By learning some scandalous skills Benedict hopes to give some options to the most trapped figure in all of polite society - an unhappy wife.
When Benedict's life hangs in the balance all the major players are changed forever and the tangle of romance is finally resolved.
Alicia Cameron’s first novel, Clarissa and the Poor Relations, has been highly regarded, reaching the top ten in historical romance on Amazon.com (with 90 reviews), and #1 in Amazon.fr. It is newly available in a Spanish translation.
What people say about Alicia Cameron’s previous novel:
(Alicia Cameron) is '...a worthy successor to Georgette Heyer’
‘Full of wit and imagination’
‘…an authentic Regency voice’
‘Definitely felt like reading Jane Austen’
‘An episode of Friends set in the 1800s’
‘Wouldn’t we all like to be invited?’
‘Full of wit and romance like an old, old, movie directed by Preston Sturges.’
‘A witty, light-hearted cross between Georgette Heyer and Oscar Wilde!’
Have a FREE short story! http://bit.ly/2vl5qgZ
Alicia Cameron is a crime writer with another indulgence - I have always enjoyed the work of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, loving the Regency period and the romance, but especially the wit of the authors.
My interest in crime probably started with the awful kleptomania of my family, stealing these books from each others shelves.
I'm not to be confused with the other Alicia Cameron, who writes very raunchy things indeed - I'm sure excellently.
My Regency romances have very little raunch and a great deal of silliness. Regencies: Clarissa and the Poor Relations, Honoria and the Family Obligation, Angelique and the Pursuit of Destiny (the FREE short for sign up http://bit.ly/2vl5qgZ), and SOON Delphine and the Dangerous Arrangement.
The Edwardian series: Francine (a short story about an empowering woman) and Francine 2: Miss Philpott becomes the Fascinating Mathilde (a novella) There is more to come...
Keep in touch:www.aliciacameron.co.uk
Links

Raised By Strangers

 This book will take you through the powerful, true story of the author's childhood and her will to survive. Read how the hand and heart of God gave her faith and strength to survive abuse, poverty, eating disorders, tragedy, marital demise, and an array of dysfunction. Learn how the power of hope, not your past, defines you and determines your future, how becoming vulnerable brings you strength to forgive and become the person you were created to be. Reignite your passion for life and move into a deeper level of faith as you find yourself cheering the author on and celebrating her victories. Brooke Lynn is a writer, nurse, and a health and wellness enthusiast. She transparently reveals her life experiences, struggles, triumphs, solutions, and strategies so that others may find their own courage and strength for healing.
My name is Brooke Lynn. I am a writer, nurse, and a health and wellness enthusiast. I transparently reveal my life experiences, struggles and triumphs with abuse, poverty, marital demise, parenting, and eating disorders helping others find the courage and strength for healing. I educate and create awareness about eating disorders sharing my 26 year battle and recovery. I have served as a children's praise and worship leader, worked with middle and high school students, and also served on church prayer teams with a heart for intercessory prayer. I passionately motivate you into a deeper level of faith while encouraging you to love and accept yourself. I reside in the Washington D.C. area, have been married for eighteen years and I am raising two teenage children. 
Links

Deadly Gamble: A Girl and Her Dog Cozy Mystery (Charlie Parker Mystery Book 1)

Praise for USA Today bestselling author, Connie Shelton, and her first novel:

"An impressive debut mystery!" -- Albuquerque Journal

"Charlie is slick, appealing and nobody's fool--just what readers want in an amateur sleuth." -- Booklist

"This is a dandy. Don't miss it!" -- Book Talk

In this debut almost-cozy mystery series novel, Charlie Parker, accountant and partner in an Albuquerque private investigation firm, is visited by her old school friend, Stacy North. Stacy's Rolex watch is missing and she begs Charlie to help locate it before her husband finds out. Things are complicated by the fact that Stacy had been seeing another man, Gary Detweiller, and he's the one she suspects of having stolen the watch. With a little detective work, Charlie and her sidekick dog, Rusty, retrieve the missing watch and all should be well. But three days later, Detweiller is murdered. All eyes turn to Stacy as the prime suspect.

Once again, Stacy begs Charlie's help in proving her innocence. As she begins to ask questions, Charlie learns that Detweiller's life was not as simple as first perceived and that any number of people had grievances against him. And before she can pinpoint the killer, her own life is in danger as well.

Includes new foreword from the author upon the 20th anniversary of first publication of this ongoing mystery series first title.

Praise for the other books in the Charlie Parker mystery series:
"A well written, by the book who-done-it that will enthrall purists. Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth." -- Midwest Book Review

"Shelton has created a lively hero in Charlie and puts her into situations that require prompt action and good common sense. A Charlie Parker mystery is always a good read..." --Southwest Book Views

"Charlie is a good detective and a pleasant companion to unravel a mystery with." -- Mystery News

"Shelton's engaging story, likable heroine, and comfortable prose make this a good choice." -- Library Journal

"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review

About Connie Shelton

Having fun with my writing, and connecting with readers--that's what being a mystery writer means to me. And I LOVE what I do!

It began in 1985 when I started writing my first novel, without much clue how to go about it. Two years and 500 pages later, when I finally typed 'The End,' I felt a huge rush of excitement. That book took third place in the Southwest Writers competition and began making the rounds of publishers. I simply started writing my second, and then my third books.

After publishing ten of my Charlie Parker mysteries, I decided to branch out with a new cozy mystery series and I created the character of Samantha Sweet. One of the ways in which I earned a little extra pocket money during my high school years was to bake and decorate cakes--hence, a career for Samantha based on my own experiences.

In 2009 I switched publishers and was off on a new adventure, seeing all of my books made available for Kindle as e-books were just beginning to take off in the book world. It's been an exciting time in publishing--high points for me were reaching #1 on Amazon a few times and the Top 50 on the USA Today bestseller list. I'm loving the way e-books allow me to personally connect with readers all over the world via my newsletter and my website at connieshelton.com.


* * *

Besides writing the Charlie Parker and Samantha Sweet mysteries, Connie is an award-winning essayist. Her work has been published in both small and major anthologies, including Chicken Soup For the Writer's Soul, and her short stories have won several prizes. She has also been a commercial hot air balloon pilot and holds the women's world altitude record for size AX-4 balloons. She has been featured in Who's Who and The World Who's Who of Women.

She and her husband live in northern New Mexico with their two dogs, Daisy and Missy, who became stars of their own series of children's books. 
Links
 

 

Monday, August 23, 2021

Healing Ruby: A Novel: Healing Ruby Book 1

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen..."
Ruby Graves, a young girl in Depression-era Alabama, faces the hardships of poverty and loss with as much faith as she can muster. At only thirteen she’s already lost a younger brother, and now faces losing both her father and the boy who’s stealing her heart as well. Armed with her beloved Scriptures, she prays daily for their healing, only to have her tender faith shattered.
Through her pain, she’s able to connect with her long-lost Uncle Asa, whose mere presence at his brother’s funeral brings murmurs of a scandalous past involving her parents and a prominent local pastor. When Ruby discovers that one of Asa’s many secrets is an ability to heal, and that she may be next in line for the “gift,” she vows to find the faith that has eluded her so far--a faith that could mean never losing loved ones again.
But according to her father, faith and doubt can’t reside in the same heart, and doubt is Ruby’s constant companion. As she struggles to find the true meaning of faith, she’s opposed at every turn by the pastor who would see her family destroyed and a community that can’t see deeper than the color of one’s skin. Through her search for a faith that could move mountains and a true understanding of her gift, can Ruby trust in a God that may require the ultimate sacrifice?
Jennifer Westall 
is the author of the beloved Healing Ruby series, an enduring love story spanning the Great Depression and World War II. She's also the author of Love's Providence (2012), a contemporary Christian romance novel that navigates the minefield of dating and temptation. Over her short publishing career, she has moved quite a bit and looks forward to one day settling down with her husband and two boys. She homeschools by day and writes by night, thus explaining those pesky bags under her eyes. Readers can connect with her at jenniferhwestall.com or find her on Facebook.
Other Links
Twitter: @jwest1122


Through the Storm (The Solar Storms Saga Book 1)

 An immense storm on the sun has flung four coronal mass ejections at the Earth.
That’s the news Neal Evans hears while hundreds of miles from home at a conference in Nevada. Will it cause only beautiful auroras to dance across the night sky or plunge technology back a hundred years? As politicians and scientists debate, Neal drives north toward home.
On the family farm, Drake Evans is a happy high school freshman. Instead of staying home with his younger brother, Conner Evans has gone hunting. So, it’s party time for Drake!
As the world descends into darkness, Neal and Conner must confront panic, hunger, and fear on their long journeys home. Drake, alone on the farm, must become a man even before he unravels his teen years.
Kyle Pratt is a bestselling author of speculative fiction. His latest full-length novel, Braving the Storms, is the third book in the Strengthen What Remains series.
Through Many Fires, the first book in the post-apocalyptic series was released in paperback, Kindle and on Audible in August 2013. Within two weeks the novel appeared on the Kindle Science Fiction Post-Apocalyptic list, reaching #10, and reached #1 on the list on December 2, 2014. Through Many Fires has earned its way to the #1 spot on the Kindle Dystopian and Military list, and #39 on the Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense list.
Kyle grew up in the mountains of Colorado and earned an Associate in Arts degree from Mesa State College in Grand Junction. When money for college ran low he enlisted in the United States Navy as a Cryptologic Technician. "I thought I would do four years and then use my veteran's benefits to go back to college," he once said.
His first assignment was with a U.S. Navy unit at the Royal Air Force base in Edzell, Scotland. While on leave in Israel he met Lorraine from Plymouth, Devon, England and married her the next year. Together they spent the remainder of his twenty-year naval career traveling across the United States from Virginia to Hawaii and on to Guam, Japan and beyond.
Even before he retired from the service he wrote short stories. In July of 2012 his debut novel, Titan Encounter, a science fiction space adventure, came out on Kindle and later in paperback. His second book, Final Duty - The Speculative Fiction Novelette was released in January of 2013.
Today, Kyle and Lorraine live on a small farm in Western Washington State. 
Links
Twitter:  @kyleonkindle

Friday, August 20, 2021

October 31, 1517: Martin Luther and the Day that Changed the World

In this commemorative year, the Reformation is the subject of movies such as the American Public Television seriesThe Reformation: This Changed Everything, museum exhibits at The Morgan Library and Museum, and the Minneapolis Museum of Art and many other festivals and programs across the country. This book by Martin Marty is a wonderful companion resource for the year.

Martin Marty answers the question: Why is the Reformation relevant today?

Rather than a historical narrative of Reformation events, he explains in this accessible book the issues that led to Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses, their implications for the Church and world . . . and most importantly, how this impacts us devotionally as Christians of any denomination. As one of the world’s preeminent Luther scholars, Martin Marty also explores the concept of repentance as a central theme of the Theses. In a foreword, James Martin, SJ, offers context and a shared vision.

This year began with the joint ecumenical commemoration in Lund, Sweden, on October 31, 2016, attended by Pope Francis and members of the Lutheran World Federation and other Christian churches. Martin Marty explains how this event, and indeed all ecumenical dialogue that has happened over the past few hundred years and will happen in this coming year, represents a change of heart.

Includes the 95 Theses of Martin Luther

"Martin Marty is the most widely respected historian of Christianity in the United States today.  In this little book he with clarity, compassion, and a good dose of common sense shows how Luther's story is meaningful today." —Rev. John O'Malley, S.J., University Professor, Georgetown University

"Martin Marty's attention to October 31, 1517, the day that Martin Luther promulgated his 95 Theses, provides valuable insights for the past, the present, and the future--why Luther's articulation of"repentance" meant so much then, why his commitment to "justification" has now built a bridge for Catholics and Lutherans to work with each other, and why this great event of 500 years ago might herald a hopeful future for Christian believers and all others.  There is an awful lot packed readably into this one small book."
—Mark Noll, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame

"I would not dream of preparing my mind and heart for the celebration of Luther's role in the Reformation without finding out what Martin Marty has to say on the subject. And he says it here  in this wonderful little book. The gifted historian that he is, Marty gives us much solid information. But he also writes eloquently about how best to prepare our souls for the kind of commemoration that also includes some prayers of repentance." —Richard Mouw
Link



Juniper's Journey: the story of the first Christmas tree

Juniper's Journey captures the story of Juniper, a humble tree, on his way to becoming the world's very first Christmas tree. Along the journey, Juniper meets lovable characters like Mona the Butterfly and Shrike the Bird, and they encourage him to keep believing - all the way until he meets the newborn Jesus in the manger. It's a beautiful Christian classic for children and parents alike, and will inspire to you to believe that we all have a grand purpose in this lifetime.
Fred Dziedzic
 Hailing from the historic City of Warren in Ohio, Fred grew up with a passion for literature and English. It was there that he met his beautiful wife Delores, and it was there that they had their family and two children. There, for the past 40 years, he's been a leader in his family, church, and local community. 
In the Christian Education arena, Fred has been educating children in Northeast Ohio for decades. From leading Sunday School to creating his own Children's curriculum to writing his first book, the beloved Juniper's Journey, Fred has always had a knack for distilling life lessons into simple, beautiful readings. He creates opportunities for meaningful conversations between parents and children, all while delighting children with the whimsical characters he weaves throughout his writing. 
We think you'll love Fred's writing. Don't hesitate to reach out with feedback, comments, and questions.
Enjoy!
Links
Twitter: @freddziedzic

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Cambodian Cooking, Southeast Asian-Style Recipes



 Experience all the exotic flavors of a far off land in Kelly C. Chan’s Cambodian Cooking: South East Asian Style.
All of Cambodia’s robust flavors, fresh ingredients, and inventive dishes are right at your fingertips. Whether you’re a new cook just learning the ropes or a seasoned pro, Chan’s helpful hints and time saving shortcuts make cooking Asian style meals easier than ever.
From stir fried rice noodles with chicken to a peanut vinaigrette lime sauce that can be used on virtually everything, Cambodian Cooking: South East Asian Style is a delicious way to explore your world.
All of the recipes in Chan’s inventive cookbook are grouped together by ingredients. This means you won’t have to buy dozens of different items that can only be used for one dish, guaranteeing that you’ll never waste food—or fridge space—again.
While all the ingredients are easily available at your nearest Asian grocery store, each recipe welcomes substitutions to conform to your own family’s specific dietary needs.
Discover how to create flavorful soups, appetizers, mains, and more in a fresh new cookbook that is sure to become a classic.
Kelly Chan
I was born May 2, 1968, in Battambang, Cambodia. As a child, I spent many happy hours helping my mom and dad prepare dinner for our family. So by the ages of six and eight years old, I was able to prepare many different types of Cambodian meals. Yes, I was able to learn how to prepare meals at this very young age, mostly by helping and observing my parents. As a farmer daughter, back then, it wasn’t very important for me to attend school, so I spend many hours with my parent learning how to cook. Culturally, it is important for Cambodian women to be able to prepare meals for their family. As the result of cultural influences, this is how the recipes passed on from generations to generations to young children.
By 1975 the communist regime had taken control over Cambodia, and not long after I was removed from my home to live in group housing, where all the children my own age resided. Between 1975 and 1979, I had lived as slaves, unable to have the freedom to be with my family. Instead was forced to perform hard labor at least twelve hours a day, nonstop, seven day a week performing agriculture duties.
By 1979, the Vietnamese liberation had begun, and it was the start of many years of civil war. As the result, our country had many years of famine, and we lived in dangerous conditions. Through the grape-vine, my parents heard that Thailand had been taking in Cambodian refugees. So my parents made the decision to leave Cambodia in a hopes of finding a better life for us.
Therefore, the journey started, and after several days of walking, we arrived at the Thai border. We stayed there a month or so, then we crossed the Cambodian border into Thailand, and settled in a camp for Cambodian refugees.
After a few years in Thai camp, we were sponsored to go to the United State of America; we arrived in San Jose, California, in January 1982. Here in San Jose, where I have resided most of my life. I have a career working full time as a registered dental assistant, which I have had for at least twenty-three years. And for the last few years, I worked as a hair stylist as well.
In June, I attended my brother’s graduation from San Jose State University, and my brother and I had conversations regarding food, Cambodian cuisines, and aging parents general. And eventually when they passed, we won’t be able to make the food that we love to eat. A few seconds later, the light-bulb went off. I can write a recipe book, I thought to myself; this way it will always be remembered, and passed on; so that is how the idea came to me about writing down our recipes.
It is my pleasure to share with you my family’s special recipes that have been passed on from generation to generations. Some dishes have also become fusions, influenced by our neighboring countries, and many countries that brought spices to our people, such as India, China, etc.
Links
Twitter:  @KellyCCookbook

  The Kalico Kids are puppets created for use in Junior church classes. Scripts and stories, teach Biblical principles through imagined sc...