DREAMS DEFERRED - June Foster - One Free Book

Bio: June Foster is an award-winning author who began her writing career in an RV roaming around the USA with her husband, Joe. She brags about visiting a location before it becomes the setting in her next contemporary romance or romantic suspense. June's characters find themselves in precarious circumstances where only God can offer redemption and ultimately freedom. To date June has seen publication of 17 novels and 1 devotional.

Welcome back, June. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

Wonderful question. I haven't seen one like this. First, my dear sister-in-law, Helen Lynch, was a great resource for information about the Catholic Church. Since I'm not a Catholic, I don't have as much knowledge as she. She read my first draft to make sure all the plot elements were correct concerning the church, and she patiently answered my many questions. My husband, who grew up Catholic, helped as much as he could. He's been out of the church for quite a few years, and we now attend a protestant church. Another person who was a great help was the principal at Sacred Heart Catholic School, housed in the church by the same name in Cullman, Alabama, our hometown. She gave us a tour of the school and answered tons of questions. I also looked around the church and took many pictures which were great references when I wrote my scenes set in the fictional church of St. Aloysius of San Antonio, Texas. Since the book is inspired by my great grandfather and great grandmother, I needed to discover more about the history of these two people. My daughter went on Ancestry.com and did additional research for me.

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

So far I have not had to opportunity to teach or speak about writing other than in casual situations. I'm hoping for the chance one day soon.

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

Interesting question as my husband and I are preparing for an extended road trip in our RV. We're hoping to head to the northeast to tour the New England states. As far as starting over, I expect my next and permanent location is going to be in eternity.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

Pray, pray, pray. Seek the Lord about what He'd like you to write and write it! If you're writing for fun or for your own enjoyment, it won't be nearly as exciting as the stories God puts on your heart.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

I'd check with Randy Alcorn, Jerry B. Jenkins, and Franklin Graham to offer inspirational classes. Then I'd ask Wayne Watson, J. Michael Finley, and Mercy Me to perform the entertainment. Then Emeril Lagasse and Glada De Laurentiis would be in charge of cuisine.

Sounds wonderful. I’d go. Tell us about the featured book.

Frances Matthew Hall is obedient to family tradition: all firstborn sons will serve as a priest. Now Matt officiates at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas. But when on Easter Sunday, he notices a beautiful young woman who takes his breath away. He must fight against his attraction to her or leave the priesthood and alienate his entire family.

Mary Louise Graham is a middle school teacher and devout catholic. Yet no amount of service to the community can ease the heavy load of guilt she carries. God can never forgive her unspeakable mistake. But when Father Matt tells her about a forgiving God through His son Jesus Christ, she's free. Only thing, the Godly priest now means more to her than he should.

Can two people find their way to each other amidst insurmountable obstacles? Dreams Deferred is inspired by the author's great grandfather and great grandmother's story.

Please give us the first page of the book.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will." Father Matthew Hall lifted his eyes to the crucifix above the altar. Jesus hanging on the cross—the symbol of his faith. "We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You."

The words of adoration for the crucified Savior of the world slipped from his lips so naturally, he barely looked at the lectionary. He lifted his baritone voice, offering the mass in song, something he didn't usually do, but since today was Easter Sunday, he would. Easter,—the most significant date on the Christian calendar, was the perfect day to exalt God with the talent He'd given Matt.

He took a breath and opened his mouth again. "We give You thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King." If Matt sang a billion words at each mass, it wouldn't be sufficient to praise his Lord Jesus Christ, the mighty God Who'd created Heaven and Earth.

At the end of the gospel readings, Matt stepped to the podium and looked out at the parishioners. The homily he'd worked on last night would surely convey the joy of Christ's resurrection.

He scanned the congregation again. Some sat, eyes wide, as if soaking up every word of his twenty minute homily. In the back of the sanctuary, two women whispered to each other and another filed her nails.

Where can we find you on the Internet?

http://www.junefoster.com  

https://www.amazon.com/author/junefoster

https://twitter.com/vjifoster

https://www.facebook.com/authorjunefoster

Purchase Link: https://tinyurl.com/y3g555tz

Thank you, June, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

DOVE STRONG - Erin Lorence - One Free Book

Welcome, Erin. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I love humor. My husband is the funniest guy I know, and I like to think I have a good sense of humor as well. So, it’s important that at least a couple of my main characters can highlight the ridiculous and deliver their lines in ways that hopefully make readers smile too.

In Dove Strong, my main character, Dove, is the opposite of me in most ways. She is super blunt when she speaks, she doesn’t care for others’ opinions—especially what they think of her—and she rarely apologizes. It was so refreshing writing from the perspective of someone so confident!

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I can’t think of anything truly “quirky” that I’ve ever done! How sad.

Here are two unique things about myself off the top of my head: 1) I raised guide dogs as a teenager, so I often embarrassed my young self by having to wrestle with a dog in public. Looking back, there were some hilarious moments...like lugging my 50-pound dog out of JCPennys in my arms when she started to pee.  2) I’m currently a lunch lady, which can be humbling as well as fun. Chicken-wich and tots anyone?

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Roughly six years ago, a mind-blowing story idea popped into my head while I shoveled snow. I decided to sit down and type it up. I finished shoveling. Then I did!

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I am addicted to reading, but I am also probably one of the world’s pickiest readers. I don’t read anything that plants disturbing images in my head. Because of that, I read and reread a wide range of young adult books—from anything written by good old Betsy Byars to The Hunger Games. Of the adult genre, I choose older books, such as ones written by Agatha Christie, Georgette Heyer, and Mary Stewart. My favorite Christian author of all time is Grace Livingston Hill. I do read some modern books too, but I’m pretty selective.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I quit working full time when our first daughter was born, and God has super blessed us. For the past eleven years, I’ve been able to stay home and work only a few hours a week, mostly from home. Jobs have included medical transcript work, a part-time church manager position, and my current job moonlighting as a lunch lady at my daughter’s elementary school.

This opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom and wife has allowed me to have a close and precious relationship with both my daughters, the youngest who is now eight, and with my husband. He and I work well together as a team, and because I’m able to get most the household tasks done during the day, we have time most evenings to take walks, laugh, and share what’s going on. We might not have the biggest house or go on fancy vacations, but it sure helps my sanity to spend daily time with my family and just talk. 

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I chose the Christian characters in Dove Strong to have nature-related names or Biblical names. Examples are Reed, Stone, and Gilead. I named my non-Christian characters anything I wanted, though some of their names sound pretty worldly to me. One of my favorite characters is a spunky, nonbeliever little girl named Jezebel. Biblically, her name is associated with not so great stuff, but names can fool you!

I have a self-proclaimed Jezebel in my book The 12 Gifts of Christmas that released in September. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Becoming a published author through Pelican Book Group is definitely up high on my list of accomplishments!

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

How funny! I just discussed this question with my eight-year-old last week. I’d choose to be a giant panda. I’m not a panda expert, but I believe that due to their size, they are not prey to predators. Whew! They also are strictly vegetarian; I don’t relish ripping up other animals as my main food source. Pandas seem to live peaceful lives in the bamboo forests. Plus, Kung Fu Panda is an awesome movie. 

What is your favorite food?

If I lived as a hermit with no one to judge me, I’d probably eat nothing but homemade cookies and cake. And I’d wash the sweets down with a never-ending supply of Diet Pepsi.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

My greatest challenge in my Dove Strong journey came when my first publishing house closed its doors a month before my book’s release. I was so distraught, I felt sick. Then I spent quite a bit of time talking with God about the situation and put it in His hands. I came away totally at peace—no anger or frustration. I followed my husband’s good advice about submitting to a different publishing house...and ta-da! 

Tell us about the featured book.

Here is the book’s official blurb:  Dove Strong loves God. She loves standing chin up, fists clenched when facing Satan’s attacks. But there’s one thing she doesn’t love—other people. So when this spiritually-gifted, antisocial teenager is chosen to join other believers in a trek across Satan’s territory, rattlesnakes and evil-intentioned Heathen aren’t her biggest challenges. But failure isn’t an option. In a month, the Christian Councils will decide the Reclaim, a vote on whether there’ll be a war between Christ’s and Satan’s followers to take back America. It is up to Dove, God’s messenger for peace, to reach her Council in time. Because if she doesn’t, things could get bloody.

Please give us the first page of the book.

I had two choices.

           

Either ignore my brother, Gilead. Or knock him out of the tree.

           

Then, the limb under my feet tried to buck me off.

           

“Quit it.” I snatched at an iffy branch near my ears while widening my stance.

           

How dumb of me not to have acted quicker. So what if a major reason I was about to risk my life trekking across the enemy’s territory was to save my brother’s? It would be kind of pointless if I killed Gilead now. But at least he wouldn’t be here, twenty feet in the air, annoying me.

           

The shaking lessened some, but I still grappled with the branches next to me.

           

“So help me, Gilead, I will tell Grandpa if you break my neck. What’s more, breaking my neck won’t help my survival rate for the trip. I’ll jump when it’s time, and it’s not time yet, so go home.”

           

As the shaking eased off, I squinted through the sunlit greenery at my brother. A foot taller than me, he perched on nearby limbs in the shade at the oak’s trunk with one foot still planted on my branch. His arm, one that could haul me over his shoulder without trying, gestured at a limb below us. It was the first step in a climb down into dead bushes and the water I’d soon land in.

Interesting! How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.erinlorence.com . They can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you, Erin, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Dove Strong - Paperback
Dove Strong - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS!!!

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Lourdes (NY) is the winner of a mp3 or CD edition of the 20th Anniversary audio book edition of The Princess by Lori Wick. 

Sharon (SC) is the winner of When the Clock Strikes Fourteen by C Kevin Thompson.

Connie (KY) is the winner of As the Ink Flows by Melony Teague and other authors. 

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

THE PROMISE - Carolyn Torbett-Johnson - One Free Book

Welcome, Carolyn. What has drawn you to writing for children?

I love kids, their enthusiasm, and their joy of new things. I especially love their openness to the gospel of truth. I wanted to write books for them that were Biblically sound to guide them on their walk through life.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I probably shouldn’t share this but when I was twelve I ran my dignified camp counselor’s nightie up the flag pole. The poor thing screamed when she came out of breakfast. She never said a word about it. I grew up, became a pastor’s wife and fifteen years later happened to go to a minister’s meeting where I once again met Sis. Eflin, my counselor. I was thrilled to see her. “Sis. Eflin, it nice to see you again. Do you remember years ago you were my camp counselor?” She squinted her eyes at me. “Yes, and you were the one who put my nightie up the flagpole.” Blushing, I had to admit my deed.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Not until I hit my fifties. I’d always been a voracious reader but in my fifties I decided to take a writing course. I was amazed that I could get lost in writing just as I lost myself in reading.

I was in my forties when I became a professional writer. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. 

I love, love, love the classics. I’m just finishing Jane Eyre for the upteenth time, Le Miserables, Silas Marner. I’m inspired by true stories: The Hiding Place, Giana, aborted and lived to tell about it, A Boy Called It. Oh, there are too many to name. Also I like lighter fare. Anything from Jeanette Oke or Lori Wick.

I recently featured The Princess by Lori Wick. It was which re-released as a a collectors edition print book and an audio book in two formats. What other books have you written published or not? 

I have made this book into a trilogy as there was so much I needed to share concerning the Orphan Train Riders. The second book, Oklahoma Bound, is published and the third in the trilogy is waiting for the artist to finish the cover. I also have an adult book in progress concerning a woman disillusioned by God and finding her way back while working on a Quilt of Valor.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Good question, I lead the youth group, teach kid’s church, oversee a Quilt of Valor group plus I’m the pastor’s wife and all that goes with that job. The time management classes help. I focus on one day and what needs to be done that day and preparations for the next. I try not to let aimless computer rambling and TV rob me of constructive pursuits. Plus I make time for devotions, preferably in the flower garden.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of, besides family?

That’s a tough one. I guess it’s when I conquered stage fright. I grew up in a singing family but fear starting taking over. It had become debilitating. God spoke to me one day and said He had not given me a spirit of fear. So, with a lot of prayer I began to face each fear. God brought me through. Thank God!

If you were an animal, which one would you be and why?

I think I would choose to be a golden retriever. They’re so trusting (sorry to Sugar, my Schnauzer) and loyal. Just to look at them gives me a feeling of peace and relaxation. I would love people to feel peace and relaxation around me and know that I am loyal and trustworthy.

What is you favorite food?

The easier question would be what isn’t my favorite food. I like to eat but I try to keep it under control. Hands down, the favorite would be chocolate but I enjoy a great steak, too. Good thing as I live in cattle country.

Is it hard to break into the children’s market? 

I think it’s hard to break into any market. If you just want to sit and type stories (my dream), forget it. Marketing is just as big a part as writing the book. It takes a lot of work. It’s a job, no mistake. But, if you love what you’re doing, then it’s all okay.

What advice would you give to an author wanting to do that?  

Be prepared to commit yourself to a schedule. Work on research - research for your book but also research for your market. Get together with as many kids as possible, try to get them to talk and then sit back, shut up, and really listen. Kids today think way different from when I was a kid.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book? 

 I first heard of the Orphan Train Riders through a documentary on PBS while I was taking my second writing course. I’d never heard of them and became fascinated by their story. A research assignment came up so I chose this subject. The more I read of their plight, the more I felt I had to share it with others. Over 200,000 children in the late 1800s and the early 1900s left cities in the eastern United States to find homes in the rest of the country. My first book tells what their life may have been like living on the streets of New York.

I’ve been interested in the Orphan Trains, too. I have a proposal being shopped by my agent, and the heroine is from an orphan train. One of the lines ended at Fort Worth, near where I live. How can readers find you on the Internet? 

My books are on www.Amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com . You can find me at www.CarolynTorbettJohnson.com . I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you, Carolyn, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here are links to the book.

The Promise - Christianbook.com
The Promise - Amazon.con

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

PRESSURE POINTS - Shelby Abbott - One Free Book

Welcome, Shelby. What are a few of the stressors students wrestle with in today’s culture that Pressure Points directly addresses? How are the challenges of today different from those of previous generations?

The book is divided into three main sections, addressing purpose, relationships and difficulties. Under those mains sections, I dive into relevant topics such as: God’s will, drinking, sex, pornography, relating to parents, friends, dating, authentic community, the fear of missing out (FOMO), struggling with failure, blocked goals, and even spiritual warfare.  It’s a lot of helpful advice in one concise package that aims for practical gospel solutions.

Because of technology and a smartphone in nearly everyone’s pocket, culture is quite different from previous generations. New temptations, means of gathering information, social constructs, and solution attempts are all approached through the lens of a technology-driven culture, and this presents new gospel opportunities to speak to unique cultural challenges. I cannot ignore the obviousness of technological influence on students while pointing them to biblical answers.

What exactly do you mean by “gospel solutions”?

When you begin to unpack the gospel, you discover very quickly that it is a bottomless pit of grace. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the answer to all of our struggles, but it can be difficult to see that when you are in the midst of feeling life’s pressures. This book is an attempt to lovingly guide young men and women toward the good news we read about in the pages of Scripture and help them understand that there are practical applications of the gospel in the big and small of everyday struggles. The gospel helps us to understand and know our place in life, and hopefully see how relevant it is to any and everyone, regardless of what the culture may look like today.

Can you share a little of your background with college students and why your experience helps you speak to them in a relevant and compelling way? How has humor helped you break down walls with college students in your ministry?

Because of my close interaction with college students for nearly 20 years as a minister on campus and director of summer mission trips with university students, I’ve been uniquely tuned in to what they experience and struggle with on a consistent basis. I address those issues head-on in ways others perhaps only write about in theory. I’ve also periodically done stand-up comedy in front of college students for the last 19 years, so I’m well aware of what they find funny and what can bomb, so this book attempts to speak to them poignantly while peppering in humor where appropriate.

Humor has the ability to break down walls in ways that practically no other medium can. As a result, it can be a powerful conduit for delivering gospel truth because so many students are willing to listen and accept a message that comes on the heels of something that makes them laugh.

Why is the fear of missing out (FOMO) so prevalent among today’s college students? How does technology shine a light on some of the pressure points in a student’s life?

Because of technology’s ability to show us everything that’s going on in the world right now, today’s young generation has been consumed by the idea that other better options are prevalent and attainable to them. Most college-aged Christians wrestle with FOMO all the time, and it has dramatically affected how they go about life. Their anxiety has increased, and they aren’t experiencing the abundant life Jesus promises to us. I explore some practical gospel solutions to this in the book, and I like to re-read those parts to myself regularly because this is an ongoing struggle for me too.

I wouldn’t say technology itself is the problem, rather I’d say technology forces the real problems to the surface of our lives so they become easy to spot. Fear, laziness, apathy, and the like are all attitudes that have always been around for generations, but technology has made them more clearly visible.

Dating has always been a pressure point for college students, but how has technology changed the modern dating scene? In what ways is the digital, online presentation of a person not an accurate picture of their true self?

Dating in general doesn’t really exist in the way it did before the age of the smartphone. What I’d call “traditional dating” is considered very old-fashioned and unbearably awkward for so many young people, to the point people are no longer asking one another out on dates, they’re just succumbing to the norm of “hook-up culture.” Sadly, that way of interacting with the opposite sex has quickly bled over onto the Christian scene. No, not as many Christian college students are hooking up and engaging in random sexual flings as compared to non-believing students, but the noncommittal kind of “whatever” attitude about relationships with the opposite sex is definitely present. Young people can hide behind the safety of their phones and protect themselves from any kind of face-to-face social anxiety simply by texting the opposite sex instead of engaging with them in person. The person-to-person interaction still has to happen, however, and I’ve found that part of relational interaction between the sexes is still a source of significant pressure for them.

Why has escapism become such a problem for college students?

Escapism has essentially become an idol that college students run to in order to fill the void they’re wrestling with in college. Post high school is often a time of self-reflection and discovery about who you are and what you want to do. Inevitably, young people are being pushed in ways they’re not used to because there’s the element of being on your own and feeling like an adult for probably the first time in your life. And when the pressures of college begin to squeeze, college students look to almost anything for a sense of relief. Often times, this can lead to drinking, drugs, sexual promiscuity, pornography, or a ton of other damaging things. What I want young people to see is t the false gods they run to will ultimately fail them because the void can only be filled by the true God in a relationship with Christ.

How does having a sense of belonging change young men and women and how they respond to life’s pressures? How important is authentic Christian community?

The Christian life was never meant to be lived in solitude, and the “I am an island” mentality of our modern culture comes into direct collision with that. Responding to life’s pressure points in seclusion will usually produce a life of disappointment and failure. However, when a student plugs in to a community like a church and campus ministry, he or she then has the opportunity to lean on fellow believers and really begin to tackle the pressures of life in a healthy way. It’s an admission of need (another modern cultural faux pas), but it shapes a heart of humility and character within a student.

Readers may find a few subjects they may not expect in Pressure Points. How important is it for college students to understand concepts such as what it means to wait or to suffer?

Impatience is one of the main character flaws our culture is guilty of today. Since we’ve gotten so used to the fast-paced speed of nearly everything, waiting is not a discipline we value or appreciate at all anymore. The Bible is full of examples of waiting on the Lord, because waiting is a faith exercise and it builds character in a way nothing else can. When young people actively wait on the Lord, it builds a depth in them that leads to the kind of integrity you can’t fake.

Another roadblock young adults stumble upon is suffering. College students don’t often see suffering in the proper way because we’ve been conditioned from a very early age to eliminate suffering of any kind once it enters our lives. I try to help them see that if we want to become more Christ-like, we are inevitably going to suffer in some form or fashion. And as we suffer, we are not alone. Jesus is right beside us in the hard times, both small and big.

How can parents best encourage their children as they transition to college and beyond?

There are, of course, many exhortations a parent can communicate to their soon-to-be college student, but one I think should be underscored is the importance of plugging in to a biblically sound gospel community of fellow believers. Not so their child can be “safe” or “shielded” from the negative aspects of the college environment, but so they can grow in their faith, share their faith, and multiply their faith in a way that invests in the lives of others for the glory of Jesus. The Lord calls us to lean into godly environments of fellow believers who will stretch us and foster an atmosphere of spiritual growth and multiplication (Matthew 28:18-20) that we might pass on our wisdom to others who should do the same.

How is the advice you share in Pressure Points particularly applicable for recent graduates/young adults entering the workforce?

We never graduate from walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, and focusing our lives on bringing glory to God, and this book certainly contains that overarching message. Practically, however, making and being a good friend, joining a church, navigating the tricky environment of modern romance, and other valuable subjects I cover in Pressure Points are highly applicable topics to recent graduates and young adults entering the workforce. Undoubtedly, young twenty-somethings can greatly benefit from what I’ve shared as they look toward beginning life post cap and gown.

Readers can find Abbott online at www.shelbyabbott.com.

Thank you, Shelby, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. It’s important to understand how we can help our students become successful adults.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Pressure Points - Christianbook.com
Pressure Points: A Guide to Navigating Student Stress - Amazon paperback
Pressure Points: A Guide to Navigating Student Stress - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS!!

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Linda (CA) is the winner of The Watch on the Fencepost by Kay DiBianca. 

Lana (TX) is the winner of How to Stir a Baker's Heart by Candice Sue Patterson.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

AS THE INK FLOWS - Melony Teague and other authors - One Free Book

BIO: Melony Teague is a freelance writer who believes everyone has a story to tell and each story is unique and sometimes wilder than fiction. She loves to uncover the good news in society and writes human interest and community pieces. As co-author of As the Ink Flows, she loves to inspire and motivate others through her written words. In her spare time, she reviews books and interviews authors on her website. She also teaches seniors in her local community to write their own personal story. She writes Contemporary Romance with a dash of humor. Member of ACFW. Melony Teague was born in South Africa and now lives in Toronto with her husband, their two teenagers, and two cats.

Welcome, Melony. What would you like our readers to know about you personally?

I am been blessed to part of a writers group who have been my loudest cheerleaders and dearest friends. And writing our devotional together bonded us in such a way that we are like family. God knew what He was doing when he put us together. We still meet and cheer each other on after all these years.

That is a special blessing. Tell us about your family.

My husband and I were born in South Africa and we arrived in Toronto, Canada, to make a new home in 1999. I now have two Canadian teenagers and have made a life with my beloved husband, although the winters are a tad too long for my liking.

Have you written other nonfiction books?

I am honored to be included in an all-Canadian anthology called, Christmas with Hot Apple Cider, where I was able to tell the story of our first new year’s eve in Canada from the perspective of new immigrant who was still getting used to North American ways.

I’d love to feature that book during this year’s Christmas season. Do you have any other books in the works right now?

Yes, I am dabbling in fiction at the moment. I write Contemporary Romance with a dash, okay, a large helping of humor on the side. My aim is to bring laughter and escape to those who are facing the difficulties of life. I’m also in the midst of revisions on a YA Rom Com.

I’d love to feature those when they are published. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

Does drinking coffee and eating chocolate count as hobbies? I sure hope they do. I excel at those. I also am good at answering to the demands my two cats put on me. When they are that cute, I am helpless to resist. I also love to read. And if I won the lottery, I’d travel more.

Why did you write the featured book?

Our writers group wanted to write a devotional that would inspire and uplift writers and speakers. We particularly felt it was important to address issues pertaining to writers and the challenges we face. It was important to us to include a writing prompt at the end of each entry so that there would be a call to action.

Sounds wonderful. I look forward to reading my copy. What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

First, my co-authors and I want the reader to be inspired and to know they are not alone in their journey. As Christians, faith plays a role in what we write because of our worldview and how we write because we do it with and for Christ.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?

The book of 90 devotions is divided into themed sections: The Craft, Inspiration, Know Yourself, Well-Being, Personalities, and Faithfulness. This enables the reader to pick out whatever they need on any given day based on which themes appeal to them at the time.

Please give us the first page or two from the book.

Here is a sample link of the book: Grab your free sample copy of the e-book here: https://bookgrabbr.com/books/38096-as-the-ink-flows

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?  

WEBSITE: https://www.melonyteague.com/

FOLLOW ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MelonyTeague

FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/melonyteague/

FOLLOW ON GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14249646.Melony_Teague

Book links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NmyU4v

Christianbook.com: http://ow.ly/6Z7K30nNIig

Judson Press: https://www.judsonpress.com/Products/J237/as-the-ink-flows.aspx?bCategory=JPBKS!JPINSP

Barnes & Noble: http://ow.ly/A0EP30nNIzZ

Thank you, Melony, for sharing this devotional with my blog readers and me.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES FOURTEEN - C Kevin Thompson - One Free Book

Welcome back, Kevin. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

When I write fiction, I like to have an overarching theme (sometimes two) that covers the story from cover to cover. For The Serpent’s Grasp, it was the question of “What is Truth?” I looked at this from a scientific perspective as it relates to creationism versus evolution. One of the main characters, Dr. Evelyn Sims, wrestles with this dilemma as a Christian in the world of science, dominated by evolutionary theory, throughout the book.

For my Blake Meyer Thriller Series, it’s the question of “What is True Peace?” Blake has spent his life “protecting and serving” his country in various ways to make sure all Americans can live in peace. However, as his personal world gets turned on its head, he starts to see how peace can never be had through guns and laws and wars and alliances. He’s got to look somewhere else to find true peace, and his friend, Harrison Kelly, will help him in the end “get his God thing” going.

In my upcoming standalone novel, The Letters, it deals with the topic of abortion, but it’s more about how interwoven the physical and spiritual worlds are around us…much more than we tend to think or believe, even as Christians.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

Besides Book 4 of my Blake Meyer Series, When the Clock Strikes Fourteen, I have Book 5, A Pulse of Time, coming out in the latter part of 2019. Then, in January of 2020, the e-book of The Letters will be released, with the paperback coming out in February. Then, in the fall of 2020, Book 6, the final installment of the Blake Meyer Series, titled Devil of a Crime, will be released.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

In a previous interview, you asked me a similar question about spending time with “a person who is alive.” My answer was Steven Spielberg. Since he is alive and a contemporary, I’ll use someone else this go around, because there is more than one. J

Another person I’d love to sit down and meet is Tim Tebow. I’ve seen him play a lot (Go Gators!), and have followed his career after his years at the University of Florida. For a celebrity, he is—in my opinion—the closest thing to how we should live our lives for Christ. He’s never strayed from who he is in Christ. His message has remained constant. Despite all the successes and failures on the field and baseball diamond, despite all the positive and negative press coverage, despite all the people who lambaste him because of his faith, he remains true to God’s calling, and does it with a joy that’s unfortunately rare. He’s really a missionary in the world of sports and entertainment.

What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

In a previous interview, my answer to this question was William Shakespeare, because of how he was light years ahead of his time. We still use so many of his writings, his themes, and writing methods today. But there is more than one answer to this question as well.

Besides Shakespeare, I’ve always wanted to meet Gerard Groote, founder of the Brethren of the Common Life. He was an educator (so we have one thing in common) who came to a saving knowledge of Christ (now there’s two things in common) and founded a group which later became known as the Brethren of the Common Life in the mid-fourteenth century. A Roman Catholic pietist (we do not have that in common), Groote believed following Christ was to be a simple devotion, not cluttered with all the things his former life had espoused as necessary and worthwhile. I wrote a paper on the Brethren many years ago when I was in seminary, and found it hard to locate materials on them. However, they had an influence on such notables as Erasmus, who was educated as an orphan in one of their schools, and later wrote a work titled Enchiridion militis Christiani, or Manual of the Christian Soldier. It was this book that rejected monasticism and lobbied for true piety (which was a Brethren of the Common Life belief), and became a major reference for the Protestant Reformation.

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

I have two answers for these authors. First, understand that rejections come in all forms. Some rejections are solely subjective. That particular editor at that particular publishing house didn’t like your work. That doesn’t mean ALL editors will feel the same way. And it doesn’t mean that publishing house will always be scratched off your list. Editors move. They leave for myriads of reasons and are replaced with new ones. That new one may love your work. So always keep up on who the editors are as much as which house rejected your work.

In other instances, the publishers may be going through reorganization of duties, so that editor isn’t sure his or her imprint will even be doing that type of fiction next month. Maybe they are being bought up by another company, and nobody knows if they even have a job next month! The point is, there are a hundred scenarios that could be painted, each one particular to that specific editor and/or house at that moment in time. Like the thunderstorms in Florida, wait thirty minutes. Things will change.

Second, don’t take it personally. The old saying is, “This isn’t personal. It’s business.” There are no truer words in publishing. That editor, for whatever reason, did not believe your work would make economic sense AT THIS TIME…FOR THEM. But there is another saying, too. “Where God is, the doors always open wide.” So if the editor slams the door shut, just know it’s only one of a thousand doors you can knock on. And God said to keep knocking, right? We are to ask, seek, and knock, according to Jesus’s sermon in Matthew. However, when we do, we not only need to be knocking on the right doors, we must—more importantly—be knocking for the right reasons. Now, that’s probably the hardest part for a writer!

Tell us about the featured book.

Here’s the Back Cover Copy:

An Insane Retribution. An Insidious Radical. An Intense Reunion.

When he got married, Supervisory Special Agent Blake Meyer worried that shielding his family from his past would prove to be formidable. Now, as precious time ticks away, Blake finds himself flying over the ocean at twenty thousand feet, searching for his family, and watching helplessly as his greatest fear wraps its tentacles around his past, present, and future, inextricably weaving them into a deadly game of vengeance.

With the help of his longtime friend, Harrison Kelly, and a small band of soldiers, Blake sets out to rescue the only people he has ever, truly loved…before it’s too late.

However, unbeknownst to Blake, retooled plans have been set in motion to keep the contagion in play. To keep the threat alive. To bring a country to its knees. And forge the dawning of a new era.

One free of American interference.

One dominated and controlled by those who survive the carnage.

One without Blake Meyer.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Genforma Laboratories

On the outskirts of Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

Lazar Nicolescu entered the decrepit backroom of the Genforma Laboratories’ biohazard lab every twenty minutes to check on a gray-colored marmot that looked like a large, overweight groundhog with a squirrel’s tail, otherwise known as specimen number fifteen. He grabbed the clipboard hanging inside the door and headed straight to the animal.

This experiment—the last one, if Lazar’s plans worked out—began two hours ago. Unlike the others, especially the last one involving Peter Zakayev, the Russian dissident handcuffed in the next room over, this one was designed to “reset” the contagion’s timeline. Lazar believed that if he was to expose Peter to the contagion now that he was theoretically immune, he needed to replicate the best and most realistic scenario he could muster in this God-forsaken hole of a lab.

As Lazar bent over to examine the test subject, he noticed specimen number fifteen shaking slightly, as if the animal was afraid. He tapped on the glass, and the animal lifted its head slightly but was not reacting the way Lazar thought it would or should have.

Then, the marmot shook its coat, like a dog trying to dry itself after taking a bath, and crawled into the corner, snuggling in like it was going down for a nap. The exertion caused the animal to breathe heavy.

He is not his perky self. And his breathing seems labored. Lazar jotted his thoughts down in the log. Test subject is showing signs of distress. Nothing substantial, but definitely a change from the last check twenty minutes ago.

Interesting! How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me at these locations:

Website:                                 www.ckevinthompson.com/

Kevin’s Writer’s Blog:          www.ckevinthompson.blogspot.com/

Facebook:                               C. Kevin Thompson – Author Fan Page

Twitter:                                   @CKevinThompson

Pinterest:                                ckevinthompsonauthor/

Instagram:                               ckevinthompson

Goodreads:                             C. Kevin Thompson

BookBub:                                C. Kevin Thompson

Thank you, Kevin, for sharing this new book in the series.

Readers, here are links to the book.

When the Clock Strikes Fourteen (The Blake Meyer Thriller series) - Amazon Paperback
When the Clock Strikes Fourteen (The Blake Meyer Thriller Series Book 4) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com