Tag Archives: nonfiction

Happy Release Day — The Bucket List Journey Home

11 Jul

Happy release day to Amy Smith Hobbs. I know it must be a bittersweet day as The Bucket List Journey Home details the Amy’s experience of walking with her mother through pancreatic cancer. Find out more about this faith-building book below.

When Amy’s mother created her final bucket list, no one could have guessed how much healing it would bring. Sometimes, the greatest miracles happen in the most unexpected ways, and God shows His faithfulness even as life nears its end.

Amy S. Hobbs was a successful attorney in her home state of Georgia when her mother received a surprising diagnosis: stage IV pancreatic cancer, with six weeks to live. After leaving her job and bringing her mother into her home to start hospice care, the family was left with a simple question: What’s the next best step?

While deciding how best to live out the remainder of her life, Amy’s mother came up with a bucket list of all the things she desired to do. With sixty-nine items on her list, Amy’s mother and her family set out on a season of life-giving adventures.

Family and friends rallied together. Forgiveness was extended, and broken relationships restored. And Amy’s family found the courage and strength in Christ to face the inevitable with grace and joy.

This memoir is a sweet reminder of God’s goodness and unconditional love, and it is the perfect gift for anyone facing grief, loss, or terminal illness with their loved ones. Filled with powerful stories and heart-healing metaphors, The Bucket List Journey Home is a testament of God’s tremendous faithfulness in seasons of trial-from the support of Amy’s family and friends to the unwavering faith and courage of a woman who loved Jesus with all her heart.

Amy S. Hobbs is a Georgia native and attorney who was raised in the small town of Vidalia, but currently resides in Cumming with her husband and three children—who are her greatest joys. She is a proud alum of the University of Georgia and a small group women’s ministry leader at Browns Bridge Church. Amy now writes to tell her mother’s story—one of unwavering faith and courage to live life to the fullest. You can often find her at UGA football events, gardening, spending time on the lake, or on her front porch swing with family and friends. For more information, please visit author’s website at https://amyshobbs.wixsite.com/author.

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Author Interview — Laine Lawson Craft, Author of The Parent’s Battle Plan

7 Jun

About The Book

Book: The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal

Author: Laine Lawson Craft

Genre: Non-fiction

Release date: March 14, 2023

You are not alone–there is hope and healing for every hurting heart.

Today’s technology has made sinful experiences and deadly choices accessible to our teenagers and young adults with just a click. And parents are left with the disappointments–and devastating fallout–of their children’s choices.

Through sharing her own story of praying three very wayward prodigals home, Laine Lawson Craft offers not only hope and insight, but also a practical, tried-and-true battle plan for parents walking this heartbreaking season of life. You’ll discover how to

  • handle the emotional roller coaster of trust
  • deal with your children’s self-destructive choices
  • pray emboldened by God’s promises
  • fight for your child’s destiny
  • and more

You can win the war of darkness over your children–even when you don’t get the miracle you asked for.

Click HERE to purchase.

About The Author

Laine Lawson Craft (www.lainelawsoncraft.com) is a best-selling and award-winning author, popular media host, and in-demand speaker. The founder and publisher of WHOAwomen magazine (2010-2018), she regularly hosts online challenges and masterclasses as well as Facebook and Instagram Live events that reach thousands. Her Warfare Parenting podcast encourages parents of adult children. Laine and her husband, Steve, have three children and live in Florida.

More from Laine

I would love to introduce my friend, best-selling and award-winning author, whom you may not know yet with a little of the behind the scenes insight. She’s a mom, wife, and partners with God making impossible things become possible not only in her life but for thousands of others. She has a unique perspective because she had a seventeen-year-old marriage resurrect, a financial breakthrough after almost filing bankruptcy, a daughter healed from life-threatening illnesses, and three prodigal children delivered that are now free, whole, and healed. In 2006, she realized that what she was doing as a parent was not working. It seemed that her emotional pleas, rules, and religion weren’t helping her bring her prodigal back home. So she decided and made it my mission to partner with God at a whole new level and created a new way of parenting – one that would bring peace to her life, help millions of other parents, and bring their prodigals back home too. Her newest book, The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal is a must-read book to help parent’s with wayward teens and young adults.

Q & A with Laine Lawson Craft

Many authors say that they have always been a writer. When did you come to realize this?

I wrote early on in my early 20s laid it down for over twenty years and picked it back up in my early 50s.

Was there a special someone, such as a teacher, parent, or other relative, who encouraged you to pursue writing?

My husband read some of my first words and fell in love with them and actually had no idea they were my words! So he has been my number one cheerleader and fan.

Were there any obstacles you faced in your journey to publication?

I had a major advantage because I had published a national magazine circulated to every bookstore in America and Canada named WHOAwomen Magazine. Therefore, I had a lot of experience, and then God connected me to the right people.

What types of research did you pursue?

Not too much, but mainly on families’ health and children in distress and hurting.

What does a typical writing day look like? Are you structured or informal in
your writing schedule?

I am very structured. I work best with a plan and a schedule of goals to reach in my writing,

How long does is it take for you to write a book?

Less than a year.

Can you tell us what inspired your book?

Desiring to help other parents who were struggling with wayward children no matter how old they were, to find hope and ways to win their prodigals back home and heal their families

What do you want your readers to take away with them after finishing reading your book?

After reading the book, The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal will help parents who are struggling with wayward children, no matter how old they are, find the hope that with one touch from God, their prodigal can be delivered and everything can change instantly and that these tried-and-true tools and applications found in this book can initiate the shift in their family win their prodigals home and give the victory!

Readers always want to know what is next for an author. Do you have any works in progress you can share about?

Yes, I would love to publish a daily 365 Day devotional book I have been working on with daily scripture, devotional, and prayer for every day in the battle to keep parents strengthened and encouraged.

Please include any personal information you would like to share (family, hobbies, etc.)

Yes, I love walking, praising and worshiping, cooking, and being with my family! The beach is my favorite place to be!

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 25

Vicky Sluiter, May 26 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 27

Simple Harvest Reads, May 28 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 29

Guild Master, May 30 (Author Interview)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 31

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 1 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, June 2

An Author’s Take, June 3

Artistic Nobody, June 4 (Author Interview)

The Life We Build, June 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 5

Vibrant Wings, June 6

By The Book, June 7 (Author Interview)

Walking Fruitfully, June 7

Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Laine is giving away the grand prize of $100 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/26267/the-parents-battle-plan-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Top 10 Tuesday — My Husband’s TBR List

21 Mar

Happy Tuesday! Today is a REWIND day at TTT, so I am mashing a few of the prompts and presenting my husband’s specially curated TBR list. Curated by yours truly. 😉 I have created a little shelf consisting of books I have read that I think my husband might like, plus books that I purchase for him for birthdays, Christmas, or whenever. His TBR doesn’t dwindle much, but it sure does grow. I hope you find a book that you or that special man in your life may enjoy.

For more REWIND lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books I Have Added to My Husband’s TBR List

The Barrister And The Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson

As a barrister in 1818 London, William Snopes has witnessed firsthand the danger of only the wealthy having their voices heard, and he’s a strong advocate who defends the poorer classes against the powerful. That changes the day a struggling heiress, Lady Madeleine Jameson, arrives at his door.

In a last-ditch effort to save her faltering estate, Lady Jameson invested in a merchant brig, the Padget. The ship was granted a rare privilege by the king’s regent: a Letter of Marque authorizing the captain to seize the cargo of French traders operating illegally in the Indian Sea. Yet when the Padget returns to London, her crew is met by soldiers ready to take possession of their goods and arrest the captain for piracy. And the Letter–the sole proof his actions were legal–has mysteriously vanished.

Moved by the lady’s distress, intrigued by the Letter, and goaded by an opposing solicitor, Snopes takes the case. But as he delves deeper into the mystery, he learns that the forces arrayed against Lady Jameson, and now himself, are even more perilous than he’d imagined.

Blood Mountain Covenant by Charles E. Hill

The factual account of a late nineteenth-century Georgian mountain town, “Blood Mountain Covenant: A Son’s Revenge” is the story behind the gruesome murder of John Lance, a man who preached the word of God and was loved by the friends and family of his small town. 

Trouble begins for John Lance and his family when Jim, the narrator of the story and son of the late John Lance, is attacked by a group of notorious outlaws and viciously beaten. This incident serves as the catalyst for John Lance’s outcry of injustice over this violent assault, and ultimately leads to his murder and his son’s revenge on the people who committed this act against his family. With photos, documentary pages and actual testimony from the trial of John Lance’s murder, Charles Hill’s “Blood Mountain Covenant: A Son’s Revenge” paints a detailed picture of the people and daily life of a North Georgian town in the nineteenth century, and one family’s struggle to walk the path of righteousness, while warding off the treachery in their midst.

The Eagle’s Claw by Jeff Shaara

The factual account of a late nineteenth-century Georgian mountain town, “Blood Mountain Covenant: A Son’s Revenge” is the story behind the gruesome murder of John Lance, a man who preached the word of God and was loved by the friends and family of his small town. 

Trouble begins for John Lance and his family when Jim, the narrator of the story and son of the late John Lance, is attacked by a group of notorious outlaws and viciously beaten. This incident serves as the catalyst for John Lance’s outcry of injustice over this violent assault, and ultimately leads to his murder and his son’s revenge on the people who committed this act against his family. With photos, documentary pages and actual testimony from the trial of John Lance’s murder, Charles Hill’s “Blood Mountain Covenant: A Son’s Revenge” paints a detailed picture of the people and daily life of a North Georgian town in the nineteenth century, and one family’s struggle to walk the path of righteousness, while warding off the treachery in their midst.

Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill

After her rescue of nearly fifty kidnapped children made international headlines, Amara Alvarez gets what she’s worked for: a transfer to San Antonio’s Homicide Division. Reality sets in quickly, though, as her first case, the suspicious death of a teenager at a crowded local water park, brings chaos to her personal life.

As the investigation moves forward and she increases the pressure on the suspects, Amara finds herself under attack by cybercriminals. Her every move is being potentially watched online, and she’s forced to resort to unconventional methods to find the killer. With few leads, she fights to keep her first murder investigation from ending up in the cold case files.

Tom Threadgill is back with another riveting page-turner featuring the detective who is willing to put everything on the line to see that justice is served and lives are protected.

The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal

After a rough mission in Rome involving the discovery of a devastating bioweapon, Company spy Ben Calix returns to Paris to find his perfectly ordered world has collapsed. A sniper attack. An ambush. A call for help that brings French SWAT forces down on his head. Ben is out. This is a severance–reserved for incompetents and traitors.

Searching for answers and anticipating a coming attack, Ben and a woman swept up in his misfortunes must travel across Europe to find the sniper who tried to kill him, the medic who saved his life, the schoolmaster who trained him, and an upstart hacker from his former team. More than that, Ben must come to grips with his own insignificance as the Company’s plan to stop Leviathan from unleashing the bioweapon at any cost moves forward without him–and he struggles against the infection that is swiftly claiming territory within his own body.

Award-winning author James R. Hannibal ratchets up the tension on every page of this suspenseful new thriller.

The Scepter And The Isle by Murray Pura and Patrick E. Craig

CHANTICLEER INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS FINALIST — HEMINGWAY 20TH CENTURY WARTIME FICTION

It did not end with Guadalcanal. It did not end with one island. There were more islands… an island with snow-capped peaks, friendly people, blue seas, where Bud found love with his Tongan princess. Where Billy breathed the clean air of mountains where no danger lurked. Where Johnny found a way to drain the hate that drove him mad. They found life again after the death-filled frenzy of Guadalcanal But the God of war was not done with them. More islands sent their siren call from beyond distant horizons and they were cast upon dark shores. Islands with coconut palms, dense green jungle and death. Islands that took more life than they ever gave back. Islands where women killed like men, islands filled with the most brutal soldiers the Japanese Empire could offer. Tarawa. Saipan. Islands that had to be endured. Islands they had to survive. There was no other way to bring the war to an end. There was no other way to get home again.

Spirit of The Rabbit Place by J. R. Collins

Gold can capture the heart of most common men. Its lustful color is said to have been the downfall of many throughout the known history. Few are safe from its deeply rich, heavy, golden pull. The Southern Appalachian Mountains of 1829 laid as a proper haven for the lost ones who would venture there in search of this absolute treasure. Riches beyond their wildest dreams danced in their minds as they trailed to lands they’d never seen. A quest to find streams filled with the easy haul of pure gold nuggets. Jebediah Collins, a lad of Irish descent, and his best friend Wolf, a Cherokee boy of pure ancestry, faced the challenge of living with this invasion of gold lookers. A greed uncommon to their way of life. This coming requires them to fight for their way of life in a valley the Indians call “Place of the Rabbits”. The settlers knew it as “Choestoe”, pronounced Cho-E-sto-E, or “Land of the Dancing Rabbits.” This spirit, known only to a few, but respected by all that experience it, exists in the heart of Chosestoe. The Cherokee knew it as Ga-lv-quo-di-a-da-nv-do Tsi-e-tsi-yi-i. Me and Wolf as . . . Spirit of the Rabbit Place.

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Spotlight And Author Interview — Finding Common Ground

17 Aug

About The Book

Book: Finding Common Ground: One Octogenarian’s Quest to Help Our Nation Heal

Author: Robynne Elizabeth Miller & Marilyn Siden

Genre: Narrative Nonfiction/Memoir

Release date: April 2, 2021

Because she’d had enough. Enough anger. Enough hatred. Enough division.

Marilyn Siden has lived through much: the aftermath of World War II, Korea, and the horror of Vietnam. She’s navigated good political administrations and struggling ones, a thriving economy and want. Her eight decades of experience living in the US have shown her the best America has to offer and, unfortunately, the worst. But she never thought America would become a place of vitriol and despair.

So, she decided to do something about it.

Through a series of epic journeys across America, Marilyn discovered what she was after: practical advice on how to help our nation heal.

But she found something she wasn’t expecting . . . something far more powerful.

Marilyn found our common ground.

Click here to get your copy!

About The Authors

Robynne Elizabeth Miller is wife to an amazing Brit and mother to a glorious brood of adopted and biological kids. Her adventures have led her to over twenty-five countries, from Malta to Russia, and she’s lived about a quarter of her life in the English countryside. She currently makes her home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, spending much of her time telling locals they don’t need to apologize for the rain.

With dozens of articles, essays, and blog posts to her credit, as well as eight books and collaborations on several more, she’s put her B.A. from Westmont College and her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction & Fiction from Ashland University to good use She’s an experienced speaker, editor, and writing coach, and teaches regularly at conferences and writer’s workshops. She currently serves as President and Director of Leadership of Inspire Christian Writers and hosts The Art of Semi-Fiction podcast, where she explores every corner of the written word.

On quieter days, Robynne can be found meandering back roads with her family, cooking up some grand adventure with her friends, singing at the top of her lungs, or making bacon from scratch.

Marilyn Siden is blessed with a wonderful family— four grown children, twelve beautiful, talented, Godly grandchildren, and an amazing husband.

**************************

More from Robynne and Marilyn

Hello Dear Readers!

Feeling a little discouraged about the state of our nation today? Convinced you have no hope of being part of the solution?

Good news!

Not only are you ABLE to be a part of helping to heal our nation, but you are both called AND equipped to do so, right where you are. No matter your skillset or resources, you can start being a light for Jesus right now. And that light, however small you perceive it to be, WILL shine in these dark times.

Taking this journey at nearly 80 and crossing the country in search of practical solutions to start reversing the hatred and hurt blanketing our nation was challenging.

But it was worth it, too.

Not only is the book filled with stories of hope and encouragement, it’s filled with practical steps we can all take to start healing hurts, restoring our communities, building a safer future for our children, and bringing light back to our nation.

Are you ready?

We are standing on common ground!

Q & A With Robynne

Many authors say that they have always been a writer. When did you come to realize this?

I learned to read extremely early. From the moment I realized that behind the collections of letters scrawled across a page were adventures and experiences beyond my own four walls, I was hooked. By the time I entered kindergarten, I had decided I would one day be a writer. It took slightly longer than intended, but after ten books, with more on the way, I have finally fulfilled that little girl’s dream.

Can you tell us a little about what inspired your book?

My dear friend, Marilyn Siden, was the inspiration for this project. It was her own desire to be part of the solution to our nation’s current state that propelled her to take a remarkable journey over the course of a year. And as we both have a heart to see healing, it did not take me long to be both enthralled with and entrenched in the project. I believe we are all to be part of the solution, and this book shows us all the ways that is possible. 

What do you want your readers to take away with them after finishing Finding Common Ground? 

That we all can be, and should be, part of the solutions that are so desperately needed. And it starts with simply listening to each other. From there, the smallest of efforts can, and will, make the largest of differences. There is great hope.

Readers always want to know what is next for an author. Do you have any works in progress you can share about?

I do have books of my own in the works, the next of which will be another in the Little House realm, as many of my books are. But also in the near future is another collaboration with Marilyn Siden. 

Please include any personal information you would like to share (family, hobbies, etc.)

I have a decided love for contributing to the legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder via biographies and essays on the real characters she wrote about. I’ve also lived in the UK for over ten years, have a beautiful blend of adopted and biological kids, and am married to the most wonderful of Brits. 

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 16

By The Book, August 17 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, August 18

Inklings and notions, August 19

For Him and My Family, August 20

Blossoms and Blessings, August 21 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 21

deb’s Book Review, August 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 23

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 24

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 25

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 27

Splashes of Joy, August 28 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, August 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 29

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Marilyn and Robynne are giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/112e3/finding-common-ground-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Book Spotlight and Author Interview (+ A Giveaway!) — Eric Odell-Hein

16 Nov

About The Book

Book: Finding My Son

Author: Eric Odell-Hein

Genre: Christian Memoir, Adoption

Release Date: February 21, 2018

Eric was perfectly happy being one half of a dual income, no kids family. Having the freedom to travel the world with his wife Christine, while indulging his hobbies and furthering his education and career, was a pretty sweet life.

Christine wanted to be a mom.

Though he was scared he didn’t have what it took to be a good dad, Eric wanted to fulfill his wife’s dream. After years of trying to conceive, however, the couple received a devastating diagnosis: infertility.

For Christine, adoption was the obvious answer. Eric wasn’t so sure.

In Finding My Son: A Father’s Adoption Journey, author Eric Odell-Hein offers an unfiltered view into the heart and mind of a man who has experienced the sometimes messy and often awkward process of becoming a father through adoption. Encouraging men to acknowledge the fears they don’t want to admit while advocating a thoughtful, deliberate transparency as the best approach to even the most unnatural, uncomfortable aspects of the adoption process. Eric shares his misgivings and mistakes with an honesty that does not deny his insecurities.

A valuable resource for any man considering growing his family through adoption—or anyone seeking to understand the process — this engaging memoir is a testament to the beautiful gift of adoption and a touching account of a father’s love.

Click here to get your copy!

About The Author

SONY DSC

Eric Odell-Hein (PhD, MDiv, MRS, ThB) is the president of Columbia Evangelical Seminary. The teaching pastor at Summit Evangelical Free Church, he is also the author of Recovering Lost Treasure: Finding Christ in Ancient Myth, Symbol, and Ritual and Systems of Evil: A Study in Comparative Theodicy. Eric lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with his wife Christine and their son Ephraim. All three are passionate travelers.

More from Eric

Adoption was a scary prospect for me. My mother and all her siblings are adopted, and the family dynamic for them was challenging. So when my wife decided we should adopt, I initially responded with a flat-out “no.” But my heart changed, and I am strongly convinced that our son, who joined us via adoption back in 2008 when he was just two days old, is the greatest child in the entire world. If you knew where I was emotionally prior to adoption compared with where I am now, you would marvel at the change. My adoption book is for people like me, particularly men, who struggle with the enormity of the choice to adopt and the constant challenges of the process.

On a lighter and more personal side, when people learn about all the various aspects of my life, they often have to stop and process the seemingly incongruous pieces. Some people know me as a guy who has spent more than two decades in software and entertainment, primarily in various aspects of behind-the-scenes video game technology and management. My entire family plays games, and more often than not, when I get back home in the evening, I find my wife and son online with other members of the extended family playing Minecraft. Sometimes we’ll all get in an online session together, each one of us at our own TV on our own Xbox, and take on bad guys together in one game or another.

Other people know my intellectual side, where I have earned several degrees in areas of theology and religion, including a Ph.D., as well as serving as president of Columbia Evangelical Seminary. I previously published two books on academic topics (evil among world religions, religious symbology) and have more in various stages of development, the next one being a focus on the ancient Near Eastern (ANE) cosmogonic/chaos-order symbolism in baptism. As a teaching pastor, I have a reputation for sermons with an intense ANE contextual emphasis that are part sermon and part seminary course. Check out my most recent four-part series on the Odell-Hein Books Facebook page here.

I was born in Germany to an American family, and while my German-language skills have deteriorated, I love German music. I’m very excited that my favorite group, Juli, has a new album coming out later this year. It’s mild stuff compared to most of the rock or industrial music I listen to, but they’re good. Check out the first single from their upcoming album here. I’ll be one of the small handful of Americans who purchase the album on the day it first releases in the US.

When not working or playing games with the family, I read primarily academic ANE books. When we’re in the car, I love to subject the family to my go-to podcast, the Naked Bible Podcast. No, it’s not what it sounds like. If you want to hear a serious scholar tackle the ANE context for the Bible, start with Dr. Michael Heiser’s Exodus series (it begins with episode 255).

Q&A with Eric Odell-Hein

BTB: Many authors say that they have always been a writer. When did you come to realize this.

Eric: I remember sitting at my dad’s typewriter when I was a child and trying to write a story. If I recall correctly, I was inspired after reading The Lord of The Rings. Writing has been an interest since those early years. However, the desire to write lay dormant for several years. In my early thirties, after I finished my master’s thesis, I realized I still had the desire to write, and now I had some measure of confidence and skills to match the desire. But the desire and skills weren’t for fiction, but for non-fiction, particularly academic or quasi-academic instructive writing. After a couple of academically oriented books, I wrote this one, Finding My Son: A Father’s Adoption Journey, which is my first foray into popular-level non-fiction. 

BTB: What does a typical writing day look like? Are you structured or informal in your writing schedule?

Eric: My writing schedule is very informal. Between having a family, two jobs, and volunteering in ministry, finding time to write is challenging. I try to give myself at least three uninterrupted hours, so when I find those chunks of time I can dedicate to writing, I always head outside and away from distractions. The time of year doesn’t matter. Even if it’s cold outside, I have heat sources that keep me relatively warm. I turn on some music and settle in with my laptop. Right now I’m sitting on the back patio, taking shelter from the rain under a large umbrella, with my favorite band, Juli, playing in the background. It takes me a bit to get into a good writing groove, but once I’m on a roll, I can really go. For a significant period of time, my job had me going to Montreal on a regular basis. Montreal is a great city, but there are also a lot of ways to get in trouble. I found that simply staying in my hotel room and writing was a great thing: my wife always knew where I was and I had quality time to write. 

BTB: How long does it usually take to write your books — from first outlines/ drafts to final edits.ER

Eric: It truly varies by style of book. I always start with an outline. For academic books, the outlines get progressively more detailed and I layer in citations and sources for every sub-point. For this book, I only created a basic two-page outline consisting of the chapter topics along with a handful of possible points I might want to cover. However, I quickly abandoned the outline. As this was a very personal story, sticking to the outline felt too manufactured, and one of my primary goals was to be transparent and authentic. The process turned out to be far more organic and personal. As a result of having some free time to write and finding that natural flow, the first draft ended up taking three days. That’s not normal for me. My first book, Recovering Lost Treasure, was the end result of thirteen years of research and writing, but it required significant academic research.

BTB: Can you tell us a little about what inspired your book.

Eric: I am an adoptive father, and despite my deep misgivings and fears when first considering adoption, it has been the most wonderful thing in my life. When my wife and I first started researching adoption and going to classes, all of the books we were instructed to read were authored by women. They were all excellent, and while they had a general target audience, they spoke from a certain point of view and seemed to resonate particularly well with my wife. I love learning — all information is good — but I sought something more. I wanted something that could speak to me where I was at. During the process and in the years that followed, I found that my particular set of challenges and experiences weren’t unique, and many other prospective adoptive fathers faced many of the same fears I did, and I’m sure many prospective mothers face the same challenges. I decided to use my personal experience, told from the husband/father’s perspective, to provide the type of resource I wish was available when I was going through the adoption process. 

BTB: What do you want your readers to take away with them after finishing Finding My Son. 

Eric: It’s okay to have fears, questions, and doubts when going through something major like deciding to adopt. We don’t strengthen ourselves our or families by suppressing uncertainty. Instead, we need to accept that we have questions, openly acknowledge our insecurities, and work through the challenges with intentional transparency and authenticity. We need to be honest about who we actually are as opposed to a view of what we think we ought to be. It’s dangerous to use false expectations, either self-imposed or externally influenced, as a launching point for making decisions. 

BTB: Please share about your family, hobbies, and future WIP.

Eric: Christine and I have been married since 1992, and Ephraim joined our family via adoption in 2008. A great life became wonderful at that point. As a family, we love to play video games together. Ephraim and I always end our days by watching funny videos together. Individually, I spend a lot of time doing research on the ancient Near Eastern context of Judeo-Christian religion, which turns into books, sermons, college syllabi, conference lectures, and other nerdy things. That desire to write a work of fiction still simmers in the background, and I have completed the first five chapters of a novel based on Hittite-Abrahamic interaction in the ancient Near East. 

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 6

Vicky Sluiter, November 7 (Author Interview)

Just the Write Escape, November 8

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 9

Simple Harvest Reads,  November 10 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 11

janicesbookreviews, November 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 13 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain, November 14

Inklings and notions, November 15

By The Book, November 16 (Author Interview)

Book Love (Featuring Gail Hollingsworth), November 17

Through the Fire Blogs, November 18 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Eric is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon certificate and a signed copy of each of his three books!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click HERE to enter.

 

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Book Spotlight And Author Interview — Bound to Be Free by Marta E. Greenman

16 Oct

About The Book

Book: Bound To Be Free

Author: Marta E. Greenman

Genre: Non-Fiction, spiritual growth, Christian studies

Release Date: June 12, 2015

Dr. Minirth, President of Minirth Clinic says, “Bound To Be Free is an exceptional book – Theologically correct, psychologically warm, physiologically health producing. I recommend it with enthusiasm. Christians around the globe need this book. Read it and be healed. This book is riveting, but more important, it is life transforming!”

Learn to live in FREEDOM. Free of the consequences of pain inflicted upon us, and pain inflicted by ourselves. God’s Word tells us true freedom is found in HIS word and presence. Christ’s desire is for believers to be transformed, not just saved.

Bound To Be Free leads believers step-by-step through God’s healing process and transformation. The study focuses heavily on scripture, as the only path to lasting restoration, and leads believers through the process of identifying and overcoming hindrances. This enables believers to achieve power in their daily Christian walk and show the transforming power of Christ in the church.

Our Father knows each person’s story. He knows how each one of us can overcome the pain and disappointment in our lives. While some numb the pain others walk through the fire, allowing The Refiner to mold us into the precious treasure He created us to be. Take a step in your journey to victory today

Click here to get your copy!

About The Author

For over twenty years, Marta has traveled extensively as a missionary, evangelist and Bible teacher sharing God’s message of truth and redemption. She is a teacher of teachers. She is host of Under God Radio Show and Co-host of Refining Friends. She is the author of three Bible studies, Bound to Be Free, Leaders, Nations, and God, and ACTs420NOW. Marta founded Words of Grace & Truth in 2011 whose mission is to teach God’s Word to the nations and teach others to do the same. She has been married for over twenty-five years to Marshall and they reside in the Dallas, Texas area.

 

Q&A with Marta

BTB: Tell us a little about your research methods. 

Marta: The Bible is always my primary source and from that, I also research the original meanings of the Greek or Hebrew from the English text. My last two Bible studies incorporated the foundation of American history and the genesis of English Christian history, so I utilized biographies and other secular materials in my research of those topics. 

BTB: What does a typical writing day look like? Are you structured or informal in your writing schedule? 

Marta: Writing is not a daily habit for me. I have a full schedule as the founder of a ministry and a Christian radio host. When God places a topic on my heart, I make time to write until the project is completed. 

BTB: How long does it usually take to write your books — from first outlines/drafts to final edits. 

Marta: I am fond of saying, “It takes a lifetime,” since every Bible study has come from the deep examination of His Word for twenty-six years. Each has taken a different amount of time. While writing, the process, not time, is most important. My studies are organized by weeks and days. Each completed day is reread and rewritten. At weekly editing meetings my team works through each of those days. I then work on any rewrites. After this daunting process, I teach the study to a small group as a test for fine-tuning. Finally, it goes to the publisher. It can take twelve to eighteen months to finish a study. But this investment produces the best product available. 

BTB: Readers always want to know what is next for an author. Do you have any works in progress you can share? 

Marta: Time permitting, I have an endless number of books to write! Currently, I am involved with two projects. One is a collaborative devotional with hosts from my internet radio station. The second is an end-times Bible study focused on the events leading to the rapture of the church, the tribulation and second coming of Christ. 

BTB: Please share with my readers a little bit about your life leading up to the present. 

Marta: My first mission trip took me to Romania in 1997 and it changed my life forever. The next year I left corporate America for a church planting organization. I traveled with American churches to churches in foreign lands to establish churches and for discipleship. Marshall, my husband of twenty-six years, and I moved to Romania in 2002 to help start a church and work with street children. After seven years God called me to write Bible studies and to teach and train others to study the Word. GraceAndTruthRadio.World was launched in 2018 to provide a platform for people with biblical messages to reach others for Christ. 

Thanks for sharing with us today, Marta!

More from Marta

Are you tired of hurting? Do you want long term answers…not a band aid fix? Bound To Be Free will take you on a journey of understanding, self-contemplation, and questions to ask the Almighty! At the end of your journey you will realize how much God has healed your soul and how to handle hurts and disappointments in the future.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 14

Creating Relationship, October 15

Mary Hake, October 16

By The Book, October 16 (Author Interview)

Just the Write Escape, October 17

Through the Fire Blogs, October 18

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 20

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 22

Texas Book-aholic, October 23

A Baker’s Perspective, October 24 (Author Interview)

janicesbookreviews, October 25

A Reader’s Brain, October 26

Inklings and notions , October 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marta is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click HERE to enter.

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Fun at The Dahlonega Literary Festival!

6 Mar

This past weekend I finally attended the annual Dahlonega Literary Festival set in the quaint and historic north Georgia town of Dahlonega. This event has been on my must-do list for a number of years, but the timing was never good. But this year I was spending the weekend at our cabin just 30 miles (as the crow flies!) away. It was a clear and warmish day for a drive through the beautiful north Georgia mountains, and when I arrived I was in for a big, big treat!

The Dahlonega Literary Festival is a once a year event that spotlights authors, both featured and regional, and hosts a number of writing and publishing workshops and panel discussions. I sat in on discussions of setting in literary fiction and portraying injustice in fiction. Most of the events were free. The few that required a ticket were very reasonable and covered the costs of the events and supported the new Lumpkin County Library. If you are ever in the neighborhood, I encourage you to attend. Or if you live too far away, check out literary festivals closer to home. I promise you will be in book lover’s heaven!

I also got to meet authors! I had scoped out the list of authors ahead of time and planned out which authors to sign books. Lindsey Brackett, Deborah Malone, and Daniel Palfrey, three Georgia writers with inspirational books, were very gracious in signing and speaking with me. What fun meeting them in person! Check out their books!

Lindsey Brackett, author of Still Waters

Award-winning writer, Lindsey P. Brackett just writes life — blogs, columns, articles, and stories — in the midst of motherhood. A blogger since 2010, she has published articles and short stories in a variety of print and online publications. She writes a popular bimonthly column for several local newspapers in which she meditates on small town southern life.

Her love of family ties and southern places prompted her first novel, Still Waters, a Lowcountry story about the power of family and forgiveness. Thanks to her four kids, in her home you’ll find wet towels, lost library books, and strong coffee.

Connect with her at http://www.lindseypbrackett.com, where she just writes life, on Facebook as Lindsey P. Brackett, on Twitter @lindsbrac, or Instagram @lindseypbrackett.

Cora Anne Halloway has a history degree and a plan: avoid her own past — despite being wait-listed for graduate school. Then her beloved grandmother requests—and her dispassionate mother insists — that she spend the summer at Still Waters, the family cottage on Edisto Beach, South Carolina.

Despite its picturesque setting, Still Waters haunts Cora Anne with loss. At Still Waters her grandfather died, her parents’ marriage disintegrated, and as a child, she caused a tragic drowning. But lingering among the oak canopies and gentle tides, this place also tempts her with forgiveness — especially since Nan hired Tennessee Watson to oversee cottage repairs. A local contractor, but dedicated to the island’s preservation from development, Tennessee offers her friendship and more, if she can move beyond her guilt.

When a family reunion reveals Nan’s failing health, Cora Anne discovers how far Tennessee will go to protect her — and Edisto — from more desolation. Will Cora Anne choose between a life driven by guilt, or one washed clean by the tides of grace?

Deborah Malone, author of cozy mysteries set in Georgia and Blooming in Broken Places

Deborah Malone is an established author, freelance writer and photographer.

Her love of her home state Georgia flows into her cozy mystery novels which are all set there.

Published by Lamp Post, her first novel Death in Dahlonega, finaled in ACFW’s Category Five writing contest and she was nominated for Georgia Author of the Year Award in Novel category in 2012 and 2013.

Working as a freelance writer and photographer since 2001 for the historical magazine Georgia Backroads, Deborah has had many articles and photographs published during her time for them.

Her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails” edited by Olin Jackson.

Her photographic artwork has been displayed in the Wright Art Gallery at Floyd Medical Center where artwork contributes to the healing and therapy of patients. Her photography has also won several awards.

Deborah teaches a number of writing, marketing and speaking workshops for authors. Deborah is available for readings, signing, book clubs and author lunches.

Deborah Malone is no stranger to the trials of life that can rob a woman of her self-esteem and give her the false belief she is unworthy to be used by God. Deborah will take the reader along on her real-life journey from her early years when she became her mother’s caregiver, to the rocky years of caring for her severely disabled daughter, to the disappointment and trials of surviving an abusive marriage that left her broken and feeling worthless. But Deborah’s journey doesn’t stop there – through healing and coming to understand God’s unlimited love, Deborah discovered how He can use her despite her limitations and healed her from self-doubt. Discover your worth in God’s plan as Deborah delves into how women from the bible were all used by God, even while they were in Broken Places.

Dan Pelfrey, author of the Davis Morgan mysteries

Danny along with his wife, Wanda, is currently writing the Davis Morgan mystery series set in Adairsville, Georgia. He has also been active in the areas of inspiration and Georgia history. Danny is a member of the Georgia Writers Association and American Christian Fiction Writers. He once referred to himself as a preacher who did a little writing. Presently, he is a writer who does a little preaching.

 

The movie making business engulfing Georgia has finally made its way to the little foothill village of Adairsville. Bookseller and police chaplain, Davis Morgan, along with a young female clerk discover the body of a member of the movie company at the foot of a large oak tree. Davis, despite his promise to his wife, cannot resist an urge to investigate the mystery. He and his pal young policeman, Charley Nelson, quietly dig into the case even though it is officially under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff. There is no shortage of suspects: the mysterious red headed man, the sister of the victim, the fiancée, the angry girl friend’s mother, and others. During the investigation an already troubled Charley is framed for a drug crime, and Davis receives word that an old enemy is on his way to Georgia after escaping from prison to make good a threat against him. Late one afternoon, it all comes to an astonishing conclusion beneath the same sprawling oak where it started.

 

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Book Spotlight: Point of View

6 Dec

Sometimes books show up at my home by surprise. LOL! While they look like good reads, I cannot read them all. Because . . . life. But I don’t want to be remiss in introducing you to a book that you may love. In that spirit, I give you Point of View by Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Check it out!

Recognized from her roles on Survivor, The View, and FOX & Friends, celebrity Elisabeth Hasselbeck presents a deeply intimate journey of faith, told through the important moments in her life.

“Point of view”, by definition, is a particular attitude or way of considering a matter. Through her nearly two decades of broadcasting, Elisabeth learned the necessity of extracting the point of view of the person being interviewed on a particular topic or subject or experience. Doing so allows you to see issues and truths through another’s eyes. It requires a shift in perspective to see the story through their lens.

In this illuminating book, Elisabeth walks through the times — from her national celebrity days to her newest role as CBO (Chief Breakfast Officer)–where she saw something differently than how God wanted her to, and the path back to His point of view was sometimes rocky but always revealing. Sometimes God’s intentions for her were clear, yet other times she encountered situations so uncomfortable and blurry that she could only ask for His wisdom.

In this book, Elisabeth welcomes you into the many different, and often divergent, points of view that she has witnessed and learned from along the way. It is a journey that brought her to the ultimate point of view that she discovered in the Word of God — that until she sees herself as He sees her, she is not seeing at all. As you read through the pages here, she invites you to make the same discovery for yourself.

Elisabeth DelPadre Hasselbeck is a retired American television personality and talk show host. She has been married to Tim Hasselbeck since July 6, 2002. They have three children.

 

 

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Book Review: Second-Chance Dogs

9 Oct

Everyone loves an underdog, and nothing gives us warmer feelings than seeing someone get a second chance in life. A problem pup who flourishes under the right kind of training. The struggling veteran who finds unconditional love wiggling around at the end of a leash. The lonely child who finds comfort in the steady breathing of the warm, furry friend at her side. Each of us needs to be rescued from something — and each of us has the capacity to rescue someone, or something, else.

This collection of more than thirty contemporary, true, feel-good stories spotlights the beauty of being rescued — dogs rescued by people, people rescued by dogs, and even dogs who rescue other animals. It’s the perfect companion — well, besides the four-legged, tail-wagging kind — for your morning cup of coffee or an evening curled up on the couch. Contributors include Susy Flory, Dusty Rainbolt, Lauraine Snelling, Melody Carlson, Wanda Dyson, Suzanne Woods Fisher, and many more.

Callie Smith Grant is the editor of The Cat in the Window, The Dog Next Door, The Cat on My Lap, The Dog at My Feet, and The Horse of My Heart. She is the author of several nonfiction books for young readers and adults as well as many animal-themed stories and poems which can be seen in Guideposts anthologies and in magazines such as Small Farmer’s Journal.

 

My Impressions: 

If you like a good dog story, then you are going to love Second-Chance Dogs, a collection of personal stories that share special thoughts about rescue dogs. And when I say rescue dogs, I mean more than a shelter dog. Yes, all of the beloved dogs in the more than 30 stories started their second lives as rescues, they did a lot to rescue their humans. In this book you’ll meet Rusty Dog who brought two people together and taught them to love and trust again. There’s also Jazzy who taught her human about God’s great gift of rest. And there are so many more heartwarming encounters that are found within the pages of this book. Each story is just a few pages, but the messages will stay with you for a long time. I think Second-Chance Dogs is the perfect book for family reading time. You will probably find yourself talking about more than the dogs highlighted in each story. And don’t be surprised if you and your family start longing for another faithful member to join you! 😉  The book is great for when you have limited reading time, but be prepared for one more story.

Recommended.

Audience: adults (but good for family time too)

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Spotlight, Guest Post, + A Giveaway!: Made Like Martha by Katie M. Reid

12 Jul

An invitation for overachievers to discover what it means to rest as God’s daughters without compromising their God-given design as doers.

Though she didn’t sit at Jesus’s feet like her sister Mary, biblical Martha was loved just as she was — and you are too. This practical resource invites modern-day Marthas to sit down spiritually as they exchange try-hard striving for hope-filled freedom without abandoning their doer’s heart in the process. Doers need to be affirmed in their innate design to do rather than sit, yet also be reminded that they don’t have to overdo it in order to be worthy. This book is not an exhortation to add or subtract things off your to-do list, but it is an invitation to embrace the “good” of the Good News. Here is an offer to step into your position as a daughter of God and to enjoy life as a doer.

Katie M. Reid is an author, speaker, and singer who encourages others to find grace in the unraveling of life at katiemreid.com. Her first book, Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done, released on July 10, 2018 (published by WaterBrook). Katie’s writing style is transparent, poetic, and reflective. She has published articles through: Focus on the Family, HuffPost, MOPS, LifeLines, iBelieve, and LightWorkers and is a contributor in Tales of Our Lives: Reflection Pond and the Five Minute Friday book. Her album, Echoes of My Heart, is also available for purchase. Katie delights in her hubby, five children, and their life in ministry. Hot or iced tea and cut-to-the-chase conversations are a few of her favorite things.

 

Guest Post by Katie M. Reid

While we don’t know for sure, there is speculation that Martha and Mary, the famous sisters from Bethany (see Luke 10:38-42), were either orphaned (and not yet married), widowed (and not yet remarried), or a part of a celibate Jewish sect. (1)

Regardless, in Luke 10:40, it seems that Martha exhibited a mindset that is often associated with the orphan spirit, when she talks about feeling like she has been left alone to do the work. 

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

I don’t know about you, but as a women who identifies with Martha, I can relate to feeling like it’s all up to me to get things done. I can be resentful of others when they don’t help out in the way I think they should. Sometimes, I even get frustrated with God when He doesn’t show up in the way or timing that I think is best. 

Another characteristic of the orphan spirit (or the hired help mentality as I like to call it) is that you serve to earn the Father’s love. But the good news is that Jesus offers us grace — a gift to be received, not a prize to be earned. His love for us is settled on the cross, and it is not dependent on how many items we cross off our to-do list.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. — Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) 

Martha was designed to be a doer (which is a good thing) yet she did not have to work from a place of striving and anxiousness. And the same is true for us. Yes, there are good works prepared for us to do, but those works are not what make us worthy. 

We exchange our hired help mentality for a beloved daughter’s mentality, when we realize who we are in light of who God is: accepted, forgiven, and delighted in. Then, we serve — not from a place of striving and fret — but from a place of strength and peace; knowing that Jesus has not left us alone but adopted us forever. 

Learn how your soul can be at rest, even when your hands are busy, in Katie’s new book, Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done. A bonus 5-week bible study (for individuals and groups) is included. 

 (1) Source: https://margmowczko.com/martha-mary-and-lazarus-of-bethany/

 

Giveaway!

Thanks to Waterbrook, I have a copy of Made Like Martha to give away! Just leave a comment to enter. (US only.) The winner will be randomly selected July 19, 2018.

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