Be sure and check this out. Nora St. Laurent interviews author Jen Stephens. Enter the contest on the site for an opportunity to win Jen's book!
http://www.psalm516.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
THE BISHOP by Steven James - Book Review
From back cover: FBI Special Agent Bowers' cutting-edge skills are about to be pushed to the limit when a young woman is found brutally murdered in Washington DC. Her killers continue a spree of perfect crimes in the Northeast, but with nothing to link them to each other, Agent Bowers faces his most difficult case yet - even as his personal life begins to crumble around him. The Bishop is a gripping, adrenalin-laced story for readers who are tired of timid thrillers. Strap on your seat belt and get ready for a wild ride.
Book 4 in The Patrick Bowers Files series, The Bishop will not disappoint the fans of Steven James' writing. To call this book a thriller is an understatement. James' well-drawn characters and ever-twisting plot will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat from page one, and the conclusion will leave you wanting more. James has done his research. He has the reader feeling that he or she is in the midst of all that is taking place. It is a lengthy book - over 500 pages - but the plot moves swiftly. I love how James writes short chapters. That is definitely the making of a page-turner for me. It is a book which is hard to put down, and begs you to read "just one more chapter." This book is a psychological thriller which goes beyond what appears and asks important questions. It is also philosophical, probing the depths of the meaning of human existence. Although 'suspence thriller' is not the genre I normally read, I did enjoy this book Steven James is a master of his craft, and I am looking forward to the next installment.
I think that an effective way of dissuading someone from doing something is to make them see it as deeply disturbing. And the only way to make people disturbed by evil is to show it to them as what it really is. I believe that including graphic material within the broader context of a redemptive story, just as the Bible does, is appropriate when trying to reveal the truth about human nature and our relationship with the Divine.
For the record, when I write my novels I strive to:
uphold the dignity and worth of human life,
as much as possible avoid showing violence on the page (most of it occurs off the page, in the mind of the reader),
show that ultimately, hope does not come from inside ourselves, but from God,
honestly portray the universality of evil,
celebrate life, love, imagination, beauty, and family,
validate the purpose and meaning of life within the context of the broader scope of God's story, and
tell the truth about the world--exposing the grief and horror as well as championing the hope and joy.
I believe that the Bible includes graphic material to show how far we as a race can fall, and how far God came to rescue us from ourselves. That's what I hope to do in my novels as well.
To read the entire article from Steven James on this topic, visit his blog. http://stvjames.blogspot.com/
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."
Monday, August 2, 2010
LIFE IN SPITE OF ME - Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice - BOOK REVIEW
In Life In Spite of Me, Kristen Jane Anderson tells her story together with Tricia Goyer.
From back cover: She wanted to die, but God had other plans. Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook: three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a seemingly bottomless depression. One January night, the seventeen-year-old decided she no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railway tracks and waited for a freight train to send her to heaven...and peace. Miraculously, Kristen's story doesn't end there. In Life In Spite of Me this remarkably joyful young woman shares the miracle of her survival the agonizing aftermath of her failed suicide attempt, and the hope that has completely transformed her life, giving her a powerful purpose for living. Her gripping story of finding joy against all odds provides a vivid and unforgettable reminder that life is a gift to be treasured.
My review: This is indeed a gripping story. Kristen spares no details that are important to the understanding of the emotional pain which led up to her suicide attempt, and her subsequent struggles. It is a story of relationships. In an afterword, Kristen's mum describes how her parents sought to get her the help she needed, and how the doctors didn't recognize the depression, since Kristen kept so much buried deep inside. Her mum describes the thoughts that tormented her - why didn't they know? What could they have done differently? and so on.
Kristen includes notes of encouragement throughout the book, things she wished someone had told her when she was struggling most. She also includes a list of suide warning signs. This is a story of triumph over adversity, blessing coming from the brokenness of her life. She speaks now of the transforming power of hope in Christ, and has launched a ministry to help others find that same hope and joy. Visit her website at http://www.reachingyou.org/ for further information.
The message on the jacket flap: For anyone struggling to find the strength to go on, the message of this heart-wrenching yet hope-building book is clear: God loves you more than you can imagine. He has good plans for your future. Life is a gift. This book is an extraordinary reminder that even when we give up on life, God doesn't give up on us.
Life In Spite of Me - Kristen Jane Anderson from waterbrook multnomah on Vimeo.
Friday, July 30, 2010
NO SAFE HAVEN
Book One in a three-part series by Kimberley Woodhouse and Kayla Woodhouse, to be released on March 15, 2011. Following is an interview with the authors.
Author/Artist ReviewAuthor: Kimberley and Kayla Woodhouse
Located in: Colorado Springs, CO
Submitted: July 28, 2010
Tell us a little about yourself. KIM: I grew up in a wonderful Christian home, studied music all my life, and went to Bible College where I met my incredible husband, Jeremy. In 2011, we’ll celebrate 20 years of marriage. (Wow. I’m really not that old.) We’ve served the Lord in full-time ministry ever since Bible College and we have the two coolest kids on earth, Josh and Kayla. KAYLA: My name is Kayla R. Woodhouse, I love Jesus, writing, swimming, reading, and painting. I was twelve years old when Mom and I wrote No Safe Haven. I was born with a rare nerve disorder (there are about 25 confirmed cases in the world) called HSAN, Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy. Basically, I can’t feel pain unless it is twenty to thirty times what you would feel, I can’t sweat, so, if I were to get too hot I could die or have serious brain damage. (We keep our house at 64 degrees. It used to be even colder than that! My room is always around 60 degrees.)
What was your motivation behind this project? KIM: Well, Kayla and I both love to write suspense and because of all the TV shows we’ve been on and all the media attention, people are fascinated with Kayla’s nerve disorder and the rarity of it. So writing about a mother and daughter who deal with it came naturally. And in fiction, you can put your characters through your greatest fears and triumphs. It's a great way for people to understand HSAN, and a lot of fun for us to write together. KAYLA: The idea to write together actually came from our amazing editor, Karen Ball. And as the idea settled in, Mom and I loved planning out the story and the different characters we would write. You see, I write certain characters, and Mom writes others. We love Alaska, so the story being set there was a no-brainer.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? KIM: A deeper understanding of Trust. The characters in No Safe Haven deal with this on many levels. Trust in loved ones who failed them, trust in each other, trust in God. Doubt, betrayal, and fear play into the hands of each of them as they learn about true trust. And no matter what you’ve gone through, no matter what you’ve done, God is always there. With open arms. And even though people may fail us, He won’t. Putting your full trust in Him—letting Him take control of your life—is the most wonderful adventure you’ll ever have. KAYLA: One thing we thought would be cool to have in the book was the daughter having the same disorder as me so people could get a sense of what it’s like to have HSAN. But as I was writing my character I was able to actually describe how it feels when I overheat. That’s something I’ve never been able to do before. We also wanted to get readers to know the dangers of HSAN plus the dangers of being stranded in the wilderness of Alaska. People love reading books set in Alaska and since we lived there we thought it would be cool to have it take place there also. We’d like readers to learn that God is always with us no matter what, and that it’s awesome and important to have a strong relationship with God and your family members.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? KIM: My daughter is amazing, and writing together has been a gift and a joy. She also keeps me on my toes, and challenges me as a writer. It was fascinating to see her put into words things about her disorder that she'd never been able to explain before. Writing about it was educational for both of us. KAYLA: I realized even more how I can be a willing vessel and be used by God. I love writing, but using those talents wholly and completely for Him is so cool!
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? KIM: Tracie Peterson, Donita K. Paul, Colleen Coble. They are all not only favorite authors of mine, but mentors and dear friends. Each of them shaped my writing in huge ways. Ronie Kendig and Carrie Kintz. Ronie writes action better than anyone I know, and she and Carrie are the best crit partners I’ve ever had. KAYLA: Donita K. Paul is one of our dearest friends, I think she influenced me not only in person but by her books. I’ve read the DragonKeeper Chronicles all the way through seven times! She really inspired me to let my imagination flow. My favorite scene in all of her books is in DragonSpell where Kale is talking to Paladin and she decides to follow him. Tracie Peterson is another great friend of ours and amazing author. Her Ladies of Liberty series influenced me a lot. And she always makes me laugh and encourages us to keep moving on. Ronie Kendig is one of the best writers in the world, and a challenging critique partner! She and her family are awesome and never quit even when things get crazy. Colleen Coble is a fantastic author and is hilarious! We have so much fun together and I love her smiling face. She encourages me to write, write, write! James L. Rubart is one of our newest writer friends, but even though we haven’t known each other very long his faith is evident and encourages me to live mine more out loud.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: KIM: Kayla and I wrote the book together, but separately. I wrote the POVs (Point of View) scenes of certain characters, and she wrote the others. I wrote the adults, she wrote the kids. What better person to write about a 12-year-old girl with HSAN than a real 12-year-girl with HSAN? And what better person to write about a mom with a child who has a rare disorder, than me? It was fun to bring those characters to life and get on the page the incredible relationship we share as mother/daughter. KAYLA: My first priority is my faith. Nothing is more important than God, He’s the one that gets me through life day to day. I LOVE swimming, my coaches are AMAZING and my team-mates are hilarious. They make me smile and encourage me to go on even though I’m different. I want to encourage you to follow your dreams and use your gifts for God.
Availability: This product will be released on 03/15/11. You may order this item now and it will be shipped to you when it arrives. If you are charging this purchase to a credit card, you will not be charged for this item and its portion of your shipping charges until it is shipped. Available for pre-order NOW through http://www.christianbooks.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/.
Welcome Home: Our Family's Journey To Extreme Joy is now available! You have heard the story of the Woodhouse family on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and in numerous media interviews. Now read the story behind the story as written by Kimberley Woodhouse. You will be touched.
Author/Artist ReviewAuthor: Kimberley and Kayla Woodhouse
Located in: Colorado Springs, CO
Submitted: July 28, 2010
Tell us a little about yourself. KIM: I grew up in a wonderful Christian home, studied music all my life, and went to Bible College where I met my incredible husband, Jeremy. In 2011, we’ll celebrate 20 years of marriage. (Wow. I’m really not that old.) We’ve served the Lord in full-time ministry ever since Bible College and we have the two coolest kids on earth, Josh and Kayla. KAYLA: My name is Kayla R. Woodhouse, I love Jesus, writing, swimming, reading, and painting. I was twelve years old when Mom and I wrote No Safe Haven. I was born with a rare nerve disorder (there are about 25 confirmed cases in the world) called HSAN, Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy. Basically, I can’t feel pain unless it is twenty to thirty times what you would feel, I can’t sweat, so, if I were to get too hot I could die or have serious brain damage. (We keep our house at 64 degrees. It used to be even colder than that! My room is always around 60 degrees.)
What was your motivation behind this project? KIM: Well, Kayla and I both love to write suspense and because of all the TV shows we’ve been on and all the media attention, people are fascinated with Kayla’s nerve disorder and the rarity of it. So writing about a mother and daughter who deal with it came naturally. And in fiction, you can put your characters through your greatest fears and triumphs. It's a great way for people to understand HSAN, and a lot of fun for us to write together. KAYLA: The idea to write together actually came from our amazing editor, Karen Ball. And as the idea settled in, Mom and I loved planning out the story and the different characters we would write. You see, I write certain characters, and Mom writes others. We love Alaska, so the story being set there was a no-brainer.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? KIM: A deeper understanding of Trust. The characters in No Safe Haven deal with this on many levels. Trust in loved ones who failed them, trust in each other, trust in God. Doubt, betrayal, and fear play into the hands of each of them as they learn about true trust. And no matter what you’ve gone through, no matter what you’ve done, God is always there. With open arms. And even though people may fail us, He won’t. Putting your full trust in Him—letting Him take control of your life—is the most wonderful adventure you’ll ever have. KAYLA: One thing we thought would be cool to have in the book was the daughter having the same disorder as me so people could get a sense of what it’s like to have HSAN. But as I was writing my character I was able to actually describe how it feels when I overheat. That’s something I’ve never been able to do before. We also wanted to get readers to know the dangers of HSAN plus the dangers of being stranded in the wilderness of Alaska. People love reading books set in Alaska and since we lived there we thought it would be cool to have it take place there also. We’d like readers to learn that God is always with us no matter what, and that it’s awesome and important to have a strong relationship with God and your family members.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? KIM: My daughter is amazing, and writing together has been a gift and a joy. She also keeps me on my toes, and challenges me as a writer. It was fascinating to see her put into words things about her disorder that she'd never been able to explain before. Writing about it was educational for both of us. KAYLA: I realized even more how I can be a willing vessel and be used by God. I love writing, but using those talents wholly and completely for Him is so cool!
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? KIM: Tracie Peterson, Donita K. Paul, Colleen Coble. They are all not only favorite authors of mine, but mentors and dear friends. Each of them shaped my writing in huge ways. Ronie Kendig and Carrie Kintz. Ronie writes action better than anyone I know, and she and Carrie are the best crit partners I’ve ever had. KAYLA: Donita K. Paul is one of our dearest friends, I think she influenced me not only in person but by her books. I’ve read the DragonKeeper Chronicles all the way through seven times! She really inspired me to let my imagination flow. My favorite scene in all of her books is in DragonSpell where Kale is talking to Paladin and she decides to follow him. Tracie Peterson is another great friend of ours and amazing author. Her Ladies of Liberty series influenced me a lot. And she always makes me laugh and encourages us to keep moving on. Ronie Kendig is one of the best writers in the world, and a challenging critique partner! She and her family are awesome and never quit even when things get crazy. Colleen Coble is a fantastic author and is hilarious! We have so much fun together and I love her smiling face. She encourages me to write, write, write! James L. Rubart is one of our newest writer friends, but even though we haven’t known each other very long his faith is evident and encourages me to live mine more out loud.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: KIM: Kayla and I wrote the book together, but separately. I wrote the POVs (Point of View) scenes of certain characters, and she wrote the others. I wrote the adults, she wrote the kids. What better person to write about a 12-year-old girl with HSAN than a real 12-year-girl with HSAN? And what better person to write about a mom with a child who has a rare disorder, than me? It was fun to bring those characters to life and get on the page the incredible relationship we share as mother/daughter. KAYLA: My first priority is my faith. Nothing is more important than God, He’s the one that gets me through life day to day. I LOVE swimming, my coaches are AMAZING and my team-mates are hilarious. They make me smile and encourage me to go on even though I’m different. I want to encourage you to follow your dreams and use your gifts for God.
Availability: This product will be released on 03/15/11. You may order this item now and it will be shipped to you when it arrives. If you are charging this purchase to a credit card, you will not be charged for this item and its portion of your shipping charges until it is shipped. Available for pre-order NOW through http://www.christianbooks.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/.
Welcome Home: Our Family's Journey To Extreme Joy is now available! You have heard the story of the Woodhouse family on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and in numerous media interviews. Now read the story behind the story as written by Kimberley Woodhouse. You will be touched.
Watch the video trailer for No Safe Haven!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Launch Party For Cara Putnam's Latest Book, Stars In The Night
The Latest From Cara"Cara Putman is a truly gifted author who offers strong characterization and quality research in her fiction."
Tracie Peterson, best-selling author of Song of Alaska series
Stars in the Night (July 2010) is a historical romantic suspense set in Hollywood during 1942. Join the launch party today.
Could the man Audra loves be her sister's murderer?
During WWII, attorney Audra Schaeffer travels with the second Hollywood Victory Caravan--but she's more interested in solving her sister's murder than selling war bands. When two people on the train are found dead, including the ex-wife of handsome star, Robert Garfield, Audra starts to wonder if Robert's affectionate overtures are setting her up to be his next victim...
Read more...
see details of launch party and enter the contest to win fabolous prizes! http://ow.ly/2bu8V
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
His Princess: Girl Talk With God by Sheri Rose Shepherd - Book Review
From the back cover copy: Like a loving Father, God holds you in the palm of His hand. He loves you no matter what you wear, what you say, what you've done, or how you feel. And He wants you to live a wonderful life.
In His Princess: Girl Talk With God, Sheri Rose Shepherd helps you experience God's unending love for you....Sheri remembers what it was like to be a teen girl, and she connects your experiences with God's love. ...you will feel just how much God treasures you, His Princess.
My review: Tenderly written and beautifully produced, this hardcover book is a gem. Sheri speaks from her heart of her own struggles. She was raised in a dysfunctional home, and battled depression, an eating disorder, and dyslexia. Although she entered beauty pageants, and won the title of Mrs. America, all that pales in comparison to being a daughter of the King! Sheri shares her heart-felt message in the pages of this devotional. Topics include Your True Identity, Are You in Barbie Bondage?, How You Feel About Yourself, True Beauty, The Movie of Life Stars You, Divinely Different, The "Mr. Right" Checklist, Facing Fear, A Beautiful Life, and many others. Sheri wants her readers to grasp how much they are treasured by their "Daddy in heaven", and to see themselves as daughters of the Most High King.
This is a book that I wish I had read as a teen, and would be the perfect gift for all the teen girls in your life.
Read more about Sheri Rose Shepherd and her ministry at http://www.hisprincess.com/, friend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, sign up for her newsletter, and find a speaking event near you and see her live! Sheri's testimony can be found at http://ignitelifeconferences.com/testimony.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Seeker by Ann H. Gabhart - Book Review
My review: As an avid fan of historical fiction, I absolutely LOVED this book. It was hard to put down. I was transported to another time and place from the first page, through the well-crafted story, historical details and captivating characters. One could not help but walk in the heroine's shoes as she faced tough challenges and was forced to make difficult decisions. I love to read anything relating to the civil war, whether fiction or non-fiction, and in this book, Ann Gabhart does a superb job of weaving together details of the war with human emotions. She gives a face to the war, so it becomes much more than dates and battles. Many factual details are included via correspondence between Charlotte Vance and Adam Wade, the young artist who has come across Charlotte's path. The story also details the life of a Shaker village, which was new to me. It is evident that the author has done very careful research. She lives in Kentucky, just 30 minutes from a restored Shaker village, giving opportunity to walk where the Shakers walked. This lends authenticity to this story, as well as to her previous Shaker books, The Outsider and The Believer. Thanks, Ann, for a great story, one which will stick in my memory. I highly recommend wonderful this book.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
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