Kitten Come From Eggs

The What's for Dinner Solution by Kathi Lipp

2012-01-23T10:56:00.000-08:00

Friends, if you haven't discovered Kathi Lipp's books yet, check them out. She has an amazing way of breaking things down into doable chunks. She is most definitely the "project lady" and is so very gift in this area. Her books, The Husband Project, The Marriage Project and The Me Project are written in a way to bring change to your life in fun ways through her step by step guides and are based in Biblical truths.

Her newest book the What's for Dinner Solution is another necessity for organizing your life. I love how she breaks down the challenge of putting a healthy and yummy dinner into your life in an organized and doable way. She even shares her favorite recipes.

Here's some info about Kathi and her latest book!

For many women, dread turns to panic around 4:00 in the afternoon. That’s when they have to answer that age-old question, “What’s for dinner?” Many resort to another supermarket rotisserie chicken or—worse yet—ordering dinner through a drive-thru intercom.

In The “What’s for Dinner” Solution, popular author and speaker Kathi Lipp provides a full-kitchen approach for getting dinner on the table every night. After putting her 21-day plan into action, women will:

• save time—with bulk shopping and cooking

• save money—no more last-minute phone calls to the delivery pizza place

• save their sanity—forget the last-minute scramble every night and know what they’re having for dinner

The book includes real recipes from real women, a quick guide to planning meals for a month, the best shopping strategies for saving time and money, and tips on the best ways to use a slow cooker, freezer, and pantry. With Kathi’s book in hand, there’s no more need to hit the panic button.

Author Bio

Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker of The Husband Project: 21 Days to Loving Your Man—on Purpose and with a Plan, The Marriage Project: 21 Days to More Love and Laughter, and The Me Project: 21 Days to Living the Life You’ve Always Wanted. She is a frequent guest on Focus on the Family and dozens of other radio programs.

Church leaders and women’s ministry directors rely on Kathi to help women move from living out of obligation to enjoying godly passion. She speaks to thousands of women across the US and Canada every year.

Kathi and her husband, Roger, are the parents of four young adults and live in San Jose, California.

JOIN THE FUN!!!
Check out Kathi's Facebook page and join her this week as she shares planning sheets, recipes and tips all week long! That's her gift to everyone! Enjoy!

The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan Mae Warren

2012-01-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

I had the chance to read this book late last year as a recipient of an advanced reader copy (Thank you, Tyndale). I love Susan May Warren's Deep Haven books, and this one is so moving. I'm a sucker for a story about a married couple and this one has a really cool twist. Will Noelle and Eli find each other again and save their marriage? You have to read and find out.

Don't miss out on Susan's contest down below too.

About the book: The Shadow of Your Smile

A beautiful blanket of snow may cover the quaint town of Deep Haven each winter, but it can’t quite hide the wreckage of Noelle and Eli Hueston’s marriage.

After twenty-five years, they’re contemplating divorce . . . just as soon as their youngest son graduates from high school. But then an accident erases part of Noelle's memory. Though her other injuries are minor, she doesn’t remember Eli, their children, or the tragedy that has ripped their family apart. What’s more, Noelle is shocked that her life has turned out nothing like she dreamed it would. As she tries to regain her memory and slowly steps into her role as a wife and mother, Eli helps her readjust to daily life with sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-heartwarming results. But can she fall in love again with a man she can’t remember?

Will their secrets destroy them . . . or has erasing the past given them a chance for a future? Read the story behind the story here: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/books/the-shadow-of-your-smile.

About Susan: Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at:www.susanmaywarren.com.

Come Back to Deep Haven and Win a $200 Visa Card from @SusanMayWarren!Sometimes love requires a little forgetting ... Come back to Deep Haven and find out what's been happening in your favorite quaint hamlet. If you're new to the Deep Haven series - this is the perfect book to start with - each book in the series is a stand alone story.

Susan is celebrating the release of The Shadow of Your Smile by giving away a prize pack worth over $200 from 1/9-1/28.

One grand prize winner will receive:

A $200 Visa Gift Card (Use that to rekindle a little romance, treat yourself to a spa day, snap up those shoes you’ve been eyeing, or purchase a few great books!)

The entire set of Deep Haven Books

The winner will be announced on 1/30/12 on Susan’s blog,

Miracle Monday—So I'm a day late...

2011-09-20T16:32:00.000-07:00

I like the ring of that—Miracle Monday. Forgive me for being a day late. But that doesn't mean we can't still celebrate the miracles all around us.

So, my latest miracle? I don't know if you'd call it a miracle per say, but I say it's indicative of how God is working in my life. To me, that's miraculous no matter what it is. I mean, come on. The Creator of the universe takes delight in me. And you. That's downright awe-inspiring.

Miraculous.

I leave tomorrow for a writer conference. My favorite event of the year. I love ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). I get to be weird AND spiritual. Doesn't get much better than that in my book—pun intended. I'm a writer, remember?

For the last three years, I have somehow received (through email, a devo, or a friend) these two verses and right before this conference. Three years in a row!

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?...~ Isaiah 43:19, NLT

...For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it.~ Habakkuk 1:5

Some pretty amazing things have happened too. God's pretty amazing. Can't wait to see what happens this time.

Back to Miracles

2011-09-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

I realized when I started this blog, I wanted it to be about God and how He works in our lives in miraculous ways. I think I lost sight of that. And you know what? I have some miracles to share.

We've walked a long road with our youngest daughter. A road that started with depression, a cancer diagnosis, and an emotional recovery I thought would somedays take me under. God was truly my strength. Just this week, I watched my baby girl drive off with her dad to start a new life, one filled with promise and independence. A life she is excited to grab hold of! This is a huge miracle to this mama's heart. We pour so much into our kids, so many prayers and aches.

I'm so glad I didn't give up. God answered my prayers in ways I never even imagined. There were days I was afraid this day would never come for her, yet here it is—better than I could have imagined. I love this kids fiercely and letting go isn't easy. But I'm so excited to see her spread her wings and want to finally fly.

And my sweet hubby seems to have had a shift in his beliefs. He's more of an agnostic now than an atheist. I don't know how it happened—yes, I do. God. What blows me away is how quiet and subtle it was. I think that's how it needs to be for him. Nothing earth shattering and sudden. Just a steady progression. Until now, I just couldn't picture how it would happen. I think God wants it that way. LOL!

So, I will end this post here with a question. Miracles come in all sizes. God's love alone is miraculous. What miracles of love is God working in your life?

Drum Roll Please!!!

2011-08-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

I have been sitting on this gorgeous cover for a couple weeks now. Can I just say that the design team at Barbour Publisher absolutely ROCKS!?!?! I was nervous about what they would come up with. The Soul Saver is not the easiest book to depict visually (women's fiction with supernatural elements), but they totally did it! I absolutely love this cover. I am again so grateful to Barbour and Becky Germany for giving my story a chance and to their amazing design team (headed by Ashley Schrock, I believe) for the perfect cover. Thank you!!!

How I Happened Upon a Platform

2011-08-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

When I started writing seriously in 2004, my focus lay completely in fiction. I'd written devotionals and snippets of life pieces in the past, but they served my own need for expression, then resided most silently in a folder on my computer. Fiction was and is my passion.

But then something unexpected happened. In 2006 God presented me with the desire and opportunity to write as part of a team for a blog to help those in spiritually mismatched marriages like my own. I jumped in because I wanted to help other women avoid some of the heartache I'd gone through to reach a place of thriving in my faith and my marriage.

From this blog a ministry was born. Readership grew as did our perspective and understanding of the need we’d tapped into. This led to a book about how to thrive in this type of challenging marriage (aren't all types challenging?), a Facebook presence, then a Twitter page. We suddenly found ourselves reaching readers in ways we hadn't thought possible at the beginning. Our main site (www.SirituallyUnequalMarriage) started showing up as a resource on other ministry and church websites. Thank goodness for Google Alerts to let us know!

All this coalesced into our platform, which became the turning point for a publisher to say yes to our book. How did that happen?

Let’s break it down:

1. Identify a need. We all pretty much get the message today that we can’t just be in this to market our book and leave it at that. People want more. Common trends have set a pattern of having take away value. So, identify a need you can fill. Offer something to your reader that they can use and apply to their own lives. Once you identify a need, you can clarify your message. And you’ve just identified your market.

2. Create a presence. Social media has exploded at an astonishing rate in the last year alone. The heavy hitters (Facebook and Twitter) revolutionized communication. And now Google+ looks to be another joining the slew of social media giants. For our ministry, I will say that Facebook turned out to be surprising success. We wanted another means to connect with readers and be a resource and that’s what happened. Why? Because we made our page about our readers and meeting their needs, not about selling our book. Again there’s that take away value.

3. Consistency. Though we started with just our blog, we were and are consistent about content and postings. This same attitude is what we brought over to our Facebook and Twitter pages. This builds presence, trust and reliability. Readers trust a growing presence that’s consistently putting information out there with a clear message that has no strings attached. Trust me, people smell an ulterior motive faster than the garbage dump next door. Be honest, be authentic and be original, but always stay true to your message.

4. Become a resource. Past experience opened the door to serve a specific market with the goal of being a resource. That was always the purpose—how did we help others find the help they needed in a difficult marriage? What could we offer that people could take away and apply to their lives and marriages? Over time, we presented ourselves as a reliable and helpful resource that other sites and churches could tap into. We showed we were there to help, to partner with individuals and groups, and to share what had worked for us in order to help others on the same path.

5. Be patient. (I can still hear my wise agent, Rachelle Gardner, telling me this.) Building a platform takes time. Factor that into your writing plan. Don’t rush to submit a project before it’s reached its potential because it’s a bigger challenge to turn a no into yes.

As I said this journey began in 2004 with my focus on learning the craft of writing and growing in my understanding and abilities. From mid 2006 to late 2009, our platform grew to the point that a publisher was willing to take a chance with our message. That platform is still growing to day with the addition of a special book site (www.WinningHimWithoutWords) focused on the message of the book and offering free resources for listening and downloading, as well as teaching videos. We’re also working on partnering with other authors to promote each other’s books and ministries through our newsletter, websites, and speaking engagements.

How does that affect my future as a fiction writer? Same game plan with some minor adjustments. The stories I write serve the same niche we found for our nonfiction and thus brings me back to step one. And away I go!

See you on the shelves!

BIG NEWS: The authors of WordServe Literary have started a premier blog to share the latest in writing, publishing and marketing techniques. Be sure to check out the WordServe Water Cooler!

Can a Writer’s Conference Help Build Your Platform?

2011-07-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

We hear that word a lot these day—Platform. I confess, Iused to cringe away from it. The whole concept seemed so overwhelming. Wheredid one begin?

In February, my first nonfiction book, Winning Him Without Words, released. In July 2012 my first novel, The Soul Saver, will release and is afiction counter part to Winning Him.

All of this began with a blog and the simple purpose ofhelping others. That was the “heart” side of it. The practical side slowly cameinto view as our online presence grew. This dramatically shifted my writingfocus. I needed tools to maximize our platform and keep it growing!

Thus, the last two years I focused my conference pursuits tothe area of marketing. With the sessions offered at the last two ACFWconferences, I’ve found ways to make that seemingly overwhelming task ofbuilding a platform doable and even enjoyable.

And not just from the workshops, but also from talking toother authors and gleaning from their experience as well.

This is truly one of the strengths of the ACFW Conference isthe diversity of knowledge and skill levels. Here are some suggestions of whenand what to tap into:

1. Are you just starting to think about buildingyour platform? Now’s the time to be a sponge. Absorb as much as you can fromworkshops focused on marketing and branding. Talk to other authors and askwhere they started. This is where you want to figure out what your market,niche and identity are. Where can you fit in and what need can you fill?

2. Already know what and whom you’re writing for?Focus on sessions and workshops that give you concrete tools and direction.Talk to authors who have a presence established and ask them, “What’s workingthe best? What’s not working at all?” Collect as much information as you canwith the goal of examining and assessing after you go home. There are a lot ofchoices out there, so it’s not really about finding the right way but aboutfinding the way that will work best for you. Be discerning. No one can do itall.

3. Have a growing platform but want to consider newavenues? Here’s where the fun can really start. Make those connections withother authors who share similar goals and topics or genres, and find out howyou can help each other. Share concepts and brainstorm possible ideas ofworking together as small teams to cross promote each other. These are greatopportunities to reach more readers and build your presence in more areas.

Before the conference, assess where you’re at and determinewhat you need most. Then go with that need in mind and stay alert to opportunitiesto talk to other professionals in the industry. No matter what level you’re at,you’ll find a multitude of resources right at your disposal. And there’s justsomething fun and stimulating about sharing ideas with others on the samejourney.

Falls Like Lightning by Shawn Grady

2011-07-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Falls Like Lightning Bethany House (July 1, 2011) by Shawn Grady

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shawn Grady signed with Bethany House Publishers in 2008. He was named “Most Promising New Writer” at the 39th Annual Mount Hermon Writers Conference. He is the author of the novels Through the Fire, Tomorrow We Die & Falls Like Lightning.

Shawn has served for over a decade as a firefighter and paramedic in northern Nevada. From fire engines and ambulances to tillered ladder trucks and helicopters, Shawn’s work environment has always been dynamic. The line of duty has carried him to a variety of locale, from high-rise fires in the city to the burning heavy timber of the eastern Sierras.

After graduating from James Logan High School in Union City, California, Shawn attended Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego as a Theology undergrad. There he found clarity of direction and proceeded on to acquire an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science Technology as well as Paramedic licensure through Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada.

Shawn currently lives in Reno, just outside of Lake Tahoe. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wife, three children and yellow Labrador.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When hotshot smoke jumper Silas Kent gets his own fire crew, he thinks he's achieved what he's always wanted. But a lightning-sparked fire in the Desolation Wilderness of the Sierra Nevadas has his team in a plane before they can even train together.

Pilot Elle Westmore has been called up to drop the crew into the heart of the forest infernos. A single mother of a mysteriously ill six-year-old, she can't imagine her life getting any more complicated.

It doesn't take long for things to go very wrong, very quickly. A suspicious engine explosion forces Elle to make an emergency landing. Silas is able to parachute to safety but soon discovers his crew can't be trusted. They're hiding something, and now Silas is on a race to save himself and Elle from the flames—and from a more dangerous threat: his own team.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Falls Like Lightning, go HERE

I'm a big fan of Shawn Grady's work and can't wait to read this book! Happy reading!

My Foolish Heart by Susan Mae Warren

2011-06-08T23:55:00.000-07:00

If you haven't ready any of Susan May Warren's books, you are missing out! She is an amazing writer. I just finished My Foolish Heart and am slightly heartbroken to see it end. The two main characters, Issy and Caleb, are broken people, both emotionally and physically, who exhibit the precious quality of courage despite their "issues" (I don't want to give anything away).

I found myself falling in love with Caleb and wanting to run right over to Issy's place to be her friend. Their story, plus the secondary story unfolding between Issy's best friend and a former love, are a wonderful adventures into falling in love, overcoming misunderstandings (believable ones—not the kind that make you want to throw the book across the room because they're so ridiculous), and reaching for your dreams despite what may seem to be impossible odds.

This story is captivating. I found myself looking for opportunities during the day to snatch it up to read, and stayed up way too late at night to keep turning the pages. I love books like this.

My Foolish Heart is a wonderful romance full of substance, authentic characters and situations, and will inspire even the most resistant (or foolish) of hearts.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Unknown to her tiny town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley spends her nights as Miss Foolish Heart, the star host of a syndicated talk radio show. Millions tune in to hear her advice on dating and falling in love, unaware that she’s never really done either. Issy’s ratings soar when it seems she’s falling in love on-air with a caller. A caller she doesn’t realize lives right next door.

Caleb Knight served a tour of duty in Iraq and paid a steep price. The last thing he wants is pity, so he hides his disability and moves to Deep Haven to land his dream job as the high school football coach. When his beautiful neighbor catches his eye, in a moment of desperation he seeks advice from My Foolish Heart, the show that airs before his favorite sports broadcast.

Before he knows it, Caleb finds himself drawn to the host—and more confused than ever. Is his perfect love the woman on the radio . . . or the one next door?

Read an excerpt here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at:www.susanmaywarren.com.

ABOUT THE CONTEST
Susan May Warren is thrilled to announce the release of her latest Deep Haven book, My Foolish Heart!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

To celebrate this charming novel about a dating expert who's never had a date, Susan has put together a romantic night on the town for one lucky couple. One grand prize winner will receive a Miss Foolish Heart prize package worth over $200!

The winner of the Romantic Night on the Town Prize Pack will receive:

* A $100 Visa Gift Card (For Dinner)

* A $100 Gift Certificate to a Hyatt/Marriott Hotel

* The entire Deep Haven series

To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on June 16th. The winner will be announced that evening during Susan’s Miss Foolish Heart Party on Facebook! Susan will be chatting with guests, hosting a book club chat about My Foolish Heart, testing your Deep Haven trivia skills, and giving away tons of great stuff! (Gift certificates, books, donuts, and more!) Don't miss the fun and BRING YOUR FRIENDS!

*Special thanks to Tyndale for providing a review copy of My Foolish Heart.

The Heart of the Matter

2011-05-31T12:32:00.000-07:00

I finish up my series about having a quiet time with God today over at Spiriutally Unequal Marriage. Stop by and read it if you can. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Over the last two weeks I’ve shared the importance of having a quiet time. My fear is that we haven’t covered the heart of this discipline and see it more as a duty, so I want to make that clear today.
Not having a quiet time each day isn’t a sin. You haven’t broken a law or anything like that. Above all else, do not let this become something legalistic in your life. And I say that as someone who could fall into legalism and must guard against it.
At the very least, see having a quiet time with God as an opportunity to grow closer to Him and understand His love for you. And to the extreme, see it as a life preserver to your spirit in a drowning world ruled by an enemy who loves nothing more than to keep us from experiencing an effective life in Christ. Our time with God and reading His Word every day is the only way to arm ourselves against our common enemy.

Read the rest at S.U.M.

Creating a Quiet Time

2011-05-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

Last week over at S.U.M. I talked about keeping a divine appointment with God on a daily basis. Again, I know this isn’t easy to do, especially if you have small kids, but I promise you it will be the most important and beneficial decision you will ever make in your life.
Do you want a transformed life? A life of victory? Then this is where it starts. So, what does a quiet time look like? There’s many ways people choose to carve out a time to spend with God so this isn’t a right or wrong question. Suzanna Wesley threw her apron over her head, signaling to her children that she was praying and spending time with God. I’ve heard many women say they use their time in the shower to pray and often find they “hear” God better there. I’ve experienced that myself but it’s not always convenient. (grin) Some find they have more time in the evening.

As I’ve shared before it took me a year of my mentor’s sweet nudgings to finally heed her words and practice this discipline. And just let me be clear that this isn’t something that we need to feel guilty about if we miss a day here and there. God isn’t keeping count. Over time you will find this time to be something you look forward to as you sit at the feet of Jesus and know Him as the Lord of your life.

So, I’d like to share some of what helped me create and keep a quiet time:

Read the rest at S.U.M.

Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins

2011-05-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

Here's an author near and dear to my heart. Plus I have one copy of Over the Edge to give away. Leave a comment to enter the drawing!

(Special thanks to B&H for providing a review copy.)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Over the Edge B&H Books (May 1, 2011) by Brandilyn Collins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandilyn Collins is an award-winning and best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e..."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is now working on her 20th book.

In addition, Brandilyn’s other latest release is Final Touch, third in The Rayne Tour series—young adult suspense co-written with her daughter, Amberly. The Rayne Tour series features Shaley O’Connor, daughter of a rock star, who just may have it all—until murder crashes her world.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Torn from the front lines of medical debate and the author's own experience with Lyme Disease, Over the Edge is riveting fiction, full of twists and turns—and powerful truths about today's medical field.

Janessa McNeil’s husband, Dr. Brock McNeil, a researcher and professor at Stanford University's Department of Medicine, specializes in tick-borne diseases—especially Lyme. For years he has insisted that Chronic Lyme Disease doesn't exist. Even as patients across the country are getting sicker, the committee Brock chairs is about to announce its latest findings—which will further seal the door shut for Lyme treatment.

One embittered man sets out to prove Dr. McNeil wrong by giving him a close-up view of the very disease he denies. The man infects Janessa with Lyme, then states his demand: convince her husband to publicly reverse his stand on Lyme—or their young daughter will be next.

But Janessa's marriage is already rocky. She's so sick she can hardly move or think. And her husband denies she has Lyme at all.

Welcome to the Lyme wars, Janessa.

“A taut, heartbreaking thriller. Collins is a fine writer who knows how to both horrify readers and keep them turning pages.” --Publishers Weekly

“Tense and dramatic. Holds its tension while following the protagonist in a withering battle.” –NY Journal of Books

“A frightening and all-too-real scenario. Very timely and meaningful book.” –RT Reviews

“If you know someone who suffers from Lyme, you need to read this compelling novel.” –Lydia Niederwerfer, founder of Lyme-Aware

If you would like to read the Prologue of Over the Edge, go HERE

Watch the book video:

Booksigning with Robin Caroll!

2011-05-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends, Robin Caroll, is doing a book signing this weekend at the Lifeway store 7050 Youree Drive in Shreveport, LA. Her books ROCK and so does she! Hope you can stop by!

A Universal Theme

2011-05-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

One of my passions is writing fiction. In a writer’s world we are the masters of the pen (actually a computer keyboard but that didn’t sound as cool). We create these characters through various techniques and tell them what to do.

But then they take on a life of their own and begin to tell us what the story is about. This can be quite fascinating, like sitting at movie, watching the story unfold. Other times it’s frustrating because these life-like characters make bad choices or behave poorly (there’s always at least one), resisting our intended purpose for them.

When I think of writing like this, I wonder about what God must see. We are like the characters of His story, created with His purpose in mind. Yet we have free will and the ability to choose poorly or wisely...

Read the rest at Laced with Grace.

Let's Not Fool Ourselves

2011-04-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

This post was a tough one to write but it was time. I hope you'll take a moment and hop over to our Spiritually Unequal Marriage page and read the rest. The conversation continues on our Facebook page as well. Thanks!

Yesterday, Lynn wrote a great post about Missionary Dating at the Internet Cafe. She and I have talked about this frequently because we want to be clear that walking willingly into a mismatched marriage is not God's will for our lives.
So I'd like to add to this topic from the sense of the heart and spirit. Here at S.U.M. we talk about our struggles in our mismatched marriages and how to trust God to help us thrive in them. But today I want to talk to those who are knowingly dating or considering dating and unbeliever. Here are some things I truly want you to think about.

Read the rest at S.U.M.

Featured Over On Bonnie Paulson's Site...

2011-03-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

If you get a chance, hop over to Bonnie Paulson's site. I had a blast talking to Bonnie about my first book, Winning Him Without Words, writing, and a bunch of other stuff. Bonnie asked some great questions (some are just to funny like would I rather hug a stranger or slap a friend. LOL!). I share some interesting details about my research for my first novel, The Soul Saver, due to release next Summer from Barbour Publishing.

Have an awesome weekend, my friends!

Revealing the Lie

2011-03-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

My post this week over at S.U.M. deals with the condemnation many of us feel for marrying an unbeliever. I hope you'll take a moment to check it out. The comments are great and bring up some good questions.

One of the things we talk about in our book is walking out of the guilt and shame of our pasts. Whether you knowingly married an unbeliever or came to faith after you married, God has a plan for your marriage.

Read the rest of "Revealing the Lie"

No Safe Haven by Kimberly and Kayla Woodhouse

2011-03-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to share this dynamic writing duo with you. Kimberly Woodhouse is also the author of Welcome Home: Our Family's Journey to Extreme Joy (one of the most inspiring books I've ready in the last couple years—their story is amazing!). Now to see her writing with her precious daughter, Kayla is such a treat! I have one copy of this book to give away, so leave a comment for the drawing on Friday! Enjoy!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing No Safe Haven B&H Books (March 15, 2011) by Kimberly and Kayla Woodhouse

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

A devoted wife and mother, Kimberley Woodhouse is a third generation Liszt student, she has passed down her love of the arts to hundreds of students over the years.

About fifteen years ago, Kimberley began writing seriously. Songs, plays, short stories, novels, picture books, articles, newsletters - you name it - she's written it. It wasn't until a dear friend challenged her to "do something with it", that she pursued publication.

Kimberley and her family's story have been on the front page of newspapers, in magazines, articles, medical journals, and most recently her family was chosen for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They were also asked to share their story on The Montel Williams Show and Discovery Health Channel's Mystery ER. She has recorded three albums, and has appeared at over 700 venues. Kimberley lives, writes, and homeschools in Colorado with her husband and their two children in a truly "Extreme" home.

Thirteen-year-old Kayla Woodhouse’s zest for writing comes not only from her natural ability, but also from her love of the written word as witnessed by her voracious reading appetite. One of only a few dozen cases in the world, Kayla was born with HSAN, Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy, an extremely rare nerve disorder. Unable to sweat, or feel pain, she’s also been through brain surgery. But even through a life of extreme hardships, her ever-present smile encourages others to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles. In addition to being homeschooled and writing with her mom, she’s an amazing swimmer, and spends up to thirty hours a week in training. No Safe Haven, her first release from B&H Publishers in 2011, written with mother, Kimberley, makes her the youngest author to have a full-length novel published by a royalty paying publisher.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Jenna and Andi Tikaani-Gray are hoping for a fresh start. Though twelve year-old Andi has long struggled with a rare medical disorder, she and her mother have finally received good news from out-of-town specialists. It's news they desperately needed, especially after the recent death of Jenna's husband (Andi's dad) in a car accident.

But as they are flying home to Alaska, ready to begin again, the unthinkable happens. The pilot sabotages their small plane and crashes into Sultana, one of the most remote and dangerous mountains in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Even worse, a winter storm is headed their way along with someone who doesn't want to save them, but to kill them.

Only one man can keep them alive: Cole Maddox, the mysterious last-minute passenger who joined them on their flight. But trust doesn't come easy to Jenna or AndiÑand they both sense Cole is hiding something.

A relentless tale of survival and suspense unfolds, involving military technology designed by Jenna's late husband that some would do anything to possess.

Watch the Book Video:

If you would like to read the first chapter of No Safe Haven, go HERE.

Parenting Struggling Teens

2011-03-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

I wrote a post over at Laced with Grace that I'd love to share with you. It's harder than ever to raise teens today. Throw in some complications or ongoing issues (like my family is going through with our daughter) and you begin to wonder if it will ever change. I share four areas that have helped me keep my focus on God and not the issue how that translates into helping my daughter as well. I pray it blesses you!
Hugs!
Dineen

In The Shadow of Evil by Robin Caroll

2011-03-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

Now here's a book I am DELIGHTED to share with you. Robin Caroll is one of my favorite authors and her books are fantastic. Full of suspense and characters you'll love, her stories will keep you captivated from cover to cover. I love how Robin touches on real world issues in her books and how her characters grapple with said issues from a Christian stand point. This one deals with some of the after effects in rebuilding after Katrina. I love all her stories. Once you read one, you'll want to read all her books!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books. When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty years, her three beautiful daughters, one precious grandson, and their four character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

Robin gives back to the writing community by serving as Conference Director for ACFW. Her books have finaled/placed in such contests as RT Reviewer's Choice, Bookseller's Best, and Book of the Year. An avid reader herself, Robin loves hearing from and chatting with other readers. Although her favorite genre to read is mystery/suspense, of course, she’ll read just about any good story. Except historicals!

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Informed by the real-life fallout of the U.S. economy plus devastation caused by multiple hurricanes along the southern coast, In the Shadow of Evil casts the modern day story of a building rebound scam exposed. It begins when the body of a property inspector is found among the ashes of a burnt out Homes of Hope house. Wrapped up in this mounting case of unethical practices, supply shortages, and murder, top Louisiana homicide detective Maddox Bishop is losing his heart to a charitable contractor, Layla Taylor, whose own sister is under suspicion. He’s also about to discover a deep secret about his tragic past.

If you would like to read the first chapter of In The Shadow of Evil, go HERE.

Watch the trailer:

Our Greatest Weapon—Prayer

2011-03-08T22:39:00.000-08:00

The post I did this week over at Spiritually Unequal Marriage has brought some interesting discussions about praying for our marriages. I hope you'll take a moment and check it out. Would love to hear your thoughts!

Our Greatest Weapon—Prayer

At church Sunday, a friend of mine stood up with her husband and shared their testimony of how God saved their marriage ten years ago. I’ve only been at this church for about nine years so I had no idea this was the case. This couple has been an inspiration to me, especially my friend. She is an amazing woman of God and a true prayer warrior.

To hear them share spoke such joy to my heart. They shared how they were at the point of filing divorce papers. He wanted out, she didn’t. What did my friend do? She fell to her knees in prayer, prayed constantly. What struck me most though was WHAT she prayed.

Read the rest at S.U.M.

Two Chances to win "Winning Him Without Words"!

2011-03-02T10:28:00.000-08:00

Here's a chance to win a copy of Winning Him Without Words. Dear friend Darlene Schacht is running the contest at her blog, Time-Warp Wife. Don't you just love that name of her blog? Darlene is an amazing and inspiring writer who has blessed my life with the articles she wrote at Christian Women Online.

So jump over to her blog and leave a comment. Darlene has two copies to give away and spend some time reading her site. I know you'll be blessed.

The Me Project by Kathi Lipp

2011-02-24T22:58:00.000-08:00

If you haven't ready one of Kathi Lipp's books, drop everything and run out now and get one! Her first book, The Husband Project, has become one of my favorites. Kathi carried on her project theme with her next book, The Marriage Project. And now she brings her wit, wisdom, and immense creativity to The Me Project: 21 Days to Living the Life You've Always Wanted.

Packed with practical encouragement this book is a journey of discovery and life changing steps to walk into the life and purpose God intends for each of us. I can't recommend Kathi Lipp's books enough. She is an amazing writer, an amazing speaker, and one of the most "real" people I've had the privilege to meet.

So, now I get to have a little fun here. Check out the rest of this post for details about Kathi and her book. And if you leave a comment, you'll be entered into the drawing for a copy of The Me Project. Don't miss out on a chance to win this fabulous book! Two names will be drawn—one to win the book and one to be entered into Kathi's contest for a Deluxe Starbuck's Gift Basket valued at $62!

Added Bonus! Click here to read Kathi's article "Three Super Simple Kickstarts to Living Your Dream."

Has that rush to make (and break) New Year’s resolutions already waned? According to Daniel Pink, author of ¨Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, taking small steps every day will not only help you stay committed to your goal, ¨but will also help you ultimately achieve that goal when obstacles come up. Author Kathi Lipp wants you and your friends to live out those dreams—and have some fun along the way.

As women, we forget the goals and dreams of our younger years. The busyness of everyday life gets ¨in the way. To-do lists replace goals. The Me Project provides women with fun and creative ways to bring back the sense of purpose and vitality that comes with living out the plans and dreams God has planted in our hearts. Kathi Lipp’s warm tone and laugh-out-loud humor motivates women to take daily steps toward intentional goals. The end result? We get back our lives and enjoy living in the confidence of a purposeful life in spite of our chaotic schedules.

This handy guide coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving our goals each day for three weeks. A woman experiencing the exhilaration of a rediscovered life offers more as a wife, mother, friend, volunteer, career woman.

Finding the balance between living day-to-day with purpose while pursuing the passions God has placed in our hearts is a delicate pursuit. In this refreshing, insightful book, ¨Kathi lays out a doable plan that makes sense and helps make our God-given dreams ¨a reality. Never stop dreaming, because women who dare to dream do make the world ¨a better place."

—Jean Blackmer
author of MomSense: A Common Sense Guide to Confident Mothering
Publishing Manager, MOPS International www.MOPS.org

Author Bio

Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker, currently speaking each year to thousands of women throughout the United States. She is the author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project, serves as food writer for Nickelodeon, and has had articles published in several magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman and Discipleship Journal. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four teenagers and young adults. For more information visit her website: www.kathilipp.com

Win a Copy!

2011-02-21T10:05:00.000-08:00

Want to win a copy of Winning Him Without Words; 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage? Internet Cafe Devotions is running a contest for our book, Winning Him Without Words. Follow the link and see how you can enter more than once!

Internet Cafe Devotions—WIN Winning Him Without Words

Featured on Christian Fiction Online Magazine

2011-02-07T16:21:00.000-08:00

When Bonnie Calhoun, owner of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, told me she wanted to do a feature of my nonfiction book, Winning Him Without Words, I was absolutely thrilled and honored. She is a gem and does so much for the Christian publishing industry. I'm excited to see our book featured this month. I hope you'll take a moment and check it out. I tell some details about how this book and the ministry all came to be.

Read the article HERE.

It's Finally Here!

2011-02-05T13:26:00.000-08:00

Today I was enjoying a quiet morning, a cup of coffee, and the freedom to just be and not worry about anything. Suddenly the doorbell rang. I jumped up and spotting the mail truck, assumed something we'd ordered had arrived.

This average package lay on the step, but what was inside was far from average. It was my copy of my first book! In 3D! As in not just a picture of the cover, but the real deal, 208 pages in between a beautiful cover design. Holding it is an incredible feeling that brought me to tears.

Writing Winning Him Without Words, the waiting, hoping, celebrating a contract, and waiting a year to see it has been an amazing and emotional journey. Lynn and I talk on the phone almost every day and each time we say to each other, "Can you believe it? God did this."

My prayers are going out for all the women I hope will read it and find new hope. What a privilege to be a part of that!

Now we're working hard to get our message out. Lots of surprises are coming. Stay tuned! We'll be on the radio a few places on February 14th too! Wow...God is good!

Romancing the Man

2011-02-02T22:00:00.000-08:00

With Valentines Day around the corner, I wanted to share this post I did over at the S.U.M. site. I hope it inspires you to romance your man! Hugs! ~Dineen

Did you read Lynn’s post yesterday? I don’t know about you but I’ve been giggling with her all the way on this one. Ladies, this is a chance to create some of that romance we love right in our own marriages!

So, along those lines, I will share that I asked my hubby on the phone yesterday if he wanted to be my boyfriend. He said yes! Woohooo! I guess this means we’re going steady. Now my girls are going to groan even more over their parents’ affectionate nature. I can see and hear it now. LOL!

Sometimes it’s so easy to lose site of what we love in a person because of the burdens of life, the conflict inherent in our types of marriages, and past hurts and wrongs.

Trust me, I understand completely. I’ve let things like this come in and nearly sweep away my marriage. Forgiveness is crucial to all our relationships.

But that’s not what I want to talk about today.

Read the rest HERE...

Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy

2011-01-27T22:30:00.000-08:00

Here's another author I just love. She's an amazing writer and an awesome person, one I am privileged to know. She writes stories that are so unique too. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Rhythm of Secrets!*

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Rhythm of Secrets Kregel Publications (December 22, 2010) by Patti Lacy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Patti Lacy, Baylor graduate, taught community college humanities until God called her to span seas and secrets in her novels, An Irishwoman's Tale and What the Bayou Saw. She has two grown children and a dog named Laura. She and her husband can be seen jog-walking the streets of Normal, Illinois, an amazing place to live for a woman born in a car. For more information, visit Patti's website at www.pattilacy.com, her blog at www.pattilacy.com/blog, and her Facebook daily Artbites.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sheila Franklin has masqueraded as the precocious daughter of avant-garde parents in colorful 1940s New Orleans, a teen desperate for love and acceptance, and an unwed mother sent North with her shame.

After marrying Edward, Sheila artfully masks her secrets, allowing Edward to gain prominence as a conservative pastor. When one phone call from a disillusioned Vietnam veteran destroys her cover, Sheila faces an impossible choice: save her son and his beloved…or imperil Edward’s ambitions.

Inspired by a true story, The Rhythm of Secrets intermingles jazz, classical, and sacred music in a symphony trumpeting God’s grace.

Endorsements:

“A vibrant journey across time in search of the greatest truth of all: grace.”—Tosca Lee, author of Havah: The Story of Eve and Demon: A Memoir

“No longer a ‘well-kept secret,’ Patti Lacy is a master storyteller who speaks to the soul with a powerful and unique rhythm, weaving a tale so emotionally rich that story and reader become one.”—Julie Lessman, author of The Daughters of Boston series and A Hope Undaunted

“Patti Lacy pens another beautifully written story in The Rhythm of Secrets. I couldn’t put it down!”—Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of The Black Cloister

“The Rhythm of Secrets is a stirring story of faith and endurance that will keep readers turning the page until every last secret is revealed.”—Tina Ann Forkner, author of Ruby Among Us and Rose House

If you would like to read an excerpt of Rhythm of Secrets, go HERE.

*Special thanks to Kregel Publications for providing a review copy.

Made To Crave by Lysa Terkeurst

2011-01-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

I'm still in the middle of reading this book and love it! (Special thanks to Zondervan for the review copy). Reading Lysa's account of her journey is like reading my own. And the questions at the end of the chapters are great. This is definitely a great book for small groups and women's ministry groups. My own church's women's ministry will be doing this study over the summer.

Be sure to read down to the bottom. Lots going on with this book, including a chance to win a Kindle.

About the Book:

Just because a woman finally fits into her skinny jeans doesn't mean she's won her battle with food. Too often, women overlook the spiritual component to their physical struggle with healthy eating. Made to Crave taps into the desires God gave you to consume food without letting food consume you!

Made to Crave is the missing link between a woman's desire to be healthy and the spiritual empowerment necessary to make that happen. The reality is we were made to crave. Craving isn't a bad thing. But we must realize God created us to crave more of him. Many of us have misplaced that craving by overindulging in physical pleasures instead of lasting spiritual satisfaction. If you are struggling with unhealthy eating habits, you can break the "I'll start again Monday" cycle, and start feeling good about yourself today. Learn to stop beating yourself up over the numbers on the scale. Discover that your weight loss struggle isn't a curse but rather a blessing in the making, and replace justifications that lead to diet failure with empowering go-to scripts that lead to victory. You can reach your healthy weight goal - and grow closer to God in the process. This is not a how-to book. This is not the latest and greatest dieting plan. This book is the necessary companion for you to use alongside whatever healthy lifestyle plan you choose. This is a book and Bible study to help you find the "want to" in making healthy lifestyle choices. 224 pages. Companion Bible study DVD set also available. http://madetocrave.org/purchase-resources/

About Lysa:

Lysa TerKeurst is an author and speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has led thousands to make their walk with God an invigorating journey.

Lysa wrote the book Made to Crave from the perspective of a woman who has never craved a carrot stick in her whole life. Having struggled with her weight her whole adult life, Lysa knows what it feels like to be in the vicious cycle of gaining and losing, but never feeling at peace in her struggle. Everything changed when Lysa decided to have her deepest desire met by God not food. Now, armed with the spiritual motivation she gained in her own journey, she is inspiring others to find lasting victory.

As a nationally known speaker, Lysa has been passionately teaching women God’s truths for years. Lysa’s personal adventures of following God led to appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, The 700 Club, USA Today newspaper, Woman’s Day magazine, and Focus on the Family radio.

Today, Lysa and her ministry team at Proverbs 31 Ministries encourage more than 375,000 women through their daily online devotional. In addition, she co-hosts a 1-minute inspirational radio program aired on more than 1,200 stations around the world. Plus, she touches hearts through their monthly magazine, P31 Woman. Lysa’s blog averages over 70,000 avid readers per month. She is the award-winning author of 14 books, including her newest releases, Made to Crave and Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl. Other noteworthy books include What Happens When Woman Say Yes to God, What Happens When Women Walk in Faith, Capture His Heart, and Capture Her Heart. Visit Lysa's website for more info and to visit her blog! http://lysaterkeurst.com

About the Giveaway and Party:

Win a brand new KINDLE from Lysa Terkeurst during the Made To Crave KINDLE Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of Made to Crave and the MTC Small Group DVD Study Set, Lysa is giving away a KINDLE prize package worth over $175.00! To enter just click on one of the icons below! One winner will receive:

A brand new Kindle with Wi-Fi & the New E Ink Pearl Screen
KINDLE editions of Lysa’s Made to Crave and Becoming More Than A Good Girl

But, wait there is more!

Lysa will be announcing the winner of the Made to Crave KINDLE Giveaway on February 8th during the Made To Crave Party on Facebook!

During the party Lysa will chat with guests, host a trivia contest or two, and give away lots of other fun prizes (copies of Lysa’s other books and Amazon.com, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates) – including a live Author Chat with Lysa for your small group!

Don’t miss the fun! Lysa is looking forward to learning more about you – so be sure to stop by Lysa's Facebook Author Page on February 8th at 5:00 PM PST (6 PM MST, 7 PM CST, & 8 PM EST).

Go HERE for a complete listing of blog tour participants.

The Realization of a Dream

2011-01-25T10:53:00.000-08:00

My dream since I was 18 was to write books. I started seriously pursuing publication in 2004 and nearly gave up toward the end of last year, thinking my kind of stories wouldn't find a place in the CBA market.

And now, as my first nonfiction book (Winning Him Without Words: 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage—check out the sidebar) is about to release (Feb. 21), I sit here with TWO fiction book contracts!!!

I cannot believe it. I'm so glad my amazing agent, Rachelle Gardner stayed fearless and determined when I lagged. Thank you, Rachelle! You're amazing!

And I don't care if I sound like one of those actors or singers on stage accepting an award and they give the obligatory thanks to God. I give God all the glory and credit for all of my success, nonfiction and fiction. He's the one who's been in control of it all and opened the doors at the right time. I'm so glad my impatience and doubts didn't run the show. LOL!

So, sometime next year (I'm guessing Spring or Fall), The Soul Saver will release. I wrote this book to go with Winning Him as a fictional version of the 10 Keys Lynn Donovan and I share in regards to thriving in a mismatched marriage. Here's the blurb for The Soul Saver:

Sent to find the lost… but this time she has to find herself.

On an average day, God kept her missions to the grocery store, bank, and playground territories. But then came the tough missions—the ones that sent Lexie Baltimore into real battle. The goal was always the same. Reach the lost, bring someone back to God, restore hope. And she had a few battle scars to show for it.

Tormented that she can’t reach the one person she loves the most—staunch atheist and husband Hugh—Lexie finds her own hope waning when the battle comes to her doorstep in the shape of pastor who represents everything she wants and what her husband is not—a godly man.

Then false accusations and rumors spin her husband and family into a precarious position and the only way out is to trust God. But how can she convince her husband of that when she’s struggling to trust God herself?

This time Lexie is the mission.

I love this book so much, and I hope it will be an encouragement to others. My deepest gratitude to Barbour Publishing and Rebecca Germany for giving this book a chance! Thank you!

The second contract I received (also from Barbour) is for a novella that will be part of a series. I have the distinct honor and pleasure of working on the Rendezvous at Central Park series with Ronie Kendig, MaryLu Tyndall, and Kim Sawyer.

My story is titled A Love Meant to Be and is set partly during the Vietnam War and current day. I'm writing the hero in this story to honor my father, who was a Vietnam Vet and passed away last June. Wish he could be here to see it but I know one day we'll be together again to talk about it. Here's the blurb for A Love Meant to Be:

1973 — Unexpected love sweeps Alan James and Gail Gibson into a romantic journey that spans 38 years. After a whirlwind romance, they plan to reunite at Central Park after Alan returns from the Vietnam War, but the lies and deceit of Gail’s sister foil their reunion. Thirty-eight years later, Alan’s niece, Jamie, finds Gail and brings them back together. Alan and Gail’s plans to reunite in Central Park are finally realized in a surprise reunion that shows their love was meant to be.

So there you go. There's my great news! I've sat on the news about Soul Saver since early December until we got the contract done. Now, I get to share how God's brought my dream to fruition. What a great way to start the year!

Digitalis by Ronie Kendig

2011-01-24T12:46:00.000-08:00

This week I have some fabulous books to share and here is one of my absolute favorite authors (and people!), Ronie Kendig. Digitalis is the second book in the Discarded Heroes series. This series is fantastic! And I have a copy of Digitalis to give away to one very special person, so leave a comment for a chance to win it!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Digitalis Barbour Publishing, Inc.(January 1, 2011) by Ronie Kendig

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ronie has been married since 1990 to a man who can easily be defined in classic terms as a hero. She has four beautiful children. Her eldest daughter is 16 this year, her second daughter will be 13, and her twin boys are 10. After having four children, she finally finished her degree in December 2006. She now has a B.S. in Psychology through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Getting her degree is a huge triumph for both her and her family--they survived!!

This degree has also given her a fabulous perspective on her characters and how to not only make them deeper, stronger, but to make them realistic and know how they'll respond to each situation. Her debut novel, Dead Reckoning released March 2010 from Abingdon Press. And her Discarded Heroes series began in July 2010 from Barbour with the first book entitled Nightshade.

This is the second book in the series.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Step into the boots of a former Marine in this heart-pounding adventure in life and love. Colton “Cowboy” Neeley is a Marine trying to find his footing as he battles flashbacks now that he’s back home. Piper Blum is a woman in hiding—from life and the assassins bent on destroying her family. When their hearts collide, more than their lives are at stake. Will Colton find a way to forgive Piper’s lies? Can Piper find a way to rescue her father, trapped in Israel? Is there any way their love, founded on her lies, can survive?

If you would like to read an excerpt of Digitalis, go HERE.

Praying for BIG FAITH!

2011-01-19T12:10:00.000-08:00

I hope you'll check out my weekend post at Spiritually Unequal Marriage. I'm amazed at the responses!

When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” — Matthew 8: 28-30

Yesterday after I read this piece of Scripture, I prayed for big faith. God’s Word had convicted me and made me realize that I’ve hidden behind a safe faith the last year because I was afraid of more disappointment...

Read the rest...

Someone to Blame by C.S. Lakin

2011-01-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Someone To Blame Zondervan (September 21, 2010) by C. S. Lakin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

C. S. Lakin is a novelist and professional copyeditor and writing coach. She is currently working on her eleventh novel, a contemporary family saga drawn from the biblical story of Jacob. Someone to Blame(Zondervan), an intense relational drama and winner of the 2009 First Novel contest, released in October 2010, and she is also the author of the allegorical adult fantasy series The Gates of Heaven, featuring The Wolf of Tebron and the upcoming release The Map Across Time (March 2011). She is currently completing her tenth novel and developing a dog memoir of epic proportion.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the wake of heartrending family tragedies, Matt and Irene Moore move with their fourteen-year-old daughter, Casey, to a small town. Their goal is to get far away from the daily reminders that leave each of them raw and guilt-ridden. Their hope is to find redemption, repair, and renewal. Instead, the threads that hold them together unravel even more.

Breakers, a small community perched on the rocky coast of the Pacific Northwest, is draped with cold isolation that seems to mirror the hearts. As they settle into their new life, old grief settles with them. Matt is always on edge and easily angered, Irene is sad and pensive, and Casey is confused and defiant. They've once more set the stage for calamity. Into this mix comes Billy Thurber, a young drifter with his own conflicts, whose life unexpectedly entangles with the Moores'.

His arrival in Breakers parallels a rash of hateful and senseless crimes, and soon the whole town -- eager for someone to blame -- goes after Thurber with murderous intent. Out of this dangerous chaos, however, the Moores find unexpected grace and healing in a most unlikely way.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Someone To Blame, go HERE.

*Special thanks for Zondervan for supplying a review copy.

A Change of Heart

2011-01-12T16:17:00.000-08:00

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. — 2 Cor. 3:3

Many of us participated in the Fasting & Praying week here at S.U.M., but I want to share something that happened the week before.

Fasting has never been easy for me. I struggle with it greatly and have actually avoided it for the last couple years, using my food issues as an excuse not to. The enemy used that one on me very effectively.

So as this week approached I began praying for God to help me do it. I needed to do it because I was facing some big issues in the New Year and my gut was telling me it was time to break the bondage that had gripped my family in a matter of weeks...

Read the rest at S.U.M.

Christian Fiction Online Magazine

2010-12-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

I did a fun interview with Bonnie Calhoun at Christian Fiction Online Magazine. I had a blast doing this and talking about marketing in the publishing industry. Hope you check it out!

And...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

About Those Trials...

2010-11-23T14:33:00.000-08:00

Last week I did two posts about unending trials. I see so much of this in many people's lives these days, including my own. I pray they encourage and strengthen your faith.

The Unending Trials
One of the heaviest burdens we carry for ourselves and others are those that don’t seem to end...

Thankful for Trials?
The longer I’m on this journey with God, the more I realize how little I truly understand of his ways...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Growing Pains

2010-11-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

So, I'm on day 32 of this Hcg diet through biobody.me. I'm not a fan of drastic diets because common sense has always steered me away from anything that just offers a fast fix and not a permanant solution. But I turn 45 in a week and my metabolism was threading complete revolt.

Thus I'm adventure into this crazy diet that seemed so impossible for a food addict like me. I will tell you this is one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I'm happy to report that as of today I've lost 19 lbs. and have reached my main goal. Now I'd love to reach the weight on my driver's lisence, which is just 4.5 lbs. I have 8 more days to do it so I'm going to have to behave. LOL!

What zurprised me about this diet is how it broke my addiction to sugar, which is a big no-no on this diet, and is even discouraged after the main 40 day protocol is completed. I can now see how sugar has truly been my downfall. Even my sweet hubby made this discovery in his own diet. He went sugar free in January and dropped 20 lbs. in 2 months. The bum... ;-)

So, I've learned a lot about how my body feels without all that sugar and crud weighing it down, literally. And I can see long term benefits from eating cleaner. My plan after the three week maintenance phase of this diet is to move to the South Beach Diet. Another one I avoided until a friend around my age had greet success with it and loves eating this way everyday.

And after this 40 days of tight restrictions, that diet will seem like a dream. Happy eating!

Marriage for Training

2010-11-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

I'm blogging over at Spiritually Unequal Marriage today about what would happen if we shifted our view of how God uses marriage to prep us for deeper intimacy with Him. I read an interesting post by Kevin Adams that really made me think about this. I hope you'll go check out my post and Kevin's article over at S.U.M.

Snow Day by Billy Coffey

2010-10-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

So I just started this book and haven't had a chance to finish it just yet. I'm about third of the way through and can tell you this book is fabulous! Full of authentic prose and anecdotal stories, this is a book you will definitely revisit and love to share. Great as a gift, and with Christmas coming—perfect!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Snow DayFaithWords (October 11, 2010)
by
Billy Coffey
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

When you’re raised in small-town Virginia by a redneck father and a Mennonite mother, certain things become ingrained. And when you marry a small-town girl and have two small-town kids, all you want to do is pass those ingrained things along.

Like believing the best life is one lived in the country enjoying the pleasures it provides—summer nights beneath the stars, rocking chairs on the front porch, deer grazing in the fields. And believing that no matter how iffy life can get sometimes, there are some things that are eternal and unchanging.

But above all else, believing that in everything there is story waiting to be told.

That’s where I come in.

Billy Coffey was raised on stories. The first ones came on the front porches of relatives, tales laced with local charm and deep meaning. Then came the stories from people like Max Lucado and Robert Fulghum, who write with a charm and deep meaning of their own.

Billy lives with his wife and two children in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. If you drive by his house, you’ll probably spot him on the front porch. If you do, give him a wave. He’ll wave back.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this debut novel, Peter is a simple man who lives by a simple truth--a person gains strength by leaning on his constants. To him, those constants are the factory where he works, the family he loves, and the God who sustains him. But when news of job cuts comes against the backdrop of an unexpected snowstorm, his life becomes filled with far more doubts than certainties.

With humor and a gift for storytelling, Billy Coffey brings you along as he spends his snow day encountering family, friends, and strangers of his small Virginia town. All have had their own battles with life's storms. Some have found redemption. Others are still seeking it. But each one offers a piece to the puzzle of why we must sometimes suffer loss, and each one will help Peter find a greater truth--our lives are made beautiful not by our big moments, but our little ones. (2010)

To read an excerpt from Snow Day, go HERE.

Judgment Day by Wanda Dyson

2010-09-26T20:36:00.000-07:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Judgment Day WaterBrook Press (September 21, 2010)
by Wanda Dyson
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Wanda Dyson – "a shining example of what Christian fiction is becoming..." (Christian Fiction Review). She's been called a "natural" and a "master of pacing," but her fans know that whether it's police thrillers, suspense, or bringing a true story to life, Wanda knows how to take her readers on a journey they'll never forget.

Wanda is a multipublished suspense author, currently writing for Random House/Waterbrook. Her one attempt at a nonfiction book was picked for an exclusive release on Oprah. In addition to writing full time, she is also the appointment coordinator for the CCWC, Great Philadelphia Christian Writers, and ACFW conferences.

Wanda lives in Western Maryland on a 125 acre farm with a menagerie of animals and when she's not writing critically acclaimed suspense, or away at conferences, you can find her zipping across the fields on a 4-wheeler with Maya, her German Shepherd, or plodding along at a more leisurely pace on her horse, Nanza.

With the release of her newest hit, Judgment Day, Wanda is heading back to the keyboard to start on her next high-octane thriller, The Vigilante.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sensational journalism has never been so deadly.

The weekly cable news show Judgment Day with Suzanne Kidwell promises to expose businessmen, religious leaders, and politicians for the lies they tell. Suzanne positions herself as a champion of ethics and morality with a backbone of steel—until a revelation of her shoddy investigation tactics and creative fact embellishing put her in hot water with her employers, putting her credibility in question and threatening her professional ambitions.

Bitter and angry, Suzanne returns home one day to find an entrepreneur she is investigating, John Edward Sterling, unconscious on her living room floor. Before the night is over, Sterling is dead, she has his blood on her hands, and the police are arresting her for murder. She needs help to prove her innocence, but her only hope, private investigator Marcus Crisp, is also her ex-fiancé–the man she betrayed in college.

Marcus and his partner Alexandria Fisher-Hawthorne reluctantly agree to take the case, but they won’t cut Suzanne any slack. Exposing her lack of ethics and the lives she’s destroyed in her fight for ratings does little to make them think Suzanne is innocent. But as Marcus digs into the mire of secrets surrounding her enemies, he unveils an alliance well-worth killing for. Now all he has to do is keep Suzanne and Alex alive long enough to prove it.

Watch the book trailer:

If you would like to read the Prologue and first chapter of Judgment Day, go HERE.

My Take on Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker

2010-09-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

As I was traveling last week, I had quite a few hours on airplanes to read Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker. This book is a powerful allegory for the passion, pursuit, and sacrifice of Christ. I will even go as far to say that I found myself stopping at points near the end to pray, to praise Jesus for his death for us, and to pray for my husband to know what this amazing sacrifice means.

And here's where it went even farther in my heart. Not only is Toma's love for Lucine so representative of Christ's love for us, I saw in it the love Christ calls us to have for our unbelieving spouses. I could completely relate to Toma's willingness to do whatever it took, to sacrifice anything, to pray that most dangerous prayer (Lord, do whatever it takes) to bring the one he loved to truth.

As one who is spiritually mismatched, this story not only resonated with me regarding my own salvation but also the yearning to see my husband know and experience this all consuming love that is so completely and totally our God.

One line in particular stood out to me, even the page number stuck with me (pg. 285). As said of evil:

"Their lust to win the love of mortals away from God knows no bounds."

The truth of this one line resonated deeply with me. This is the battle we face on a daily basis and the darkness that encompasses our unbelieving loved ones. However, to know the depths of God's love (if that's even possible this side of heaven), or should I better say to begin to grasp this all-encompassing love God has for us, shifts the desire for our unbelieving spouses to know Jesus from a selfish motivation to a shared passion with Christ that our loved one would truly know God, to experience the sacrificial love displayed in his Son Jesus, and to walk with God's Holy Spirit.

Thought provoking, powerful, beyond fiction...this book crosses from words on the page to truth piercing the heart.

CONTEST UPDATE: Without further ado, the winner is Helen! If you left a comment on my blog or Facebook page, thank you for participating. God bless!

Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker

2010-09-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Thomas Nelson for sending me a review copy of Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker. I just received the book so I haven't had a chance to finish yet, but I have to say I was immediately intrigued within the first few pages. And now, several chapters in, I'm more than intrigued.

This is quite a diversion for Dekker—something I appreciate about this writer. He's not afraid to explore new ideas and has the ability to always delight and surprise.

So, check out the rest of this post. There's a rockin' book trailer that will blow your socks off. I say that as a graphic designer who's very picky about book trailers. This is one of the best I've seen. Plus there's a contest here, friends! But you have to check out the rest of the details right to the end. :-)

Without further ado...

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Immanuel's Veins Thomas Nelson (September 7, 2010)

by Ted Dekker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ted Dekker is a New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty novels. He is best known for stories which could be broadly described as suspense thrillers with major twists and unforgettable characters, though he has also made a name for himself among fantasy fans.

Early in his career he wrote a number of spiritual thrillers and his novels were lumped in with ‘Christian Fiction’ a surprisingly large category. His later novels are a mix of mainstream novels such as Adam, Thr3e, Skin, Obsessed and BoneMan’s Daughters, and fantasy thrillers that metaphorically explore faith. Best known among these is his Circle Series: Green, Black, Red, White and The Paradise Books: Showdown, Saint, and Sinner.

Dekker was born to missionaries who lived among the headhunter tribes of Indonesia. Because his parents’ work often included extended periods of time away from their children, Dekker describes his early life in a culture to which he was a stranger as both fascinating and lonely. It is this unique upbringing that forced him to rely on his own imagination to create a world in which he belonged.

After leaving Indonesia, Dekker graduated from a multi-cultural high school and took up permanent residence in the United States to study philosophy and religion. Upon earning his Bachelor’s Degree, he entered the corporate world and proceeded to climb the proverbial ladder. But his personal drive left him restless and, after many successful years, he traded corporate life for wide range of entrepreneurial pursuits that included buying and selling businesses, healthcare services, and marketing.

In the early nineties while visiting a friend who had just written a book, Dekker decided to pursue a long held desire to be a novelist. Over the course of two years he wrote two full length novels before starting from scratch and rewriting both. Now fully enamored by the the process and the stories, he realized that storytelling was in his blood and a new obsession to explore truth through story gripped him anew.

He sold his business, moved his family to the mountains of Western Colorado and began writing full-time on his third novel. Two years and three novels later his first novel, Heaven’s Wager, was published.

Now, Dekker’s novels had sold over 3.4 million copies worldwide. Two of his novels, Thr3e and House, have been made into movies with more in production. Dekker resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Lee Ann and two of their daughters.

ABOUT THE BOOK

This story is for everyone--but not everyone is for this story.

It is a dangerous tale of times past. A torrid love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice.

Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover.

With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds.

Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow.

Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter.

But remember, not everyone is for this story.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Immanuel's Veins, go HERE.

Watch the book trailer:

Check out Ted's blog for more events and details: http://www.facebook.com/teddekker

THE CONTEST
Leave a comment to entered into the contest to win a copy of Immanuel's Veins and a super cool "Spread the Love" T-shirt. I got one with my book and love the design!

And now in line with the theme of love, here's a post I wrote about three powerful words in the Bible. Three words that exemplify Christ's unconditional love. For you, for me, for all of us...

THREE POWERFUL WORDS
In Mark 10, we’re told about the story of a rich young man who approaches Jesus and asks what he has to do to inherit eternal life. Now read Jesus’ reply below as I’ve shown an edited version of it. You’ll understand why I did this in just a moment.

Jesus looked at him... "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." — Mark 10:21

Read it again if you need to and notice every word. Now read the complete version of this same verse:

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." — Mark 10:21

Can you see the difference? If not, go back and compare the two and find the three words missing from the first one. Three little words:

and loved him

They don’t have to be there to show what’s going on, but those three words stopped me in my tracks. Here stands this young man who lacks nothing materially. Jesus can see his heart before he even speaks a word, and most likely knows what this young man will say.

Yet—and this is the part that blows me away—Jesus loved him. He loved this man whose world centered on his wealth. This man who would turn and walk away from the gift Jesus offered. The man who was so mired in his sinful nature that when offered the key to eternity (Jesus was offering himself here), he still chose to walk away.

Through all this, Jesus loved this man and met him exactly where he stood, figuratively and literally.

Every time Jesus looks upon us, He loves us. Every time Jesus looks upon our unbelieving spouses, He loves them. Exactly where they’re at.

These three little words held within the complete context of this chapter of Mark is one of the strongest examples of Christ’s unconditional love. When God inspired the men to write His Word down, He intentionally put those words in there for a reason. Not as an afterthought.

As Christ loved this man who was poor despite his wealth, so we are called to love our unbelieving loved ones. We stand before them, possibly the only representation of Christ in their lives. We are the door Christ can walk through and reveal His endless and intentional love.

God’s love is not afterthought. It is the heart of His salvation. And when we allow God to use us to reveal His heart…His love, we stand in the footsteps of Christ.

Praying and believing,
Dineen

When the Devil Whistles by Rick Acker

2010-08-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure and honor to read an advance copy of Rick's book (thank you, Rick!) and let's just say WOW! Rick Acker is definitely an author to watch, and follow. His attention to detail is not only phenomenal, it's riveting. As you read, you think the author had to have experienced all this stuff first hand. Some he did, a lot he researched...obviously well.

When the Devil Whistles is a stellar book. The story is so intriguing, I couldn't wait to get time each day to go back and read more of the story. Can't wait to read more books by this very talented author. Next on my list is his previous book, Deadman's Rule.

In fact, I think I'll go check it out right now...

Happy reading!

Tomorrow We Die by Shawn Grady

2010-08-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

Shawn Grady's first book, Through the Fire, was a refreshing surprise to me in the Christian fiction industry. I love this guy's voice, and his stories rock. So, needless to say, I couldn't wait to get a copy of his next book, Tomorrow We Die.

Grady surpassed his first book with another intriguing and attention grabbing story. I couldn't put the book down. Well, I did, but not easily.

I love finding an author whose books I want to gobble up. So this happy reader is waiting for the next installment from this fabulous author. If you love good suspense, check him out. He's definitely an author to follow.

My New Attitude Increased My Gas Mileage

2010-08-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

And yours can too! Okay, you know you wanted to add that on. Sounds like a cheap ad, but there's a truth to it.

If you're a taxi-mom, a commuter, a delivery person, or whatever keeps you in traffic, you know the frustration of getting from point A to point B in the least amount of time. However, did you know this "anxious" attitude does more than just spike your blood pressure?

I've discovered something very interesting of late. In the past, I've been disappointed with my cars not reaching their full potential. What does that mean?

It means they never seem to meet the estimated gas mileage. And if you live in California like I do, it's even more frustrating because of the stricter pollution regulations (which btw, I appreciated and have no desire to interfere there).

I guess you could say I had a revelation. One day I noticed I had become a really frustrated driver. Every time I went out, my irritability came out full force. What's even worse is I noticed it was rubbing off on my daughter. She started venting at other drivers as well.

Not good. From that point on I made a concerted effort to leave with plenty of time, to drive as if I had that extra time, which I did, and enjoy the ride.

Took a little time, but I noticed my irritability went away, we always seem to be on time now, and the amazing part?

My gas mileage went up. I have this little gauge on my car that tells me how I'm doing, and I'm actually getting the estimated gas mileage. Amazing how a new attitude can overlap unexpected areas.

So, I'm back on the road, relaxed and saving gas. How's the road treating you? Maybe I'll see around...

Let's Talk About Trends

2010-08-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

Being in tune with the world of advertising, I find trends fascinating. There is a distinct pattern that seems to surface and build. I'm sure you've noticed this at times too.

One I noticed recently has to do with real estate. I don't know what it's like where you are but in California, to get a house you often wind up in bidding wars. It's crazy but true. Houses in the mid price range (500,000 to 600,000) are in high demand.

This new trend has to do with the real estate signs they put in the yard. The new trend is to put a "Coming Soon" sign on top of that traditional Realtor sign. The first time I saw this, I had to laugh, then appreciate the strategy to build buyer interest. Now this new trend is taking off and I'm seeing it across the country.

Very interesting...

The lesson here is the industry adapted. They found a way to maximize a changing market to work for them. That's not always easy but adaptability is crucial to ongoing success. Instead of trying to make a massive market conform to you, you have to find a niche to bring your product and services in to uniquely fit that crevice. Then you can grow it from there.

So, whatever your product or service, look at your market, and identify a gap you can fill. Trying to hit a market in a broad sense waters down your product and has no appeal.

That's also why it's so crucial to be clear about what your product and services are. But that's a discussion for another day.

Great Articles on Branding

2010-08-04T15:47:00.000-07:00

Lynne over at EntrepreneurChic has a great two part article on branding at her site. She shares my belief that consistency is key and has some great insight on how to think through what your brand should be. So, take a look and glean some goodies!

Personal Branding Guide, Part 1
Personal Branding Guide, Part 2

From Honest Man to Thief

2010-07-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite TV shows is Leverage because the characters are deep and multi-faceted. Nathan Ford was once an insurance investigator, specializing in art theft recovery. He’s now the reluctant “mastermind” behind the cons of a group of thieves. I say “reluctant” because he’s in cahoots with the very thieves he used to catch and put in jail. Why does Nathan do this?

Read the full article at Voices e-zine.

Nightshade by Ronie Kendig

2010-07-25T22:27:00.000-07:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Nightshade

Barbour Books (July 1, 2010)by Ronie Kendig

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ronie has been married since 1990 to a man who can easily be defined in classic terms as a hero. She has four beautiful children. Her eldest daughter is 16 this year, her second daughter will be 13, and her twin boys are 10. After having four children, she finally finished her degree in December 2006. She now has a B.S. in Psychology through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Getting her degree is a huge triumph for both her and her family--they survived!!

This degree has also given her a fabulous perspective on her characters and how to not only make them deeper, stronger, but to make them realistic and know how they'll respond to each situation. Her debut novel, Dead Reckoning released March 2010 from Abingdon Press. And her Discarded Heroes series begins in July from Barbour with the first book entitled Nightshade.

ABOUT THE BOOK

After a tour of duty in a war-torn country, embattled former Navy SEAL Max Jacobs finds himself discarded and alienated from those he loves as he struggles with war-related PTSD. His wife, Sydney, files a restraining order against him and a petition for divorce. Max is devastated.

Then a mysterious a man appears. He says he's organizing a group that recycles veterans like Max. It's a deep-six group known as Nightshade. With the chance to find purpose in life once again, Max is unable to resist the call of duty and signs on.

The team handles everything with precision and lethal skill...until they're called upon to rescue a missionary family from a rebel-infested jungle and avoid a reporter hunting their identities. Will Max yield his anger and pride to a force greater than him...love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Nightshade, go HERE.

CONTEST: Right here, only on Kittens Come From Eggs! Leave a comment and one person will win a copy of Nightshade AND Dead Reckoning. Winner will be announced Friday so don't miss out!

Watch the trailer:

And the Winner is...

2010-07-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

Lisa Jordan wins a copy of Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Iglesias. This book is a treasure trove for writers and a great compliment, I must say, to Donald Maass' Writing the Breakout Novel.

Thank you for all your comments and for hanging out here last week! Hope your conference experience is spectacular. :-)

Part Four: The 3 C’s: Colors, Continuity, and Choices

2010-07-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

So far we’ve talked about product identification, one-sheets and business cards. Today I’ll give you some basic tips about the 3C's to carry your imagery across the board to your website, blog, and future promotions. Consistency is key!

Colors
I touched on this briefly in part two of this series about the one sheet. Your colors should mesh with your genre. A color scheme of deep red, black, and white will bring across a sense of danger, suspense, and strength. Great for those thriller and suspense writers. Pastel tones give a sense of happiness and peace—a perfect choice for inspirational writers, some women’s fiction, and children’s books. Bold, loud colors are perfect for chick-lit and lively women’s fiction. I think you get the picture here. Choose colors that convey the theme of your stories. This holds true for your printed materials, as well as your web presence, and is another important aspect of continuity.

Continuity
Creating a common theme between your printed and online materials is like writing a book series. There are elements that carry over from book to book and stay consistent. This will create strong reader identification (also why book series have continuity between covers in their design, colors, fonts, and imagery) and this also speaks a strong but silent message of professionalism.

If you started with your website, carry those designs and colors over to your business card, letterhead, and promotional materials. If you’re a published author and you’re using your current book as a guideline, then your materials to promote that book should match it. Again, this creates strong reader identification. Making connections between advertising materials to the product on the shelf (your book) is vital to a successful promotion. Otherwise, you’re wasting your time. And your money.

Choices: Timely vs. Timeless
This is where your planning will pay off. Literally. Make choices now based upon two things. One, your immediate goal. Are you promoting a book? Then make a “timely” choice.” Design your bookmarks, postcards, and online materials to match in color, design, and even fonts. Order quantities of your printed materials based upon your need. It may be a great deal to spend that extra few dollars just to get 500 more bookmarks, but if you wind up not needing them, then it’s money wasted.

Two, your long term goal. Are you promoting yourself as an author? When making “timeless” choices for your printed and online materials, keep in mind that you will most likely keep this “identity” for two to five years. Can you live with that logo and color scheme that long? Making frequent changes will lose continuity and confuse readers. Choose colors and designs for the long haul. Take advantage of the price break between 250 hundred and 500 business cards if you you’re happy with your image and information, and you will make good use of them. The same can hold true for bookmarks, especially if they’re promoting a series of books, or your books in general.

I hope this series has been helpful. Leave a comment for another chance to win Writing for Emotional Impact. I’ll draw a name this weekend and announce the winner Monday. And feel free to leave any questions. I’ll answer them here in the comments section. See you at conference!

Part Three: The Business Card

2010-07-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Most of what I’ve covered for the one sheet applies to business cards as well. These are basic design concepts that apply across the board. And even more so for the business card, because it’s a very small area of advertising designed to impart your most important information.

When I first started attending conferences, I found it odd that writers would include their picture. Now I understand its benefits in the connections we make and helping agents and editors remember who we are. They meet with so many people over the course of three days. A picture is a great way to stay in their memory. I do recommend you spend the money, if possible, on a professional photographer. In fact, each conference, a photographer is contracted for this very purpose. And at prices you just can’t beat. Take advantage of this opportunity. Trust me, even cropping a family portrait will still scream family portrait. It’s not just the quality, but the pose as well that can make a difference. If money is an issue, exchange services with someone. Ask around your church, or perhaps you have a family member or friend who does photography as a hobby. Just try to make sure it looks as professional as possible.

For your business card layout, you need your picture, which should be a high resolution image—around 1 MB or more—your name, email address, phone number and your web address, if you have one. Optional but helpful tidbits are a tagline and a blog addy. Don’t use a tagline just to have one. If you’re not sure yet what genre or style you plan to write, better to leave this off. And if you’re not a consistent blogger or don’t really keep up with it well enough, better to leave this off for now as well.

Use a good card stock for your printing. Here are some online printers that offer good service and competitive prices. I’ve worked with most of these and have found they’re all pretty good. And they have templates to step you through your business card design without additional charges—a great alternative if you can’t afford a designer.

Print Runner http://www.printrunner.com
Vista Print http://www.vistaprint.com
Printing for Less http://www.printingforless.com
Print Place http://www.printplace.com
Got Print http://gotprint.net

Tomorrow we’ll finish up our exploration into conference materials with the 3 Cs and how they can fit neatly into your marketing materials for the future. Don’t forget to leave a comment for more chances to win Writing for Emotional Impact, and questions are always welcome! See you tomorrow!

Part Two: The One Sheet

2010-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I talked about identifying your genre and/or niche so as to help you create your “mood.” Today let’s talk about the one sheet. Every year I see the questions start a couple months before conference. We’re gearing up and getting ready. We want to make a great first impression on those agents and editors we’re planning to meet. We want to make our stories shine.

The one sheet is an excellent tool to do just that. You can use imagery right along with your carefully crafted words to give a first impression as well. Just like a book cover gives a potential reader an initial glimpse of what your story is about, a one sheet can do the same.

The basic elements to a one sheet are: story title, a short synopsis, author picture and bio, contact information, and one or two images that portray what your story is about, either by story line, setting, or key elements. And make sure both your story blurb and your bio are polished and ready to go. Writing it along with your layout is a bad idea. Time and energy are wasted when a layout has to be redone because of major copy changes.

Let’s start with some basic layout hints to keep your one sheet looking clean and professional.

Fonts
The temptation can be mighty strong to use some of those quirky fonts you just noticed came with your favorite software program. Resist it! A good rule of thumb is no more than two fonts to a one-page layout. Sometimes three will work if you’re careful, but keep in mind that using the bold form of a font face is almost like using an additional font.

Now that you’ve gone to all that trouble to determine the “mood” of what you write, choose fonts to match. Find a font that suits your story title and feel free to use a bold form here. If you write techno thrillers, a curly cursive font is not going to fit. Find a modern san serif font (no serifs—the little embellishments) to set off that title. If your genre is chick-lit, have a little fun and use something interesting and lively. The point is to make your title stand out, AND fit your story.

Next choose a good font for your body copy for both the story synopsis and author bio. Serif fonts such as Times New Roman are usually the best choice for readability. You can also use a san serif font like Helvetica if it’s not a large block of copy, but keep the font size to 12 point. Again, resist the temptation to use a fancier font (AND NO CAPS or italics!!!). If an editor or agent can’t read it easily, you’ve just wasted all that effort and a chance to make a great first impression.

Use a bold form of that body font for your name and contact information. That’s critical information, which needs to be easily found and read. Keep it with your bio and make sure it’s complete. If you have an agent, that’s important to include as well.

If you have sub-titles or taglines, use either a larger and bold form of your body copy font, or choose another font that compliments your title font. Be sure not to clash here. This is when your can either make or break your one sheet. If it’s too busy, the eye will naturally resist reading. That’s the last thing you want happening when you pitch your story.

Images
If you’re a camera aficionado, feel free to use your own pictures. Otherwise, there are a multitude of image sources available online. Even Microsoft has a site for images and clip art. Another option is to use stock photos. Most sights involve fees and some are free as long as you follow their guidelines. Check these out:

StockXchange (http://www.sxc.hu/)
This is a wonderful site to find free images. The photos are clearly marked as to what the photographer’s requirements are. Most are free to use as long as you’re not reselling the image or using it to create a logo. Some photographers ask for notification of use, which can be done easily through the site and some may ask that you give them credit for the photo (either placing their name by the picture or an aterix at the bottom of the page with a “photo by…” credit line.)

MorgueFile (http://www.morguefile.com/)
Like StockXchange, this is another fee free site. Again, follow the guidelines and respect the photographers’ rights.
iStock Photo (http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php)
iStock is usually my first choice for images for my clients. Using a prepurchase credit system, these images range anywhere from one or two credits to five or ten. Some run more if they’re detailed and/or high resolution, or are illustrations. You prepurchase blocks of credit, which works out to about a $1.50 a credit. Less if you buy larger quantities. Again, there are some usage guidelines, similar to StockXchange.

Book Series One Sheets
If you want your one sheet to promote a book series, consider creating a two-sided one sheet. You can use your series title as your main header, then treat your book titles like subheads, even using a smaller version of the same font you used for the main header. Include a brief description of each book to go with the titles and put your bio on the back. This will keep your page looking uncluttered and easy to read.

Simplicity
Simplicity is always a good rule of thumb. Find an image you like best and use it to set off your story title and synopsis. Make sure your bio picture is fairly current and as professional looking as possible. Try not to crop yourself out of a last year’s blurry family photo. Use colors sparingly, especially if you’re using color photography. A busy page will deflect, not invite.

Keep it clean, keep it organized, keep it simple, and keep it professional. Remember, this is your chance to start off with a great first impression of your professionalism and your story.

You can check out my website for some samples of one-sheets. And feel free to leave any questions. Tomorrow we’ll take a look at business cards and continuity in your materials. See you tomorrow!

Remember, leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Iglesias. Ciao!

Part One: Who Are You?

2010-07-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

The ACFW Conference is just weeks away, so I know many of you are wondering what you need or even where to start. Over the next four days, I’ll be posting some basics to help you get prepared. We’ll talk about identifying your genre or brand, one sheets, business cards, and how to apply this later on to your website, blogs, and future promotions.

So let’s start at the beginning. Who are you? Every path needs a starting point and creating marketing materials start with two things:

What am I selling?
Who am I selling it to?

Now to apply this to writing, start with your product. Your stories are your product, whether you’re published or unpublished (or pre-published, if you prefer). Start by identifying if you’re “genre specific” or “niche specific.”

Genre specific identifies what kind of stories you write. Suspense, YA, historicals, etc. Even if your story is a combination of genres, decide which is the stronger element to identify your book. In the long run, this helps agents and editors to identify and place your product. Where will it fit, and how will they market it?

If your story has more to do with a culture (Camy Tang’s Sushi Series), a hobby (Rebeca Seitz Scrapbooker’s Series), or ministry (Palmer and Chapman’s The Four Seasons of a Marriage Series), then your story is niche specific and serves a very unique demographic.

And it’s possible your stories could be both genre and niche specific, which can be even more appealing. Now don’t sweat this too much. It’s not an exact science, and if you’re just starting on your writing journey, keep it simple.

Once you’ve made this distinction, identify your market. Now I’m going to take the word “market” and use the word “mood” for my purposes here. The idea is to create materials that will portray what your story is about and clearly show that to the editor and/or agent you plan to pitch to. This is crucial to how you create your one sheets and business cards, and for published authors for your bookmarks and newsletters.

If your story is what you’d describe as a suspense or thriller, you don’t want to put cute little flowers and use bright colors on your one sheet. And if that’s your genre, you don’t want a business card that looks more like something a chick-lit writer would have. This all boils down to imagery and first impressions. This is an opportunity to communicate clearly who you are AND what you’re selling.

Tomorrow, I’ll cover more specific ideas for designing one sheets. I’ll also have some resource links for free and affordable royalty free photographs to help create that mood we’re talking about as well as communicate your story.

Feel free to leave questions in the comment section. See you tomorrow!

Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Iglesias, one of my favorite writing books! Leave a comment each day for more chances to win.

Tomorrow We Die by Shawn Grady

2010-07-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Allianc is introducing Tomorrow We Die Bethany House (July 1, 2010)by Shawn Grady

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shawn Grady signed with Bethany House Publishers in 2008. He was named “Most Promising New Writer” at the 39th Annual Mount Hermon Writers Conference. He is the author of the novels Through the Fire & Tomorrow We Die.

Shawn has served for over a decade as a firefighter and paramedic in northern Nevada. From fire engines and ambulances to tillered ladder trucks and helicopters, Shawn’s work environment has always been dynamic. The line of duty has carried him to a variety of locale, from high-rise fires in the city to the burning heavy timber of the eastern Sierras.

Shawn attended Point Loma Nazarene University as a Theology undergrad before shifting direction to acquire an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science Technology as well as Paramedic licensure through Truckee Meadows Community College.

Shawn currently lives in Reno, Nevada, just outside of Lake Tahoe. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wife, three children and yellow Labrador.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Chase the Angel of Death and You Might Catch Him
Jonathan Trestle is a paramedic who's spent the week a few steps behind the angel of death. When he responds to a call about a man sprawled on a downtown sidewalk, Trestle isn't about to lose another victim. CPR revives the man long enough for him to hand Trestle a crumpled piece of paper and say, "Give this to Martin," before being taken to the hospital.

The note is a series of dashes and haphazard scribbles. Trestle tries to follow up with the patient later, but at the ICU he learns the man awoke, pulled out his IVs, and vanished, leaving only a single key behind. With the simple decision to honor a dying man's last wish, Jonathan tracks the key to a nearby motel where he finds the man again--this time not just dead but murdered. Unwilling to just let it drop, Jonathan is plunged into a mystery that soon threatens not only his dreams for the future but maybe even his life. He must race for the truth before the Angel of Death comes calling for him.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Tomorrow We Die, go to HERE.

Dineen here: Shawn Grady is a fantastic author. His first book, Through the Fire, is an awesome read. I'm almost halfway through Tomorrow We Die (special thanks to Bethany House for the reviewer copy) and am loving it as much as Grady's first book. His stories are unique and his characters original. And I love a story that holds together well from start to finish. Definitely a book worth reading and an author worth following.

Announcing the INSPYs: the Bloggers' Award for Excellence in Faith-Driven Literature

2010-07-03T23:12:00.000-07:00

July 2, 2010-Organizers announced the creation of a new book award today. The announcement of the INSPY awards coordinated with the launch of the INSPYs website, http://inspys.com.

The innovative award is designed to help readers in their search for the preeminent faith-inspired literature of today. The INSPYs were created to select and showcase books with the highest literary standards that grapple with the Christian faith. To find these works, the INSPYs net is cast wide, accepting nominations of books aimed at the Christian bookstore market as well as those from the general market.

The INSPYs are the brainchild of Amy Riley, of My Friend Amy, creator Book Blogger Appreciation Week. "We feel nothing compares to excellent faith-driven fiction, but it can be difficult to weed through the multitude of books published each year in both the Christian marketplace and the general market to find the best ones," Riley said.

Another factor that sets the INSPY awards apart is that it's organized and will be judged by bloggers with considerable experience and knowledge of books published in both the general market and the CBA market.

Award organizers are seeking book nominations in the following genres: Historical Fiction; Amish Fiction; Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction; General and Literary Fiction; Romance and Romantic Suspense; Speculative Fiction; Creative nonfiction; and Young Adult Fiction. The deadline to nominate a book is July 31.

In addition to book nominations, judges for each genre are also being sought this month. Another way to help is to spread the word ? blog about the INSPYs, tell your friends.

The winners of the first-ever INSPY awards will be announced December 13.

The advisory committee consists of Amy Riley of My Friend Amy, Carrie Kitzmiller of Books and Movies, Deborah of Books, Movies & Chinese Food, Hannah Nielsen of Word Lily, and Rel Mollet of Relz Reviewz.

To stay informed, subscribe to the site: Inspys.com.

Contact: Hannah Nielsen, wordlily@gmail.com
OR: inspyawards@gmail.com

For Dad

2010-06-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning I get on an airplane to fly to Florida. Unfortunately, the event is my father’s funeral. He fought a brave battle with cancer for seven years. And this was his second go around with this hideous disease.

My dad was a true fighter, and a soldier at heart. He served his country faithfully in the army in Vietnam and continued through the years in service with the Florida National Guard as an instructor, then later on served as a Master Sergeant in the Army Reserves.

What many don’t know is that my dad didn’t “acquire” his family until I was eleven years old. I knew he was father material from the start though and didn’t waste time asking him to fill that roll. I’ll never forget asking at the wedding if I could call him Dad now.

He was Dad from that day on. Later he became Papa to my girls. He filled that roll well, too. For a time there he and my youngest daughter became cancer buddies, as she called it. They shared a bond through a shared disease.

He was the first example of a person of faith to come into my life. I remember him reading his Bible every night. When he was re-diagnosed, his main concern was that his faith stay strong, and in his last days, his main concern was his family.

I’m so thankful that God brought this dear man into our lives. James Marco will be dearly missed, but my greatest comfort is in knowing he’s most likely having a conversation with Jesus, getting answers to those questions he’s been accumulating about the Bible.

And I’ll see him again one day.

Praying and believing,

Dineen

Deceit by Brandilyn Collins

2010-06-02T16:03:00.000-07:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Deceit Zondervan (June 18, 2010)by Brandilyn Collins

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ABOUT THE BOOK

Skip Tracer Joanne Weeks knows Baxter Jackson killed his second wife---and Joanne's best friend---seven years ago. But Jackson, a church elder and beloved member of the town, walks the streets a free man.

The police tell Joanne to leave well enough alone, but Joanne is determined to bring Jackson down. Using her skip tracing skills, she sets out to locate Melissa Harkoff, now twenty-two, who lived in the Jackson home at the time of Linda Jackson's disappearance.

As Joanne drives home on a rainy winter night, a hooded figure darts in front of her car. In her headlight beams she glimpses the half-concealed face of a man, a rivulet of blood jagging down his cheek. She squeals to a stop but clips him with her right fender. Shaking, she gets out of her car in the pouring rain. The man will not let her see his face. Before he limps off into the night he warns her not to talk to police.

As Joanne tries to find Melissa, someone seems to be after her. Who was the man she hit on the road. Is Baxter Jackson out to silence her? Or is some other skip she's traced in the past now out for revenge?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Deceit, go HERE.

*Congratulations to HL for winning Almost Forever by Deborah Raney!

Almost Forever by Deborah Raney

2010-05-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

I wish I'd had the time to read my reviewer copy (thank you, Glass Roads), but family issues didn't permit. The story sounds wonderful, and anything from Deborah Raney has to be good. However, one especially blessed commenter will get my copy of this heartstring-tugging book. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you!

Unearthing a lost memory may cause her to lose everything she holds dear...but could it also set her free?

A firefighter's wife, Bryn thinks she knows more than most just how dangerous fire can be. Yet when it takes the life of her husband and four other firefighters, Bryn sees fire for the thief it truly is.

From their mutual despair, Bryn and another firefighter's surviving spouse form a close friendship. As the relationship begins to blossom into more, though, the thief comes again and Bryn must face the question: what caused the fire that stole her husband's life?

The award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty novels, Deborah Raney always delivers poignant stories of what it means to wrestle with the realities of a world in chaos...and emerge triumphant.

Her books have received the RITA Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Her novel, A Vow To Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title.

Still waiting to hear from AJ Phillips! She's the winner of Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes. Can't send a book without a mailing address. :-)

On Guard by William Lane Craig

2010-05-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

I recently had the opportunity to get a review copy of On Guard by William Lane Craig. Since I'm married to a great guy who happens to be an atheist, I'm always looking for good books to help me know my faith and how to talk about it. So far, apologetics (not to be confused with apologize, it means defense) have for the most part flown over my head or fallen short of what I consider sound proof explanations. I know how my hubby's brain works for the most part and I can read something and clearly hear how he would give an explanation to defuse the belief.

However, On Guard is the first book I have found myself not doing this with. I haven't had a chance to finish it yet because it's something I need to read slowly and absorb. But so far, I am impressed with Craig's reasoning and I'm very impressed with the easy layout and readability of this book.

If you're like me and have steered away from apologetics in the past, I encourage you to take a look at this book. It's worth the look and your time.

Here's additional information about the book:
We are currently experiencing a renaissance of interest in Christian apologetics. Due to the virulent attacks of the New Atheists, the Internet Infidels, and all manner of Biblical Bashers, along with a rising anti-evangelical bias in the media, evangelical Christians are demanding training in how to defend their Christian faith. There is a need for a well-rounded training manual that provides the “how-tos” of defending the Christian worldview. William Lane Craig’s new book, On Guard, intends to be that manual.

A highly accessible, visual, and concise book loaded with helpful figures and interesting sidebars, On Guard is a one-stop guidebook to learn how to defend your faith. Combining the four core arguments for God’s existence with a case for the historicity of Jesus, this readable book also addresses difficult issues such as the problems of suffering and religious relativism. Writing in a highly personable way, Dr. Craig relates his own winding path to faith and tells the story of how God saved him and equipped him to become one of the world’s leading Christian apologists.

“American society has already become post-Christian,” writes Dr. Craig. “Belief in a sort of generic God is still the norm, but belief in Jesus Christ is now politically incorrect.” Packed with stories of Dr. Craig’s encounters with religious skeptics, On Guard provides more than philosophical arguments. It relates real life experiences that illustrate the themes of our current culture. Dr. Craig maintains: “If the Gospel is to be heard as an intellectually viable option for thinking men and women today, then it’s vital that we as Christians try to shape American culture in such a way that Christian belief cannot be dismissed as mere superstition.”

According to Dr. Craig, the role of apologetics is to shape culture, strengthen believers, and win unbelievers. On Guard is the tool by which shaping, strengthening, and winning moves from improbable dream to attainable reality. Using an interactive layout designed to provoke thoughtful reflection and discussion among readers, this approachable book will be an instrument of impact to believers who are searching for and struggling with this culture’s biggest questions.

On Guard simplifies Dr. Craig’s vast work in apologetics yet is not simplistic. It provides easy to memorize arguments for God’s existence and the resurrection of Jesus, along with answers to the objections that one will likely encounter in sharing these arguments with others.

Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes

2010-05-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to share more about Gina Holmes' debut book, Crossing Oceans. You'll enjoy the book trailer. And since I received an ARC from Tyndale to review, the copy I received in conjunction with CFBA will go to one "lucky" commenter! So leave a comment and tell me what appeals most to you about reading this fabulous book.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Crossing Oceans Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (May 1, 2010)by Gina Holmes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her husband and children in southern Virginia. To learn more about her, visit May 2010's issue of CFOM at Interview with Gina Holmes or Novel Journey.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank–toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad . . . who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything—to heal old hurts, bring new beginnings . . . even overcome the impossible. A stunning debut about love and loss from a talented new voice.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Crossing Oceans, go HERE.

Watch the Video Book Trailer:

Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes

2010-05-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

I must say this is an amazing book. It's been a long time since I've read something in women's fiction that's kept me this riveted. Jenny's story is poignant to say the least and a very believable one at that. It's a story about forgiveness and sacrificial love told in a way I never expected could be so beautiful.

Gina Holmes is an excellent writer and tells the story in first person from the main character's perspective for the entire book. Yet you still get a clear picture of the other characters through Jenny's eyes.

Jenny's journey home is a difficult one as are the circumstance that force this direction. I love how Holmes takes this character through the paces of facing her own demons as well as difficult choices between what she wants and what she knows her daughter needs. The final one is the most difficult and though you know it's the right one, a part of me wanted to see Jenny have what she wanted for once.

Definitely a story that will stay with you and one that will make you think about your own choices and how they affect those you love.

*Review copy provided by Tyndale Publishers

Clever Writing on a Shampoo Bottle

2010-05-01T21:31:00.000-07:00

Actually it's a conditioner bottle, but that wouldn't have sounded as interesting in the title. However, here's the story. I bought a bottle of "Nourish Spa" hair conditioner at Trader Joe's and today I got to try this stuff out. I put it in my hair and checked the directions, just out of curiosity. This is what it says:

Apply after Nourish Shampoo, massaging its wealth of moisture into drenched hair. Rinse thoroughly and style.

Can you tell they really put some thought into this one line of copy to suit the spa brand? I have to say I'm impressed. I love the words "wealth of moisture" and "drenched." Cracks me up, too. Such effort for a hair product, but you know, that's what sells the stuff. Kudos to the creators.

Living Like Winners

2010-04-28T15:58:00.000-07:00

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. — 1John 5:4-5

In last week’s post I touched on the theme of overcoming. If you think about your favorite movies and stories, I bet you’ll find a common theme of a character overcoming some major obstacle or hurdle in their life, even possibly death.

As Christians, we have a unique perspective of the greatest “Overcomer” in history. Jesus overcame the greatest battle over sin and through his death, we have the opportunity to live victorious lives.

But what does that mean, what does it look like, and how do we do it? This past Sunday, my pastor spoke about 1 John 5:1-5. What leapt out at me were verses four and five. John tells us flat out that everyone born of God overcomes the world. He even goes on to define who that person is, one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.

That’s you and me. Or if you’re still sitting on the fence about who Jesus is, take a leap of faith and accept who he is. God will affirm you in amazing ways!

But these verses hold a truth and a promise that’s ours for the taking:

Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is our promise from God. No matter what we face or how difficult it might get or how hopeless things might seem at the moment, we’re already winners. Death and sin have been defeated. Our eternity is secure. It’s a promise. So, do we live in fear of what might be or do we go forward, knowing exactly what WILL be? We know our future and ultimate destination. We’ve won, so let’s live like winners. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1John 4:4). The enemy would like nothing better than to convince us we can’t overcome the hardship and challenges in this life and in our spiritually mismatched marriages. If he can convince us we’re defeated, he destroys our testimony to our spouse too, but it’s a big fat lie.
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is our truth. It’s a fact. The moment we accept Jesus, we are born of God. That makes us overcomers. We WILL overcome the world because God’s Word says we will. This doesn’t mean life will be smooth sailing, but it does mean we can face each battle with the reassurance that we don’t fight alone and that God equips us with everything we need to overcome and win. The thing we have to remember is that sometimes victory may not look so great. Look at Christ…he died and even the disciples thought they’d lost. But that wasn’t true, was it? They won the greatest victory of all time—eternity with their precious Lord Jesus. So just because it may look like you lost to the world, seek God’s perspective. You’ll find the deeper prize hidden beneath the outward appearance.

As I continue my search for how to live victoriously in Jesus, I keep finding the same truth over and over again. It all boils down to trust and focus. Who are we trusting? (I mean really trusting…it can’t be ourselves.) And where is our focus? (On our circumstances or on God?)

I haven’t figured it all out yet. There are a couple areas in my life that I continue to struggle with and some days, wind up feeling like a failure because of them. But God’s working on me, working to replace the lies with his truth.

What does living victoriously look like to you? Hope you’ll join me the rest of this month as I search for more clues in God’s Word to living in victory through Jesus.

Praying and believing,
Dineen

The Rewards of Simplicity by Pam and Chuck D. Pierce

2010-04-19T14:13:00.000-07:00

I recently requested a free copy of The Rewards of Simplicity by Pam and Chuck D. Pierce for review from Bethany House. The title intrigued me, especially since I've sensed a need to simplify in my own life.

The book starts out in Pam Pierce's point of view. She shares a lot from her own experiences of how God called her to simplify her life. This part was definitely the spiritual part in the subtitle "A Practical and Spiritual Approach." Only when she got the the last few pages of her par of the book did she delve into the practical applications. Though I appreciated how God had worked in her life as she shared through experience, I finished her part of the book still wondering what the take away value was.

The second part of the book is written from Chuck D. Pierce's point of view and at first, got me excited that I'd now find more of take away value of this book. But again, though his wisdom and experience are wonderful and intriguing at times, I reached the end of the book still wondering what this book offered beyond what I already knew.

As a more mature Christian (but by no means there yet!), I could connect in many ways to what the authors had lived and shared. The last two years alone have stretched my faith in ways I never imagined possible. But I wonder if a newer Christian would wind up lost.

This could very well just be one of those books that will appeal to some and not others. I have no doubt that God will use the authors' words to reach and help people in significant ways. I, however, am not one of those people. Perhaps that's because many of the things they shared I've already come to appreciate and am implementing slowly in my own life. I wanted more...just not sure what, to be honest.

So, I recommend you check out the book well before you buy it. Make sure you feel the book with benefit you. Like I said, I think this is one of those books some will appreciate, like me, and others will truly benefit from.

Catching Up...

2010-04-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

I'm playing catch up this week so I apologize for the lack of posts here. I'd like to share a couple of articles I wrote over at Spiritually Unequal Marriage. I pray they bless you as you read. I love these details that God so graciously shares with me from time to time.

Peter Looked Away

One of the most famous stories we have of Peter is when he walked on water. I think I’ve read more commentaries and devotionals on the story than I can remember.

Well, bear with me as I add another one to the list, because a nuance of this story hit me afresh recently. Like I’ve said in the past, God brings multiple layers to everything in the Bible and symbolism is his strength. In fact, I think the Bible should be given credit for setting the precedent on symbolism.

Anyway, onward with Peter. If you’ve read the story, then you’re familiar with how Peter boldly (did he do things any other way?) stepped out of the boat when Jesus told him to come to Him. I might add as well, that Peter is the one who asked to go to Jesus first. Gotta love this guy’s moxy... Read the rest at S.U.M.

Foundations

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." Luke 6:46-49

This parable about building on a firm foundation has always fascinated me. Again, I really love God’s symbolism, and Jesus truly knew how to use it. In this parable we can see the obvious that when we build our lives on the foundation of God’s Word, on Christ who is truth, we are unshakable in our faith through the storms of life.

But I’m seeing a new part to this Scripture. If you look at verse 48, specifically the part about the man “building a house, who dug down deep,” the words take on some figurative meanings as well as literal in the Greek translation.

The Greek word used here for building is oikodomeo, which means to build, but also comes from the root word meaning to edify or for edification. Interesting to think about, especially if we consider edification in terms of teaching and improving. This reflects the process of how we learn more about God and grow as we build our foundation upon Christ.

But even more exciting is the “dug down deep” part... Read the rest at S.U.M.

And Finally...

This past weekend I did my first radio interview for our book, Winning Him Without Words. Talk about being nervous! I'm so appreciate a great interviewer like Jim Norman and his program Wise People. I hope you get a chance to listen!

Wise People Interview, Dineen Miller

The News is Out!

2010-03-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to finally be able to share our bookcover. Lynn and I are absolutely in awe of how God has orchestrated this book, right from the beginning to where we are now working with our fabulous editor Kim Bangs and the rockin' Regal team. They are the best! Their team came up with THE perfect title and a gorgeous cover.

God is doing amazing things with this book—His book. You can read our post over at S.U.M. to read our official announcement. Praise God and blessings to you!

A Life That Speaks

2010-03-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

Recently we sang the song “Blessed Be His Name” in my church. As in the story of Job, one part of the song conveys the words that God gives and takes away. I have to admit this part always bothered me. It always seemed so harsh to me that God took away Job’s family and home, that God takes away anything good.

But as I grow closer to Him, I’m realizing that often what we cling to as good isn’t God’s best. (I’m not referring to Job here.) I’ve also learned that anytime God removes something from my life, even if it’s something that seems good, it’s for my best or for a greater good.

Unfortunately, the idea of giving something up for a greater good doesn’t fly well in today’s philosophy of pursuing happiness. The idea of sacrificing something for someone we love is considered repugnant when it means we can’t have what we want too...

Read the rest at S.U.M.

Contemplating Peace

2010-03-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7

For days now this verse has had me contemplating peace. It’s a word that appears to have universal meaning yet seems to have multiple sources of origin. That’s the part I’m contemplating. What does peace mean and where does it come from? There’s inner peace and world peace. Seemingly different but I’m beginning to wonder if they are connected in a way we’ve yet to consider.

Read the rest at Laced With Grace...

Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig

2010-03-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

I mentioned last week that I'd be featuring a fantastic author this week. Well, here she is. Ronie Kendig is a fabulous author. Her books are riveting and her characters are unforgettable. This is the kind of author you want to find so you can read everything she writes.

AND...I have one copy of this keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat book for one fortunate commenter. Leave your email address (with spaces) so I can contact you if you win! Enjoy!

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducing
Dead ReckoningAbingdon Press (March 1, 2010)byRonie Kendig
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ronie has been married since 1990 to a man who can easily be defined in classic terms as a hero. She has four beautiful children. Her eldest daughter is 16 this year, her second daughter will be 13, and her twin boys are 10. After having four children, she finally finished her degree in December 2006. She now has a B.S. in Psychology through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Getting her degree is a huge triumph for both her and her family--they survived!

This degree has also given her a fabulous perspective on her characters
and how to not only make them deeper, stronger, but to make them realistic and know how they'll respond to each situation. Her debut novel, Dead Reckoning released March 2010 from Abingdon Press. And her Discarded Heroes series begins in July from Barbour with the first book entitled Nightshade.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Underwater archeologist Shiloh Blake is consumed with passion for the water and inflamed at the injustices of life. When her first large-scale dig traps her in the middle of an international nuclear arms clash, she flees for her life.

When she spots a man trailing her, the questions are, Who is he? And how is he always one step ahead? Is the man trailing her an enemy or a protector sent by her CIA father?

Reece Jaxon is a former Navy SEAL and now serves his country as a spy. His life is entangled by the beguiling Shiloh Blake as he hunts down the sources to a nuclear dead drop in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, India. The only way to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is to join forces with Reece. Will Shiloh violate her vow to never become involved in her father's web of intrigue and mystery? Will she reconcile with her past and with him? Will she allow God to help her throught this ordeal of danger, mistrust and uncertainty?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dead Reckoning, go HERE.

A Day for Praise

2010-03-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

Can I just take a moment and tell you how great our God is? I know it completely defies logic, but I have found Him closest and have come to know him best through the trials in my life. For that reason, how I can regret any of them? My treasure it so huge! My God is massive! He's the center of my world.

My family has been through a lot the last couple years. We're on the down side of some of it and in the middle of other parts, but I am praising God for all the good he is bringing from these trials.

Romans 8:28 was ingrained in my heart before I ever read a Bible. I remember reading it the first time as an adult and having such strong affirmation of it's truth because I'd lived it since childhood. I know God put that in my heart when he created me. He knew that verse would be the heart of my life, the fuel to my perseverance.

So much more will come—trials, blessings... I'm not afraid of the trials anymore. I know God will be there and equip us with everything we need. This is the peace that defies understanding and the joy in trials. I know some days will be harder to find that place, but God is there and I will always seek him.

I pray God will bless you richly this day with his love and amazing presence. He's our greatest gift and treasure.

Now I have a gift for you. I have a copy of When Someone You Love Has Cancer by Cecil Murphy and beautifully illustrated by Michal Sparks (hey, I'm an artist. Gotta mention the creative guy.) Leave me a comment about what you are most thankful for and I'll draw a name. Be sure to come back and check who won or leave your email address (with spaces to avoid the bots!) so I can contact you.

Come back Monday for another book give-away from one of my all time favorite espionage/thriller authors. She's awesome!

Contest at Laced With Grace

2010-03-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

Laced With Grace underwent a total redesign that is superb thanks to the talents of Lori Kasbeer. AND, this month to honor the LWG ministry, they're giving away a $50 Amazon gift certificate.

So roll (and click) on over there, check out the new design, and enter the CONTEST. God bless and thank you!

Miracles?

2010-03-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

I was dumbfounded the other day to see I've been blogging for five years. Then it dawned on me that I've yet to share some of the miracles that have happened recently. Like my header says, miracles come from God. And my family has seen several over the last couple years.

The most recent was my daughter's MRI. I've shared how she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor the fall of 2008. Now, just a year later, her MRI is completely clear. Even the original duct for the cerebral fluid is working. We new this toward the end of last year, or so I thought. The miraculous part is that this duct is completely clear and the swelling is gone. We're told this is highly unusual.

But it's so God. His miracle. A gift to us.

I feel like we're on the final part of this journey that began almost two years ago. God's healed my daughter physically, and continues to heal her emotionally. I am in awe.

God's faithfulness is so amazing. There's just no limit to it. I don't know how people go through life without God to hold them up. I couldn't do it. No way. I'm just too weak. God is my strength. My Jesus keeps me going.

So, there you go. A miracle. One of many in our lives recently and certainly a significant one. The amazing thing is...just daily living and loving is a miracle waiting to happen.

Go do it. Be part of a miracle. :-)

MISSION: Julia!

2010-03-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

My awesome "twin" (not by birth but by spirit!) Ronie Kendig is the author of Dead Reckoning, her first book! It's an awesome book I might add, so be sure to check it out. You will LOVE her characters.

And speaking of characters, Shiloh certainly put things in a tailspin over at Novel Journey yesterday. Let me tell you, that girl is..., well, let me just say, Reece has his hands full, but you have to love the way she's going all out to find his sister, Julia.

So here's the next clue, seekers! Hang in there. We have to find Julia before it's too late!

When Shiloh Blake’s first large-scale underwater archeological dig traps her in the middle of an international nuclear arms clash, she is forced to flee for her life into the streets of Mumbai, India. Is the man trailing her an enemy, or is he sent by her CIA father to protect her? Whoever he is, the only way to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is to join forces with former Navy SEAL Reece Jaxon.

Make sense, eh?

Ronie Kendig has a BS in Psychology and is a wife, mother of four, and avid writer. Her novels include Dead Reckoning (March 2010, Abingdon Press) and Nightshade (July 2010, Barbour Publishing), Book#1 in The Discarded Heroes series. She speaks to various groups, volunteers with the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and mentors new writers. Ronie can be found at www.roniekendig.com.

Olympic Fever

2010-02-16T17:31:00.000-08:00

Every two years, my husband and I anticipate the Winter or Summer Olympics, our favorite being the Winter. There's just something about watching these athletes give everything they have to achieve their goal of excellence, to win a medal, to make their mark on their sport of choice.

I realized we have watched these Olympics together for 26 years. We watched them when before the split into Summer and Winter events, before the fancy camera work we now have to show us more detail, and before these athletes' lives and stories became almost as important as their performance in the spotlight.

That's the part I find most interesting, the stories behind these athletes so fiercely committed to their sport and their goal. Stories of heartache, set-backs, unfortunate accidents, and trials. Stories of going without to keep pursuing their dream, of their families sacrificing to help them get there, stories of overcoming the odds and still moving forward even when everything told them to quit.

Read the rest S.U.M.

Double Trouble by Susan May Warren and a Contest!

2010-02-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

If you've ready any of Susan May Warren's books, then you know she's an awesome storyteller. Double Trouble is book two in her PJ Sugar series. Be sure to read to the bottom for details of Susie's Humdinger-of-a-Contest.

About Double Trouble:
With one solved case under her belt, PJ Sugar is ready to dive into her career as a private investigator. Or at least a PI's assistant until she can prove herself to Jeremy Kane, her new boss. Suddenly PJ's seeing crime everywhere. But is it just in her head, or can she trust her instincts? When she takes on her first official case-house-sitting for a witness in protective custody-Jeremy assures her there's no danger involved. But it soon becomes clear that there is someone after the witness . . . and now they're after PJ, too.

About Susan:
Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of twenty-four novels with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Book of the Year. Her larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice. Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!) A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com

The HUMDINGER-of-a-CONTEST:
Be sure to enter the Double Trouble Prize Package Giveaway by clicking on the ‘Double the Sass” button! Susan’s giving away an iPod prize package that is anything but troubling! Check it out!

Prize Details

Double Trouble, the brand new PJ Sugar novel by Susan May Warren, is in stores now! To celebrate the release, we’re running a HUMDINGER of a contest!!

One Grand Prize winner will receive a $150 SUPER SLEUTH prize package that includes:

A brand new iPod Shuffle (perfect for those all-night stakeouts)
A $10 iTunes gift card (we recommend the ALIAS soundtrack)
A $10 Amazon gift card (why yes, they do sell spy pens)
A $10 Starbucks gift card (for fuel, obviously)
A pair of designer sunglasses (be stealthy AND super chic)
A gorgeous scarf from World Market (can also be used as a blindfold, and/or for tying up bad guys)
AND signed copies of both Nothing But Trouble & Double Trouble. (romance! danger! intrigue! sooo much better than Surveillance for Dummies!)

We’ll announce our super sleuth winner on March 1st.

Deliver Us From Evil by Robin Caroll

2010-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Deliver Us From Evil by Robin Caroll is a fast paced, riveting suspense that delves into the world of human trafficking. Robin is a best friend and critique partner so I can tell you, she is the real deal. Her heart for writing and her passion for God shine in all her books. Plus, she's an excellent storyteller!

Robin stopped by to share about her writing, her latest book, and gave us a glimpse to the sequel due out later this year.

By the way, one commenter will have a chance to win a copy of this fabulous book! You can also enter her contest to win a GPS! Check out her blog for details.

Robin, you have helicopters, shoot outs, and human trafficking packed into this riveting story. What kind of research did you have to do?
The most heartbreaking research was the child trafficking. I’m ashamed to admit that I was so unaware until I began researching. It’s appalling how frequently human trafficking occurs—right under our noses! It’s nothing more than modern day slavery. The helicopter research was quite easy, actually. Years ago, my husband took helicopter flying lessons, and we became good friends with his instructor. He would fly out to our house and take me up in the helicopter all the time, so the sensations were easy to recall. I’m blessed that my best friend’s husband works with the LifeFlight program in Louisiana, and was able to help me with time, speed, and flight calculations. The shooting part was fun. I love shooting, love guns, so that research involved heading to my local range to see what I could and couldn’t do with specifics. I have to add, the ranger stations in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park that I spoke with were so helpful and friendly. It truly made that aspect of researching fun.
In what ways do you believe writing Deliver Us From Evil stretched you as an author and as a person?
There were scenes that wiped me out emotionally while writing. Child trafficking is a horrible travesty, and portraying that without being graphic had me crying at times. Working with my wonderful editors during the revision and editing process helped me grow as a writer. Having another person step into my characters and storyline and give feedback is nothing short of a true blessing.

What’s your favorite part of writing a new story?
I LOVE brainstorming and pulling in ideas for subplots, motivation, conflict, etc. I find I become very passionate in this stage of the writing process. And I absolutely love interviewing my main characters. I uncover so many of their secrets, then plot how to use those against them. LOL

In what ways do you hope your books will speak to readers of God’s love?
I never sit down and plot the spiritual arc of the book, I wait for God to share with me what He’d like presented. Sometimes I’m lucky and He gives me that thread very early in the story. Other times, mostly when He’s dealing with me on a particular issue, it takes me a little longer to get it. LOL What I hope most is that readers will get a glimpse of God’s love, mercy, and that no matter what, God is faithful.

Can you share a little about the sequel, Fear No Evil?
Fear No Evil is Lincoln Vailes’s story. Lincoln was the heroine’s best friend in Deliver Us From Evil. With his father in a nursing home and his mother needing support, former Great Smoky Mountains park ranger Lincoln Vailes moves to the bayou town of Eternal Springs, Louisiana, to become a police officer. Recent college graduate and eager social worker Jade Laurent has also moved there to try and right the wrongs of an abusive past. But someone is running her car off the road and pointing guns in her direction. As Lincoln investigates her case, he uncovers ties to big-city gang warfare up north that appears to be making its evil way down south.

Now for some fun… You’re driving down a deserted road at twilight. What direction does your suspense driven mind wander toward?
It’d be too clichéd to say the car breaks down and a deranged serial killer is in the woods. LOL I would think more along the lines that I have someone in the car with me, someone I trust and consider a friend, who suddenly begins acting weird. As we get further from civilization, I realize this isn’t my friend at all, but an alien who has taken over my friend’s body. Oh, wait…I don’t write sci-fi! LOL Oh well, better stay off the dark and deserted roads, hadn’t I?

Thanks for the visit, Robin!
Thanks, Dineen. Always a pleasure to hang out with you.

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a Southern through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s books have placed/finaled in such contests as Bookseller’s Best, Book of the Year, and Reviewer’s Choice Award. When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty years, her three beautiful daughters, and their four character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else? An avid reader herself, Robin loves hearing from and chatting with other readers. Although her favorite genre to read is mystery/suspense, of course, she’ll read just about any good story. Except historicals! To learn more about this author of deep South mysteries of suspense to inspire your heart, visit Robin’s website at www.robincaroll.com.
Remember to leave a comment for a chance to win Robin’s fantastic book. You don’t want to miss out on this one!

God's Faithfulness

2010-01-21T11:01:00.000-08:00

I know we’re technically already into the New Year, but it’s still January, and I’m still in the process of “moving on.”

The last year has been one of the bumpiest my family and I have ever experienced. Going from what seemed to be the average complications of life to discovering our daughter had a malignant brain tumor had major impact on all our lives, to say the least.

During a year of surgeries, treatments, and a recovery more fraught with emotional issues than I expected, God turned my thinking—and praying—upside down. Instead of asking him to make things better, I’ve learned to ask that he equip me for whatever’s next. And I can’t help but look back and be amazed at the ground covered and appreciate the progress made, yet I have no desire to go through it again.

But I know I will.

Read the rest at Laced with Grace.

BIG NEWS!!!

2010-01-12T13:07:00.000-08:00

We've been working on it for almost two years...and God's been the one in charge. It's an amazing story. Hope you'll take a moment to read the news at www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.com and celebrate with us!

iPhones and New Year Resolutions

2010-01-06T14:42:00.000-08:00

I could be like so many others make new resolutions for the year. Actually I am as far as my my goals, but I'm looking at this as more as ways to change my life, not just the year ahead. I want permanent changes.

One thing I did today was download an app for my iPhone called My Fitness Pal. This handy little app lets me keep track of everything and even helps me make small goals out of my larger goal. I didn't think I'd like something like this, but it's already keeping me accountable and aware of what I'm eating throughout the day.

I know weight loss is always a top priority for so many at the beginning of the year, but I'm digging my feet in to do this for my long term health. I'm tired of feeling bad and not liking how I look.

Now along with this app, I'm using another iPhone app. Prayer cards by Beth Moore. Now this is a cool little app. She had several categories you can by the "prayer cards" for— 99 cents. It's worth it. This gives you specific Scripture to pray for many topics. The best part is that it's totally connected to YouVersion.com, which is the same creator of the Bible app I have as well. This takes you to the original Scripture the prayer is based upon and even gives you a list of translations to use.

So, these are my tools to accomplish this goal, to lose weight and change how I look at food and deal with it. I love using the practical mixed with prayer! I will be victorious. LOL!

I'll keep you posted! So stay tuned. Got some great book giveaways coming as well. No room on the bookshelves so these books have got to go!

Cuteness to the Max!

2009-12-28T14:17:00.000-08:00

I can't help myself. I HAVE to share this with everyone. I've lost count of how many times I've watched it. This little kitty is the epitome of cuteness!

Sit and watch it over and over again. Send it to a friend who needs uplifting. To me this is more evidence of how God loves to delight us with his creation. And I'm pretty sure this little kitty didn't come from an egg. ;-)

Enjoy!

The Perpetual State of Waiting

2009-12-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

I’m in a perpetual state of waiting. I believe many of us are. In fact, I’ve yet to meet someone who isn’t waiting for something. And as Christians, aren’t we all in some form or another, waiting to one day meet Jesus?

We’re all waiting for something. And I’m finding in this time of waiting that the most growth occurs, which seems like it would be the other way around.

Waiting is one of the most difficult places for us to be. We’re impatient by nature. Waiting takes patience. Sometimes whole lot of it, too.

But what’s so amazing is that God waits too. Did you know that? Take a look at Isaiah 30:18:

New International Version
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!

English Standard Version
Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.

I included the ESV version as well, which runs very close to the King James translation. Here the words long and wait are used interchangeably. They original Hebrew word is chakah, which means to long, wait, or tarry.

I’m going to make another jump here. I don’t profess to be a Bible scholar, but I found this most interesting. The root of chakah is related to the Hebrew word chaqah, which means carved or engraved in relation to piercing.

Now take a look at Isaiah 49:16:

NIV: See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
ESV: Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

The original Hebrew word for engraved is chaqah, the same word that’s related to chakah, which means to long or wait.

I know this might be a stretch, but is it possible that God had engraved us on our hands because he longs and waits for us? And for our unbelieving loved ones? I don’t know about you, but that just blows me away. To think not only we are engraved upon God’s hands, those he waits for are as well. Make a mental picture of your unbelieving spouses name engraved upon the hand of God.

And if I may make one more leap. I wonder if that engraving resembles the nails holes, which pierced the hands of Christ. Like the relation between chakah and chaqah.

I hope that gives you chills like it did me. But I have one final connection for you through this. The biggest example we have of God waiting and longing.

God sent his Son Jesus to us at just the right time. He didn’t do it as soon as man fell in the Garden of Eden. He didn’t send the Messiah when the Israelites were captives in Egypt.

No, he waited until the exact moment, longing for us every step of the way with our names engraved on his hands.

God waited to send his Son. For you. For me. And for our unbelieving loved ones.

What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy

2009-11-15T20:39:00.000-08:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
What The Bayou Saw
Kregel Publications (March 24, 2009)
by
Patti LacyABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Though Patti's only been writing since 2005, she thinks her latest profession of capturing stories on paper (or computer files) will stick awhile.

The Still, Small Voice encouraged Patti to write after a brave Irish friend shared memories of betrayal and her decision to forgive. In 2008, An Irishwoman’s Tale was published by Kregel Publications. Patti’s second novel, What the Bayou Saw, draws on the memories of two young girls who refused to let segregation, a chain link fence, and a brutal rape come between them.

The secrets women keep and why they keep them continue to enliven Patti's gray matter. A third book, My Name is Sheba, has been completed. Patti's WIP, Recapturing Lily, documents a tug-of-war between a Harvard-educated doctor and an American pastor and his wife for a precious child and explores adoption issues, China's "One Child" policy, and both Christian and secular views of sacrifice.

Patti also facilitates writing seminars in schools, libraries, and at conferences and has been called to present her testimony, "All the Broken Pieces," at women's retreats. She also leads a Beth Moore Bible study at her beloved Grace Church.

Patti and her husband Alan, an Illinois State faculty member, live in Normal with their handsome son Thomas, who attends Heartland Community College. On sunny evenings, you can catch the three strolling the streets of Normal with their dog Laura, whom they've dubbed a "Worchestershire Terrier" for her "little dab of this breed, a little dab of that breed.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Segregation and a chain link fence separated twelve-year-old Sally Flowers from her best friend, Ella Ward. Yet a brutal assault bound them together. Forever. Thirty-eight years later, Sally, a middle-aged Midwestern instructor, dredges up childhood secrets long buried beneath the waters of a Louisiana bayou in order to help her student, who has also been raped. Fragments of spirituals, gospel songs, and images of a Katrina-ravaged New Orleans are woven into the story.

The past can't stay buried forever Rising author Patti Lacy's second novel exposes the life of Sally, set amid the shadows of prejudice in Louisiana.

Since leaving her home in the South, Sally Stevens has held the secrets of her past at bay, smothering them in a sunny disposition and sugar-coated lies. No one, not even her husband, has heard the truth about her childhood.

But when one of her students is violently raped, Sally's memories quickly bubble to the surface unbidden, like a dead body in a bayou. As Sally's story comes to light, the lies she's told begin to catch up with her. And as her web of deceit unravels, she resolves to face the truth at last, whatever the consequences.

If you would like to read the first chapter of What The Bayou Saw, go HERE

Watch the Book Trailer:

I read Patti's first book, An Irishwoman's Tale and it was excellent! I didn't get my copy of What the Bayou Saw from the publisher to review in time, but I'm guessing her second book will be as good as the first, if not better. Patti Lacy is an exceptional writer. You'll find her prose as captivating as her stories. Enjoy!

Want to Be a Movie Producer?

2009-11-05T13:43:00.000-08:00

The Jesus Movie
for the Next Generation

www.NewJesusMovie.com

Guest post by Bruce Marchiano, producer of Jesus...No Greater Love

The truth of the gospel never changes. But Christianity has many faces. They reflect the customs and cultures and the beautiful diversity of the global church. They are lined with the wisdom of age and vibrant with the passion of youth. One gospel for all the world…but how will we deliver it in a way that reaches the whole world? How will we reach the next generation?

Young Christians today are more like St. Francis of Assisi than a circuit riding preacher. “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.” This is a generation focused on being the hands and feet of Christ and meeting the physical needs of those in both the local and global community. They are building houses, planting gardens, taking food and clothes to the poor and helping the widows and orphans… and then they are sharing the gospel. And they are using technology like never before. They communicate the message through audio, film, video and the internet, and they strive for excellence within those mediums. They must. This is how they will reach their generation for Christ.

I share their passion. In the film, The Gospel According to Matthew, we were able to capture the heart of Christ that is so often missing in Christian films, but the quality of the film making was constrained by an $800,000 budget. Now we are inspiring a movement that will bring Jesus to film in a version that literally leaps off the screen and into the hearts of viewers.

Jesus…No Greater Love, the new Jesus movie, (http://www.newjesusmovie.com/) will be a word for word, verse by verse film adaption of the Gospel according to John. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. That’s really our concept, that the gospel would go out in the power of the film medium, unaltered by any human script writer.

The budget for a typical Hollywood production is $100-110 million. Actors’ salaries account for much of that cost. Because the new Jesus movie will be not be paying big name actors, our team believes we can produce a world class, state-of-the-art film incorporating the latest cutting-edge technology for just $45 million. The production will be shot on location in Jerusalem and shot digitally using CGI backgrounds and a green screen stage, providing unlimited potential for sharing the gospel for generations to come.

We are inviting people from all nations and all generations to join this movement to bring the gospel to all people. A movement made of 4.5 million people contributing a tax deductible donation of $10 each would fund the cost of the film. The Gospel belongs to everyone, and the new Jesus movie will be produced expressly so it can be accessed by everyone, no matter their financial situation. Our team's vision is to see the film translated into as many languages as possible and supplied to mission organizations and churches all over the world.

You can become a part of the movement to reach the next generation. Please help us spread the word to your friends and family. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at http://www.newjesusmovie.com./

Also, you can keep up with our progress by visiting any of these links:

www.facebook.com/newjesusmovie

www.twitter.com/brucejesusmovie
www.youtube.com/newjesusmovie
www.tangle.com/newjesusmovie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bruce Marchiano is an actor, author, international speaker, and the founder of Marchiano Ministries, a non-profit organization reaching out to people both spiritually and practically in the USA and across the world. He is best known for his joyful, passionate portrayal of Jesus in the film, The Gospel According to Matthew.

When He Loses Someone by Thomas O. Mason

2009-10-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

When I received the email about the blog tour for Transforming the Valley of Grief by Thomas O. Mason, I jumped on it. A dear man in my church had just lost his wife to cancer. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor shortly after my daughter was. I knew right way I had to get this book for him. One, finding books written on such topics in a male perspective are rare. Two, it would be one small way I could try to help him in his grief, where I felt very inadequate.

I looked the book over first, of course. I was impressed with the author's use of self-identification. He didn't hold back in sharing his own grief and feelings during each stage. And at the end of the chapter are "notes" to both the griever and to those around him. These are full of valuable tid bits, no matter which place you hold.

This past Sunday, my friend hugged me as soon as he saw me. The book was already having a huge impact on him. And not just him, but his grown children, a son and a daughter. My friend felt understood, and that is so critical in any trial we face. There we can find such comfort.

I would like to thank the author personally, Mr. Mason, for taking the time to write such a book and share personal details of his loss in order to minister to others. His book has already made the difference in the lives of many. To see my friend encouraged and strengthened...such a gift to him and to me.

Waiting on God

2009-10-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

God never ceases to amaze me in the intricate perfection of his work and plan. Have you found yourself in a place where you see how the details surrounding you are linked together and blooming like a flower? And as the petals open, the legitimacy of each event suddenly comes into view, perfectly planned and coordinated in an intricate pattern of destiny?

I love those moments. Though I’m sure I don’t see them all, I know I’d miss more if I didn’t constantly and intentionally draw closer to God. We need to stay in a place of yearning for more of God and less of this world.

Otherwise, we might miss what God’s doing in our lives.

I know I’ve said this before, but bear with me. Waiting is a big part of our Christian walk. Hard to do in a world so focused on how fast something can be done. We’re becoming a culture of impatient people. I see it in my own children. But I know from experience that waiting is critical in our walk with God.

Now I’m coming to understand a new dimension of waiting. For the last year, my constant question has been, “How do I rely on God’s strength instead of my own?” I run out of strength, then wonder what happened. What did I do wrong? How do I know when I’m operating in my own strength and not God’s?

I think I got part of the answer yesterday at Bible study... Read the rest at S.U.M.

Traveling Again

2009-10-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

I'm traveling again around the blogosphere. I hope you'll drop by S.U.M. and Laced with Grace for my latest posts there. Have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

How full is your net? — Is your "life-net" coming up empty. Maybe you've cast it in the wrong direction... The Mind of Christ journey continues at S.U.M. Please feel free to join in!

The Attitudes of Waiting, Part 2 — What's your attitude in those times God asks us to wait? Are you waiting patiently? Waiting expectantly?

Trial By Fire by Cara Putman

2009-10-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

It's my pleasure to feature Cara Putman's latest book, Trial by Fire. I can't wait to read mine! Check it out! And if you leave a comment, you can win a copy.

About the Book:
Her mother's house was first. Then her brother's. County prosecutor Tricia Jamison is sure she's next on the arsonist's list. But who is after her family? And why does every fire throw her in Noah Brust's path?

Noah can't forgive Tricia. Her failure to protect him on the stand the previous year meant his father's reputation was ruined. Yet every time the firefighter is near her, he's drawn to her again. The vulnerability she hides under her confident veneer surprises and moves him. Torn between Tricia's safety and his own bitterness, Noah belatedly remembers the first rule of firefighting: don't get burned.

Read an excerpt here.

About the Author:

You’ve had several novels release in the last two years. Tell me about your latest novel.

Trial by Fire is my second Love Inspired Suspense. This time Caleb’s sister Tricia Jamison takes the lead as heroine. For those who read Deadly Exposure, they will enjoy seeing Caleb and Dani in this book. But if you haven’t read the first, Trial by Fire stands entirely on its own.

You can see the back cover copy and first chapter to Trial by Fire at http://www.caraputman.com/books.shtml.

How did you come up with the story?

As I was writing Deadly Exposure, it became clear that Tricia had her own story to tell. She kept waving her hand and asking if it was her turn yet. So after finishing Deadly Exposure, I started thinking about her story. She’s an attorney, so I thought it would be courtroom driven. While there are courtroom scenes, the crux of the suspense comes from an arsonist who seems to have targeted Tricia’s family. The fire investigator and Tricia have a history – can they find love while trying to stop the arsonist? It’s romantic suspense, so I’ll let you decide LOL

What challenges do you face with your writing? What comes easy to you?

The challenge for me comes in the starting. Moving from research into the crafting stage. There’s something about the switch from left brain to right brain that takes some work. Once the switch is made, I love creating. But that can make the first couple chapters or the first few pages after a break excruciating. Fortunately, I’ve got great brainstorming and crit partners who talk me off the ledge and force me to get going.

What has surprised you the most about the publishing process?

The conflicting deadlines. When you write for multiple houses like I have, the tricky part comes in managing the deadlines. Turning in the manuscript is only the first step. Then there’s the content edit, the line edit and the final edit. And don’t forget the galleys. Trying juggling that for three books from three different publishers. It’s an experience I hope to manage better in the future!

What takeaway value do you hope readers receive after reading your novel?

Now that I’ve written eight novels, I guess the theme would be that God sees us and cares about our day to day lives. In Sandhill Dreams that took the shape of the heroine coming to accept that God would never leave her or forsake her no matter what her circumstances. In Canteen Dreams, the theme centered around the idea of laying down our lives for others and sometimes that doesn’t mean being willing to actually die but serve in the way placed in front of us. In Trial by Fire, it involved the idea of seeking justice and mercy as God commands, when our human instinct is to want revenge.

What part does God play in your writing?

I believe He guides the story, adding layers I’m not even capable of comprehending while I write it. I cant’ tell you how often I’ll hit a point in a book and ask God what’s next and then sit stunned. He takes the stories places I’d be too scared to take them – but He’s always been right. I wish I were more disciplined about starting my writing time with prayer, but I constantly ask for His help as I write.

Writing has been such a gift from God. But it’s also one I want to use in a way that honors Him.

Readers can find me at www.caraputman.com and http://carasmusings.blogspot.com

Thanks, Dineen!

(Review and winner copy provided by author.)

The Mind of Christ

2009-10-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

For the month of month of October, The Mind of Christ journey will held over at Spiritually Unequal Marriage. I hope you'll join us as we take this amazing walk to grow closer to God and transform our minds to be more Christ-like. When we have God as our center, we are truly equipped to handle whatever life sends our way and not lose our joy. This is the journey we're traveling and the goal we are running toward. God bless!

Thankful Thursday!

2009-10-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

This month S.U.M. is hosting Thankful Thursday. As today is the one year anniversary of my daughter's diagnoses of a brain tumor, what better time to be thankful! Though at the moment we're not sure what's causing the return of her headaches, I am thankful she's persevered through this last year and cancer free! God is good! So here's my list.

I am thankful for:

My daughter's recovery.
My wonderful hubby who's always so positive.
Two beautiful daughters who make this mama so proud.
My best friends who are always there to rally around me, even when I overreact. :-)
God bringing me into the S.U.M. ministry to share that journey with Lynn (love you, girl!)
And finally, I'm thankful for God in my life. I can't imagine going through life without his constant presence. Lord, I adore you! You are my life!

What are you thankful for?

2009 ACFW Conference

2009-09-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

This where I'll be next week! Can't wait!

"The Premier Christian Fiction Conference"
STANDING FIRM...MOVING FORWARD

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." —1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)

DENVER, COLORADO  • SEPTEMBER 17 - 20, 2009

Bestselling authors, publishing industry representatives, and newcomers to Christian fiction writing will gather in Denver at the American Christian Fiction Writer’s annual conference September 17-20 to compare notes, learn from each other, and encourage one another in the pursuit of publishing goals.

This year’s conference theme , Standing Firm…Moving Forward, will especially inspire the full range of talent and dreams in the ever-changing publishing world today.

This amazing conference will feature representatives from major publishing houses like B & H, Guideposts, Zondervan, Harvest House, Barbour, Steeple Hill, Summerside Press, Bethany House, Waterbrook Multnomah, Marcher Lord Press, Tyndale House, and Thomas Nelson, and top literary agents who will meet with writers and identify promising proposals from both new and veteran novelists. Conferees will have access to publishing panels, professional critiques, and customized workshops based on skills and interests.

The keynote speaker is New York Times bestselling author, Debbie Macomber, who has more than 100 million copies of her books in print worldwide.

Learn more about the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Conference by visiting www.acfw.com. Click on the left sidebar on Annual Conference.

LWG Fall 2009 Giveaway! Fearless by Max Lucado

2009-09-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

Want to a chance to win this amazing package? Head over to Laced with Grace for details!

Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy by Kimberley Woodhouse

2009-08-31T10:19:00.000-07:00

Back in February, I was given the opportunity to visit one of my best friends. While there, I got to meet Kimberley Woodhouse in person. Kim and I already shared a connection (besides writing a children's book on Twitter on a fun and kooky day. LOL!). Our daughters had undergone similar brain surgeries but for different conditions. The both even had the same scar.

While I was there that weekend, I had the pleasure of reading Kim's book galleys. I devoured them actually within two days. This book ministered to me in ways I never expected. If you've even undergone a major trial, there is something amazingly comforting and validating to hear another person's story that resembles your own.

But even aside from what Kim's book meant to me personally, her family's story is amazing and her message of joy in all circumstances is profound. If you're looking for a book to inspire, uplift, and help you perservere, get this book.

I have one copy, and I'd planned to keep it for myself. But I can't do that. It would be selfish of me to hold on to this book and not share it. So, leave a comment. One of you will get to read this life-changing story.

About the Author:
Kimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 600 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family's story have garnered national media attention for many years, but most recently her family was chosen for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, and Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER. Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy, releases from Tyndale House Publishers September first. In addition to her non-fiction, she also writes romantic suspense and children’s books. Kimberley lives, writes, and homeschools in Colorado with her husband and two children in their truly “extreme” home. www.kimberleywoodhouse.com

About the Book:
Overwhelming trials . . . met with overcoming joy.

Kayla Woodhouse is not your typical twelve-year-old. Due to a rare medical disorder, she feels no pain, doesn’t sweat, and needs protective cooling gear just to go outside. With her restrictive lifestyle; countless hospitalizations, including brain surgery; and the resulting mountain of hospital bills, what’s a family to do?

How the Woodhouse family has faced seemingly impossible challenges is a story that has captured the hearts of America. Millions of people have experienced glimpses of their lives on Discovery’s Mystery ER, The Montel Williams Show, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (recently voted one of the show’s all-time best episodes!).

Now Kayla’s mom, Kimberley, takes readers behind the cameras to reveal their family’s journey as never before told. From medical sleuthing to cross-country moves, from freak fires to battles with insurance companies, Welcome Home proves that truth really is stranger than fiction. This candid life story reveals both success and failure and demonstrates how, even during tough circumstances, to shift your life from heartbreak to extreme joy.

Good old smudge gives this book a five meow rating. I agree with the little fur ball. What an awesome, God-inspired book!

Dreaming of Bookcovers

2009-08-28T20:40:00.001-07:00

As a teenager entrenched in her high school art class, I remember telling a friend I'd like to design bookcovers one day. I had my first taste of that reality come true around this time last year, and it was my mother who reminded me of this teenage dream.

God had brought true a dream I'd forgotten. And now He's brought it to a whole new level—one that truly surpasses my girlhood whimsey. Here's the latest cover I've done and let me tell you, there is no way I could have done this without God. I was so nervous about whether I could do it justice that I prayed nonstop and even started to dream in Photoshop. LOL!

And working with Joan Shoup and her team at Sheaf House is an absolute honor and pleasure. You can go to Publishing Dream and learn the whole story of how this bookcover came to be.

And God, you are just too cool for words. Or bookcovers.

Where have I been?

2009-08-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

Well, obviously not here. Unfortunately, I spent a week battling a sick laptop, which ultimately died, then had to deal with software failure. All this during my busiest design and writing time of the year! My bank account is so dry it sunk in on itself!

But I have been busy with some other posts!

Why am I standing by a funny-looking basket in a bright pink shirt? Go read My Disc Golf Adventures to get the full scoop. Looks like I'm a bag-toting player now. And having a blast! I love sharing this with my awesome disc-playing hubby and he seems to enjoy that I'm out there. I refuse to be a "disc golf widow!"

Then if you're still wanting to read more about my determination to stay connected to my sweet hubby, take a look at my post, The Physical Connection, over at Adding Zest. Let me know what you think of my four suggestions. This post was fun to write but really a stretch for this "prude!"

And stay tuned for more book reviews. I'm reading some great books right now. More soon!