tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63159214255884780952024-03-13T20:53:34.946-04:00The Queen of PerseveranceFollowing a dream requires many things of us. Waiting. Work. Patience. Persistence. Faith. Here on this blog, I'm crowning myself Queen of Perseverance--at least as far as writing is concerned. Maybe I can help you hang in there and follow your dream, too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-21791337618875824452014-01-22T22:05:00.000-05:002014-01-22T22:05:33.713-05:00I'm published!Yesterday, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Summers-Winter-Robin-Johns-Grant-ebook/dp/B00HZ06GE2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390398855&sr=8-2&keywords=ROBIN+JOHNS+GRANT+SUMMER%27S" target="_blank">Summer's Winter finally became available</a> as an ebook on Amazon. Hopefully the print version will be coming SOON.<br />
<br />
Over on my new website, <a href="http://robinjohnsgrant.com/my-summers-winter-sky/" target="_blank">I blog about</a> a little Godwink on my first day as a published writer.<br />
<br />
Take a look, and remember, you can unsubscribe from The Queen's blog and subscribe over there.<br />
<br />
Thanks!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-51442896140116618642014-01-15T14:32:00.000-05:002014-01-15T14:32:22.683-05:00New Blog, New Website, and Downton Abbey!I am setting up <a href="http://www.robinjohnsgrant.com/" target="_blank">a new website</a>, which in future will host my blog. It's still under construction, but I'm excited about the progress. The new website is:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.robinjohnsgrant.com/">http://www.robinjohnsgrant.com</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://robinjohnsgrant.com/lady-mary-and-dealing-with-grief/" target="_blank">My first blog post</a> contains my reflections on last Sunday night's Downton Abbey episode--particularly something Lady Mary said about grief. Something I found particularly true in my experience over the past year.<br />
<br />
Check it out if you will. There's also a nifty email sign-up box on the page so you won't miss any future blog posts.<br />
<br />
Thanks!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-90847765977760695542014-01-07T17:18:00.000-05:002014-01-07T17:18:01.655-05:00On Math, Cold Snaps, and Dogs on the Sofa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A lot of people say they hated math when they were in school. When I was a kid, I didn’t mind math. (At least not until I got to trigonometry. I still have no idea what trigonometry was, or what it was for.) What I minded was every day trying to grasp a new arithmetic concept, finally having it click—and then having to move on to yet another tricky concept almost immediately.<br />
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Frankly, once I finally understood how to add a column of numbers, I wanted to do it for a while. Relax, kick back, put some music on and add a few lines of numbers.<br />
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Kind of like knitting. I learned one stitch to begin with, and then made garter stitch scarves for months. Eventually it became boring and I decided to add the purl stitch, but it was in my own time.<br />
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Not like in math class, where the minute I understood about adding two columns, they made me add three. Or multiply them. Or draw that little scaffold and learn to divide them. Don’t even get me started.<br />
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Unfortunately, I’m discovering that life is more like math class than like knitting. It’s more of an education, I guess, than a leisurely hobby. In life, like math, I don’t seem to be able to relax and bask in “getting it,” in figuring out a problem or solving an issue, before an even more complicated one takes its place.<br />
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My relationship with animals is the perfect example. Along with my mother, sister, and husband, I am constantly trying to rescue or help some stray cat or dog. They all come with problems. They all tend to CAUSE problems. We stress and scheme and figure out what to do—and another problem comes along.<br />
This boy (who is going to be the subject of a couple of in-depth posts in the next week or two) is a perfect example.<br />
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This is Pegasus Pete, the Pet Pit Puppy. In other words, a pit bull—the kind of dog my family and I always said we would never have. Just asking for trouble, and all that. Those dogs’ll turn on you! (That’s what we heard, anyway.)<br />
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But thanks to someone who abandoned him at my elderly mother's house, we have Pete. And we’ve worked out his stealing food from the cats, and stealing their beds (solution: a gated cat sanctuary on one porch) and getting out in the road (solution: extremely expensive fence), and running away from potential adoptive parents and getting lost (solution: go find him and keep him forever), and oh, a whole lot of things. But he has been strictly an outside dog all these months. But that’s okay. We live in Georgia, right? Mild weather and all that.<br />
<br />
I know that, compared to a large portion of the country, this will sound very paltry, but suddenly, just when I felt that all was right in our animal world, I hear that the temperature is going to plunge to 12 degrees two nights in a row. And there are all those adopted strays, including several cats and Pete the Pit, who need a warm place to stay.<br />
<br />
A new animal problem. Imagine that.<br />
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My mother and sister let several outdoors-only stray cats sleep in a guest room last night. So this evening, I will be helping my mother rehang the curtains they tore down and do something with the shredded window shade. Not sure what else I will find. She says I “won’t believe that room.” She’s probably right.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodGrceRma4mLD_tpCgVic-m9mGq3_pkColSRvc-a42KgQCeeVo3x3D3H3hadKBEIVAFpt2WRslV2I_uEJ0oojsOZ8jtDVUcsi-1WOEFcFBwn03gW-qQ6i5Uq1aKzw40KlsKcKCG7527M/s1600/2013-12-14+12.57.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodGrceRma4mLD_tpCgVic-m9mGq3_pkColSRvc-a42KgQCeeVo3x3D3H3hadKBEIVAFpt2WRslV2I_uEJ0oojsOZ8jtDVUcsi-1WOEFcFBwn03gW-qQ6i5Uq1aKzw40KlsKcKCG7527M/s1600/2013-12-14+12.57.26.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
I thought I was getting the hard part. Pete came home with me--his first time inside a house! But he was a very good boy, just nervous. After being dumped as a five-month-old, he has abandonment issues, so he whined when we left him in a kennel in another room to sleep, and he wasn’t really happy until he got back home to my mother’s front porch.<br />
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But he did discover that he really likes my comfy <br />
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sofa. And he enjoyed watching Parks and Rec with me.<br />
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And it makes me smile that he knows that--finally!--he has a home.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-10272233815704811102013-12-09T00:30:00.000-05:002013-12-09T00:30:02.264-05:00Hobbits, You, and the Spiritual World: John 3:16 Marketing Excerpt Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>What a perfect time for me to be hosting Jill Richardson as a part of the John 3:16 Marketing's Excerpt Tour, with the new Hobbit movie coming out within days! Here's a bit about her new book--and then read on for an excerpt, information about a contest with great prizes, and where to go on the tour for another treasure from </i>Hobbits, You, and the Spiritual World<i>. </i><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">Hobbits, elves, and dragons have
become common fantasy characters but do they have more relevance to your life
than you think? Are they as real as, or the same as, people you meet every day?
Maybe not literally, but J.R.R. Tolkien's famous characters bring to life real
character qualities we all can learn from, whether good or bad. What can the
bravery of a hobbit, the faith of a elf, or the greed of a dragon teach teens
about themselves? How can their stories lead us to the real Kingdom where God is
working out way more than a fantasy for his people? Dig in to these familiar
characters and relevant Bible passages to find out. Come out understanding how
to live your own epic story!</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">Hobbits, You, and the Spiritual World of
Middle-earth—<a href="http://amzn.to/16y2p6b">http://amzn.to/16y2p6b</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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EXCERPT:<br />
FIVE<br />
<br />
REALLY GLAD HE’S ON OUR SIDE (BEORN)<br />
<br />
Vital Stats<br />
Name: Beorn.<br />
Height: What time of day is it?<br />
Special Talent: Skinchanging. It sounds a whole lot more awesome than “Werebear.”<br />
In His High School Yearbook: Most likely to grow a beard. And two extra legs.<br />
<br />
Beorn is the Brando of The Hobbit. Tough, skeptical, secretive, and vicious when provoked. Not someone you want as an enemy. But Beorn will equally viciously protect his friends. You just need to be his friend,<br />
first. OK, nothing sketch about that.<br />
❖<br />
“‘You must all be very polite when I introduce you. I shall introduce you slowly, two by two, I think; and you must be careful not to annoy him, or heaven knows what will happen. He can be appalling when he is angry,<br />
though he is kind enough if humored.’” (The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien, p.118)<br />
❖<br />
There’s a little bit of confusion here. On the one hand, it’s great to have this guy on your side. The dwarves and Bilbo would have starved through Mirkwood Forest without the food he sent with them. They found some much needed rest and food at his somewhat unconventional house. They would have never gotten out of Middle Earth alive without his handy turning-into-a- giant-bear trick in the end. When he’s on your<br />
side, he’s there to the end. There is a lot about Beorn to be grateful for.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, he admits to being a little untrustworthy. He implies their chances of being eaten alive are fairly high if they leave his house after dark. They’re not entirely sure for a while if he’s the savior they need or the terror they don’t.<br />
<br />
What kind of a role model is this?<br />
<br />
Maybe Beorn teaches us how important it is to watch where we put our loyalty. Then, when we give it, he shows us how to keep it. Friendships during the teen years can have complicated loyalties. Has anyone ever<br />
said things like this to you?<br />
<br />
If you’re really my friend you would... If you really trusted me you’d...<br />
<br />
If you really loved me you would...<br />
<br />
Teenagers toss around the words “friends forever” and “I’ve got your back” easily. But, what do those words mean? Do you mean what you’re saying? Do you know what you’re saying?<br />
<br />
With some people, it’s a bad idea to promise loyalty. Pippin finds this out when he offers a lifetime of service to Denethor. The guy is certifiably nuts. He even dabbles in filicide. (That’s killing your own kid. It is not normal.) But Pippin jumps in quickly and doesn’t put a lot of thought behind how smart it is to promise you’ll be best buds with a lunatic.<br />
<br />
Maybe you know the feeling. A promise of friendship has turned into sticking with someone you know isn’t doing great things. You’re realizing how hard it is to be totally behind a friend who tells lies, harms herself, bullies other kids, or wants you to do things you’re not comfortable with. But what to do? You promised.<br />
<br />
With other people, it’s tempting to break a promise to be a loyal friend, even when you know you shouldn’t. She’s not popular anymore; he’s gotten annoying and moody. Sticking with them when they need you is<br />
the right thing to do, but...<br />
<br />
Here’s a story that might shed some light on the problem.<br />
❖<br />
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. . .<br />
<br />
Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”<br />
<br />
Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you . . .”<br />
<br />
Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town (1 Samuel 18-20).<br />
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Yes, the story is a long one. Here is the Spark Notes version: David is King Saul’s “intern.” He does well. Too well. Saul’s son becomes his best friend, and his daughter marries the guy. David becomes more popular than the king. Of course, this does not go over well. So, the king tries to pin David to the wall with a spear. Multiple times. Jonathan doesn’t believe his father has evil intentions and thinks maybe the man is just misunderstood. Until Saul tries to pin him to a wall, at which point Jonathan tells David he’d better get out of town fast. Jonathan stays loyal to his friend, makes his dad mad, and basically ends up losing everything. Wow, great story.<br />
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Through all of this, Jonathan struggles. Stay loyal to dad, or keep his promise to David? It’s not an easy Choice. He loves his dad. They have a history, and anyway, it’s safer to remain on the king’s good side. Plus there’s a lot of job security in being the king’s firstborn son.<br />
<br />
But, David is his friend, and his friend hasn’t done anything wrong. In fact, he’s being picked on and Threatened for being a good guy. What to do?<br />
<br />
1. Jonathan started this BFF pact with David. David couldn’t really have started it. He was a commoner, and this was the king’s son. It would be like you walking into the White House and asking Malia Obama to hang. Not done. So why did Jonathan do it?<br />
2. What do you think it meant for Jonathan, the king’s son, to give David his robe, sword, etc.?<br />
3. What was Jonathan risking by making this friendship?<br />
4. Jonathan is torn between two loyalties. What do you think he considered when trying to make his decision about whom to stick with? Why did he decide to stay on David’s side?<br />
5. What did he lose by making this decision? What did he gain?<br />
<br />
God says in Psalm 15 that people who really worship Him will “keep their promises no matter how much it hurts.” So, first, it’s good to keep promises, but second, you’d better be pretty careful before you make one.<br />
<br />
The dwarves don’t really know much about Beorn, so they have to make their decision without much info. What they do know is that the smartest person around, Gandalf, tells them he’s a friend worth making. So, they choose to go with listening to someone who knows more than they do, and they befriend Beorn.<br />
<br />
But, they don’t keep it one-sided. They live up to their end of the friendship, too. They don’t bring Beorn’s ponies into Mirkwood, even though they’d like to. They respect his boundaries (don’t come outside at night, don’t mistreat my animals), and they are rewarded by a very useful friendship. Friends, chosen carefully and given respect, are some of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves. And hey, if one of them can turn into a giant bear, all the better.<br />
<br />
WHAT ABOUT YOU?<br />
<br />
Have you ever had to choose between two people? What helped you make your decision? Did you make the right decision or the wrong one? Why?<br />
<br />
When you decide on friendships, what matters to you? What would make you keep a loyalty no matter What? What would make you end one? Do you have criteria you think God would like?<br />
<br />
WORDS TO REMEMBER<br />
<br />
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)<br />
<br />
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10<br />
<br />
<i>Want to read more? The next excerpt can be found on December 10 at <a href="http://www.emmaright.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://www.emmaright.com</a> .</i><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Palatino","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Palatino;"><i>Jill's love for hobbits and elves comes from her time
as a literature teacher and as a
lifelong reader of great stories. She also loves an epic challenge and a chance
for grace wherever they exist. Jill has a BA in English and Education and an
MDiv in theology and is an ordained minister who has served as a worship,
preaching, and discipleship pastor. She has published four books previously, as
well as articles in national magazines such as FamilyFun, Discipleship Journal,
and Today's Christian Woman.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Palatino","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Palatino;">Jill enjoys speaking on a variety of topics and has
been very active on the MOPS circuit, as well as in junior high and high school
classes. She enjoys speaking for retreats for all ages.</span><span style="font-family: "Palatino","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Palatino;"><i>With three daughters, three cats, and (thankfully!) only one husband,
she keeps busy otherwise with community theater, gardening, reading,
scrapbooking, and traveling. Jill loves oceans, cats, chocolate, teenagers, her
family, the Cubs, and God, not necessarily in that order.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Palatino;">Contacts:</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">jills-books@comcast.net<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">http://jillmarierichardson.com</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">http://jillrichardson.blogspot.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">From <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1788421455" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">December 1 through December 16</span></span>, the John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1788421456" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3:16</span></span>Marketing Network is hosting a Christmas Book Launch and </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><i>Hobbits, You, and the Spiritual World</i></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> is a featured book. As part of the event, the Network is offering a $200 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, go to </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: navy; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://bit.ly/Christian_Books" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">http://bit.ly/Christian_Books</span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> and enter the Rafflecopter (toward the bottom of the page). And be sure and pick up your Kindle version of </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><i>Hobbits, You, and the Spiritual World</i></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> at </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: navy; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://amzn.to/1eG7u1Y" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #51a3d6;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><i><b>http://amzn.to/1eG7u1Y</b></i></span></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-2822685416401329762013-12-08T00:30:00.000-05:002013-12-08T00:30:02.006-05:00Spiralling Out of Control: Excerpt and $200 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuaIZoQCRnsd83kC6lphVHmxvqFOUCsfRfuLxC3sYWtiAlgd5j1094H11VIOfgEkLO4CQIE6TwoCHPjESWF6INzTqxO1mBZ6AYUXlF-QECyg3LM1PG1XpfWqjSaN0qKiQmljb4dQlY0w/s1600/Spiralling+Out+of+Control+140x205mm+HR-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuaIZoQCRnsd83kC6lphVHmxvqFOUCsfRfuLxC3sYWtiAlgd5j1094H11VIOfgEkLO4CQIE6TwoCHPjESWF6INzTqxO1mBZ6AYUXlF-QECyg3LM1PG1XpfWqjSaN0qKiQmljb4dQlY0w/s1600/Spiralling+Out+of+Control+140x205mm+HR-001.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
<i>Today's guest author in the John 3:16 Marketing Excerpt Tour is Michelle Dennis Evans, with info and an excerpt about her new book, Spiralling Out of Control. Take it away, Michelle!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>Robin, thank you so much for hosting me on your blog.<br />
<br />Make sure you read right to the bottom for your chance to win a $200 Amazon voucher.<br />
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Book blurb... <b>Temptation, depression, seduction, betrayal ... Not what Stephanie was expecting at fifteen years of age. Uprooted from her happy, all-girl high school life with a dream filled future and thrown into an unfriendly co-ed school, Stephanie spirals into depression. </b><br />
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<b>When charismatic high school senior Jason notices her, Stephanie jumps in feet first and willingly puts all her faith and trust in him, a boy she barely knows. </b><br />
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<b>Every choice she makes and turn she takes leads her towards a dangerous path.</b><br />
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<b>Her best friend is never far away and ready to catch her … but will she push Tabbie too far away when she needs her most? </b><br />
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<b>This novel contains adult themes.</b><br />
<b>Recommended reading audiences 17+ </b><br />
<b>Excerpt - Chapter 2 part a</b><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">The front door of their new home was slightly ajar. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">“Hello? Mum? Dad? You in here somewhere?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">No one was in sight. Stephanie mounted the first step and paused.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Silence. She inched her way up to the next. The house was still. Were her</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">parents in there? She bit her lip, hoping they were. At the top of the stairs</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">she walked down a short hallway, checking the rooms on either side. Through the</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">last doorway, her parents lay on the floor of what looked like the master</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Her father rolled over to face the doorway. “Steph, good morning. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">How did you sleep?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">She ignored the question. “Why didn’t you tell us you got in?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">“Just as it was getting light, your father decided to check under </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">all the pavers and rocks for a spare key.” Her mother chuckled.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">“They left a key?” Stephanie spat the words. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">“It appears that way.” Dad yawned, stretching. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">“Why didn’t you check last night?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> “Is April awake?” Dad asked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">“That’s crazy. We could’ve been inside.” Stephanie spun the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">doorknob between her thumb and fingers. “That’s so typical of this family!”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">“Stephanie!” Her mother sat up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">“Not much we can do about it now.” Her father climbed to his feet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">April pushed the door away from Stephanie’s grasp. “Can we go to </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">McDonalds for breakfast?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">“Good morning, love. Yes, McDonalds sounds good. I could do with a </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">coffee.” Diane pushed herself up off the floor.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Stephanie looked from one to the other. Is this some weird fairytale I’ve woken up in?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">~~~</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">When they returned to the house, Stephanie cheered. Finally </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">something was happening as scheduled. The removal truck doors swung in the </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">breeze and two burly men were ready to unload. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Stephanie helped unpack box after box. By the end of the day most </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">things were re-homed, so she left the confines of the house. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Her mind spun with all the changes. Tabbie wasn’t a five-minute </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">drive away. There would be no dance rehearsal this week, she was no longer a </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">student at Hill Top Private College and she no longer lived in Sydney. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Stephanie took long strides away from the house as dusk </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">approached. Perhaps a walk would clear her mind. The grey sky seemed to hover </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">low, like it was falling on her, choking the voice that wanted to scream. The </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">weight of fear forced her back home and inside. Her heart raced and her head </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">pounded as she darted into her room. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">She found her posters, the ones she’d carefully taken off the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">walls of her Sydney bedroom. With no order or pattern, she slapped them on the </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">walls—anywhere. Blu-tacking them haphazardly to cover the duck-pond green </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">paint. In her out-of-control state, everything began to spin. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Stephanie fell </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">onto her bed, smothered her face with her pillow and sobbed. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasXJCyAv1q7tDt4NEj4xt02ymCGDNv7H5mwN3JOBt0cO8OfNlhyaAAl6IHXPLMlMPHzQXg1Eh6yGoLP6SZBFq9FRURUJ6NeRQi6PghmNo0TqfC8nhI2YwjMNXhmRcwpAv747kvMxVdh0/s1600/P1070787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasXJCyAv1q7tDt4NEj4xt02ymCGDNv7H5mwN3JOBt0cO8OfNlhyaAAl6IHXPLMlMPHzQXg1Eh6yGoLP6SZBFq9FRURUJ6NeRQi6PghmNo0TqfC8nhI2YwjMNXhmRcwpAv747kvMxVdh0/s1600/P1070787.JPG" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Want to read more? The next excerpt from Spiralling Out of Control will be at </span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 15.453125px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i><a href="http://www.lorilynroberts.blogspot.com/">http://www.lorilynroberts.blogspot.com/</a> tomorrow, December 9!</i></b></span></span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please pop over to the John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_393641169" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3:16</span></span> page and enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win a $200 Amazon voucher </span></span><a href="http://bit.ly/Christian_Books">http://bit.ly/Christian_Books</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.453125px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bio ... Michelle Dennis Evans writes picture books, chapter books, young adult contemporary novels and enjoys dabbling in free verse poetry. Her debut novel Spiralling Out of Control and poetry collection Life Inspired both reached #1 in subcategories on Amazon in their first week of release. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.453125px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Michelle is passionate about seeing people grow and move forward in their journey. She lives on the Gold Coast with her husband and four super active, super fun and super time consuming children. </span></div>
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Find Michelle and all of her social media links at MichelleDennisEvans.com </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-83443091363059556272013-12-06T00:30:00.000-05:002013-12-06T08:48:20.169-05:00"The Donkey and the King" Excerpt Four: John 3:16 Marketing TourToday's post is a part of the John 3:16 Marketing Excerpt Tour for December. It's by Lorilyn Roberts and contains an excerpt and info about her children's book, "The Donkey and The King." Check out these amazing illustrations, folks! And details for entering the raffle for a $200 Amazon card!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdYpC_2G488KrEylJb1zM79xbNJbBxUrijB2E10LTaLN8cz1I8dFrvTVOw01dVABSvRQd93KDgXUer4GsgZ2sG3Jnw1yyn5oMfTnufTxRaUqWOoWExCcd_WFhD3PoF2oulVkj0jue3TA/s1600/Donkey+and+King.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdYpC_2G488KrEylJb1zM79xbNJbBxUrijB2E10LTaLN8cz1I8dFrvTVOw01dVABSvRQd93KDgXUer4GsgZ2sG3Jnw1yyn5oMfTnufTxRaUqWOoWExCcd_WFhD3PoF2oulVkj0jue3TA/s1600/Donkey+and+King.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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From author Lorilyn Roberts:<br />
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<i>A donkey longs for an easier life with no heavy burdens and no one to tell him what to do. He runs away and becomes lost, but “good” finds him in the most unlikely of places.</i><br />
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<i>Travel to the Bible lands and meet Baruch, a stubborn donkey, and other lovable animals: Lowly, the pig; Much-Afraid, a small, lame dog; Worldly Crow, who isn’t as bright as he thinks he is; and a sheep, Little, sent on a special mission by the King. The ending of the story will delight young readers as they discover “good” exists in the world if they look and listen for it. </i><br />
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<i>When I was young, I hated doing chores. I suppose I was this donkey, rebellious and self-determined, but desperate for a friend—the one friend who would never leave me (or you). </i><br />
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<i>Here is a short excerpt from “The Donkey and the King.” This is the third stop on the tour. I hope you will visit all the blogs and participate in the John 3:16 Marketing Network Book Launch and win the grand prize. See details below.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAVxVleMPjtUDvtpKL8BSaS2mp-2MlQWARblLraspBkTC5y4cFgiLW2ZsDmJY7vP1lUXoYJh3bu3wmZQk9HWDWkGQEUxQsRhM31kjYCNtYaroLQKgWm5freyzUvf2BUzoP6vM5AicU4M/s1600/Donkey+and+King2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAVxVleMPjtUDvtpKL8BSaS2mp-2MlQWARblLraspBkTC5y4cFgiLW2ZsDmJY7vP1lUXoYJh3bu3wmZQk9HWDWkGQEUxQsRhM31kjYCNtYaroLQKgWm5freyzUvf2BUzoP6vM5AicU4M/s1600/Donkey+and+King2.jpg" /></a></div>
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“I have to go,” said the donkey. “Someday I’ll come back and we can be together again.”<br />
Baruch slipped away into the darkness.<br />
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Several hours passed as Baruch plodded along the unfamiliar road. Night winds blew dust in his face. Bats circled in the moonlit sky. Wild jackals H-O-W-L-E-D.<br />
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*~*~*~*~*~*<br />
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On every page is the hidden word “good.” Can you find it in the drawings above? If not, you can look below and see where the word is hidden.<br />
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The unique quality about Kindle-enhanced books is that the drawings and font size can be enlarged for young readers. And for parents who can’t find the word, a QR code (a free AP is available for smart phones) and link is provided to facilitate the search. Some pages are more challenging than others (for older readers).<br />
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If you enjoyed looking for the mouse in “Goodnight Moon” when you were young, your child will delight in looking for “good” in “The Donkey and the King.” The moral: There is good in the world if you look and listen for the King’s voice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQggj0zEOIn828jOBAP3SsM9ik8qRvnvH8FcN30M-M99NigV70fzfHaLdL7F2cm1vxTSEPvLqQDpypFm1pBrMAAF4eH2PWkyn10DS_por09ikmL_xAKgRrxfMaZHhZ52Hfn3c-liLdkU/s1600/Donkey+and+King4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQggj0zEOIn828jOBAP3SsM9ik8qRvnvH8FcN30M-M99NigV70fzfHaLdL7F2cm1vxTSEPvLqQDpypFm1pBrMAAF4eH2PWkyn10DS_por09ikmL_xAKgRrxfMaZHhZ52Hfn3c-liLdkU/s400/Donkey+and+King4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Details:<br />
“The Donkey and the King” (A Story of Redemption)<br />
99 cents December 1 through December 16<br />
24 reviews, 4.8 stars<br />
Ages 2-6<br />
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Book Trailer: <a href="http://bit.ly/Donkey_Video">http://bit.ly/Donkey_Video</a><br />
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From December 1 through December 16, the John 3:16 Marketing Network is hosting a Christmas Book Launch and “The Donkey and the King” is a featured book.<br />
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As part of the event, the Network is offering a $200 Amazon gift e-card to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, go to http://bit.ly/Christian_Books and enter the Rafflecopter (toward the bottom of the page). And be sure and pick up your Kindle version of “The Donkey and the King” for 99 cents at <a href="http://bit.ly/Donkey_Kindle">http://bit.ly/Donkey_Kindle</a> <br />
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Next stop on Lorilyn Roberts’ Excerpt Tour: Visit Jill Richardson’s blog on December 7 at: <a href="http://jill-theimperfectjourney.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">http://jill-<wbr></wbr>theimperfectjourney.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com</a><br />
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Lorilyn Roberts is an award-winning author who writes family-friendly books for the young, the young at heart, and all those in between. Visit <a href="http://lorilynroberts.com/">http://LorilynRoberts.com</a> to learn more.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-51396614604731284232013-12-02T02:00:00.000-05:002013-12-02T02:00:30.093-05:00A Bell Ringer's Epiphany<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
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<i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Today's guest blogger is Linda Wood Rondeau. I asked her to help us usher in the Christmas season because I just read her wonderful feel-good novel, </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">A Christmas Prayer</span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, which has just been released. She is sharing her story "The Bell Ringer's Epiphany" with us. Enjoy! And afterward, scroll down and read more about Linda and her new books.</i></div>
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I wondered why I had volunteered. I had too many things to do. And I hate the cold. It gets into my bones until nothing can make me feel warm again. </div>
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I had offered to be a bell ringer for the Salvation Army’s Christmas drive. I bundled up and trekked to my station at the local grocery store. I donned the blue apron and picked up the emblem of my assignment, a small golden bell.</div>
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Then one by one the people came up to the little red bucket dropping in the change or dollars. Sometimes people felt like talking. Other times, they nodded and left. Still others dropped their gift and scurried off to complete the sundry other tasks the season required of them.</div>
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“I brought you here to teach you something,” the Spirit said to my heart.</div>
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<i>Not to be so quick to volunteer?</i></div>
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“No. I want you to study these people. Examine the way they give.”</div>
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And, I did. To my amazement, I learned the reasons for giving are as varied as the people who donate. Then I began to see similarities in people’s motivation. And, I wondered where my heart would fit among theirs. </div>
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The first lady gave from her <b>sorrow</b>. This was her first Christmas without her mother. Her father had passed away only a year before. Eyes brimming with tears, she pushed twenty dollars into the bucket. “My mother was a bell ringer,” she said. “Thank you for doing this.” Then she rushed off, uncomfortable with her emotions. </div>
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The Spirit spoke again: <b>He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering (Isaiah 52:3).</b></div>
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The next person gave from his <b>abundance</b>. His leather jacket and bulging wallet told all. He plopped a den-dollar bill into the bucket, pleased with his generosity. He straightened his shoulders with pride in his offering and left.</div>
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The Spirit spoke again: <b>From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded: and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked (Luke 12:48).</b></div>
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An elderly woman approached. Her threadbare coat and raveled scarf told of her station in life. Her cart also bore testament to her poverty. She stopped before the red canister, pulled out a thin and worn wallet from her purse, and dropped in her last two coins. “Maybe this will bring me good fortune,” she said. She gave from her <b>need</b>, as if investing into generosity would bring better days. </div>
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The Spirit spoke yet again: <b>And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).</b></div>
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Another elderly woman stopped by the kettle. Her head drooped from her heavy burden. She shrugged her shoulders then reached into her purse for an assortment of change. “I feel guilty if I pass by one of these drums and give nothing.” She trotted off, head slightly higher. Her giving well was a fountain of <b>guilt</b>.</div>
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The Spirit spoke anew: <b>For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me (Psalm 51:3).</b></div>
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Lastly, a young man eagerly approached the drum, much akin to Tiger’s Happy Bounce, and tossed his coins with a whistle. “I love this!” he said as he sailed out the door. “God’s been good to me. This is one way I can say, ‘Thank you.’” The young man gave from a spirit of <b>gratitude</b>.</div>
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The Spirit spoke once more than fell silent: <b>Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (1 Corinthians 9:7).</b></div>
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Then I knew what the Spirit wanted me to learn. Christmas is a time for giving. I analyzed my own motivations. Do I give begrudgingly because it’s expected? Do I donate from a feeling of loss? Do I thrive on the hope one day my giving will be multiplied? Do I fear what will happen if I do not give? I hope that from this day on my giving will be from a grateful heart to a Savior who came as the atonement for my sins.</div>
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<i>Winner of the 2012 Selah Award for best first novel </i>The Other Side of Darkness<i>/Harbourlight, LINDA WOOD RONDEAU writes stories of God’s mercies. Walk with her unforgettable characters as they journey paths not unlike our own. After a long career in human services, Linda now resides in Jacksonville, Florida. </i></div>
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<i>Linda’s best-selling Adirondack Romance, </i>It Really IS a Wonderful Life<i>, is published by Lighthouse of the Carolinas and is available wherever books are sold. Her next releases were her devotional book, </i>I Prayed for Patience God Gave Me Children<i> and </i>Days of Vines and Roses<i>. </i></div>
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<i>J</i>oy Comes to Dinsmore Street<i> and </i>A Christmas Prayer<i> have been released in time for the Christmas Season. </i>Songs in the Valley<i>/ Helping Hands Press will be released in late 2013 or early 2014. </i></div>
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<i>Readers may visit her web site at www.lindarondeau.com or email her at lindarondeau@gmail.com or find her on Facebook, Twitter, PInterest, LinkedIn, Google Plus and Goodreads. </i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-19061714805077850722013-11-26T23:30:00.000-05:002013-11-26T23:30:01.426-05:00Catching Up and a Preview of Coming Attractions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow, I haven't posted in quite awhile. I have a good reason. Actually, a lot of good reasons.<br />
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Except for the fact that I follow a "loaves and fishes" God who can multiply anything and make it enough--including my time and energy--I don't know how I would have managed everything I did over the past few weeks.<br />
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The photo at the top is Pete. He's one of the reasons I've had very little time. Or money, come to think of it. Pete is a stray pit bull puppy. He showed up the week of August 19. I remember the date well, because that's when everything else started happening, too!<br />
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I'm a college librarian, and that was the first week of fall term--the busiest, most stressful time of the year on my job. And then I had a conference to attend that week. And then Pete showed up.<br />
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You wouldn't believe all the twists and turns the story with this dog has taken. A work colleague told me I had to write it up as a short story--or a novel. I think I'll at least give it to you as a couple of blog posts. So stay tuned for Pete's story.<br />
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And then...during all this, while working full time and helping take care of my elderly mother, I started the process for publishing<i> Summer's Winter</i>. I had no idea what all I would need to do for that. And then...two traditional presses requested either a proposal or full manuscript of my next book, <i>Jordan's Shadow</i>. And I decided to apply to teach at some conferences. And I had to set up my website. And, and...<br />
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And I haven't been blogging much! But I will. I'm drawing a breath again, and I really have to tell you Pete's story. And about the Kirkus review I got for <i>Summer's Winter</i>. And the book's publication progress.<br />
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In the meantime, I'm participating with helping launch several books for incredible Christian authors. First I'm going to introduce you to Linda Rondeau, the writer of a feel-good Christmas romance called <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Romance-autistic-fathers-Christian-ebook/dp/B00GM5M1HM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1385492373&sr=8-2&keywords=a+christmas+prayer" target="_blank">A Christmas Prayer</a></i>. Then I'm going to participate in something new for me--an excerpt tour. On December 6, 8, and 9, the Queen will be part of a tour for three different authors sharing excerpts of their new novels. You could get to read up to 25 percent of these books for free, just by following the tour.<br />
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Oh, and by the way, I have a post today over at a devotional blog called <a href="http://fullflavoredliving.blogspot.com/2013/11/thankful-for-fleas.html" target="_blank">Life to the Fullest</a>. It's a Thanksgiving piece called "<a href="http://fullflavoredliving.blogspot.com/2013/11/thankful-for-fleas.html" target="_blank">Thankful for Fleas</a>." Head on over and see what the heck I meant by that.<br />
<br />
And I'll be back soon! Thanks for hanging in there with me.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-79058618112691900072013-10-29T15:04:00.000-04:002013-10-29T15:04:58.200-04:00Guest Blogger Deborah Heal: Every Hill and Mountain<i>I'm becoming acquainted with author Deborah Heal through the John 3:16 Marketing Network, and was particularly interested in her </i>Time and Again<i> time travel-mystery book series since I'm writing my own time travel novel, </i><a href="http://queenofperseverance.blogspot.com/search/label/Jordan%27s%20Shadow" target="_blank">Jordan's Shadow</a><i>. I've started reading </i>Time and Again<i>, and I'm hooked! Deborah agreed to share some very personal insights from her faith and writing journey. And also the good news that the Kindle version of </i>Every Hill and Mountain<i> is on sale for 99 cents now through the end of November. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Every-Hill-Mountain-Again-ebook/dp/B00BUQ1NGI/ref=la_B00760M3OS_1_2_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382990771&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Click here</a> to buy it at Amazon.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<strong><i><a href="http://deborahheal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/533114_457859377617294_1741291655_n.jpg"><img alt="533114_457859377617294_1741291655_n" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1634" src="http://deborahheal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/533114_457859377617294_1741291655_n.jpg" height="300" width="403" /></a></i></strong><br />
<br />
I think of my novel <strong><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Every-Hill-Mountain-Time-Again/dp/1482609169/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363034311&sr=1-1&keywords=Every+Hill+and+Mountain" target="_blank">Every Hill and Mountain</a></i></strong> as an assignment I turned in for the continuing education program I’m involved with. You know, that life-long business of becoming more sanctified. As slow as I’m learning things, I figure God may decide to keep me in school another hundred years or so before he lets me into Heaven.<br />
<br />
By that, I’m not saying I will have arrived, become perfect, and thus will deserve to get into Heaven—not even after a thousand years. But apparently, God thinks it’s good for us to come smack up against our ignorance, stupidity, and foulness for a while in this life so we we’ll appreciate His perfection all the more in the life to come.<br />
<br />
I have a friend of the New Age persuasion who does believe in the perfectibility of human beings. We had a conversation a while back about racism, in which I said everyone’s prejudiced to one degree or another. He got quite irate and said, “Hey, speak for yourself!” He claimed to be completely free of this fault.<br />
<br />
But I know I’m right. No one reaches perfection in any aspect of his being. Not in this life. Whether I like it or not, I’m a racist to one degree or another. But I have come a long way through the years as God continues to work on me.<br />
<br />
My first teacher on the subject of race was an aunt (God rest her soul). The lesson came when I was five or six and as a treat, she took me to shop at the Ben Franklin store. When we got out of the car, she called my attention to some people standing on the sidewalk across the street. “See those n***ers over there,” she whispered. “Watch out. They’ll cut your ears off if they ever hear you call them n***er.” The sad thing is, I think my aunt was really trying to help me.<br />
<br />
It was the first time I’d heard the “N” word, and taking her teaching as Gospel truth, I solemnly promised never to use that word. For so many years I took it as the literal truth. My aunt’s anxiety was transmitted to me, but here’s the funny part: I couldn’t distinguish those people on the sidewalk from anyone else. I remember being so confused.<br />
<br />
My racist education continued in the small rural town where I grew up. I don’t remember anyone slinging racial slurs in the elementary school, but maybe the subject of race never came up because the school was completely 100% bona fide white. My first experience meeting and speaking to a minority came when I reached high school in the late 1960s and was surprised to find four or five African-American students there. During that time, the news on TV was filled with stories about race riots in cities across the country, including nearby East St. Louis. I wondered (a bit indignantly) why those Negroes were so angry. After all, Lincoln had emancipated them, hadn’t he? The Negroes in our school seemed happy. Of course some of them seemed overly anxious to please and the rest just kept their heads down and mouths shut and worked on being invisible.<br />
<br />
The African-American students at my high school never mentioned any reasons for discontent, and our teachers were completely silent about race issues. The rumor that Dr. Martin Luther King was a Communist made its way into discussions among students and around the family dinner table. And when he was assassinated, while we didn’t rejoice, we were relieved he wouldn’t be able to spread violence and his evil doctrines any more. I managed to graduate from high school and get on with adult life without ever once hearing anything about Jim Crow, disenfranchisement, “separate, but equal” or any of the other abominations the black community suffered through.<br />
<br />
It wasn’t until I went to college that my ignorance began to be chipped away by the power of the written word. I learned a valuable lesson about the importance of using primary sources when I read Martin Luther King’s “Letters from a Birmingham Jail.” With no trumped up rumors and slanted newscasts between the writer and the reader, the truth came shining through on the page. I was astounded by his logic and moved to tears by his eloquence and gentleness. I decided that if he was a Communist, then I was an astronaut.<br />
<br />
<strong>(<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Y-64GJT8E" target="_blank">Listen to a dramatic reading</a> of Letters from a Birmingham Jail.)</strong><br />
<br />
Later my brain was exercised with the biographies of Frederick Douglas, George Washington Carver, and Booker T. Washington. Other books in the curriculum for this white woman’s continuing education were <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i> and <i>Black Like Me</i> and <i>Growing up Black</i> and <i>The Emancipation of Robert Sadler</i> and Dick Gregory’s autobiography <i>Nigger </i>and Maya Angelou’s<i> I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings</i>.
The written word had made a powerful impact on my thinking, and I took that lesson into the classroom when I became an English teacher at other small rural, all white schools. I wish I could report that my students were much more sophisticated in their thinking than I had been at that age. The majority of them probably were, but I’m sad to say that in virtually every class that I taught <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i> and <i>I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings</i>, (much less mentioned Black History Month) two questions inevitably would be raised by students:
<br />
<div style="padding-left: 60px;">
1. Why do we have to learn this? After all we don’t have any African-American students at our school.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 60px;">
2. Aren’t we the ones being discriminated against now, and isn’t everything hunky dory for Blacks now?</div>
Their attitude caused me to shed a tear or two, but also to be reminded of how much my own sinfulness causes God to sorrow. But like Martin Luther King,
<br />
<div style="padding-left: 60px;">
<i>I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.</i></div>
In other words, I long for the day when all God’s children will be freed from the bondage of ignorance and sin. On that day, we’ll be past all the striving and--with equal access—turn our attention to where it should have been all along, on God's glory.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://deborahheal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/sticker-picture1.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="My amazingly photo-shopped professional portrait. It sure is nice to have a photographer in the family." class=" wp-image-1245 alignleft" src="http://deborahheal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/sticker-picture1-240x300.jpg" height="180" width="144" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Deborah Heal is the author of the <b><i>Time and Again</i></b> virtual time travel mystery series, which has been described as “Back to the Future meets virtual reality with a dash of Seventh Heaven thrown in.” She was born not far from the setting of her book <b><i>Every Hill and Mountain</i></b> and grew up “just down the road” from the setting of <b><i>Time and Again</i></b><i> </i>and<i> <b>Unclaimed Legacy</b></i>. Today she lives with her husband in Waterloo, Illinois, where she enjoys reading, gardening, and learning about regional history. She has three grown children, three grandchildren, and two canine buddies Digger and Scout. She loves to interact with her readers, who may learn more about the history behind the books at her <b><a href="http://www.deborahheal.com/">Website</a> , <a href="http://www.twitter.com/DeborahHeal">Twitter</a>, </b>and<b> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DeborahHeal">Facebook</a>.</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://deborahheal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/trilogy-covers1.png"><img alt="Time Travel Trilogy by Deborah Heal" class="size-medium wp-image-1616 " src="http://deborahheal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/trilogy-covers1-300x142.png" height="142" width="300" /></a><br />
These are her literary babies. She's expecting another in the spring of 2014. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-66980073739361201452013-10-22T10:39:00.000-04:002013-10-22T10:39:43.918-04:00What do you think of my cover copy?<i>I was just asked to provide the "back cover copy" for Summer's Winter. Here is what I've come up with. What do you think? Would this make you want to read it? Confused? Typos or mistakes? Thanks for your help!</i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
At age ten, preacher’s daughter Jeanine
fell in love with young movie star Jamie Newkirk and the character he played—Danny
Summer. Jeanine believed God Himself promised Jamie would be part of her life—that
he would rescue her from boring rural Georgia. A talented writer and musician
herself, she was going to be powerful and accomplished like this boy. She was
destined to be a part of Jamie’s world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
For the next eleven years, Jeanine
was obsessed—with Jamie Newkirk; with Danny Summer, the character he played;
and with the entire <i>Summer</i> series of
books and movies that were released throughout her childhood. When the author,
Hannah Raney, died in a mysterious fire without finishing the series, Jeanine
was grieved like the rest of fandom. But she believed Jamie was still promised
to her. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
But eleven years later, she’s
graduating college and about to settle into the dreary nine-to-five life with
no word from Jamie or God. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
And then Jamie bursts into her life
in an amazing way. Incredible things start to happen. There are plans to
resurrect the <i>Summer</i> series, and
Jeanine is right in the middle of it all. Jamie seems to be falling for her,
just as she’d dreamed. And yet…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
She never dreamed of all the dark
undercurrents. Jamie is hiding out in Georgia following the suspicious death of
his former girlfriend. And isn’t it odd that he found his mother dead of a
supposed suicide in that same house two years before, and that both women had
the same strangely-shaped burn on their bodies? And who knew there would be so
many sinister characters involved in Jamie’s life, and in the <i>Summer</i> series? There’s his young
co-star, Charlie—the <i>Summer</i> author
died in an unexplained fire at his house. And Jamie’s stepfather, Elliott, and
uncle Richard seem to be in a vicious competition for control of the <i>Summer</i> series and of Jamie’s life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Jamie is obviously guarding deep
secrets—about his family, about the deaths of his mother and Paula. The media
and the public have declared him guilty. Jeanine longs to prove his innocence.
Unless she can, Jamie’s dark secrets may shatter her dreams, her faith—and her
life.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-18626257381435490452013-10-04T11:23:00.000-04:002013-10-04T11:23:50.768-04:00My Huge Decision and an Announcement<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
my last post, I told you that I’ve been trying to decide whether my
decades-long pursuit of publication is perseverance or insanity. I told you I’d
let you know what I decided. So here it is…perseverance or insanity?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">…Both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yep.
I think it’s good to keep striving toward a worthy goal, even for a long, long
time. That “definition of insanity” proverb, however, talks about the craziness
of repeating some unhelpful action over and over. That’s where I’m making my
mistake, at least recently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve
been going at it the same way all these years. I write, I get feedback, I
rewrite. I submit. I’m told that my writing doesn’t exactly fit one genre or
the other. I study guidelines, I rewrite, I try to make my stories fit a genre
or a publishing company. I get feedback. I submit. I’m told my writing crosses
genres. It has science fiction elements in women’s fiction. It’s too literary
to fit a genre, too popular to be literary. It’s too Christian for the secular
publishers, doesn’t have enough Christian content for the CBA. I start over,
trying to make my poor little square pegs fit into the round holes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
I were walking down a path, trying to reach an urgent destination, and I fell
into a hole because I wasn’t watching where I was going, it would be virtuous
for me to get up and keep walking, even with a sore ankle. But if I still
didn’t look where I was going, if I continued to let myself fall into holes and
break my bones instead of just keeping my eyes open and walking around them,
that would be crazy. Not only that, it wouldn’t get me to my ultimate
destination, because I eventually wouldn’t be able to walk anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve
been trying the same things over and over for MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS, trying to
get published. And I’ve hurt myself in the process. I’m starting to hurt my
writing. It’s time to try something new. I’m going indie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yep,
the dreaded “S” word. Self-publishing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s
not what I dreamed of. It’s not how I thought my writing career would go. But
for a lot of reasons, I feel that’s where God is leading me—at least with one
novel. I feel like He has taken my hand and is trying to lead me around that
hole I keep falling in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
year or so ago, I was at a gospel music concert by an amazingly talented band.
The church was small but packed. I’ve seen this band numerous times. They’re
talented enough to make a lot of money, and they always pack people in. People
also frequently get saved at their events. One of the singers was giving a mini
testimony and said that she didn’t worry about pursuing fame or fortune or huge
audiences. She just asked God every day to send her where her music could be
used to reach the people He wanted her to reach—two or five or a thousand, it
didn’t matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
felt as though God had reached down and shaken me. Doesn’t the Bible say
something about not hiding your light under a bushel? What if this incredibly
talented woman never sang or gave her testimony because no one was paying her
to do it? What if I continued to hide the testimony that I pour into my
writing, waiting for someone to pay me for it? Would God really bless that kind
of pride?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
know a lot of my writer friends will be disappointed in me. I’ll have more to
say about how I came to this conclusion and about just what I’m planning to do.
But in the meantime, I’ll leave you with another thought: When the rich young
ruler came to Jesus and asked Him what he should do to be saved, Jesus told him
to sell everything he had and follow Him. But another time, when Jesus cast
demons out of a very afflicted man, the restored man was so grateful that He
wanted to follow Jesus and go with him. Jesus told him to return to his home
and tell what the Lord had done for him—to stay put.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Lord doesn’t want every one of us to follow the exact same path. He has plans
for all of us—different plans. This path I’m embarking on is scary, but I think
it’s the right one. I’ll keep you posted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-24160751727521895262013-10-02T16:48:00.001-04:002013-10-02T16:48:36.907-04:00Perseverance or Insanity?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m
sure you’ve all heard this saying, right? “The definition of insanity is doing
the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But
wait a minute…that’s perseverance, isn’t it? Frankly, I’ve been using so
many precious resources of time, money, and energy for decades trying to
publish a novel—always failing, but expecting a different result next time—that
this is important for me to consider.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
I attempted without success to find out the author of the quote, I came across
<a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-therapy/200907/the-definition-insanity-is" target="_blank">a blog by therapist Ryan Howes</a>, blasting this pithy little proverb: “Repeating
the same constructive behavior over and over, hoping (one day) for a positive
result is difficult but virtuous. It's the effort made by eating oatmeal every
morning, brushing your teeth after every meal and daily journaling. It's
weekly therapy, consistent
workouts and taking time for spirituality. It's Rudy
trying over and over to get into Notre Dame. Or Mother Theresa tirelessly
serving the poor.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-therapy/200907/the-definition-insanity-is" target="_blank">Howes does admit</a> there is perseverance (above) and something destructive called
perseveration—like repeating useless actions in an obsessive-compulsive
disorder, or repeating unhelpful behavior patterns. He says it’s an important
distinction to make, because “perseverance is a strong, valuable quality.
Perseveration is a troubling issue needing clinical attention.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So…have
I been strong and virtuous through the years? Or do I need help from a good
psychiatrist? And help for what? To keep me striving on toward my goal—or to
help me stop an unconstructive and often stressful drain on my resources?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve
given this a lot of thought, particularly over the last year, and I’ve made a
huge decision. One that I hope everyone will support me in. I’ll let you know
about that decision next time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-42537841586521397292013-09-10T15:53:00.000-04:002013-09-10T15:53:16.171-04:00That Blasted Proverbs 31 Woman!<div class="MsoNormal">
You’ve heard of the “Proverbs 31 woman,” right? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sure you’ve at least heard the line, “Her children arise
and call her blessed.” She’s sort of the Old Testament ideal of the perfect wife.
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2031&version=NIV" target="_blank">Proverbs 31</a> (starting in verse 10) describes this great lady in detail. Many
fine Christian women set great store by her and want to be like her—which is
wonderful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For many years, I positively despised her. If she had been
real, I would have liked to get my hands on her, and not to give her a hug.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My bad attitude started in the early days of my marriage,
which weren’t exactly ideal. Let’s just say we had a lot of adjusting to do. As
a part of our adjustment, we went to a marriage conference. The leader asked us
to write down some concrete things we would like our spouse to be or do—I can’t
remember exactly how he worded the assignment. I’ve been married a LONG time.
But I do remember that my dear hubby wrote down one line. “All I want is for
you to be the Proverbs 31 woman.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s all??!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wanted to snap back at him that all I wanted was for him
to behave exactly like Jesus. But I bit that one back. The Proverbs 31 woman
would never be so snarky.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In case you haven’t read <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2031&version=NIV" target="_blank">Proverbs 31</a> lately, let me give you
just a synopsis of this woman that I was supposed to be like. She gets up not
just early, but while it’s still night—STILL NIGHT!—to start working. Her house
is in perfect order. She spins and sews and makes beautiful coverings for the
beds. She’s great at business—buys and sells fields for profit and sells things
she makes—so she can take care of her family and give to the poor. Her family
isn’t afraid of hard times, because she takes care of them. And of course, her
children arise and call her blessed, and her husband praises her to everyone he
meets.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For about two years after that, I couldn’t escape hearing
about that dratted woman. The preacher seemed to preach about her every other
week. I would turn on the car radio and the Christian family show would be talking
about her, urging women to be like her. Daily devotionals, Sunday School
lessons, conversations with other women at church…you get the idea.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For a woman who felt like a failure at this whole marriage
and family business, I have to tell you, those messages could be pretty
depressing. Not only did my children not call me blessed—I was facing
infertility and couldn’t even manage to have children. And my husband was not
exactly praising me in the streets.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Years went by. I stopped hearing so much about that blasted
woman, for some reason, and stopped worrying about living up to her. Life
became pretty full and hectic, anyway. We moved back to my hometown and I was
so stressed and unhappy with my new job that I decided to get my master’s
degree and become a librarian. My parents became elderly and my dad developed
dementia and I spent a lot of time taking care of them. I taught an extra class
at the college to get money to help with that, too. For my sanity, I took up
quilting and beading and knitting, and even tried selling a bit of it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through every bit of
this, my hubby was supportive and sweet, a real shoulder to lean on. So I
became sweeter, kinder, more respectful to him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And one day, a few weeks ago, he said something that nearly
made me fall over. He reminded me of the time he wrote down that he wanted me
to be the Proverbs 31 woman, and then he said, “That’s what you are.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For a moment, I thought he was delusional. But he had
brought it up in the context of me caring for my parents, for my family. I got
to thinking about that dratted woman again, and wondered if I had misjudged
her. I thought about her making coverings for the bed and beautiful clothing
for her family. So she had the same urges to quilt and knit and sew that I do!
And that woman loved her family and would do anything to take care of them,
which is always my first priority after serving God. We’re both career women
mainly to be able to help our families, plus friends and acquaintances who
might be having a hard time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My attempts at selling (books or crafts) haven’t been as
successful as hers, at least not yet. And this getting up while it’s still dark
thing—well, we may just have to let that one go. I’ll never be as perfect as
her. But my heart longs for the same things, and I’m striving toward the same
goals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fortunately for me, my hubby seems to think that’s enough.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-27032525079657544302013-08-22T10:45:00.000-04:002013-08-22T10:45:31.755-04:00And a Robin to Write It?I caught a brief snippet of Alistair Begg's Truth for Life the other day, but got a very profound message--one that he really didn't even intend--in just a couple of sentences.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I turned on the radio in my car and caught him in mid message, but I believe Begg was talking about the authority of the Bible, and the fact that Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit. He explained what this did NOT mean--that God didn't choose random people and knock them into a trance and dictate the Scriptures to them. Rather, he said, when God saw that He was going to need something like the book of Romans, which was written by Paul, He planned and made a Paul. A man with certain personality traits and life experiences and abilities which are part of his writing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a writer, of course, I took that idea and ran with it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I certainly don't claim that my writing is Holy Spirit-inspired--not in the sense that Scripture is. But I did start to wonder...what if God did want something like my novels to be written? What if He had a plan for those stories, to touch someone's heart and life in a certain way? So He planned and made a Robin to write them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I love this idea! It turns everything around for me. So often I say "my writing," and I view it as "my dream." There have been so many obstacles that I often feel myself in an adversarial position with God--begging Him to bless it or allow me to do it. But what if...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He planned that writing? He wanted it done? And it's my job to write it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A little scary. But also an awesome and cheering thought. If He has a purpose for it and wants it to reach certain people, then it will reach them. I just have to pick up the quill...or tap on the keys.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-73068916989398296702013-08-07T09:32:00.000-04:002013-08-07T09:32:50.843-04:00A Winner and a Nifty Prize Give-Away<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After a lot of incredible suggestions from friends, readers, and authors, I've settled on a new name for Glass Houses. And the winner is...<i>Summer's Winter</i>, suggested by the lovely and talented Ane Mulligan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love this title on so many levels. In my story, my protagonist is obsessed with a character in a book and movie series, and the character's name is Danny Summer. The series has temporarily "died" (as in winter) when the story begins, but will be resurrected. And the crisis in the life of Jamie, the actor who plays Danny Summer, happens in winter. I hope everyone else will be drawn to the title as I was! Thanks again to everyone, especially Ane.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On another subject, there's a great Christian book marketing effort out there, called the John 3:16 Marketing Network. I'm passing along info about a give-away they're hosting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_45206221" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3:16</span></span> Marketing Network is hosting their August Book Launch by giving away a Kindle, $25 Amazon gift card and a $10 Starbucks card.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you would like to enter, go to <a href="http://bit.ly/Christian_Books" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://bit.ly/Christian_Books</span></a> and look for the Rafflecopter raffle. While there, please check out the two great books being showcased -- Children of Dreams, a creative nonfiction memoir, and Keeper of Reign, a YA adventure fantasy. Both books promote a Christian worldview.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You don’t have to buy an ebook to enter, but for $1.98 cents, if you buy both books, you get 20 chances/entries to win one of the prizes.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks! Hope you win! </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-27839679475248859952013-07-22T15:02:00.000-04:002013-07-22T15:02:52.013-04:00Help Me Choose a Name!I need a new name for my novel, <i>Glass Houses</i>. The name doesn't fit as well as it used to--plus I see on Amazon that there's a teen vampire novel with that name now. Drat.<br />
<br />
So I would really like some input from you folks. Here's a blurb about Glass Houses:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Glass Houses is a love story wrapped in a mystery, about a preacher's daughter named Jeanine and her obsession with movie star Jamie. At the age of ten, Jeanine believed that God Himself whispered to her in a dark movie theater and promised that the young star would someday be a part of her life. So began an eleven-year test of faith as Jeanine waited for her knight to arrive and rescue her from boring middle Georgia. And then, just as she’s graduating college and about to settle into the dreary nine-to-five life that stretches ahead of her, Jamie bursts into her life in an amazing way. He even seems to be falling for her, just as she’d dreamed. Trouble is, loving Jamie is nothing like she expected. Instead of carrying her away on a white charger, he’s hiding out in Georgia following the suspicious death of his former girlfriend. Jeanine longs to prove his innocence and get at the truth. Unless she can, Jamie’s dark secrets may shatter her faith—and her life.</blockquote>
<br />
The character Jamie plays--the one Jeanine is obsessed with--is named Danny Summer. The series of books and movies about Danny all have the name Summer in the title. There's a lot in the story about the Summer series, and how the author died and left the series hanging. The murder in my story ties into the lucrative revival of the Summer series, and who holds the copyright to be able to do that.<br />
<br />
I also like the idea of summer symbolically. For me, summer was always about imagination and freedom. So I'm thinking I'd like to have the name "Summer" in the title. Here's what I'm leaning toward so far:<br />
<br />
<i>Saving Summer</i>.<br />
<br />
What do you think? Would a book with that title sound interesting? Suspenseful? Romantic?<br />
<br />
Here are some other ideas I had:<br />
<br />
Eternal Summer<br />
Dying Summer<br />
Eleven Years 'Til Summer<br />
Waiting for Summer<br />
If Summer Dies<br />
Fatal Summer<br />
Mortal Summer (or Immortal Summer?)<br />
If Summer Comes<br />
Killing Summer<br />
The End of Summer<br />
Summer's End<br />
<br />
Okay, I think you get the picture. Do any of these strike you? Or do you have a brilliant idea I've overlooked?<br />
<br />
Thanks so much! (And at least this post should show up on the first page of a Google search for "summer" today, if nothing else. I wonder if anyone else has ever used that word this much in one post.)<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-47252542458398826232013-07-18T10:10:00.000-04:002013-07-18T10:10:50.466-04:00Big Reveal of Upcoming Book Cover: The Captive Maiden!<div class="tr_bq">
I'm home sick today, but I have dragged myself out of bed to do this blog, because today is the first day that author Melanie Dickerson is sharing the cover of her upcoming novel, <i>The Captive Maiden</i>. And I get to share it with my readers!</div>
<br />
So, without more rambling from me, here it is...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdERBOPkDYBXkOIz0_RaAatqBVcuXXGJkkNVpecqLV1Da3BfLhYhoi3MotIWoytHz32u7ZUQoFezd7I-rTqeFRB3Wy_1VAl9-L0vxq6OK3dStgx2BpV3jcVMlv1J33p3FbA4Yl3YcA64/s1600/Captive+Maiden+cover.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdERBOPkDYBXkOIz0_RaAatqBVcuXXGJkkNVpecqLV1Da3BfLhYhoi3MotIWoytHz32u7ZUQoFezd7I-rTqeFRB3Wy_1VAl9-L0vxq6OK3dStgx2BpV3jcVMlv1J33p3FbA4Yl3YcA64/s1600/Captive+Maiden+cover.tif" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
<br />
Isn't it beautiful! As an amateur costumer, I adore the dress. It's perfect for Cinderella. Oh, did I mention this is a retelling of the Cinderella story, set in Medieval Europe?<br />
<br />
Melanie is known for her inspirational and realistic retellings of classic fairy tales. She's done Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, and Snow White to date. Cinderella is one of my favorites, so I'm particularly looking forward to this one. Here is Melanie's description of it:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt;">Happily Ever After …Or Happily Nevermore?</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Gisela’s childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father’s death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela learns the duke’s son, Valten---the boy she has daydreamed about for years---is throwing a ball in hopes of finding a wife, she vows to find a way to attend, even if it’s only for a taste of a life she’ll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten’s eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
The release date for <i>The Captive Maiden</i> is October 22, but the book is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Captive-Maiden-Melanie-Dickerson/dp/0310724414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374156219&sr=8-1&keywords=the+captive+maiden" target="_blank">available for pre-order now</a>. All you followers of The Queen may remember Melanie as a faithful reader and commenter on this blog way before she was published (and a Christy Award finalist!). So I want to help her out by pre-ordering and hope you will, too.<br />
<br />
I'm sure it's available other places, but here's where I bought mine at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Captive-Maiden-Melanie-Dickerson/dp/0310724414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374156219&sr=8-1&keywords=the+captive+maiden" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-73606343855327313722013-06-27T11:13:00.002-04:002013-06-27T11:13:12.949-04:00Godwinks and Giving Up<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
I mentioned in the <a href="http://queenofperseverance.blogspot.com/2013/04/mliw.html" target="_blank">MLIW post,</a> I’m not always up to date on the latest phrases
or abbreviations. While we were on
vacation, my sister introduced me to the term “Godwink.” Turns out, I knew
about Godwinks in my life, but I wasn’t familiar with the term.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">If
you aren’t, either, here’s an example of one.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
was recently wandering through an antique mall/flea market with a friend of
mine, and while she walked, she told me about a situation that sort of
disturbed me. I could feel myself getting stressed and anxious, but it was one
of those things that I could do absolutely nothing about. So I took a deep
breath and prayed for God to take care of it and help me to let it go. In the
prayer, I mentioned the verse that says a sparrow never falls outside of God’s
will. He’s sovereign and watching over even tiny birds’ lives, I told myself.
Suddenly that song, “His eye is on the sparrow” was running through my head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And
now for the Godwink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At
that precise moment, we moved to a new booth in the market, and the display
table in front was covered with…sparrows! It was a line of products—figurines,
paper products, keychains—featuring sparrows.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
term “Godwink” is credited to SQuire Rushnell. Here’s what he says <a href="http://www.whengodwinks.com/faqs/" target="_blank">on his webpage</a>: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
A godwink is what some people would call a coincidence, an
answered prayer, or simply an experience where you'd say, "Wow, what are
the odds of that!"…<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Think about when you were a kid and someone you loved gave
you a little wink across the dining room table...That's what a godwink is too:
a message of reassurance from above, directly to you, out of six billion people
on the planet, saying "Hey kid...I'm thinking of you! Keep the faith!
You're never alone." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t know if the next instance really counts. It’s more common than the other
example, a little more vague. All I know is that I’ve been really tired for
weeks. Even after vacation—maybe even because of vacation!—I’ve felt a little
weary and overwhelmed by the busyness of life. I can’t seem to find time to
work on things that are important to me, and then the weariness makes me wonder
why I even think of adding to an already overloaded schedule. Why do I continually
fret over writing or other things that I think are meaningful, but are probably worthless to other people, or to God?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So
while in this state, I passed a wayside pulpit, and instead of one of their cute
puns, the newly-changed sign just said, “Never Give Up. Galatians 6:9.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So
of course I had to look up Galatians 6:9. Here’s the NIV version: “</span><span class="text">Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up.</span>”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">It didn’t make me feel less tired or more
energetic, but the verse did help me keep plugging away for a few more days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><br /></span></div>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">So
how about you? Do you believe in “Godwinks”? Have you had one lately?</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-55025332072428076802013-06-04T15:11:00.002-04:002013-06-04T15:11:42.005-04:00A Never-Ending Vacation at the Beach<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E0lyfji73B2qjPB9GJDal2unpVgCV2XzngnCuQoiJPU2y0v0rzdBrxC7HTS1DFmkiBWEmcyncErkjLME_IzrJaHsXnesLsP6d6XVdsSgPLguy-fbjmqVSoD7QlSGHonz4INdP3coLMI/s1600/Hunting+Island+07+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E0lyfji73B2qjPB9GJDal2unpVgCV2XzngnCuQoiJPU2y0v0rzdBrxC7HTS1DFmkiBWEmcyncErkjLME_IzrJaHsXnesLsP6d6XVdsSgPLguy-fbjmqVSoD7QlSGHonz4INdP3coLMI/s400/Hunting+Island+07+047.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom and dad (who passed away in March). They were married 64 years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have
you ever tried to convince someone to try something that you know is wonderful,
you know they’ll love it, but you just can’t get them interested?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
example, I’m still convinced that my husband would love the TV show <i>Lost</i>. He would adore puzzling out all
its mysteries and symbolism. But his opinion is that it’s just another
stereotypical TV show and he’s not interested. If you’ve ever watched <i>Lost</i> at all, you’ll know how misguided
that attitude is. I mean, you can think that <i>Lost</i> is too weird, too confusing, too out-there…but just another
stereotypical TV show?! I just shake my head, amazed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
often think God is shaking his head at most of us—at least most of us in
contemporary Western culture—and our blasé attitudes about Heaven. Do you ever
confess to yourself that Heaven sounds just a little, well…boring?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve
been thinking and reading about Heaven a lot lately. Maybe it’s my age, but it
seems that more and more of my treasures are in Heaven, so it disturbs me when
I try to think about it and can’t picture anything much, maybe clouds and vague
harp music in the background. It’s hard to make Heaven seem exciting and real.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
love what C.S. Lewis said along those lines: “If we consider the unblushing
promises of reward … promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds
our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures,
fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us,
like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he
cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too
easily pleased.” (from <i>The Weight of Glory</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
week, I’m actually preparing for a “holiday at the sea.” (That sounds so much
more elegant than what I would usually say—a vacation at the beach.) I cannot
tell you how much I am looking forward to it. The beauty. The rest from
everyday worries and stresses. Getting away from it all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
struck me that I should be in a constant state of anticipation for the vacation
that will never end. For the seashore beyond all seashores, beyond my
imagination of how splendid and beautiful it will be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Which,
of course, is a great deal of the problem. We can’t imagine the unimagineable.
But we can do things that help. Read the Biblical passages that describe
Heaven. Dwell on Heaven instead of our stresses. For me, it even helps to watch
fantasy movies that stretch my imagination and help me picture things I never
could have invented by myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
want to live in a state of anticipation all the time, not just when I have an
earthly vacation coming up. As Lewis indicated, sometimes our lives in this
prosperous society can seem pretty awesome. But that feeling doesn’t last, does
it? The vacation ends. The car breaks down. Worst of all, friends and family
members go on to Heaven ahead of us. When that happens, I’d rather lift my eyes
and gaze out onto the sea than keep my head down, wallowing in the mud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
you feel the same way, here are a few books that are helping me:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">50 Days of Heaven</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> by Randy Alcorn</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heaven: Your Real Home</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> by Joni Eareckson Tada</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heaven is for Real</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> by Todd Burpo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Slumber of Christianity</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> by Ted Dekker</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-41990402061620815872013-05-29T13:35:00.000-04:002013-05-29T13:35:13.925-04:00When Rejected, Remember Isaac Newton!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I
am astounded. I actually have something in common with Sir Isaac Newton. If you’re
a writer, maybe you do, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://queenofperseverance.blogspot.com/2013/03/just-try-to-top-this.html" target="_blank">Awhileback, I mentioned</a> that I had finally finished a draft of a novel involving time
travel. Partially because of that, I’ve been attempting to learn more about the
scientific view of time—including theories as to whether time travel might actually
be possible. After much study, I have
come to my own conclusion that it is not possible…for me to comprehend physics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As
to whether time travel is possible, I have no idea. I don’t understand a word
the physics writers are saying, no matter how basic they get. In fact, I even
resorted to Gary Moring’s <i>The Idiot’s
Guide to Understanding Einstein.</i> You guessed it. I can’t understand it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Occasionally,
though, Moring includes a few historical or biographical tidbits, at which
point I feel very reassured that I can at least still read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One
of these asides was about Sir Isaac Newton and his book, <i>The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy</i>, also known as <i>Principia</i>. Moring said, “Most physicists agree that this
work by Isaac Newton is the single most significant book ever written about
physics. In <i>Principia, </i>Newton brought together the knowledge about
physics that had been discovered so far and expanded it. He combined and
synthesized ideas that would remain unchanged for almost 300 years. Even then,
the alterations made to his theories would be minimal” (p. 45).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For
me, this wasn’t the most amazing part. What surprised and encouraged me was
this: “Newton decided to publish his first work in the area of optics.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t very well received by his fellow scientists. He became
very depressed and was reluctant to publish anything else. If his friend Edmond
Halley hadn’t intervened, the Principia would never have been written. Even so,
it took Newton 20 years to put all his notes together and get the book
published” (p. 45).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If
you’re a writer, I’m betting you can identify with some part of this. Becoming dejected after rejection—or you’ve finally gotten published and those Amazon
reviewers just aren’t kind. Taking years and years even to manage to write
anything. Wondering all the while why you’re bothering, because no one is going
to care, anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And the importance of friends! I started to list the friends and family members who have gotten me going again when I've decided to throw in the towel, but the list was growing quite lengthy, and I was afraid I would leave someone out. If you're reading this post, you're probably one of them. I can never thank you enough!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Somehow
I find it encouraging that even a genius who had so much to give the world could go through the same discouragement we all do. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Our
day is coming!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-20381865482114287922013-05-20T16:54:00.001-04:002013-05-20T16:54:27.431-04:00On The Threshold--and a very fun contest!I love celebrating other writers who persevere--especially nice ones that I met on this blog. And who make even the details of their contest fun to read! After fourteen years of hard work, Sherrie Ashcraft and Christina Berry Tarabochia are thrilled to announce the release of their novel, <i>On the Threshold</i>. Interested in how a mother and daughter can write a book together? Want a chance at winning a Kindle and a business card design from a top-notch company? Keep reading!
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRglTehyDcCwlvCvS2cIec1nfVzgw_QtSW8Jxx7EdqQphh6F5VITrwii91M1L4kzuV3XMnRKFpgN4iriRZt0BlIaeq-t1LMKRJMAnvp-vkUuIx5tAZe0j9CIr_LPyvMZQgP2qThRwZJQAb/s1600/On+the+Threshold+cover+only.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRglTehyDcCwlvCvS2cIec1nfVzgw_QtSW8Jxx7EdqQphh6F5VITrwii91M1L4kzuV3XMnRKFpgN4iriRZt0BlIaeq-t1LMKRJMAnvp-vkUuIx5tAZe0j9CIr_LPyvMZQgP2qThRwZJQAb/s400/On+the+Threshold+cover+only.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a><i><b></b></i><br />
<i><b><i><b><br /></b></i></b></i>
<i><b>Why did you ladies begin writing this book?</b></i><br />
Both of us had always talked about writing a book, but fourteen years ago Sherrie said if we were ever going to write, maybe we should work on a book together. It would hold us accountable. We lived on different sides of the state of Oregon at the time, so we did a lot of it via e-mail, and once a month Sherrie would make the 250-mile drive to Christina's house and we'd work on it in person. We wanted to share a real look at depression and trying to be good enough to please God--what that might look like in a family's life.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Fourteen years? Really? Not as long as The Queen, but still impressive.</b></i><br />
That's from the first word penned. The very first contest we entered, we actually talked about how we needed to decide how to fight off all the editors who'd be making offers. Instead, we found out we had a lot to learn! Attending writing conferences and reading craft books brought our writing to a higher level.<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Tell us about </i>On the Threshold<i>. </i></b><br />
We loved having the chance to tell this story! In fact, we have a few more stories to tell about these characters if readers love this one. Here's what the book is about.
Suzanne—a mother with a long-held secret. Tony—a police officer with something to prove. Beth—a daughter with a storybook future. When all they love is lost, what's worth living for?
Suzanne Corbin and her daughter, Beth Harris, live a seemingly easy life. Suzanne has distanced herself from her past, replacing pain with fulfillment as a wife and mother, while Beth savors her husband’s love and anticipates the birth of their child. But all that is about to change.
Like a sandcastle buffeted by ocean waves, Suzanne’s façade crumbles when her perfect life is swept away. Tragedy strikes and police officer Tony Barnett intersects with the lives of both women as he tries to discover the truth. Left adrift and drowning in guilt long ignored, Suzanne spirals downward into paralyzing depression. Beth, dealing with her own grief, must face the challenge of forgiveness. Can these two women learn to trust each other again? Will they find the power of God’s grace in their lives?
<b><i> </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>And a little about you?</i></b><br />
Mother/daughter writing team Sherrie Ashcraft and Christina Berry Tarabochia bring a voice of authenticity to this novel as they have experienced some of the same issues faced by these characters. They like to say they were separated at birth but share one brain, which allows them to write in a seamless stream. Both live in NW Oregon and love spending time together. Many years ago, they were both on a winning Family Feud team!
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKev104b2BPYusVYdn8f4hDOOoM3C8rcUnQK6aaNH9_adAq-hPlbvpnN7EHUQeiGiKLpfGr33QSh29ytyhfyNRs5W0bJ3dCQpH2RpjMhUE_WKCOl0SmpuIrgNco1DS6Srq3wRmoSGWaTaf/s1600/Christina2013-4-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKev104b2BPYusVYdn8f4hDOOoM3C8rcUnQK6aaNH9_adAq-hPlbvpnN7EHUQeiGiKLpfGr33QSh29ytyhfyNRs5W0bJ3dCQpH2RpjMhUE_WKCOl0SmpuIrgNco1DS6Srq3wRmoSGWaTaf/s320/Christina2013-4-3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>
Sherrie is the Women's Ministry Director at her church, and loves being the grandma of eight and great-grandma of one. Christina is also the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Familiar-Stranger-ebook/dp/B003719G86/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kstore_5" target="_blank"><i>The Familiar Stranger</i></a>, a Christy finalist and Carol Award winner, and runs a thriving editing business.
Please sign up for their <a href="http://www.ashberrylane.net/infrequent-humorous-newsletter/" target="_blank">Infrequent, Humorous Newsletter</a> at <a href="http://www.ashberrylane.net/" target="_blank">Ashberry Lane</a> for a chance to win cool prizes.<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>What about this contest?</i></b><br />
If you help get the word out, you can earn different points for each thing you do, and every point represents an entry in the contest.
Say, for example, you name your next child “Threshold” in honor of our book. You would earn 100 points (entries), which would greatly increase your likelihood of winning.
<i>Fine print to be read as quickly as those medical side effects are glossed over on TV</i>: A certified copy of the birth certificate must be sent to Ashberry Lane proving the child was born between now and when the contest ends on June 30rd at 10 PM, PDT. Some restrictions apply, such as you must also promise not to change the child’s name to anything else for at least the next fifteen years. You are, however, allowed to use “Thresh” as his or her first name, and “Hold” as the middle.
If that seems like we’re asking a little too much, there are other ways for you to enter the contest.
~ Post about <i>On the Threshold</i> on Twitter or LinkedIn, or share the cover on Instagram or Pinterest, and you’ve doubled your points to TWO.
~ Refer someone to sign up for the newsletter. If he or she notes you as referrer, guess what? You just earned THREE points.
~ Blog about it and reap FOUR points. (We’re available for more blog interviews.)
~ And for those who buy the book (e-book or print copy), you will gain FIVE points.
~ Leave a review—positive or negative—on a retailing site after reading the book, and TEN points to you!<br />
<br />
All you have to do to enter is drop us an email to Christina [at] ashberrylane [dot] net with a description of what you did. We trust you.
Here is a sample email:
Dear Sherrie and Christina,
Fortunately, my last name is Hold, so when my triplets were born yesterday, all I had to do was name them "On," "The," and "Thresh." (Yes, that makes a double "h," but without it, the name just looks silly and I don't want a kid with a funny name.) I also got the cover of <i>On the Threshold</i> tattooed on my arm, took a picture of it, and posted it on every possible social media site, including Facebook, though I understand I don't get points for anything done on there. Next, I forwarded the Infrequent, Humorous Newsletter to a few of my friends and ALL of my enemies. After reading the book in two hours, I posted an honest review on three different retail sites. Please enter my name 349 times.
Love,
Your #1 Fan
Or something like that. :)<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Where else can we find you gals online?</i></b>
Buy the book on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/On-the-Threshold-ebook/dp/B00CLOAHK6/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1" target="_blank">Amazon </a>or <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-the-threshold-sherrie-ashcraft/1115298008?ean=2940016468075&isbn=2940016468075" target="_blank">B&N</a> or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/on-the-threshold/id645210529?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a> or in any other version on <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/311829" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>. The print book will be available shortly--sign up for the newsletter and you'll be among the first to know when it appears on all the big retailing sites OR email us about buying a paperback directly from us. (Christina [at] ashberrylane [dot] net)
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/authorchristina">www.twitter.com/authorchristina</a>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-68639044546492929262013-05-13T10:31:00.001-04:002013-05-13T10:31:26.932-04:00Waiting for Peter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hadn't realized my friend Elizabeth Musser was coming out with another book right now, so <i>Waiting for Peter</i> was a lovely surprise. Even though this one made me cry--but in a sweet way. I was also surprised that this story was so close to something I had toyed with writing for years--a story told at least partly from a stray animal's point of view, in which the pet's relationship to his human mirrored our relationship to God. And now Elizabeth has beaten me to it! Well, that's all right. She probably did a better job than I would have, anyway! And particularly appropriate for this blog, it deals a lot with waiting--waiting to be rescued, waiting for God to show up.<br />
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Here's more info from <a href="http://www.elizabethmusser.com/WaitingforPeter.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth's web page</a>: "Peter is a young teen who is emotionally and physically scarred following a tragic accident. Hoping to find a way to help Peter reconnect with his family, his mother, Lanie, agrees to let him adopt a dog from the Humane Society. So begins the relationship between Peter and his neurotic mutt, Sunny. Told from the alternating points of view of Sunny and Lanie, <i>Waiting for Peter</i> is the story of the healing power of love between a boy and his dog and an allegory of how we should view our relationship with God, our Master."<br />
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This novella is especially poignant for those of us who have known the mutual joy of "rescuing" some down and out stray, only to find them ultimately rescuing us. It's only available as an ebook, but you can grab it for your Kindle at Amazon or see more information about ordering <a href="http://www.elizabethmusser.com/WaitingforPeter.html" target="_blank">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-10358396595300283812013-05-03T11:04:00.000-04:002013-05-03T11:05:21.315-04:00My Multi Fandom Quilt Progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RbmGNXdt7b5wwmNfx6h5ckR_zDSKQ3myqF19jgcAS_0VW-H_KF0_u3ImXvsFp3SqgcY3dw3WB8rgoPwTub5bIO6WfJs2oUW-zvujMio-BenVUXFGHcaW5HddL0J4GwVsciwc_atowug/s1600/Fandom+Quilt+Blocks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RbmGNXdt7b5wwmNfx6h5ckR_zDSKQ3myqF19jgcAS_0VW-H_KF0_u3ImXvsFp3SqgcY3dw3WB8rgoPwTub5bIO6WfJs2oUW-zvujMio-BenVUXFGHcaW5HddL0J4GwVsciwc_atowug/s1600/Fandom+Quilt+Blocks.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Short and sweet today! (You're relieved, aren't you?) I've had a lot going on, so I thought I'd just take a moment to share my progress on another project that has taken a lot of patience and hanging in there--my multi fandom wall quilt.<br />
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I started learning to paper piece a couple of years ago after discovering a site called Fandom in Stitches. Their free quilt patterns are amazing! I pictured making not one but two massive fandom quilts, with blocks from all the different fandoms I'm interested in. One would be for me, one for my niece, Kristi.<br />
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After about five blocks, reality set in. The center Aslan/Narnia block and the top lefthand one of the Return of the Jedi poster took weeks and weeks and every bit of patience and perseverance I could scrounge.<br />
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Then I discovered the wonder of fusible applique. I did the silver doe and the lily (Harry Potter) out of my head, except for using one of Fandom in Stitches' lily patterns for applique instead of piecing. The top middle one from Pirates of the Carribbean was a lot of fun--just my imagination and appliqueing snips of fabric. All in all, there are blocks from Star Wars, The Chronicls of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games (Mockingjay), and Pirates.<br />
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These are just raw blocks pinned to my wall. I'll keep you posted on the progress of the actual quilt. Still a lot of work to go!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-82606418300474937132013-04-25T19:28:00.000-04:002013-04-25T19:28:13.985-04:00My New Cat Philosopher<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’ve
written frequently about my various Himalayan cats, and the life lessons I’ve
learned from them. (Just check out the “cats” tag for previous articles, if you’re
interested.) While I was on my blogging break, my last Himalayan baby, Wendy,
died of cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I
was a little afraid she might be my last pet for a long time. My poor hubby isn’t
really into pets, but two cats came into our marriage and lived a LONG time,
and then we ended up fostering Wendy. But fortunately, I’m married to a
wonderful, unselfish man!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So
about a week later, I ended up with Minerva Pearl (a.k.a. Mini, or Mini Pearl).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My
mom has always had a colony of feral cats on her land, and when Wendy died,
there was a litter of wild kittens out behind her house. They were probably ten
or eleven weeks old. One evening I went out to my mother’s after work, and Dave
was already there. He told me to go look on the back porch, and when I did, I
found a cat carrier with a very scared tabby kitten inside. He had caught one
of the ferals for me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Like
her predecessors, Mini is constantly providing me with spiritual lessons. For
example—how did I end up with her instead of one of the other kittens? Because
she was the one Dave managed to catch with a fishing net! None of them wanted
to be caught. They all thought we humans were evil, just intent on hurting them
or ruining their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But
now I compare her life to that of her litter mates—especially when I leave my
mom’s house on a frigid winter night and know they’ll be sleeping outside,
while Mini will most likely be snuggled in bed with me. She has constant
attention, safety from predators, the best food and medicine, people to love
her and play with her. Not to mention her own personal doorman who lets her out
on the screen porch and into the house, back and forth, about a million times a
day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And
yet, she fought it for all she was worth. Which, of course, makes me think
about my total misunderstanding, so many times, of what God is trying to do in
my life. I wonder how many times I’ve mistrusted Him, or thought my way was
better—when I might have missed out on something wonderful because I was too
afraid to go through that scary moment when He put his hand on me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mini
isn’t quite two years old yet, so I’m sure she has a lot more to teach me. I’ll
keep you posted!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6315921425588478095.post-8205337844577374252013-04-15T16:32:00.000-04:002013-04-15T16:32:52.627-04:00I Set Another Waiting RecordI can't swear this is a record--but if any of you have ever waited longer than two years to hear that you placed in a writing contest, please let me know.<br />
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Seriously...God obviously wants me to learn how to wait!<br />
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A couple of years ago, I wrote on my other blog <a href="http://dimensionsartandeternity.blogspot.com/2009/03/robins-deep-dark-confessions-part-ii.html" target="_blank">how I discovered the Harry Potter books</a> in 2008, and credit them with reviving my imagination and my writing. I have to confess that, even at my ripe old age, I started reading fan fiction at <a href="http://fanfiction.mugglenet.com/" target="_blank">Mugglenet</a>--which led to my deciding to try my hand at writing it. Way, WAY back in my youth, I used to write Star Wars fan fiction, and I have to tell you, writing fiction for appreciative fans was in many ways a lot more fulfilling than trying to write stuff to sell.<br />
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In June of 2011, Mugglenet had one of their frequent contests, in which they had "prompts" for the entries. As I recall, the prompt I chose was for a mystery story, which had to include the following: an item missing from a locked room, and the only clues are mugs on a table and blue beads on the floor. (It's been so long, I can't remember exactly, but something like that.)<br />
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The entries closed, and...the wait began. And went on, and on. The judging never happened. I forgot about it.<br />
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Two days ago, I received word that my entry came in second!<br />
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Somehow I have a feeling that if The Queen hadn't entered, the judging would have happened in a month! In fact, the judge apologized and said that they have contests all the time and this kind of delay had never happened before. I hope she doesn't find out what the difference might have been this time around.<br />
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Anyway, it's still fun to find out that an old lady like myself could write a story those younglings over at Mugglenet liked. If any of you like Harry Potter and want to check it out, here's the link to my story, called <a href="http://fanfiction.mugglenet.com/viewstory.php?sid=89149" target="_blank">Funny Business</a>. (By Chocolate in the Library--that's me!)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3