Delia Latham's Blog, page 30

Wonderful Words of Life

Newer is not necessarily better...in fact, it often is not where gospel music is concerned. Yes, I do love the contemporary sound, and there are some beautiful, anointed songs and singers out there even now lifting up the banner of Christ. I am grateful for them!



But I find that many of the old tunes grab me by the heartstrings and won't let go. They touch me in a special way. I pray that we never let modern music crowd them out completely...



This one blessed me immensely today. I've been a bit under the weather, so sitting at home watching gospel television was my morning service...and this song made it so special that I wanted to share the lyrics here. You've probably heard this one many times before, but maybe you haven't heard it in a while...and maybe it will bless you as it blessed me. I pray it does!



Wonderful Words of Life



Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty.




Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

 
Christ, the blessèd One, gives to all wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life;
All so freely given, wooing us to heaven.




Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

 
Sweetly echo the Gospel call, wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify us forever.



Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Farm Lit, a Genre for Your Inner Country Girl

Before we dive into this week's feature novel, a hearty "hurrah!" for Clash of the Titles's 

2013 LAUREL AWARD

winning novel, Veil of Pearls.









Congratulations to Author MaryLu Tyndall
for a job well done!

Stay tuned for a full-length feature
on this fantastic book.




AND NOW...












Raspberries and Vinegar

by Valerie Comer




Sweet Like Raspberries ~ Tart Like Vinegar




ABOUT THE BOOK:

Josephine Shaw: complex, yet singleminded. A tiny woman with big ideas and, some would say, a mouth to match. But what does she really know about sustainable living as it relates to the real world? After all, she and her two friends are new to farming.



Zachary Nemesek is back only until his dad recovers enough to work his own land again. When Zach discovers three helpless females have taken up residence at the old farm next door, he expects trouble. But a mouse invasion proves Jo has everything under control. Is there anything she can't handle? And surely there's something sweet beneath all that tart.




PURCHASE

Amazon

Barnes and Noble


Q&A WITH VALERIE:



Q: Where did the idea for Raspberries and Vinegar come from?

A: There's a huge interest these days in food issues, and many 20-somethings dream of having a small farm and growing their own food. As a long-time farmer myself, I wondered what it would look like to have idealistic urban young people tackle a farming environment. And the whole Farm Fresh Romance series was born!



Q: They say to write what you know. What do you know about growing food?

A: My husband and I both grew up with moms who had large gardens and cooked from scratch because of financial necessity. Having the same need in our early years, we followed in their footsteps, but we soon came to understand that our food was healthier and tastier than what many families ate. Now we are beekeepers and own a small farm. We grow most of our own meat and vegetables, and source a great deal of our fruit and grain locally. This means a large garden and an intimate knowledge of processing food for winter via canning, dehydrating, and freezing.



Q: Why do you call this novel Farm Lit?

A: Farm Lit has been getting a lot of attention lately as today's answer to Chick Lit. In the current economic atmosphere, women's minds are turning from shoes and handbags to gourmet food and farm-to-table restaurants. Farm Lit http://farmlit.com/ is any literature that embraces the life of modern-day “new” farmers. These stories can be fiction or memoir, and most often include city-bred heroines who head for an idealized rural existence and (often) find the man of their dreams riding a tractor rather than a horse or a motorbike. As such, Raspberries and Vinegar fits the bill perfectly!



WHAT COTT VOTERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE BOOK:

* Raspberries and Vinegar--Wonderful title and I look forward to reading it. Bless you.
* Valerie, always a great job.
* I look for feel-good reads with wholesome challenges and real, yet admirable characters. Raspberries and Vinegar seems to have it all!
* I chose Raspberries and Vinegar by Valerie Comer because it's her debut book as well as the debut book for ChooseNow Publishing. I'm very interested to see what all the hoopla is about.
* I like Valerie Comer's originality with her genre. There's a freshness about it!

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

Don't pick up Raspberries and Vinegar and expect the same old blah-blah love story, because you won't get that. What you will get is a well-written, enjoyable, emotional tale that will pull you into the beginning of a series I predict you'll look forward to following as much as I do. Romance, locally sourced foods and interesting, complicated characters all make this a page turner.

~B. Nault



Valerie Comer's Raspberries & Vinegar is a sweet and sassy story that made me laugh out loud, get teary-eyed, and sigh with pleasure at the ending. There's Josephine, a spunky heroine with a heart for her friends, the earth, and the handsome vet next door. And there's Zachary, a veterinarian who cares about animals, his sweet and confused grandmother, and the spunky new neighbor, Josephine.

~Stacy M.



Until I read this book, I'd never heard of "farmlit," and didn't know what to expect. Romantic, fun, with refreshing values, and small town atmosphere, readers will enjoy this romp on the farm!

~Tara



Each December I pick my favorite reads of the year and right now Raspberries and Vinegar is a top contender. If you love strong characters, a great message, a clean romance and the country, this book is for you.

~J. Arduini





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Valerie Comer’s life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their creation-care-centric church. She only hopes her characters enjoy their happily ever afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.



Valerie writes Farm Lit with the voice of experience laced with humor. Raspberries and Vinegar, first in her series A Farm Fresh Romance, released August 1, 2013. Visit her at http://valeriecomer.com/.






http://www.clashofthetitles.com/

The ultimate literary challenge, where authors battle and readers judge.

LIFE TO THE FULLEST: Be Still

LIFE TO THE FULLEST: Be Still: Donar Reiskofferr CC-BY-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...)], via Wikimedia Commons Psalm 46:1...

A Novel to Dance About

If you're a fan of "Dancing with the Stars," have dreamed of being swept across a ballroom floor, or if you're any sort of lover of romance, you'll want to know more about this week's featured novel! It's volume one in the Sisters of Redemption Series and is a resource for those seeking to recover true joy in their lives.




This Dance

by Jerusha Agen




ABOUT THE BOOK:



No love, no pain. No God, no games.



A tragedy three years ago destroyed Nye's rise to the top of the dancing world as an upcoming tango star, and in the process destroyed her reason for living. She survived the pain and built a new life resembling nothing like the one she left behind, determined never to hurt again.



Nye's emotional walls hold up perfectly until she meets a handsome lawyer and an elderly landowner. They seem harmless, but one awakens feelings she doesn't want and the other makes her face the God she can't forgive. Will these two men help Nye dance again?




PURCHASE ON AMAZON


Q&A WITH THE AUTHOR:




Q. What issues do your characters face that will speak to the heart of your readers?



A. Where do I start? Nye’s story hits on a lot of pertinent issues that I think most of us have to deal with in our lives. On the basic level, there are the issues of grief and loss, as well as fear of experiencing more loss in the future. While Nye likes to think she has control over her life, she’s really being controlled by her repressed grief and fear of being hurt again.



Then there’s the issue of joy. Nye has lost whatever enjoyment she once had in life. Her fear of pain keeps her from seeking anything that might bring her joy, while her sorrow prevents her from believing there could be anything that would bring her happiness ever again.



I hope that readers who are struggling with a painful loss, who know the fear of being hurt, or who have lost the sense of joy in their lives will find hope in reading Nye’s story.



Q. What advice based upon scripture would you give a reader who is dealing with the issues that are front and center in your current release?



A. Remember that God is in control and that He’s a loving God, who will work out ALL things for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). You can try to control your life like Nye does and try to avoid things that might cause you pain. It might seem to work for a while, but, sooner or later, you’ll realize that you can’t control anything.



That might sound scary, but it isn’t when you know the God who is in control, when you know that He’s good, that He loves you and has the wisdom to see the big picture that you can’t see (Jeremiah 29:11). As much as whatever you are going through may hurt right now, cling to the truth that God is there and that, in the very end, everything, no matter how awful it seems now, will be turned into victory (1 Corinthians 15:54).



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jerusha Agen is a lifelong lover of story--a passion that has led her to a B.A. in English and a highly varied



career. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, her fiction and nonfiction have been published in various journals, magazines, and newsletters. Jerusha is the author of the Sisters Redeemed Series. Book One, This Dance, released in August 2013. This Shadow, Book Two, will be released in February 2014.



Jerusha is also a screenwriter, and several of her original scripts have been produced as films. In addition, Jerusha is a film critic, with reviews featured at the website, www.RedeemerReviews.com.

Jerusha relishes snowy Midwest winters spent with her large, furry dogs and one little, furry cat.



Visit Jerusha at the following locations:

 www.SDGwords.com

Follow Jerusha on Twitter @SDGwords

Facebook (Jerusha Agen – SDG Words).

September Clash Champion and Laurel Finalists, Announced!

This week, COTT announces TWO great events!

September's Clash Winner

and the 2013 Laurel Finalists.




We'll start with the Clash.

And the winner is....







The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots

by Author Karla Akins









ABOUT THE BOOK:

Pastor’s wife, Kirstie Donovan, lives life in a fishbowl, so when she hops on the back of a bright pink motorcycle, tongues start to wag at the conservative, century-old First Independent Christian Community Church of Eels Falls. 




Kirstie loves roaring down a road less traveled by most women over forty, but she’s not just riding her bike for the fun of it. Kirstie has a ministry. However, certain church members have secrets to hide, and when God uses Kirstie’s ministry to fill the pews with leather-clad, tattooed bikers, those secrets could be exposed…and some will stop at nothing to hide the truth. 




Join Kirstie and her motorcycle “gang”—two church matrons and a mouthy, gum-smacking non-church member—as they discover that road-toughened bikers are quite capable of ministering to others, and faith is fortified in the most unexpected ways.




PURCHASE:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karla Akins is a pastor's wife who rides her own motorcycle. She is the mother of four boys and one step-daughter, and grandmother of five. She lives in North Manchester with her husband who is the pastor of Christian Fellowship Church, her twin teenage boys with autism, mother-in-law with Alzheimer's and three rambunctious dogs. Karla and her husband have been in ministry together for 30 years.












AND NOW FOR THE LAUREL FINALISTS!









The entries have been read and the scores have been tabulated. Our unique panel of judges, comprised strictly of readers, has determined our three finalists. And they are…






Ruth Reid's "An Angel by Her Side"

MaryLu Tyndall's "Veil of Pearls"

Delia Latham's "Gypsy's Game"









Congratulations to all three!!






Thanks you to all our Laurel entrants for participating—the panel enjoyed reading all of your excerpts! 




The three finaling submissions will be returned to the same panel of judges for a final vote. The winner will be announced on October 18, 2013. 

Words, Awards, and a Wonderful God!

I'm taking a moment to share some things that I'm excited about today.



Exciting Thing #1





GYPSY'S GAME, Book 3 in my Solomon's Gate series, is a finalist for the 2013 Laurel Award from Clash of the  Titles. Other contenders are Ruth Reid's AN ANGEL BY HER SIDE, and MaryLu Tyndall's VEIL OF PEARLS. I am honored and delighted to be in such wonderful company!



Whether Gypsy's Game takes the Laurel or not, it's an honor to have made it this far in the contest, and I will remain thrilled and excited about that.



That said...the winner will be announced October 19th, so stay tuned...



Exciting Thing #2



I will be sharing a table with my unsurpassed critique partner, author extraordinaire and friend, Sally Laity, at the Bakersfield Community Theatre Arts Fair, 2400 South Chester Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 12. Sally and I will be selling our books, and signing if someone happens to want that. lol  It's an outdoor event, and will be packed with local talent. If you live close enough, we'd love to see you there.



Exciting thing #3



Last but by no means least, I've been asked to speak on Saturday, Nov. 16th, at the monthly Writers of Kern meeting. Having attended one of their recent meetings and heard their speaker that day - the esteemed and absolutely captivating Dr. Chuck Wall, President of Kindness Incorporated - I gotta admit I'm feeling the pressure! :) Writers, as a breed, tend to be hermits. Public speaking could be one of the most frightening things people like me will ever do, and coming along behind Dr. Wall makes it even scarier. But I'm trying to remind myself of the advice I give beginning writers: Be yourself. Don't compare yourself with others, or try to be someone other than who you are.



Yeah.



I really believe that I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me. Now if only I can keep that firmly in mind and hopefully keep the butterflies at bay...



 Prayers very much appreciated!

LIFE TO THE FULLEST: Choose Life

LIFE TO THE FULLEST: Choose Life:               Knowing the deadline for this blog post was looming, I have been mulling over the concept of life to the fullest. I let tho...

LIFE TO THE FULLEST: A Word of Knowledge

LIFE TO THE FULLEST: A Word of Knowledge: Romans 11:33,34   O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways p...

LIFE TO THE FULLEST: FACE DOWN DEVOTION

LIFE TO THE FULLEST: FACE DOWN DEVOTION: FACE DOWN DEVOTION Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him… Genesis 17:3 Bible teachers occasionally c...

Autumn Brings More Great Pics at COTT

Happy autumn from your friends at 

Clash of the Titles! 




So, which is your favorite genre? Contemporary or historical? 

YA or Women's Fiction? 




Please scroll, have a quick read, and vote on which you'd read first. We encourage you to share the contest on your social media sites. Spreading the word about an author's latest novel is the best way to encourage her!




(Voting closes Wednesday, October 02, at midnight.)






RUNNING LEAN

by Diana L. Sharples



Still reeling from the loss of his brother in Afghanistan, Calvin Greenlee pours himself into fixing his motorcycle and spending the rest of his time with his girlfriend, Stacey, who always has the right words to say. But when Stacey starts losing weight—a lot of weight—it’s clear she has problems of her own. Calvin is determined to cure her—but could that only push Stacey further into danger?



RASPBERRIES AND VINEGAR

by Valerie Comer

Outspoken advocate for local food Josephine Shaw moves onto a rundown farm with two friends to prove to the world that she can live sustainably, but a mouse invasion and the cute reluctant farmer next door test her resolve. Zach Nemesek is itching to get back to his easy life in the city, but a Border collie puppy and the woman next door make him wonder if he's better off embracing God's plan for his life…or running from it!



SNOW ON THE TULIPS

by Liz Tolsma



After the German occupiers kill her husband, the last thing Cornelia de Vries wants is to be involved with the Dutch Resistance. Wounded underground worker Gerrit Laninga brings nothing but danger to her doorstep - and the chance at love she thought had gone forever.







THE PASTOR'S WIFE WEARS BIKER BOOTS

by Karla Akins



 Pastor's wife, Kirstie Donovan, lives life in a fishbowl, so when she hops on the back of a bright pink motorcycle, tongues start to wag at the conservative, century-old First Independent Christian Community Church of Eels Falls. Certain church members have secrets to hide, and when God uses Kirstie's ministry to fill the pews with leather-clad, tattooed bikers, those secrets could be exposed, and some will stop at nothing to hide the truth.



THIS DANCE

by Jerusha Agen



No love, no pain—no God, no games.

A tragedy three years ago destroyed Nye's rise to the top of the dancing world as an upcoming tango star, making her shut out God and all emotional attachments that could lead to pain, but when a handsome lawyer and elderly landowner enter her new life to make her face the God she can’t forgive, will Nye learn to dance again?











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