Ellen Gable's Blog, page 110

Hope for Healing by Dana Doyle

"Hope for Healing…talks about support, therapy, the question of medication and most importantly, faith. It is written from a Christian perspective. Victims of childhood sexual abuse do not need to live in fear and depression. There is incredible hope for healing!"

Sexual abuse is one of our world's greatest tragedies and sins. The loss of innocence and trust, not to mention emotional and physical pain, often take a lifetime of healing.

Although the author recounts her own story of abuse, she does not focus on the negative and instead focuses on the "hope for healing" of abuse victims. This book offers practical ways to help the abuse survivor heal. Faith plays an integral part of that journey. The author says, "I made great strides through therapy, but it wasn't until I let God be in charge of my healing and asked for the grace of forgiveness that I really recovered my sense of joy."

Doyle also tells the reader what to look for in a child so "that they may be protected and an intervention applied early when a case of incest is suspected."

Most chapters begin with a relevant Scripture passage. Some of the more compelling chapters include: "My Own Story," "Grooming," "Recognizing the Signs," "Don't Be Afraid to Call for BackUp," "Comfort and Purging," and "Forgiveness."

Abuse survivors need to know that they are not alone in their struggles. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has experienced sexual abuse or who knows an abuse survivor.

Copyright 2012 Ellen Gable Hrkach

Sunday Snippets – March 4

Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at RAnn's Place for Sunday Snippets where Catholic bloggers share posts from the previous week.

Here are my posts:

Welcome Risen Jesus Review   I reviewed Sarah Reinhard's new Lenten booklet for families.

   There was a free promotion on Friday, March 2nd and today, Saturday, March 3rd. In Name Only continues to be free on Amazon Kindle until this evening around midnight.

Interview at This That and the Other Thing   I enjoyed RAnn's interview (thanks again!)

   This edition of 7 Quick Takes shares more trivia and interesting facts about In Name Only, my second, Gold-medal winning novel.

Copyright 2012 Ellen Gable Hrkach

7 Quick Takes Friday – In Name Only Edition

Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at Jen's Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes Friday.

Since my novel, 1. , is FREE all day today and tomorrow on

2. In 2010, In Name Only won the Gold medal for Religious Fiction in the Independent Publisher Book Awards. When I found out that my book was one of the top three, I immediately thought, "A Bronze medal would be great." I never once thought I would win. When I did, I was speechless. In Name Only became the first Catholic novel to win the top prize in Religious Fiction in the IPPY Awards. Later, I attended the awards ceremony in New York City (photo below).

3. Two of my sons posed for the back cover of In Name Only (below: Tim to the left, in the role of "Liam," and Ben to the right, in the role of "David."

4. In Name Only has been in the top 100 since June of 2010 and managed to make it to the top ten late last year, taking over the coveted #1 spot in Religious and Liturgical Drama on Amazon Kindle at the beginning of January. Only recently has Stealing Jenny taken over the #1 spot in that category and several others.

5. In Name Only takes place in 1876, Philadelphia. In one chapter, the characters attend the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. When I was doing research for this book, I used the incredibly helpful and fascinating Centennial Exhibition website. There are hundreds of photographs from the actual exhibition, as well as trivia, facts and other information.

6. I am working on the sequel to In Name Only and it's tentatively entitled "A Subtle Grace." Last September, we had a great time shooting photos for the cover with our model posing in beautiful 1890′s dresses.

7. Did I mention the book is

For more Quick takes, visit Jen's Conversion Diary.

Interview at This That and the Other Thing

Thanks to RAnn for this interview of me at her blog: This That and the Other Thing.

Here is an excerpt:

Today I'd like to welcome author Ellen Gable Hrkach to This That and the Other Thing. Ellen is the author of several books I have reviewed and is a regular participant in my Sunday Snippets–A Catholic Carnival meme.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

I'm a freelance writer and author of four books, three of which have been Amazon Kindle Top 10 bestsellers and one of my books (In Name Only) won a Gold Medal in Religious Fiction at the 2010 IPPY Awards. My husband and I are also Natural Family Planning (NFP) teachers and Marriage Preparation instructors. We create the Family Life cartoons which currently appear in Family Foundations Magazine (ccli.org). We have five sons ages 12-24 and we live in a small rural town in Ontario, Canada.

How do you say your last name?

Her-cash. One of the reasons I decided to use my maiden name (Gable) as my pen name is because people find my married name hard to pronounce.

To read the rest of the interview, click on this link: This That and the Other Thing Interview.

In Name Only FREE This Friday and Saturday!

My second novel, , will be available FREE on Amazon Kindle on Friday, March 2nd and Saturday, March 3rd! If you don't have a Kindle, the Kindle app is free for PC, iPod, iPad or other device at this link.

won the Gold Medal for Religious Fiction in the 2010 Independent Publisher Book Awards and spent seven weeks as the #1 Amazon Kindle Bestseller in Religious and Liturgical Drama.

is an historical romance (it takes place in 1876 Philadelphia) with Catholic themes and characters.

Here are what some folks are saying about In Name Only:

"If you love romance but hate smut, pick up this beautiful story and let it carry you away. The characters are believable, layered, human and humorous even in the midst of tragedy. The reader never loses hope and is rewarded on every page with little gems of character behavior, dialogue, plot twists and romantic intrigue. I was so very sorry when it ended!"

Lisa Mladinich, writer, novelist, founder, AmazingCatechists.com

"...this is the the best book I've read in a long time. It has all the qualities that make for an outstanding, memorable novel–and it's Catholic as well! I highly recommend it!"

Therese Heckenkamp, Traditional Catholic Novels.com, and author, Past Suspicion

"…conveys the beautiful Catholic teachings on conjugal love, and shares both a pro-life story and a conversion story."

Jean Heimann, Catholic Fire

"There aren't too many historical romance novels that appeal equally to men and women, but Ellen Gable pulls it off admirably with IN NAME ONLY. My wife read the novel first–and kept telling me "You HAVE TO read this book!"–while at the same time not allowing me to pry it from her fingers until after she finished it. Ms. Gable's writing gave birth to very real, three-dimensional characters. I especially liked how she could portray a man given over to every imaginable vice without ever lapsing into too lurid detail. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!" Gerard Webster, award-winning author, "In Sight," and "The Soul Reader"

"…Ellen Gable has crafted another beautiful historical romance which examines difficult issues faced by people in every age. While her exceptional attention to historical detail allows the reader to feel immersed in the story's post-Civil War era, the challenges the characters must deal with – lust, adultery, abortion, class and gender prejudice – all are still very real and relevant to a modern audience. Handled with amazing sensitivity, In Name Only is not simply a novel about one man's redemption from the addictions that plague him, but a story about how love can change us all if we let it…" Krisi Keley, author, "Pro Luce Habere"

If you'd like to download for FREE, just click "purchase" at the this Friday and Saturday and it will be downloaded to your Kindle device…FREE!

To find out more about In Name Only, you can read reviews, excerpts, watch a book trailer or watch a Catholic TV interview at the novel's website:

Welcome Risen Jesus by Sarah Reinhard – Review

My latest review at Amazing Catechists is for "Welcome Risen Jesus: Lent and Easter Reflections for Families" which is Sarah Reinhard's second book. It follows the same easy-to-read format of her first book, "Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families."

In the introduction, Sarah writes, "This booklet will help you and your family focus each day on the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving."

Like her first book, each day has a think, act, pray section, although this version also includes a paragraph entitled "Fast." Each page lists a pertinent Scripture passage.

A few examples from the Act sections: "Do you have lunch money or some saved allowance? Give all or part of it to a food pantry or soup kitchen," or "Wash the dishes or help with the cleanup as much as you can."

The Fast sections include suggestions such as: "Give your dessert — or the favorite part of your snack — to someone else," of "Don't eat between meals today," or "Do a chore you hate without mentioning you hate it or calling attention to the fact you're doing it."

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book. The fact that it is geared to both parents and children is what I love most about it. This offers parents and children a unique opportunity to grow together in faith during the Lenten season and takes only a few moments each day.

I look forward to using this booklet with my own family and I highly recommend it to all families who wish to grow in faith during this beautiful Lenten season.

Copyright 2012 Ellen Gable Hrkach

Sunday Snippets – February 26

Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at RAnn's Place for Sunday Snippets where we share our posts from the previous week. For me, it's been a slow week for blogging. But I did manage to post a few:

Stealing Jenny FREE on Amazon Kindle Tomorrow The Kindle edition is no longer free, but it was free for one day this past week. I believe this is one of the reasons Stealing Jenny has gone viral (see 7 Quick Takes post below). Thousands of people downloaded Stealing Jenny for free last Tuesday. As soon as the free promotion ended, however, many readers continued to download it.

Lenten Promise Leads to Award-Winning Devotional This is a press release for my friend, Karina's, book. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend this book!

7 Quick Takes Friday – Exciting Book News During my 7 Quick Takes, I shared that my third novel has gone viral overnight! Although it's been in the #1 position before (for three days in November), this time, it's solidly in the #1 position in three different categories and in the top ten of several more. Earlier today, it was #70 for overall paid Kindle books (1.5 million books) although now it's sitting at #112 overall. I'm still pinching myself!

For more Sunday Snippets, please visit RAnn's Blog.

Copyright 2012 Ellen Gable Hrkach

Photo copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach

7 Quick Takes – Exciting Book News!

Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at Jen's Conversion Diary, for 7 Quick Takes Friday.1. I'm absolutely thrilled that Stealing Jenny has taken over the #1 Position in two separate categories on Amazon Kindle: Religious and Liturgical Drama, and Literature and Fiction (Drama), as well as achieved the #2 position in Religious Fiction (Mystery)! Of course, I don't mind at all that my second novel has been ousted out of the #1 position it's held for nearly two months, since the book doing the ousting happens to be one of my own. It's also pretty cool that all three of my novels are in the top three of Religious and Liturgical Drama!

2.

3. Enough of my good news…now onto to great books that I'm reading: Sarah Reinhard's "Welcome Risen Jesus" and Kathleen Basi's "Bring Lent to Life" are outstanding books for Lent! I've also just finished Dana Doyle's riveting new book called Hope for Healing. Reviews of all three books will follow in the coming weeks.

4. My friend, Krisi Keley, is offering her two-volume novel "Pro Luce Habere" FREE for the next few days. I don't usually read "vampire" novels, but this is incredibly well-written and has Catholic themes.

5. Full Quiver Publishing's upcoming book, "Growing Up In God's Image" by Carolyn Smith will be released at the end of next month. It's a "new approach to the facts of life talk" and not only gives the basics, but the theology behind it as well.

6. Full Quiver Publishing is also excited about the new novel we're publishing by AnnMarie Creedon called Angela's Song! Check out this excerpt on her website.

7. In celebration of Stealing Jenny's success on Amazon Kindle, I'm giving away a free PRINT copy. Leave a comment below before Friday, March 2nd to be entered to win!

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen's Conversion Diary.

Lenten Promise Leads to Award-Winning Devotional, Why God Matters

For immediate release:

Layton, UT; Pueblo, CO— In 1996, Karina Fabian, mother of toddlers, made a Lenten vow that launched her career as a writer. Years later, it led her to share that joy of writing with her father, as they collaborated on an award-winning devotional, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. This year, she hopes to share the joy of Lent through her book and the Why God Matters website.

Deacon Steve Lumbert and his daughter Karina Fabian share their stories of how God led them from casual belief to deep devotion, and offer tips and exercises to help you see God's hand–and take it. Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life is published by Tribute Books and won the Christian Small Publisher Award for best book on Christian Living. It has over 40 reviews from readers of many Christian faiths who recommend it not only as a book to read, but to go through slowly, doing the exercises to strengthen their relationship with God and to be more aware of His presence in her life.

This year, Fabian and Tribute Books are opening the Why God Matters website to faith stories by others, especially Lenten faith stories. "I believe that Lent, and Lenten vows, can change lives," Fabian said. "I'd like to share that hope with others, and the best way is through sharing our stories."

Fabian credits her 1996 vow with giving her life its direction. She had always enjoyed writing, but it wasn't until the Lent after leaving a career in the Air Force that she took it up professionally. "I was home with the kids, and getting a little stir crazy as Lent was approaching. I try to not only give up something for Lent, but to take up something to better serve God as well. So that year, I decided to give up reading fiction and take up writing."

By Easter, Fabian had a job with the Wyoming diocese newspaper, and freelanced for several parenting and local magazines. She also wrote some slice-of-life stories, but seldom sent them out, and eventually moved more into writing fiction. However, in 2009, when Tribute books was seeking someone to write a short devotional of personal stories, tips and quotes, she felt God calling.

"I was a little intimidated by the project though. I felt something of this magnitude needed someone with a theological grounding, too. Then I realized, my father is a deacon—and he is full of terrific stories."

Deacon Steve Lumbert, who came to faith while Fabian was in college, had never written a book, but was excited to collaborate with his daughter. Working on this book brought a new level to their relationship.

"God continues to bless me through that Lenten vow," Fabian said. "Not only will I cherish having worked with my father, but the book itself has touched so many lives. People have written to us that it's helped them understand their faith better , brought them closer to God, or touched them when they really needed it. I hope this Lent, through the website, we can do this some more."

Fabian is also willing to speak to book clubs and parishes through telephone or Skype. Contact her at: karina (at)fabianspace.com

Photos, interviews, and more information available on request or by visiting www.whygodmatters.com or www.fabianspace.com

Stealing Jenny FREE on Amazon Kindle Tomorrow

Stealing Jenny, my pro-life suspense novel, will be available for FREE all day tomorrow (February 21st) on Amazon Kindle.

After three heartbreaking miscarriages, Tom and Jenny Callahan are happily anticipating the birth of their sixth child. A neighbor, however, is secretly hatching a sinister plot that will find Jenny and her unborn baby fighting for their lives.

"Stealing Jenny is a gripping novel filled with engaging characters, a compelling mystery and a message which underscores the precious dignity of life. I literally couldn't put it down and give Stealing Jenny my highest recommendation." Lisa M. Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com and author of "A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms"

"Ellen Gable is a masterful storyteller.Stealing Jenny is a smoothly written, chilling tale of gripping suspense. There are terrifying moments and heart-wrenching moments. Catholic faith and hope are tested. Above all, the sacredness and privilege of precious new life is made indisputably evident I never wanted it to end!" Therese Heckenkamp, Traditional Catholic Novels.com



"Stealing Jenny will keep you on the edge of your seat and probably destroy your sleep pattern as you stay up to find out what happens. This is a novel that should come with a warning label!" Sarah Reinhard, author, "Welcome Risen Jesus: Lenten and Easter Reflections for Families"

"Stealing Jenny is …another finely-plotted story and a cast of very real and well-drawn characters which highlight Ellen Gable's ability to write beautiful Catholic fiction in any genre." Krisi Keley, author, "On the Soul of a Vampire," and "Pro Luce Habere"



"I could not put it down! I highly recommend this book." Donna Piscitelli, award-winning author

If you have a Kindle, you can download this book for FREE all day tomorrow, February 21. (If you don't have a Kindle, you can download the free app for your PC, iPad, iPod or other device at this link.