Ellen Gable's Blog, page 128

Official Book Release of Come My Beloved

Today is the official launch day of my book Come My Beloved: Inspiring Stories of Catholic Courtship. It's now available on Amazon! You can order either a print book for $9.99 at the following link:

http://www.amazon.com/Come-My-Beloved-Inspiring-Courtship/dp/0973673613

Or you can order the Kindle version for $2.99 at this link:

http://www.amazon.com/Come-Beloved-Inspiring-Courtship-ebook/dp/B0055LH32W/

Special thanks to my co-editor, Kathy Cassanto, and all the couples who shared their courtship stories with us.

Discover Your Cover

Today I'm over at the Catholic Writers Guild blog, talking about the importance of a book cover.

http://blog.catholicwritersguild.com/2011/06/discover-your-cover.html

More Praise for Come My Beloved

I am grateful to fellow authors Gerard Webster, Karen Kelly Boyce, Nancy Carabio Belanger and Mary Lou Rosien for the wonderful endorsements they've given to my new book, Come My Beloved: Inspiring Stories of Catholic Courtship.

Here are excerpts of their reviews:

"What great stories! Everything from "tried and true" marriages of those much older than Anne or I (of course!)…to the blissfully happy newlywed stories. There were a few times I laughed out loud…and a couple of times the allergies bothered my eyes. This book is so refreshing in today's world…to see that romance can…and DOES live on."

Gerard Webster, author, "In Sight"

"Each story is told from a different circumstance and point of view, yet the miracle of letting the Lord lead one into a marriage of faith, hope, and openness to life inspire singles to be lead by the whispers of the Lord."

Karen Kelly Boyce, author and inspirational speaker

"…Come My Beloved…is such a pleasant change of pace from the secular, feel-good love stories available today. Filled with true, inspiring memoirs from devoutly Catholic men and women, her book shares enjoyable and romantic stories of 12 couples' journeys to the Holy Sacrament of Marriage; their joys as well as their struggles."

Nancy Carabio Belanger, author, "Olivia and the Little Way," "Olivia's Gift"

"Catholic teaching is evident within each story, without being…preachy. The hauntingly honest tales of prayer, longing and courtship demonstrate God's hand in lives the couples portrayed. Come My Beloved would make an excellent gift for any young man or woman who is discerning God's vocation for their lives. I think teenage girls may find hope and guidance in searching for a 'real' love through the stories in this book."

Mary Lou Rosien, author, Catholic Family Boot Camp

To order the book on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Come-My-Beloved-Inspiring-Courtship/dp/0973673613

Come My Beloved Free Giveaway on Goodreads

For the next several days, before the June 15th release date of Come My Beloved, Goodreads is hosting a free giveaway of my book (there are five copies to be given away). Here's the link if you want to be entered to receive a free "review" copy:

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/11455-come-my-beloved-inspiring-stories-of-catholic-courtship

You'll have to create a Goodreads account if you don't already have one. Although it's not mandatory, it is helpful for the winners to write a Goodreads review of the book.

Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes

Today's Fiction Friday excerpt is from Ann Margaret Lewis's Gold Medal winning book, "Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes." My Catholic Fiction review is here. The novel's website is here. Thank you, Ann!

"Good Lord." Harden's face grew pale. "Rosalinda—!"

Pope Leo blanched as well. Tapping his right fist in his opposite hand, he turned to look out the window behind him. The rain clouds had now blotted the sun, making it seem as dusk in the early afternoon sky.

The pope turned back to us, his dark eyes flashing with decision. "Giocomo!" He commanded suddenly. "Come here."

Father Dionisio came quickly to his master's side.

"Remove your cassock."

"Holiness?"

"Subito!" As Leo spoke, he lifted the pectoral cross over his head and set it on the table. He then unwrapped the sash from around his waist and tossed it on his chair. "Presto! Presto! We have no time to waste."

Hurriedly, the young man unbuttoned his cassock even as Leo unbuttoned his own. Holmes came around the table and knelt to help Leo with the lower buttons.

"What on earth —?" I asked.

"You'll see," said Holmes.

Dionisio removed his cassock and stood in simple black shirt, clerical collar and black trousers. Holmes helped Leo slip out of his white cassock and into the black gown provided by Dionisio. The black was almost the right size, though fuller through the midsection due to Dionisio's thicker frame.

"You're not serious, Holiness," said Harden. "You're not actually leaving the Vatican. Someone may recognise you—"

"'If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship,'" Leo replied, quoting what I later learned was Aquinas. "'He would keep it in port forever.'" He buttoned the top of the cassock while Dionisio crouched to fasten the bottom. "We must go. An innocent child is in danger for my sake."

"Signore Harden is right, Holiness," said Dionisio from floor. "This is madness."

"Basta." Leo pulled the young man from the ground by the elbow. He gestured emphatically with an open hand to the top of his head. "Portami un cappello. Presto!" Dionisio dashed into the next room. "And black stockings and shoes—ah, never mind I'll find something." The pontiff marched with remarkable energy into a side room that I guessed to be his sleeping area and returned promptly with black calf-length boots. His gentleman servant now trailed him protesting in rapid Italian as His Holiness moved. While the pontiff sat on a small bench to kick off his red slippers and pull on the boots, the agitated servant knelt beside him rambling so quickly that neither Harden nor I could decipher any meaning from him.

Apparently the meaning didn't register to Leo either. "Basta, basta, BASTA!" He barked, stomping his boot-covered foot. He pointed a thumb to his chest. "Ego sum Petros!" He made sweeping gesture to drive the man from in front of him. "Vai!" Struck with terror, the butler dodged from the old man's path as Leo charged to a baroque style cherry wood cabinet. From it he removed a worn, black leather case that he tucked under his arm. He finished buttoning his cuffs and Dionisio returned with a small, wide-brimmed black hat, which Leo snatched from him. He then plucked off his white zucchetto and slapped it into the bewildered priest's hands.

"Allora, Signori," Leo said to us, dropping the black hat on his head. "Andiamo."

"You've forgotten one detail, Padre," said Holmes, in reference to the pope's new attire.

"Che?"

"L'anello." Holmes held up his right hand and pointed to his fourth finger.

"Ah." Leo pulled the fisherman's ring from his finger and dropped it into the left pocket of the black cassock. The young priest then handed him a tall black umbrella, and Leo set its end to the floor with authoritative thud.

It is amazing how clothes can change the appearance of a man. Where once stood the proverbial Vicar of Christ on Earth, now stood a simple, venerable Italian priest. Strangely, he resembled the aged Italian cleric persona Holmes once adopted to avoid the notice of Professor Moriarty.

I glanced at Holmes and saw him giving me a knowing grin. "Very well then," he said. "As the man says—let's go."

To buy the book, click here.

To find out more about this book, watch the book trailer or read reviews, go to the novel's website:

http://holmeschurchmysteries.com/

Upcoming Sacred Heart/EWTN Radio Interview

I will be interviewed regarding my latest book, Come My Beloved: Inspiring Stories of Catholic Courtship on Sacred Heart Radio next Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 8:40 a.m.

To listen to the interview, go to the Sacred Heart Radio website and click on "On the Air: Click to Listen" link in the upper right hand corner of the page.

U.S. Orders Review of Risks of Some Birth Control Pills

Interesting article from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/business/01drug.html?_r=1

Bayer's birth control pills will be reviewed by regulators after some studies suggested they may cause more blood clots than competing medicines.

Two recent reports in the British Medical Journal found a twofold to threefold greater risk of blood clots in women taking pills like Bayer's Yaz, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday in a statement.

To read the rest, click on the link above.

Three of My Favorite Scripture Verses

I was tagged by Elizabeth at Startling the Day in a meme which starts with the question: "What are your three favorite Scripture verses?" I have listed three, but I could probably list 20 or more. These, however, are three of my favorites:

ONE

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13

I have this Scripture verse taped to the bottom of my computer monitor. Often, I feel overwhelmed with the day-to-day activities of being a wife and mother, as well as the duties of my (three) part-time jobs at home. Sometimes it seems like there could be 48 hours in a day, and I still wouldn't be able to accomplish everything on my "to do" list. When I'm feeling overwhelmed, I know I can look down at that simple little piece of paper with the short verse and feel less stressed.

TWO

"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you….It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another." John 15: 12-17

This particular passage was the Gospel at our wedding mass 29 years ago. Both James and I not only felt called to marriage, but also called to be open to life. We saw that one of the "fruits" of our marriage would be the children God would create through us. Never did we realize that in our openness to life, we would be called not only to create life, but also to face the loss of seven precious babies through miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, as well as the near loss of my life with one of the pregnancies.

THREE

"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body ." Genesis 2: 24

This has always been one of my favorite verses because it describes the origins of marriage.

Dana, Elizabeth and Sue, I'd love to know what your three favorite Scripture verses are! So I am tagging you in this blog post. When you post your "Three Favorite Scripture Verses," tag three other bloggers and include the link back to this post!

Dana from Catholic Working Mom

Elizabeth from Will You Be My Voice

Sue from Sue Elvis Writes

Copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach

St Anthony Novena

Over at Catholic Working Mom, Dana has posted a St. Anthony Novena in anticipation of St. Anthony's Feast Day on June 13th.

St. Anthony Novena

As I said in a previous post, St. Anthony has always been a powerful intercessor for me. I can think of no better way to spend the next ten days than to recite this beautiful novena.

Thank you, Dana!

Hiding the Stranger: The Trilogy by Joan L. Kelly

For Fiction Friday, I am happy to post an excerpt from Hiding the Stranger: A Trilogy. My thanks to Joan Kelly, who is the author of Hiding the Stranger: The Trilogy, which is available from Bezalel Books.

Chris knew that Ben was going to go into the burning building to try to save the boy. She grabbed one of the motorcycle helmets and handed it to him. "Put this on. It may help keep the heat out of your face."

"Thanks," Ben looked at Chris for a second, turned and ran toward the apartment building. Before Ben reached the door a middle-aged man stopped him and threw a small blanket that had been soaked with water over his shoulders. As Ben ran through the door and disappeared from view, the man who had given him the wet blanket heard the boy say, "I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me."

At the same time, Chris was asking the Lord to protect him. "Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name." She did not realize that she was speaking out loud until she heard the voices of the people around her joining in. "Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done…"

Ben felt the intense heat as soon as he entered the apartment building. The air was thick with smoke making it hard to see. He located the lower section of the stairway and quickly headed toward it. Running up the stairs and stopping at the top, the boy bent low to avoid some of the billowing smoke. He counted the doorways as he moved quickly down the hall.

"Tony," he called. "Tony, where are you? I've come to help you."

Ben stood at the entrance of the room and listened. He heard a coughing sound followed by a small whimper. It was coming from under the bed.

"Tony, come out. Hurry, we have to get out of here!" Ben didn't waste any more time. He grabbed the side of the bed and pulled it away from the wall. Tony was curled up in a ball on the floor. He looked up as Ben moved the bed, and his eyes opened wide.

When Tony looked up, he saw what appeared to him to be a tall man in a brown outfit. The man was wearing a cape draped over his shoulders and a helmet glowing against the background of smoke and flames. Tony sat up and between fits of coughing said, "Are you a super-hero?"

Ben looked at the small child and decided that anything that worked to get the boy out, to get them both out of there, was fine with him. He flipped up the face guard on the helmet so Tony could see his face and said, "Yeah, sure I am. I came to get you out." Ben reached down and scooped the little boy up.

He headed toward the bedroom door, but stopped as an explosion sent flames rolling down the hallway. Ben slammed the door shut and looked around the room. Seeing the window, he ran to it. He quickly turned the lock and pushed the window up. Looking down, he could see the people watching the burning building.

"Over here!" he yelled. "Over here; help!"

Joan is offering a free e-copy to one of my readers. Please leave a comment below before Monday, June 6 to be entered.

To purchase the book on Amazon:

Hiding the Stranger Trilogy on Amazon

To purchase the book on Barnes and Noble:

Hiding the Stranger on Barnes and Noble