Ellen Gable's Blog, page 3

Life From the Bottom Shelf Now Available in Paperback

My new book, Life From the Bottom Shelf, is now available on Kindle and Paperback.

Synopsis: “Even the smallest person can change the course of history.” Galadriel to Frodo in the movie
Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Rings

Have you ever gone to a public bathroom to find the mirrors so high that you can only see your forehead? Do young children stand beside you and exclaim, “I’m as tall as you!” When you drive, do you still have trouble reaching the pedals even when you’ve moved the seat all the way forward? If you’ve never experienced these situations, then it’s quite likely you’re well over five feet tall.

In her new book, award-winning author Ellen Gable, along with seven other contributors, share the ups and downs of being short-statured in a tall world. Gable, who is four feet eight and a half inches tall (the average height of a nine- to ten-year-old girl), has always tried to keep a sense of humor about her height. This is a book about embracing one’s size and finding the joy and humor in it.

“Adorable and, at the same time, thought-provoking.”  Karina Fabian, author

“A great book with humor and inspirational insight.”  A.K. Frailey, author

Interview with Michael C. Vassallo, Author of Agatha’s Angel

Today, I’m interviewing Michael C. Vassallo, author of Agatha’s Angel.

First, tell us about yourself. I’m a New Yorker, born and raised.  However, since I was a young kid, I have always had a fascination with the Philadelphia area due to having family friends in the area.  Then when I went to college at Villanova, my love for it grew to the point at which I almost moved there, but my love for my family kept me in New York, unlike the stubborn John Palmaccio in my story. 

I’ve always been surrounded by the Catholic faith and have always been inspired by spiritual people and soul searching, even though I didn’t always know it was called that.  I love retreats and the Rosary and attending various spiritual talks when I can, and of course, I love movies about Christ.

I’ve also loved writing since I was a young kid.  My inspiration for that dawned when I was in kindergarten watching Hanna-Barbera cartoons on Saturday mornings and weekday afternoons.  At first, I wanted to draw, but then once I learned to read and write in the first grade, I would come up with picture books, and then one day I ditched the drawing and switched to writing only.  Back then, my stories were more slapstick without any plots, and they involved funny incidents happening to classmates and teachers – in fact, I got spoken to by the teacher for that!  Haha!  But I always kept up my writing, and I had a reputation for it.  I continued with it in high school, mainly known for being part of the school newspaper.  In college, I hardly did any writing, except for one newspaper article and a couple of yearbook articles my senior year – oh, and some journals.  After college, I wrote a book called An Angel in Disguise but then decided it was kind of lame, so I haven’t done much in terms of getting it out there.  I wrote a few things here and there, but nothing all that serious.  At the time, I was balancing work in a cutthroat environment with bosses that I didn’t like, managing bills and adjusting to married life, until in July 2009, the inspiration for Agatha’s Angel came to me, and the rest is history!

As far as other hobbies, I am a huge fan of all sorts of music, although I would say that 1970s disco and 1980s rock are definitely up there for me.  I also love the 1960s group The Vogues.  I’m always playing music and singing, and I love laughter and doing voice impersonations. I have a reputation for knowing a lot of good jokes.  I’m always up for going for walks, and I love running and working out when I can.

Regarding food, two of my biggest weaknesses are Nestle Crunch bars and Buffalo wings!

As a writer, I am also a big fan of movies and entertainment.  Sylvester Stallone is one of my favorite actors – hey, he created “Rocky,” and “Rocky” takes place in the city that I love!  I love Star Wars. I also love horror, especially movies like “The Nun” and the “Halloween” franchise.

Last but not least, I am married and have two beautiful children.  They both have autism, which has come with challenges, but I adore them and wouldn’t trade them for the world, not even for the chance to become famous for my writing.

What is Agatha’s Angel about, and how long have you been working on the novel? Agatha’s Angel chronicles a young man at a crossroads in his life after the premature deaths of his mother and fiancée.  In fact, his lamenting over his mother’s death indirectly causes the death of his fiancée, but I’ll let the audience read the book to find out why.  After graduating from college, in which he felt popular in campus ministry and seemed to have found his purpose, he joins the Peace Corps, but even that can’t shake the depression he feels over his deceased fiancée.  This is only compounded by his boring job, his love-hate relationship with his father, his apparent lack of ambition, and his lack of confidence in the dating arena.  Then when he haphazardly meets a girl who seems almost too perfect, things begin to turn around for him.  When he learns about the girl’s medical history and she recruits him to help support her cause, his life takes on a new meaning, but he still has bullets to dodge – from his skeptical, bigoted father, from his raunchy friends, from a boss who doubts his ability to be worth anything, and from an admirer who happens to be the daughter of his Peace Corps director.

I worked on the book for 15 years.  One day at work, back in July 2009, the inspiration hit me, and I began writing ideas down about breast cancer awareness events and life-changing, spiritual experiences in exotic places and meeting rare people.  I didn’t finish the first draft until February 2017 – that’s seven and a half years after having started it, but when I finished the second draft in July 2021, that was when I got professionals involved in helping me.  Then three years later, I was done, and here I am!

What was the inspiration for your book? That’s an interesting question.  Like my main character, John, I was on the train heading to work on a rainy Monday morning, and I was at a bit of a crossroads myself.  There was a young lady who caught my eye – and I apparently had also caught hers!  Haha!  We started talking, but instead of talking about what bar to go to on Friday nights to get hammered, she started hitting me with all these deep, philosophical comments that I didn’t expect.  She spoke in a voice so low that she could have used a microphone, but her words were very impactful and encouraging.  When we got off the train, she handed me a pocket-sized Gospel book in which she had written an incredibly inspirational note, told me she considered it an act of fate that we wound up on the train together, patted my hand, and disappeared.  I never saw her again, but that’s okay because seven years later when I remembered the incident, I decided to incorporate that episode into what became Agatha’s Angel.  Also, reflecting on that encounter has also motivated me to be a better man – a better family man to my wife and kids as well as to society in general.  She had given me a mission to carry out, and I did it.  I think she’d be proud of me for that.

After we parted ways, I remember telling myself I thought she was cute, but then I justified my refusal to pursue her because I assumed my parents wouldn’t approve of a girl who wasn’t white.  While writing Agatha’s Angel, I remembered that and told myself, “Hmmm.  Let me have a little bit of fun with that!”  That inspired Ralph’s racism.

My inspiration also came from having watched the movie “First Blood.”  That was the movie that kicked off the “Rambo” series.  The summer that I started writing the book, I was big into war movies.  I was impressed with the concept of a Vietnam veteran wandering the streets until he gets picked up by the police, only to get into various altercations with them, which weren’t helped by his post-traumatic stress.  It reminded me a little bit of feeling like a fish out of water when I first graduated from college where I was surrounded by people who seemed to love me and fun campus ministry activities to surround myself with.  Then I went out into the real world where many people didn’t seem to care, and that made me angry, but it made me sympathize with the character, and it inspired me to come up with John Palmaccio’s character.  I combined his fish-out-of-water conflict with my chance encounter on the train and made a story out of it.  That girl had been religious, so I spent a lot of time seeking inspiration from various Catholic outlets to help fuel the story.  I also juxtaposed much of that with real-life issues, such as the crazy things that twentysomethings do when they start their lives, hoping that those two universes colliding would provide a good sense of the conflict within John.  For some bizarre reason, the movie “Saving Private Ryan” served as the inspiration for Amy’s father going overseas to do missionary work, just as the men in that movie were in France, fighting during World War II.

Are any of the characters in Agatha’s Angel based on people from your circle of family and friends? Amy is based on a combination of people – one of them being my wife, another being a friend of mine, and another being my assessment of the young lady I met on the train.  The rest of her was fabricated by my imagination.

John’s father, Ralph, is also based on a combination of people.  His tough persona and his sense of humor are based on my dad’s, but I never left my dad hanging the way John did.  But don’t get the wrong impression because my dad is one of my favorite people in the world!  In fact, when I told him that certain episodes in the book were based on real-life events involving him and me, he laughed.  I think he liked that!  Ralph was also inspired by several other people, particularly, the fathers-in-law of certain family members.

Deacon Luke was inspired by two religious deceased uncles of mine.

Keith was very loosely based on somebody I knew from high school who at one time bothered me, but then we became very friendly with each other.  Unlike John, I never fought with him, and I never will.

Doug was based on a man who helped me transition from life after college into young adulthood.  I considered that man a role model and a bit of a mentor.  He was very encouraging and supportive.

Lastly, John was based on a combination of people – he has my analytical but silly mannerisms, but he was also loosely inspired by Sylvester Stallone’s characters Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, both of whom were two of my favorite fictional characters when I first started writing this.  Sadly, he also originally got some inspiration from the late James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano, but after a few people complained about John being meaner and more aggressive in earlier drafts, John’s persona was softened.

What drew you to writing this type of book? I wanted to write a combination of something romance, something inspirational, and something adventurous.  I can be a very adventurous person, and I wanted to throw that in there by making John a Peace Corps volunteer. He is wanderlust, and that adds to the boredom in his life until he meets the angelic Amy.

What do you hope the reader will take away from your book? I’m hoping that the reader will enjoy the spiritual aspects of John and Amy’s journey, the adventure they embark on in Philadelphia for the annual breast cancer marathon, as well as the playful romantic banter between them.  Hopefully, this story will inspire the reader and make him or her feel as though he or she is also on a journey.  Lastly, I hope the book will draw laughter, as several periods of the story are designed around that to add to the more spiritual and, at times, more dramatic, segments.

How do you find time to write? At this point in my life, it’s a bit difficult since I have to be at work at 6 AM, and my job is a good hour away from my house.  A lot of times, I don’t get home until 5 or 6 PM, so that doesn’t leave me with a lot of time for myself.  However, I’m a Vassallo.  We’re fighters.  I am very confident that the right time will come for me to write again, but I’m glad I finished Agatha’s Angel when I did.  Back in 2011, after I graduated with my MBA, I had my lunch hour at work to pen much of the story, so that came in mighty handy.  Other times, I was at the mercy of working on it at night after my family members went to bed – if I had motivation and wasn’t that tired, of course.  I was even out of work for a bit, so that time came in handy as well.

Are you working on any other writing projects? Currently, no, although I have a few ideas for future projects.  One idea, in particular, is a story about a father of two autistic children who is thrown on a journey of soul-searching and rediscovering what it means to be a man.  I actually wrote a blog post called “Are You Man Enough?” based on that idea, hoping to turn it into a series.  I got the title from a song by the Four Tops.  I think that could do even better than Agatha’s Angel.  And speaking of which, I think I’ve discovered the cure for the “loneliness” that comes when an author says farewell to his or her characters.  That cure is to write either a prequel or a sequel novel with those same characters, or at least some of them.  Turning it into a series will keep them alive for a long time. 

Other than that, my main focus right now is promoting “Agatha” and also getting my household more organized, spending more time with my beautiful wife and children, enjoying my new job in the transportation industry, and reading other people’s books.  As an author, I feel I would be a dirtbag to not read other people’s stuff, but I enjoy reading anyway, and hopefully, now I’ll have the time.  In fact, about three years ago, my editor put a book out that I really liked!  However, many people have been asking me what’s next, and I tell them – truthfully, of course – that I have ideas for another book, but right now, I just don’t feel like working on it.  Perhaps one day, the motivation that I need will come.  For now, I’m okay with that not happening right away.

Who are some of your favorite authors? As a child, I was fascinated with Charles Dickens, but nowadays, William Paul Young, who wrote The Shack, would be up there.  That’s one of my favorite novels, and the movie was awesome, too!  I also like Lorna Byrne, who writes a lot about angels.  In fact, her first book, Angels in My Hair, was a big hit for me in 2011 as I worked on my own story.  I also have a family friend who published a Wall Street novel two years ago, and I really liked it!

To purchase Agatha’s Angel, click here!

Review for Agatha’s Angel by Michael C. Vassallo

Review: Debut author Michael C. Vassallo has created a compelling story with such believable characters that I felt like I was in the midst of their journey.

At the beginning of the novel, John Palmaccio, one of the two main characters in this novel, is still grieving the loss of his fiancée a few years previous.  On the train to work one day in Long Island, he meets Amy Santiago, a vivacious and likable girl who also happens to be a devout Catholic. John is enamored and attracted to the beautiful and petite Amy, but as their romance blossoms, John realizes that he’s going to have to make some attitude and lifestyle changes to be with Amy.

Most of the novel’s setting is Long Island (although John works in Manhattan). However, an important part of the book takes place in Philadelphia, where John and Amy take part in an annual race for breast cancer. During this excursion, John and Amy experience a miracle or two, but the end of their trip leaves John wondering about the future of his relationship with Amy.

Add to the mix John’s racist father, Ralph, who runs a local jewelry shop; Adrien, his supervisor; Keith and Larry, his friends who like to party; another good friend, Doug; Michelle, Doug’s daughter; and Aunt Lilly, Amy’s aunt and adopted mother.

The author does an amazing job leading the reader through the ups, downs, and secrets of the characters and their stories. It’s an ideal read for October since it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The book is just under 500 pages, but believe me, when you reach the end of the book, you’ll be disappointed that it’s over.  Highly recommend.

The book is available on Kindle and in print.

Life From the Bottom Shelf Now Available for #Preorder on #Kindle

Life from the Bottom Shelf, my new book, is now available for preorder on Kindle.

“Even the smallest person can change the course of history.” Galadriel to Frodo in the movie The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring
Have you ever gone to a public bathroom to find the mirrors so high that you can only see your forehead? Do young children stand beside you and exclaim, “I’m as tall as you!” When you drive, do you still have trouble reaching the pedals even when you’ve moved the seat all the way forward? If you’ve never experienced these situations, then it’s quite likely you’re well over five feet tall.

In her new book, award-winning author Ellen Gable, along with seven other contributors, share the ups and downs of being short-statured in a tall world. Gable, who is four feet, eight and a half inches tall (the average height of a nine- to ten-year-old girl), has always tried to keep a sense of humor about her height. This is a book about embracing one’s size and finding the joy and humor in it.

Agatha’s Angel by Michael C. Vassallo

Edgy Catholic fiction.

John Palmaccio has recently returned from serving with the Peace Corps and now works in the high-stakes world of corporate New York. However, his job and the Long Island bar scene only offer a shallow happiness—contrasting with the solace of his former Peace Corps mentor Doug’s young-adult Bible study.

When John meets the sensible, upbeat, devout Amy Santiago, he eventually rediscovers love, despite still mourning his deceased fiancée.

John looks into an upcoming breast cancer race to impress Amy, he must face his bigoted father, who despises Amy’s biracial ethnicity. John also faces ridicule from his friends for remaining chaste with a religious Amy, condescension from his stern boss, and jealousy from Doug’s embittered daughter. Most of all, he faces his own weaknesses, which threaten his newfound happiness and grace.

Purchase Agatha’s Angel on Kindle or in Print.

An Open Book – October #anopenbook

Today, I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been working on or reading this past month.

Life From the Bottom Shelf

My new book, coming November 1!

Synopsis: Have you ever gone to a public bathroom to find the mirrors so high that you can only see your forehead? Do young children stand beside you and exclaim, “I’m as tall as you!” When you drive, do you still have trouble reaching the pedals even when you’ve moved the seat all the way forward? If you’ve never experienced these situations, then it’s quite likely you’re well over five feet tall.

In her new book, Life From the Bottom Shelf, award-winning author Ellen Gable, along with seven other contributors, share the ups and downs of being short-statured in a tall world. Gable, who is four feet eight inches tall (the average height of a nine- to ten-year-old girl), has always tried to keep a sense of humor about her height. This is a book about embracing one’s size and finding the joy and humor in it.

Rachel’s Tears: Ten Years After Columbine by Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott

Amazon Synopsis: “I am not going to apologize for speaking the name of Jesus . . . If I have to sacrifice everything . . . I will.” –Rachel Scott

The Columbine tragedy in April 1999 pierced the heart of our country. We later learned that the teenage killers specifically targeted Rachel Scott and mocked her Christian faith on their chilling, homemade videotapes. Rachel Scott died for her faith. Now her parents talk about Rachel’s life and how they have found meaning in their daughter’s martyrdom in the aftermath of the school shooting. Rachel’s Tears comes from a heartfelt need to celebrate this young girl’s life, to work through the grief and the questions of a nation, and to comfort those who have been touched by violence in our schools today. Using excerpts and drawings from Rachel’s own journals, her parents offer a spiritual perspective on the Columbine tragedy and provide a vision of hope for preventing youth violence across the nation.

My review: This was a beautiful book written by the parents of Rachel Scott, one of the students murdered in April of 1999 in Columbine. Heart-wrenching at times, but an inspiring story of faith. 4/5.

Agatha’s Angel by Michael C. Vassallo

Synopsis: John Palmaccio has recently returned from serving with the Peace Corps and now works in the high-stakes world of corporate New York. However, his job and the Long Island bar scene only offer a shallow happiness—contrasting with the solace of his former Peace Corps mentor Doug’s young-adult Bible study. When John meets the sensible, upbeat, devout Amy Santiago, he eventually rediscovers love, despite still mourning his deceased fiancée. John looks into an upcoming breast cancer race to impress Amy, but he must face his bigoted father, who despises Amy’s biracial ethnicity. John also faces ridicule from his friends for remaining chaste with a religious Amy, condescension from his stern boss and jealousy from Doug’s embittered daughter. Most of all, he faces his own weaknesses, which threaten his newfound happiness and grace.

My review: I’ve been working with the author of this book for nearly five years and have enjoyed seeing the development of the characters, story and plotlines. Although it’s a lengthy book, it’s a wonderful Catholic romance that will have you thinking about the characters long after you’ve finished the story. Highly recommend.

Interview with Nydia Hadi, author of The Voice of Angels

Tell us a bit about yourself. I was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. When I was 18, I moved to Edmonton, Canada to study accounting. Currently, I’m living in Montreal and working as an accountant. When I’m not working, I read, write, and play the piano.

Also, I was born and raised Catholic. But after I moved to Canada, I stopped going to church for five years because I didn’t see the need for it. Then in 2018, I experienced God’s love firsthand and decided to return to the Church and to the faith.

What was the inspiration for your book? It’s Montreal and Quebec culture!

I have been living in Montreal, Quebec since 2021. I was charmed by the city and the French language, so I wanted to write something about it.

I also observed an interesting relationship between Quebec people and the Catholic Church. There seems to be a lot of hurts and misunderstandings and I’d like to bridge this gap. As such, I paired Olivier- a non-believer Quebecker, with Regina – a devoted Catholic girl.

Choral music like Catholic hymns or praise and worship songs also inspires me. It makes me imagine God’s love, friendships, peaceful church interior, and beauty.

What drew you to writing a Catholic romance? I actually started writing The Voice of Angels right after I signed my publishing contract for my first novel, Romance Concerto. At that time, I was so happy and grateful to God. So I wanted to give back to Him by writing a Catholic-themed novel.

I always like to write romance because love is a beautiful thing to experience. Everybody must have experienced love. Unfortunately, in the media or literature nowadays, ‘love’ is sometimes portrayed as just physical attractions or good feelings. So I decided to write a Catholic romance, where the ‘love’ is portrayed as pure and self-giving love.

What do you hope the reader will take away from your book? First, I want my readers to be happy by presenting them with a love story in a beautiful setting. I also want them to reflect on the meaning of love and the meaning of faith (i.e., is love just a good feeling or deliberate sacrifice? Is faith only manifested through words or also through thoughts, behaviors, and actions?)

For the readers in Quebec who have been wounded by the Catholic Church, I hope after reading The Voice of Angels, they will use their wisdom and judgement to discover the real truth.

How do you find time to write? I usually write after work or on the weekend. I have a lot of free time after work, even after reading, playing piano, or doing house chores. Also, my head is usually cluttered with reflections and story scenes, so writing is my way to declutter.  

Are you working on any other writing projects? I’m currently writing my 5th book.

My third book, Romance Allegro, which is the sequel of Romance Concerto, will be published in August 2025. I have completed the manuscript for my fourth book.

The common themes in all of my writings are relationships, music, and travel.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Short version: Dan Brown, Tess Gerritsen, Michael Palmer, Ellen Gable

Long version: Dan Brown (Genre: mystery, thriller) – I like this author because of his broad knowledge in history, religion, and science.

Tess Gerritsen (Genre: romance, thriller) – I like this author because she always invented heroic male and female characters.

Michael Palmer (Genre: medical thriller) – This author makes me want to include a lot of medical scenes in my novel, even though it’s going to be challenging for me as a non-medical person.

Ellen Gable (Genre: historical Catholic romance, thriller) – I like this author because her novels always give good examples on selfless love, bravery, motherhood, family, relationship. There are also a lot of historical settings and thrilling medical scenes in her novels, which I enjoy!

An Open Book – September #anopenbook

I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading and working on this past month.

The Voice of Angels by Nydia Hadi

Synopsis: Olivier’s life is turned upside down after a car accident. Aside from the injuries to his body, his relationship with his girlfriend has also turned sour. When everything seems to be against him, he discovers a Catholic choir group that inspires him to see life in a new light. Although he is not religious, he helps the choir and ends up learning what selfless love means.

Regina is a professional violinist and a soprano in her church choir. She is also very devoted to her faith. When she meets Olivier, a nonbeliever, her faith is challenged in a new way. Most importantly, she has to define what it really means to have faith. When her feelings for Olivier grow deeper, she’ll have to decide what to compromise—and what not to.

Will Olivier and Regina end up together? Will love conquer all?

This will be available on September 15, 2024! Now available for pre-order on Kindle.

Our Bodies Tell God’s Story: Discovering the Divine Plan for Love, Sex and Gender by Christopher West

Amazon Synopsis: In response to a world awash in sexual chaos and gender confusion, this book offers a bold and thoroughly biblical look at the meaning of the body, sex, gender, and marriage.

Bestselling author, cultural commentator, and popular theologian Christopher West is one of the world’s most recognized teachers of John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. He specializes in making this teaching accessible to all Christians, with particular attention to evangelicals. As West explains, from beginning to end the Bible tells a story of marriage. It begins with the marriage of man and woman in an earthly paradise and ends with the marriage of Christ and the church in an eternal paradise.

In our post-sexual-revolution world, we need to remember that our bodies tell a divine story and proclaim the gospel itself. As male and female and in the call to become “one flesh,” our bodies reveal a “great mystery” that mirrors Christ’s love for the church (Eph. 5:31-32). This book provides a redemptive rather than repressive approach to sexual purity, explores the true meaning of sex and marriage, and offers a compelling vision of what it means to be created male and female. Foreword by Eric Metaxas.

My review: Another excellent book by Christopher West. I didn’t learn anything new from the book, but I enjoyed this view of the Theology of the Body mostly from Scripture and targeted to non-Catholic Christians. Highly recommend!

The Oystercatcher of Southwark by Erica Colahan

Amazon Synopsis: Philadelphia, 1897—On the shores of the Delaware River, Italian Catholic Mary Paragano dreams of a happily ever after. However, when she defies her family and runs away to marry Jakob, a Jewish boy, her fairy tale takes an unexpected turn. Disowned by her father, abandoned by Jakob, and pursued by a jealous gangster, Mary’s life spirals into tragedy, culminating in accusations of attempting to harm her own children and a harrowing end in an asylum.

Philadelphia, present day—Bella, Mary’s great-great-granddaughter, grapples with the aftermath of her recent divorce. Amidst her pain, a mysterious stranger named Sophie enters her life, claiming to be related to Jakob, the man who left Mary to her devastating fate over a century ago. Together, Bella and Sophie unravel the layers of Mary’s haunting past, question the stories they’ve been told, and uncover the impact of these historical secrets on their modern-day lives.

Based on the remarkable true story of the author’s great-great-grandmother, The Oystercatcher of Southwark takes readers on a poignant journey through the immigrant neighborhoods of South Philadelphia. This deftly-woven novel explores the profound love of a mother for her children and the redemptive hope that transcends time.

My review: I‘m halfway through reading this, but really enjoying it. Review to come!

Catholic Street Evangelization: Stories of Conversion and Witness by Steven Dawson

Amazon Synopsis: This book begins with the inspiring story of Steve Dawson―his dramatic conversion to Catholicism as a young man and his founding of St. Paul Street Evangelization, an international apostolate that has grown to hundreds of teams in seven countries in just a few years.

My review: This is my latest review for Catholic Mom.

I’ve never taken the St. Paul Street Evangelization training, but my husband and I have been involved in “street evangelization” from the first moments of our dating relationship and eventual marriage. At the time, I was a cafeteria Catholic; my morals had been formed mostly by television and peers in the 1970s.  Although I continued to attend Mass every Sunday, by the time I met my future husband, I was neither a committed nor faithful Catholic. With my husband’s gentle and patient approach, by the time we were married in 1982, I became enthusiastic about the Catholic faith. Together, we evangelized relatives, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Baptists, lapsed Catholics, people in line at the grocery store, and everyone in between.  We used Frank Sheed’s Catholic Evidence Training Outlines to explain the faith.  I wish the St. Paul Street Evangelization had been around when we were first dating and married, as it would have been helpful to us in our evangelization efforts.

The stories involve a boy who nearly killed himself taking his father’s car for a joyride, a man who murdered his father and was serving a life sentence without parole, a priest who evangelized in the inner city of Rochester, and a Brooklyn gang member who became a prodigal son, among others. One of the contributors, a police officer, had searched for a “non-confrontational way” to evangelize. In the St. Paul Street Evangelization, he found just that.

I found this book to be a delightful read, filled with stories of ordinary Catholics who have had extraordinary experiences in their evangelization efforts. While I noticed more than a few typos (unusual for a publisher like Ignatius) and inconsistent punctuation (sometimes within quotes, sometimes outside of quotes), the book’s positive aspects far outweigh the negative. I applaud the authors and contributors, and I highly recommend this book.

Obsession by John Douglas

Amazon Synopsis: The best-selling authors of Mindhunter combine profiles of numerous well-know cases with practical advice on how to protect oneself and loved ones against violence in a study of the violent, interpersonal crimes committed against women and the elderly. 175,000 first printing. 

My review: I enjoyed this book but it’s not as strong as his later books. Recommend.

Grieving Together: A Couple’s Journey Through Miscarriage by Laura Fanucci and Franco Fanucci

Amazon Synopsis: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.” (Ps 34:19) You might feel, in the days and weeks after a miscarriage, like the Lord is anything but close.

Laura and Franco Fanucci understand. After struggling with infertility, they miscarried their third child in the first trimester. Later, their twin daughters were born prematurely and lived only a few days. Laura and Franco are here to tell you that, while your miscarriage is a deeply personal loss, you are not alone.

Grieving Together is written by a couple specifically for couples, understanding that both spouses have experienced a loss and grieve differently. Drawing from Catholic tradition and teaching, Laura and Franco gently guide you through:

The physical and emotional experiences of miscarriage — including help in making the hardest decisionsHow couples respond to grief — and how to support each otherTurning to family, friends, and the Church — finding help and support from loved ones and your Church communityThe future after miscarriage — where to go from here as a couple

Grieving Together is the book the Fanuccis had wished for after their miscarriage. Practical resources include Scripture, prayers, and official Catholic rites. It also speaks to the unique concerns of fathers, and includes many real-life stories from couples in many different circumstances.

My review: This is a well-written and well-researched book that seeks to help grieving parents who’ve lost a baby through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and stillbirth. I bought it specifically for friends of ours who recently had their second miscarriage. I’m happy to see that there are more Catholic miscarriage books than when I was going through seven miscarriages in the late 80s and 90s. Recommend.

Struggle to forgive adds poignancy to author’s often harrowing novel

Special thanks to Mike Mastromatteo for writing this article, promoting my new book, and reviewing Where Angels Pass!

 August 27, 2024 OSV News Arts & Culture, Book Reviews

“Where Angels Pass”
Ellen Gable Hrkach, Full Quiver Publishing (2022)
322 pages, $14.99

Catholic writer Ellen Gable Hrkach’s latest book “Life From the Bottom Shelf” (Full Quiver Publishing) is a bit of a departure from her traditional writing canon.

Detailing the lifelong struggles of someone, shall we say, “vertically challenged,” the book shares the ups and downs of being short-statured in a tall world. Gable Hrkach, who is four feet eight inches tall, has always tried to keep a sense of humor about her height. Her latest book is about embracing one’s size and finding joy and humor in it.

The book invites readers to imagine themselves in a number of tall-world scenarios, such as: Have you ever gone to a public bathroom just to find that the mirrors are so high that you can only see your forehead? Or have you ever had a young child stand beside you and exclaim, “I’m as tall as you!”

The essence of Gable’s writing inspiration however, is more readily to be found in her “Where Angels Pass” release of 2022, or in her collection of faith-based novels, “A Subtle Grace” (2014), “In Name Only” (2009) and “Stealing Jenny” (2011).

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Where Angels Pass is available on Amazon.

An Open Book – August #anopenbook

Today I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading and working on for the past month.

The Voice of Angels by Nydia Hadi

Synopsis: Olivier’s life is turned upside down after a car accident. Aside from the injuries to his body, his relationship with his girlfriend has also turned sour. When everything seems to be against him, he discovers a Catholic choir group that inspires him to see life in a new light. Although he is not religious, he helps the choir and ends up learning what selfless love means.

Regina is a professional violinist and a soprano in her church choir. She is also very devoted to her faith. When she meets Olivier, a nonbeliever, her faith is challenged in a new way. Most importantly, she has to define what it really means to have faith. When her feelings for Olivier grow deeper, she’ll have to decide what to compromise—and what not to.

Will Olivier and Regina end up together? Will love conquer all?

New book coming from FQP this Fall!

Miracle of the Christmas Star by Susan Dean Elzey

Amazon Synopsis: Hannah died the night she was born. The new star’s light brought her back to life, but left her stricken with palsy. Sariah, Hannah’s mother, believes Hannah can be healed, if only she can find the Savior. Miracle of the Christmas Star is a tender story of love, faith and endurance that will touch your heart and remind you why miracles happen.

My review: I borrowed this from a friend and, although it’s not the Christmas season, I enjoy reading about miracles, either from a fictional standpoint or factual one. This was a lovely story. Recommend. 3.5/5

How to Share Your Faith With Anyone (A Practical Manual for Catholic Evangelization) by Terry Barber

Amazon Synopsis: Recent popes have challenged all Catholics to participate in the New Evangelization. But most Catholics feel ill-equipped to take up the challenge. Terry Barber, founder of St. Joseph Communications, has written a practical guide that takes much of the pain and uncertainty out of sharing one’s faith. Based on Barber’s decades of personal experience as an effective evangelist and masterful communicator, and drawing on the perceptions, examples, and lessons of other great evangelists and apologists, How to Share Your Faith with Anyone informs, entertains, and inspires would-be, as well as, seasoned evangelists and teachers.

My review: This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it, especially for those who need the a step-by-step approach to evangelization. 5/5.

Catholic Joe Superhero by Steven S. Thomas

Amazon Synopsis: This is the first in the Catholic Joe series. Lieutenant General Joseph Salvatore, Husband and Father of a large family, is a man’s man. At age 48, he is still one of the deadliest men on the planet, able to kill an enemy with his bare hands, and with the same hands tenderly caress his wife and children. Joe brings that same lethal intensity as he fights to save his youngest brother Vinny’s marriage.
In fighting for his brother, Joe, later deemed Catholic Joe by a reporter, uncovers corruption in the government and his church. You will feast on courage while you accompany Joe as he is targeted in a raid on his home by the FBI, secretly placed in Cook County Jail to be Epsteined, and targeted by Freemasonic assassins before he can share with the world what he has uncovered.

My review: I really wanted to like this book as I try to support authors of Catholic fiction. And the story and characters are good. However, the delivery is mediocre, unfortunately.

Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends by Mary Claire Kendall

Amazon Synopsis: Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends (Oasis I) highlights stories of recovery and conversion in the lives of Hollywood legends we know so well, whose work has provided such joy to countless souls, but whose real stories of struggle and, often tragedy, reveal their deepest humanity and the well from which they drew in making great art. Featured herein are the stories of Alfred Hitchcock, Gary Cooper, Bob Hope, Mary Astor, John Wayne, Ann Sothern, Jane Wyman, Susan Hayward, Lana Turner, Betty Hutton, Ann Miller and Patricia Neal. Legends all. This is a new and improved edition of the author’s original work by the same title.

My review: This is an outstanding book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories of the above celebrities’ conversions. Highly recommend!