Ellen Gable's Blog, page 75

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach

Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at RAnn’s Place for Sunday Snippets where we share posts from the previous week and answer a question.

This week’s question: What is your favorite movie? That’s a toss up: Gone with the Wind and West Side Story are probably tied for my favorite movie.

This past week, I completed seven income tax returns (for family members). As well, I’m frantically trying to finish formatting and editing the print edition of my new book, A Subtle Grace. Today, I worked on formatting the Kindle edition, which should be live on March 22nd.

Here is my one and only post for this week:

7 Quick Takes Friday – Super Quick Takes

The following is the schedule for my upcoming Virtual Book Tour (there are spots available if you have a blog and you’d like to host me during that time.)

March 19: Release of Kindle Edition of A Subtle Grace, Plot Line and Sinker

March 24: Therese Heckenkamp

March 25: Print Edition Available!

March 26: Snoring Scholar

March 27: Dana Doyle (Catholic Working Mom)

March 28: Christina Weigand

March 29: Huge Giveaway at Catholic Mom

March 30: AnnMarie Creedon (Romantic Catholic)

March 31: A.K. Frailey

April 1: Joy of Nine – Melanie Juneau

April 2: Barb @ Francisan Mom

April 3: Sue Elvis Writes

April 4: Erin McCole Cupp (Will Write for Tomato Pie)

April 7: Integrated Catholic Life

April 8: Kathleen Basi

April 9: Mrs. Mackerelsnapper, OP

April 10: Carol @ Simply Catholic

April 11: Catholic Mom Interview

Copyright 2014 Ellen Gable Hrkach

Sunday Snippets and VBT Schedule

Photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach

Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at RAnn’s Place for Sunday Snippets where we share posts from the previous week and answer a question.

This week’s question: What is your favorite movie? That’s a toss up: Gone with the Wind and West Side Story are probably tied for my favorite movie.

This past week, I completed seven income tax returns (for family members). As well, I’m frantically trying to finish formatting and editing the print edition of my new book, A Subtle Grace. Today, I worked on formatting the Kindle edition, which should be live on March 22nd.

Here is my one and only post for this week:

7 Quick Takes Friday – Super Quick Takes

The following is the schedule for my upcoming Virtual Book Tour (there are spots available if you have a blog and you’d like to host me during that time.)

March 22: Release of Kindle Edition of A Subtle Grace, Plot Line and Sinker

March 23: Catholic Writers Guild

March 24: Therese Heckenkamp

March 25: Declan Finn

March 26: Snoring Scholar

March 28: Christina Weigand

March 29: Huge Giveaway at Catholic Mom

March 30: AnnMarie Creedon (Romantic Catholic)

March 31: A.K. Frailey

April 1: Joy of Nine – Melanie Juneau

April 2: Barb @ Francisan Mom

April 3: Sue Elvis Writes

April 4: Erin McCole Cupp (Will Write for Tomato Pie)

April 6: Release of Print Edition of A Subtle Grace

April 7: Integrated Catholic Life

April 8: Kathleen Basi

April 9: Mrs. Mackerelsnapper, OP

Copyright 2014 Ellen Gable Hrkach

7 Quick Takes Friday – Super Quick Takes

I’m connecting with other bloggers at Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes Friday. Come check out the other bloggers!

These will be super quick takes since I’m working on the print edition of A Subtle Grace as well as the Kindle edition and finishing three other deadlines.

1. Stealing Jenny 300th Review

My third novel, Stealing Jenny, just received its 300th Amazon review this past week (I believe it’s up to 307 reviews)! It was a bonus that the review was positive!

2. Spring Break Has Arrived

So where is spring? Up here in Ontario, this is the start of spring break, but we still have high piles of snow everywhere.

3. A Great Catholic Novel

Have you read “Treason” by Dena Hunt yet? It’s an outstanding read and may even strengthen your Catholic faith. I devoured this book in just under a day. For me, it was like literary candy.

4. A Subtle Grace Print Edition

I’m still on track for releasing the print edition of my new book on or about April 6th. The final (I hope) proofs should arrive late next week. The Kindle edition is still on track for a March 22nd release.

5. Virtual Book Tour for A Subtle Grace

I’ll be visiting about 20 blogs in late March, early April and giving away lots of free copies of both print and Kindle editions of my book. Tomorrow, I will be listing the blogs and the dates I’ll be visiting them. If you are a blogger and would like to host me at your blog, please leave a comment below or email me privately: fullquiverpublishing(at)gmail.com

6. Reading Shelf

Deliverance Trilogy by A.K. Frailey

Aram - AK Frailey

Ishtar’s Redemption – AK Frailey

Neb the Great – AK Frailey

7. Cartoon

I’d like to dedicate this cartoon to St. Anthony who came through for me TWO times in the past few weeks. St. Anthony, you’re the best!

Image copyright James and Ellen Hrkach Please do not use without permission

Copyright 2014 Ellen Gable Hrkach

Sunday Snippets – March 1

Photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach

Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at RAnn’s Place for Sunday Snippets where we share our posts from the previous week and answer a weekly question.

Question of the week: What are your plans for Lent? I’ve made it a tradition to de-clutter during Lent: drawers, storage area, closets. I’ve already started doing this, even though Lent hasn’t begun yet. I also give up the usual treats as well.

Here are my posts this weeks:

Practicing the Theology of the Body Through the Spiritual Works of Mercy

Small Success Thursday

7 Quick Takes Friday – More Book News Etc.

7 Quick Takes Friday – More Book News, Pre-Order Coupon etc.

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

1. All Five Books

Special thanks to my husband for taking this wonderful photo of all five of my books after the proof for my fifth book arrived earlier this week.

photo copyright James Hrkach

2. In Name Only and A Subtle Grace

3. Common Grammar Errors

Great article on common grammar errors. I bookmarked this one.

4. Save $5 by Pre-Ordering A Subtle Grace (paperback)

Want to save $5 off the regular price of 18.99 of A Subtle Grace? Pre-order the book (without paying) before April 1st and I will send you a $5 off promo code to order directly from the printer when the paperback edition of the book is released on April 6th. If you would like to pre-order the book, email me at fullquiverpublishing(at)gmail.com or leave a comment below and I will email you the code.

image purchased from iStock

5. “Everything is Grace,” Quote by St. Therese

This is a wonderful reflection on grace by St. Therese and authored by Sr. Margaret Dorgan, DCM. I included the “Everything is grace” quote at the beginning of my fifth book, A Subtle Grace.

6. Reading Shelf

I’m Bernadette by Emily Grace Ortega

7. Game Over Cartoon

image copyright James and Ellen Hrkach Please do not use without permission

copyright 2014 Ellen Gable Hrkach

Small Success Thursday

I’m joining up with other bloggers at Catholic Mom for Small Success Thursday.

This week’s small (and large) successes include:

1. Finished Three Income Tax Returns

Every year, including my kids’ forms, my mother-in-law’s return, as well as our business returns, I have about 14 (both Canadian and US) income tax returns to do. I’m very grateful for Turbo Tax! It’s like having your own accountant walk you through the process. I’ve completed three so far, four are close to completion, six to go!

2. New Book Proofs Arrived

After working hard on my fifth book for two years, it’s rewarding to see the finished product.

3. A Big Success

When I received the proof copy of my fifth book, and added it to my other books, it dawned on me that, with the publication of this book, it represents ten years of work (hundreds of hours) on five books: conceiving, writing the many drafts, editing, formatting and polishing. Total word count? 500,000 words. That’s a lot of words!

If you would like to share some small (or large) successes, head over to Catholic Mom and link up!

Copyright 2014 Ellen Gable Hrkach

Practicing the Spiritual Works of Mercy Through the Theology of the Body

Photo Copyright James Hrkach

My latest post at Catholic Mom speaks of how we can practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy with a Theology of the Body focus.

According to the Catholic encyclopedia, mercy is “a virtue influencing one’s will to have compassion for, and, if possible, to alleviate another’s misfortune.” The spiritual works of mercy are one way Catholics can show charity and compassion to others. Since my husband and I teach Natural Family Planning, we have always tried to practice the spiritual works of mercy through our NFP ministry. Many Catholics do not understand the Church’s teachings on sexuality. Mother Teresa once said, “If you judge someone, you have no time to love them,” Sharing the truth with charity and without judgment is extremely important.

Admonish the Sinner and Instruct the Ignorant

I often find myself in conversations about these intimate topics with acquaintances and relatives. For example, while I was attending a First Penance meeting with one of my sons, the instructor handed out a “Examination of Conscience” pamphlet. On page three, under “Thou Shall Not Kill,” sterilization was listed correctly as a mortal sin. The woman next to me gasped and whispered, “I thought the Church changed her teaching on this. I had my tubes tied and didn’t know it was wrong.” I then gently said, “The Church has never changed this teaching. Birth control and sterilization have always been considered mortal sins.” The woman glanced away, then turned back to me, tears in her eyes. I patted her shoulder, then said, “You know, if you didn’t realize it was wrong, then it’s not a mortal sin.” I pointed out the section in the “Examination of Conscience” pamphlet which stated that all three of these conditions need to be in place for mortal sin: it must be 1) serious matter, 2) the person must know it is serious and then 3) freely commit it. I strongly encouraged her to seek spiritual direction from a faithful priest. When she left the meeting, she thanked me.

Counsel the Doubtful and Comfort the Sorrowful

A few years ago, when we were speaking at the local marriage prep course on “Sexual Honesty Within Marriage,” we talked about the importance of keeping the marital embrace free, total, faithful and “fruitful.” During the last part of the talk, we explained that contraception removes the fruitful aspect from the marital act. All of a sudden, a young woman rushed out of the meeting room, in tears. James and I continued our talk while one of the other host couples followed her, but we were concerned. After the talk, I immediately went to speak to the woman. I learned that she was the mother of a 13-year-old daughter from a teenage relationship. The young woman shared that she was currently in remission from terminal cancer. Because of the aggressive treatment, her doctors told that she would not have any more children. She told me that it upset her to hear the suggestion that her marriage might not be “fruitful” since she and her fiancé would never have children. (Of course, we didn’t say that in our talk, but this is how she interpreted it). She admitted that she had mistakenly thought she had already dealt with the fact that she and her future husband would not be having children together. But our talk seemed to bring her sadness and regret to the surface. She then sobbed and I embraced her as she released emotions that had obviously been pent up for a while. When she stopped crying, I explained that fruitfulness was much more than giving birth to children. We discussed adoption. We talked about the fruitfulness of being a good example as well as other ways she and her husband could be ‘fruitful” in their marriage. After the course finished that evening, she came up to me, hugged me and thanked me for being so “kind.”

Bear Wrongs Patiently, Forgive all Injuries

Bearing wrongs patiently has never been something I have done well. And the following example shows that not everyone I “admonish” or “instruct” has been open to the information.

Ten years ago, a woman called for NFP counseling. She and her husband had taken an NFP class years earlier. Her husband, she said, had made an appointment for a vasectomy and he had indicated the decision was not up for debate. After using NFP for many years, he no longer had any patience for the abstinence it entailed. The wife sounded like she was crying. “What can I do to stop him?” I spoke with her, then sent her information on the moral, spiritual and physical implications of sterilization. I encouraged her to seek spiritual direction from a faithful priest I knew in the area. Four different times we spoke on the phone, her tone frantic and desperate. Finally, she stopped calling. I continued to pray for this couple. Some months later, she called to inform me that her husband had indeed gone through with the vasectomy and they were now ‘very happy.’ She wanted me to know that, although she knew I didn’t agree with ‘their’ decision, she had come to accept it and that it had been the ‘right’ thing for them.

Admittedly, I have no idea what happened in between her frantic calls and the vasectomy. I suspect she never called the faithful priest I recommended. However, I calmly responded, “But sterilization is against the fifth commandment as well as the sixth, it separates a couple…it causes an increase in prostate cancer, it – ” She cut me off by angrily telling me that she only called to inform me, not to hear what the Church teaches, that she already knew that. Her husband then got on the phone and yelled at me, his tone sharp, accusing me of trying to “sabotage” his marriage. I listened, heart pounding, as he screamed at me over the phone. It took a lot of self-control not to hang up nor respond to his verbal abuse. I prayed and waited until he stopped yelling, although by that point, I was nearly in tears and my hands were trembling. Then I said, my voice breaking, “I will pray for you and I wish you both well…goodbye.” My hands shaking, I hung up the phone and cried. I forgave them long ago for their verbal abuse, and I have prayed for them from time to time, but I’ve always wondered how they are doing.

Pray for the Living and the Dead

Prayer is so powerful, more powerful than any of us can ever imagine. Even if you’re not comfortable speaking up, you can always pray for anyone at anytime. Praying for others is an important part of the spiritual works of mercy. I pray daily that more couples can discover the joy of following the Church’s teachings on sexuality by learning NFP: to be chaste before marriage, to be generous and open to life within marriage. I pray for all the student couples to whom we have taught NFP over the years. I pray for the engaged couples who have listened to our testimony and talks at marriage prep courses. I offer up many prayers for relatives and friends who have chosen to lead alternate lifestyles, and those deceased ancestors and relatives who were not faithful to the Catholic Church’s beautiful teachings of sexuality.

Practicing the spiritual works of mercy through the Theology of the Body is an ideal way to show charity and compassion to others. It’s not always easy to do. However, I know that, for me, it is the right thing to do, even if the person or persons are not open to the message. The truth is, we never know when a seed of truth will be planted and someone will experience a change of heart.

Copyright 2014 Ellen Gable Hrkach

Sunday Snippets – February 23

Photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach

Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at RAnn’s Place for Sunday Snippets where we share posts from the previous week and answer a weekly question.

Weekly question: What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

My favorite verse is “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) I have this Scripture verse printed and attached to the base of my monitor. In difficult times, it helps me to remember that I’m not going through this life alone and that I can endure all things with God’s help.

My one post for the week:

7 Quick Takes Friday – New Book Updates

Copyright 2014 Ellen Gable Hrkach

7 Quick Takes Friday – New Book Updates Etc.

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

1. First Proofs Have Arrived

The first proofs of my new book, A Subtle Grace, have arrived! I’ve already given them to the proofreaders so I missed a photo opportunity. But I’ve ordered more to arrive next week and will have photos then.

2. A Subtle Grace on Track for March Kindle Release

Right now, my proofreaders are poring through the proofs looking for typos and format issues. I have a second medical person reading through for accuracy of medical situations. I hope to hear from the gun experts soon.

3. Long Books Have Less Readers…but Series Books Often Have More

I knew this book was as long as , so I had a short panic attack when I received it, feeling its heavy 420 pages in my hands. Holding the two books side by side, there’s no denying that they are very similar. Total pages, if one wants to read them one after the other, will be 840 pages. That’s as long as Gone With the Wind. The publishing world’s recommendation for book size has always been under 400 pages and, no matter what I did, I could not get this book down to only 400 pages. I recognize this could limit the number of readers and, frankly, I don’t care, especially since “series” books do tend to sell more because readers are invested in the characters. However, one need not read the first book () to be able to read this one. The books are stand alone books that can be read independent of the other.

4. The Spiritual Works of Mercy: TOB Style

In my latest post at Catholic Mom, I talk about practicing the Spiritual Works of Mercy through the Theology of the Body.

According to the Catholic encyclopedia, mercy is “a virtue influencing one’s will to have compassion for, and, if possible, to alleviate another’s misfortune.” The spiritual works of mercy are one way Catholics can show charity and compassion to others. Since my husband and I are trained in the Theology of the Body (TOB) and teach Natural Family Planning, we have always tried to practice the spiritual works of mercy through our NFP ministry.

Many Catholics do not understand the Church’s teachings on sexuality. Mother Teresa once said, “If you judge someone, you have no time to love them.” Sharing the truth with charity and without judgment is extremely important. To read the rest, click here.

5. Pope Francis on Confession

During his Wednesday audience, Pope Francis encouraged the faithful to go to Confession. He said, “The sacrament of Reconciliation is a sacrament of healing.”

6. Reading Shelf

A Pius Legacy by Declan Finn

7. Burgers Cartoon

copyright 2012 Full Quiver Publishing/James & Ellen Hrkach Please do not use without permission

Copyright 2014 Ellen Gable Hrkach

7 Quick Takes Friday – Valentine’s Day Edition

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

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

1. Come My Beloved: Inspiring Stories of Catholic Courtship

My book, Come My Beloved: Inspiring Stories of Catholic Courtship is FREE today through Sunday on Kindle. Click on the book title or HERE to download your free Kindle book. To read more about Come My Beloved, click HERE.

2. 35 Years Together

It’s hard to believe that this year, James and I will celebrate 35 years together (32 years married). To read our courtship story, click THIS LINK.

3. Preparing for Intimacy

My latest post at Amazing Catechists is a re-print of an article from last Valentine’s Day, entitled “Preparing for Intimacy.”

4. St. Valentine

Today is the Feast of St. Valentine. To read more about St. Valentine, click HERE.

(Image from Catholic.org)

5. A Different Kind of Romantic Gift (Jump, Squirrel, Jump)

Many long-time readers will remember the story about the squirrel jumping out of my toilet. One of the most selfless gifts my husband ever gave me was cleaning up the mess left by the squirrel. To read the entire post, click HERE.

(image from iStock)

6. Favorite Romance Movies

Pride and Prejudice

Love Comes Softly

Jane Eyre

While You Were Sleeping

7. How NFP Couples Celebrate Their Anniversary

copyright 2013 James and Ellen Hrkach (Please do not use without permission)

Copyright 2014 Ellen Gable Hrkach