Ada Brownell's Blog, page 52
August 6, 2014
If you think you're alone, you're wrong. Author Anita HIgman talks about Where God Finds You
NOTE: Leave a comment. Anita is giving away three copies of her Where God Finds You devotional book. The devotion below is not one of those in the book.http://www.amazon.com/Where-God-Finds-You-Characters/dp/0784733635/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405798650&sr=8-1&keywords=Where+God+Finds+You
My Sweaty Little Grasp By Anita Higman
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b (NIV)
Life can be like a pretty yellow kite, soaring and dipping in the breeze, and life can also be like that same kite experiencing an unexpected gust only to plummet to the earth and break into pretty yellow pieces. In other words, I can’t fully control the kite. It’s controlled by the currents that are above and far out of reach. The kite string may be in my sweaty little grasp, but its final destination is anyone guess. That was a lesson I learned when I traveled to Australia to meet my husband who was there working on assignment for his company. I left the house, knowing I wouldn’t be back for three weeks, and that I’d be very far away, so I planned for every kind of troubling scenario. I made sure all the faucets weren’t dripping. Check. Gates closed. Check. Electrical devices unplugged. Check. Windows and doors locked, alarm system armed. Check.
To be honest, my slight case of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder flared up into a blaze. It was so hard to let the house go and breathe again. But I did try to cover it all as best I could, so that when the driver picked me up I felt pretty satisfied that the house was somewhat disaster-proof. Yeah, right. Not even close. There was no way I could have known that my husband and I would have to fly home from Australia early because Hurricane Ike would hit our neighborhood and ruin one of the rooms in our house. It was impossible to plan for everything because I never really had our home under my control. Not even for a minute. I only thought I did. The spiritual lesson here was hard to miss. Only God was and is in control of our house, my life, this world. We cannot know what tomorrow will bring, whether our pretty yellow kite will soar into the sky or smash into bits, but I do know God has promised never to leave us or forsake us. He will always be right here, holding us and helping us, ever by our sides working things for good no matter what the wild winds of life bring. These are promises that the whole world loves to make, but only God Almighty can keep.
Lord, I thank you that even in this fallen and broken world, you will never leave us or forsake us. Amen.
My Sweaty Little Grasp By Anita Higman
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b (NIV)
Life can be like a pretty yellow kite, soaring and dipping in the breeze, and life can also be like that same kite experiencing an unexpected gust only to plummet to the earth and break into pretty yellow pieces. In other words, I can’t fully control the kite. It’s controlled by the currents that are above and far out of reach. The kite string may be in my sweaty little grasp, but its final destination is anyone guess. That was a lesson I learned when I traveled to Australia to meet my husband who was there working on assignment for his company. I left the house, knowing I wouldn’t be back for three weeks, and that I’d be very far away, so I planned for every kind of troubling scenario. I made sure all the faucets weren’t dripping. Check. Gates closed. Check. Electrical devices unplugged. Check. Windows and doors locked, alarm system armed. Check.
To be honest, my slight case of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder flared up into a blaze. It was so hard to let the house go and breathe again. But I did try to cover it all as best I could, so that when the driver picked me up I felt pretty satisfied that the house was somewhat disaster-proof. Yeah, right. Not even close. There was no way I could have known that my husband and I would have to fly home from Australia early because Hurricane Ike would hit our neighborhood and ruin one of the rooms in our house. It was impossible to plan for everything because I never really had our home under my control. Not even for a minute. I only thought I did. The spiritual lesson here was hard to miss. Only God was and is in control of our house, my life, this world. We cannot know what tomorrow will bring, whether our pretty yellow kite will soar into the sky or smash into bits, but I do know God has promised never to leave us or forsake us. He will always be right here, holding us and helping us, ever by our sides working things for good no matter what the wild winds of life bring. These are promises that the whole world loves to make, but only God Almighty can keep. Lord, I thank you that even in this fallen and broken world, you will never leave us or forsake us. Amen.
August 4, 2014
BEYOND "I DO?" Guest Jennifer Slattery
Friend, are you growing cobwebs?
Are you spending so much time praying for clarification you’ve become permanently barricaded in your prayer closet?
In other words, are you living by faith or fear?
It’s easy to view divine opportunities through a human lens, one tinted by our limitations. But I believe God wants us to lay our view aside so that we can see His will and power clearly.
Because when it comes to pursuing our calling, our success is not up to us. It’s not about our abilities or failings, our strengths or weaknesses.
It never has been. Instead, it is about saying yes to a mighty God who longs to shine powerfully through us.
When I first began writing—pursuing it as a career and acknowledging it as a calling,I felt pretty invincible. I was pumping out a novel every sixth months while sending out numerous articles and guest blog posts. I was prolific in drama and study programs, and as an athlete who regularly trained for running races and sprint triathlons, I was at my peak. In short, I felt ready to embrace any and every opportunity I encountered.
Then I got sick, and everything became harder. I received my first diagnosis in the fall of 2012 and to be honest, it rocked my world. When I signed my first book-length contract a year later, still fighting to remission, I cried to my husband, "Why now? Why couldn't God have opened this door two years ago when I was strong and full of energy?"
A few days later, listening to prayer music and offering up my heart to God in full surrender, I got my answer. I realized, He needed to take me to a place where my feet failed so I'd realize, it wasn’t about me. It still isn’t, and it never will be.What a relief that is!As you listen to the following song, ask God to show you areas and ways you’ve been living as if it—whatever it may be—is dependent on you. Then ask Him to help you surrender that area to Him, allowing Him to take you where your faith is without borders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td3dl87rDjU
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+ocean+hillsong&FORM=VIRE5#view=detail&mid=8978DD968FC0B56062858978DD968FC0B5606285
Jennifer Slattery writes missional romance novels for New Hope Publishers. Her debut, Beyond I Do , is currently available for pre-order at 26% off!. She also writes Christian Living articles for Crosswalk.com and devotions for her personal blog, JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud; Internet Cafe Devotions; and Takin' it to the Streets', a ministry serving Omaha Metro's working poor and homeless.When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, hanging out at the mall with her teenage daughter, enjoying her real-life hero husband, or serving in her church or community.You can find her online at her personal devotional blog, JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud, at InspyRomance.com, Faith-filled Friends, Crosswalk.com, or Internet Cafe' Devotions. You can also connect with her on Facebook.
Beyond I Do: Marriage . . . it’s more than a happily ever after. Eternally more.
Ainsley Meadow’s encounter with a woman, her child, and their abuser sparks a passion that threatens her engagement. Will seeing beyond the present unite her and her fiance or tear them apart?Raised by a hedonist mother, who cycles through jobs and relationships like wrapping paper on Christmas morning, falls into a predictable and safe relationship with Richard, a self-absorbed socialite psychiatrist. But as her wedding nears, a battered woman and her child spark a long-forgotten dream and ignites a hidden passion. One that threatens to change everything, including her fiancé.
To embrace God’s best and find true love, this security-seeking bride must follow God with reckless abandon and realize that marriage goes Beyond I Do.
Are you spending so much time praying for clarification you’ve become permanently barricaded in your prayer closet?
In other words, are you living by faith or fear?
It’s easy to view divine opportunities through a human lens, one tinted by our limitations. But I believe God wants us to lay our view aside so that we can see His will and power clearly.Because when it comes to pursuing our calling, our success is not up to us. It’s not about our abilities or failings, our strengths or weaknesses.
It never has been. Instead, it is about saying yes to a mighty God who longs to shine powerfully through us.
When I first began writing—pursuing it as a career and acknowledging it as a calling,I felt pretty invincible. I was pumping out a novel every sixth months while sending out numerous articles and guest blog posts. I was prolific in drama and study programs, and as an athlete who regularly trained for running races and sprint triathlons, I was at my peak. In short, I felt ready to embrace any and every opportunity I encountered.
Then I got sick, and everything became harder. I received my first diagnosis in the fall of 2012 and to be honest, it rocked my world. When I signed my first book-length contract a year later, still fighting to remission, I cried to my husband, "Why now? Why couldn't God have opened this door two years ago when I was strong and full of energy?"
A few days later, listening to prayer music and offering up my heart to God in full surrender, I got my answer. I realized, He needed to take me to a place where my feet failed so I'd realize, it wasn’t about me. It still isn’t, and it never will be.What a relief that is!As you listen to the following song, ask God to show you areas and ways you’ve been living as if it—whatever it may be—is dependent on you. Then ask Him to help you surrender that area to Him, allowing Him to take you where your faith is without borders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td3dl87rDjU
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+ocean+hillsong&FORM=VIRE5#view=detail&mid=8978DD968FC0B56062858978DD968FC0B5606285
Jennifer Slattery writes missional romance novels for New Hope Publishers. Her debut, Beyond I Do , is currently available for pre-order at 26% off!. She also writes Christian Living articles for Crosswalk.com and devotions for her personal blog, JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud; Internet Cafe Devotions; and Takin' it to the Streets', a ministry serving Omaha Metro's working poor and homeless.When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, hanging out at the mall with her teenage daughter, enjoying her real-life hero husband, or serving in her church or community.You can find her online at her personal devotional blog, JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud, at InspyRomance.com, Faith-filled Friends, Crosswalk.com, or Internet Cafe' Devotions. You can also connect with her on Facebook.
Beyond I Do: Marriage . . . it’s more than a happily ever after. Eternally more.
Ainsley Meadow’s encounter with a woman, her child, and their abuser sparks a passion that threatens her engagement. Will seeing beyond the present unite her and her fiance or tear them apart?Raised by a hedonist mother, who cycles through jobs and relationships like wrapping paper on Christmas morning, falls into a predictable and safe relationship with Richard, a self-absorbed socialite psychiatrist. But as her wedding nears, a battered woman and her child spark a long-forgotten dream and ignites a hidden passion. One that threatens to change everything, including her fiancé.To embrace God’s best and find true love, this security-seeking bride must follow God with reckless abandon and realize that marriage goes Beyond I Do.
August 1, 2014
CHOOSING TO BE BLESSED
By Angela Strong
What you need and what I need are going to be different. Which makes our God so incredibly personal. He doesn’t give us all the same things because he created us to be unique and have unique needs. I find this idea so incredibly freeing. Especially in the writing world where I want my writing to reach millions just like every other author does, I’m sure. But it’s not possible for everyone to have that. We have to trust that God knows exactly what each one of us needs. For me, that meant the first publisher for my children’s novel went under so that I could release the book years later when my kids were old enough to fully engage in the experience and my husband was able to do the illustrations. Honestly, this is not what I would have planned for myself, but it was what I needed. If I can believe God gives me just what I need, then I can believe God is doing the same for other authors. If they get a huge sale and I don’t, or if they win awards and I don’t, or if their book gets made into a movie and mine doesn’t, I can rejoice for them without the slightest bit of jealousy because I know that God is giving them what they need. I know that I am as blessed as they are.So I would suggest that whether the issue is our writing or our love lives, God gives us all exactly what we need. We are all blessed. We just have to choose to believe it.
FUN FOR HIRE: THE WATER FIGHT PROFESSIONAL
BY ANGELA STRONGSummary of The Water Fight Professional
I, Joey Michaels, am the Water Fight Professional. Basically this means that customers pay me to soak other people. But my super-competitive best friend is sucking all the fun out of summer. All because I made a secret bet with him. Winning the bet wouldn't be so hard if I didn't have the following three problems: 1) My dramatic mother who feels the need to schedule every moment of summer 2) A surfer-dude mailman who can't keep deliveries straight 3) The annoying neighbor girl who all my friends have a crush on If I lose ... ugh, I can't even tell you what I'd have to do. I'd rather lick a slug!
Meet the author and read her spiritually encouraging blog post following this one.
Angela Ruth Strong didn’t run businesses as a kid, but in 7th grade she did start her own neighborhood newspaper. This childhood interest led to studying journalism at the University of Oregon and having one of her stories reach over half a million readers. To help other aspiring authors, Angela founded IDAhope Writers in Boise, Idaho, where she currently lives with her husband and three children (who always love a good water fight). Find out more at www.angelaruthstrong.com
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/455412
July 30, 2014
CHAD YOUNG: DON'T FORGET YOUR IDENTITY
By Chad Young
I think sometimes I forget who the real Chad is. As a believer in Christ, my thoughts often go awry when I don’t spend time praying or studying my Bible daily. I forget that my identity is in Christ. I beat myself up through my selfish thoughts and attitudes, or I forget I have a new life in Christ and become disobedient to God.
When we find our identities in other things besides Christ, such as our careers, athletics, our friends, our social networking, or even our sexual desires, we forget who we really are. We pursue fantasies and lifestyles that the world has to offer but that are the polar opposite of the Christian lifestyle depicted in the Bible.
Whether we’re plagued by guilt over what we are doing that we know isn’t good for us or living in rebellion, we are holding back on our true identity that’s found in Christ. In short, we all have an identity crisis that needs attention at times. Living our lives with a mistaken, borrowed identity of the person we are without Christ isn’t really living life at all; it causes terrible frustration, confusion, and danger to us and to those we love and do life with as well.
An important verse I’ve memorized to help me to remember my identity in Christ is Colossians 1:18: “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent (ESV).”
Jesus didn’t die for us so that he could just be a passenger in our lives. He really didn’t. He came and died for us so that he could be in the driver’s seat. When we received Christ as our Lord, we surrendered control of everything – our hopes, our dreams, our careers, our sexual desires, and yes, even our money. By entering into God’s family and becoming an adopted child of God, we agreed to let Christ be preeminent.
Without Christ being preeminent in our lives, we can’t please God nor find our identity in anyone or anything else. We can only find our true identity and bear fruit that’s of the best kind, when our lives are in Christ. With Christ, everything changes and we no longer find ourselves frustrated, spinning our wheels, trying to attain something that’s out of our reach. When we find our identity in him, we find real happiness, an inner peace, and the satisfaction our hearts desire.
We don’t have to wait until we experience pain and suffering to remember our identity is in Christ and turn to the Lord for direction and counsel. He’s waiting right now to be in the driver’s seat of our lives and to give us the joy and adventure we were created to have. Will you turn to God now and experience his love, or will you wait until you have a crisis and suffer great pain? Either way, God’s ready for us. He loves us and will always be faithful, even when we’re unfaithful to him.
About the Author: Chad Young is the author of Authenticity: Real Faith in a Phony, Superficial World , available at Amazon. Chad is Cru Global’s national director over the southeast region, leading the ministries in FL, GA, AL, and MS. He resides in Atlanta, GA, with his wife Elizabeth and their four young children. He has served on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ for twelve years. He holds an undergraduate degree from Clemson University and a graduate degree from Georgia Tech; Chad worked in the paper industry for 6 years before going into full-time ministry. He has a passion for helping students learn what it means to have an authentic relationship with Christ.
I think sometimes I forget who the real Chad is. As a believer in Christ, my thoughts often go awry when I don’t spend time praying or studying my Bible daily. I forget that my identity is in Christ. I beat myself up through my selfish thoughts and attitudes, or I forget I have a new life in Christ and become disobedient to God.
When we find our identities in other things besides Christ, such as our careers, athletics, our friends, our social networking, or even our sexual desires, we forget who we really are. We pursue fantasies and lifestyles that the world has to offer but that are the polar opposite of the Christian lifestyle depicted in the Bible.
Whether we’re plagued by guilt over what we are doing that we know isn’t good for us or living in rebellion, we are holding back on our true identity that’s found in Christ. In short, we all have an identity crisis that needs attention at times. Living our lives with a mistaken, borrowed identity of the person we are without Christ isn’t really living life at all; it causes terrible frustration, confusion, and danger to us and to those we love and do life with as well.
An important verse I’ve memorized to help me to remember my identity in Christ is Colossians 1:18: “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent (ESV).”
Jesus didn’t die for us so that he could just be a passenger in our lives. He really didn’t. He came and died for us so that he could be in the driver’s seat. When we received Christ as our Lord, we surrendered control of everything – our hopes, our dreams, our careers, our sexual desires, and yes, even our money. By entering into God’s family and becoming an adopted child of God, we agreed to let Christ be preeminent.
Without Christ being preeminent in our lives, we can’t please God nor find our identity in anyone or anything else. We can only find our true identity and bear fruit that’s of the best kind, when our lives are in Christ. With Christ, everything changes and we no longer find ourselves frustrated, spinning our wheels, trying to attain something that’s out of our reach. When we find our identity in him, we find real happiness, an inner peace, and the satisfaction our hearts desire.
We don’t have to wait until we experience pain and suffering to remember our identity is in Christ and turn to the Lord for direction and counsel. He’s waiting right now to be in the driver’s seat of our lives and to give us the joy and adventure we were created to have. Will you turn to God now and experience his love, or will you wait until you have a crisis and suffer great pain? Either way, God’s ready for us. He loves us and will always be faithful, even when we’re unfaithful to him.
About the Author: Chad Young is the author of Authenticity: Real Faith in a Phony, Superficial World , available at Amazon. Chad is Cru Global’s national director over the southeast region, leading the ministries in FL, GA, AL, and MS. He resides in Atlanta, GA, with his wife Elizabeth and their four young children. He has served on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ for twelve years. He holds an undergraduate degree from Clemson University and a graduate degree from Georgia Tech; Chad worked in the paper industry for 6 years before going into full-time ministry. He has a passion for helping students learn what it means to have an authentic relationship with Christ.
July 29, 2014
Mini Blog Tour
By Ada Brownell
Dear Friends, I'm honored to have been invited by author Mary L, Ball, to participate in this book tag.
Mary L. Ball writes Christian fiction. She lives in North Carolina and weaves stories about real life problems, blended with romance. Mary hopes to encourage people to see the wonder of love and a divine guidance. Her novels include, Escape to Big Fork Lake, Stone of Destiny and Redemption in Big Fork Lake. When she’s not working on her latest story, she enjoys fishing, reading, and singing with her husband at various functions. Readers can connect with her on Face Book and Twitter.
Since I (Ada Brownell) agreed to join the blog tour and even after contacting four blogger friends, I ended up with no one interested in joining the tag. So I'll answer the questions and my portion of this tour will end with me. Writers are busy people and have to choose where they will spend their time.
Here are the tag questions and my answers:
1) What am I working on? I've been proofing the paperback version of The Lady Fugitive which was released by Elk Lake Publishers for Kindle on July 18. I've also been marketing the new book, a Christian historical romance, but have barely touched the surface of all I need to do. Several folks are waiting for the paperback. I also am doing a blog tour, writing inspirational pieces, testimonies or posts on writing techniques. I'd like to have time to write op-ed pieces for newspapers and stories and articles for Christian publications. I'll get back to that soon, as well as start on sequels.
2) How does my work differ from others in its genre? It's different because it's a woman whose face appears on the Wanted posters. My work in general is more faith building and encouraging than most. Although I hope it's not preachy, my goal is to give people engaging suspenseful stories in my fiction, and facts for faith in my non-fiction, which I don't generalize, but show and document. Preachy is a person's attitude and approach, not sharing the gospel. Frank Luntz says in his book, Words that Work, “Tell the truth,” he said, “but don’t do it in a condescending manner.”
3. Why do I write what I do?
I didn't intend to be a writer, but I had a burning in me to share what the Lord taught me from the Word, and testimonies of how he blessed me and others. Over the years I've written many wonderful testimonies from other people, using my experience as a newspaper reporter. As a reporter I also learned about most of the problems and interviewed people from almost all levels of society. I've been a student of the Bible since my teens. This gives me a viewpoint of life that helps me and others see what is important and what really makes a difference, and I feel called to share the ideas and the insight I feel God has given me and apparently it met a need because I've been selling to Christian publications since my teens. Yet, I'm still learning, still seeking God every day, because without Jesus and God's redemption I am nothing.
4) How does my writing process work?
I've always grabbed time when I could get it. One time I wrote an article on the arm of the chair while I rocked a colicky baby. An idea, complete with the hook and illustrations popped my mind and I asked the older kids for paper and pencil. I wrote it in long hand, got up early the next morning and typed it, sent it out that day, and in six weeks it was on the back page of The Pentecostal Evangel where they often placed articles for the unsaved.
What helps me is a drive to complete what I start (usually) and stopping mid-sentence so it's easier to pick up a thought. But, when I have an idea I often create a document and write the lead I have in my head at the moment, although I'm interrupted. Right now my husband is in the kitchen wanting breakfast. So, I'll go, do breakfast, shower and hopefully have a few minutes to write before we go to have teeth cleaned and meet relatives for lunch.
Ada Brownell, a devoted Bible student, has written for Christian publications since age 15 and sold articles and stories to 45 publications. She spent much of her life as a reporter for The Pueblo Chieftain in Colo. She also is a veteran youth Christian education teacher. After moving to Missouri in her retirement, she continues to write books, free lance for Sunday school papers, Christian magazines, write op-ed pieces for newspapers. and blogs with stick-to-your-soul encouragement. She is critique group leader of Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.Among her books: The Lady Fugitive, released July 18, 2014, Imagine the Future You, a youth Bible study (November 2013). Joe the Dreamer: The Castle and the Catapult, (Jan. 15, 2013); Swallowed by Life: Mysteries of Death, Resurrection and the Eternal, (Dec. 6, 2011); and Confessions of a Pentecostal, out of print but released in 2012 for Kindle; All the books are available in paper or for Kindle.Imagine the Future You audiobook is available at www.Audible.com Free book with new Audible membership. The Lady Fugitive http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LYDWAIWAmazon Ada Brownell author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/AdaBrownellWritingMinistriesTwitter: @adellerellaBlog: http://inkfromanearthenvessel.blogspot.comStick to Your Soul EncouragementBarnesandNoble.com http://ow.ly/rFSW3Google https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AdaBrownell/postsGoodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1654534.Ada_Brownell
July 26, 2014
NEWS RELEASE ABOUT IMAGINE THE FUTURE YOU
Note from Ada Brownell:
If you are a writer who seeks publicity and you don't know how to write a news release, here's a sample that's about one of my new books. Imagine the Future You. As a newspaper reporter I received hundreds of news releases from public relations professionals. I opened every one because you never know when you'll run into a good idea, and I'm an idea person. Yet, I knew some editors on staff put many of them in the "round file" (waste basket) unopened.
I've had quite good response from my news releases, triggering a story in my small home town paper, as well as an interview for the large newspaper where I worked before retirement. I was amazed a reporter did a feature despite my book being an "Indie" book.
A few times, such as when I was doing a book signing, I got a blurb.
Here's the sample. It's not formatted as as it was on the document and I eliminated personal info and thumbnail cover photo here.
Ada Brownell NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate release
Dec. 12, 2013 -- Ada Brownell started her writing career as a teenager while she was youth leader at Fruita Assembly of God Church in Colorado. More than 50 years later, she still writes for youth. Why?
"The young are the most precious asset of a nation and the church," she says, "but in today's world too many of our youth are in a hurricane of doubt, fear, abuse, sorrow, emptiness, hate, guilt, rebellion, and have no anchor. The condition of our youth is the result of a secular world that tries to strip away faith in God. The Ten Commandments are outlawed and obscenity assigned."
Brownell's latest book, Imagine the Future You, a motivational Bible Study, released Nov. 10, 2013 on Amazon, was written to help youth understand they are in charge of their future because of their attitudes and their decisions. After a career as a reporter for The Pueblo Chieftain in Colorado, writing articles and stories for 45 different Christian publications, decades teaching youth, plus having five children of her own, she feels teens need to believe in their unique talents, establish goals, learn how to be and do their best, and examine evidence for faith in God. She believes serving the Lord makes a difference in all our tomorrows.
The book reveals how unbelievers work to destroy religious faith through the media, use of propaganda and brainwashing, and even deception. Yet, neither atheists nor Christians can prove God is there, she says. "The reason is faith is necessary for salvation. We have to decide whether we will believe in God or man's theories. No one can make the decision for us."
Available in paperback, for Kindle or as an audiobook, Imagine the Future You has study questions and answers for each chapter, so is appropriate for group study and is especially good for family discussion, according to a reviewer.
Imagine the Future You is available in paperback as well as for Kindle, and also is for sale at The Greatest Gift Bookstore in Pueblo, Colo., and Christian Publishers Outlet in Springfield, MO.
The links: Imagine the Future You audiobook is available at www.Audible.com Free book with new Audible membership.
The Lady Fugitive (fiction) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LYDWAIW
The books below may be purchased on the Ada Brownell author page
Imagine the Future You
Swallowed by Life: Mysteries of Death, Resurrection and the Eternal (Bible Study)
Joe the Dreamer: The Castle and the Catapult (Fiction)
Confessions of a Pentecostal
ADA BROWNELL AUTHOR PAGE http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06
Blog: http://inkfromanearthenvessel.blogspot.com Stick to Your Soul Encouragement
For more information or for an interview phone ********* or email at ***********
Note: Bio attached.
If you are a writer who seeks publicity and you don't know how to write a news release, here's a sample that's about one of my new books. Imagine the Future You. As a newspaper reporter I received hundreds of news releases from public relations professionals. I opened every one because you never know when you'll run into a good idea, and I'm an idea person. Yet, I knew some editors on staff put many of them in the "round file" (waste basket) unopened.
I've had quite good response from my news releases, triggering a story in my small home town paper, as well as an interview for the large newspaper where I worked before retirement. I was amazed a reporter did a feature despite my book being an "Indie" book.
A few times, such as when I was doing a book signing, I got a blurb.
Here's the sample. It's not formatted as as it was on the document and I eliminated personal info and thumbnail cover photo here.
Ada Brownell NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate release
Dec. 12, 2013 -- Ada Brownell started her writing career as a teenager while she was youth leader at Fruita Assembly of God Church in Colorado. More than 50 years later, she still writes for youth. Why?
"The young are the most precious asset of a nation and the church," she says, "but in today's world too many of our youth are in a hurricane of doubt, fear, abuse, sorrow, emptiness, hate, guilt, rebellion, and have no anchor. The condition of our youth is the result of a secular world that tries to strip away faith in God. The Ten Commandments are outlawed and obscenity assigned."
Brownell's latest book, Imagine the Future You, a motivational Bible Study, released Nov. 10, 2013 on Amazon, was written to help youth understand they are in charge of their future because of their attitudes and their decisions. After a career as a reporter for The Pueblo Chieftain in Colorado, writing articles and stories for 45 different Christian publications, decades teaching youth, plus having five children of her own, she feels teens need to believe in their unique talents, establish goals, learn how to be and do their best, and examine evidence for faith in God. She believes serving the Lord makes a difference in all our tomorrows.
The book reveals how unbelievers work to destroy religious faith through the media, use of propaganda and brainwashing, and even deception. Yet, neither atheists nor Christians can prove God is there, she says. "The reason is faith is necessary for salvation. We have to decide whether we will believe in God or man's theories. No one can make the decision for us."
Available in paperback, for Kindle or as an audiobook, Imagine the Future You has study questions and answers for each chapter, so is appropriate for group study and is especially good for family discussion, according to a reviewer.
Imagine the Future You is available in paperback as well as for Kindle, and also is for sale at The Greatest Gift Bookstore in Pueblo, Colo., and Christian Publishers Outlet in Springfield, MO.
The links: Imagine the Future You audiobook is available at www.Audible.com Free book with new Audible membership.
The Lady Fugitive (fiction) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LYDWAIW
The books below may be purchased on the Ada Brownell author page
Imagine the Future You
Swallowed by Life: Mysteries of Death, Resurrection and the Eternal (Bible Study)
Joe the Dreamer: The Castle and the Catapult (Fiction)
Confessions of a Pentecostal
ADA BROWNELL AUTHOR PAGE http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06
Blog: http://inkfromanearthenvessel.blogspot.com Stick to Your Soul Encouragement
For more information or for an interview phone ********* or email at ***********
Note: Bio attached.
July 25, 2014
TRUST: Sandy Nadeau tells how she became a writer and encourager
By Sandy Nadeau
The way I see it, God put me on earth to love Him, find adventures and write about them. To share about Him and His creation. It’s amazing how much you can love what you do, when you’re in the right place with God.
For many years, I struggled with a strong desire to write, but it never seemed to go anywhere. What I’ve learned in hindsight is that every little thing I’ve done, God led me to where He wants us to be. In His timing. I know it hasn’t been in my timing.
I have often been the sounding board for friends, I can even remember that back in grade school (a long time ago) and it puzzled me why they would turn to me. Then there was that writing thing. Looming, niggling at me, causing me to turn to pen and paper. I journaled for a good outlet to write.
Writing. Lending an ear. Giving a hug. Listening. Why, I wondered.
When I dug a little deeper into discovering my Spiritual Gifts, I finally figured it out. One of my “gifts” was encouragement. Encouragers do all those things that I wondered about including writing. THAT’S why I love to write. Who knew? Well, God did. And over these many years of learning the craft, writing more and more, submitting and even getting rejected, twelve years of writing a column in a newspaper, exploring more of the state I live in, He has worked me into a position where I can share through story about adventures and what a difference believing in Him can make in a life.
My husband and I love to get into the back country to experience God’s creation. Then to have the privilege to write about it is such a blessing. All the places I’ve been to and see from across a large canyon I can incorporate into story. That whole, “write what you know” thing.
My first book was published by the wonderful people at Pelican Book Group under the Harbourlight Imprint just this year. I was blessed by the process. And it’s been a long road to get here. Like thirty years of “traveling”. A road with a lot of ups and downs, muddy waters to pass through, dark seemingly endless tunnels sometimes including despair and a lot of tears. But the road continued ahead of me. I kept driving forward, sometimes slipping back down the long hill I had just climbed. God lit the way, directed me, guided me to the right lessons, the right people, the right time. His time. His.
Now with every book I sign for some generous soul that chooses to read my book out of the many thousands of choices, I sign it with Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
Follow Him. Love Him. He’ll get you where you want to go. Summary of Sandy's book, Red Gold
Mandy Phillips loves life with her husband running an adventure ranch in the Colorado mountains, but when Mr. Shonee, their crotchety old neighbor, tries to stop them from building a kid-size old west town their dreams of expansion are crushed.
Is Shonee just being a difficult neighbor, or is something more sinister going on? A discovery on the property of Colorado's state mineral leads to more mysteries for the ranch, and then a teenage guest finds herself thrust head first into danger.
Mandy will have to rescue her, but who will rescue Mandy? Her faith in God is her only source to keep the guests safe, solve the mysteries surrounding her ranch, save her neighbor from himself, and discover the secrets of the Red Gold.
http://www.amazon.com/Red-Gold-Sandy-Nadeau/dp/1611163226/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405794255&sr=8-2&keywords=red+gold
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-gold-sandy-nadeau/1118928574?ean=9781611163223
http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=146
Sandy Nadeau loves to go on adventures, photograph them and equally loves to write about them. She and her husband do a lot of four-wheeling in the back country of Colorado and share those experiences with others by taking them up in the mountains.
July 24, 2014
Guest author Lisa Grace giving away four of her best-selling books--and pondering leaky vessels.
Note from Ada: We planned Lisa Grace's post yesterday when she had a sale on her latest book. Her day was so exciting she had this report and decided to give away four books to readers who comment on this blog.: Amazon gave an extra day, so the book is still free today. Links are imbedded, or you can find them at the end of this post.
FROM LISA: It's been a great week. 4 of my books are on best seller lists, plus "How Science Proves the Bible" is #1 in "Hot New Releases" for Wisdom literature on Amazon
If you want to mention on your blogs, The 15th Star (history mystery) is free, but since I'm pulling the book out of KU/Select this is the last time it will be free,
True Treasure (history mystery) was selected by several sites including Ereader News Today as the Book of the Day, and it's last day at 99 cents is tomorrow also. It'sAmazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,935 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #13 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense #39 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Inspirational #81 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Historical Romance
All 3 of these are on various bestseller lists at Amazon.
Ada, Thank you for having me on Ink From An Earthen Vessel. Some of us are not only earthen vessels, but leaky ones. I missed my commitment to get this post in by a certain date, which I like to think is not like me, but we all fail at some point, so I’d like to offer a sincere apology to Ada, and her readers.What do we do when we fail?Admit it, apologize, ask for forgiveness and continue on. Isn’t that exactly what we expect of our characters in our books?And isn’t that exactly what Christ expects of us?Well, I’ve repaired the leak as best I can. And will give away two paperbacks one each of The 15th Star , and one of True Treasure , plus an ebook of each. It’s up to Ada to decide who to give them to.
I started writing adult real life history mysteries because I ran across an article mentioning that The 15th Star from the Star Spangled Banner was missing. Louisa Armistead used to cut parts of the flag off (it was huge, as long as a four story building) and give it to people she thought were war heroes.This led me to research the War of 1812 time period an era I knew little about. So much was happening across the world at this point that it led me deeper into the political structure and intrigue of what was going on across several countries.Through it all, I researched the real people and events that happened, like the burning of the White House, the bombardment of Fort McHenry, and the loss of all the ships and sailors (over 900 ships taken or sunk, their sailors conscripted into the British Royal Navy to fight against Napoleon) from the port of Baltimore, Maryland. I want the reader to feel how awful it felt not to know what was going on, and feel the fear that the British could attack any minute. Putting the book together took months of research.
For True Treasure , my search began with a bit of my husband’s family folklore, that they were related to the pirate, Bloody Graham. Turns out Bloody Graham, was a Royal Naval Captain turned rogue pirate.The Royal Navy did not begin keeping records until the 1850s, and Bloody Graham was roaming the coast of Costa Rica around the 1812 to 1827 time period. How perfect that this coincided with all my research I’d just done for The 15th Star! If this wasn’t the hand of God at work, (and I know it was).then nothing is.It still required a bit of research.I did weave a modern story in with Keiko finding the letters and the clues at the Smithsonian, because I wanted to highlight the parallels in modern life with the past.Now you know my motivations for this earthen vessel, and her ink, and how my Creator has chosen to use me. Thank you Ada, and your readers for spending time with me.
Lisa Grace
LIsa Grace - Where Good Meets EvilFREE Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 Podcast: Simon Whistler's Rocking Self Publishing Episode #3 Read: Joe Konrath Guest Post by Lisa Grace Watch: Self Publisher's Roundtable Interviews Lisa Grace
First two books are optioned for a major movie through Motion Picture Studios
The 15th Star:is free today July 24, and the 25th: http://www.amazon.com/15th-Star-Grace-History-ebook/dp/B008F4R1AA/True Treasure: http://www.amazon.com/True-Treasure-Real-History-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00K10NYD4/
FROM LISA: It's been a great week. 4 of my books are on best seller lists, plus "How Science Proves the Bible" is #1 in "Hot New Releases" for Wisdom literature on Amazon
If you want to mention on your blogs, The 15th Star (history mystery) is free, but since I'm pulling the book out of KU/Select this is the last time it will be free,
True Treasure (history mystery) was selected by several sites including Ereader News Today as the Book of the Day, and it's last day at 99 cents is tomorrow also. It'sAmazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,935 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #13 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense #39 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Inspirational #81 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Historical Romance
All 3 of these are on various bestseller lists at Amazon.
Ada, Thank you for having me on Ink From An Earthen Vessel. Some of us are not only earthen vessels, but leaky ones. I missed my commitment to get this post in by a certain date, which I like to think is not like me, but we all fail at some point, so I’d like to offer a sincere apology to Ada, and her readers.What do we do when we fail?Admit it, apologize, ask for forgiveness and continue on. Isn’t that exactly what we expect of our characters in our books?And isn’t that exactly what Christ expects of us?Well, I’ve repaired the leak as best I can. And will give away two paperbacks one each of The 15th Star , and one of True Treasure , plus an ebook of each. It’s up to Ada to decide who to give them to.
I started writing adult real life history mysteries because I ran across an article mentioning that The 15th Star from the Star Spangled Banner was missing. Louisa Armistead used to cut parts of the flag off (it was huge, as long as a four story building) and give it to people she thought were war heroes.This led me to research the War of 1812 time period an era I knew little about. So much was happening across the world at this point that it led me deeper into the political structure and intrigue of what was going on across several countries.Through it all, I researched the real people and events that happened, like the burning of the White House, the bombardment of Fort McHenry, and the loss of all the ships and sailors (over 900 ships taken or sunk, their sailors conscripted into the British Royal Navy to fight against Napoleon) from the port of Baltimore, Maryland. I want the reader to feel how awful it felt not to know what was going on, and feel the fear that the British could attack any minute. Putting the book together took months of research.
For True Treasure , my search began with a bit of my husband’s family folklore, that they were related to the pirate, Bloody Graham. Turns out Bloody Graham, was a Royal Naval Captain turned rogue pirate.The Royal Navy did not begin keeping records until the 1850s, and Bloody Graham was roaming the coast of Costa Rica around the 1812 to 1827 time period. How perfect that this coincided with all my research I’d just done for The 15th Star! If this wasn’t the hand of God at work, (and I know it was).then nothing is.It still required a bit of research.I did weave a modern story in with Keiko finding the letters and the clues at the Smithsonian, because I wanted to highlight the parallels in modern life with the past.Now you know my motivations for this earthen vessel, and her ink, and how my Creator has chosen to use me. Thank you Ada, and your readers for spending time with me.
Lisa Grace
LIsa Grace - Where Good Meets EvilFREE Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 Podcast: Simon Whistler's Rocking Self Publishing Episode #3 Read: Joe Konrath Guest Post by Lisa Grace Watch: Self Publisher's Roundtable Interviews Lisa Grace
First two books are optioned for a major movie through Motion Picture Studios
The 15th Star:is free today July 24, and the 25th: http://www.amazon.com/15th-Star-Grace-History-ebook/dp/B008F4R1AA/True Treasure: http://www.amazon.com/True-Treasure-Real-History-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00K10NYD4/
July 20, 2014
Why Vintage Clothing and Antiques are loved by this author
It’s All in the Details
By Tisha Martin
I’ve heard that the life of a story is in the details and without details, writing careens to a sickening halt. We writers have our favorite genre and succinct, well-researched details that make our stories pop off the page. It’s what we write best and what we’re most proud of. For some, it may be science-related, westerns, Amish, mystery, modern, whether fiction or non-fiction. For others, it might be World War II.
I’m not sure when I fell in love with the classic eras of the 1940s-50s where the average citizen donned a hat and pair of gloves or a fedora to go shopping or attend a baseball game. It could be that the fascination began when I bought a simple yellow straw hat with a white flower at a garage sale. I was twelve. From there, I collected hats and vintage garnish from the ‘40s. Classic pride, stunning beauty, dedicated sacrifice, and pure simplicity begged my attention to such a strong era. Even though I had just started writing a western fiction series, I didn’t decide it would be World War II- themed until I was fifteen; but at twelve, the idea was forming.
That sixteen-book semi-western series developed into a World War II home front trilogy set in my hometown. To give myself some deeper hands-on experience with my trilogy, when I was in college pursuing a professional writing degree, I would take sections of my trilogy and see if I could write a short story. That’s the hardest part of writing—to take something large and pare it into a stand-alone. Of course, there were a few stories where even though they did stand alone, the reader knew there was more to the story.
One of those stories didn’t even come from my trilogy. A classmate told me a story about a deaf girl who got into a lot of trouble because she was adopted and was still learning sign language.
I decided to give the story a try—in my own words, moral lesson involving tomatoes, and favorite era.
My writing instructor loved it.
When I decided to submit it for the Commencement Contest my senior year, I was delighted and surprised that it was a finalist in the Original Narrative Fiction category. There comes a moment of sheer delight that what we’ve written wins the heart of whoever we’re trying to impress. It was that moment for me. I had entered commencement three years running and only made it in the top ten choices. To actually be a finalist!
After a grueling month of prayer, re-writing, and research to get the details just right, I slid “Puddle of Remorse” underneath my instructor’s door and awaited the final results.Two weeks later. “Congratulations,” the email said. I was ecstatic. Honored. Blessed. My story will be published in the 2015 Fountains, the student literary publication. It’ll be my first story in Fountains. Now that’s an exciting detail.
Meet Tisha Martin
Tisha Martin graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a bachelor’s degree in English and
Professional Writing. Even though she is pursuing a master’s in English Education, freelance writing is the heartbeat of her life’s calling. She has been published in several print and online magazines; Faithwriters’ anthology, Come Away with Me; and AnswersMagazine (Oct.-Nov. ‘13 Impact section, “Keeper of God’s Word” and “Unleashing the Lion,” and the July-Sept. ‘13 online promotional). Her World War II historical fiction series is a work in progress, which she hopes to publish in two years. Her commencement winner, “Puddle of Remorse,” will be published in spring 2015. For more Fountains book information, please visit www.pcci.edu. For more information about Tisha, please visit www.tmartinwrites.wordpress.com or LinkedIn.
By Tisha Martin
I’ve heard that the life of a story is in the details and without details, writing careens to a sickening halt. We writers have our favorite genre and succinct, well-researched details that make our stories pop off the page. It’s what we write best and what we’re most proud of. For some, it may be science-related, westerns, Amish, mystery, modern, whether fiction or non-fiction. For others, it might be World War II.
I’m not sure when I fell in love with the classic eras of the 1940s-50s where the average citizen donned a hat and pair of gloves or a fedora to go shopping or attend a baseball game. It could be that the fascination began when I bought a simple yellow straw hat with a white flower at a garage sale. I was twelve. From there, I collected hats and vintage garnish from the ‘40s. Classic pride, stunning beauty, dedicated sacrifice, and pure simplicity begged my attention to such a strong era. Even though I had just started writing a western fiction series, I didn’t decide it would be World War II- themed until I was fifteen; but at twelve, the idea was forming.
That sixteen-book semi-western series developed into a World War II home front trilogy set in my hometown. To give myself some deeper hands-on experience with my trilogy, when I was in college pursuing a professional writing degree, I would take sections of my trilogy and see if I could write a short story. That’s the hardest part of writing—to take something large and pare it into a stand-alone. Of course, there were a few stories where even though they did stand alone, the reader knew there was more to the story.
One of those stories didn’t even come from my trilogy. A classmate told me a story about a deaf girl who got into a lot of trouble because she was adopted and was still learning sign language.
I decided to give the story a try—in my own words, moral lesson involving tomatoes, and favorite era. My writing instructor loved it.
When I decided to submit it for the Commencement Contest my senior year, I was delighted and surprised that it was a finalist in the Original Narrative Fiction category. There comes a moment of sheer delight that what we’ve written wins the heart of whoever we’re trying to impress. It was that moment for me. I had entered commencement three years running and only made it in the top ten choices. To actually be a finalist!
After a grueling month of prayer, re-writing, and research to get the details just right, I slid “Puddle of Remorse” underneath my instructor’s door and awaited the final results.Two weeks later. “Congratulations,” the email said. I was ecstatic. Honored. Blessed. My story will be published in the 2015 Fountains, the student literary publication. It’ll be my first story in Fountains. Now that’s an exciting detail.
Meet Tisha Martin
Tisha Martin graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a bachelor’s degree in English and
Professional Writing. Even though she is pursuing a master’s in English Education, freelance writing is the heartbeat of her life’s calling. She has been published in several print and online magazines; Faithwriters’ anthology, Come Away with Me; and AnswersMagazine (Oct.-Nov. ‘13 Impact section, “Keeper of God’s Word” and “Unleashing the Lion,” and the July-Sept. ‘13 online promotional). Her World War II historical fiction series is a work in progress, which she hopes to publish in two years. Her commencement winner, “Puddle of Remorse,” will be published in spring 2015. For more Fountains book information, please visit www.pcci.edu. For more information about Tisha, please visit www.tmartinwrites.wordpress.com or LinkedIn.
