Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 9
February 15, 2016
COTT: Semi-Finals (See Last Week’s Results Here)
It’s the semi-finals!
I’m a lot more excited this week. All the titles I hoped would win made it into the semi-finals. But a couple just barely squeezed by. Tight race!
Have you seen the most recent Christian fiction freebies, bargains, and new releases? There’s also a giveaway of the MILLER’S CREEK TRUTH COLLECTION. Check them all out here.
Read more: http://www.catbryant.com/?p=8883#ixzz...
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS, THEN ON TO THE SEMI-FINALS
Here are the results from Round 2 in our Clash of the Titles to help me pick the perfect title for the seventh Miller’s Creek novel.
The Path I Follow vs. I’ll Always Follow – The Path I Follow marked a clear win with 72.4% of the votes.
Highway to Freedom vs. The Path Behind Me – By only 5% difference, The Path Behind Me squeaked into the semi-finals with 52.5% of the votes.
Freedom’s Journey vs. Still I Will Follow – Another close race, which really surprised me. Still I Will Follow managed to knock out the competition with just 52.5% of the votes.
Freed vs. Freedom’s Way – The biggest winner of the week, with 90% of the votes, Freedom’s Way squashed the competition.
Clash of the Titles #books @Cathy_Bryant. Which titles made it to the semi-finals? See here:
Click To Tweet
HOW I INTERPRET LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
First of all, I was very surprised by how close two of the bouts were. The week started out with really big leads in all four matches, but by the end of the week two of those had narrowed significantly. A real nail-biter!
Secondly, I have a feeling that many voters will see their two favorite titles go head-to-head in the finals! For those that would like to print out a copy of the bracket for the semi-finals and finals, you can use the box below to do so. To check the previous weeks’ results, these posts will help:
Why Have Clash of the Titles? See Here Immediately.
See How to Help Choose My Next Book Titles (Round 1)
COTT: Round 2 – See Great Results From Last Week
TIME FOR THE SEMI-FINALS!
One of my reasons for holding this competition (other than choosing a title for the next Miller’s Creek book) was to beat the winter doldrums. We’ve had 50-degree weather all week, so I guess that means it’s working! ;)
Now on to our voting for this week. Just like in the previous weeks, please ask yourself this question: Which of these titles is the most intriguing and compelling and would make me want to read more?
Once again, here’s the book blurb to help give you a sense of the story.
A transformed wild-child returns to Miller’s Creek to care for her ailing father and face the judgmental ranch manager she’s always loved. When a flood threatens Miller’s Creek and their respective properties, Bella joins forces with Clay to protect what they both hold dear. Though Bella attempts to persuade Clay and others that she’s not the same person they remember, all her efforts come to naught when nasty rumors jeopardize her teaching career. Now on shaky ground, Bella is forced to depend solely on God to plow through the false accusations of a student who has shredded what was left of her reputation. But is it too little too late?
For those of you who are new to the Miller’s Creek novels, they’re all Christian contemporary romance or romantic suspense, and they have a “journey” theme with words in the titles such as roads, path, way, pilgrimage, and bridge. To check them out a little more closely, this link will get you where you want to be: http://www.CatBryant.com/books/.
A 29-Day Devotional. Join us as we delve into the topic of godly influence and determine to make a difference! http://amzn.to/1R3z6B9 *SEMI-FINALS VOTING POLLS
We are now down to only four titles! Below you’ll find two voting polls for this semi-finals round of Clash of the Titles. Please cast your vote for your favorite titles in both polls. You will need to click the circle next to the title you prefer, and then click the red “vote” button. This will narrow our choices from four titles to only two in the final round, which will be held on Monday, February 22, 2016.
ARE YOU READY TO RRRUMBLLLLLE?
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Which of these two titles do you prefer?
The Path I Follow
The Path Behind Me
vote
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Which of these two titles do you prefer?
Still I Will Follow
Freedom's Way
vote
SEMI-FINALS WRAP-UP
Thanks so much for your help in choosing the title for Miller’s Creek #7. I hope you’re enjoying this as much as I am! :) Please share the fun using the handy-dandy share buttons below. Thank you!
COMMENTS CHIT-CHAT: Which title are you pulling for to knock out all the others?
February 13, 2016
Ways to Help Spread the Word, Do Good Works, & Intercede For Others
https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/ (audio Bibles)
http://wcoi.org/ (World Cassette Outreach of India)
http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/
Add Gideons International
Pray for the Nations (Operation World)
Samaritan’s Purse
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
InTouch Ministries
Open Doors
Shoes For Orphan Souls
Buckner
ABC
February 12, 2016
Christian Fiction Friday and MORE for Friday, Feb. 12, 2016
Here are this weeks NEW RELEASES in Christian Fiction Friday and MORE. Please note that a few of today’s books are on pre-order, but are releasing in the next few days. And don’t miss the Miller’s Creek Truth Collection giveaway at the end of this post!
ATTENTION AUTHORS and PUBLISHERS! If you have an upcoming release that you would like featured on our Christian Fiction Friday and More posts, let us know by sending an email with all the information to Office@catbryant.com
DISCLOSURE: We haven’t read all these new books, so please use your own judgement when purchasing them. Just to be honest, we are Amazon Affiliates, which means we receive a few cents for every dollar of purchase. This comes from Amazon’s pocket, not yours, and it helps us with the expenses of running this site. Thanks for your support! :)
#amreading Christian Fiction Friday and MORE for Feb. 12, 2016. Look for the #Giveaway
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New Christian Fiction Friday Finds
Mystery/SuspenseCASEY KNOWS THE TRUTH. BUT IT WON’T SET HER FREE.
Casey Cox’s DNA is all over the crime scene. There’s no use talking to police; they’ve failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she’s arrested . . . or worse. The truth doesn’t matter anymore. But what is the truth? That’s the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren’t adding up.
Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan’s skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn’t guilty, why did she run?
Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices: the girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Contemporary RomanceSingle mom Serenity Chandler is determined to do anything to provide better opportunities for her son, Gideon. Moving away from her family support system so Gideon can attend a special school seems like the right choice, even if it means her entire life is about to change.
The satisfaction of helping children and being a part of their lives is one reason Aaron Randall loves his job as a music therapist. When Hope Academy instills a dating policy, he doesn’t give it a second thought. Until the new coworker who’d caught his attention turns out to be the parent of one of his students.
Any relationship between them will put his job at risk. The more time Aaron spends with Serenity and Gideon, the harder it is to ignore what they could have together. With Aaron’s job and Gideon’s education hanging in the balance, they’ll have to rely on faith to find their way
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Contemporary RomanceCan one summer together make up for eight years of separation?
Commander Brett Murphy left his family’s construction firm in Oklahoma City for a life of hard work at Three Rivers Ranch. Alone, without a wife and kids, Brett needs the camaraderie he enjoyed while serving overseas with his Army buddies, Squire Ackerman and Peter Marshall. What Brett doesn’t need is the reappearance of his ex-wife. Fiery Kate Donnely has come to Three Rivers to confess to Brett that they’re still married, and oh, he has a seven-year-old son she never told him about. At least not in letters she mailed.
Eight years ago, Kate left Oklahoma City only weeks after Brett’s first deployment, shamed because of her bad choices and the unborn child of a man she’d already asked for a divorce. She needs him to sign the papers now or she can’t have access to her hefty inheritance. But Brett absolutely does not want Kate to take his son away from him again. They strike a deal: She’ll stay at Three Rivers for the summer so Brett can have the opportunity to get to know his son. How far will they have to go and how much will they have to forgive in order to become a family?
PURCHASE: | Kindle |
Mystery/SuspenseFirst a runaway. Now running for her life. Won’t Jill Shepherd’s family be surprised when she returns to Grand Island, Michigan to end their lies and scheme to have her declared legally dead? But when Jill exposes the mastermind behind her intended death, her family’s deception may kill any chance she has of remaining alive.
Clay Merrick may seem to be little more than a handy-man restoring homes, but when the former Special Forces operative tracks a brutal killer to Jill’s historic house under renovation, he has most of the evidence he needs to bring the killer to justice … until Jill gets in the way.
When the killer sets sights on Jill as the next victim, it’s not just Clay s mission on the line, but his heart.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
HistoricalBefore he became a father of the Christian Church, Augustine of Hippo loved a woman whose name has been lost to history. This is her story.
She met Augustine in Carthage when she was seventeen. She was the poor daughter of a mosaic-layer; he was a promising student and heir to a fortune. His brilliance and passion intoxicated her, but his social class would be forever beyond her reach. She became his concubine, and by the time he was forced to leave her, she was thirty years old and the mother of his son. And his Confessions show us that he never forgot her. She was the only woman he ever loved.
In a society in which classes rarely mingle on equal terms, and an unwed mother can lose her son to the burgeoning career of her ambitious lover, this anonymous woman was a first-hand witness to Augustine’s anguished spiritual journey from secretive religious cultist to the celebrated Bishop of Hippo.
Giving voice to one of history’s most mysterious women, The Confessions of X tells the story of Augustine of Hippo’s nameless lover, their relationshipbefore his famous conversion, and her life after his rise to fame. A tale of womanhood, faith, and class at the end of antiquity, The Confessions of X is more than historical fiction . . . it is a timeless story of love and loss in the shadow of a theological giant.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
WesternAs a master of goodbyes, Ben never expected to fall in love…
With his siblings and friends entangled in the state of matrimony, Ben Morgan is more determined than ever to remain blissfully single. Despite his vehement refusal to commit to a relationship, he can’t help but envision a future with the sweet, charming woman who unknowingly captures his heart.
Harper Hayes is an expert at bad relationships. After vowing never to wed, the idea enters her mind with alarming frequency after she meets Ben Morgan. Although the handsome cowboy makes it clear he’s only interested in having fun, Harper’s dog and crazy uncle have other ideas.
PURCHASE: | PRINT | Kindle |
Historical RomanceFrom the Winner of 2015’s Inspirational Readers Choice Award for The Ransom comes a new romantic adventure !
Suspected of killing her husband, Charity Westcott flees on the first ship out of Portsmouth, England heading for the colonies. Loathing all men after her abusive marriage, she hopes to reunite with her family in Charles Towne, but the ship’s destination is Nassau. When she spots her husband’s brother, who is intent on seeing her hang, boarding her ship, she jumps overboard.
Elias Dutton, missionary and son of the famous pirate, Rowan Dutton, must get to Barbados as soon as possible. His sister is in danger, and his parents have charged him with her safety. He cannot let them down—again. But after rescuing a madcap woman from the bay, he now finds himself tricked into masquerading as her husband so they both can procure passage to Barbados.
Pirates, storms, shipwreck and betrayal threaten to delay the couple in their journey even as sparks fly between them. With her brother-in-law in fast pursuit, the last thing Charity wants is help from a man, especially a religious one, but she has no choice. After Elias’ heart was broken by a sordid woman who nearly ruined his life, he seeks a godly woman pure as the virgin sands of the Caribbean. He believes he has found such a woman in Charity. Until he discovers she is a murderer and is now faced with two choices: letting her go or turning her in to the authorities.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Historical 20th CenturyIt’s 1939, and Canada is on the cusp of entering World War II. Seventeen-year-old farm girl Cornelia has been heartbroken since the day her mother died five years ago. As a new tragedy provides Cornelia still more reason to reject her parent’s faith, a mysterious visitor appears in her hour of desperation. Alone and carrying a heavy secret, she makes a desperate choice that will haunt her for years to come. Never telling a soul, Cornelia pours out the painful events of the war in her diary.
Many decades later, Cornelia’s granddaughter, Benita, is in the midst of her own crisis, experiencing several losses in the same week, including the grandmother she adored. The resulting emotional and financial stress takes its toll on her and her husband, Ken, who is unemployed. On the brink of divorce, she discovers Cornelia’s diary. Now the secrets of her grandmother’s past will lead Benita on an unexpected journey of healing, reunion, and faith.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Mystery/SuspenseANYTHING TO PROTECT HER
Wounded navy SEAL Luke Dunham’s only goal is returning to active duty…until he rescues his physical therapist from a lethal attack. Now he’ll risk everything—even his recovery—to keep Mandy Berg’s attacker at bay. Mandy’s been burned before when she trusted the wrong man. And she knows better than to develop feelings for one of her patients. Yet how can she help falling for a man who does not hesitate to put his strength, his skill and his very life in harm’s way to keep her safe? Relying on anyone feels dangerous…but turning away Luke’s protection could be deadly.
Men of Valor: These navy SEALs were born to excel…
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Western RomanceIt’s 1893 and love is starting to warm up in this mountaintop town of Jerome Arizona.
This inspirational historical Western romance series is about empowered women who turn around their disabilities and hopeless circumstances in the late 18th century. The stories take place in the mining town of Jerome Arizona where there are only a few decent women and lots of nefarious activities.
Meet Sophia, an 18-year-old orphan from Atlanta. Her mom died from childbirth, and her dad got killed from a fight outside town when she was 6 years old. Her aunt and uncle took her in but gave her away to a girl’s house because they don’t want to be associated with someone who has a wandering eye.
She has made some good friends at the orphanage but time has come for her to leave cause she is already of age. The headmistress suggested she become a mail order bride for a tailor out West. With no options left, she answered the ad and was invited by Noah to come to Jerome for them to get married.
Come out West to this boomtown of Jerome, Arizona. Make fine clothes with the only tailor in town Noah, meet the kind and wise pastor and get to know our heroine Sophia, who’s already accepted the fact that she’s an unlovable person by most everyone standard, but still gives her all in hopes of finding true love.
PURCHASE: | Kindle |
Cozy Mystery RomanceMolly White, woman sleuth and matchmaker of the Cozy Bridal Agency takes to the high seas on the RMS Atlantia to visit her sister in England, together with love birds Morris and Clara Sutton.
But when the captain keels over dead at his dining table in front of Molly and his other guests, an unexpected mystery opens up, one that must be solved before arrival in Liverpool docks.
Can Molly uncover the culprit, and pin the perpetrator, or will he or she sail away scott free?
A sweet culinary cozy mystery.
BONUS FREE STORY also included in this book! 2 Books for the Price of 1 – Get the first book in this cozy mystery series free with this one (included inside)
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New Christian (Non) Fiction Friday Finds
Devotional for Couples
With the ongoing popularity of A&E’s Duck Dynasty, the much-loved Robertson family has more to share about family, faith, and love than ever before. Alan (the beardless brother) and his wife Lisa have created a devotional combining their hard-won wisdom about love and marriage to help bring couples closer together and closer to God.
Alan and Lisa Robertson had a failing marriage. But with unwavering faith and the unconditional love of their ever-present family, they got through the tough times and rekindled their love. Now the Robertsons want to share what they’ve learned. Combining the spiritual with the practical, The Duck Commander Devotional for Couples has a simple purpose: to bring couples closer to God and to each other. Designed with busy couples in mind, this devotional encourages husbands and wives to set aside time weekly to enhance their relationship. Spending spiritually meaningful time together every day is often impossible, but Al and Lisa arranged this devotional with realistic goals, allowing you to experience success and the desire to meet together regularly.
Each devotional includes inspirational messages, relevant scriptures, thoughtful questions, and prayer suggestions. Whether you are happy in your marriage or struggling to hold it together, setting aside time to focus on each other and deepen your connections will improve your relationship and bring you closer to God.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Women’s Christian LivingTo seek, pursue, and fall in love with Jesus with radical abandon.
Single Woman Mandy Hale shares with readers what can happen in their lives by praying this powerful prayer. She has shown women how important it is to be secure in singleness by being smart, strong, and independent. In this all new book, she will prompt readers to never settle and not miss out on the beauty that can be found in times of “waiting.” The Single Woman Says:
“Whether you’re idling in stubborn sinfulness or walking in seeming never-ending singleness or living with any sort of waiting: Waiting for love, waiting for babies, waiting for marriage, waiting for a cure, or a miracle, or a sign, or for GOD . . . I hope my journey will make the wait a little easier and the uncertainty a little bit more beautiful.”
Starting with relationships, but going beyond into areas like career, friendships, and life, Mandy will guide readers through what you can achieve if you look beyond your current circumstances, never settle for less than what God has for you, and find beauty in the waiting.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Christian LivingSpiritual Growth
Why Some Prayers Work, Why Some Don’t, and How You and God Can Change Things for Good
How would it feel to enter into prayer with confidence and assurance—certain that God heard you and that your prayers would make a difference?
It would likely feel amazing and unfamiliar. That’s because often our prayers seem to be met with silence or don’t appear to change anything. Either response can lead to disappointment or even despair in the face of our ongoing battles and unmet longings—especially when we don’t know if we’re doing something wrong or if some prayers just don’t work.
New York Times bestselling author John Eldredge confronts these issues directly in Moving Mountains by offering a hopeful approach to prayer that is effective, relational, and rarely experienced by most Christians.
In a world filled with danger, adventure, and wonder, we have at our disposal prayers that can transform the events and issues that matter most to us and to God. Moving Mountains shows you how to experience the power of daily prayer, learn the major types of prayers—including those of intervention, consecration, warfare, and healing—and to discover the intimacy of the cry of the heart prayer, listening prayer, and praying Scripture. Things can be different, and you personally have a role to play with God in bringing about that change through prayer. It may sound too good to be true, but this is your invitation to engage in the kind of prayers that can move God’s heart as well as the mountains before you.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Christian LivingSpiritual Growth
“This is not a book. This is a sanctuary. Step inside and breathe again.”–Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of Love Idol
When Christie Purifoy arrived at Maplehurst that September, she was longing for a fixed point in her busily spinning world. The sprawling Victorian farmhouse sitting atop a Pennsylvania hill held within its walls endless possibilities. It was a place where she could finally grasp and hold the thing we all long for–home.
In lyrical, contemplative prose, Christie slowly unveils the trials and triumphs of that first year at Maplehurst–from summer’s intense heat and autumn’s glorious canopy to winter’s quiet grief and spring’s unexpected mercies. Through stories of planting and preserving, of opening the gates wide to neighbors, and of learning to speak the language of a place, Christie invites you into the heartache and joy of small beginnings and the wonder of a God who would make his home with us.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Christian Fiction Friday eBook FREEBIES!!!
PLEASE check the price when you decide to purchase. The following titles offered a FREE eBook version at the time of this post. Prices may have changed. Thanks!
Contemporary RomanceCan a cowboy turned mayor help a wealthy city girl in her quest to find home?
Dani Davis just wants a place to call home. With lovable-but-quirky town folks, quaint country charm, and loads of business potential, Miller’s Creek, Texas seems like the perfect place to start over…except for the cowboy who gives her a ride into town. She secretly finances renovations to the downtown area until malicious rumors and a devastating discovery propel her down a road she never expected to travel.
Steve Miller is determined to rescue his dying hometown. When vandals jeopardize the renovation, he can’t help but suspect Dani, whose strange behavior has become fodder for local gossips. Can Steve and Dani call a truce for a higher cause, and in the process help Dani recognize the true meaning of home?
If you enjoy Christian western romance with an inspirational message of finding true home, Texas Roads is a book you’ll love.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Historical RomanceThe logging industry in eastern Texas is booming, and Deborah Vandermark plans to assist her family’s business now that she’s completed college. Unexpectedly, her best friend, Lizzie Decker, accompanies her back home–fleeing a wedding and groom she has no interest in. Deborah, the determined matchmaker, puts her sights on uniting her brother and dear friend in a true love match.
Deborah soon meets Dr. Christopher Clayton, a much-needed addition to the town. As their lives intersect, Deborah realizes that she has a much greater interest in medicine and science than the bookkeeping she was trained in. But when typhoid begins to spread and Lizzie’s jilted fiance returns, Deborah wonders if true love can overcome such obstacles…for those dearest to her, and for herself.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Contemporary RomanceFalling in love is a beautiful thing. Unless you fall for the wrong person.
Finally settled after a tragedy-laden life, 24-year-old Caleb has found security in his faith, his friends, and his career. It’s the life he’s always wanted—simple, predictable, and safe. Enter Kate Hawkins, the attractive 21-year-old stranger he rescues from a bar fight who has an odd affinity for the color pink and a unique sense of humor.
It doesn’t take long to realize their connection is intense, but after only a handful of dates, a shocking revelation surfaces. Lines are drawn, sides are taken, and loyalties are decided as their newfound relationship is brought to a sudden halt.
But unlike most couples who split, avoiding each other is impossible. As daily interactions become unbearable, one realization becomes clear: they’ve both fallen hard for the absolute wrong person, which leaves both scrambling for a way to make it right.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
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PURCHASE: | Gift Card |
February 10, 2016
Do You Know How to Absolutely Revive Our Country?
Let’s face it. Our country is in trouble.
And if we want to reverse that trend it calls for every one of us to do our part.
Please don’t get me wrong. I still believe with all my heart that America is absolutely the best place to live.
But I also believe that unless we make some changes that won’t last for long.
As much as we cry for change, most of us balk at the concept. And I am no exception.
Change is uncomfortable, scary, and unknown. It forces us to step outside our comfy little boxes. It often means confronting things we’d rather not confront.
Thankfully, God’s Word gives us a four-step process…four absolute must-haves…in order to impact the sort of change we seek. This change will impact not just our country, but us as well.
Because I’m so fearful of what might lay ahead for our children and grandchildren if we don’t make the necessary changes, I’m writing this post today as a plea to all believers.
If you truly want to impact change in our country, read this post:
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4 Must-Haves to Change Our Country
1. God’s people must humble themselves.
I know. I feel the same way. I’d much rather make others change instead of myself.
But according to 2 Chronicles 7:14, God is calling for His people–not other people–to step forward and humble themselves.
It’s like being a little kid again and having to apologize for something that was someone else’s fault. I get that same clawing on my insides. The same sour stomach.
But if I take my feelings and analyze them a little closer, what we dissect is nothing more than human pride.
We want to be right. We want those in opposition to us to be wrong.
But this isn’t a matter of right and wrong. It’s a matter of obedience. God says we should humble ourselves. And He says it throughout His Word (Deuteronomy 8:2-3; Psalm 25:9; Mark 10:45; Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Peter 5:5) . And throughout His Word we see evidence of His abhorrence of pride, humility’s counterpart (Proverbs 11:2; Romans 12:16; Galatians 6:3; James 4:6; Revelation 3:17).
But why do we need to be humble? Keep reading.
2. God’s people must pray.
And I mean the kind of prayer where we cry out to God, grieved for our country and grieved over our sin.
That’s what Nehemiah, Ezra, and the people of Jerusalem did, and guess what happened?
Their national prayer meeting morphed into national revival.
But here’s the clincher.
God won’t be mocked. He knows the difference between sincere hearts and lip service. Don’t think for one second that we can manipulate God into doing what we want Him to do. It won’t work.
Instead we must humble ourselves (here’s the why) in order to pray effectively.
There is a concentrated prayer movement going on this year in our country, and already I sense changes taking place because of it.
“America is at a crossroads, and I believe we should take every opportunity to stand up for the things of God and His Word.” –Franklin Graham
Please do all you can to attend your state’s rally and take some friends. There is no better way to impact our country than through concentrated prayer with other believers. Here’s the link to the Decision American tour schedule (listed by state):
3. God’s people must seek His face.
What does it mean to seek God’s face? The easiest way to explain it is by mentioning what it’s not.
It’s not seeking God’s hand.
We’re really good at that. Sort of like kids at Christmas, with hands outstretched, saying “Gimme, gimme, gimme.”
God wants us to know Him. That requires us seeking after Him with all our hearts. He promises that if we do that, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:13
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4. God’s people must repent.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Repent is a word that gets a bad rap. It conjures up images of long-bearded old men in long robes, carrying signs with jagged black letters which spell out the word “Repent.”
To make matters worse, repent is a word that makes us bristle as pride once more rears its ugly head.
There’s that need for humility again. See why God listed it first? It’s a prerequisite for prayer, seeking God, and repentance.
Repentance simply means turning away from our sin and back toward God.
We like to think that we can chase after both, but it just doesn’t work that way. If we’re chasing after our sin, we’re running away from God. If we’re chasing after God, we’re running away from our sin.
Many great spiritual leaders in the Bible identified with the sins of their nation in their prayers. Moses. Jeremiah. Nehemiah. Paul.
Pride wants to keep us from this identification with national sin. After all, we weren’t the ones who made legal what God abhors.
In one sense you’re right. We might not have voted for those Supreme Court cases, but what did we do to stop it? Are we speaking out against it? Or are we so afraid of offending others and being labeled as a narrow-minded bigot, that we’ve clamped our jaws shut?
We might not be guilty of commission, but each and every one of us are guilty by association for omitting to do what is needed to stop it.
Folks, we’ve go to get this step right if we’re to have any hope of rescuing our country from God’s judgement. If you can’t do it for yourself, think about your precious children and grandchildren–and what sort of future awaits them–and do it for them.
And let us not think that we don’t have to repent of our own sins since we’re busy confessing the sins of America. Repentance is both on a personal level and a national level.
Summary of the 4 Must-Haves in Order to Spare Our Country
Humility
Prayer
Seek God’s Face
Repentance
And what will be the result if we follow through with God’s message in 2 Chronicles 7:14?
Just what we need. He’ll heal our land.
Following through on this 4-step equation is critical not just for our lives, but for the lives of those who follow. So let’s do all we can to live lives of powerful impact and make a difference on our knees!
COMMENT CHATTER: What are some specific ways in which you pray for our country? Sound off in the comments.
Other posts regarding prayer:
The Best Resolution for the New Year
See How to Reach Others Through the Power of Open
5 Reasons Our Prayers Get Blocked
How Praying for the Nations Changed Me
What We’ve Got Here Is Failure to Communicate
NEW RELEASE – THE POWER OF GODLY INFLUENCE (a 29-day devotional journey). Kindle version is currently on sale for $0.99.
February 8, 2016
COTT: Round 2 – See Great Results from Last Week!
It’s time for Round 2 in our Clash of the Titles!
I must confess. I’m coming at Round 2 feeling a little defeated. The title I found most intriguing (Chained Free) got knocked out last week!
(But I am totally okay with this. I still have other titles I’m pulling for, and I hope you’re enjoying this title boxing match as much as I am.)
Last Week’s Results, Then on to Round 2!
Here are the results from Round 1 last week.
Chained Free vs. The Path I Follow – The Path I Follow won by a narrow margin of 52.2% of the votes.
I’ll Always Follow vs. Freedom’s Slave – I’ll Always Follow won by a whopping 78.3% of the votes, the largest win of the week!
Freeway’s Cross vs. Highway to Freedom – Highway to Freedom claimed the win with a large margin of 72.7%.
The Path Behind Me vs. Freedom’s Quest – The Path Behind Me champed out by 60.9%.
Run Free vs. Freedom’s Journey – Freedom’s Journey beat Run Free by 73.9% of the vote, the third largest margin of victory.
Still I Will Follow vs. Freedom’s Run – Still I Will Follow took the lead by 75%, the second largest margin of victory.
Freeways vs. Freed – Freed narrowly took the win with 52% of the vote.
Crossways vs. Freedoms’ Way – Freedom’s Way won by a good lead of 62%.
See which book titles got KO’d in @Cathy_Bryant’s Clash of the Titles & vote in Round 2!
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How I Interpret Last Week’s Results
Continuing the journey theme is apparently important to readers. So far we’ve had roads, path, way, pilgrimage, bridge, and crossroads.
The word “freedom” is important to readers. In the majority of the bouts where one title contained the word “freedom,” that title won.
Voters from last week liked the bracket you can print out to keep up with results. If you missed printing out a bracket last week, you can still get one via the form below.
Time For Round 2!
If you’re just now making it to the Clash of the Titles, let me give a few details first to help you understand what we’re doing here. Below you’ll find polls/voting boxes that you’ll use to cast your vote in Round 2, but first some background.
I wanted reader help in choosing the perfect title for the seventh book in the Miller’s Creek novels, and I wanted a way to help beat the winter blues. (We had another foot of snow this past week…UGH!) So my resulting (and somewhat crazy brain child) is a Clash of the Titles competition.
The titles I ended up putting in the Clash of the Titles all relate to freedom, Christ as our freedom, chains and the stuff that enslaves us, running (since our heroine is a runner), the cross, putting other things behind, freeways and highways and journeys and quests, etc. (truly not all that important in making your choices), and following after Christ.
As you vote, please ask yourself: Which of these titles is the most intriguing and compelling and would make me want to read more?
Here’s the book blurb again to help give you a sense of the story.
A transformed wild-child returns to Miller’s Creek to care for her ailing father and face the judgmental ranch manager she’s always loved. When a flood threatens Miller’s Creek and their respective properties, Bella joins forces with Clay to protect what they both hold dear. Though Bella attempts to persuade Clay and others that she’s not the same person they remember, all her efforts come to naught when nasty rumors jeopardize her teaching career. Now on shaky ground, Bella is forced to depend solely on God to plow through the false accusations of a student who has shredded what was left of her reputation. But is it too little too late?
For even more information, you can see this post: http://www.catbryant.com/clash-of-the-titles/
Or if you’re unfamiliar with the Miller’s Creek novels you can view them on Amazon or check out the Books tab at the top right corner of the page.
Round 2 Voting Polls
We’re down to eight titles as we draw closer to finding the perfect title for the seventh Miller’s Creek novel. Below you will find four different polls for Round 2. Please cast your vote in each of the four polls. You will need to click the circle next to the title you prefer, and then click the red “vote” button. This will narrow our choices from eight titles to four for round three semi-finals on next Monday, February 15, 2016.
Happy Voting!
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width: 94%;
overflow: hidden;
}
/*
Custom checkbox and radio button style
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
/*
Custom fields
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
div.yop-poll-customs-9_yp56b970eda99f0 {
clear: both;
}
div.yop-poll-customs-9_yp56b970eda99f0 ul {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
overflow: hidden;
width: 100%;
}
div.yop-poll-customs-9_yp56b970eda99f0 ul li.yop-poll-li-custom-9_yp56b970eda99f0 {
display: block;
font-size:14px;
list-style: none;
}
div.yop-poll-customs-9_yp56b970eda99f0 ul li.yop-poll-li-custom-9_yp56b970eda99f0 label {
display: block;
}
div#yop-poll-container-9_yp56b970eda99f0 li.yop-poll-li-custom-9_yp56b970eda99f0 input[type="text"] {
width: 94%;
}
/*
Vote Button
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
.yop-poll-footer { /*height: 4em;*/ }
.yop-poll-vote-centered-9_yp56b970eda99f0 { text-align:center; }
#yop-poll-vote-9_yp56b970eda99f0 div button {
cursor:pointer;
display: block;
font-size:14px;
margin: 0 auto;
}
#yop-poll-vote-9_yp56b970eda99f0 div button.yop_poll_vote_button {}
#yop-poll-vote-9_yp56b970eda99f0 div button.yop_poll_wordpress_vote_button { margin: 1em auto 0; }
#yop-poll-vote-9_yp56b970eda99f0 div button.yop_poll_anonymous_vote_button { margin: 1em auto 0; }
/*
Results
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
li.yop-poll-results-9_yp56b970eda99f0 {
font-size: 12px;
font-style: italic;
font-weight: normal;
margin-left: 15px;
color: #38595E;
}
/*
Style for results that are displayed on columns
..................................
*/
li.yop-poll-li-answer-9_yp56b970eda99f0 {
float: left;
display: inline-block;
width: 100%;
padding: 1%;
margin: 1%;
}
#yop-poll-vote-9_yp56b970eda99f0 div#yop-poll-results-9_yp56b970eda99f0 {
float: right;
width: auto;
}
#yop-poll-vote-9_yp56b970eda99f0 div#yop-poll-results-9_yp56b970eda99f0 a {
color:#000;
text-decoration:underline;
font-size:12px;
}
#yop-poll-vote-9_yp56b970eda99f0 div#yop-poll-back-9_yp56b970eda99f0 a {
color:#000;
text-decoration:underline;
font-size:12px;
}
#yop-poll-vote-9_yp56b970eda99f0 div#yop-poll-archive-9_yp56b970eda99f0 a {
color:#000;
text-decoration:underline;
font-size:12px;
}
#yop-poll-vote-9_yp56b970eda99f0 div {
float:left;
width:100%;
}
/*
Result Bar
..................................
*/
.yop-poll-results-bar-9_yp56b970eda99f0 div { background:#555; width:90%;}
/*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXTRAS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
/*
CAPTCHA
..................................
*/
#yop-poll-captcha-input-div-9_yp56b970eda99f0 { margin-top:5px; }
#yop-poll-captcha-helpers-div-9_yp56b970eda99f0 {
width:30px;
float:left;
margin-left:5px;
height:0px;
}
#yop-poll-captcha-helpers-div-9_yp56b970eda99f0 img { margin-bottom:2px; }
#yop-poll-captcha-image-div-9_yp56b970eda99f0 { margin-bottom:5px; }
#yop_poll_captcha_image_9_yp56b970eda99f0 { float:left; }
.yop-poll-clear-9_yp56b970eda99f0 { clear:both; }
.yop-poll-name-9_yp56b970eda99f0 { color:#38595E; font-size: 18px; }
.yop-poll-li-answer-9_yp56b970eda99f0 label img { max-width: 98%; }
.yop-poll-li-result-9_yp56b970eda99f0 label span img { max-width: 98%; }
.content { position :unset !important; }
div.yop-poll-container br,
div#yop-poll-container-9_yp56b970eda99f0 br { display: none; }
div#yop_poll_vote_options_div-9_yp56b970eda99f0 div:nth-last-of-type(1) { display: none; }#yop-poll-container-9_yp56b970eda99f0 img {
max-width: 200px;
} .yop-poll-forms-display{}
Which of these two titles do you prefer?
The Path I Follow
I'll Always Follow
vote
/*
Main Container
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
#yop-poll-other-answer-10_yp56b970edbbb7b-other {
border:1px solid #000000;
color:#000000;
}
.yop-poll-customfield-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
border:1px solid #000000;
color:#000000;
}
div#yop-poll-container-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
background:#fff;
box-sizing: border-box;
color: #555;
display: inline-block;
font-size: 14px;
padding: 10px;
width: 200px;
zoom: 1;
}
/* A nice little reset */
div.yop-poll-container * {
}
form#yop-poll-form-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
}
/*
Error message
..................................
*/
div#yop-poll-container-error-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
font-size:.8em;
font-style:italic;
color:red;
text-transform:lowercase;
text-align:center;
}
/*
Success message
..................................
*/
div#yop-poll-container-success-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
font-size:.8em;
font-style:italic;
color:green;
text-align:center;
}
/*
Poll Question
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
div#yop-poll-questions-container-10_yp56b970edbbb7b { margin:.5em; }
div.yop-poll-question-container-10_yp56b970edbbb7b { margin: 0; }
div.yop-poll-question-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
border: 0 none;
margin: 0 0 2em;
padding: .25em;
text-align: center;
font-size: 14px;
}
/*
Poll Options / Answers
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
div.yop-poll-answers-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {}
div.yop-poll-answers-10_yp56b970edbbb7b ul {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
div.yop-poll-answers-10_yp56b970edbbb7b ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-10_yp56b970edbbb7b,
div.yop-poll-answers-10_yp56b970edbbb7b ul li.yop-poll-li-result-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 2em;
}
div.yop-poll-answers-10_yp56b970edbbb7b ul li.yop-poll-li-result-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {padding-bottom: 1em;}
/*
Label
..................................
*/
div.yop-poll-answers-10_yp56b970edbbb7b ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-10_yp56b970edbbb7b label {
margin:0px;
font-style:normal;
font-weight:normal;
font-size:14px;
float:none;
display:inline-block;
}
/* Actual text label of the answer */
div.yop-poll-answers-10_yp56b970edbbb7b ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-10_yp56b970edbbb7b label:nth-of-type(2) {
}
/*
Custom answer / Other
..................................
*/
div.yop-poll-answers-10_yp56b970edbbb7b ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-10_yp56b970edbbb7b label:nth-of-type(3) {
width: 100%;
overflow: hidden;
}
div#yop-poll-container-10_yp56b970edbbb7b li.yop-poll-li-answer-10_yp56b970edbbb7b label:nth-of-type(3) input[type="text"] {
width: 94%;
overflow: hidden;
}
/*
Custom checkbox and radio button style
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
/*
Custom fields
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
div.yop-poll-customs-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
clear: both;
}
div.yop-poll-customs-10_yp56b970edbbb7b ul {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
overflow: hidden;
width: 100%;
}
div.yop-poll-customs-10_yp56b970edbbb7b ul li.yop-poll-li-custom-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
display: block;
font-size:14px;
list-style: none;
}
div.yop-poll-customs-10_yp56b970edbbb7b ul li.yop-poll-li-custom-10_yp56b970edbbb7b label {
display: block;
}
div#yop-poll-container-10_yp56b970edbbb7b li.yop-poll-li-custom-10_yp56b970edbbb7b input[type="text"] {
width: 94%;
}
/*
Vote Button
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
.yop-poll-footer { /*height: 4em;*/ }
.yop-poll-vote-centered-10_yp56b970edbbb7b { text-align:center; }
#yop-poll-vote-10_yp56b970edbbb7b div button {
cursor:pointer;
display: block;
font-size:14px;
margin: 0 auto;
}
#yop-poll-vote-10_yp56b970edbbb7b div button.yop_poll_vote_button {}
#yop-poll-vote-10_yp56b970edbbb7b div button.yop_poll_wordpress_vote_button { margin: 1em auto 0; }
#yop-poll-vote-10_yp56b970edbbb7b div button.yop_poll_anonymous_vote_button { margin: 1em auto 0; }
/*
Results
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
li.yop-poll-results-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
font-size: 12px;
font-style: italic;
font-weight: normal;
margin-left: 15px;
color: #38595E;
}
/*
Style for results that are displayed on columns
..................................
*/
li.yop-poll-li-answer-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
float: left;
display: inline-block;
width: 100%;
padding: 1%;
margin: 1%;
}
#yop-poll-vote-10_yp56b970edbbb7b div#yop-poll-results-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
float: right;
width: auto;
}
#yop-poll-vote-10_yp56b970edbbb7b div#yop-poll-results-10_yp56b970edbbb7b a {
color:#000;
text-decoration:underline;
font-size:12px;
}
#yop-poll-vote-10_yp56b970edbbb7b div#yop-poll-back-10_yp56b970edbbb7b a {
color:#000;
text-decoration:underline;
font-size:12px;
}
#yop-poll-vote-10_yp56b970edbbb7b div#yop-poll-archive-10_yp56b970edbbb7b a {
color:#000;
text-decoration:underline;
font-size:12px;
}
#yop-poll-vote-10_yp56b970edbbb7b div {
float:left;
width:100%;
}
/*
Result Bar
..................................
*/
.yop-poll-results-bar-10_yp56b970edbbb7b div { background:#555; width:90%;}
/*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXTRAS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
/*
CAPTCHA
..................................
*/
#yop-poll-captcha-input-div-10_yp56b970edbbb7b { margin-top:5px; }
#yop-poll-captcha-helpers-div-10_yp56b970edbbb7b {
width:30px;
float:left;
margin-left:5px;
height:0px;
}
#yop-poll-captcha-helpers-div-10_yp56b970edbbb7b img { margin-bottom:2px; }
#yop-poll-captcha-image-div-10_yp56b970edbbb7b { margin-bottom:5px; }
#yop_poll_captcha_image_10_yp56b970edbbb7b { float:left; }
.yop-poll-clear-10_yp56b970edbbb7b { clear:both; }
.yop-poll-name-10_yp56b970edbbb7b { color:#38595E; font-size: 18px; }
.yop-poll-li-answer-10_yp56b970edbbb7b label img { max-width: 98%; }
.yop-poll-li-result-10_yp56b970edbbb7b label span img { max-width: 98%; }
.content { position :unset !important; }
div.yop-poll-container br,
div#yop-poll-container-10_yp56b970edbbb7b br { display: none; }
div#yop_poll_vote_options_div-10_yp56b970edbbb7b div:nth-last-of-type(1) { display: none; }#yop-poll-container-10_yp56b970edbbb7b img {
max-width: 200px;
} .yop-poll-forms-display{}
Which of these two titles do you prefer?
Highway to Freedom
The Path Behind Me
vote
/*
Main Container
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
#yop-poll-other-answer-11_yp56b970edc7910-other {
border:1px solid #000000;
color:#000000;
}
.yop-poll-customfield-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
border:1px solid #000000;
color:#000000;
}
div#yop-poll-container-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
background:#fff;
box-sizing: border-box;
color: #555;
display: inline-block;
font-size: 14px;
padding: 10px;
width: 200px;
zoom: 1;
}
/* A nice little reset */
div.yop-poll-container * {
}
form#yop-poll-form-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
}
/*
Error message
..................................
*/
div#yop-poll-container-error-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
font-size:.8em;
font-style:italic;
color:red;
text-transform:lowercase;
text-align:center;
}
/*
Success message
..................................
*/
div#yop-poll-container-success-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
font-size:.8em;
font-style:italic;
color:green;
text-align:center;
}
/*
Poll Question
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
div#yop-poll-questions-container-11_yp56b970edc7910 { margin:.5em; }
div.yop-poll-question-container-11_yp56b970edc7910 { margin: 0; }
div.yop-poll-question-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
border: 0 none;
margin: 0 0 2em;
padding: .25em;
text-align: center;
font-size: 14px;
}
/*
Poll Options / Answers
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
div.yop-poll-answers-11_yp56b970edc7910 {}
div.yop-poll-answers-11_yp56b970edc7910 ul {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
div.yop-poll-answers-11_yp56b970edc7910 ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-11_yp56b970edc7910,
div.yop-poll-answers-11_yp56b970edc7910 ul li.yop-poll-li-result-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 2em;
}
div.yop-poll-answers-11_yp56b970edc7910 ul li.yop-poll-li-result-11_yp56b970edc7910 {padding-bottom: 1em;}
/*
Label
..................................
*/
div.yop-poll-answers-11_yp56b970edc7910 ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-11_yp56b970edc7910 label {
margin:0px;
font-style:normal;
font-weight:normal;
font-size:14px;
float:none;
display:inline-block;
}
/* Actual text label of the answer */
div.yop-poll-answers-11_yp56b970edc7910 ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-11_yp56b970edc7910 label:nth-of-type(2) {
}
/*
Custom answer / Other
..................................
*/
div.yop-poll-answers-11_yp56b970edc7910 ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-11_yp56b970edc7910 label:nth-of-type(3) {
width: 100%;
overflow: hidden;
}
div#yop-poll-container-11_yp56b970edc7910 li.yop-poll-li-answer-11_yp56b970edc7910 label:nth-of-type(3) input[type="text"] {
width: 94%;
overflow: hidden;
}
/*
Custom checkbox and radio button style
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
/*
Custom fields
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
div.yop-poll-customs-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
clear: both;
}
div.yop-poll-customs-11_yp56b970edc7910 ul {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
overflow: hidden;
width: 100%;
}
div.yop-poll-customs-11_yp56b970edc7910 ul li.yop-poll-li-custom-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
display: block;
font-size:14px;
list-style: none;
}
div.yop-poll-customs-11_yp56b970edc7910 ul li.yop-poll-li-custom-11_yp56b970edc7910 label {
display: block;
}
div#yop-poll-container-11_yp56b970edc7910 li.yop-poll-li-custom-11_yp56b970edc7910 input[type="text"] {
width: 94%;
}
/*
Vote Button
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
.yop-poll-footer { /*height: 4em;*/ }
.yop-poll-vote-centered-11_yp56b970edc7910 { text-align:center; }
#yop-poll-vote-11_yp56b970edc7910 div button {
cursor:pointer;
display: block;
font-size:14px;
margin: 0 auto;
}
#yop-poll-vote-11_yp56b970edc7910 div button.yop_poll_vote_button {}
#yop-poll-vote-11_yp56b970edc7910 div button.yop_poll_wordpress_vote_button { margin: 1em auto 0; }
#yop-poll-vote-11_yp56b970edc7910 div button.yop_poll_anonymous_vote_button { margin: 1em auto 0; }
/*
Results
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
li.yop-poll-results-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
font-size: 12px;
font-style: italic;
font-weight: normal;
margin-left: 15px;
color: #38595E;
}
/*
Style for results that are displayed on columns
..................................
*/
li.yop-poll-li-answer-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
float: left;
display: inline-block;
width: 100%;
padding: 1%;
margin: 1%;
}
#yop-poll-vote-11_yp56b970edc7910 div#yop-poll-results-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
float: right;
width: auto;
}
#yop-poll-vote-11_yp56b970edc7910 div#yop-poll-results-11_yp56b970edc7910 a {
color:#000;
text-decoration:underline;
font-size:12px;
}
#yop-poll-vote-11_yp56b970edc7910 div#yop-poll-back-11_yp56b970edc7910 a {
color:#000;
text-decoration:underline;
font-size:12px;
}
#yop-poll-vote-11_yp56b970edc7910 div#yop-poll-archive-11_yp56b970edc7910 a {
color:#000;
text-decoration:underline;
font-size:12px;
}
#yop-poll-vote-11_yp56b970edc7910 div {
float:left;
width:100%;
}
/*
Result Bar
..................................
*/
.yop-poll-results-bar-11_yp56b970edc7910 div { background:#555; width:90%;}
/*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXTRAS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
/*
CAPTCHA
..................................
*/
#yop-poll-captcha-input-div-11_yp56b970edc7910 { margin-top:5px; }
#yop-poll-captcha-helpers-div-11_yp56b970edc7910 {
width:30px;
float:left;
margin-left:5px;
height:0px;
}
#yop-poll-captcha-helpers-div-11_yp56b970edc7910 img { margin-bottom:2px; }
#yop-poll-captcha-image-div-11_yp56b970edc7910 { margin-bottom:5px; }
#yop_poll_captcha_image_11_yp56b970edc7910 { float:left; }
.yop-poll-clear-11_yp56b970edc7910 { clear:both; }
.yop-poll-name-11_yp56b970edc7910 { color:#38595E; font-size: 18px; }
.yop-poll-li-answer-11_yp56b970edc7910 label img { max-width: 98%; }
.yop-poll-li-result-11_yp56b970edc7910 label span img { max-width: 98%; }
.content { position :unset !important; }
div.yop-poll-container br,
div#yop-poll-container-11_yp56b970edc7910 br { display: none; }
div#yop_poll_vote_options_div-11_yp56b970edc7910 div:nth-last-of-type(1) { display: none; }#yop-poll-container-11_yp56b970edc7910 img {
max-width: 200px;
} .yop-poll-forms-display{}
Which of these two titles do you prefer?
Freedom's Journey
Still I Will Follow
vote
/*
Main Container
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
#yop-poll-other-answer-12_yp56b970edd4b45-other {
border:1px solid #000000;
color:#000000;
}
.yop-poll-customfield-12_yp56b970edd4b45 {
border:1px solid #000000;
color:#000000;
}
div#yop-poll-container-12_yp56b970edd4b45 {
background:#fff;
box-sizing: border-box;
color: #555;
display: inline-block;
font-size: 14px;
padding: 10px;
width: 200px;
zoom: 1;
}
/* A nice little reset */
div.yop-poll-container * {
}
form#yop-poll-form-12_yp56b970edd4b45 {
}
/*
Error message
..................................
*/
div#yop-poll-container-error-12_yp56b970edd4b45 {
font-size:.8em;
font-style:italic;
color:red;
text-transform:lowercase;
text-align:center;
}
/*
Success message
..................................
*/
div#yop-poll-container-success-12_yp56b970edd4b45 {
font-size:.8em;
font-style:italic;
color:green;
text-align:center;
}
/*
Poll Question
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
div#yop-poll-questions-container-12_yp56b970edd4b45 { margin:.5em; }
div.yop-poll-question-container-12_yp56b970edd4b45 { margin: 0; }
div.yop-poll-question-12_yp56b970edd4b45 {
border: 0 none;
margin: 0 0 2em;
padding: .25em;
text-align: center;
font-size: 14px;
}
/*
Poll Options / Answers
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
div.yop-poll-answers-12_yp56b970edd4b45 {}
div.yop-poll-answers-12_yp56b970edd4b45 ul {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
div.yop-poll-answers-12_yp56b970edd4b45 ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-12_yp56b970edd4b45,
div.yop-poll-answers-12_yp56b970edd4b45 ul li.yop-poll-li-result-12_yp56b970edd4b45 {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 2em;
}
div.yop-poll-answers-12_yp56b970edd4b45 ul li.yop-poll-li-result-12_yp56b970edd4b45 {padding-bottom: 1em;}
/*
Label
..................................
*/
div.yop-poll-answers-12_yp56b970edd4b45 ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-12_yp56b970edd4b45 label {
margin:0px;
font-style:normal;
font-weight:normal;
font-size:14px;
float:none;
display:inline-block;
}
/* Actual text label of the answer */
div.yop-poll-answers-12_yp56b970edd4b45 ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-12_yp56b970edd4b45 label:nth-of-type(2) {
}
/*
Custom answer / Other
..................................
*/
div.yop-poll-answers-12_yp56b970edd4b45 ul li.yop-poll-li-answer-12_yp56b970edd4b45 label:nth-of-type(3) {
width: 100%;
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Which of these two titles do you prefer?
Freed
Freedom's Way
vote
Round 2 Wrap-Up
Thanks so much for you help in choosing the perfect title for Miller’s Creek #7. I can’t wait to see with titles get knocked out in Round 2! (*Biting my fingernails,* hoping my favorites don’t get pummeled this week!)
One thing you can do to help is to get as many people to vote as possible. The more the merrier! I created some handy share buttons to make this as easy as possible. See them right below!
COMMENTS CHIT-CHAT: Did any of your favorite titles get knocked out in last week’s matches? Which are your favorites to win this week? Why?
The post COTT: Round 2 – See Great Results from Last Week! appeared first on Cathy Bryant.
February 5, 2016
Christian Fiction Friday and MORE for Friday, Feb. 5, 2016
We are beginning something new this month. CHRISTIAN FICTION FRIDAY AND MORE! We will be posting new fiction and non-fiction releases, along with some other great deals that we may find for you. We are also in the process of upgrading our email system. Once completed, we will be able to have a separate email list just for this post. You will be able to opt in or opt out at anytime. Look for more details on this coming soon!
ATTENTION AUTHORS and PUBLISHERS! If you have an upcoming release that you would like featured on our Christian Fiction Friday and More posts, let us know by sending an email with all the information to Office@catbryant.com
DISCLOSURE: We haven’t read all these new books, so please use your own judgement when purchasing them. Just to be honest, we are Amazon Affiliates, which means we receive a few cents for every dollar of purchase. This comes from Amazon’s pocket, not yours, and it helps us with the expenses of running this site. Thanks for your support! :)
#amreading Christian Fiction Friday and More for Feb. 5, 2016
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New Christian Fiction Friday Finds
Sci-fi/FantasyPart 2 of Jill Williamson’s Epic Fantasy Series The Kinsman Chronicles
With Prince Wilek still searching Armania for a murderer, his brother Prince Trevn finds himself pulled deeper into the dangerous politics of who will be Heir. Trevn, though, is far more interested in his studies with a local priest and the attentions of a young honor maiden.
The book that he has been copying during his lessons is not the book that teaches of the god of the soil. Instead, it teaches of a one true God. If accurate, then it means there is no soil god to satiate. There is nothing they can do to save their world, and all of King Echad’s sacrifices have been futile.
PURCHASE: | Kindle |
Mystery/SuspenseFour Best Friends.
And Then One Went Missing . . .
In college, Griffin McCray and his three best friends had their lives planned out. Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore Police Department, Declan Grey would head to the FBI, and Parker Mitchell would study to become a crime scene analyst. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world–and friendships–crumbled.
Now years later, Griffin has left the police and his friendships behind. Still trying to forget a case that went bad when he was a SWAT team sniper, he’s living a quiet life as a park ranger at Gettysburg. Quiet until skeletal remains are uncovered near Little Round Top–and they aren’t Civil War-era.
Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott discovers evidence pointing to the work of an expert sniper. When FBI agent Declan Grey steps in to take over the case, past and present collide. Griffin soon realizes he’ll need to confront some of the darkest days of his life if he–and those he cares about–are going to escape a downward spiral of crime, danger, and murder.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Contemporary RomanceModern Conveniences- a new series featuring contemporary marriages of convenience.
As a widowed, single mom, Lyndsey Allen has a load of financial troubles. Despite her best efforts to stay afloat, she faces foreclosure. With a young son to consider she needs a miracle and quick, but pride won’t let her accept money from a longtime friend.
When handyman Shep Patterson promised his best friend that he’d look after Lyndsey should anything happen to him, he never imagined that would include marriage, yet a proposal slips from his mouth.
Lyndsey accepts his proposal, shocking them both. Will their marriage of convenience hold just as many surprises?
PURCHASE: | Kindle |
Historical RomancePrincess Jasmine of Wynster has great reason to rejoice, for true love has prevailed. She is happily married to the clergyman her family had once rejected, the Royal Family has blessed the match, and she has just learned that she is expecting.
Jasmine’s joy is shattered by remnants of her past. The arrogant Marsden Prince is now the King. He demands a chance to win Jasmine’s hand once more. When the he learns that she has already married, he declares war on Wynster in order to claim Jasmine as his bride.
The tiny kingdom is outmatched. Marsden troops soon surround the castle, demanding Jasmine’s immediate surrender. The Wynster King does not give ground, vowing to protect her at all costs. Jasmine knows that her kingdom will fall and all her loved ones will perish if Wynster does not give ground. She sees a dangerous path that may lead to peace. Leaving the castle walls to approach the enemy may prove suicidal, or it may change everything.
NO GREATER LOVE follows the Wynster Royal Family as they discover the meaning of sacrifice, but also of grace, forgiveness, and the power of God.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Contemporary Romance and companion Bible Study
Now bundled in this digital collection, the sixth Miller’s Creek novel
CROSSROADS and its companion Bible study BELIEVE & KNOW, both of which explore the topic of being prepared to share and defend our faith in Christ.
CROSSROADS
A soldier battles for a prodigal’s soul…
A bitter prodigal starts her own real estate company in the picturesque town of Miller’s Creek, Texas. Then her young daughter’s disturbing symptoms lead to a troubling diagnosis. With her new life now turned upside down, Mara struggles to keep her business afloat. And her daughter’s worsening condition forces her to rethink her beliefs about Carter Callahan and his God. Will Mara make the return to Christian faith in the face of life’s greatest challenge?
An ex-military operative struggles with the return to civilian life while coping with his rebellious teen-aged daughter. During a house-search, Carter meets Mara, a headstrong Realtor who wants nothing to do with his God. But when Mara’s little girl is diagnosed with leukemia, the clock begins ticking for him to convince Mara to return to a life of faith. Just as he seems to be making headway, circumstances beyond his control throw his efforts into a tailspin. Can Carter learn to rest in the sovereignty of God?
BELIEVE & KNOW
Each human being, on their journey and search for truth, must at some point reflect on their life and answer important questions. Why am I here? Is there life beyond life as I now know it? How did the universe and man come into existence, and how does the answer affect me? This book addresses the hard questions and decisions that accompany the search for truth. It was written with three types of readers in mind: those who struggle with faith, many times because of skewed perceptions or even anger; those who profess faith in the unseen, but find it difficult to live out; and finally those whose faith is strong, but who need answers to combat the arguments and questions of others.
PURCHASE: | Kindle |
Mystery/SuspenseTV reporter Erica Sparks has become a superstar overnight. Is it due to her hard work and talent, or is she at the center of a spiraling conspiracy?
Erica Sparks is a beautiful and ambitious reporter who has just landed her dream job at Global News Network in New York. And while it was hard to leave Jenny, her cherished eight-year-old daughter, in the custody of her ex-husband, Erica is determined to succeed in the cutthroat world of big-time broadcasting. She can only hope her troubled past won’t come back to sabotage her dreams.
Although the wounds from her divorce are still fresh, Erica can’t deny the chemistry between her and her new producer, the handsome and empathic Greg Underwood. But a relationship is the last thing she wants right now.
On her very first assignment, Erica inadvertently witnesses—and films—a horrific tragedy, scooping all the other networks. Mere weeks later, another tragedy strikes—again, right in front of Erica and her cameras. Her career skyrockets overnight, but Erica is troubled. Deeply. This can’t just be coincidence. But what is it? Erica will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. But she has to make sure disaster—and her troubled past—don’t catch up with her first.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Historical RomanceAbducted against his will, theater manager Matthew Scott is conscripted into the Confederate army because of his Copperhead senator father’s political leanings. Injured at Malvern Hill, Matthew is taken by the Union army to Shirley Plantation in Virginia where he is tended by seamstress Angelina Rose, a freed slave. Given an opportunity to leave the South and start a new life for herself, Angelina remained for the sake of her sister’s orphaned twins who are still enslaved. Matthew must use his acting skills to remain safe. Will his return to Shirley Plantation settle a mystery concerning his father’s past? And will Matthew find the family he longs for?
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Historical RomanceRachel Matthews isn’t one to rely on others to take care of her. Homeless and alone, she still wants to make her own way and her own money to buy back the family ranch–even if she’s forced into the life of a dance hall girl. Horrified by her circumstances, Rachel’s brother, who is away mining for gold, sends a friend to rescue her.
Cattle baron John McIntyre is focused on acquiring as much land as possible in Montana and has little time to deal with a dance hall gal. Rachel isn’t sure she can take one more day in John’s home–especially once she discovers that he’s the one who holds ransom the key to her family’s future.
Sparks fly between this spunky, independent heroine and the ruggedly handsome hero as they navigate the snarled terrain of pride, greed, faith, and love in Maggie Brendan’s delightful series set in the Old West.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Historical Biblical FictionCanaan has ravaged Israel. The people are in hiding. All that stands between surrender and hope is one untested woman.
Deborah will never forget the day her father and brothers left to worship at the Lord’s tabernacle–or the wails of her mother after finding their bodies at the city gates. The memories of Canaan’s cruelty haunt her and all of Israel. Now in this dark time, the Lord calls on Deborah to lead His people away from the idols of other nations and back to Him.
Deborah never asked to be a prophetess or a judge over God’s people. Still, she cannot deny His voice or the visions that accompany it. Can her family ever understand? Will her people believe God’s calling on her life? And can the Canaanite menace be stopped?
With her trademark impeccable research and imaginative storytelling, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the story of Israel’s most powerful woman in this intriguing and inspiring novel.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Mystery/SuspenseIntensity. Skill. Tenacity.
The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have it all.
When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians to protect his son. But when Wade’s bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap.
Olivia’s skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade’s stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closest to him–including Olivia. But in her mind, even more dangerous than the threats to her life is the hold her handsome client has on her heart.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
New Christian (Non) Fiction Friday Finds
DevotionalEach of us possesses some measure influence. And never has power of godly influence been more important. This 29-day devotional is a journey through scriptures of how to best use our influence to impact our world for Christ.
Join us for the journey as we cover such topics as:
-A powerful way to influence
-Watchmen for God
-Example of national prayer
-Examples of godly influence
-Scriptural passages for selecting and praying for people in authority
-Godly qualities of spiritual leaders
-Using our influence for good and not evil
-A true influential attitude
-Setting the example for others
-Leading through love, service, and encouragement
-and more!
PURCHASE: | Kindle |
Christian Living“Sara’s story only grew louder, braver, bolder with her death. It’s a story that we all need to keep hearing.” –Lisa-Jo Baker, bestselling author of Surprised by Motherhood
Sara Frankl knew she had a terminal disease, but she didn’t let it stop her from living. In the face of immeasurable pain, Sara chose joy–again and again. Her unforgettable message of hope and purpose lives on, even after her death, in her words.
CHOOSE JOY is a compilation of the lessons Sara learned while she was dying, written in her own words and sewn together by her close friend Mary Carver. It is a reminder to see the beauty in life, even when it looks nothing like you hoped or planned.
In a world full of tragedy, choosing joy is no small task–but, as Sara knew, the importance lies in the choosing. Once you learn to make that choice, every day, no matter what happens, joy will come.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Devotional“What are you giving up for Lent?” we are asked. Our minds begin to whirl: Chocolate? Designer coffee? Social media? Forty days later, some feel disappointed in their efforts (it was a limited-time blend . . . ), some feel surprised by their success (didn’t even miss it . . . ), but perhaps precious few feel spiritually renewed.
Can such fasts alone truly prepare us to celebrate Easter? Or any other chosen time of reflection during the year? Or could it be that before we can be duly awed by resurrection, we need to daily honor crucifixion?
40 Days of Decrease emphasizes a different type of fast. What if you or your church fasted comparison? What if your family fasted accumulation? What if your office fasted gossip?
40 Days of Decrease guides readers through a study of Jesus’ uncommon and uncomfortable call to abandon the world’s illusions, embrace His kingdom’s reality, and journey cross-ward and beyond.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Other Deals
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Enjoy more than 38 million movies, TV shows, songs, books, apps and games
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Up to 7 hours of reading, surfing the web, watching videos, and listening to music
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PURCHASE: | Kindle Fire |
Valentines Day is near! Shopping for your Valentine was never easier than on Amazon! Check out these specials NOW http://amzn.to/1ULd1br
Amazon Gift CardGive the gift of an Amazon Gift Card! Design your own card, any amount (up to $2,000), and whoever you give it too will get an email notice so they can redeem it. Pretty simple!
PURCHASE: | Gift Card |
The post Christian Fiction Friday and MORE for Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 appeared first on Cathy Bryant.
February 2, 2016
SPOTLIGHT: Fantastic February Sales, New Books, & a Giveaway
Welcome to Fantastic February! :)
I hope you’ll enjoy the contents of this post, because today I’m sharing Fantastic February book sales, two brand new books, and this month’s giveaway! :) What’s not to love about new books, book sales, and a book giveaway?
Check out @Cathy_Bryant’s Fantastic February book deals, new books, and a book #giveaway here:
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Fantastic February – Book Deals
Get TEXAS ROADS free here: http://amzn.to/1QCXI3s.Get A PATH LESS TRAVELED free here: http://www.CatBryant.com/from-my-front-porch.
Get the new MILLER’S CREEK TRUTH COLLECTION (novel + Bible study) for $1.99 here: http://amzn.to/1SzbtC6
Since February has both Ground Hog Day and Valentine’s Day, I opted for two groundhogs in love to share our Fantastic February sales.
First, TEXAS ROADS (Book 1 in the Miller’s Creek novels; Christian romance) is free for
Kindle or
Nook.
Next, A PATH LESS TRAVELED (Book 2 in the Miller’s Creek novels; Christian romance) is free for those who join over 4000 other members in our Reader’s Group. In addition to the free e-copy of the book, you will also gain access to exclusive content and giveaways. You can join using the form below.
Last, MILLER’S CREEK TRUTH COLLECTION (a digital bundle of the latest Miller’s Creek novel, CROSSROADS, and its companion Bible study, BELIEVE & KNOW, both books about sharing and defending our Christian faith) is now available.
For a limited time, it is priced at $1.99 for Kindle, a savings of 40%.
This last deal is scheduled to end on February 14, 2016 so don’t wait! :)
Two #Free #MillersCreek novels in @Cathy_Bryant’s #FantasticFebruary deals. Get them here:
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Fantastic February – Two New Books
Please share these new books with Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest friends by hovering over the picture and clicking the social media channel on which you wish to share. Thank you!This is unfamiliar territory for me. I have two new books that both came out February 1, 2016.
The first has already been mentioned, but I’ll give a bit more detail here for those of you who may not be familiar with the books.
Purchase from Amazon here for $1.99: http://amzn.to/1SzbtC6MILLER’S CREEK TRUTH COLLECTION is a digital bundle of the latest Miller’s Creek novel, CROSSROADS, and its companion Bible study, BELIEVE & KNOW: The Search For Truth. CROSSROADS tells the story of a bitter prodigal, her terminally-ill little girl, and the soldier who wages war for both their souls. The Bible study, BELIEVE & KNOW was written for seekers, those who need assurance of their faith, and those who want answers to share with skeptics and doubters. It is suitable for either individual or small group study.
The TRUTH COLLECTION is currently priced at $1.99, but that deal ends February 14, 2016.
Scroll to the bottom of this post to read a free sample.
Purchase on Amazon for $0.99: http://amzn.to/1QD4xCfThe second new book is THE POWER OF GODLY INFLUENCE: A 29-Day Devotional Journey about how to impact our world for Christ. It is available in both print and Kindle format, though the print edition won’t be available for a few more days. This new devotional is currently priced at just $0.99.
Scroll to the bottom of this post to read a free sample.
On a side note with this new book, let me say a quick “Thank You!” to everyone who helped in choosing the cover–both on my Facebook author page and our Readers’ Group newsletter. The voting results were spread out evenly between all three covers–proving why I had a dilemma to begin with!
Though I liked the pop of the blue cover, it turns out that there are some books on Amazon with almost the exact same cover. I liked the green cover because our influence is life (green) in a very dark place, but past that the cover seemed a little sci-fi to me. (And I’m not sure world is ready for a sci-fi devotional… ;) ) That left the yellow cover.
I did heed the excellent advice I received from everyone, which included: enlarging the title, moving the word “godly” to all caps, enlarging the series name at the bottom, and changing the font color for the author name. In addition, I put a semi-transparent honey-colored background behind the title to set it off. So thanks again! I’m delighted with the results! :)
Check out the two new #Christian #Books by @Cathy_Bryant here:
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Fantastic February – Giveaway
Click the pic to help Cathy choose a title for her upcoming Miller’s Creek novel. See which titles get knocked out! :)For this month’s giveaway, I’ve chosen the brand-new MILLER’S CREEK TRUTH COLLECTION (novel and Bible study digital bundle)-PDF version. Enter via the Rafflecopter below. Prizes are transferable, meaning that if you already have CROSSROADS and its companion Bible study, BELIEVE & KNOW, you can pass your win on to a friend. The drawing ends on February 29, 2016. The contest is open internationally.
P.S. If you haven’t heard yet, we have a fun Clash of the Titles (book titles, that is…) bracket and poll going on, with a new poll posted each Monday. Vote for your favorite titles for Cathy’s seventh Miller’s Creek novel (due to be released Spring 2016). Click the words, “Continue reading” in the box below to join the fun! (Cant wait to see which titles get knocked out this week!)
P.S.S. Also check back on Friday. We’re starting a new weekly feature called “Christian Fiction Friday & More,” where we’ll highlight the week’s new releases, bargains, freebies in Christian books!
The post SPOTLIGHT: Fantastic February Sales, New Books, & a Giveaway appeared first on Cathy Bryant.
January 28, 2016
How to Write a Book? See Guaranteed Help!
Did you know 81% of the population would like to write a book?
How sad that so few actually follow through with that desire.
It could be that those who don’t believe writing is a talent they don’t have. But if I can do it, anyone can!
As a child and teenager, I wrote a lot. I even won a few competitions and worked at the town newspaper for my after-school job. As a young school teacher with small children, I often started writing a novel during summer break, but never managed to complete one.
I carried that dream around for years, always putting it off for “some day.”
Then the empty nest came, and I needed something to do with my free time. Around that same time I received a couple of troubling diagnoses and lost a friend to cancer. It was almost as though God reached down from heaven and tapped me on the shoulder to ask: “When are you going to do this?”
I realized that none of us are guaranteed another breath or heartbeat. If I was going to follow through on my dream, the time was now.
But I had work to do first, and I knew it. Work that involved becoming educated in writing. After all, writing a novel is quite a bit different than a ten-page essay. In addition to picking up the habit of writing daily, I also joined a writer’s group, took online courses, and snatched up books which I treated as college textbooks.
I read, highlighted, dog-eared, and typed notes. And it paid off in a big way. Six novels, a novella, and three non-fiction books later (with more in the works!), I attribute my writing career and successes to that intense study of the craft of writing.
Below I’ve included several of my favorite writing books as well as a few that are in my TBR pile. I write this post with the hope that if you’re in that 81%, you’ll dig into some of these books and jump into the ranks of a much smaller group.
Those who actually write a book.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
P.S. If you’d like to read my very first novel (TEXAS ROADS) for free, you can find it on Amazon. And the second Miller’s Creek novel (A PATH LESS TRAVELED) is free for newsletter subscribers.
(DISCLOSURE: I am an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click through the links in this post to Amazon and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission which helps with the cost of maintaining my website. That commission comes from Amazon, not your pocket. :) Thanks for your support!)
Want to write a book? Check out @Cathy_Bryant’s favorite writing books!
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Write a Book – Characterization
Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint
by Nancy Kress
Description –
How do you create a main character readers won’t forget? How do you write a book in multiple-third-person point of view without confusing your readers (or yourself)? How do you plant essential information about a character’s past into a story?
Write Great Fiction: Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint by award-winning author Nancy Kress answers all of these questions and more! This accessible book is filled with interactive exercises and valuable advice that teaches you how to:
Choose and execute the best point of view for your story
Create three-dimensional and believable characters
Develop your characters’ emotions
Create realistic love, fight, and death scenes
Use frustration to motivate your characters and drive your story
With dozens of excerpts from some of today’s most popular writers, Write Great Fiction: Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint provides you with the techniques you need to create characters and stories sure to linger in the hearts and minds of agents, editors, and readers long after they’ve finished your book.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
Creating Characters: How to Build Story People
by Dwight V. Swain
Description –
Vibrant, believable characters help drive a fictional story. Along with a clever plot, well-drawn characters make us want to continue reading a novel or finish watching a movie. In Creating Characters, Dwight V. Swain shows how writers can invent interesting characters and improve them so that they move a story along.
“The core of character,” he says in chapter 1, “lies in each individual story person’s ability to care about something; to feel implicitly or explicitly, that something is important.” Building on that foundation—the capacity to care—Swain takes the would-be writer step-by-step through the fundamentals of finding and developing “characters who turn you on.” This basic but thought-provoking how-to is a valuable tool for both the novice and the seasoned writer.
PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |
by Brandilyn Collins
Description – EDITION 2: Revised with some new material gathered through 13 years of teaching these concepts at writers conferences. ————- Want to bring characters to life on the page as vividly as fine actors do on the stage or screen? Getting Into Character will give you a whole new way of thinking about your writing. Drawing on the Method Acting theory that theater professionals have used for decades, this in-depth guide explains seven characterization techniques and adapts them for the novelist’s use. You’ll discover concepts that will lead you to understand and communicate the motivation and psychology of all your characters. These highly effective techniques will help you: ~ create characters whose distinctive traits become plot components ~ determine each character’s specific objectives and motivations ~ write natural, meaningful dialogue that moves the story forward ~ endow your characters with three-dimensional emotional lives ~ use character motivation to bring action sequences to exuberant life ~ write convincingly about any character facing any circumstance.
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Write a Book – Dialogue
How to Write Dazzling Dialogue
by James Scott Bell
Description – There is one sure-fire way of improving your novel fast. . . You may know the fundamentals of how to write fiction. You may be more than competent in plot, structure and characters. But if your dialogue is dull it will drag the whole story down. On the other hand, if your dialogue is crisp and full of tension it immediately grabs the reader. And if that reader is an agent or editor, sharp dialogue will give them instant assurance that you know what you’re doing as a writer. Writing a bestseller or hot screenplay is no easy task, but dazzling dialogue is an absolute essential if you want to get there. The best part is, the skills of the dialogue craft are easy to understand and put into practice. #1 bestselling writing coach James Scott Bell has put together and expanded upon the dialogue lectures from his popular writing seminars. In How to Write Dazzling Dialogue you’ll learn:
What fictional dialogue is … and isn’t
The 11 secrets of crafting memorable dialogue
The 5 essential tasks of dialogue
5 ways to improve your dialogue ear
4 can’t-miss methods to increase conflict and tension in any dialogue exchange
The top 10 dialogue issues, and how to resolve them
You’ll also see dazzling dialogue in action with examples from hit novels and screenplays. Don’t sabotage your chances of selling your work to readers or publishers because the dialogue is unexceptional. Dazzle them with what the characters say. How to Write Dazzling Dialogue will give you the tools to do it.
(NOTE: I haven’t yet read this book, but I’ve read several other craft-of-writing books by James Scott Bell, and have yet to find one that wasn’t oh-so helpful. This one’s on my TBR list!)
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Write a Book – Editing and Revision
Self-Editing For Fiction Writers
by Renni Browne and Dave King
Description –
Hundreds of books have been written on the art of writing. Here at last is a book by two professional editors to teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories.
In this completely revised and updated second edition, Renni Browne and Dave King teach you, the writer, how to apply the editing techniques they have developed to your own work. Chapters on dialogue, exposition, point of view, interior monologue, and other techniques take you through the same processes an expert editor would go through to perfect your manuscript. Each point is illustrated with examples, many drawn from the hundreds of books Browne and King have edited.
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by Noah Lukeman
Description – Whether you are a novice writer or a veteran who has already had your work published, rejection is often a frustrating reality. Literary agents and editors receive and reject hundreds of manuscripts each month. While it’s the job of these publishing professionals to be discriminating, it’s the job of the writer to produce a manuscript that immediately stands out among the vast competition. And those outstanding qualities, says New York literary agent Noah Lukeman, have to be apparent from the first five pages.
The First Five Pages reveals the necessary elements of good writing, whether it be fiction, nonfiction, journalism, or poetry, and points out errors to be avoided, such as:
* A weak opening hook
* Overuse of adjectives and adverbs
* Flat or forced metaphors or similes
* Melodramatic, commonplace or confusing dialogue
* Undeveloped characterizations and lifeless settings
* Uneven pacing and lack of progression
With exercises at the end of each chapter, this invaluable reference will allow novelists, journalists, poets and screenwriters alike to improve their technique as they learn to eliminate even the most subtle mistakes that are cause for rejection. The First Five Pages will help writers at every stage take their art to a higher — and more successful — level.
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Write a Book – General
by Anne Lamott
Description – “Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.'”
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On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
by Stephen King
Description – “Long live the King” hailed Entertainment Weekly upon publication of Stephen King’s On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King’s advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999—and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it—fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.
(NOTE: This is another one that I’ve yet to read, but it has consistently shown up on author’s must-read list. Why? Because it was written by one of the best writers of our day. On my TBR list!)
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Techniques of the Selling Writer
by Dwight V. Swain
Description –
Techniques of the Selling Writer provides solid instruction for people who want to write and sell fiction, not just to talk and study about it. It gives the background, insights, and specific procedures needed by all beginning writers. Here one can learn how to group words into copy that moves, movement into scenes, and scenes into stories; how to develop characters, how to revise and polish, and finally, how to sell the product.
No one can teach talent, but the practical skills of the professional writer’s craft can certainly be taught. The correct and imaginative use of these kills can shorten any beginner’s apprenticeship by years.
This is the book for writers who want to turn rejection slips into cashable checks.
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by Donald Maass
Description – We’ve all read them: novels by our favorite authors that disappoint. Uninspired and lifeless, we wonder what happened. Was the author in a hurry? Did she have a bad year? Has he lost interest altogether?
Something similar is true of a great many unpublished manuscripts. They are okay stories that never take flight. They don’t grip the imagination, let alone the heart. They merit only a shrug and a polite dismissal by agents and editors.
It doesn’t have to be that way. In The Fire in Fiction, successful literary agent and author Donald Maass shows you not only how to infuse your story with deep conviction and fiery passion, but how to do it over and over again. The book features:
Techniques for capturing a special time and place, creating characters whose lives matter, nailing multiple-impact plot turns, making the supernatural real, infusing issues into fiction, and more.
Story-enriching exercises at the end of every chapter to show you how to apply the practical tools just covered to your own work.
Rich examples drawn from contemporary novels as diverse as The Lake House, Water for Elephants, and Jennifer Government to illustrate how various techniques work in actual stories.
Plus, Maass introduces an original technique that any novelist can use any time, in any scene, in any novel, even on the most uninspired day…to take the most powerful experiences from your personal life and turn those experiences directly into powerful fiction.
Tap into The Fire in Fiction, and supercharge your story with originality and spark!
(Another one on my TBR list. This author’s “Writing the Breakout Novel” (see below) was undoubtedly one of the books that most impacted and improved my writing. As a literary agent with many years in the book business, I trust Donald Maass’ advice!)
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by Randy Ingermanson & Peter Economy
Description – A complete guide to writing and selling your novel So you want to write a novel? Great! That’s a worthy goal, no matter what your reason. But don’t settle for just writing a novel. Aim high. Write a novel that you intend to sell to a publisher. Writing Fiction for Dummies is a complete guide designed to coach you every step along the path from beginning writer to royalty-earning author. Here are some things you’ll learn in Writing Fiction for Dummies : Strategic Planning : Pinpoint where you are on the roadmap to publication; discover what every reader desperately wants from a story; home in on a marketable category; choose from among the four most common creative styles; and learn the self-management methods of professional writers. Writing Powerful Fiction : Construct a story world that rings true; create believable, unpredictable characters; build a strong plot with all six layers of complexity of a modern novel; and infuse it all with a strong theme. Self-Editing Your Novel : Psychoanalyze your characters to bring them fully to life; edit your story structure from the top down; fix broken scenes; and polish your action and dialogue. Finding An Agent and Getting Published : Write a query letter, a synopsis, and a proposal; pitch your work to agents and editors without fear. Writing Fiction For Dummies takes you from being a writer to being an author. It can happen-if you have the talent and persistence to do what you need to do.
(Another one on my must-read list. Every fiction book I’ve written as been done using Randy Ingermanson’s snowflake form. I highly recommend it, and that is exactly why this book is on my list.)
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by Donald Maass
Description –
Maybe you’re a first-time novelist looking for practical guidance. Maybe you’ve already been published, but your latest effort is stuck in mid-list limbo. Whatever the case may be, author and literary agent Donald Maass can show you how to take your prose to the next level and write a breakout novel – one that rises out of obscurity and hits the best-seller lists.
Maass details the elements that all breakout novels share – regardless of genre – then shows you writing techniques that can make your own books stand out and succeed in a crowded marketplace.
You’ll learn to:
establish a powerful and sweeping sense of time and place
weave subplots into the main action for a complex, engrossing story
create larger-than-life characters that step right off the page
explore universal themes that will interest a broad audience of readers
sustain a high degree of narrative tension from start to finish
develop an inspired premise that sets your novel apart from the competition
Then, using examples from the recent works of several best-selling authors – including novelist Anne Perry – Maass illustrates methods for upping the ante in every aspect of your novel writing. You’ll capture the eye of an agent, generate publisher interest and lay the foundation for a promising career.
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Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook
by Donald Maass
Description – Make Your Novel Stand Out from the Crowd! Noted literary agent and author Donald Maass has done it again! His previous book, Writing the Breakout Novel, offered novelists of all skill levels and genres insider advice on how to make their books rise above the competition and succeed in a crowded marketplace. Now, building on the success of its predecessor, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook calls that advice into action! This powerful book presents the patented techniques and writing exercises from Maass’s popular writing workshops to offer novelists first-class instruction and practical guidance. You’ll learn to develop and strengthen aspects of your prose with sections on: Building plot layers Creating inner conflict Strengthening voice and point of view Discovering and heightening larger-than-life character qualities Strengthening theme And much more! Maass also carefully dissects examples from real-life breakout novels so you’ll lean how to read and analyze fiction like a writer. With authoritative instruction and hands-on workbook exercises, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook is one of the most accessible novel-writing guides available. Set your work-in progress apart from the competition and write your own breakout novel today!
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Write a Book – Goal, Motivation, & Conflict
by Debra Dixon
Description – Goal, Motivation & Conflict will show you how to use these three key elements to give dimension to your characters and direction to your plot. It will help you plan a road map to keep your story on track, discover why your scenes aren’t working and how to fix them, create characters that editors and readers will care about, be confident your idea will work before you write 200 pages, end sagging middles and much more. Clear and concise with many helpful examples.
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Write a Book – Plotting & Story Structure
by Nancy Kress
Description – Translating that initial flash of inspiration into a complete story requires careful crafting. So how do you keep your story from beginning slowly, floundering midway, and trailing off at the end? Nancy Kress shows you effective solutions for potential problems at each stage of your story—essential lessons for strong start-to-finish storytelling.
Hook readers, agents, and editors in the first three paragraphs.
Make and keep your story’s implicit promise to the reader.
Build drama and credibility by controlling your prose.
Consider the price a writer pays for flashbacks.
Reveal character effectively throughout your story.
Get the tools you need to get your story off to an engaging start, keep the middle tight and compelling, and make your conclusion high impact. You’ll also find dozens of exercises to help strengthen your short story or novel. Let this resource be your guide to successful stories—from the first word to the last.
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by James Scott Bell
Description – How does plot influence story structure? What’s the difference between plotting for commercial and literary fiction? How do you revise a plot or structure that’s gone off course?
With Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure, you’ll discover the answers to these questions and more. Award-winning author James Scott Bell offers clear, concise information that will help you create a believable and memorable plot, including:
Techniques for crafting strong beginnings, middles, and ends
Easy-to-understand plotting diagrams and charts
Brainstorming techniques for original plot ideas
Thought-provoking exercises at the end of each chapter
Story structure models and methods for all genres
Tips and tools for correcting common plot problems
Filled with plot examples from popular novels, comprehensive checklists, and practical hands-on guidance, Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure gives you the skills you need to approach plot and structure like an experienced pro.
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Super Structure: The Key to Unleashing the Power of Story
by James Scott Bell
Description – Super Structure represents over two decades of research on what makes a novel or screenplay entertaining, commercial, original, and irresistible. Contrary to what some may think, structure is not a nasty inhibitor of creativity. Quite the opposite. Properly understood and utilized, structure is what translates story into a form readers are wired to receive it. And it is only when readers truly connect with your story that they turn from casual readers into fans. The material in this book greatly expands upon the chapter on structure in Write Your Novel From the Middle. Super Structure can be considered a companion to that book, but it also stands alone in its treatment of the elements of a solid and pleasing plot. Here’s more good news: Super Structure will work for any type of writer–those who like to outline, those who just fly by “the seat of the pants,” and those who do a little of both. That’s because Super Structure stresses the concept of “signpost scenes.” There are fourteen signpost scenes, or beats, that can be used to create an entire plot, the skeleton of an idea, or a map to help you figure out what to write next. Every signpost is given its own chapter and explanation, along with a section called “Helpful Hints for Plotters and Pantsers,” showing you how to apply what you’ve learned and adapt it to your own style of writing. Never write a weak novel or screenplay again. Super Structure is a proven foundation that never fails. It frees you to add your original voice and vision, all of which adds up to bestselling fiction and hit screenplays.
(Though I haven’t yet read this one, it’s on my list because I love James Scott Bell’s writing and his teaching.)
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Write a Book – Romance
by Gail Gaymer Martin
Description – Writing the Christian Romance provides readers with detailed instruction for creating a storyline that is reflective of Christian values with authentic well constructed principled characters. This comprehensive book shows writers how to develop an engaging, passionate, conflict-driven romantic storyline without the use profanity, gratuitous violence, or sexually explicit content. Writers will learn to construct stories using the three threads around which Christian romance is centered: the characters’ personal growth, the growth of the romance, and the characters’ spiritual growth, which is as irrevocably tied to the story line as the first two threads.
PURCHASE: | Print Only |
COMMENT CHIT-CHAT: Have any favorites that aren’t on my list? Please let us know in the comments!
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