Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 93

Prayer Wall

"As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you." ~1 Samuel 12:23a (NIV)



WordVessel is starting a weekly Prayer Wall. I'm a big believer in the power of prayer. I truly believe when we intercede on the behalf of others, God's power is unleashed in their lives.



Feel free to add your prayer requests in the comment section below, so that I, and others who feel so led, can partner in prayer with you. Next week, I'll add those comments to our Saturday prayer wall, unless you mention that the prayer request you are making is for this week only. Feel free to share anonymous requests as well.



Please come back often to share your praises to those answered prayers. Our God is able!



Here are my prayer requests for this week:



1. For God's will and timing in my life

2. For my writing/teaching, as teachers will be judged more strictly (James 3:1)

3. Health concerns

4. For godly influences in my life and the life of my family, and that we will be a godly influence in the lives of others

5. Safe travel over the holidays

6. An attitude of gratitude that extends to every day of my life



Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask of imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever. Amen. ~Ephesians 3:20-21

Weekly Winners

Thanks so much to everyone who has helped spread the word about A Path Less Traveled . If any of you bloggers would like to help out please check out the post for the Blogger's Bonus (winners receive a $25 gift card). Here's the link: http://wordvessel.blogspot.com/2010/11/book-spotlight-path-less-traveled-by.html



Here are a few giveaways going on right now for A Path Less Traveled (Book 2 in the Miller's Creek novels):



http://wordvessel.blogspot.com/2010/11/book-spotlight-path-less-traveled-by.html

http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com/2010/10/interview-with-author-cathy-bryant.html

http://quiverfullfamily.com/2010/11/14/contest-a-path-less-traveled-by-cathy-bryant/



This week (on the 23rd and 24th) I'll be at Patty Wysong's blog, Patterings, for an interview and another APLT giveaway! Hope you can join us!



Here's this week's winner!



The winner of Someone to Blame by C. S. Lakin is . . . Julia! (I'll send you an e-mail later. Reply with your mailing address, and I'll forward it on to Suzanne!)



Thanks to everyone who participated and to the author for the marvelous giveaway!



Until Monday. . .

Updates & Weekly Winners

Thanks to all who are helping to spread the word about A Path Less Traveled!

http://pennyzeller.wordpress.com/awesome-authors/

http://wovenbywords.blogspot.com/2010/11/path-less-traveled-giveaway-from-author.html

http://langford7.blogspot.com/2010/11/path-less-traveled.html

http://linnettesnewsletter.blogspot.com/2010/11/about-book-trish-james-is-tired-of.html

http://bestofbecky.blogspot.com/2010/11/havent-read-this-book-yet-but-i-want-to.html

http://winabook.westofmars.com/tag/cathy-bryant/

WordVessel Changes

"Be very careful then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

~Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV) 



Hi friends,



For the past few months, I've been sensing that I needed to change a few things here at WordVessel. My meta-tag (the blurb you get when you Google WordVessel) reads: Christian fiction book giveaways, author interviews, book reviews, devotions and craft of writing posts. All of those things will still be a part of this blog, but with a different priority.



From now on, the majority of the posts on WordVessel will be devotional in nature. I will still host occasional author interviews, book reviews and craft of writing posts, just not as frequently.



I know that I risk losing readers because of this move, but I feel certain that it's what God wants me to do. Please know how very much I appreciate each and every one of you.



God's Richest Blessings,

Cathy

What Do Your Characters Need?

As I've been working on a series of devotional posts to discuss the things we need that God so freely provides, I began to think about how this applies to the characters we use in our stories.



Every human being on the planet has needs, and for the most part, those needs are much the same from person to person.



Abraham Maslow, a psychology professor, developed his now-famous Hierarchy of Needs, as demonstrated by the picture. According to Maslow, humans have five types of needs. The broadest ones at the base of the pyramid are the most basic and easiest to achieve, while those at the top are the least important and most difficult to obtain.



So how does this theory affect our characters?



Because people are motivated by their needs. Human behavior can often be easier understood when we recognize the need that influences that behavior.



Have a character who is starving and also hoping to find true love? They're going to be a lot more motivated by food than a relationship, because the need for food is more basic than the need for companionship.



As writers, we've learned the importance of goal, motivation and conflict--not only within a story, but within each scene of that story. Human need is behind it all. Need serves as the motivation that produces the goal. Conflict occurs when people have opposite goals.



So the next time you get stuck in a story, take a step back and ask: "What does my character need more than anything else?" Once you know their need, the rest will fall into place.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: "Someone To Blame" by C.S. Lakin (& Book Giveaway!)

A family in pain, a town eager to blame...

In the wake of heartrending family tragedies, Matt and Irene Moore move with their fourteen-year-old daughter, Casey, to a small town. Their goal is to get far away from the daily reminders that leave each of them raw and guilt- ridden. Their hope is to find redemption, repair, and renewal. Instead, the threads of their relationship unravel even more.



Breakers is a small community perched on the rocky coast of the Pacific Northwest. Its cold isolation seems to mirror the hearts of the family seeking solace there. As they settle into their new life, old grief settles with them. They've once more set the stage for calamity.



Into this mix comes Billy Thurber, a young drifter with his own conflicts, whose life unexpectedly entangles with the Moores'. His arrival in Breakers parallels a rash of hateful and senseless crimes, and soon the whole town – eager for someone to blame – goes after Thurber with murderous intent. Out of this dangerous chaos, however, the Moores find unexpected grace and healing in a most unlikely way.

Read the first chapter of Someone to Blame.

Endorsements for Someone to Blame:"Someone to Blame is as convicting as it is moving. Lakin deftly explores the complexities of family relationships and their consequences, and reminds us what happens when we judge those we know nothing about. Readers will enjoy this rising new talent."

- Terri Blackstock, author of Intervention and Predator

 

Beautifully written by C. S. Lakin, this deeply moving story of grace in hard places will linger with you long after the last page.

- James Scott Bell, author of Try Dying

 

"Lakin's is a welcome voice bringing fresh emotion to a story that doesn't shy away from difficult issues. I knew Lakin was special from the first chapter. I kept thinking, "I hope people think this when they read my stuff." 

- Harry Kraus, author of Salty Like Blood

 

". . . Lakin is a skilled wordsmith with a unique, compelling voice. In Someone to Blame, she spins the story of a family in chaos while digging deeper into what it means to be a scapegoat. A surprising, great read."

- Mary DeMuth, author of Daisy Chain



Read my interview with C.S. Lakin here.



Readers, a copy of "Someone to Blame" is being graciously offered to one of you. Leave a comment (with a way for me to contact you if you're the winner) to enter the drawing. The winner will be announced in Friday's post.



 

Need A Friend?

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." ~Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)



Everyone needs a friend. Someone we can turn to when our world is falling apart. Someone to listen when we're trying to wade through our thoughts and feelings. Someone to share our joys and triumphs.



Relationships with other people can be tricky, and it's no different when it comes to friendship. It's not easy to develop a high level of trust and comfort. At least it's not for me.



And once that fragile trust has been compromised by betrayal, it's hard to ever trust again, especially when we've laid our heart on the line.



But there is Someone who will never betray you, never let you down, and will always be there 24/7.



Jesus.



The old hymn says it best.



"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry ev'rything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry ev'rything to God in prayer!



Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.



Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He'll take and shield thee; thou will find a solace there.



Here are some more verses on friendship with God for you to meditate on:



The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. ~Exodus 33:11a (NIV)



A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than brother. ~Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)



"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." ~John 15:12-17 (NIV)



Only through friendship with Jesus, who seeks us out, can we befriend others in His command to love each other.



Heavenly Father,



Thank You for choosing to befriend us. We know that our relationship with You is all because of You, and not through anything that we have done. Thank You for the supreme example of love and friendship in action that is ours in Christ. May we follow in His steps of love and mercy in our relationships with others. Thank You for the ability to converse with You through prayer. Forgive us for not speaking with You as often as we should, for seeking Your hand before we seek Your face, for abusing our friendship with You. Thank You for laying down Your life for us. Help us Lord as we seek to live out Your command to love one another.



In Jesus' Name,

Amen

The Christmas Book Signing Bash - 75 Christian Authors, One Amazing Online Event

75 Christian Authors * One Amazing Online Event

The Christian Review of Books in conjunction with CrossPurposes Bookstore
is excited to announce the first annual Christmas Book Signing Bash.

Beginning on the day after Thanksgiving and lasting ten days (26 November
- 7 December), this book signing will be an unprecedented online event. 75
of today's favorite Christian Authors have come together to answer
questions, chat with their readers, and offer signed copies of their
books—all without leaving the comforts of home and hearth!

Readers can search by author, title, or genre at the Christian Review of
Books (www.ChristianReviewofBooks.com) and then follow the purchase links
to CrossPurposes Bookstore (www.CrossPurposesBooks.com) and buy autographed
copies of each book featured. The authors will sign the books and ship them
to the customers.

For a full list of participating authors, visit the CRoB.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: A Path Less Traveled by Cathy Bryant (& Book Giveaways & Blogger's Bonus!!)

Hi friends! Today I'm taking up a little corner of cyberspace to get the word out about the second book in the Miller's Creek novels, A Path Less Traveled .



In celebration of the book's launch, I'll be giving away a print copy and an e-copy of A Path Less Traveled for every 20 comments on this post at http://WordVessel.blogspot.com. (Please include a way for me to contact you in case your name is drawn as the winner.)



Please send your friends this way since the number of winners increases with the number of comments. (I'd love to give away a gazillion copies! Okay...maybe I exaggerate a wee bit, since that would cost more than a gazillion dollars, which I don't have.) ;0)



Blogger's Bonus: In addition, for every 20 bloggers who take the information below the * * * in this article, and post it to their blog including the cover and book trailer (then pastes the link in the comments section), I'll be drawing (using random.org as usual) names for $25 gift cards. (20 bloggers = 1 gift card winner, 40 bloggers = 2 gift card winners, etc.)



NOTE: If you don't have a blog, but would like to participate in the Blogger's Bonus you can post the information in the Notes tab of your Facebook profile and leave the link in the comments section.



These drawings are for US/Canada only, and will last until November 30, 2010. I'll announce the winners here at WordVessel on Friday, December 3, 2010. Looking forward to your comments! =)



* * *

ABOUT THE BOOK:



Trish James is tired of being rescued. When a spooked horse claims her husband's life, she's determined to blaze a path for herself and her traumatized son without outside help. But will that mean leaving the place etched on her heart?

Andy Tyler has had to struggle for everything, and starting a new law practice in Miller's Creek, Texas is no different. Though prepared for business challenges, he's not prepared for falling in love--especially with yet another woman who will probably abandon him for her career.

Will Andy and Trish be able to see past their limited human understanding to take . . . A Path Less Traveled?

To read the first chapter: http://wordvessel.blogspot.com/2010/10/enjoy-first-chapter-of-path-less.html











WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:



"This book was totally and completely enjoyable to read.  I received the book on Friday and finished reading it on Sunday.  I could hardly put it down.  The storyline is very well written and grabbed my attention in the first chapter and never let me go....One of my favorite lines in the book is this:  'God doesn't waste any hurt you endure, Trish.  What he allows into your life--even something as painful as Doc's death--He'll use for the days ahead...'  I believe this is so true and have seen it played out in my life.  I love it when I can read a really good fiction book and learn more about my relationship with Christ.  I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good story to read.  I can't wait until Book 3 in the series comes out next year." ~Cathy at Tales of the TCKK Family



"...Cathy Bryant weaves an amazing story. She has a maturity in her writing skill that astounds me for only having two published novels. A Path Less Traveled is a must read. Cathy realistically captures the struggle of the heart." ~ Linnette at Linnette's Writing Corner   





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Cathy Bryant is a former public school teacher who handed in her chalk for a private music studio and writing career. Her passion is to write heart-stirring stories that show God's life-changing grace. Cathy is the owner of the popular blog, WordVessel, and has written devotions for The Upper Room magazine, two devotional books, and online devotional sites. She's the wife of a music minister, the mother of two grown sons and a beautiful daughter-in-love, and the Nana of Harrisen. A Texas gal since birth, she lives in a century-old Texas farmhouse with her husband and a phobia-ridden cat.

Texas Roads (her debut novel and a 2009 ACFW Genesis finalist) released in March 2010. The second Miller's Creek novel, A Path Less Traveled, was launched in November 2010. The Way of Grace will be available in 2011.  

Visit her website at www.CatBryant.com. 

PURCHASE LINKS:



Print Edition 

Print Edition ~ Amazon

Kindle Edition ~ Amazon

Other eBook Editions (including online reading, iPad, Nook, Sony reader, & PDF)



CHECK OUT THE SPECIAL "TWO-FER" CHRISTMAS PRICE FOR BOTH MILLER'S CREEK NOVELS (only through November 30, 2010)



CHECK OUT THE SPECIAL BOOK GIVEAWAY DRAWINGS OF A PATH LESS TRAVELED (a Miller's Creek novel) AT http://WordVessel.blogspot.com (only through November 30, 2010)

Updates & Weekly Winners

Be sure to check out my special giveaway of A Path Less Traveled going on in the above blog post.



Review of the book are starting to pop up:



http://tckk.blogspot.com/2010/11/path-less-traveled-by-cathy-bryant.html

http://linnettesnewsletter.blogspot.com/2010/11/path-less-traveled-by-cathy-bryant.html



This Saturday, I'll be signing copies of Texas Roads and A Path Less Traveled under the pavilion in downtown New Boston, TX at a fall trade days. Other vendors will also be there, so drop by if you have a chance. I'll be holding a drawing for free books for those who sign up.



And don't forget about the "two-fer" special I have running through the month of November. If you're looking for a Christmas gift for a reader, you can pick up both books for $25 (tax and shipping already included)!



A few weeks ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to be on KLIF's Heart to Heart television program. It took me a while to figure out how to convert a CD to a YouTube video (and I had to edit the interview for length, so please forgive my inability to make the cuts more smooth). Anyway, here's the interview if you're interested:









Now on to our winners!



The winner of McKenzie by Penny Zeller is . . . mawmawE!

The winner of Mail Order Cowboy by Laurie Kingery is . . . JackieW!



Congrats, ladies! I'll send you an email later this weekend. Please reply with your mailing addresses so we can get those books on their way to you!



Thanks to everyone who participated, and a big thanks to this week's awesome authors, Penny Zeller and Laurie Kingery!



Have a great weekend, everyone! Until Monday . . .