Janet Chester Bly's Blog, page 6

Rebekah, novel by Jill Eileen Smith

Rebekah, a Novel




Rebekah, biblical fiction novel by
Jill Eileen Smith, Wives of the Patriarchs Series




This biblical fiction novel received 4
Stars from RT Book Reviews.




Can love heal the rift between two souls?




When
her beloved father dies and she is left in the care of her conniving brother
Laban, Rebekah knows her life has changed forever. Though she should be married
by now, it’s clear that Laban is dragging his feet, waiting for a higher
bride-price to line his pockets. When she is given a chance to leave her home
to marry Isaac, a cousin she has never even seen, Rebekah’s hope for the future
is restored. Little does she know what a wondrous and heart-wrenching journey
she is beginning.




As
Rebekah experiences the joy of young love and the bitterness of
misunderstanding and betrayal, her resolve will be tested. When the rift
between her and Isaac grows so wide it is surely too great to be mended, can
she trust the God of Isaac’s father Abraham to bridge the gap?




About the author of this biblical fiction novel:





Author Jill Eileen Smith


Jill Eileen Smith is
the author of the bestselling biblical fiction novels Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, all
part of the Wives of King David series, and of Sarai and Rebekah
books 1 and 2 in the Wives of the Patriarchs series. Her writing has garnered
acclaim in several contests. Her research into the lives of biblical women has
taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how
women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast
Michigan.




Bonus Features:




Bible Study Questions for Rebekah: http://www.jilleileensmith.com/books/rebekah/bible-study-questions/





Discussion Questions for Rebekah: http://www.jilleileensmith.com/books/rebekah/discussion-questions/




Preview of Rebekah: http://www.jilleileensmith.com/books/rebekah/preview/





Behind the Scenes for biblical fiction novel, Rebekah: http://www.jilleileensmith.com/books/rebekah/behind-the-scenes/





Buy the Rebekah novel:




Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Book

And wherever fine books are sold.

Christian Cowboy Poetry - The West Will Truly Be Won

The West Will Truly Be Won, Christian cowboy poetry by Stephen Bly
 

When the world came West in '49,

it was called the promised land.

Big and wild and open and free,

room for all to make their stand.



 They say it was gold that stirred their bones

and caused the masses to move.

I reckon it was somethin' deeper than that

and it ain't that hard to prove.



 Folks is born with a restless twitch,

that pushes them to succeed or fail.

To climb this mountain in front of them,

or saunter on down the next trail.



 It's an inherited hankerin' it seems to me,

passed down all the way from Day One.

Souls searchin' for the garden we lost long ago

When this earth had barely begun.



 A haven for our spirit is what we lack,

why our stones don't gather no moss.

In our hearts we know there's a place up ahead

nailed down by His work on the cross.



 There's a Promised Land waitin' way up above,

For those who follow the Son.

Where our restless spirit will find home at last,

and the West will truly be won.



 Copyright 2000



 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Cowboy Poetry, Cowboy Stories and Western Fun


When The Cowboys  Come To Town

Purchase "When The Cowboys Come To Town" that includes other Christian cowboy poetry by Stephen Bly, in book, CD, and cassette form here: http://www.blybooks.com/bookstore/cowboy-poetry/





Cowboy poetry and tall tales right out of the old west. True western family fun, stories and entertainment! Get the scoop on real cowboys thru' illustrations of rodeos, horses, dogs, and whispers of western cowboy life. Included are some photos. For a wide variety of family fun cowboy poetry and also some Christian cowboy poetry, click here: http://cowboyfun.com/

All In Good Time, new historical romance novel by Maureen Lang

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Author Maureen Lang




A Note from Maureen Lang about historical romance novel, All In Good Time:



New
releases are always exciting! I was just telling my husband that THIS historical romance book is
my favorite, but he's noticed I say that about every new release.


Well,
this historical romance is holding a special place in my heart. I think authors, like
parents with their children, love each book for certain reasons.





For
me, the hero in the historical romance All In Good Time is my special reason. He starts out as
such a curmudgeon I just couldn't wait to soften him up a bit—but for it to be
convincing, it had to be handled gradually. I'd try to make him crumble and he
kept doing something to shore himself up.

All in good time,
he'd say to me. He was the perfect match for my impatient heroine.




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All In Good Time

Here's a little about historical romance All In Good Time:

Dessa Caldwell has a dream, to offer refuge for fallen women. All she needs is
a loan so she can open Pierson House sooner than she ever expected.

Henry Hawkins has a secret—but he also owns one of the most successful banks in
Denver. He hasn’t earned that success by granting foolish loans, but when his
manager gives Dessa the money she needs, Henry’s best efforts to stop it
fail—and in the process the fortress he’s built around his heart begins to
crumble.

But will their secrets keep them apart?



The flaws and secrets of Dessa Caldwell and Henry Hawkins may very well keep
them apart . . . until they realize it’s those very flaws and secrets that make
them perfect for one another.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Details about pricing for this historical romance:

Special pricing all this week, $2.99 for a couple of days and then 4.99 until
the regular e-book pricing takes affect next Sunday at around $9.00.



All In Good Time is available everywhere, but the special pricing is
being offered for electronic copies only.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



About Maureen Lang:


Maureen
Lang writes stories inspired by love of history and romance. An avid reader
since childhood, she started writing the stories she wanted to read. Before
publication she won RWA’s Golden Heart and ACFW’s Genesis, and her published
books have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, a Holt Medallion, and
have finaled in the Christy, Rita and Carol Awards. She lives in the Midwest with
her husband, children and Labrador retriever.

Visit
with Maureen at www.maureenlang.com





Links to buy historical romance, All In Good Time:



CBD:

http://www.christianbook.com/all-in-good-time-gilded-legacy/maureen-lang/9781414364476/pd/364476?product_redirect=1&Ntt=364476&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP



Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/All-Good-Time-Gilded-Legacy/dp/1414364474



Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-in-good-time-maureen-lang/1112307750?ean=9781414364476



Deeper Shopping:

http://www.deepershopping.com/item/lang-maureen/all-in-good-time-gilded-legacy-apr/4893435.html



Thanks for visiting and Happy Reading! 
My website and blog

Connect with me on Facebook

All In Good Time,
April 2013


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Bees in the Butterfly Garden

Bees In The Butterfly Garden, June 2012

The Great War Series, Tyndale House

Stephen Bly (1944-2011)In my book Cowboy For ...

Stephen Bly (1944-2011)

In my book Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon, the narrator is never
identified by a particular character name. He is just called "Little
Brother" by the six old cowboys.




However,
had he a real bona fide character name, what should he be called? I was
pondering that as I read this week the 10 MOST POPULAR NAMES FOR 2008: 1)
Aidan, 2) Jayden, 3) Jacob, 4) Michael, 5) Ethan, 6) Caden, 7) James, 8) Caleb,
9) Andrew, and 10) Matthew. 

But
"Little Brother" in this story is 10 years old in 1954. That puts him
in the 5th grade, born in 1944. So, the question is ... what were the 10 MOST
COMMON BOYS NAMES IN 1944?






Here's the list:  

1.
Robert

2.
James

3.
John

4.
William

5.
Richard

6.
David

7.
Charles

8.
Thomas

9.
Michael

10.
Ronald






1954 5th grade class

So,
he should be called by a character name such as Bobby or Jimmy, Johnny or
Billy, Dicky or Davy, Charlie or Tommy, Mikey or Ronnie. Notice that Michael
and James were on both lists. But I rather fancy Stevie, if I had to give him a
choice character name.That might give you a clue as to who this character is
most like.



One of the boys in this 1954 5th grade class could be the narrator for this story.




Character
name calling is one of the most delightful parts of being a writer. I love
finding different sounding names. Whether it's Tapadera ... or Lixie ... or
Jolie. Or Devy. Or Miss Oliole Fontenot. I don't limit myself to the Top 10 of
the Year. But that's a good place to begin.




Along
with character name creating, there's the fun of discovering the environment of
the character's times.



1950s F.W. Woolworth store

For today's consumer, it's a shopping mall world. But
for someone like Little Brother, it's hard to imagine the incredible thrill to
him of a product-packed Five and Dime store. I'm not sure kids today can
experience anything near that excitement.  

Here's a "Little Brother" narration excerpt from Cowboy For A
Rainy Afternoon:

When WalMart was beyond anyone's imagination, we had
Five & Dime stores like Newberry's and Woolworth's ... Mama worked at
Woolworth's right out of high school. Even in 1954 most of the merchandise was
inexpensive. And they had everything. What a marvelous world for a boy from the
country who thought the Fuller Brush man had so much merchandise in his
Chevrolet CarryAll that is must surely be sinful.

To the casual observer, we must have looked like an
invasion of old men in narrow brimmed Stetsons, cowboy boots, white shirts
buttoned at the collar and a little boy with plastic cap guns holstered to his
side. But to my 10-year-old imagination, we were a posse surveyin' a crowd, on
the trail of some bad hombres.

Stephen Bly - Copyright 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whether it's picking a character name in writing a fiction story or choosing
a name for a newborn child, what's your guidelines for making that awesome
choice?

What's your clearest memory of when you were 10-years-old?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



If you're looking for a character name or what to name a baby, check out this Baby Names site: 




Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon

Here's where to find Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon: http://www.blybooks.com/bookstore/1950s-cowboys-novel/

13 Ways For Favorite Author Book Promotion

Janet Chester Bly

Want suggestions for how to do book promotion for your favorite authors?
You can make a difference! 



Here's 13 things you can do for your own personal favorite author book promotion campaign ... 



Pick one or more: 



1) Tell a friend what you liked about his or her work. Word-of-mouth book promotion is the best! 






2) Recommend the book to your local bookseller(s) or librarian. 



3) Give a copy of the book to a public, church, or prison library. 



 4) Pass the word about their website or blog. Here's ours - http://BlyBooks.com or "On A Western Trail" blog at http://BlyBooks.blogspot.com 



5) For your friends who do social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc., tell them they can become friends and followers of their favorite authors - share the links. 



6) Give a book by this author as a gift to a family member, friend, or co-worker. Include a rave review of your own. 



7) Do a video review and post it on YouTube or other video sharing website. 



8) Tell some book club members about the book(s) or organize a group of friends to read and discuss the book(s) together. 



9) If you're a speaker or do seminars, offer the books for sale on your display table or include flyers about the books. 



10) If you have a website or blog of your own, set up links from your site to your favorite author's site. 



11) Include a feature or interview on your blog about the book(s) or about the author. 



12) Write a review for www.Amazon.com or other online bookstore. 



13) Email a photo of yourself with the book(s) to your favorite author. If you send one to Bly Books, we'll feature it at "On A Western Trail" blog ... attach it to email and send to janet(at)blybooks(dot)com. 



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 





Bly Books bumper sticker

Want more specific hints for spreading the news about Bly Books you've enjoyed? 

Consider these book promotion products: 



Bly Books gift certificates: http://www.blybooks.com/bookstore/new-gift-certificates/ 



 Bly Books bumper sticker: ww.blybooks.com/bookstore/author-promotion/ 



Stuart Brannon's Final Shot golf balls & tees: http://www.blybooks.com/bookstore/personalized-golf-balls-tees/

 





Throw The Devil Off Train canvas bag

 Throw The Devil Off The Train canvas bags & mugs: http://www.blybooks.com/bookstore/western-romance-novel/ 



Stephen Bly t-shirts: http://www.blybooks.com/bookstore/t-shirts/ 



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 



What special way not listed here have you done book promotion for your favorite writer(s)?

Western Slang: Ketch My Saddle!

Stephen Bly (1944-2011)



Copyright©1994













No one likes being bucked off a horse. Especially a cowboy
or cowgirl.








In the Old West out on the range, when the broomtail you
forked decided to break in two, hop for mama, jackknife, swap ends, take you to
church, chin the moon or wrinkle his spine ... your face ended up plowing the
ground. And you had a more serious problem than cuts and bruises.








You must catch the horse. That meant calling for help. But
seldom did a cowboy shout for someone to corral his pony. Instead, he would
holler, "Ketch my saddle!"








Two reasons for that slogan. First, cowboys rode $10 horses
and sat on $40 saddles. Second, on many ranches the horses belonged to the
brand, but the saddle was the property of the cowboy. About the time you
slammed into the dirt, rocks and cactus, you didn't care if you ever saw the
horse again. However, you certainly didn't want to lose your good saddle.








Maybe you've never been bucked by a horse ... or tried to
catch a beast whose sole purpose is to stay 30 feet beyond your grasp. But you
may have gotten your face mashed in the ground.








There are social, spiritual and emotional wrecks that can
batter your total being. It might even "shipwreck your faith" (1
Timothy 1:19). You may feel like a failure:  I should have known better. I should have been able to hang on.
That trail shouldn't have thrown me like that.








Perhaps you hope no one saw you fall. Yet you need help if you're
going to get your life patched up and get back on the trail. You need to holler,
"Ketch my saddle!" ... that is, "Give me a hand," "Don't
let me lose my valuables!"








There are times to cry out, "Catch my marriage!" "Catch
my kids!" "Catch my faith!"







Don't be too proud to call on others to help you
save your true treasures.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever been bucked off a horse or other animal? What was the result and your response?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 



Now available: Videos on Getting The Writing Call & How We Got Our Ideas: 
http://www.berniceseward.com/video-log/bly-books-video-log/#


 


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7 Reasons Why I Need Church

Janet & Stephen Bly

 Do I Need Church?

Can't a Christian Make It Alone?
Stephen Bly
Copyright 1981



Why can't I worship God in the comfort of my home, enjoying the best preaching and music the media has to offer?




Stephen Bly at beach


Why can't I just enjoy being alone out in the woods--just God and me and pine trees?

Why can't I meet God at the water's edge, wiggling my toes in the warm sand surrounded by thousands of sun worshippers?

Do I really need church? If so, why?




Stephen Bly with church family


1.) I need church because it's a family reunion. Jesus said, "Who is My family? Those who do My will" (Mark 3:33,35). We are a family--rejoicing with, crying with and helping one another. We need each other's support.

2.) I need church because it's a classroom. I'm preparing for a mission. I'm on an extended course of study. For the rest of my life I'm enrolled in a course of Christian discipleship. Each week builds on the one before.

3.) I need church because it's a refuge. The sanctuary is a place to get away from the busyness of the world. It's a mini-retreat. It's a place to focus my thoughts on things above, to worship.

4.) I need church because it's like a billboard. As my neighbors see me go down to that building on the corner week after week, they can tell what is important in my life. If all my brothers and sisters are there too, the neighbors may wonder what is going on that attracts people there.



5.) I need church because it's a memorial service. Imagine that I had been in a war and one of my buddies threw himself on an enemy hand grenade to save me--and it killed him. Suppose I learned there was to be a memorial service for him in my hometown. Would I be there? Of course!



6.) I need church because it's a victory celebration. Jesus left an empty tomb. We can celebrate His resurrection together--and not just at Easter. At least one day a week is set aside for remembering Jesus' triumph over death and Satan.

7.) I need church because it's a time to spend with my Father. I'm a child of God. As my Father, He's not cold and aloof. He delights in spending time with me, and I want to be with Him. God wants to reveal His plans to me. And I want to get in on the details, to cooperate with Him.



But He's not only my Father; He's our Father. And Christ is not just my Savior; He's our Savior. Jesus said that when two or three are gathered together in His name, He is there (Matthew 18:20). And God has warned me not to forsake gathering with other believers (Hebrews 10:25).



I need church because I'm part of a family. I have lots to learn. And I need a retreat. I know what my priorities are. I respect Christ's death on my behalf and am overjoyed by His resurrection. I want to spend time with my Father and other believers.





That's why I need church!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



NOTE:



Available for free: If you would like a printed tract of this message to share with others, email janet(at)blybooks(dot)com with your address and how many you need.

BUILDING A BETTER HORSE SHELTER

This Idaho rancher was denied a
permit to build a horse shelter. So he constructs a 
giant table & chairs ... which
don't need permit.





Idaho horse shelter








 Better looking and far more creative, don't you think? 




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




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RESEARCH & ROMANCE

Stephen Bly




Stephen Bly

Copyright©2003






When a cowboy writer does research, the
sight of a landmark can spark an idea for a full-fledged novel ... or just a
poem.  








Southeast of Four
Corners, New Mexico is Shiprock, an impressive example of a volcanic neck or a
central feeder pipe formed by a long ago eruption.









Shiprock, New Mexico


In Monument
Valley, west of this location, the pillars tower one after another. But
Shiprock stands alone. With its spire in the shape of the rigging of an ocean
bound vessel, the silhouette looks very much like a tall ship on the horizon.  








No wonder the
old-timers trudging across the desert rubbed their eyes in disbelief at the
view. If you ever get a chance to visit this site, we have found between March
and May to be the best times. If you have already been there, what did the
vision of it inspire in you? 












Here's my Shiprock
cowboy poem ... someone ought to put music to it and make it a song. What do
you think ... what sort of tune would best fit?













 Navajo Rose 





It was a straight up day in Shiprock,





in July of eighty-three





Canvassed with dust, but showin' no rust





that buckskin geldin' and me












I ain't sayin' the day was perfect,





It would have its problems, you bet





As likely as not, it would get way too hot





And we'd both be wallerin' in sweat












But potential hung in the desert air





like the gap in your teeth you can't hide





This was the very day, I'd been waitin' since May





when up to the schoolhouse I'd ride












She promised she would linger





until the spring gather was through





I could hardly wait, so I picked up the gait





when the picket fence came into view












Some might call her plain lookin'





but they don't say that to my face





She's my Navajo Rose and I'll break any nose





that tries to bring her disgrace












Her smile sets my heart a beatin'





her dark eyes shout forever to me





She surrenders her lips, with her hands on my hips





I'm luckier than I deserve to be












I reckon you know the feelin'





and can understand my worry and fear





when I spotted that hack, parked way out back





and a duet of laughter I hear












I spied a tall man in the foyer





sported out in dark suit and tie





She looked happy in white, eyes teared at the sight





I reckon I was jist goin' to die












She ran to my side when she saw me





I ain't sure what this is about





When I taste her kiss, it still feels like bliss





And it makes my toes want to shout












She tugged me up the stairs to the schoolhouse





No protest she would allow





"I would like you to meet the Reverend Montreat





he will perform our service right now"












The tin ceilin' swirled above me





Vision failed and I feared for my life





When I finally came to, I shouted "I do!"





He pronounced us now man and wife












It was a straight up day in Shiprock,





in July of eighty-three





the clock struck noon, it was our honeymoon





my Navajo
Rose and me 















~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~








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Aim For Stetson&Justin&Kelley Quality

Stephen Bly




Stephen Bly

Copyright©1994







Long before radio and TV, even among the cowboys and
ranchers of the Old West, brand names meant something to them.




John B. Stetson made beaver hats with high crowns and wide
brims like no one else. A man only had to buy one Stetson in his lifetime,
unless a footpad or sneak thief stole it.




Another man named Joe Justin settled into Old Spanish Fort
in 1879 on the Texas side of the Red River and began making boots. Without help
from advertising agencies or basketball star endorsements he managed to gain
such a reputation that a pair of Justin's still denote distinctive boots. 











Over in El Paso another Texan practiced his craft. As a
young boy in Childress, P.M. Kelley sat around the ranch headquarters listening
to cowpunchers complain about their bits and spurs. Determined to do better,
Kelley gathered a few tools and the help of his younger sister to make better
ones.




P.M. Kelley sold everything he could make directly to the
cowboys who lined up to purchase them. Owning a pair of Kelley's sat a man in
the highest class of punchers. Try buying a Kelley bit or spur at an auction
today and you'll have to get a bank mortgage to cover it.




You can't beat a solid reputation.




What's the quality of what you create?

The shelves in the kitchen? The flower garden? The rebuilt
doll house? Your family's next meal?

Or your relationships? Your marriage? Your family? Your
service for God?






The Bible says the day will come when "the fire will
test the quality of each one's work" (1 Corinthians 3:13).




What's at least one way you could step it up a notch?




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~