Amanda Stephan's Blog: God is Good, God is Great, page 74
February 7, 2011
The Brotherhood Blog Tour
The Brotherhood ~ by Jerry Jenkins
Boone Drake is a young cop rising rapidly through the ranks of the Chicago Police Department. Everything is going right. Until everything goes horribly, terribly wrong. His personal life destroyed and his career and future in jeopardy, Boone buries himself in guilt and bitterness as his life spirals out of control. But when he comes face-to-face with the most vicious gang leader Chicago has seen in decades, he begins to realize that God is a God of second chances and can change the hardest heart . . . and forgive the worst of crimes.
My thoughts...
Boone Drake has everything. Beautiful wife that he adores, adorable son, the perfect job. But he's got a problem ~ he thinks he's the one responsible for his perfect life. When that perfect life spins wildly out of control and he's faced with a lonely future, where will he find his comfort? To the God who has been patiently waiting for him, or will he blame God for taking everything away?
Am I hopeless? Do you love me? Do you still care about me? Could you help me survive this? Could you help me understand? ~one of Boone Drake's prayers to God
This was a difficult read for me, not because it's messy and ill-written. On the contrary, this is an extremely well written book. What else would someone expect from an author superstar like Mr. Jenkins? No, this novel is full of tragedy and heartbreak. (Two things I don't deal well with) Mr. Jenkins has the ability to navigate these complex emotions and make them believable and gut-wrenching.If you're a fan of police thrillers that have tragedy, this is probably the book for you. If you're more of the happy reader only (similar to me) then you may want to pass.
Life lesson learned?
"...sometimes God has to allow a person to come to the end of himself before he realizes his deep need."
Giveaway!Leave a comment below for a chance to win a Gift Certificate for Jerry Jenkins book, The Brotherhood.**Ends February 28th**
Jerry Jenkins Blog
Jerry Jenkins Entertainment
For More Information
This review is my own opinion ~ book was generously provided by Tyndale Publishers for my honest review.
February 3, 2011
Divine Appointments Winner
Wendy!
Thank you all for your comments ~ I have so much fun doing these things!
My giveaway on The Christian Scroll ends today ~ I'll keep you posted of the winner. But just in case you DIDN'T win, here's another chance! Visit Toni Nelson's blog, Press On, and leave a comment for another chance! If you just can't wait, you can find The Price of Trust for your Kindle at Amazon.com
What's next?
I'm so glad you asked ~
It's a Follower Love Giveaway Hop! All you have to do, is visit HERE on February 8th through the 13th, and see what I'll be giving away. If you'd like to win the prize, leave a comment. (Winner will be chosen February 14th) Then, get on board, and hop to the next blog. Easy and fun, and a great way to meet some pretty awesome bloggers.
Is that all? Not exactly...I've got some pretty interesting things in the works for all you faithful readers, so you'll just have to stay tuned! Things like, Interview with a Bald Man, Book Reviews and Contests, Free eBooks, etc., so stay tuned!
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February 2, 2011
Free Kindle eBooks - February 1st
(If you are a follower of my blog, The Eclectic Blogger, these titles are completely different from that list)
Listen by Rene Gutteridge
A Promise to Remember by Kathryn Cushman
The One Year Book of Devotions for Couples by Teresa Ferguson
Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate
Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Book 1) by Lynn Austin
After the Leaves Fall by Nicole Baart
GIVEAWAYS:
Divine Appointments giveaway - ends February 3rd, leave a Comment Here
Remember, if you haven't read my book yet and would like to, here's a chance to WIN a copy on The Christian Scroll! Giveaway ends February 3rd
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January 31, 2011
New Review of The Price of Trust
Checking out some new blogs late last year, I ran across a blog for an up and coming author, Amanda Stephan, who had written a book called The Price of Trust. The story line of this book really intrigued me and I knew I would want to purchase it the first chance I could. And because the book is also available on Kindle, it didn't take long to buy it and was well worth the read!
You can read the rest of her thoughts HERE
GIVEAWAYS:
Divine Appointments giveaway - ends February 3rd, leave a Comment Here
Remember, if you haven't read my book yet and would like to, here's a chance to WIN a copy on The Christian Scroll! Giveaway ends February 3rd
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January 28, 2011
Divine Appointments Book Giveaway
Want an extra entry? Follow this site!
**Good luck ~ giveaway ends February 3rd**
Read the first chapter
Divine Appointments by Charlene Ann Baumbich (Chapter 1)
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January 27, 2011
Grace Awards - Best of 2010
Vote For Grace Awards Best of 2010 - Fiction
WHO CAN VOTE
Individuals (not organizations) who own a networking page (Facebook, Twitter, ShoutLife, Linkedin, Ning sites, etc.) created three months prior to the opening of voting. For Grace Awards, Best of 2010, this would mean the individual's page must have been created before October 21, 2010.
- Individuals can vote from Jan 21 - Mar 15, 2011 by email to: graceawards@aol.com and the subject line should read: 2010 Voting.
- Individuals need to include a link to their social networking page, the Grace Awards novel category (ie, Contemporary Romance/Historical Romance), the title of the book being voted for and its author, and a 15-45 word summary/review/reason for voting for the novel.
- Don't copy the back cover blurb. We will check.
- Please vote ONLY for novels you have read.
- All voter emails become the property of the Grace Awards. -
If you have read my novel, The Price of Trust, would you please consider nominating my book in the Contemporary Romance section? Thank you so much!
You can read more about The Grace Awards HERE
January 25, 2011
Lynn Dove – Author of the Wounded Trilogy
Lynn Dove is a graduate of the University of Calgary, where she earned her Bachelor of Education degree in 1981, she has spent the last thirty years teaching children in the private and public school settings. In 2007, she earned a Masters of Religious Education degree from the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary, in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.
Tell me something about yourself?
I am a Christ-follower, a wife, a mom, a soon-to be grandmother, a teacher and a writer (in that order). I wear so many different "hats" that I find prioritizing them tends to focus me better. I have been married to my best friend, Charles for 32 years and we have three wonderful children: daughter, Laurelle (husband, Matt) are expecting our first grand baby in February, and we have two live-at-home teenagers, Brett and Carmen. I have been a teacher most of my adult life, and I still substitute from time to time at the private Christian school my teenagers attend. I love volunteering and working closely with the youth in our church as well. Lastly, when I'm not writing, I'm reading. I love to blog and when I'm not blogging, I'm working on my next book.
Do you have a life verse that you have claimed and why is it so meaningful to you?
My husband, Charles and I have claimed this life verse: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9 Through our nearly 32 years of marriage, this verse has sustained us through all the ups and downs of life knowing we may make our plans but God is always in control… AND He allows U-turns!
What led you to write your "Wounded Trilogy" books? Why did you target youth with these books?
Having been an educator for over thirty years, and I discovered that there are still very few good contemporary Christian books for a young adult audience.
Youth today are under such a spiritual attack from the enemy. He wants to destroy their spirit and he does it subtly by surrounding them with worldly messages that make them question their looks, their intelligence, as well as their hope for tomorrow. I wanted to write books that deal with relevant themes, but with a definitive Christian message running throughout: the hope in Jesus Christ.
I also wanted my young readers to know that everyone makes mistakes; Christians are not excluded from that. Scripture teaches us to "love one another" even when they make mistakes, however our actions speak louder than our words at times. I have seen wonderful young people crumble from the constant barrage of cyberspace bullying, malicious gossip and innuendo. Insensitive words and blatant lies can lead to deep emotional scarring sometimes with tragic consequences. My books deal with gritty topics such as "cutting", bullying, gossip, family violence and cancer. We are not excluded from tough situations just because we are Christians, on the contrary it is exactly in those tough times that God comes alongside us and helps us. I want my young readers to understand that they are never alone; God is their ever present comfort and strength in everything they are going through.
Could you tell us a little bit about your books?
Shoot the Wounded, the first book of the Wounded Trilogy, is written for youth and young adults. It addresses how lies and gossip destroy a person's spirit and speaks to the heart of relevant themes such as bullying, teen pregnancy and family violence. The story points the characters, and ultimately the reader, to hope in Jesus Christ. STW was a finalist in the 2010 Readers Favorite Book Awards.
Heal the Wounded, is the much-anticipated sequel to STW and the second book of the Wounded Trilogy. HTW delves even deeper into the real world of teenagers trying to live out their faith in the midst of upset and struggle. Heal the Wounded, continues to follow the characters, Jake, Leigh, Mike (Jake's best friend), and Tim (Ronnie's brother) each of them dealing with the aftermath of their friend's death in the first book. Jake is especially dealing with a variety of disappointments ("Job" experiences I call them) that cause him to question why God allows bad things to happen to good people. A new character is introduced into the story, Cassidy, a young cancer patient whose unquenchable spirit and faith impacts Jake, Leigh, Mike and Tim in a way that allows them all to experience God's grace and the power of His healing in each one of their lives.
Both STW and HTW have been selected as helpful resources on the world's largest anti-bullying website: www.bullying.org
I hope to have Love the Wounded, the final book in the trilogy published next year. I am also writing an autobiographical account about my experiences and personal battle with breast cancer, and I am working on putting that book proposal together to submit to prospective publishers next year.
What advice would you give to young writers who are thinking about becoming published authors?
I have been asked often to give advice to young writers and truly the best advice I could give is this:
Write!
I believe everyone has a story inside of them. As a teacher, I encourage my students to write poetry, journal, write short stories and novellas. The more one writes, the more you improve and polish your craft. Write about things that appeal to you, write from the heart and write from experience. Much of my writing is based on my personal experiences and I believe God allows us to go through these experiences for a reason. Writing allows us the opportunity to share our life lessons with others. If God has called you to write…just WRITE!
I actually wrote Shoot the Wounded well over ten years ago. It started out as a short story and after I had written one hundred pages I knew I couldn't consider it a "short" story any longer. Then the manuscript literally (hahaha) took up space on the hard drive of my computer for ten years. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 and battled the disease for two years. My family and I experienced God profoundly through that time and certainly to many I am considered a "survivor" today but I hope I have done much more than survive, I hope I have "thrived"!
I wanted to share part of that experience with my readers, so in Heal the Wounded, the main character's mom is going through breast cancer and I write about how a family copes with that in the book.
The next piece of advice to young writers is:
Read!
I don't think it is possible to be a writer if you don't like to read. I read all genres and because I write primarily for young adults and teens I try to read all the books that they may be interested in.
Do you have any publishing and/or marketing advice for new writers?
I am still a "rookie" for all intents and purposes when it comes to publishing and marketing a book. For me, I find that writing a book is a relatively simple thing, but marketing a book can be extremely challenging, time-consuming, occasionally frustrating and discouraging. I have learned over this year to network with other authors, especially Christian authors who have experience with publishing, and those like me who are new to it. Some online social networking sites have given me the opportunity to meet some wonderful writers and authors who have been more than willing to share their expertise, their successes and failures with me. I have learned that book signings can be fun, only if you go into them with the attitude that you might not sell one book, but you'll meet lots of interesting people.
One thing I would tell new authors is to not feel shy about purposefully promoting yourself in the marketplace. I think that was one of the hardest things for me to do initially. As Christians, we value a humble attitude, but as authors the louder and bolder we are in promoting ourselves to our readers the more books they will buy and read. Some self-published or POD (print on demand) authors are quite content to write for a select audience, family and friends, but for those of us who want to reach a larger, more world-wide audience, we need to be prepared to create a "buzz" about the book. The only way to do that is to get people talking about it. Word of mouth is huge!
That said, I think it is also important to ask yourself the questions ahead of time about what your personal goals are with publishing a book. I applaud my publisher, Word Alive Press for asking some pointed questions up front in their publishing questionnaire. One question in particular prompted me to prayerfully consider my personal goals: "What is the one thing, (the most important thing) you would like to accomplish with your manuscript (book)?" I remember I wrote, "My hope is that teenagers and young adults who read this book will be touched by the message in the story and ultimately that this book and any others I write will bring Glory to God."
Other:
To celebrate the launch of Heal the Wounded, Lynn will be hosting a contest on January 25th on her blog, Journey Thoughts
http://lynndove.wordpress.com/ Just click on the picture for details!
Readers may also connect with Lynn on Twitter, Facebook and on her website: www.shootthewounded.org
January 24, 2011
Grace Awards - Please nominate my Book!
Vote For Grace Awards Best of 2010 - Fiction
WHO CAN VOTE
Individuals (not organizations) who own a networking page (Facebook, Twitter, ShoutLife, Linkedin, Ning sites, etc.) created three months prior to the opening of voting. For Grace Awards, Best of 2010, this would mean the individual's page must have been created before October 21, 2010.
- Individuals can vote from Jan 21 - Mar 15, 2011 by email to: graceawards@aol.com and the subject line should read: 2010 Voting.
- Individuals need to include a link to their social networking page, the Grace Awards novel category (ie, Contemporary Romance/Historical Romance), the title of the book being voted for and its author, and a 15-45 word summary/review/reason for voting for the novel.
- Don't copy the back cover blurb. We will check.
- Please vote ONLY for novels you have read.
- All voter emails become the property of the Grace Awards. -
If you have read my novel, The Price of Trust, would you please consider nominating my book in the Contemporary Romance section? Thank you so much!
You can read more about The Grace Awards HERE
Winner of Go Into the House ~
Do you like Christian fiction, suspense, and romance? What about a clean read that you don't have to worry about someone picking it up? There's a giveaway going on for THE PRICE OF TRUST over at the Christian Scroll. Be sure to check it out and leave a comment for an autographed copy! (ps - tell her Amanda sent ya!)
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January 23, 2011
Rodney Winters Book Giveaway Ends 1/24/11
Rodney Winters, author of Go Into the House giveaway ends tomorrow!
Go Into The House is my story of disappointment from a failed marriage and divorce process, which I relate to the older brother in the biblical story of the prodigal son. It is a gripping story about the painful truths of relationships that few men talk about openly. The book encourages the reader with the fact that there is indeed hope after life's disappointments in the presence of our heavenly Father.
My favorite scripture is Jeremiah 33:3. "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (NASB)
About the book:"Not just another book on marriage"
Marriages and families are under attack. And they will remain embattled until real solutions come from real people who have gone through fiery tests, yet lived to tell their story. Divorce has long been viewed as an awful difficulty, particularly in the church. The raw truth is that some marriages fail. What happens when your marriage has failed or is close to reaching that point?
Listen to a man who has survived a failed marriage, the scrutiny of the church, and emerged with an honest heartfelt story that will cause you to never see marriage like you did before.
Rodney A. Winters isn't sharing a story about love, marriage and divorce that he has heard from someone else. He's lived it. Go into the House, hear what happened, and find out how to prevent the same thing from happening to you.
Whether it's a failed marriage or some other difficulty, we all face some tough decisions at some point after life's disappointments. We must choose to either Go into the House and enjoy the benefits inside, or stay outside and wallow in self-pity. Won't you go inside!
Mr. Winters has graciously offered a giveaway of his book. Leave a comment for your chance to win ~ Ends January 24th!
+1 entry if you follow this Website
+1 entry if you follow The Eclectic Blogger
+2 entries if you tweet or Facebook this giveaway
Again, thank you for being with us here today. You can find Rodney Winters at these places:
http://www.rodneywinters.com
http://facebook.com/rodney.winters
http://twitter.com/rodneywinters
Book Trailer:
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God is Good, God is Great
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