R. Frederick Riddle's Blog, page 41

Should We Deny The Holocaust Ever Happened?

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Monday’s I try to focus on issues. This week I am taking a look at Should We Deny The Holocaust Ever Happened?

I was born in 1943 right smack in the middle of World War II and the Holocaust. Although only a baby at the time my life was impacted by the Holocaust. As I grew up it seemed like everybody knew that it had happened and were horrified!

But the world we are in is changing. More and more we are seeing the rise of anti-Semitism. Let’s take a brief look at what is happening and answer for ourselves the question: Should we deny the Holocaust ever happened?

Here are some thoughts to consider:

Germany is in denial. Not because it didn’t happen but because it is embarrassing. The Holocaust was a German effort to eradicate Jews. To be constantly reminded of this fact must truly hurt their feelings. So how do they respond? Deny it happened.
Arabs worldwide are in denial. Think of them as the cheerleaders. They weren’t the ones who did it, but they rejoiced in the deaths. Today they deny it happened because they don’t want the Jews to appear as the victims.
Europeans in general appear to be going back to their anti-Semitic behavior. I believe the effort to boycott Israeli goods may have been proposed by the Arabs but embraced by the Europeans.
Governments around the world are fearful of Arab retaliation if they accept the idea that the Holocaust happened and was immoral.

These are just some of the things happening in our world today.

So what should we do?

There is at least a two part answer. First I’ll speak as a Christian.

Part One: Christians should support and pray for Israel.

The Bible clearly teaches that the Jewish people would return to the land and reestablish the nation of Israel (which they did in 1948). [Yes I recognize that there are people who take Scripture out of context in an effort to deny Israel even has a right to the land.] The Bible also identifies the Jewish people as God’s people. In Romans 11:1 Paul says, “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”

In fact the Apostle Paul would first go to the Jews then to the Gentiles with the Gospel. In the Book of Psalms we are instructed to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” It is Old Testament, but that is still valid today. The only reason Christianity exists outside of Judaism is because the Jewish leaders denied that Jesus was Christ and persecuted those who believed in Him.

It is a shame that people who have called themselves Christians have at times embraced anti-Semitism throughout history. This tragedy largely developed out of their ignorance. High Churches took or kept the Bible out of the hands of the common people and claimed that the Jews had crucified Jesus. This is simply untrue. He was crucified by the Romans under the command of a Roman Governor. Yes, it was at the behest of the Jewish leaders who knew Who He was but they didn’t want anything to do with Him. The truth is that all of us, you and I, sent Jesus to that cross. He came down from Heaven, was born into the family of man, and died on a cross for our sins. He was born to die! It was our sin that put Him on that Cross. And it was His love that kept him there.

Part Two: The United States Should Stand By Israel.

We are very fortunate that we have a President who understands that we have a God given mandate to stand with Israel. You can argue all day about various aspects of his Presidency, but this is the only President who has had the fortitude to move our Embassy to Jerusalem. He did so in spite of threats from the Arabs and condemnation from both political parties. The fact is he was simply doing what the law demanded. Instead of kicking it down the road as previous Presidents have done.

It is true that Israel is not Christian and barely allows Christianity to exist. But we know from the Bible that eventually they will turn to Christ. And as Christians we should also remember Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” History teaches us the promise still is true.

Here are some ideas. I’m not saying you should do all of them or that I do. But consider them.

Pray for the Nation of Israel
Pray for the People of Israel
Stand with them again anti-Semitism
Subscribe to World Israel News and others to be informed
Use the United States’ moral authority to be supportive of Israel against Arab intransigence.
Visit Israel if you can afford it
Buy Israeli goods that interest you
And don’t let anyone tell you the Holocaust didn’t happen

That last point is relevant to this blog. It did happen and if people forget that it happened it could happen again. In this day and age that we live in we have a media that is not particularly friendly to Israel. Nor are they friendly or even honest in their reporting on President Trump. We simply can’t believe them!

To find the truth whether dealing with our government or with Israel we must stay informed. That means going to the Internet. Unfortunately there is a lot of fake news by both those for and against Israel. This requires diligence on our part.

As mentioned in my last blog you can’t even believe the “fact checkers.” That’s because there is no such thing as an unbiased person or organization. Just because they have a few statements or actions that seem supportive to the other side doesn’t mean they are unbiased. See what the tendency is; the weight of their opinions, etc. That will at least give you an idea of where their bias lies.

But whatever you do, pray for the people of Israel!

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

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How is the Government Shutdown Good for Us?

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Monday’s I try to focus on issues. This week I am taking a look at How is the Government Shutdown Good for Us?

Once again we go through a government shutdown. It appears to be an increasingly popular way of solving disputes. Only when a shutdown occurs do modern politicians get serious about issues. So who is wrong in the current dispute and does it benefit us?

The answer to that is easy. Pelosi, Schumer, and other Democrats assert that a wall is ineffective. Yet walls are built today for a variety reasons and being ineffective is never an issue. Walls work. They’ve worked throughout history and God Himself directed Nehemiah to build a wall. The Democrats are wielding an empty argument.

The greater question is Who’s Winning?

Well, if you believe the liberals and the media you might surmise that the Democrats are winning. But this would be a faulty assumption. The American people are smart enough to see through the Democratic smoke and mirrors arguments. The American people want secure borders which the Democrats, despite their rhetoric, aren’t too eager about. Illegal immigration spawns a ready market for liberal ideology, so it is too the liberal’s advantage to see it continue.

But the American people know that while there is discomfort with a government shutdown life goes on. Government workers, which are more than likely liberal in thinking, are the ones most affected by this shutdown. And this is not good for the Democrats. It looks to me like the President is winning.

How long will it last?

That’s really up to the Democrats. President Trump has told them what they must do to reopen government. As long as they remain recalcitrant the shutdown will continue. They like to belittle the President and pooh-pooh his negotiating abilities, but take a look at his successes since being elected. At every turn he has outsmarted and outplayed his opponents whether they are in Europe, Asia, South or North America.

It’s just a guess, but I think the Democrats are sinking fast. Their base is beginning to suffer the pinch, news articles normally in their favor are beginning to ask questions, and they have to use fake polls to bolster their case (for example using polling in places like California where they are sure to draw support).

Has the Blue Wave played a role?

What Blue Wave? As I’ve mentioned before Midterm elections are historically times when the party in power loses seats not only in the House but in the Senate. But the Republicans gained seats in the Senate.

The so-called Blue Wave fizzled upon the rocks of a counter Red Wave! And thanks to President Obama President Trump knows he can still rule and accomplish a lot with a divided government.

Why do the Democrats hate President Trump?

That’s an interesting question. Before he ever ran for office they liked him. He is on a first name basis with many of them. They liked him, or at least his money.

But the problem came when he ran in opposition to their darling Clinton. The fix was in; she was suppose to win the election no matter who the Republicans put up. Let’s be frank. Clinton didn’t lose the election because of some nebulous collusion between Trump and Russia. She didn’t lose the election because of FBI interference. She lost the election because she once again got caught red handed multiple times and the American people recognized that she was incompetent as well as dishonest.

But a Majority of the People Voted for Her?

That’s true. But a majority of the states voted for Trump. There’s a reason our founders established the Electoral College. They foresaw the possibility of a few states dominating simply because they had a larger population. That would be inherently unfair to all the people. So they equalized the situation with the Electoral College.

Will Trump get His Wall?

It’s not really his wall. I believe that most Americans believe it is necessary. If we could get the politicians out of the way the Wall would be financed and built. Interestingly a man from Southwest Florida has used Social Media to raise in a very short time almost 21 million dollars toward support of the Wall.

Parts of the Wall have already been built before Trump even came into office. I believe that we will eventually see a combination of Wall and electronic countermeasures securing our borders. Only time will tell, but Trump is a powerful force that the Left has yet to figure out let alone defeat.

What will happen with Immigration?

That’s a more difficult question. As long as politicians regard it as their political football it won’t get resolved. I am of the opinion that an expanded legal entrance into the United States along with a broader path for citizenship will eventually have to occur. As long as there are sharp divides and inaction there will continue to be illegal immigration with the accompanying human trafficking, crime, and possible entrance of terrorists.

If the shutdown continues, how will it affect us?

The ‘experts’ haven’t been able to answer that question as of yet. This is supposed to be the longest shutdown in American history. So we are in uncharted territory. But so far it hasn’t really hit the majority of Americans except as a discomfort.

Of course, the TV consultants, media, and analysts will try. But their tract record is not very good. So we will have to wait and see. But as I said earlier, I think the Democrats are sinking fast and pressure is building for them to compromise. And that is what President Trump is seeking, a compromise.

At the beginning I asked how it would benefit us? It really depends on the final resolution. But if the Wall is finished there are some obvious benefits to all of America. Here are a few:

Major reduction in Illegal Immigration
Reduction in drug smuggling
A step toward stopping the rise of health care associated with immigration
Less violence along our border
Opportunity to work on the existing illegal immigrants now in America

These are just a few ideas that come to mind. It would also allow the government to turn its attention to other important issues needing to be addressed.

Unfortunately for the liberals and media it would mean another of President Trump’s promises being fulfilled. The very idea of this happening keeps them awake at night trying to think of ways to attack him. With the continuing lack of evidence of any wrong doing by the President they need all the help they can get. Although the democrats have used Social Media often they seem to misunderstand its true nature. They continue to put lies out there that the average internet user can check out and quickly discover they are lies.

A Note About So-called Fact Checkers:

There are well known fact checkers out there that a lot of people trust. But my experience has been that it is best not to put too much confidence in them. I think it is wise to remember there is no such thing as an unbiased person. That person doesn’t exist. Everyone has a bias.

That means when making use of fact checkers we should always find out what their bias is. Then check them out. And still be cautious. Why? Because as far as I can tell there is no one who is fact checking the fact checkers!

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

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Why You Should Go to the Florida Gospel Crusade

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Monday’s I try to focus on issues. This week I am taking a look at Why You Should Go to the Florida Gospel Crusade.

Today I’m writing on what I consider one of the most important issues of the day, namely our eternal destiny. Below are five basic questions that can turn your life around?

What is the Florida Gospel Crusade?

The Florida Gospel Crusade is the result of God burdening three churches for their respective communities. These are First Baptist Church of North Port, Tri-City Baptist Church of Port Charlotte, and Englewood Baptist Church of Englewood.

The burden of these churches is for the evangelization of their communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The first such crusade occurred in February 2018 and it was a tremendous time. That was right when my wife was diagnosed with cancer, so I only made it to two services. But I was really impressed!

Do You Live In SW Florida?

If you live in Sarasota or Charlotte counties then you are automatically invited. But just because you live elsewhere is no reason for not going. Perhaps you live in Lehigh Acres, Ft. Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, or any other county not far from Charlotte. Then come!

Perhaps you live even further away. Come anyway!

Are You Searching for Life’s Answers?

In this day and age we find ourselves facing questions. Things we once accepted as truth are today being challenged. What is the truth? Who can you rely on? How does that truth affect you?

These and many other questions are addressed right from the Bible.

When Will it be Held?

The dates for this event are February 16-20, 2019.

Where will it be Held?

The crusade will be held at Port Charlotte Fairgrounds on 776 (across from the Charlotte Sports Park).

Why Should I Go?

As mentioned above you will learn the answers to where you’ll spend eternity, what is salvation, and how do you get saved. You’ll learn what God says as opposed to what man says.

Even if you don’t have any questions but just enjoy good preaching, then come!

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

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How to Write the Perfect Novel Every Time

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Wednesday’s I try to focus on the Church. This week I am taking a look at How to Write the Perfect Novel Every Time.

I’ll admit right up front that there is no such thing as a perfect novel. There are millions of readers out there and every one of them have their own idea of what constitutes a good or great novel.

So, perfect novel? No! Good, yes.

So what constitutes a good novel?

The answer to that also varies, but since I’m the one authoring this blog, let me give my take on the issue.

A good novel is a story that draws the reader into it, whose character(s) are interesting, the plot is believable, and where the writing makes it hard to put the book down.

Obviously there are other important aspects to a good novel. But as a general statement I think that covers it.

What about Grammar?

Good grammar is always needed. Not just good grammar, but good spelling as well. Bad grammar and spelling can hurt an otherwise good story. Spelling mistakes can be deadly as can grammar mistakes. You need to constantly work on your grammar and spelling.

But I would contend that good grammar and good spelling are included in the statement, “the writing makes it hard to put the book down.”

What about Character Development?

You want your characters to stand out whether they are good people or bad people. To do this requires you have characters that are strong or weak, but are consistently so. I once had a man critique a book of mine in which he claimed the character wasn’t consistent. The problem was that I was writing about two different and real people found in the Bible. They had the same exact name and lived in the same time. If he’d read the book through (he didn’t) he would have seen that. But he skipped around and concluded they were the same characters.

Although he was wrong in his conclusions, that is a legitimate concern. If your character is evil at the beginning you need the character to continue being evil unless there is a reason that causes that character to change. And the reader must see that reason!

But I would contend that Character Development is included in “characters are interesting.”

OK, I get it. But what about the story’s background?

When writing a novel it is crucial to have a strong background. Sometimes that background is easily found in research; sometimes the background requires deeper research. Background includes many things such as the setting, the customs, and much more. If writing about history then it needs to be historically accurate. If writing about the future, then it needs to be believable. My general statement includes two items that cover all of this: “draws the reader into it” and “is believable.”

For example, a story that takes place in ancient history may be a great story but collapses because a character may speak using modern slang or a character drinks from a glass when glass hadn’t been invented yet. This is a mistake that is jarring to the reader and immediately detracts from the story. In all likelihood the reader will put the book down.

Background is important and is in my statement.

OK, What about Sales?

We all want our novels to sell. The more book sales the better for us and our bank accounts. But sales tells very little about the book. For instance, there are great books out there that haven’t really sold well. Why? Because good sales need a good book but it also needs a good marketer!

There are also books out there that are of poor quality. Yet they get great reviews and their sales are out of this world. How can that be?

No matter how bad a book is written there are people who will enjoy them. That might account for some of the sales. In addition some great marketing may have been involved that created a buzz about the book. The result? The book goes viral.

Sales simply don’t tell you about the quality of the book.

Does Following Your Blog Help My Writing?

I try to write about writing once a week (usually Thursday). Some aspect of writing is covered in these blogs. So, yes, if you are reading this blog on a weekly basis you should be learning something you can use. I also write about publishing and marketing once a week. That’s usually on Fridays.

But I would recommend that you make use of multiple sources on the subject of writing. The more sources you have the more likelihood you’ll learn something new that will benefit you. I subscribe to several newsletters, blogs, etc. with that in mind.

Another thing you can and should do is keep writing. You’ve written your first book; it’s been published and now you are getting sales. Don’t stop there!

Keep writing. Start one or two more books and work on them. I believe that no matter what your sales are your writing will improve through the act of writing. Each book you finish should be better than the one before. And as you learn from others you would be incorporating that knowledge into your latest book.

Conclusion

You may never write the perfect novel. But if you study the art of writing, practice writing and publishing new books you should see a consistent growth and improvement in your writing. And if you’re like me the simple joy of writing grows with each novel you write!

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

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How to Better Understand Your Church’s Deacons

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Wednesday’s I try to focus on the Church. This week I am taking a look at How to Better Understand Your Church’s Deacons.

The Establishment of Deacons

Over the years I’ve seen great deacons, mediocre deacons, and lousy deacons. Sometimes this disparity stems from a misunderstanding of what a deacon is and is not. The first mention of deacons appears in Acts 6:1-7:

“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

While you don’t see the word deacon in the English, the word serve stems from the Greek word diaconos which means servant among other things. We see from this passage that the Grecian widows were being neglected. The underlying reason was that the Apostles were so busy proclaiming the Word that they didn’t have time to take care of these matters. So they created the office of deacon to take care of the daily needs of the people, in this case the Grecian widows.

The impact upon the Ministry

Then and now the deacons provide a very strong presence in the church. Not necessarily as rulers but as men who, under the authority of the pastor, serve the congregation. The pastor benefits from their ministry so that the ministry of the gospel would go forward in power. It benefits the people in that their needs are constantly looked after.

Do Deacons Run the Church?

Somewhere during the ensuing generations there arose the belief that deacons were there to protect the congregation from the pastors. While there isn’t any Scripture to support such a belief it is believed and practiced in some otherwise Biblical churches. Aside from its unbiblical source it also creates a division between the pastor and the people.

When you study it out in the Bible the deacon represents the pastor. While it is expected that the pastor would visit those who are sick sometimes he is unable to visit all of them or even any of them (he’s sick, etc.). In those cases it is not uncommon for a deacon to make the visit on behalf of the pastor. To use that occasion to undermine the pastor is to become an Absalom who stole the hearts of the people from King David.

How are Deacons selected?

Most churches use a method that is similar to what is seen in Acts 6. This procedure consists of Nominated by the people, Approved by the Pastor, and Elected (chosen) by the people. So the people have a hand in the process, whereas the Pastor examines the worthiness of the nominee and uses Scripture to determine if the nominee should be approved. The actual selection is by the people.

But the first thing that needs to be done is: , look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. Also Deacons should be held to the same standard as the pastors!

Different churches have different criteria pertaining to term of office. For example, some churches elect their deacons for a term of six years and every year they re-elect a certain number of deacons or elect new ones to replace the existing deacons. Another thing that churches differ on is that in some churches if a man is elected a deacon the title is his for the rest of his life whether or not he is serving as a deacon.

In effect the Bible allows a great deal of flexibility on the part of the churches in the selection of deacons.

What are the Duties of Deacons?

This is another area where churches may differ. So I am not trying to cover all the duties. Here are some:

Benevolence:

This involves the care of church members who are in need. It may also involve meeting needs of non-members. The deacon handling this may desire to interview the person in need.

Hospital visits as requested by the Pastor
Advising Pastor if requested.

Sometimes the Pastor wants the feedback of his deacons to help him determine the future direction of the church. They are a powerful tool to be used in this manner.

Serving within the Church’s various departments as directed by the Pastor:

For example, a deacon may be placed over the office work. Sort of an Office Manager. Since this is often the area an Associate Pastor may be involved in the two would work together with the Associate being in charge.

Your church may have additional duties but these give you some insight. There is another duty that I think all churches should consider.

Are Deacons Trustees?

The office of Trustee is not a Biblical office. It is an office demanded by states. I am not a lawyer so I can’t tell you exactly how to do this but here are some thoughts:

The Deacons should automatically be Trustees (and perhaps the Associates should be also).
This should be in the church’s constitution.

Conclusion:

To better understand your deacons study the Bible. It is there that you learn that only men can be deacons (the Bible allows no room for deaconesses), what kind of men should be selected, and how they are selected. And when you vote, don’t just vote for the “nicest” person. Vote for the godliest man that you think can do the job. And don’t forget it is a Biblical office and therefore an important office.

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

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Insights from the World That Was series

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Tuesday’s I try to focus on Insights. This week I am taking another look at Insights from the World That Was series.

A great deal of research goes into writing books. That goes without saying.

But what about books based on the Bible or, for that matter, on history?

The series The World That Was is a fictional story that is based on historical and Biblical facts. I didn’t one day just sit down and dash off a novel. It took tremendous research. This research involved any secular history that related to our beginnings and the Bible.

What does Secular History say?

At first glance secular history is a no-show. But part of the reason for that is that liberal educators have tampered with our history books. Not only with our nation’s history but with world history. So as an author I had to dig.

The history of the Jewish people can be found in the writings of Josephus. It is essentially a secular book thereby subject to error. Even so, it contains a lot of history. Why? Because the early history of our world surrounded a little piece of land we now call Israel. It is also known as Palestine, Canaan land, and other titles.

As you can see that invites you to do much research and you soon find there are conflicting histories. Part of this problem involves the history of Egypt. To be perfectly frank this is highly unreliable. At best you have to guess about the time frames of different rulers.

Egypt is the worst case, but to some degree the problem exists elsewhere. A partial solution comes from comparing known historical people who lived at the same time in different lands. That helps in nailing down the time table. But even that is subject to error. There is a more sure aide, but I’ll visit that later.

Of all the secular writings I have found Josephus a fairly reliable resource that sheds light on people, places, and events. This is very important from an author’s viewpoint.

Why is historical reliability important?

As an author I want readers to feel that the characters and their stories are real. To accomplish this I need them to have confidence in the “facts” of the story. In short, I strive to be accurate when describing the land so that someone who’s been there will readily accept that fact. Now there are exceptions. For example, a description of Mt. Ararat in Noah’s day will differ from a description of Mt. Ararat today. In Noah’s day snow hadn’t been seen before and therefore was a new thing to Noah and the family. Mt. Ararat would have been barren of snow when the Ark landed and for years afterward. But today it is covered in snow and ice. A lot has happened.

So it is important to know about changes in weather conditions?

To some degree, yes. Let me change that to a high degree. I had one man write me with criticisms of the land and of Mt. Ararat in my book. He’d been in the area and said it didn’t look like that at all. He’s probably correct as far as today is concerned, but my story took place over a 1000 years ago. There have been changes.

The Most Reliable Resource

Contrary to the modern liberal crowd, also known as evolutionists, the King James Bible is the most reliable book out there. While it is not a history book, it is totally accurate when it tells of historical peoples, lands, and events.

A classic example of this is found in the Bible’s numerous mentions of the Hittite people. A number of centuries ago cynics “proved” the Bible to be in error. These cynics were the most highly educated of their time. They were the experts you’d turn to regarding history, science, archeology, and more.

They successfully demonstrated that archeology had not turned up any evidence that these Hittites ever existed. This they said proved the Bible was in error in mentioning a people that had never existed and if existed were never a powerful nation.

But time went on and after centuries of denial evidence began surfacing in the early 19th century. The greatest minds of science and archeology were thus proved wrong although that is glossed over. It was of far greater importance to prove the Bible wrong. But the Bible had been right all the time!

We now know that the Bible is without doubt not only the most accurate but is completely accurate as it deals with history and science or any other subject. Man continues to deny it and offers up questions that range from the foolish to the outright manipulation of Scripture.

As an author I have not doubted the reliability of the Scriptures. As a result I discovered the solution to the problem of secular history. Test secular history against the Bible. If secular history is in complete disagreement with the Bible, then bring it into conformity to the Bible. This is particularly helpful when dealing with time frames. It brings unity to the jumbled mass of time frames and enables a writer to better understand what is going on, who is living, who is dominant, and where their chief character lives.

All to often people try to make the Bible conform to the secular. It won’t work. But when you pull secular history into conformity with the Bible it is like a puzzle of a 1000 pieces suddenly falling into their proper place!

What is my Insight?

That when writing a book that is based on history, science, or both you can rely on the Bible. Just remember that so-called “errors” are found in the reader’s mind not in the Bible. In matters of science who is talking. The Bible often relates what someone believes to be true, as with Jacob. It doesn’t comment on whether his “scientific” ideas are true or not, but simply relates the truth of what he believed or what he did.

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

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How can They Say a Wall is Ineffective?

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Monday’s I try to focus on issues. This week I am taking a look at How can They Say a Wall is Ineffective?

The Democrats primary argument against the building of a wall is that it is ineffective. But this defies the facts. Let’s take a look.

Wall of China – They say it is ineffective. Of course it is now, it was built centuries ago. But until it crumbled it was effective. It at least made invasion more difficult and defense easier.

Prison Walls – If walls are ineffective why do we put prisoners behind walls? It’s too keep the community safe.

City Walls – In olden times they built walls to protect the city and its inhabitants from marauding bandits and opposing armies. This method of protection worked well until modern weaponry came on the scene.

Walls around Homes – Many rich people including both Democrats and Republicans have homes surrounding their houses. If they are ineffective, why bother?

Gated Communities – My wife and I live in a socalled gated community. In our case it consists of wooden and metal fences. Supposedly this makes us more secure. While certainly not 100 percent effective they make it harder for thieves to enter and that’s a good thing.

The idea of a wall is not to stop illegal immigration entirely. That is probably impossible. But right now the rate, which changes every year, is unbearable. We cannot take care of all the world’s poor.

What about the fact they’re escaping famine, extortion, murder, etc.?

I don’t deny that this is happening. But we still can’t take them all in. When you try to do that other injustices take place. A good example was the forced separation of children from their parents and incarcerated in cages. This started under the Obama Administration and continued under the Trump Administration, which ultimately stopped it due to public pressure.

The fact remains though that more people are coming across than we can handle.

But the children are innocent.

Are they? How do you know. Are you so naive that you believe that children cannot be used? Look around you. In the Vietnam War they were used to kill American soldiers. It is well known that Americans like kids and would provide food and more to them. Until children came with bombs attached and blew themselves up.

More recently children in Africa have been used in war. It’s an atrocity!

The fact is if anyone bypasses the border stations where they are supposed to legally apply and enter America we have no way of documenting them. Or a better word is vetting. Let’s say 1000 people enter illegally and only one is a terrorist. Since you don’t know who that terrorist is you let in all 1000. That terrorist may have the potential of killings thousands of people.

If you really want to help them then help them in their own countries.

Walls are a temporary but necessary solution until Congress comes up with something better.

The Wall was never meant to be the final or only solution. Some people say modern technology is better. However, this has not been proven and until it is we need something in place to protect us. How about this idea: Combine the wall with modern technology. That would truly protect us better.

What about Trump declaring a National Emergency?’

I think it has merit. We have thousands of people on our border with many planning on entering illegally. And last I heard there were thousands more on the way. It may not be an army with guns and tanks, but it would still amount to an army. An army of people who think that by entering America all their problems will go away. That’s a false expectation, but it is what they are being told.

What about using confiscated drug money to build the wall?

I don’t know if they can or can’t but I’m sure in favor of trying it. I’d like to see more on this solution.

Conclusion

The hearts of all Americans should go out to these people. Most of them have given up everything for a better life. I think we need to do more on the international front and try to force the home countries to do more. While that may be unlikely, it should still be tried.

And instead of the Democrats making a political football out of the issue, they should work with the Republicans to find a real solution. In my opinion, they use the poor, the homeless, and others for political purposes. When they have power like they did in the first few years of Obama’s Presidency they could have done something, but it wasn’t in their interests.

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

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I Hope You Have an Amazing and Beautiful Christmas

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. This week I am taking a look at I hope you have an amazing and beautiful Christmas.

Today is Friday and Christmas is not far away. Although I plan on writing my blog on Monday I thought it appropriate to take a couple minutes and wish you an amazing and beautiful Christmas.

I’m sure you’ve noticed as I have that the meaning of Christmas is largely lost on society. That’s not exactly news, but it is sad. In the paper this morning there was a story concerning someone giving something to someone else. It was a beautiful story but I noticed that the headline included this: “That is what Christmas is all about.”

No it isn’t!

Yes, we should love one another. Yes, we should help one another whenever possible. That is something that should characterize our lives, but it is not the meaning of Christmas.

I thought giving was the meaning of Christmas.

In the secular world we live in today giving presents to one another has become the prime reason for Christmas. It gives us a chance to show others that we care and appreciate them. It is an activity that should be a part of our Christmas celebration. It is a part of Christmas but it is not the meaning of Christmas.

What about Christmas lights?

I love seeing Christmas lights displayed. Just this week our Church group went out to see the Christmas displays. Some people spend a fortune on displays and make them available to the public. Beautiful barely describes it.

My wife and I often notice and enjoy the various light displays that we see as we drive around Port Charlotte. You see the Nativity Scene, Santa Claus, Reindeer, playing children, and much, much more. It is often an amazing sight. But that is not the meaning of Christmas.

Caroling?

People going home to home singing Christmas carols is a tradition that still lends beauty to the season. That little group that went out to see the Christmas lights also stopped at a couple of homes to sing carols. I hope that someday if my wife or I are incapacitated and can’t get out that somebody will be thoughtful enough to stop by and sing Christmas carols to us.

The music and the words carry the sound of God’s love. They often refer to the true meaning of Christmas. But singing Christmas carols is not the meaning of Christmas.

Oh, you mean it’s about the Birth of Jesus.

You’re getting closer. The Nativity scene used to be visible on private and public land and institutions. Nowadays it’s considered illegal to celebrate His birth in some places. And it’s a rare American who hasn’t heard the story of the virgin birth of Jesus, the step-son of Joseph and son of Mary.

We’ve all heard the story of the shepherds in the field being visited by angels. They are sent to see the newborn Babe and to worship Him. It is a true story that touches our emotions. Many Americans, even those not Christian, love the story, the Nativity scene, and especially the Baby in the manger. But it is not the true meaning of Christmas.

If not Jesus’ Birth then what?

It is this: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that

whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

God so loved all of us that He gave (sent His Son to be born of a virgin and to die on a cross) His Son. When we view the birth of Jesus we should always remember the Cross.

Put another way, Jesus was born to die for us! That is why He was born. Not to elicit smiles and “isn’t He adorable.” He came with the express purpose of taking our sins upon Himself and dying in our place. That is the true meaning of Christmas.

So as you celebrate His birth, why not take time to reflect upon why He came? He came on your behalf. He came that you a sinner might accept His gift and receive eternal life!

Have An Amazing and Beautiful Christmas!

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

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3 Fascinating Fundamentals with Jesus’ Manger

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Wednesday’s I try to focus on the Church. This week I am taking a look at 3 Fascinating Fundamentals with Jesus’ Manger.

In today’s politically correct world the importance of Christmas and the Manger is buried under commercialism, social agendas, and anti-Christian propaganda. I recently read an article by Rev. Billy Graham (1918-2018) entitled The Manger, the Cross and the Crown (1974). I have included excerpts in this blog as well as new material of my own. I have also changed all Scripture references to the King James Version.

The Manger

Amazing as it may seem to today’s crowd the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ was a visitor from outer space. More than that, He was from the 3rd Heaven or the heavenlies. Reverend Graham said this about the manger:

He was God Incarnate who came to Earth and took on a human body.  That virgin-born baby was God in human form. He humbled Himself; He took the form of a servant; He was made in your likeness and mine; He identified Himself with the problems of the human race.

And thus it was that the Apostle John wrote, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14).

What a difference the baby born in Bethlehem’s manger 2,000 years ago makes to our world today! The educational systems He has inspired; the social reforms that His teachings have instituted; and the transformation of families and lives that have come about as a result of a baby born at Bethlehem! The whole world was thinking of Caesar. The whole world was thinking of Rome. But in God’s eternal plan, He was thinking of a baby in a manger in the little tiny town of Bethlehem.

The Manger is fundamental to the Christian faith. Take away the Virgin Birth of Jesus and you destroy the gospel. No mere man could pay our penalty. It had to be a man not bearing the curse from the Garden. Jesus Christ came from the Father, was equal with the Father and “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”

The Cross

One of my favorite pictures is that of the manger overshadowed by the cross. I’ve included one with this blog. It makes a direct connection between the two events though they were separated by 33 years.

In his concluding comments Rev. Graham said, Christmas, to have meaning, cannot be separated from the cross. The angel said at the birth of Jesus, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). In John 18:37 we read, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” He was the only person in history who was born with the purpose of dying. The Apostle Paul, years later said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

The central message of Christmas is that Jesus Christ, by His death and resurrection, can transform both individuals and society. Almost everyone at some time or another feels moral guilt and failure. In every newspaper or magazine that we pick up, and in every newscast that we watch, we see a picture of hate and lust and greed and prejudice and corruption—manifested in a thousand ways. The fact that we have policemen and jails and military forces indicates that something is radically wrong with human nature.

The Bible teaches that the human race is morally sick. This disease has affected every phase of our life in society. The Bible calls this disease by an ugly, three-letter word: sin.

The Bible teaches that the only cure for sin is the blood that Christ shed on the cross. Christ became the Lamb of God who bled and died on the cross for our sins.

The cross and the resurrection stand today as man’s only hope. It was at the Crucifixion and Easter that God did for man what man could not do for himself. From these momentous events, God is saying to sinful man, “I love you. I love you so much I gave my Son.” But He’s saying more than that. He’s saying, “I can forgive you, because of what He did on the cross.” And this is good tidings (or good news) this and every Christmas!

Some may dismiss it as idiotic and ridiculous that a man dying 2,000 years ago could be relevant today. Paul anticipated that we’d say that. He said, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

I believe that America stands on the threshold of divine judgment. Morally, socially, economically, politically, spiritually, we are in deep trouble. We’ve turned away from God, and every month seems to take us further away from the only One who can reverse the tide, forgive our sins and forestall the imminent judgment. We must alter our course if we are going to see many more Christmas seasons as a free people.

Our greatest need is a change in the hearts of people. That is why Jesus said, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:7). That’s why He said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3). Paul, in his famous sermon at Mars Hill, said, “God … commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

Who should repent? Everybody. This is what the cross calls for. The heart of its message is simple: Repent or perish.

The Scripture says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17). If we as individuals and as a nation would humble ourselves and turn from our sins, God has promised forgiveness, healing to the nation and eternal life to the individual.

The Crown

The third fundamental is the crown.

Chiseled into the cornerstone of the United Nations building is a quotation from the Bible that has never yet been fulfilled. It reads, “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”  (Isaiah 2:4). This is a thrilling thought. It has often been repeated by those who long for peace. However, this quotation must not be taken out of context.

The passage speaks of the time when the Messiah will reign over the whole earth. This is the era about which Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). This is the time when He who came as the baby of Bethlehem shall come back as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The Bible teaches that there will be an end to history as we know it. Man will have his last Armageddon. But when it seems that man is about to destroy himself, God will intervene. Christ will return.

At the manger, He was in the stall of an animal. At the cross, He wore a crown of thorns.

But when He comes again, it will be as Commander in Chief of the armies of Heaven. He will take control of this war-weary world and bring the peace that we strive for and long for. A new world will be formed, a new social order will emerge. Sin will be eliminated. Tears will be wiped from every eye. Disease shall be no more, and even death will be eliminated from the human scene. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, and war shall be no more.

This is the promise of Christmas. This is our hope. This is the Christmas star that lights our darkness. This is the assurance that a new day is coming, through the Messiah, whose name is called by Isaiah the prophet, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).

Three fundamentals:The manger where He was born in the stall of an animal; at the cross where He wore the crown of thorns; and then the Crown of His kingdom. What a wonderful gift God has given us. We can sum it all up in five words: The Gift of His Son!

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

– – – – – – –

R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

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How to Compare CS with KDP That Will Help You Publish

Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Wednesday’s I try to focus on the Church. This week I am taking a deeper look at How to Compare CS with KDP That Will Help You Publish.

As I prepare to publish my latest novel I thought a few comments upon publishing with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) versus CreateSpace might be appropriate. This is especially true since this is my first ‘fully KDP printed book.’ What I mean by that is this has been a KDP project from the start. Previously I either published with CreateSpace or started with CreateSpace and published with KDP.

My first overall observation is that Kindle Direct Publishing is every easy to use. As I have progressed with the book I have noticed that KDP is actually a tad simpler to use than CS. It is easily understood, information is easily inputted, and the whole process is user friendly.

Now let’s take a look at some specifics.

TITLE

As with CreateSpace Kindle Direct Publishing is very easy to use. For the Title you simply enter your book’s title. If it has a Subtitle you can enter that in the appropriate box. It is a very easy process equal to the CreateSpace experience. I am very pleased.

DISCRIPTION

With the allowance of up to 3247 words you have ample space allowed for your description.

SERIES

You can input the Series and Series Number if your book is a series. Because I want the Series to be prominently displayed on the cover I enter the Series name and number in both the Subtitle and Series boxes.

EDITION NUMBER

An edition is a particular version of a book. The edition number tells readers whether the book is an original version or an updated version. If this is the first time you have published this book, enter the numeral 1. If the book was previously published and the version you are publishing contains significant changes, enter the numeral 2 (and so on).

AUTHOR

Probably most of you won’t have the same needs as I do. My author name is R. Frederick Riddle. Like in CreateSpace the input form has a First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name. Since I am primarily focused upon my middle name, I want it to be displayed on the cover. However, if you provide the middle name in the middle name box it won’t be displayed. So I simply type R. Frederick in the First Name box. Works like a charm!

CONTRIBUTORS

If there are multiple authors you will want to list them here. This is similar to the Author entry. You can add as many authors as you need. Since I am the only author of my books, I skip this part.

PUBLISHING RIGHTS

Here you have two options:

I own the copyright and I hold necessary publishing rights.
This is a public domain work

Simply indicate which option is correct.

KEYWORDS

You are allowed up to 7 key words or phrases. It is recommended by experts that you use keywords that are not in the Title, Description, or Category. This can be difficult, but think about possible ways someone might seek to find your book. There appears to be some debate about whether words or phrases are best, so I recommend a mix. Again this is comparable to CreateSpace.

CATAGORIES

You are allowed up to two categories which I believe was the same in CreateSpace. Simply make your selections and carry it out as far as possible.

ADULT CONTENT

You’ll see this sentence: Does this book contain language, situations, or images inappropriate for children under 18 years of age?

Then you either select Yes or No.

Choosing Yes does not mean your book is pornographic, it simply seeks to identify the age appropriate level of reader.

ISBN

This might actually be a tad easier than CreateSpace. You are given choices for your ISBN.

An ISBN, or International Standard Book Number, is a unique 10-digit number assigned to every published book. An ISBN identifies a title’s binding, edition, and publisher. An EAN, or European Article Number, is a 13-digit number assigned to every book to provide a unique identifier for international distributors. The 10-digit ISBN is converted to a 13-digit EAN by adding a 978 prefix and changing the last digit. To publish a book, you can use either a free KDP ISBN or use your own valid ISBN (purchased directly from your ISBN agency).

PUBLICATION DATE

Your publication date is the date on which your book was first published. You cannot change it after publishing your title. If you leave this blank, KDP will automatically use the date on which your book goes live (i.e. it is available for sale) on Amazon.

PRINT OPTIONS

INTERIOR & PAPER TYPE (you can choose):

Black and White interior with Cream paper
Black and White interior with White paper
Color interior with White paper

TRIM SIZE

6 x 9 in. or a different size.

BLEED SETTINGS

Setting your interior to “bleed” allows printing at or off the edge of a page. It is used to support images and illustrations. Most books use “no bleed” unless there is a specific reason to apply “bleed.” Changing the bleed settings will not change the manufacturing cost.

PAPERBACK COVER FINISH

KDP supports Matte and Glossy finish. If memory serves me CreateSpace may have had more choices, but this seems ideal for most authors.

MANUSCRIPT

Upload a manuscript of your book interior content. For best results, we recommend using a formatted PDF file to create your paperback. You can also upload a DOC (.doc), DOCX (.docx), HTML (.html), or RTF (.rtf).

You can also download a KDP Template.

BOOK COVER

We recommend a book cover for a good reader experience. You can create a cover using our Cover Creator tool or upload your own book cover. If uploading your own book cover it must be PDF.

To use Cover Creator click on it. You will go to a very easy to follow page that will guide you and provide the tools necessary to taking advantage of their gallery.

BOOK PREVIEW

Preview your file to check for formatting and print quality issues. This is mandatory to continue onward. Every time you upload a new manuscript or make changes affecting the book’s interior you will be required to Launch Previewer.

SUMMARY

This shows a summary of your decisions plus the printing costs of the book.

TERRITORIES

If you don’t hold worldwide rights to sell and distribute your title, you must indicate the territories in which you hold rights. If you are publishing a public domain title, keep in mind that the duration of copyright varies between countries/regions, so ensure you set your territory rights to only include those territories where you have determined the book is in the public domain.

PRICING & ROYALTY

The List Price is the price a customer sees on an Amazon detail page. In certain marketplaces, the List Price displayed to the customer will include local VAT which is added on to the List Price you provide.

I always use Expanded Distribution.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

It can take up to 72 hours for your book to be available for purchase on Amazon. Until then, the book’s status will be “In Review” on your Bookshelf.

By clicking publish I confirm that I agree to and am in compliance with the KDP Terms and Conditions.

PROOF COPIES

Order proof copies of your book before publication. Proof copies are printed using your latest uploaded book files which may differ from your book’s live version. They will also have a “Not for Resale” watermark on the cover and a unique barcode but no ISBN. You pay only the printing cost for your selected marketplace times the number of copies. Shipping and applicable taxes will be applied at checkout.

This is the only place in which I’ve been disappointed. I liked where CreateSpace allowed you to have the book proofed right there online and you discovered the errors, etc. KDP only allows you to order a printed proof copy as far as I can tell. This will take more time. However, the disappointment is minor since it will allow me to actually hold the proof copy in my hands. Thus I will get the feel and appearance!

FINAL THOUGHTS

I have been very pleased with the whole process of publishing the book although I haven’t published yet due to Final Edits that I am currently undergoing. But that is simply me uploading a new and improved manuscript plus another Book Preview.

So when comparing CreateSpace with Kindle Direct Publishing you (in this case I) can expect the same and, in some cases, better experience with KDP than with CreateSpace. This is always a good thing. It means that we, as authors, can focus on our writing and not so much on the publishing end of the process. In my opinion this has been a transparent upgrade that benefits me (and I hope you) as an author.

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), or Task Force Hunter (Book Three), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).

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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

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