Miranda A. Uyeh's Blog, page 43

Interview ~ Screenwriter & Author, Cheryl McKay

After watching the movie, The Ultimate Gift, I couldn’t help but go in search of everything and everyone involved in the making of this wonderful movie. And, so, that’s how I found Cheryl. After some emails, Cheryl graciously agreed to an interview on TBAP. Please, get to know this wonderful writer as we chat below. And, if you didn’t know, I posted a review of her recent book, Song of Springhill two days ago. You can read it here.

 

Me: Hello Cheryl! Honored to have you visit To Be A Person today! Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Cheryl: I love scrapbooking. I am sentimental about life and good memories. I am a Christmas fanatic and chocoholic. I never want to do anything else except write and minister to people through written words or speaking, and I truly enjoy married life. I waited forever to get married and am so grateful for the gift God has given to me.  I have a passion for singles who are aching in their wait to find love and want to also minister to married couples who don’t realize how wonderful marriage can be.

 

Me: Cheryl, could you tell us how you came to make Jesus your personal Lord and Savior? What led you to decide to write and dedicate your career to Him afterwards—as an author and a screenwriter?

 Cheryl: I have been a Christian since before I can remember because I grew up in a Christian home. But it became a very deliberate decision when I was 19, becoming more to me than just what my family believed.

 I became a writer because I knew I wanted to change the world. I knew Hollywood and stories had a great influence on people. I wanted to be able to leave behind a legacy of messages that people could learn from, grow from, heal from long after I leave this earth. That’s what I hope for out of every book or movie or episode of a show I work on. I hope they help people.

 

Me: How different is the Christian film industry from the secular? What are the advantages and disadvantages on both sides?

 Cheryl: The Christian film industry has grown a lot over the past few years. Even more so than when my film came out in 2007. It’s been nice to see the quality of films getting better. One challenge is that it’s hard to get a general audience to show up for a movie that is obviously Christian.  So if you hope to reach people outside of that “bubble,” you can’t really write for a strictly Christian audience. Hopefully, we can write good movies with crossover appeal that have some sort of redemptive storyline. That may help get a broader audience than a strictly Christian marketed film will get.

 

Me: Where do you see the Christian film industry in the next five to ten years? In what way do you believe it needs to further develop?

Cheryl: That’s a wonderful question. So many people—including a lot of non-believers—want in on this side of the industry because they see it makes money. My hope is that more funding will be available to great stories written by Christians and that we won’t settle for mediocre storytelling like we have seen out of a lot of our niche movies thus far. I hope the fact that the movies have started to make real money, especially this year with God’s Not Dead, Son of God and Heaven is For Real, that people will start investing in real budgets and not force the Christian films to live on a $300,000 budget that can’t compete with regular, professional or studio films.

 

Me: The Christian publishing industry is much more developed than the film. In what way do you believe both can work hand-in-hand in one not only advancing the other, but also in the furthering the gospel?

 Cheryl: What Rene Gutteridge and I have tried to do I think helps bridge a certain gap, by adapting my scripts into novels first, with hopes we can go back to the script and get it made. It’s not the standard “Movie based on a book” style but rather a book that’s based on a movie script.

(We wrote Novelizations: How to Adapt Scripts Into Novels to share how to do this specialized writing method.) The hope is that if you can gain an interest in a project through its novel, that you can then get more attention in the competitive world of Hollywood to try to get that same story made into a film.  Before 2007, the Christian publishing industry hadn’t thought much about doing these reverse adaptations. When we did Never the Bride, the publisher didn’t even really understand my role in it. And now Christian publishers are picking up these types of projects much more often. Some movies have already been made.

 

Me: When you write—books and screenplay—what message do you hope to pass across to your readers and viewers?

Cheryl: I have what I consider to be two benchmark messages in my life: One is that God works through trials (Rom. 8:28) and the other is that God still speaks today. I think you will find either one of these messages in just about every story I write, or sometimes both.  The Ultimate Gift is most obviously Rom. 8:28 as the trials help Jason become a better person. And Never the Bride is most obviously championing that God still speaks today.

 

Me: You’ve probably received letters/emails of testimonies from people whom your work has blessed in one way or the other. Which testimony resonated/struck you the most?

Cheryl: One set of girls emailed me a picture of a text convo they were having with each other about how I had changed their lives through both Finally the Bride and Finally Fearless.  Apparently they related to both books. And I appreciated one of them sharing with me that special screen shot. Also, the purple-feathered pen was a huge symbol in Never the Bride. And a woman who read my books (Never the Bride and Finally the Bride) shared them with her mother. Her mom ordered a special Christmas present for her this year, a feathered pen to match the book. Sadly, her mother passed away shortly before Thanksgiving, but it was after she ordered that gift. So this young woman’s father gave her the present her mom ordered for her before she died. (I also have a very similar pen we ordered for the guest book for the wedding.)

 

Me: As an author/screenwriter, in what way do you believe books/movies can change the world and affect people’s lives for the better? Why should a Christian [who has the talent] write?

Cheryl: I just finished teaching a whole university class in this topic. Sharing that writing can impact the world is a deep passion of mine. I believe stories change hearts. That’s why Jesus opted to use them in His parables instead of only preaching. I believe God inspires the stories He wants people to hear, if we’re willing to be that vessel for Him. We can reach so many more people through film and television than those who are willing to step foot into a church. Though we can’t approach it like the pulpit. It’s still supposed to be entertaining and we have to use good storytelling.  I especially think we can have the greatest impact when we’re willing to put ourselves into our stories, put our emotions and lives on the line, even at the expense of sharing deeply personal things. We can help others if we are vulnerable and real. So if someone has the talent and a story or two or ten to tell, they should put that pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard.)

 

Me: What do you look out for before accepting a screenwriting project? What are your personal guiding principles?

Cheryl: I definitely make sure I can believe in what I’m writing. I know not all Christians feel they have to do that in this industry and they sometimes will work on something just for the sake of being a light “in the room” (aka the writer’s room.) And I completely understand that. It’s just not how I’ve run my career. I especially try to make sure I’m not writing something that will cause others to stumble, or that will glorify sin without showing there are consequences. I don’t want to show sin looking appealing. I don’t want actors to have to sin to play roles in my projects, either.  (I’m not talking about “depicting” sin which may be part of most stories, but I don’t want the actor to have to sin on camera like taking God’s name in vain or doing nudity for sex scenes, that sort of thing, because I wrote it.) If I couldn’t—in good conscience—ask an actor friend to do something, I don’t want it in my scripts.

 

Me: What is the single most inspiring moment in your life? How did it change you forever?

Cheryl: This is going to sound funny. It was not a good moment. But I did not get accepted into a BFA acting program when I had my heart set on becoming an actress. All my teachers told me I belonged behind the camera and saw something in me that I hadn’t yet seen. That decision on their behalf to basically “kick me out” of the acting program changed the course of my life. I left that University and went to another, where I ended up with a screenwriting teacher from LA who literally wrote special classes just for me so I could learn from him how to write scripts. I’ll never forget him. (And he literally had to drive 2 hours to see my film, The Ultimate Gift, when it came out about 16 years after he’d been my teacher.)  After that I went to grad school, since my undergrad was in theater and then made useless to me. I studied screenwriting at Regent University and life changed from there. It may not have been a fun, inspiring moment, but God helped redirect me so specifically to the right calling. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.

 

Me: What was the most despairing moment in your life? How did you rise above it, and how did it strengthen your faith in God? Was any particular Scripture helpful?

 Cheryl: Probably a pivotal moment in my young life was being abused as a young child. I share that story in full in Finally Fearless, about how God took me by the hand and led me on a 20-year journey of healing. (Yes, I was little slow. But God is also thorough in His healing power.) I have a list of verses about peace, fear, anxiety, and trust in the appendix of the workbook that were pivotal to my healing. I especially love Psalm 94:19,  “When anxiety was great within me your consolation brought joy to my soul.” I’ve experienced that first hand.

 

Me: What are you most grateful for—generally and right now?

Cheryl: That God did such a wonderful job writing my love story when he gave me Chris Price to be my husband. I had to wait a very long time. Never the Bride, after all, is my life story as written as a comedy. But for a long time it wasn’t so funny waiting so long to get married. But God’s choice was so perfect for me. Not a day has gone by in the three and a half years we’ve been married where I haven’t felt compelled to thank God for His wonderful choice for me. Chris is a gem.

 

Me: Aside from writing, what are your other passions? What thrills you the most about life?

Cheryl: Traveling to new and fun places with my husband. Our favorite thing to do is find fun little towns, take goofy pictures of us posing with random things. (Chris is such a good sport, but also a great photographer. It’s like the world is our playground.) And also seeing family. It’s very hard living so far from them. I live for days when we can go see them.

 

Me: What advice would you give to a young author/screenwriter who’s just starting out?

Cheryl: Take classes, of course. Learn the craft. Get in a writers group where you can trade critiquing each other’s work. And only do this if you truly feel called to it. It’s a very tough life and you want to make sure you’re called. Even just because you’re called doesn’t mean it will always go well, so expect to need a lot of perseverance. Take real world classes and not just college. Like get out to Los Angeles and work with people who are truly doing these jobs in the industry. (Personally, I loved going through Act One’s program.)

 

Me: Is there any word of wisdom you’d like to offer—anything at all!—that wasn’t covered by your answers above?

Cheryl: My latest novel is Song of Springhill. It’s a love story set against true life disasters of Springhill, Nova Scotia in the 1950s. My grandfather survived one of the biggest disasters in coal mining history. I used that story in the novel (and screenplay). It came out this year. I also did the companion non-fiction version of the story of all the people I interviewed, in Spirit of Springhill. It was so amazing to dig into family history and find a story worth telling. That town went through so much, but also kept their faith in God. For me, it became a story about seeing God in the little things. That sometimes, we can get frustrated over what He isn’t doing. But if that’s all our eyes are set on, we can miss the good He is doing.

 

THIS OR THAT (The Fun Questions!)

Music or Magazines?  Music

Flats or Heels?  Flats and at that, usually New Balance sneakers.

Summer or Winter?  Summer

Spring or Fall? Fall

Coffee or Tea? Neither

Salad or Ice cream? Salad (I make mine festive!)

Vanilla or Chocolate?  Chocolate

Dress or Pants? Pants, especially jeans.

Breakfast or Dinner? Breakfast

Gym or Outdoor? Outdoor

Lemonade or Orange juice? Neither.

 

Thank you, Cheryl, for stopping by today!

 

Giveaway!

Cheryl has offered to give away a free copy of her latest book, Song of Springhill. For a chance to win, leave a comment. The winner must be able to receive a gifted ecopy from Amazon.com.

 

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About Cheryl McKay

Cheryl McKay has been professionally writing since 1997. Cheryl wrote the screenplay for The Ultimate Gift, based on Jim Stovall’s novel. The award-winning film stars James Garner, Brian Dennehy, and Abigail Breslin and was released in theaters by Fox in 2007. The Ultimate Gift won a Crystal Heart Award at the Heartland Film Festival, received three Movieguide Nominations, winning one of the Ten Best Family Films of 2007, and won a CAMIE Award, for one of the Top Ten Films of the year. Cheryl also wrote the DVD for Gigi: God’s Little Princess, another book adaptation based on the book by Sheila Walsh, as well as the Wild and Wacky, Totally True Bible Stories audio series and books with Frank Peretti. She wrote a half-hour drama for teenagers about high school violence, called Taylor’s Wall. It was produced in Los Angeles by Family Theater Productions. She wrote a script called Killing Hope, commissioned by Art Within, after winning a year-long fellowship. Her screenplay, Never the Bride, has been adapted into a novel for Random House Publishers and was released in June 2009. She wrote A Friend for Maddie for Handmaiden Entertainment and recently released Finally Fearless: Journey from Panic to Peace. Cheryl lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Chris, who is a photographer and a musician.

Filed under: Author Feature, Author Interview, Entertainment, Entertainment Interview, Faith Testimony, Giveaway, Inspirational Tagged: Cheryl, Cheryl McKay, Christian, Christian film industry, Christian publishing industry, Interview, real world, Song of Sprinhill, The Ultimate Gift

Book Review & Giveaway! ~ Song of Springhill by Cheryl McKay

About the Book

Could you fall in love despite the great risk of losing the one you cherish most?

Hoping for a fresh start, Hannah Wright moves to Springhill, the hometown of the father she never knew because he died in their volatile coal mines before she was born. She tracks down her aunt, Abigail Percy, and is immediately welcomed to move in with the whole Percy clan. This includes her Uncle Ray, a coal miner, and their four lively children. Suddenly, she’s surrounded by more family than she’s ever had in her life.

The day after she arrives, the mine explodes, trapping many underground, including Uncle Ray. Little did Hannah know when she set off on this new adventure how much her family was going to need her. When the Percys face a sudden lack of provision, Hannah knows she must get a job to help them. But the only industry in town that pays enough is coal mining–and the mine company doesn’t hire women.

Hannah secretly masquerades as a man and gets hired as Mel, a distant cousin of her father’s. Keeping up her charade is challenging in this tight-knit, 1950s town, where everybody knows one another.

Hannah is placed on the team of Josh Winslow, a handsome bachelor who noticed her the moment she stepped into town. It doesn’t take long for Josh to see through Hannah’s disguise as Mel, but she convinces him there’s no other way for her to help take care of her family. Understanding the pressure she’s under, he agrees to not blow Hannah’s cover–for now.

Though Hannah seems to keep Josh at arm’s length, he’s determined to chip away at her defenses and win her heart. She resists, afraid to love someone who could die at any moment in an accident underground.

Long-time miners start to sense that “the big one” is coming. Calling it a “Bump” does little to calm Hannah’s fear of the impending underground earthquake, a disaster that could come any day. Will Josh and Hannah be among the next miners caught in a catastrophic disaster?

Does Hannah stand to lose everything she’s worked so hard to rebuild?

Song of Springhill is a love story set against the backdrop of true-life disasters that plagued the town of Springhill, Nova Scotia in the 1950s. It was a town torn by tragedy that also experienced some of the most astounding, miraculous rescues the world ever watched unfold.

Genre

Christian/Historical Romance

Rating

***** (5 Stars)

Review

This truly is a love story—beautiful, and its theme, even more so.

A hurt heroine struggling to believe in God, an optimistic hero who makes the complexities of life look so simple, a family to cherish held strong by their relentless faith in God, and a town that will find its way to your heart like a beloved song—make a story full of heart, love, truth, hope, and promise that despite the odds of life, all will eventually be well if we take things in good faith, and that the risk of loving and being loved is worth every effort, faith, and hope on our part.

From the first to the last word, the intentional plotting was tremendously and intricately put together, not only to drive home its message, but to entertain as well. Characterization was at its peak, as well as the setting—from every shop, street, house, and yes, inside/outside the mine—as McKay brilliantly brought every element to life. I’d like to especially applaud her skill on how she handled the time factor. The events in the book spanned two years, yet while reading it, I spotted no lapses, gaps, or inconsistencies. Time flowed effortlessly in keeping with the plot.

The theme is the aspect of the story that I appreciated the most. Without trying to make a case for why God lets bad things happen, McKay clearly but subtly showed the imperativeness and the beauty that could come from trusting God, being thankful to Him at all times, acknowledging His mercies when we experience them, and holding steadfast to Him still, even when it seems He withholds it from us. This is truly a remarkable story—a healing and soothing balm to those searching for answers or seeking to understand the way of God in allowing pain in the lives of His precious children.

*Although I offer this review to the public, it is my opinion and simply that. My gratitude to Cheryl McKay, the author, for offering me a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

**Cheryl McKay will be appearing on TBAP in an interview on Dec. 19th**

~Giveaway!

Cheryl has graciously offered to giveaway a free copy to one lucky winner! Leave a comment for a chance to do so. The winner must be able to receive a gifted copy from Amazon.com.

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About the Author

Cheryl McKay has been professionally writing since 1997. Cheryl wrote the screenplay for The Ultimate Gift, based on Jim Stovall’s novel. The award-winning film stars James Garner, Brian Dennehy, and Abigail Breslin and was released in theaters by Fox in 2007. The Ultimate Gift won a Crystal Heart Award at the Heartland Film Festival, received three Movieguide Nominations, winning one of the Ten Best Family Films of 2007, and won a CAMIE Award, for one of the Top Ten Films of the year. Cheryl also wrote the DVD for Gigi: God’s Little Princess, another book adaptation based on the book by Sheila Walsh, as well as the Wild and Wacky, Totally True Bible Stories audio series and books with Frank Peretti. She wrote a half-hour drama for teenagers about high school violence, called Taylor’s Wall. It was produced in Los Angeles by Family Theater Productions. She wrote a script called Killing Hope, commissioned by Art Within, after winning a year-long fellowship. Her screenplay, Never the Bride, has been adapted into a novel for Random House Publishers and was released in June 2009. She wrote A Friend for Maddie for Handmaiden Entertainment and recently released Finally Fearless: Journey from Panic to Peace. Cheryl lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Chris, who is a photographer and a musician.

Filed under: Book Feature, Book Review, Stories Tagged: Abigail Percy, Cheryl McKay, Hannah Wright, Josh Winslow, Song of Springhill, Springhill, Uncle Ray, Will Josh

Author Scoop! ~ Chatting Moments With Brenda S. Anderson

It’s with utmost delight that I introduce Brenda to you today! She’s an author dear to my heart for many reasons, but I’ll name a few: our debut novels got published in the same month; our blog tours were running concurrently; we appeared on each others blog during the tours; we both write outside of the “traditional” box as far as regular Christian fiction is concerned; our debut stories are similar in many ways (I would mention how, but then they’d be too many spoilers); etc.

Anyway, I reviewed Brenda’s debut book two days ago; you can read the review here. It’s a lovely book which I think everyone should read. I was blown away by it. And, now, I have the honor of hosting Brenda in an interview today. Please join us in our little chat below and share the fun!

Me: Hello Brenda! It’s wonderful to have you visit To Be A Person today! Please tell us a little about yourself.

Brenda: Hi Miranda! Thank you so much for welcoming me to your beautiful site! I’m a Minnesota farm girl—growing up on the farm was the perfect place to grow my imagination. I always had stories running through my head and loved writing them down. It wasn’t until I was 40+ though, that I became serious about writing. That’s when I penned my first novel, Chain of Mercy.

I’m blessed to have a husband (of 27 years!) and three children (ages 22, 20, & 18) who support this journey 100%. But our cat doesn’t seem to care. ;-) When not writing I love music, baseball, roller coasters, Marvel movies, and spending time with my family.

 

Me:Your life is blessed! Amen.

Would be delighted to learn how you became a Christian. Could you please tell us the story?

Brenda: Honestly, I don’t have a fantastic story, no epiphanal moment to share. I’ve been a believer for as long as I can remember, and have always longed to be closer to God. One thing I learned from this writing journey, though, is that when I stopped hiding the gift He gave me and started using it, it broke a barrier that had existed between us.

 

Me: “… it broke a barrier that had existed between us.” That is something to think about. When we set out to do what God has called us to do, it ALWAYS sets us free.

Your journey into publishing hasn’t been an easy one. First, you were traditionally published. Now you’ve decided to go indie. Is there a story behind your decision?

Brenda: No, it certainly hasn’t been easy! I guess that builds character, right? My first novel, Chain of Mercy, was published with a traditional publisher in April of 2014 and the remaining three books were contracted with the publisher with the second scheduled to release in September of 2014. Unfortunately, during the summer, my publisher struggled and my book publication kept getting pushed back. My publisher then contacted me and gave me the option of staying with them or going indie. If I stayed with them, they couldn’t promise release dates for the next three. But if I left, they promised to create the covers for me anyway. With some thought and prayer, I chose to go indie and learned the process very quickly.

 

Me: How very brave of you! I’m sorry your publisher struggled. Praying everything will work out for the best. Amen.

With all that has happened in your publishing journey, how has it strengthened your faith and drawn you closer to God?

Brenda: I’m a very independent person who likes to be in control. In this writing journey, there’s little I’ve had control over, so I have no choice but to lean on God. Actually, that’s the very lesson my heroine learns in Pieces of Granite.

 

Me: Yes, I know what you mean. I, too, have had to learn to lean on God for everything. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but it’s been worth every step. The lessons I’ve picked up along the way are priceless.

You’ve shown interest in film (a few times) on your blog. Are you hoping/working to have your book(s) adapted into screenplay, and, do you plan to be part of the film industry in some way in the future?

Brenda: Who wouldn’t love to see their book on film?! That would be a dream come true! As for pursuing that venue, it’s not something I’ve considered at this time. But, if something comes my way, I wouldn’t hesitate to grab onto it!

 

Me: Haha! I agree! On a serious note, I wouldn’t mind seeing Chain of Mercy on screen.

In what way do you believe the Christian publishing and film industry can work hand-in-hand in growing each other and advancing the gospel?

Brenda: I think both areas have room for growth quality-wise, particularly the Christian film industry. While I’ve enjoyed Christian-marketed films, many of them are very preachy, and, unfortunately, many have yet to learn basic storytelling. But, they are improving. For the Christian movie scene to get any traction beyond the Christian viewer, it needs to produce quality.

It would be fun to see some of the modern-day Christian fiction greats put to film, e.g. This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti and Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, and produced by an A-List producer. We’ve seen what happens when movies based on books (such as Left Behind) are created by unknowns. Personally, I’d love to see what Steven Spielberg would do with This Present Darkness. Just imagine the reach it would have!

 

Me: Oh! Steven Spielberg is one of my favorite producers! I hope one day he decides to pick up a Christian book and turn it into film. That would certainly make my day!

As an author who writes outside of the “traditional” box, what is the guiding principle behind your writing? And, what message, generally, do you hope to pass across your readers?

Brenda: Good question, Miranda. I’d probably written several books before I realized what the common thread was, what was guiding my storytelling. I love reading stories that come off as authentic, whose characters seem as real to me as people I know, and that’s what I try to write. But my guiding principle goes even deeper than that. I realized, when looking back at my *heroes* and *heroines*, none of them are typical. I have a hero who killed a teen in a distracted driving accident. Another heroine has a job in collections. Not people we normally call heroes. Yet, just like me, they are children of God, and He loves them in their brokenness, just as much as He loves me in my brokenness. With my stories, He’s showing me the heart that He sees, and hopefully that’s what I show in my stories.

 

Me: How beautiful! Thank you for sharing that!

What advice would you give to an author who’s just starting out—traditional or indie?

Brenda: To quote Dory from Finding Nemo: “Just keep swimming.” If you’re called to write, then “Just keep writing.” God doesn’t promise us publication contracts or big sales, but He does have a purpose for our gifts. We may not even see the results this side of eternity. The key is obedience. If God wants you to write, then write for your audience of one, and trust Him with the results.

Me: That’s an advice I’ll keep in my heart. It’s good to be reminded that we won’t always receive the reward for our writing on this side of heaven. But, it’s no reason not to follow God’s calling. Thank you for sharing that!

 

THIS OR THAT (The Fun Questions!)

Breakfast or Dinner? How about breakfast at dinner time? Honestly, I could eat breakfast-type meals for every meal.

Flats or Heels? Flats, definitely.

Spring or Fall? Fall. LOVE the colors!

Coffee or Tea? Neither. Give me water, milk, or pop.

Snow or Rain? I’m a winter person, and do enjoy snow, but there’s nothing more peaceful than a day of rain.

Gym or Outdoor? Outdoors.

Shakes or Juice? Shakes. Preferably chocolate.

Cooking or Cleaning? How about neither? Guess cleaning would eke out cooking.

Music or Magazines? Music.

Vegetables or Fruits? Fruits

Cakes or Bread? Cakes. Again, preferably chocolate!

 

Thank you, Brenda, for stopping by today!

You’re very welcome, Miranda! Thank you for inviting me!

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About Brenda S. Anderson

Brenda S. Anderson writes gritty and authentic, life-affirming fiction. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and is currently President of the ACFW Minnesota chapter, MN-NICE. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, theater, roller coasters, and baseball, and she loves watching movies with her family. She resides in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area with her husband of 27 years, their three children, and one sassy cat.

Her debut novel, Chain of Mercy, Book #1 in the Coming Home series, came out in April of 2014, and Pieces of Granite, the prequel to Chain of Mercy and a semi-finalist in the ACFW Genesis Awards, released on November 18, 2014!

Filed under: Author Feature, Author Interview, Book Feature Tagged: Brenda S. Anderson, Chain of Mercy, Coming Home Series

Book Review ~ Chain of Mercy by Brenda S. Anderson

About the Book

They forgave him for the accident that killed their son, but he will never forgive himself.

Manhattan businessman Richard Brooks was at the top of the world, drunk with

Success … Wealth … Women …

And he proudly lived that prodigal lifestyle.

Until one disastrous evening, when that world came crashing down.

Richard flees to Minneapolis where he repairs ancient boilers instead of solving corporate problems, and he s determined to live the solitary life he now deserves …

Chained to his guilt. Blending in with the gray. No luxuries in sight. But Executive Sheila Peterson has other plans for the handsome custodian. She s had it with serious relationships, and Richard appears to be the perfect match for the no-strings-attached romance she desires. Instead, she finds a man who is complex, brilliant, and shrouding a tormented past.

In her quest to uncover the secrets holding Richard captive, will her own secrets remain buried?

Genre

Fiction/Christian/Romance

Rating

***** (5 Stars)

Review

This is the first time in a long while that I’ve read a book and closed its last page with a satisfied and well deserved sigh. This is my can’t-put-down book of the year.

The story begins with the hero deciding to do penance for his past mistakes. Life goes on undisturbed until the heroine gets into the picture. From there on it’s a journey of uncommon thrills, hard lessons, and daunting and pivoting experiences. This unforgettable story does not leave the reader the same once you’re through with it, as it will linger on in your mind for days (or even weeks) to come.

Reading this book, it was like the people I began with in the story—though the same characters—were not the same people at the end of it. It felt like I took the journey with each of them, experiencing everything they did on a level that rang true and deep. It was truly transformational in quality.

From a hurting hero, to a heroine whose heart is set in stone on certain convictions, to a family relentless in prayer, love, and forgiveness, as well as a secondary character who’s set on a path to destruction because of the anger and pain from a tragic loss, and her family struggling with grief and seeking answers, comfort, and healing from God because of the same loss—this is an uncommon story written with heart, full of tears, emotions, and believable characters, thoughtfully put together to show God’s redemptive love, mercy, and perchance for miracles in a groundbreaking way. Anderson’s attention to detail in every plot element, especially character development, is precise and epical so that the story establishes its theme in the hearts of her readers. This is one author in the Christian genre that the world should look out for. Her writing is as beautiful as it is exceptional. An absolutely delightful debut to kick-start her career!

*Although I offer this book to the public, it is my opinion and simply that. My appreciation to Brenda S. Anderson, the author, for a free print copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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About the Author

Brenda S. Anderson writes gritty and authentic, life-affirming fiction. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and is currently President of the ACFW Minnesota chapter, MN-NICE. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, theater, roller coasters, and baseball, and she loves watching movies with her family. She resides in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area with her husband of 27 years, their three children, and one sassy cat.

Her debut novel, Chain of Mercy, Book #1 in the Coming Home series, came out in April of 2014, and Pieces of Granite, the prequel to Chain of Mercy and a semi-finalist in the ACFW Genesis Awards, released on November 18, 2014!

 

Filed under: Book Feature, Book Review Tagged: Brenda S. Anderson, Chain of Mercy, Christian Romance, Coming Home Series #1, Minneapolis, Richard Brooks

Album Review ~ This Side of the Sky by Je’kob

Album Cover

Genre

Christian/Hip-hop/R&B/Acoustic

My Rating

**** (4 Stars)

My Review

Truly and natively hip-hop, Je’kob doesn’t hold back in this album. He’s a refreshing voice with a strong presence. The songs are catchy and entertaining, and equally true to their message of Christianity. One song in particular—I Believe—caught my attention. It had a flavor of urban reggae with an acoustic backdrop, as did other songs, while still maintaining the hip-hop/R&B feel to it. I thought it was lovely! There was a moment in the album where the electric guitar took over. It was pretty awesome!

There’s no particular theme in this album—except that every song is true to the Word of God in whatever message a song preaches.

A unique and refreshing voice in the world of Christian hip-hop/R&B. The lyrics were edifying and well-written, too.

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About Je’kob

Rapper, singer, and record producer, Je’kob Washington was born in San Antonio, Texas, on June 16th, 1981. His father was a 20-year army veteran and auto-mechanic who was working hard most of the time making sure the family had everything they needed. Even though he was sort of a hustler by trait he never seemed to miss one basketball game or school function. His mother took care of the kids and household making sure they were raised by their parents instead of the many emerging and available media outlets.

Je’kob attended several high schools with his brother playing basketball until finally settling and graduating from Grace Christian High in 1999. During the last year of high school, Je’kob’s part-time family music group “Souljahz” got a chance to go overseas to Aachen Germany and record their first full length album with a young producer who they met through a family friend. As soon as they returned to the states their father took the finished album to the ASCAP offices. After a couple meetings they found themselves sitting in the offices of Jimmy Iovine, the CEO of Interscope Records. The group received offers from several powerhouse labels including Interscope, Warner Bros. & Atlantic Records. In 2000, after lengthy negotiations, they ended up inking a deal with Warner Bros.

The troupe performed alongside the lauded and diverse likes of No Doubt, Nelly, Counting Crows, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Garbage, Boyz II Men and Erykah Badu on a cross country tour in support of their major label debut “The Fault Is History.” Television features followed on CNN Headline News, E!, Billboard, The WB, plus a slot on Sessions@AOL beside Christina Aguilera, 50 Cent, Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Red Hot Chili Peppers. But even with the tremendous amount of buzz and overwhelming fanfare, red tape soon wrapped itself around the burgeoning band, putting a long delay on what would’ve been its sophomore CD.

In 2006, the group re-emerged independently as The Washington Projects. They have since released two albums, “Commanders Of The Resistance” in 2007, and “Light Up The Dark” in 2010, of which both garnered critical acclaim and rave reviews. Between 2006 and 2010 they toured nationally and internationally traveling twice to war zones in Iraq to entertain the troops, as well as headlining a tour to Italy alongside The Nappy Roots. Recently, Je’kob signed with Seattle-based Save the City Records to release new material and make new

appearances.

There have been as many glorious moments as there have been trials, but Je’kob sums up his experience best in one of his songs entitled “Dreams”:

What you fight for is what you die for, & what you try for is what you cry for, but if you really want it, you will try more.

Bio culled from Je’kob’s official website.

Filed under: Album Feature, Music/Album Review Tagged: Christian Hip-hop, Christian MUsic Review, Christian R&B, Je'kob, Music, This Side of the Sky Album

Book Review: The Unexpected Bride by Lena Goldfinch

About the Book

What’s a man to do when his father orders him a bride?

Rebecca Sullivan has been “Becky” all her life, a real hoyden. Her childhood sweetheart taught her to ride bareback and shoot a rifle, but then he chose a “perfect lady” for a wife—a real Southern belle, who’s now expecting a baby. Heartbroken, Becky signs up to be a mail-order bride to a Seattle man, sight unseen. She resolves to squelch her hoydenish ways and become a “perfect lady” for her future husband.

If logging-operation owner Isaac Jessup had wanted a bride, he’d have chosen a sturdy frontier woman, not some fragile lady from back East. Ready to explain the mistake, honorable Isaac takes one look into Rebecca’s vulnerable eyes…and knows he’ll marry her, even though this delicate waif is obviously unsuited for wild Seattle.

Can an unexpected marriage ever be a match made in heaven?

Book One in The Brides Series

Sweet Historical Western Romance / A Mail-Order Bride Novel

Genre

Christian/Historical/Romance

My Rating

***** (4.5 Stars)

My Review

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Once again, Lena Goldfinch didn’t disappoint with this piece. It’s amazing how her author voice remained strong and true to the plot elements and settings despite the change in genre (she’s published YA/Romance before now). Her attention to detail—even the language attitude of the historical setting—was delightfully brilliant. There’s a right mix of emotions, humor, and every other flavor needed to make a story just right and enjoyable, including excellent pacing.

This story is partially based on the story of Isaac and Rebecca, but it’s not Biblical fiction. Goldfinch went ahead to take the lead in crafting the story of the characters to a fine finish. I especially enjoyed watching the building blocks of Isaac and Becky’s relationship come together. Each character’s monologue made a lot of sense—this was the meat of the story. The theme rang true to me on a very deep level—there’s nothing wrong with being different from the people around you. That you didn’t turn out as intended by someone’s standard, and like everyone else, and so you don’t fit in, doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you, or that you don’t have a place in this world. God has prepared you EXACTLY the way you are, for a reason, and for a place, and has determined the time that you will glow, rise and shine. It may be a difficult journey to this place, but God who hears the prayers and cries of our hearts, will certainly lead you there if you’ll just hold on.

Altogether, this was a wonderful read with a poignant message that blessed my heart.

*Although I offer this review to the public, it is my opinion and simply that. My appreciation to the author, Lena Goldfinch, for a free copy in exchange for honest opinion.

Book Excerpt

The lean-to was chilly and not for the first time, Isaac considered boarding it up proper and calling it a barn. He sat on the stool and began milking the goat, all the while mentally preparing for the worship service they planned to go to later that morning. The Scriptures he’d read first thing that morning were fresh in his mind, and his prayers kept returning to the problem of Rebecca. One inner voice urged him to send her back home, but another voice spoke of commitment. He’d said vows before God to love and keep her till death do them part. Those weren’t words he was willing to dismiss lightly.

“What’s her name?” Her voice was suddenly in his ear, quite close.

Isaac jumped. The goat bleated at him.

“Sorry, girl.” He patted her side and resumed milking her with slow, careful hands. He glanced over his shoulder toward the subject of his thoughts.

Rebecca stood watching him, leaning over the rail and peering in at them with curious eyes. He was surprised to see her out this early. She usually left him to his morning chores, and most times he’d get back inside the cabin and find her already up preparing breakfast.

“What’s her name?” she repeated.

“Name? The goat?” He looked at the goat dumbly. It was a goat. He’d never gotten much further than that. She gave them a daily supply of milk, but other than that she was generally a nuisance. She liked to butt down the stall door. And whenever she got loose, she’d eat what few vegetables he was able to grow in the summer. She also liked to nip at his shirts and underthings when he hung them out on the line–if he was lucky. Most times she’d tug the whole line down and drag it through the mud.

“Yes, the goat,” Rebecca said, a pleasant-sounding smile in her voice. “Don’t tell me she hasn’t got a name?”

There was something nice about hearing a woman’s voice in the morning. It reminded him a little of when he was young, and his mother had chatted with him in soft tones while they ate breakfast. As if speaking too loud would jar them too quickly out of whatever dreams they’d had the night before.

Rebecca’s soft voice put him much in mind of those times.

“All right. I won’t.” Isaac focused on his milking.

“She doesn’t have a name?” Rebecca pressed. “How can you have an animal that doesn’t have a name?”

“Never gave it much thought. She’s good for milk, but other than that she’s nothing but trouble, always munching on the laundry.”

“Well, then I think your choice is clear. Either you call her Milky or you call her Trouble.” Her teasing tone brought a reluctant smile to his lips.

“Well, then, if I have to choose, then I guess she’s Trouble.”

The real Trouble was standing behind him, her elbow propped against the top of the rail, her chin cupped in one dainty hand.

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About the Author

LENA GOLDFINCH writes romance and fantasy for adults and teens. She’s a sucker for a good old-fashioned romance, whether it’s a novel, novella, or short story, young adult or adult, fantasy or realistic, contemporary or historical. Elements of romance, fantasy, and mystery have a way of creeping into her writing, even when she’s writing historicals or something light and contemporary. Lena has been a finalist in several national writing contests, including the RWA Golden Heart and ACFW Genesis contests. She lives in a scenic small town in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled Black Lab. Visit Lena at www.LenaGoldfinch.blogspot.com.

 

Filed under: Book Excerpts, Book Feature, Book Review

Virtual Blog Tour & Book Review ~ How A Star Falls by Amber Stokes

About the Book

Sweet NA Contemporary Romance Novella

How does a star fall?

Quickly. Completely. Unexpectedly.

Derrick Knolane escapes to Trinidad Head most evenings, avoiding his apartment and planning for the day he’ll break free of Humboldt County. Working in a music store might be fine for a while, but it’s far from the goal he had in mind when he got his college degree. Not to mention the fact that his roommate is a jerk and his family won’t stop trying to run his life.

Then Brielle falls into his world.

She claims to be a star. Not from Hollywood, but from heaven. He thinks she’s crazy. Certainly delusional. Yet, he can’t just leave her alone on the cliffs. So he takes her home.

And his whole world falls apart.

A heartfelt and fanciful contemporary romance novella, How a Star Falls explores the uncertain season of new adulthood and shows that sometimes the worst inconveniences make for the best miracles of all.

Purchase on Amazon

Genre

Christian/Contemporary NA

My Rating

***** (5 Stars)

My Review

Amber’s books have always made me pause and think. This one certainly did. This book had a handle on the reality of life in such a poignant way. I’m glad I read it. All things can’t be perfect on this side of heaven. Some dreams will never come true. But in life, we’ll always have gems that we’ll discover along the way—maybe not in the manner that we expected. This was Derrick and Brielle’s story.

Talking about Amber’s penmanship, there’s a quality about it, along with a sense of humor that together create a writing style unique to Amber. It’s refreshing and entertaining—she certainly has a way with words. Her attention to detail—even the most seemingly irrelevant things—is breathtaking, add flavor to the overall writing. I can see Amber blossoming into a great writer—resilient, tenacious, and with a heart of gold; you can see it through her writing. And for one who crossed from Adult Historical to NA Contemporary, I say she did it well.

I would summarize the story as is, but that would spoil things by taking away the subtle but wow factor specially prepared for any reader of this novella. All I can say is, happy reading! And you can certainly take Joanne Bischof’s word to the bank.

*Although I offer this review to the public, it is my opinion and simply that. Much appreciation to Amber Stokes for including me in this blog tour and offering me a free book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Praise for How a Star Falls

“Perfect for when you want a whimsical, heartwarming read, How a Star Falls is more than an inspirational romance…it’s a wink and a smile.”
- Joanne Bischof, award winning author of This Quiet Sky

“Amber Stokes has perfectly expressed the challenges of twenty-something life in her sweet contemporary new adult novella, How a Star Falls. Brielle and Derrick’s journey reminds us all of the search to find ourselves in the midst of young adulthood. Their story is charming and wistful with emotions we can all relate to experiencing at some point in our lives. It is a tale about letting go in order to find yourself once again while never losing the importance of who you are…and who you can be.”

- Cerella Sechrist, author of Gentle Persuasion and The Paris Connection

“Though not typically a reader of contemporary fiction, I found How a Star Falls to be a wonderfully told story of both sweet romance and coming to terms with the fact that even though life doesn’t always turn out exactly as we dreamed it would, even our undesirable circumstances can lead to a bright future.”

- Jaye L. Knight, author of Ilyon Chronicles

 

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About the Author

Amber Stokes works as a content writer (marketing services) for a Christian publisher. On the side, she self-publishes inspirational fiction depicting the seasons of life and love. Her passion for books compelled her to earn a bachelor’s degree in English and to run her own freelance editing and publicity business for over a year. Happily, this new chapter of her career takes place in the Pacific Northwest—a part of the world she’s always considered home. Learn more about Amber’s books at www.SeasonsofaStory.blogspot.com.

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Filed under: Book Feature, Book Review, Endorsement

Author Scoop ~ Chatting Moments With Keely Brooke Keith!

Keely contacted me about her new book, and one of the first things I perceived about her was her niceness, as a person, and her enthusiasm for the publishing world. I reviewed Keely’s book and loved it! You can take a look here. It made me anxious for the next in the series, The Uncharted Redemption. I’m looking forward to reading it and wring a review soon.

Come with me now as I chat with Keely!

 

Me: Hello Keely! Happy to have you visit TBAP today! Please tell us a bit about yourself.

Keely: Thank you! Besides being a writer, I’m also a homeschool mom and bass guitarist. I’ve been very blessed to get to live out both of my passions: music and writing. I ride the line between introvert and extrovert, so I love being alone and writing, but as soon as I’m done I want to interact with people. I enjoy game nights, crocheting, and hanging out with friends.

 

Me:Wow! That’s a lot! Sounds like you know how to have fun. Great!

The Land Uncharted is a fun, but unusual read. What inspired you to write it?

Keely: I’ve always loved maps. When I was a kid my Grandma saved National Geographic maps for me. I would paper my bedroom walls with them. I often stared at the wide blue swaths of ocean on the maps and wondered if there was really land there. Then as an adult, I researched my family history. Most of my ancestors moved west in the middle of the 19th Century. They traveled in groups like so many Americans at the time and it made me wonder: what if instead of going west a group of families wanted to find a whole new land and got on a ship. I wondered what that settlement would be like several generations later. I decided to drop a modern man into the middle of it to find out!

 

Me:I’m glad you dropped a modern man in the middle of it all. It gave the story a wonderful twist. Thank you for that!

What message do you hope to pass across to your readers with this story?

Keely: I believe God is in control of all things. I also agree with Lydia in that it is not always helpful to try to speculate His reasons. Sometimes God brings people into our lives in ways we never expect for His purposes and our lives end up looking a lot different than we planned, but it’s for our good. We can trust God with our circumstances.

 

Me:What a beautiful theme, Keely. That’s a truth that many times even I struggle with. I’m glad The Land Uncharted is out there to remind people of it.

What do you believe you can accomplish—that is, impact people’s lives—through writing?

Keely: When I write, I try to encourage the reader, entertain them, give them hope, make them think, and build a world where they can find comfort.

 

Me:And you succeeded in doing so! At least that was my experience.

Keely, when did you first discover God? What led you to decide to write for Him?

Keely: My parents came to know Christ when I was a kid. After that we were in church several times a week for years. I learned all about Jesus and believed in Him in a selfish, childish way. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that finally understood my total depravity and submitted my life to Christ. Now I try to glorify God in everything I do–not just my writing.

 

Me:What a wonderful testimony! I pray God gives you the strength to continue to live your life that way.

Tell us more about the character, Luke. What role did you hope he’d play in passing across your message to your readers? What is that message?

Keely: What an interesting character to pick out! Luke was a good boy who made the wrong choice. Frank coming into his life was the antithesis of Connor in Lydia’s life. Luke’s role in the message is about discernment and using good judgment. We can’t just follow what our friend say. Use the Word of God to make decisions.

 

Me: Certainly something to think about …

What are you working on right now? What others should we expect from you in time?

Keely: The second book in the series, Uncharted Redemption, is complete and in production as we speak. It will be released in March 2015. It’s Levi’s story. He is messed up in a beautiful way. The final book in the Uncharted series, Uncharted Inheritance, is ready for my editor. It is scheduled for release in June 2015.

Me: I’m looking forward to reading both!

 

Thank you, Keely, for your time today!

 

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About the Author

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely was a tree-climbing, baseball-loving ‘80s kid. She grew up in a family who frequently relocated. By graduation, Keely lived in 8 states and attended 14 schools. Keely’s many adventures include: being an exchange student, recording with a former Beatles producer, being chased through the New Mexico desert by a rattlesnake, jumping out of an airplane at 14,500 feet, and sleeping under the open sky in the Australian outback.

Keely is a bass guitarist and plays on worship teams and for solo artists. She is married to singer/songwriter John Martin Keith, and they frequently perform and tour together. When she isn’t writing stories or playing bass, Keely enjoys dancing, having coffee with friends, and sifting through vintage books at antique stores.

Keely resides on a hilltop south of Nashville with her husband and their daughter, Rachel.

 

Filed under: Author Feature, Author Interview Tagged: Author Scoop, Keely Brooke Keith, The Land Uncharted, The Uncharted Redemption, The Uncharted Series

Cover Reveal! ~ The King’s Scroll (Ilyon’s Chronicles, #2) by Jaye L. Knight

Hello dear friends! It’s good to be back!

Yesterday was the official cover reveal day for this book, but thankfully, Jaye said it would be okay to reveal it today. Thank you, Jaye, for inviting me to this party! And to the other bloggers, it’s fun to do this with you!

I, personally, have been waiting for this book and I can’t wait to read it as book #1 was truly amazing. This is one series with much to offer and will take any fantasy reader to a delightful place. If you haven’t read book #1, Resistance, then you should do so. You won’t regret it. Read my review of Resistance here.

And to present the cover …

So, the cover has an old-torn-paper-like top  that clearly is the signature header for the Ilyon series books, which I think is unique and cute. There’s black over the upper half of the cover (will share my thoughts on that in a minute), and there’s old, beautiful wood, giving the sense of something that is—yeah—old and pleasantly familiar, both to the reader who’s read Resistance and is following the story in book #2, and to the characters in the story, which given their present circumstances, may appreciate some sweet familiarity from their old life as they reunite, especially in light of the sad events that changed everything. There’s also a faint, golden frame within the borders of the cover that’s symbol-like in appearance, as though it contains hidden messages to unlock hidden truths (perhaps there’s something like this in the story? Will the characters discover things along the edgy and difficult parts of their lives that will help make their journey more interesting and meaningful throughout the course of the story?). Also, there’s a star right in the middle of the ‘O’ of the word “scroll”—and, yes, like the blurb implies, the scroll has Elôm’s words in it. So, yeah, the truth that the scroll carries is the center, life, and light of all that is good, just like the star that is tactically situated in the center of the word, and the ‘O’.

Now, about that black on the upper half …

I find it most interesting. I think it’s a foreboding sign of the darkness to come in some part of the story. This black—darkness—is over the beautiful wood—the good, sweet familiar—like it wants to overshadow it. But no. Somewhere down the lower half, the light shines again! Perhaps it’s because of Elôm’s scroll—the Word of God? How true that is in our world today!

Finally, I think the ink pot, quill pen, and empty scroll present the real mystery, both on the cover and in the story. And this, my friends, is what the story centers on—the scroll, that is; hence the title of the book. Like I said, I’m looking forward to reading it. The excerpt already has me hooked. Of course I am! It mentioned my three favorite characters: Jace, Kyrin, and Kaden—and cretes with unique tattoos and a dragon!

So, those are my thousand words for this picture.

Interested yet? Hope so!

About the Book

Following the harrowing events that brought them to Landale Forest, Jace and Kyrin have settled comfortably into their new lives and the mission of protecting those under the emperor’s persecution. The fast approach of winter brings with it the anticipation of a quiet few months ahead. That is until the arrival of four mysterious, dragon-riding cretes who seek aid in a mission of great importance—not only to their own people, but to all followers of Elôm.
Hidden in the vast mining valley north of Valcré, a faithful crete has spent years sharing his knowledge with the destitute miners and their families and is known to possess what may be Arcacia’s last surviving copies of the King’s Scrolls—the Word of Elôm. Joining the cretes, those in Landale must find the crete teacher and bring him to safety, but it is a race against time. Should Daican’s men find him first, execution and the destruction of the Scrolls is certain.
When disaster strikes, all seems lost. Could Elôm have a plan even in the enemy’s triumph?

Excerpt
The other younger crete took a swig of his coffee and set his eyes past her. Kyrin peeked over her shoulder at Kaden who, of course, was staring at the dragon. The female creature stared back in mutual interest.

     “Go ahead,” the crete said suddenly. “You can touch her. She loves attention, and she’ll only attack if I tell her to.” A sly glint sparkled in his spring-green eyes.

     Besides Jace, Kyrin had never seen anyone with such bright and colorful eyes as these cretes.

     Kaden looked at him, his brows rising. “You can do that?”

     The crete nodded. “Dragons are highly intelligent. You can teach them almost any command. Storm here is young, but she learns fast.”

     Kyrin smiled at the delight in her brother’s eyes as he stepped closer to the dragon and ran his hand over her bluish-gray neck scales. A grin split his face.

     “She’s so smooth. Kyrin, come and feel it.”

     Kyrin stepped to his side and laid her hand on the dragon. The scales were indeed very smooth, reminding her of the polished marble stair-railings in Auréa Palace, but they weren’t cold. Warmth radiated through them. The dragon, still watching them, let out a little rumble, almost like a giant cat’s purr.

     “I told you she liked attention,” the crete said, grinning.

     Kyrin chuckled and glanced at Jace to see if he wanted to touch the dragon, but he made no move to come closer. This certainly had more to do with the crete than the dragon. He was very fond of any type of animal. She faced the crete again.

     “So they can breathe fire?”

     “For short bursts, but that’s usually all it takes to deter any threat.”

     “That’s incredible,” Kaden breathed.

     While he continued admiring Storm, Kyrin observed the dragon’s rider. He appeared to be in his early to mid-twenties—about ten years younger than Captain Darq—though his exact age was impossible to guess. Cretes were said to mature faster than humans, so he could be anywhere from seventeen to twenty-five. He too wore a sleeveless jerkin. Brown tattoos, a little darker than his skin, marked both shoulders. Darq and the other cretes had them as well, but Kyrin hadn’t taken a good look at them until now. This man’s were a complicated pattern of spirals and dots, but the shape of a fox stood out in the center of his right shoulder.

     Though she tried to be discreet, he must have caught her studying him and suddenly extended his hand to her. “I’m Talas, by the way. Talas Folkan of the Fox Clan.”

Giveaway!
To celebrate the revealing of the cover, Jaye is giving away one of her handcrafted quill pen necklaces (which is so perfect in matching the cover!) and a $5 Amazon gift card! Enter for a chance to win on Jaye’s webpage! U.S. entries only please.




Visit the other blogs to know what these awesome bloggers are saying! BTW, I think this cover carries the beauty and simplicity of a mature read. Nothing dramatic, but powerful enough to pique a reader’s interest and carry across its intended message. I love it!
Happy Reveal celebration everyone! Please, leave you comments. I’d love to read them.


Morgan Huneke
The Writer’s Window
Fictionally
Crafty Booksheeps
The Wonderings of One Person
Rivershore Books
Thilly Little Nothings
Reality Calling
Backing Books
Knitted By God’s Plan
A Writer’s Faith
Perry Elisabeth
Claire M. Banschbach- Thoughts and Rants
Written Rest
Elvish Pens, Fantastical Writings
The American Anglophile
Writings, Rambling, and Reflections
Red Lettering
Tialla’s Tellings
Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima
Seasons of Humility
Imagination of a Writer
A Writer’s Heart
Melody Jackson Author
The Curried Nut
However Improbable
Spreading Smiles
The Country Homemaker

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About the Author

Jaye L. Knight is a homeschool graduated indie author with a passion for writing Christian fantasy and clean new adult fiction. Armed with an active imagination and love for adventure, Jaye weaves stories of truth, faith, and courage with the message that even in the deepest darkness, God’s love shines as a light to offer hope. She has been penning stories since the age of eight and resides in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

You can connect with Jaye on her website, blog, Facebook, Google+, and Twitter.

Filed under: Author Feature, Book Feature, Cover Reveal Tagged: Ilyon's Chronicles, Jaye L. Knight, Resistance, The King's Scroll

Book Review ~ The Land Uncharted by Keely Brooke Keith

About the Book

Lydia Colburn is a young physician dedicated to serving her village in the Land, a landmass in the South Atlantic Ocean undetectable to the outside world. When injured fighter pilot Connor Bradshaw’s parachute carries him from the war engulfing the 2025 world to her hidden land, his presence threatens her plans, her family, and the survival of her preindustrial society. As Connor searches for a way to return to his squadron, his fascination with life in the Land makes him protective of Lydia and her peaceful homeland, and Lydia’s attraction to Connor stirs desires she never anticipated. Written like a historical, set like a scifi, and filled with romance, The Land Uncharted weaves adventure and love in this suspenseful story of a hidden land.

Genre

Christian/Fantasy Romance

My Rating

***** (4.5 Stars)

My Review

This story started a bit slow for me, but quickly picked up pace, and then wound up being a delightful whirlwind of a read. I especially enjoyed following the love story of the hero and heroine—Connor and Lydia—while being intrigued by the suspense created around the creepy character, Frank. Although I already knew the end romantically speaking, it was entertaining to see the romance, and, the rest of the story play out. Each character—main and secondary—was distinctively well crafted to suit the story. And although some parts of the plot were predictable, there were those parts that weren’t, which altogether added to the excitement of the story.

Keith displayed an adept skill with her secondary characters by dropping trickles of hints throughout the story, which she eventually wove into a premise for her next book. Despite a satisfying end, this story, obviously, isn’t finished yet.

There’s a simplicity to Keith’s writing that eases the reader into an enjoyable read, and at the same time her writing maintains a strong voice. It is impressively illustrative, and the entire story is generally well paced. I can rightly say Keith has a stellar imagination, as she created a world out of nothing that exists—similar, though, in culture to the pioneer times—but very much believable. Also, Keith has a way with words that provokes humor so that you raise your brow and while you chuckle.

Altogether, this was a delightful read. I’m looking forward to other books by Keith.

*Although I offer this review to the public, it is my opinion and simply that. A thank you to the author, Keely Brooke Keith, for a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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About the Author

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely was a tree-climbing, baseball-loving ‘80s kid. She grew up in a family who frequently relocated. By graduation, Keely lived in 8 states and attended 14 schools. Keely’s many adventures include: being an exchange student, recording with a former Beatles producer, being chased through the New Mexico desert by a rattlesnake, jumping out of an airplane at 14,500 feet, and sleeping under the open sky in the Australian outback.

Keely is a bass guitarist and plays on worship teams and for solo artists. She is married to singer/songwriter John Martin Keith, and they frequently perform and tour together. When she isn’t writing stories or playing bass, Keely enjoys dancing, having coffee with friends, and sifting through vintage books at antique stores.

Keely resides on a hilltop south of Nashville with her husband and their daughter, Rachel.

Filed under: Book Feature, Book Review Tagged: Keely Brooke Keith, The Land Uncharted, Uncharted Series