Janet Sketchley's Blog: Tenacity, page 6

Setting as Character (Guest Post)

Setting as Characterby Steph Beth Nickel

We’ve all read books where the setting has a personality all its own. Not only does it provide the perfect backdrop to the story; it is a living, breathing character in its own right.

In September, my husband and I spent three weeks exploring Scotland, Iceland, and Ireland with our eldest son and his wife. (They live not far from Glasgow.)

As you can see from the pictures below, our surroundings came alive and could easily become characters i...

The Making of an Ordinary Saint, by Nathan Foster

The Making of an Ordinary Saint, by Nathan Foster (Baker Books, 2014)

If you���re looking for an instructional book on practicing the spiritual disciplines, this isn���t it. But if you���re looking for a memoir of an ordinary layperson trying to get closer to his God and grow in his faith, The Making of an Ordinary Saint is a good choice.

It���s a candid look at one man���s search to follow the spiritual practices modelled by Jesus and in so doing to lose the frustration that seems to...

New Releases in Christian Fiction (October 2024)

October 2024 New Releases

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

General Contemporary:

I���ll Be Home by Darlene L. Turner, by Sara Davison, Helena Smrcek, Melanie Stevenson — With chaos and confusion all around them, can they find their way home this Christmas? The people in these four stories are all searching for something���an escaped convict, a job promotion from a love interest, connection to a lost parent, answers across time. Christmas...

Review: The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder, by C.L. Miller

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder, by C.L. Miller (Simon & Schuster, 2024)

Twenty years ago, tragedy and betrayal wrenched Freya Lockwood out of the career she loved: hunting stolen antiques and restoring them to their rightful owners. Now, when her estranged mentor dies and the police see nothing suspicious, Freya accepts her aunt’s plea to investigate. Not for the dead man’s sake but for Aunt Carole, who loved them both.

Returning to the English village where Aunt Carole raised he...

Review: The Antique Hunter���s Guide to Murder, by C.L. Miller

The Antique Hunter���s Guide to Murder, by C.L. Miller (Simon & Schuster, 2024)

Twenty years ago, tragedy and betrayal wrenched Freya Lockwood out of the career she loved: hunting stolen antiques and restoring them to their rightful owners. Now, when her estranged mentor dies and the police see nothing suspicious, Freya accepts her aunt���s plea to investigate. Not for the dead man���s sake but for Aunt Carole, who loved them both.

Returning to the English village where Aunt Carole rai...

Deadly Burden: Winner of a Word Award

Deadly Burden won a Word Award!

These annual awards, sponsored by Canada���s The Word Guild, recognize ���unpublished work as well as work published in 2023 for both Christian and general market audiences. Entrants from across Canada received awards in over 40 genres and categories.��� [From the official press release, found here: https://thewordguild.com/media/]

Each of my other novels have been shortlisted for the awards, which I count as validation in its own right. But this win is ...

Finding Inspiration Across the Pond (Guest Post)

Finding Inspiration Across the Pondby Steph Beth Nickel

My European Adventure is scheduled for the last three weeks of September 2024. When this is posted, I will have completed two of those three weeks and will, hopefully, have a plethora of ideas to inspire my writing. (July 29, 2024)

Writers find inspiration everywhere. From a snippet of overheard conversation to an unusual name printed on a souvenir. From a randomly asked question to a humorous meme on social media. From a crumblin...

Review: Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, by Tyler Staton

Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer, by Tyler Staton

Do you love to pray? Avoid it? Flat-out think it���s pointless? Wherever you are on the spectrum, this book���s for you.

I love this invitation in the introduction:

Most of us get about knee-deep in the Christian life, discover that the water feels fine, and stop there. We never swim in the depths of the divine intimacy Jesus won for us. This book is an invitation to swim. [Ko...

New Releases in Christian Fiction (September 2024)

September 2024 New Releases

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Contemporary General:

Kristen by Dawn M Klinge — In this heartwarming tale, discover the extraordinary potential that lies within embracing the present and opening one’s heart to the unanticipated blessings of life’s sweetest surprises.(Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

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Contemporary Romance:

Escape to Whispering Creek by Barbara M Britton — Can a gregarious offic...

Review: Abiding in Christ, by Andrew Murray

Abiding in Christ, by Andrew Murray (Updated edition. Bethany House, 2003)

This year, when I sensed God���s nudge to focus on the word ���abide,��� I searched out resources on the topic. This straightforward devotional classic from Andrew Murray has been a liberating source of hope.

What can I say in a review without trying to summarize all of Andrew Murray���s teaching?

First: He takes the pressure off. Yes, believers need to do our part and keep turning to God and choosing to abi...