Julie Arduini's Blog, page 72

T.M. Brown: Why Did I Choose Shiloh for My Story’s Setting?

Why Did I Choose Shiloh for My Story’s Setting?

In Sanctuary, my premier Southern mystery, readers are introduced to the quaint, time-lost South Georgia town of Shiloh. The story begins as Theo and his wife Liddy desire to relocate and retire back to their country roots, after investing four decades of their lives in the shadows of Atlanta. According to the story, it is Liddy who discovers an advertisement for a quaint Craftsman home that convinced her Shiloh would be a perfect fit for them.

But, it’s what readers sense early on as they arrive in Shiloh that draws them into the story? First of all, Shiloh’s reputation paints a serene picture about this time-lost town, but like its namesake from biblical lore, reputation and present reality are subject to the whims and shortcomings of men.

Like the Shiloh of old, Sanctuary reveals this once proud town had lost its luster and position as the county seat decades earlier. Alexandria, like Jerusalem in biblical lore, surpassed Shiloh as the center of power and influence, leaving the proud people in Shiloh with their beautiful, antebellum courthouse on the town square a victim of progress. According to the story, Alexandria blossomed during the post-WWII boom and expansion in Georgia, while Shiloh stagnated and struggled, not much different from many real-life rural towns in South Georgia. Shiloh’s conciliation arrived as its beloved courthouse received a facelift and interior redesign to make it into a functioning city hall. However, the facelift and remodeling of the sesquicentenary courthouse left the edifice’s skeleton of 19th Century hewn timbers and ornate woodwork in tact. Decades later, their beloved historical courthouse would be razed to the ground and steal away the life of a town hero, who rescued others from the growing inferno.

Biblical Shiloh became the first seat of governance once Joshua and the nation of Israel completed their conquest of the Promised Land. The ark of the covenant and tabernacle that had traveled for forty years found a seemingly permanent resting place in Shiloh. Israel’s priests and judges (leaders) established Shiloh as the central seat in the Promised Land until Israel felt unsettled about the way Israel was governed, and desired to be like the other nations. Not long after Israel turned to the rule of king’s, rather than priests acting on God’s behalf, Shiloh fell victim to King

David’s selection of Jerusalem as his site for his palace and the building of the new temple. A rival army burned and ransacked Shiloh not long before David ascended the throne as the second king of Israel. However, he turned his back on Shiloh and chose Jerusalem for his palace.

 

 

 

 

(All that remains of biblical Shiloh in modern Israel.)

The name Shiloh to this day still paints a different picture than the historical reality which its namesakes have experienced. One of the bloodiest and decisive battles fought during the Civil War became known as the Battle of Shiloh, in Tennessee.

Even the Hebrew origin of the name Shiloh means “place of peace,” but as history revealed, “peace” requires the cooperation of men to live up to the expectation of maintaining peace in their community. Sanctuary and its sequel play on the dichotomy of Shiloh’s reputation and the reality of its present state as Theo and Liddy soon discover upon their arrival to Shiloh that there’s a rift in the tranquility of the community.

            All good fiction has its roots deeply planted and nourished in the soil of truth and reality. The settings and characters in our novels do spring ex-nihilo (out of nothingness). Good novels blur the lines between what is fact and fiction allowing the reader to enjoy the totality of the story as though it is real. Nothing brings a smile quicker than to be asked where is Shiloh, I want to go there.

T.M. Brown

www.TMBrownAuthor.com

 

Sanctuary, An Legacy of Memories (2nd Edition, January 2018)

Newly retired publishing executive, Theo Phillips, and his wife, Liddy, decide to leave the shadows of Atlanta behind and return to their South Georgia roots in time-lost Shiloh. While making new friends, Theo’s interest in a memorial launches him smack dab in the middle of scandal and dark secrets. As Theo digs deeper into the mysterious fire that stole the town’s landmark courthouse and a town hero, he and Liddy’s retirement dreams take a turn that could unravel both them and the idyllic life they and many others look for in Shiloh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase Sanctuary HERE

Testament, An Unexpected Return (coming March 2018) – Cover release, February 9th.

The sequel picks up the story of little old Shiloh eight months later and significant changes have taken place in Shiloh. New faces from the town’s past emerge as Testament’s tale unfolds. The citizens in Shiloh understand they cannot change their pasts, but they realize their pasts can haunt them in the present in ways no one could predict. A subtle reminder that God orchestrates the course of history for all men, but he allows men to choose how they will come to terms with the events of history as they unfold. As the ending of the story states, “The testament of a man lies not in the magnitude of possessions and property left to his heirs, but the reach of his legacy long after his death.”

 

Purgatory, A Progeny’s Quest (projected release 2019)

 

 

T.M. Brown

Mike to all his friends

The Baptist College of Florida

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

T. M. Brown is a Southern boy at heart, although he’s lived and traveled in many states far removed from his beloved boyhood roots in Georgia and Florida. He returned to his Southern roots several years ago while his two sons were still in school and regularly traveled throughout the South before returning to college shortly after his youngest son graduated. In the last fifteen years he has preached, taught and coached in Alabama, Georgia and Florida until his wife and he moved outside of Atlanta and retired to write, travel, and spoil grandchildren.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How I Embraced the Curls

I’ve had friends come up to me and ask what am I doing to have the curls that I have. Truth be told, as I grew my hair out, I had no idea my hair was curly. I guess i had wavy hair when I was little, and was convinced for a looong time I needed perms. Then with pregnancy, my hair was straight without a perm.

Now I’m past the pregnancy stage and the curls are back, and I wasn’t sure what to do. I was intimidated by them, but recently decided I have them, I don’t have to pay for them, let’s have fun with it.

Here’s what I am doing with it.

 

Pinterest. I read a lot, and there were great ideas out there. Some of them worked for me, some didn’t. Here’s what did.

 

2. Shower. Each day has a plan. Sounds complicated. It isn’t.

Day 1: Sulfate free shampoo and sulfate free conditioner. I use SheaMoisture for the shampoo, focusing on scalp, and scrunching the curls. Not Your Mother’s conditioner. Scrunch the curls. Lukewarm water to rinse, but I leave some conditioner in. Once done, I squeeze some water out, and wrap my head in an old t-shirt. I learned the worst thing I could do is use a towel.

Day 2: I usually rinse only. Lukewarm. repeat the squeeze and shirt. If I feel I need to condition, I move ahead to Day 3.

Day 3: I color my hair (Feria) so I keep the conditioner and use that. Lukewarm rinse Repeat the squeeze and shirt.

Day 4:: If I think I need to shampoo, I go to #1. If not, I condition with Not Your Mother’s conditioner, and rinse out.

Day 5: Start all over!

 

3. I keep the shirt on while I brush teeth, get dressed, and put on makeup. I’m a minimalist with makeup, and my hair is shorter, so this process takes about ten minutes. I read not to put product in until hair is about 60% dry, and this works great for me.

 

4. I spray Tres Semme heat protectant spray on, and then put Marc Anthony Curl Envy Defining Lotion on, scrunching lightly, head upside down. I follow with LA Styling Gel. I clip my hair back at the crown for volume, and dry on low with a diffuser, head upside down. I used to air dry, but the diffuser is faster and seems to give less frizz. When it’s about 80% dry, I take clip out and dry with my head right side up.

 

That’s it! I know others use a curling iron to finish, but I scrunch, mist with argon oil, and scrunch again.

 

I know it sounds like a lot, but once I figured what works, it really doesn’t take a lot of time. Much less than blowing out. It’s a trial and error with products, but I like where it’s at, and I feel my hair is a lot healthier, even though I’m blow drying.

 

If you’re not sure what to do with hair that suddenly turned curly, go with it! I think you’ll like it.

 

Chasing Freedom Character Interview by H.L. Wegley

An Interview with Alejandra (Allie) Santiago, heroine of Chasing Freedom

“You certainly are a long way from Nogales, Mexico, Ms. Sant—”

“Please, just call me Allie. Alejandra Santiago—it’s too many syllables.”

“Okay, Allie. Please tell us how you got from a border town in Mexico to Oregon State University.”

“An international scholarship. The scholarship gave me a chance to complete OSU’s PharmD program. As a pharmacist, I could work anywhere in Northern Mexico and make enough money to help my family.”

“What a wonderful opportunity. There’s so much poverty in Mexico that—”

“No. You don’t understand. Papa is a successful businessman. If we lived in the USA, we would be—how do you say it—an upper-middle-class family? But the cartel in our area makes all businesses pay protection money. So much money that business owners have become unable to support their families. A few months ago, my father tried to organize the business owners to oppose the cartel.”

“Stand up to a drug cartel? He sounds like a brave man.”

“He is. But the cartel put a price on his head and my family had to leave. About a week ago, Papa called me and said he had a work visa and the promise of a good job in Northern California. They had left Mexico. I was on break between summer classes, so I drove to Redding to visit them. The promise of a job was a lie.  The cartel captured them, took their visas, and made slaves of them. When I arrived in Redding, the cartel captured me too. They took us into the mountains.”

“Oh, my. That must have been awful. But you’re here now …”

“I got away. My father told me they were planning to sell me to human traffickers. I’m a distance runner, so Papa told me to run. When I saw him last, he was fighting two men so I could escape. I don’t know what happened to Mama, Papa, and my little brother.”

“But you’re safe. Did you outrun the men?”

“Yes. I ran fifteen, maybe twenty miles through the mountains and the men chased me. I collapsed in the arms of a man, Jeff Jacobs. He picked me up and ran for two miles carrying me. The gunmen shot at us. They hit Jeff’s arm, only an inch from my head. But he just ran away from those men. I think Jeff is a world-class athlete, but I’m not sure. He won’t talk about that subject.”

“That’s quite a story. But world-class athlete … Jeff Jacobs. Are you sure you’ve never heard about him in the news?”

“No. Why would you ask that?”

“Well, it’s not something Mr. Jacobs would want to talk about—”

“Then I don’t want to hear it from you. He’s a good man. He saved my life and now he’s trying to save my family, if we can find them.”

“So you believe the cartel still has them?”

“I hope so … that they’re still alive, I mean. The cartel forces them to work to produce drugs.  Jeff and I hope to get US law enforcement involved, but there is so much danger to my family. Their visas and ID were taken by the cartel and there was no good job. So, even if we find them, their immigration status will cause more problems. They could be deported. Then they would be killed by the cartel in Nogales.”

“Allie, with all that’s happening, we need to pray that the FBI or DEA can find your family and that—”

“You pray if you want to. God, if He exists, wouldn’t listen to the prayers of an eight-year-old girl when she needed Him. So why should I expect Him to listen to a twenty-one-year-old woman?”

 

Bio: H.L. Wegley served in the USAF as an Intelligence Analyst and a Weather Officer. In civilian life, he served as a Research Scientist in the Atmospheric Physics Department at a national lab. After earning an MS in Computer Science, he worked 20+ years in systems development at Boeing before retiring near Seattle, where he and his wife enjoy small-group ministry, grandchildren, hiking beaches in the Olympic National Park, and where he writes inspirational thrillers and high-action, romantic-suspense novels. He is a multi-published author with 7 inspirational thrillers and 2 nonfiction books published and several more novels on the way.

Blurb for Chasing Freedom – which won second place for Inspirational Fiction in the 2017 Oklahoma Romance Writers of America International Digital Awards:

How far would you be willing to go if you were chasing freedom?

When Allie Santiago, student at Oregon State University, and her family are captured and labor trafficked by the drug cartel that drove her father from Mexico, she learns the cartel thugs plan to sell her to human traffickers. Allie escapes, running a marathon through the mountains of Northern California, and collapses in the arms of Jeff Jacobs, a disgraced Olympic decathlete who wants his honor back. When Jeff’s actions engage the FBI and US Marshals to protect Allie and to free her family, a war breaks out in the mountains along the Oregon-California border.

Will Jeff’s efforts enable the two to survive and their budding relationship to grow? Not if he can’t keep Allie and her family out of the black hole known as asylum detention. And the reward he now seeks for his efforts, Allie’s love, might evaporate like his dream of Olympic gold once Allie learns about Jeff’s scandalous past.

Chasing Freedom, a modern-day story of honor and courage, of faith and love, and the importance of family.

Web Links:

Chasing Freedom on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MAXJQWJ/

Web site: http://www.hlwegley.com/

H L Wegley on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Wegley/e/B00B1XMR56

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HLWegley/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hlwegley

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/harryw51/

 

Norris Dam State Park by Sara L. Foust

Norris Dam State Park

Sara L. Foust

 

Norris Dam State Park is one of the beautiful state parks I live near. We are blessed to have many here in East Tennessee, and several of them are mentioned or visited in my writings. My heroine, Kat, visits Norris Dam while searching for clues on her treasure hunt in my debut novel Callum’s Compass.

This park means a lot to me. I grew up right over the hill from it, and it was our go-to spot for bike riding, football playing, and picnics. There is a lovely trail at the base of the dam where you can walk (or run, if you’re so inclined) surrounded by fields of wildflowers, tall trees, and a variety of songbirds, which is why its name, Songbird Trail, is so appropriate. The river flows along the southern side and it’s common to see fishermen, blue herons, geese and ducks, and trout flashing in the crystal-clear water. In the fields most nights you can find white-tailed deer grazing, skunks digging for bugs, barred owls perched in trees, and, if you’re lucky, a red fox or coyote marching through.

Norris Dam/Sara Foust

Norris Dam was built in the 1930s, providing jobs at a time when they were scarce. The town of Norris was erected to house the workers and their families, and is now one of the most tranquil, aesthetic places in our area with an old-fashioned, family-owned grocery store and butcher, a small post office, and a town square that hosts events and a wonderful yearly fireworks display and 4th of July Festival. Once the dam was completed, Norris Lake took shape behind the dam. Many families were asked, and some forced, to relocate to avoid the flooding that took place upon completion. It’s still a story that both blesses and haunts our area. However, I doubt anyone today could discount the fact that Norris Lake is a gorgeous part of our culture. And, the dam’s massive turbines provide hydraulic-powered energy for a great portion of the valley.

With history, hiking trails, a walking path, horse riding trails, wildlife, water play, and camping, Norris Dam State Park is an amazing place. And it’s right in my back yard.

 

Norris Dam/Sara Foust

My husband and I were even married in this quiet, peaceful place. We still visit the park, but not as frequently as I’d like, though we do spend a big chunk of our summer playing on the lake (which Kat and Ryan also visit a couple times in the book). It was so much fun featuring places that are not only real-life but also mean so much to me. I hope I have portrayed Norris Dam State Park as a place readers would love to visit. If you want to know what Kat finds (or doesn’t find—wink, wink) at the park, I hope you’ll read Callum’s Compass!

If you would like to sign up for my newsletter, you will receive a free digital scrapbook with even more information and photos about East Tennessee landmarks that appear in Callum’s Compass!

 

Sara writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense from a mini-farm in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their five homeschooled children. Her debut novel Callum’s Compass won second place in Deep River Books’ 2017 Writer’s Contest. She also has a story in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. To learn more about her, please visit www.saralfoust.com. 

 

KAT WILLIAMS’S brother died in a gruesome accident in the mountains of East Tennessee. She blames herself.

RYAN JENKINS’S fiancée was murdered. He couldn’t protect her.

With the death of her brother, Kat believes she is unworthy of love from anyone—even God. When a good friend elicits a promise that she will stop living in the past and then leaves her clues to a real-life treasure hunt, Kat embarks on an adventure chock-full of danger. To find the treasure, Kat will have to survive wild animals—and even wilder men. Can she rely on Ryan, the handsome wildlife officer assigned to protect her . . . without falling in love?

Ryan swore off love when his fiancée was murdered, but feelings long-buried rise to the surface around Kat. He volunteers to help with her treasure hunt, vowing to keep her safe. Together they venture deep into caves and tunnels . . . and even deeper into the depths of their unplumbed hearts.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076B9PBZL

 

Review: Christian Quotes

About Christian Quotes

ChristianQuotes.info  has over 10,000 Christian quotes that are categorized by Bible, Author and Topic. The inspirational website has a new devotional each day around the daily quote. It also has thousands of images perfect for sharing on Facebook.
Some of the most read and used pages on Christian Quotes includes:
World’s 10 Most Encouraging Bible Verses In Quote Images
Christian Quotes most shareable images
World’s 10 Best Bible Verses About Hope In Comforting Images

Christian Quotes also boasts a Facebook page with over 4.5 million fans

 

Christian Quotes is a new find for me, and what a treasure. At first glance, it contains hundreds of images with quotes from God’s word and noted Christian speakers. However, digging in, there’s so much more.

Each image has a title that when you click on it, it contains a commentary/article on the quote. It dives a little deeper than the quote itself and is informative and encouraging.

The menu also includes TOP QUOTES, subjects like worry or heaven that you can learn more about. BIBLE has quotes from the Bible, including the books in the Bible and even comforting verses to share in a sympathy card. MOVIE QUOTES is just that. There are secular movies that have powerful quotes like Toy Story and Wizard of Oz. There are also Christian movies like Fireproof and God’s Not Dead. I was surprised War Room wasn’t included, but perhaps that will soon. BLOG is where you find commentaries and Christian topics.

I bookmarked this site, I am that impressed. I’m always on the look out for great quotes to use in social media and my blogging, and this site has much to offer.

Check it out!

 

I was notified about this site from Flyby Promotions, but writing a review was my idea, and the content includes my opinions and mine alone. I received no products for this post.

 

OAC: Wooten’s Fun Facts

Raise your hand if you love Adventures in Odyssey! I’m raising both of mine. If you’ve read my blog for any amount of time, you know that although our kids are nearly grown, my husband and I STILL listen to Adventures in Odyssey.

He travels for work and some of the trips have been to Colorado. My bucket list includes visiting Focus on the Family.

One of my favorite characters is Wooten. He wouldn’t hurt a fly, and he tries to help whenever there’s a problem in Whit’s End. He’ll never best Eugene in academics, but when I know Wooten is in an episode, I know I will like it.

If you love Adventures in Odyssey as much as we do, I encourage you to try the Odyssey Adventure Club. They have a free 14 day trial, and in club membership there are more than 800 episodes in the library to listen to on demand, adventure of the month, web quests, documentaries, Clubhouse magazine subscription, daily devotion, and exclusive newsletter.

Adventures in Odyssey has given us lots of laughs, great lessons, and memorable conversations. Especially when Wooten is involved!

I am a street team member for the Odyssey Adventure Club. I receive information to promote in exchange for membership. My comments about everything related to the club and the broadcasts are my own opinions.

 

Book Review: Sacred Rest by Saundra Dalton-Smith

Staying busy is easy. Staying well rested— there’s a challenge.

How can you keep your energy, happiness, creativity, and relationships fresh and thriving in the midst of never-ending family demands, career pressures, and the stress of everyday life? In Sacred Rest, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, a board-certified internal medicine doctor, reveals why rest can no longer remain optional.

Dr. Dalton-Smith shares seven types of rest she has found lacking in the lives of those she encounters in her clinical practice and research-physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, creative—and why a deficiency in any one of these types of rest can have unfavorable effects on your health, happiness, relationships, creativity, and productivity. Sacred Restcombines the science of rest, the spirituality of rest, the gifts of rest, and the resulting fruit of rest. It shows rest as something sacred, valuable, and worthy of our respect.

By combining scientific research with personal stories, spiritual insight, and practical next steps, Sacred Rest gives the weary permission to embrace rest, set boundaries, and seek sanctuary without any guilt, shame, or fear.

Julie’s Review:

I admit, I have a lot of ladies that come to me for prayer because things are going wrong in their life, or feel like it is. Some of those cases, as I ask probing questions so I know best to pray, show me that there is some self-sabotage involved. Ladies, more than ever, are tired. And lack of rest is creating major problems in ever aspect of their lives.

 

 

Sacred Rest is a comprehensive look at rest using her knowledge and experience as a doctor. I had no ideas there were types of rest, let alone seven of them, but she covers each one in detail—physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, and creative.

What I enjoyed about the book was her knowledge, sharing cases she has seen in her office, but also that she didn’t want to write a book and hope for the best. She created a challenge that upon sign up, provides participants with daily tips and encouragement. That was something new, and I liked that aspect a lot.

 

I hope the exhausted will dive into Sacred Rest and make the information in this book become their new lifestyle. I definitely recommend this book.

To purchase Sacred Rest, click HERE.

I received a copy of Sacred Rest from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions shared are my own.

Lighter than Air by Linda Hoover

Happy New Year! Ok, I know we’re already more than two weeks into January, but I’m still asking, “Can you believe it’s 2018? Where did 2017 go?” I do love a new year, though. If you need a fresh start, another chance, or a do-over, now’s the time.

My goal for 2017 was to have my new book, Lighter Than Air, available by December. Life doesn’t always cooperate with our plans, but instead of giving up, I set a new goal. Perseverance in the face of obstacles, and prayer and belief that God will help me, make this goal and anything else possible. Isaiah 41:13 says, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” I’m claiming that verse.

 

 In Lighter Than Air, my protagonist is faced with a life changing decision. Elena’s father has gambled away the estate that’s been in her family for generations. In three months they will be penniless, homeless and separated from the staff they consider family. Elena takes it to God and believes He has given her the idea to have a family camp on their estate, thereby bringing in the money they’ll need to pay the debt. Her father feels any effort is useless and refuses to help. The man holding the debt sends a saboteur to vandalize and interfere, and Elena’s neighbor and long- time friend, Justin, keeps trying to talk her out of it. Neither knows what the other will face if they’re unsuccessful. This is a time for perseverance. With the deadline for the debt looming, will their insistence on doing things their way give them both a happy ending, or destroy everything they’ve hoped for?

My new goal is to publish Lighter Than Air by the middle of February. If you’re interested in seeing how things work out for Elena and Justin, and reading their journey to the end of the book, stop by my website or follow me on my Facebook author page. I’ll be keeping readers up to date.

Thank you, Julie, for allowing me space on your blog.

A Flash of Romance by Sharon Rene

A Flash of Romance by Sharon Rene

 

My name is Sharon Rene. In December, I published a collection of flash fiction stories on Kindle entitled A Flash of Romance. This was a new experience for me. I’ve recently had some publishing success in the world of flash fiction, having had six stories published by the Splickety Publishing Group. After a lot of thought and prayer, I decided to plunge into Kindle. And it was a plunge! I’m not a computer master, so Kindle didn’t prove to be as easy as I anticipated, but I persevered. The Kindle version is now available as well as a print version, and I’d love to share my stories with all of you.

A Flash of Romance by Sharon Rene

From Heathcliff to Santa, the heroes in A Flash of Romance will win your heart. Experience the magical world of mermaids and fairies then travel to the old west and the Roaring Twenties, all in less than seven thousand words. I am especially proud of Masada Whispers. In this story, I tell the fate of a young couple trapped in Masada surrounded by the Roman army. The tragic deaths of the Jews on Passover speaks to my heart, and I believe it will bring a tear to most eyes.

 

 

I am offering twelve signed copies of A Flash of Romance on Goodreads beginning January 8 and running until January 31, 2018. If you’re on Goodreads, please go to the giveaways page and sign up for my book.

 

My writing journey is just beginning. God is directing my every step, and offering needed encouragement. TouchPoint Press will publish my book of short stories for elementary age children tentatively entitled A Mixed Bag of God’s Grace sometime this year. I am excited that God has given me the honor to write for His little ones. What a precious audience.

My favorite genre to read, and to write, is young adult speculative. I am now working on my third novel in a young adult series. The Lord has not yet opened the door to publication for these books, but He has used flash fiction and short stories to encourage me along the way. I was surprised when my first flash fiction was accepted by Splickety, and I realized that God had open an unexpected door. God is good at that. Let me end this blog with some encouragement and one of my favorite Bible verses.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3: 20-21 (NIV)

Sharon Rene loves to write speculative young adult fiction, children’s short stories, flash fiction, and devotions. She has published a collection of flash fiction on Kindle entitled A Flash of Romance. TouchPoint press will publish her book of short stories for elementary aged children tentatively titled A Mixed Bag of God’s Grace in 2018.

She is a member of ACFW and works as an executive assistant at a major corporation.  She has a Facebook page with devotions, scripture and inspirational thoughts entitled Creative Grace with Sharon Rene and her author page is also on Facebook – Sharon Rene-Author.

www.facebook.com/creativegraceSRD

 

www.facebook.com/sharonreneauthor

 

sharonrene17@gmail.com

 

Purchase A Flash of Romance HERE

You’re Beautiful Now Available

 

You’re Beautiful Now Available

This series was inspired by our teenaged daughter Hannah after a tough transition to junior high. Instead of giving up and becoming bitter, Hannah decided to take the lessons she learned and create a series for girls her age. Julie (Hannah’s mom,) has a passion for mentoring. As she listened to Hannah create characters, Julie realized there was a message in Hannah’s work for women, too.

Each book in the Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’ Series uses the theme of letting go of a lie the characters believed. There will be two key characters in each book. One, a junior high student, and the other, a woman out of school. It’s our desire to see girls of all ages (even grandmas!) to read these books and find freedom and hope in them.

Hannah created the storyline, character names and traits, plot points, and conflict. She had the vision for the cover, and directed Julie in the design. Julie wrote out Hannah’s vision and managed the writing and publishing process, staying true to Hannah’s creation. You’re Beautiful is a work of fiction, but a message of hope for you.

 

About You’re Beautiful:

Hayley Atkinson withdraws from her friends and new opportunities with the new mentoring group, Linked, after she is told a lie that she believes is true about herself. Sabrina Wayson is a mentor in Linked who feels she can’t help encourage girls because she’s struggling as much as they are. Can they surrender the lies and find freedom?

 

You’re Beautiful is now available for all eReaders. Print version is coming later this month. Stay tuned!

 

Hannah and I believe in this message because we’ve lived it, and chances are, you have as well. Please read, if you like it, write a review, and tell others to do the same. Thank you!

Get You’re Beautiful HERE


Tags:  Amazon, beauty, bullying, confidence, ebook, faith, junior high, mentoring, middle grade, mother and daughter authors, New Release, self esteem, tweens, women, women's fiction, You're Beautiful Now Available




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 Character Confession: There is Only One Defeated One (& You Aren't It)  Saturday Confession: That Face  COTT: Two Days in Caracas by Luana Ehrlich  Have a Better Idea than The Hunger Games? Start Here.  Transforming for a Life Worth Living by Sue A. FairchildCopyright © Julie Arduini [You're Beautiful Now Available], All Right Reserved. 2018.