Julie Arduini's Blog, page 89

MICHEL: The Fourth Wise Man by Katheryn Maddox Haddad

MICHEL: THE FOURTH WISE MAN

 

It is January. What happens after Christmas? What happened after the original Christmas? What brought the wise men from the East in the first place? What did they do after they left Bethlehem and returned home?

We take too much for granted. We just assume there were three wise men (magi) because there were three gifts. Perhaps ten magi went together, pooled their funds, and financed one gift.

We also take for granted that the wise men saw the “Star of Bethlehem” and automatically knew the divine king of the Jews had been born and the needed to rush right over to “the little town” so they could be in the same scene as the shepherds.

Much of my book, Michel: The Fourth Wise Man, is about the magi’s search for the meaning of the star. As pagans, they had always believed the birth of a star meant the birth of a god, and that is all they had to go on.

But there is a side issue in this retelling.  In the book, Michel, a Jewish descendant of Daniel whose ancestors elected not to uproot and return to Jerusalem, lives among pagans. He wants desperately to convert them to the one true God. He wants desperately for God to walk the earth again as he had done with Adam and Eve.

He lives in one of the capital cities of Parthia which is in today’ Iraq, just south of Baghdad. The Bible says the Garden of Eden was located where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers meet.  Iraq’s slogan even today is “Land of the Two Rivers”.

Michel has such a missionary’s heart that he gives up everything to buy the desolate land where the Garden of Eden had been thousands of years earlier and replant it so God will walk the earth again and draw pagans to him. He loses his home, his father, his wife—everything—to buy it.

He sees the “Star of Bethlehem” as an interruption to his life’s most important work. After a year, the other magi agree to investigate the Jewish scriptures and find the meaning of the star there. They go to Bethlehem, see Jesus, now a nearly two-year-old toddler.

Did you ever wonder what the wise men did after they left Bethlehem and returned to “the East”? 

For one thing, Michel gets out in the desert on the way home and goes into a meltdown. He suddenly realizes God is already walking the earth again through young Jesus.  He has lost his fortune and his family to buy the site of the Garden of Eden.  I am not going to tell you what happens next, because it would be telling you my surprise ending.

But I hope I have told you enough so that you realize perhaps there was more—a lot more—to the story of the wise men than we normally think about. Each wise man had a life. Each wise man had a before-and-after story. This is Michel’s.

 

Katheryn Haddad was born in the cold north, but now lives in Arizona where she does not have to shovel sunshine. She enjoys hot weather, palm trees and cacti in her yard, and a computer with the letters worn off.

With a bachelor’s degree in English, Bible and social science from Harding University and part of a master’s degree in Bible, including Greek, from the Harding Graduate School of Theology, she also has a master’s degree in management and human relations from Abilene University.

Her newspaper column appeared for several years in newspapers in Texas and North Carolina ~ Little Known Facts About the Bible ~ and she has written for numerous Christian publications.

Currently she teaches English over the internet every morning, using the Bible as a text book. Most of her students are Muslims. She has taught some 6000 thus far, and has former students, now Christians, in hiding in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Palestine. “They are my heroes” she declares.

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Writers of the West, and is also an energetic public speaker who can touch the heart of audiences.

Website: http://inspirationsbykatheryn.com

Purchase MICHEL: The Fourth Wiseman HERE

A NOTE FROM KATHERYN MADDOX HADDAD

Whoever, makes a comment on my blog gets a free 2017 scripture calendar.  By email you can photocopy as many copies as you want to share with your congregation and family, or one if by print mailed to your home.

Tags:  Bethlehem, Bible, guest blogger, Julie Arduini, Katheryn Maddox Haddad, Michel: The Fourth Wiseman




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 Encouraged by Scaffolding  How Would You Handle It? Fat Girl Edition  COTT: Choose a Book to Tour with the Clash of the Titles Blog Alliance  Two Years Later and They Are STILL Talking About This...  April W. Gardner Presents COTT Cover WinnerCopyright © Julie Arduini [MICHEL: The Fourth Wise Man by Katheryn Maddox Haddad], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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COTT: Child of Dust by Shoba Sadler

 

Today we’ll sit down to chat with Shoba Sadler, author of

the contemporary title Child of Dust. Shoba will take us behind the

scenes of her unique new novel and give us a glimpse into her

writing.

Shoba, why did you choose to write this type of novel?

Social status and cultural barriers makes for great conflict. Child

of Dust is like a modern-day classic of Romeo and Juliet only instead of

opposing families, these lovers, Kim and Bryan have cultural and social

barriers to contend with.

Kim, the rich and spoilt socialite who loses her money is taken under

the wing of her reluctant chauffeur, Bryan, who has his own struggles to

deal with. They find love under the most unexpected circumstances.

Can you tell us why you started with an Asian setting for your first

two novels?

I was founder of Agape Christian magazine in Malaysia. I also freelanced

for the leading English, secular newspaper in Malaysia, The Star. My

feature stories forThe Star were several page write-ups with gorgeous

photos. Many of my stories were selected by the features editor to be

cover stories as well.

As I interviewed people all over the world for Agape, I saw God moving

powerfully in Asia and yet there were so few stories coming from there

especially in the Christian romance genre.

In Asia, Christianity is seen very much as a Western culture. Yet so

many Asians have had powerful encounters with Jesus Christ. Then there

is the struggle to validate their faith in the midst of culture,

tradition, loss of identity, social stigma and so on.

There alone you have so much material for backdrop, tension, drama,

conflict and final resolution.

An example of what I mean can be seen in my short story Finding

Enlightenmentthat was awarded second place at faithwriters.com. It can be read

here:http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article-level3-previous.php?id=54362

Talk a little about your unique setting.
When I read novels I am drawn to the backdrop and setting. A great

description of the setting subtly woven into the story is what makes the

difference between being a narrator who takes a person on a journey

through his “telling” and a facilitator who steps out of the way

altogether to allow the reader to explore the journey on his own. The

writer should aim to be the facilitator and not the narrator.There is nothing like a great setting to make the reader feel like they

are there with the characters. It is like the difference between

watching a 2D and 3D movie.

Unfortunately, many formulaic romance novels that are churned out in

quick production-line succession fails to capture this allure of setting

because it takes research and time. It is also not easy to write setting

discreetly in the background and that is the only way to write it.

Otherwise it will seem like reading lecture notes instead of a story.

I read one review of a multi-cultural romance set in an Asian country

where the reviewer said she felt like she was reading a tour company’s

brochure and that is the wrong emotion to invoke.

So another reason I wrote Child of Dust was to give romance readers a

chance to explore unique settings and backdrops not normally experienced

by a reader in the current trend of romance novels available out

there.

We’d love to hear a little about the historical background for your

novel. Will you talk about that?

The main character, Bryan, Kim’s chauffeur has been deeply affected by

the Vietnam war in the sense that he is the illegitimate child of an

American GI and a Vietnamese woman. This historical background sets a

different dimension to the story and adds intrigue and authenticity.

Who would you say is the audience for this novel?

Child of Dust is an appealing read for anyone. As I have also

written for the secular press, I am able to write in a manner that

appeals to all walks of life both Christian and non-Christian. I have

had non-Christians tell me they were so engrossed in the story that they

didn’t not notice the message of the gospel woven into the story. Yet

that message is undoubtedly there.

I am an inspirational writer and everyone loves a good inspirational

story just as they love watching a Hallmark movie.

What readers have to say about the novel:

“Make sure when getting ready to read Child of Dust that you don’t have

anything else planned for the day, you won’t be able to put this book

down. I could go on and on about this book. Highly and strongly

recommend it. Is it possible to give a book 10 stars?” — Debra Dunson,

reviewer at The Edgier Christian Fiction Fan

“I found the writing of this story to be close to excellent…. I found

this book to be one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long

time. It was interesting, the story kept moving along, and I learned a

lot as I read this story. I found myself intrigued with the constant

difficulties faced by the protagonists – and their stories were

presented so much more like real life stories than any other book I have

read in a long, long time.” — Marina, Community Writer, California

“This novel has a consistent rhythm, adding surprise after surprise,

twisting our emotions at each new difficulty Kim faces. I couldn’t put

this book down, waiting to see if any or all the ends would be tired up.

I would actually like to see the novel transcend into a movie. An

amazing read.” — Brices Mice Christian Book Reviews

About Child of Dust:

Beautiful but spoilt Vietnamese

socialite, Cao Kim Lye, learns of her parents shocking death from the

dashing Amerasian family chauffeur, Bryan Nguyen.

Kim steps out of a world of crystal

and chandelier to enter the dust and chaos of working-class Hanoi. She

finds herself living under the roof of a shop cum living quarters with

Bryan and his adoptive family.

Ever

conscious of the privileged class, Kim struggles against the emotional

ties she forms towards Bryan, the reluctant saviour, who considers her

an unnecessary hitch to his already complicated life.

He still bears the scars of

abandonment by his mother and his American GI father when U.S. troops

pulled out of Vietnam.

Eventually Bryan and Kim’s powerful attraction to each other

begins to break down the wall between them.

About the author:

Shoba Sadler has been a journalist

for 20 years and founder of Agape magazine in Malaysia. She is a

versatile inspirational author that likes to write in multiple genres.

She has pioneered a new genre in Christian multi-cultural writing with

her novel Child of Dust and her many award-winning short stories can be

read here http://shobasadler.com/?page_id=250

Her passion for writing is matched only by

her passion for cooking with farm fresh produce. She lives a healthy

lifestyle on a farm with her husband, Kevin, a talented musician, who

also loves to surf and ski. They grow their own vegetables and fruits

and share their home with a multitude of animals and wildlife. They are

passionate about buying directly from local farmers who practice organic

farming.

Tags:  Asia, author, author interview, Clash of the Titles, COTT: Child of Dust by Shoba Sadler, fiction, Julie Arduini, Romeo and Juliet, Shoba Sadler




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 Surrendering My Food Addiction by Janet Brown  So Simple We Miss It  Marriage Monday: I'm the Mom, not the Friend. Yet.  Character Confession: Renewing My Mind and Wrist  My Thankful List by Jean Ann WilliamsCopyright © Julie Arduini [COTT: Child of Dust by Shoba Sadler], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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Transformation: The Split Second

The word for my year is transformation and as always, I’m constantly looking to see how that word applies to my life. A few days ago I received news that I can’t stop thinking about. A little girl is gone and her parents, amazing parents who were great to us when we lived in NY, are shattered and forever changed. A tragic accident that took place in a split second.

Then I saw the breaking news coming out of the Fort Lauderdale airport. One minute passengers are focusing on travel, the next, diving for cover because of gunfire. I read on one of the sites I belong to that a cousin was one of the victims. Again, everything transforming in a split second.

I realize those transformations can come with good news, too. A marriage proposal. A birth. Hearing about a job promotion, or even getting a call that you got the job. It means in a second you go from that title to a new one. A change in address, perhaps. And always so much more.

Transformation: The Split Second Change

I am one of those that is always so far ahead in my thinking that I am guilty of missing out on celebrating the present. My dear friend told me her goal for the year was to choose present over perfect. I love that. I want to embrace what I have in my life. This week showed me that can all go away in a moment. I don’t want to have regrets. But in search of perfect, I’ve missed out on the present. That’s not how I want to approach life.

Are there examples you can think of where your life changed in a split second? What are transformations you can think of?

Tags:  change, death, Job, job loss, Julie Arduini, marriage, miscarriage, promotion, tragedy, transformation, Transformation: The Split Second




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 Book Review: The Adventures of Pajama Girl and the Coronation of the Cupcake Queen by Sandra Hagee Parker  Sabbath Sunday: The Faith Walk  Guest Blogger Author Susan May Warren: Take a Chance on Darek Christiansen  Character Confession: Forgiving Judas  Sabbath Sunday: Be a FireworkCopyright © Julie Arduini [Transformation: The Split Second], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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Jennifer Slattery: God’s Healing Love

I’ve always been thankful for the darkness because it allowed me to see the light so clearly. I’m thankful for every moment I received faulty, incomplete, tainted love because it made the real thing, the agape, self-sacrificing love that can only come from Christ, so obvious. And contagious.

 

For the past few months, my husband and I have been walking beside someone who is living in darkness, choosing the darkness over light. And it’s hard. It’s never fun to see someone completely destroy their life, but it’s more than that. I see myself in this individual. I remember when I bounced from place to place, when I drank malt liquor until I passed out, when I gravitated toward the deceived and self-destroying.

 

But God also showed me the light. And He drew me with His love. His patient, unyielding, pursuing love.

 

It took a long time for that love to truly take hold. For me to truly believe it. Rest in it. In all my healing, I primarily credit two people—Jesus Christ, who saw me and loved me on my worst day, and my husband, who saw something in a homeless girl from Washington and decided to hold tight to her, until his love broke through.

 

Oh, what a road that was! Consumed with past hurts, fears, and distrust, I did everything I knew to push him away. I figured it was only a matter of time before he left me, anyway. Everyone else I knew had.

 

Only he stayed. He held tight, and he continued to love me, even when I was completely unlovable.

 

And bit by bit, his love broke through, until one day, I realized, I no longer feared he’d leave. In fact, I knew with every part of my tattered but healing heart, that he’d stay. Till death do we part.

 

That’s when real intimacy, real healing took place.

 

But then one day, on a particularly hard day, Jesus opened my eyes. I was in the middle of gunk, gunk related directly to my past and the pain I’d experienced, and it felt as if I was right back there, in it. I can’t describe what that feels like, but those of you who’ve been there know. It’s a pain that completely levels you and launches that ugly, snotty-nosed cry no one but your mate has any business seeing.

 

That’s where I was—sobbing. Like I often do, I headed straight for the bedroom, for my bed, where I could fall apart in silence.

 

Why is it, when we’re in pain, we tend to isolate?

 

So there I was, feeling alone in my heartache, until … my husband came in. Walked straight to me, and tackled me in a full on body hug. “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you,” he said again and again. Maybe ten times. Maybe more. Making me sob all the harder.

 

Then it hit me, so clear it stalled my breath and my tears. That was Jesus. Jesus was holding and loving me through my husband.

 

Because that’s what He does. He meets us when it feels as if we’re falling apart and He envelopes us in His love. He tells us again and again, “I love you. I love you. I love you.” Until that love breaks through and begins to heal all the broken pieces.

 

So that the pain from the past, those old wounds we’ve shoved down, lose their power over us. And His love, His power, His gentle, restoring Holy Spirit makes us new.

 

Jennifer Slattery: God’s Healing Love

Novelist and speaker Jennifer Slattery has a passion for helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, she and her team put on events at partnering churches designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact. She writes devotions for Internet Café Devotions, Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com, and edits for Firefy, a Southern fiction imprint with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband.

Visit with Jennifer online at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com and connect with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte

 

Restoring Love:

Mitch, a contractor and house-flipper, is restoring a beautiful old house in an idyllic Midwestern neighborhood. Angela, a woman filled with regrets and recently transplanted to his area, is anything but idyllic. She’s almost his worst nightmare, and she s also working on restoring something herself. As he struggles to keep his business afloat and she works to overcome mistakes of her past, these two unlikely friends soon discover they have something unexpected in common, a young mom who is fighting to give her children a better life after her husband’s incarceration. While both Mitch and Angela are drawn to help this young mother survive, they also find themselves drawn to each other. Will a lifetime of regrets hold them back or unite them and bring redemption along with true love?

 

Buy it on:

Christian Book Distributors

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Connect with Jennifer

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Tags:  author, Christ, contemporary romance, God's Healing Love by Jennifer Slattery, healing, Jennifer Slattery, Julie Arduini, marriage, Restoring Love, testimony, transformation




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 Clash of the Titles: Vote for Favorite December Release  Sabbath Sunday: Thankful  Sabbath Sunday: Christmas Season Rest  Odyssey Adventure Club Celebrates First Birthday  Character Confession: FrustratedCopyright © Julie Arduini [Jennifer Slattery: God's Healing Love], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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ACFW Fiction Finder: January New Releases

January 2017 New Releases

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

Contemporary Romance:

Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley by Valerie Comer, Mary Jane Hathaway, Elizabeth Maddrey, Danica Favorite, Lee Tobin McClain and Annalisa Daughety — Is love possible for a makeshift mom and a handsome widower? What about a bed and breakfast owner and the farmer next door? A curvy jilted bride and a mysterious, handsome chef? Then there’s the real estate consultant and the grandson of her elderly client; a high-powered lawyer and a woman farmer, and a formerly engaged couple. Can love make a difference in their lives? Exploring food, friends, and family in Arcadia Valley, each of these novellas kicks off a three-book series, intertwined with the works of the other authors. This collection is only the beginning of your adventure! (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Restoring Love by Jennifer Slattery — Mitch, a contractor and house-flipper, is restoring a beautiful old house in an idyllic Midwestern neighborhood. Angela, a woman filled with regrets and recently transplanted to his area, is anything but idyllic. As Mitch struggles to keep his business afloat, and Angela works to correct the mistakes of her past, these two unlikely friends discover they have something unexpected in common–a young mom fighting to give her children a better life after her husband’s incarceration. While both Mitch and Angela are drawn to help this young mother survive, they also find themselves drawn to each other. Will a lifetime of regrets hold them back from redemption and true love? (Contemporary Romance from New Hope Publishers)

Historical Mystery:

Murder on the Moor by Julianna Deering — Drew and Madeline Farthering visit the Yorkshire moor to catch a killer and solve a mystery that involves an old feud, a new rivalry and a huge, spectral hound that may or may not be a harbinger of death. (Historical Mystery from Bethany House [Baker])

Historical Romance:

A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander — A master violinist trained in Vienna, Rebekah Carrington manages to get an audition at the newly-formed Nashville Philharmonic. But the conductor–determined to leave his mark on the world of classical music–bows to public opinion. Women are “far too fragile and frail” for the rigors of an orchestra, he says, and Rebekah’s hopes are swiftly dashed. Nathaniel Tate Whitcomb is Nashville’s new orchestra leader. And despite a reluctant muse–and a strange buzzing and recurring pain in his head–he must finish composing his symphony before the new opera hall opens. But far more pressing, he must finish it for his dying father, who inspired his love of music. Then Tate’s ailment worsens. Rebekah can help him finish his symphony. But how do you win back a woman’s trust when you’ve robbed her of her dream? (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

The American Heiress Brides Collection by Lisa Carter, Mary Eileen Davis, Susanne Dietze, Anita Mae Draper, Patty Smith Hall, Cynthia Hickey, Lisa Karon Richardson, Lynette Sowell and Kimberley Woodhouse — Meet nine young women in America between 1880 and 1911 who have been blessed by fortunes made in gold, silver, industry, ranching, and banking. But when it comes to love, each woman struggles to find true love within a society where “first comes money, second comes marriage.” What kind of man can they trust with their greatest treasure—their hearts? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Two Suitors for Anna by Molly Jebber — In 1903 Ohio, a young Amish woman must choose between the life she has long planned for with her beloved Noah Schwartz, and a new, very different future… But Noah has a surprise for Anna: once they’re married, he wants them to travel and live in other communities. Anna, who loves her home and her job at the quilt shop, is distraught when he takes her hesitation as rejection—and leaves. Daniel Bontrager’s arrival adds to Anna’s confusion. Since taking over his late brother’s farm, the handsome roofer has offered friendship and gentle attentions. Yet the pull of first love is strong and deep, especially when Noah returns. Through each revelation, Anna must search her faith for guidance, knowing she is choosing not just a husband, but a life to nurture and to share… (Historical Romance from Kensington)

My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas by Erica Vetsch — Journey to Fort Bliss, Texas, where a battle of emotions versus ideals is about to be waged. When a high-steppin’ eastern fashion artist, Priscilla Hutchens, swoops down on the fort to gain custody of her twin niece and nephew she is met with resistance by their uncle, post surgeon Major Elliot Ryder, who thinks he knows what is best for them. Who will win the battle? Or will a truce be called for the sake of love and family? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:

Dead Run by Jodie Bailey — Kristin James’s morning run turns deadly when she’s attacked by a stranger who’s after something her deceased soldier brother stole overseas. Her neighbor Sergeant First Class Lucas Murphy steps in to help her and won’t let her brush the attack under the rug. He’ll do everything he can to keep Kristin alive, but he can’t tell her that he’s under orders to investigate her link to her brother’s misdeeds. Kristin has no idea what the bad guy is after and doesn’t want to believe that her brother wasn’t on the straight and narrow. But as evidence against him piles up, can they catch the criminals without becoming the next casualties? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Justice Delayed by Patricia Bradley — It’s been eighteen years since TV crime reporter Andi Hollister’s sister was murdered. The confessed killer is behind bars, and the execution date is looming. But when a letter surfaces stating that the condemned killer didn’t actually do it, Detective Will Kincaide of the Memphis Cold Case Unit will stop at nothing to help Andi get to the bottom of it. After all, the person who confessed to the crime is Will’s cousin. They have less than a week to find the real killer before the wrong person is executed. But much can be accomplished in one week–including uncovering police corruption, running for your life, and falling in love. (Romantic Suspense from Revell [Baker])

Undercover Protector by Elizabeth Goddard — Undercover at a tiger sanctuary, Special Agent Grayson Wilde is convinced the owner’s involved in a wildlife trafficking ring–until someone tries to kill her. Gemma’s determined to rebuild the tiger oasis she lost when her family died, but someone wants her out of the way, and she’s starting to wonder if her parents’ and uncle’s deaths were really accidental. Grayson says he’ll do anything to protect Gemma, but she can’t shake the feeling that her alluring new volunteer might not be all that he seems. With a vicious criminal closing in, though, she has to trust Grayson…because she won’t survive without him. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Buried Memories by Carol J. Post — A soldier hero suffering from PTSD and a young woman struggling to overcome a traumatic childhood fight for their lives and find healing together. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Still Life by Dani Pettrey — Blacklisted in the photography business over a controversial shot, Avery Tate answered an ad for a crime scene photographer. She expected to be laughed at, but crime scene analyst Parker Mitchell hired her outright–and changed her life. But six months ago, when her feelings for Parker became too strong, she left his employ to sort out her heart. Now, for the first time, Avery is facing the world that rejected her to attend the gallery opening of a photography exhibit and support her best friend, who modeled for the show. But the only image of her friend is a chilling photo of her posing as if dead–and the photographer insists he didn’t take the shot. Worse, her friend can’t be found. She immediately calls Parker for help. As Avery, Parker, and his friends in law enforcement dig into the mystery, they find themselves face-to-face with a relentless and deadly threat. (Romantic Suspense from Bethany House [Baker])

Supernatural Thriller:

Fatal Accusation by Rachel Dylan — Attorney Olivia Murray hopes her life in Windy Ridge will get back to normal after a hard-fought trial. But she soon finds out that the forces of evil have not given up. An embezzling scandal rocks the community church to its core. The New Age groups are ready to declare victory when a high-profile prosecutor files criminal charges against the local pastor. However, Olivia is not willing to give up on the community she’s come to love. She takes on the defense pro bono knowing it could destroy her career, but it’s a case she is called to defend. The battle will be fierce, but she’s not fighting it alone. Her friend and fellow attorney Grant Baxter is by her side. Olivia must use all the tools in her arsenal to combat those who seek to destroy the believers in the community. If Olivia can’t prove the pastor’s innocence, more than her career is on the line. The entire community of Windy Ridge could fall to the forces of darkness. (Supernatural Thriller, Independently Published)

Tags:  ACFW, ACFW Fiction Finder: January New Releases, authors, books, contemporary romance, fiction, historical mystery, historical romance, Julie Arduini, romantic suspense, supernatural thriller




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 Book Review: Lady Blues: Forget-Me-Not by Aaron Paul Lazar  Happy Independence Day!  12 Pearls of Christmas | Day 2 - An Inexpensive New Christmas Tradition by Christy Fitzwater  Saturday Confession: I've Ghosted Before  What's Your Theme Song?Copyright © Julie Arduini [ACFW Fiction Finder: January New Releases], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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2017 Word of the Year: Transformation

Some do resolutions, I do word of the year.

Around September I start praying and watching for confirmation. Sometimes the words come later in the year, and I’ve had them as early as October. That was the case for this year.

The words have been abundance, revive, chosen, preposterous, perspective and fierce. All good.

This year?

2017 word of the year: transformation

Transformation.

And in my innocence, I try to define what the word will mean for me. It’s always so much more than I can imagine. Perspective taught me all 2016 to look beyond what I was feeling. It would have been tempting to go with my gut reaction to the many changes the year brought and make that the period at the end of my sentence. Perspective forced me to have a panoramic view of each change. Fierce I believe was the mindset God had for me, and I had to choose for myself.

So for transformation, I’m already running ahead trying to figure it out.

There’s the superficial.

-Growing my hair out (and the curls, the red curls!)

-Hoping to ditch the glasses and go back to contacts

-Believing my hormones will behave, I’ll find a groove with fitness, and see additional weight loss.

 

There’s the monumental.

-There’s a lot of roles and titles in my life. This year I’m not just step-mom, we will be grandparents. I always separate explaining who is who not because I see a difference between our children and his, but because a lot of people aren’t aware we are actually a family with 4 kids, and they tend to think our 18 year old is the one with the changes. Our 13 year old will be an aunt, and our college boy, and uncle. And my husband is one beaming grandpa-to-be.

 

That’s off the top of my head. I know even this month we’ll learn more that could change things. I have a full, solid, crazy year planned with writing and speaking. Only God knows the changes to come.

Transformation.

That’s my word for the year.

What’s yours?

Tags:  2017 word of the year: transformation, chosen, fierce, Julie Arduini, perspective, pray, preposterous, revive, transformation




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 Book Review: The Day She Died by Bill Garrison  Interviewed by June Foster  Clash of the Titles (COTT)Winner's Announcement by April W. Gardner  Chocolate Peanut Butter Egg Recipe  Being Thankful in Grief by Sara NelsonCopyright © Julie Arduini [2017 Word of the Year: Transformation], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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Ten Years Later

I clearly remember the night. While most people were out for New Year’s, I was staring at the little box on my laptop screen. Clicking the “Create Blog” box in my mind felt as tense as dismantling a bomb.

Around 2006

It was my first act after promising God I was done with fear.

Afraid of what people might think.

Afraid of rejection.

Afraid, afraid, afraid.

I can’t put into words how scary creating that first blog was.

December 31, 2006.

Fast forward, and here we are. A decade later. A blog or two after.

Not afraid.

And so much more.

For years, blogging was my baby. I was content to make that my only writing outlet if that was all God had for me. But it wasn’t. I don’t blog as much as I want to, and I’ve watched blogging popularity ebb and flow as much as my own life has. But I still love it.

2011

I’ve shared parenting journeys from pre school age milestones to teen drama.

Middle school drama to college achievements.

Thirty-something wife and mom to forty-something grandma to-be in 2017.

Seasons of friendships, heartbreak, betrayal, creativity, hardship and mountain views.

Companies wanting my space. And only this year did I agree because I personally use their products and believe in them. I hope you check out iBloom and love them as much as I do.

Oh, and writing.

2016

Anthologies. Gift books. e-How. FaithWriters. ACFW. NaNoWriMo. Spectacular Falls to Entrusted. Entangled. Now, Engaged.

Wow.

I saved the best for last.

You.

I’ve heard from you in comments and on Facebook. Pulled aside at church and through text. E mails. You have been so, so kind.

Let’s keep it going.

Another ten?

Tags:  author, blog, blogaversary, blogger, grandparent, Julie Arduini, parent, reflection, seasons, special needs, ten years, Ten Years later, wife, wordpress, writer




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 FaithWriters Conference August 12-14---You Want to Know More  Featured Video of the Week: Healing Love by Laura V. Hilton  Sabbath Sunday: Promise Fulfilled  What If?  Kick Off Fall with the Books for Life Book Club Featuring EntrustedCopyright © Julie Arduini [Ten Years Later], All Right Reserved. 2016.

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New Kindle or Echo? ENTANGLED eBOOK FREE December 29 & 30

Still taking care of the Christmas wrapping? Trying to figure out how to use your new tablet, Kindle, Echo, or Echo Dot? I have an idea if you’d rather be reading.

ENTANGLED is book two in my Surrendering Time series, and it is compatible with Alexa. That means if you have the Echo or Echo Dot unwrapped and ready, she can read my books to you.

To help make things easy, ENTANGLED is FREE December 29 and 30. Although the sale for ENTRUSTED is over, the price is for your convenience at $2.99 eBook, $7.99 print. Both books are free on Kindle Unlimited.

 

ENTANGLED:Carla Rowling has been given her dream of attending cosmetology school. The gift is so generous she feels unworthy because of choices she made as a teen. The pressure mounts as Carla juggles school, is a single mom, helps her best friend Jenna plan her wedding, spends time with boyfriend Will Marshall, and deals with the fact that her son’s father is back in their lives.

Will Marshall is the one Speculator Falls resident everyone can count on. His truck deliveries are reliable. He’s the first to help friends like Ben Regan with boat work or be a card partner with Bart Davis. Will’s ready to settle down with Carla, loving her is natural. He’s bonded with her son, Noah. But when Carla starts cosmetology school, she puts emotional distance between her and Will.

Can Carla release her past and create a future full of highlights, or, will she burn her options worse than a bad perm?

Thank you for being loyal readers. Here’s believing 2017 will be full of exceptional blessings!

Feel free to share this with your favorite readers!

Tags:  Amazon, Amazon Echo, Amazon Echo Dot, author, Christian fiction, contemporary romance, eBooks, ereader, free, Julie Arduini, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, New Kindle or Echo? ENTANGLED eBOOK FREE December 29 & 30, tablet




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 Book Review: Fervent by Priscilla Shirer  Delia Latham Takes Crown in Latest Staff Clash of the Titles (COTT)  I'm Thankful for My Country by Laura Hodges Poole  Sabbath Sunday: When I See a Cave  Thankful for PerspectiveCopyright © Julie Arduini [New Kindle or Echo? ENTANGLED eBOOK FREE December 29 & 30], All Right Reserved. 2016.

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Amber Schamel: How Veggie Tales Inspired a Biblical Novella

How Veggie Tales Inspired a Biblical Novella

It was a summer evening, I was in the kitchen making dinner while my little siblings (for some odd reason) were watching The Toy That Saved Christmas, a Veggie-Tales movie. My publisher had asked me to write a Christmas story and I was deep in thought wondering what I should write when I suddenly tuned in to what was playing on the screen.

Grandpa George was reading a scripture to Bob, Larry and Buzz-saw Louie. “And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in baby clothes and laid him in a manger.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute, the passage didn’t say baby clothes. In the King James it says swaddling clothes. That got me to thinking, what exactly are swaddling clothes? Are they just baby clothes? Or is there another meaning to them?

I looked up the passage in Luke chapter two and noted that it was mentioned not only once, but twice that Mary wrapped her first-born son in swaddling clothes. So I began my research.

I found out that swaddling clothes did not necessarily mean that Mary and Joseph were poor or destitute. Swaddling clothes were used by people of all classes to wrap a newborn in hopes that it would help their limbs grow straight, as well as calm the babe. But if swaddling clothes were so common during that era, why was it specifically mentioned as a sign to the shepherds of who the Messiah would be? So I searched some more.

Another source said that in the eastern countries they would use a cloth to put between the yoke of an ox, and the ox’s shoulders. When Mary and Joseph were in the barn, they had nothing else to use, so they used this ox’s cloth that was translated as swaddling cloth to wrap the Messiah that would carry the yoke of our sin and bondage.

Many hours and websites later, I emerged armed with a ton of information, four different theories, and a story forming inside my head. So, I guess you could say that my new book The Swaddling Clothes was inspired by a Veggie Tales movie.

The things that inspire people, or give them an idea is very interesting to me.

What are some odd things that have given you an idea or inspiration?

 

  The Swaddling Clothes Synopsis:

Through the ages, many stories have been told about Mary, Joseph and the birth of the Messiah. Stories of shepherds and sheep, kings, angels, and stables. But there is one story that has never been told. One story that has remained hidden in the fabric of time. The story of The Swaddling Clothes.

Mentioned not once, but several times in the Scriptural text, what is the significance of these special cloths? And how did they make their way into a stable in Bethlehem? From the author that brought you the Days of Messiah series comes a whole new adventure critics are calling “intriguing…thought provoking… a fresh twist on an age old story.”

“I get tired of Bible stories sometimes, but The Swaddling Clothes brings the story to life.”

“Heartwarming…truly inspired. A story you will want to read again and again. Rich details and a suspenseful plot will keep you reading while giving you a glimpse of God’s wonderful power and His amazing love.”

Purchase Swaddling Clothes HERE

 

Author Bio:

 

Amber Schamel, author

Author of over half a dozen books, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call “historical fiction at its finest”.  She lives in Colorado and spends half her time volunteering in the Ozarks. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

 

Tags:  Amber Schamel, Amber Schamel: How Veggie Tales Inspired a Biblical Novella, author, baby clothes, Bible, Christmas, Jesus, Julie Arduini, novella, swaddling clothes, The Toy that Saved Christmas, Veggie Tales




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 COTT: Congrats to April's New Release Clash Winner--Sharon Hinck's The Restorer's Son, Expanded Edition  The Benefits of Playing Wii: A Lesson in Encouragement  COTT: It's a Clash Vote!  WFW: The Shot Clock for Fence Sitting is Winding Down  AOC: Take the Bible Challenge with Odyssey Adventure ClubCopyright © Julie Arduini [Amber Schamel: How Veggie Tales Inspired a Biblical Novella], All Right Reserved. 2016.

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New Kindle or Echo? ENTRUSTED Free eBook December 26-28

If your Christmas was like mine, you’re overstuffed on fudge but hungry for books to put on your new tablet or Kindle. I’ve heard many talk about their new Amazon Echo or Echo Dot, and guess what? Alexa can read books to you.

I wanted to end this crazy but amazing year by celebrating. I never thought 2016 would have me publishing books through my new writing and speaking ministry, Surrendered Scribe Media. In May I re released ENTRUSTED and released ENTANGLED. The reviews for Carla’s story on surrendering regret are more than I could have hoped for. That was a HARD book to write, and now I get it. I’m thankful God is using it to help people let go of their past.

So to celebrate these things AND put some FREE reading on your new device, ENTRUSTED eBook is FREE December 26, 27, and 28. Wait, I’m not done. ENTANGLED will be FREE December 29 and 30. Both books are compatible with Alexa.

(Check price first.)

ENTRUSTED:  Jenna Anderson leaves her Ohio hometown for the unknown in Speculator Falls. She’s determined to make her new job as senior center work and become one of the locals.

Ben Regan’s family is the backbone of Speculator Falls and he’s made a vow to protect the rural village. When his grandfather passes away and his former girlfriend leaves without even saying goodbye, Ben’s determined to prevent further transition in his life.

But Jenna produces a lot of change for Ben in a book about surrendering the present fears we have about change and wanting to belong.

ENTANGLED:Carla Rowling has been given her dream of attending cosmetology school. The gift is so generous she feels unworthy because of choices she made as a teen. The pressure mounts as Carla juggles school, is a single mom, helps her best friend Jenna plan her wedding, spends time with boyfriend Will Marshall, and deals with the fact that her son’s father is back in their lives.

Will Marshall is the one Speculator Falls resident everyone can count on. His truck deliveries are reliable. He’s the first to help friends like Ben Regan with boat work or be a card partner with Bart Davis. Will’s ready to settle down with Carla, loving her is natural. He’s bonded with her son, Noah. But when Carla starts cosmetology school, she puts emotional distance between her and Will.

Can Carla release her past and create a future full of highlights, or, will she burn her options worse than a bad perm?

Thank you for being loyal readers. Here’s believing 2017 will be full of exceptional blessings!

 

Feel free to share this with your favorite readers!

 

Tags:  Alexa, Amazon, Christian fiction, contemporary romance, ebook, Echo Dot, Entangled, Entrusted, free ebook, Julie Arduini, Kindle, New Kindle or Echo? ENTRUSTED Free eBook December 26-28. Echo, readers, Surrendered Scribe Media




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 Sabbath Sunday: Be a Firework  12 Pearls of Christmas | Day 3 - Who is Mr. Carbunkle? by Debora M. Coty  SMITTEN BOOK CLUB | KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY, FACEBOOK PARTY, AND SATURDAY BRUNCH  Spinning Tires: My Miscarriage Story  OAC: Win a Trip to See the Newsboys in Dallas!Copyright © Julie Arduini [New Kindle or Echo? ENTRUSTED Free eBook December 26-28], All Right Reserved. 2016.

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