Readers Comment About 'Acts of Faith' Series

Marsha writes:

Besides the Bible. I believe The Centurion's Wife is the best book I have ever read. I felt like Jesus was sitting beside me while I read it. I could picture everything that was happening in the book. I have shared my excitement with everyone I have been around. I will be sharing it with my Women's group next week. It's a must read for everyone! I even told my 16 yr. old son he needed to read it! Thanks so much!

Dear Marsha,

It certainly was delightful to read your lovely email, and I am so grateful for your note and all the warm enthusiasm behind your words. Though I have to tell you, I'm not certain a sixteen year old young man would find The Centurion's Wife to be as hot a read as you apparently have. If I could suggest an alternative, perhaps your son might enjoy another recent book of mine more – My Soul To Keep and Heartland are the two that come to mind.

Marion writes:

When I tried to download The Centurion's Wife, Amazon.com wouldn't let me download it [saying that I don't have an account with them]. However that seems to have changed and now I've just downloaded it from Amazon UK and am looking forward to reading it very much.

You are my very first download! I thought that it might be worth mentioning that on your blog in case any other of your UK contacts had had the same experience and given up.

Dear Marion,

It's so very good to hear from you, though I'm sorry to learn of your downloading trial. So glad you managed to work things out. Honored to be your first download, hope it proves a delightful entry into the world of e-reading.

Megan writes:

I just finished reading The Hidden Flame and I loved it, I couldn't put it down. But I was writing to tell you of an error in the book. Twice in the book Leah's name was used when I believe is was supposed to be Abigail's. I wasn't sure if you knew about these or not but just in case they are still printing the book I thought it could be easily fixed.

First in chapter one when Abigail and Jacob are headed to the alley and the soldiers are just showing up. Page 19 in my book.

2nd in chapter 41 when Linux gives Abigail the letter from Leah. Page 390 in my book.

Dear Megan,

Thank you so much for your email. It never fails to astonish when a reader such as yourself comes upon an error in the typeset. By the time the manuscript arrives at this stage, it has been read by three editors and three proofreaders and myself (a minimum of seven times) and Janette (ditto). Even so, such errors do slip by. We are so grateful, all of us, for your keen eye, and for taking the time to alert us.

Most of all, though, I am delighted to learn that you enjoyed the story.

A reader writes:

My book club of about 12-14 ladies, read The Hidden Flame and everyone loved it. Our name is "Inspirations from Christian Fiction". Now we will probably do one of the other ones in a couple months. We meet the 4th Tuesday of every month at 1:00pm, rain or shine! Thank you for allowing God to use your talents for His glory!

My Response:

Thank you so much for this delightful note. If your group decides to read another of my works, perhaps you would enjoy having me 'join' you by either phone or Skype. Right now we are planning such chats for next winter.  Just something to think about. In any case, I'm so pleased to learn that you enjoyed the story.

Angel writes:

I want to thank you for writing this story. I have struggled with the story of Lazarus since I've heard it in the church sermon, I've always struggled with the part about how Jesus knows everything yet when he heard that Lazarus died, "he wept."

When I read Martha' version of Lazarus' death of how all hope was lost then Jesus came and how she "believes his entire life has been spent setting an example. His every instant was meant to bring eternity into the moment and hope to this fallen world. That he did this not only for us, but for everyone who witnessed that day and for those who hear of it. He did this to show that even in the darkest hour, when there is no reason to go forward, no possibility of a better tomorrow, he is there to comfort, to guide, to heal. He brings with him the gift of hope.

Impossible, glorious, joyful hope"…. WOW! I had to reread and reread it again because it was such an eye opener for me. Amazing! How great is our God to do such a thing for us…What Amazing love!

Dear Angel,

This is such a beautiful note. I can't tell you how much it means, to feel as though our work might have helped you make peace with what for you has been a difficult passage of the Scriptures.

I have to tell you, the same thing happened for me in the creation of these three stories. It was one reason why we focused on this particular section. Too often I have felt as though books about the Gospels got to that point of the resurrection and just started racing for the end. But there is so much glory here, so many new beginnings.

So while my own passage problem was not yours, the end result has been the same – a growing closer through the shared experience. Fiction can be such a great instrument for good, and growth, and healing. If only there were more such books to read. I am a voracious reader, I am famished for such stories.