Friday, September 13, 2024

"Bloom in Your Winter Season" by Deborah Malone (with 23 contributing authors) -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: Bloom in Your Winter Season

Author: Deborah Malone with 23 Contributing Authors

Genre: Bible Study

Release Date: April, 2024

Deborah’s latest book, Bloom in Your Winter Season, encourages women that God can use them and their strengths, talents, wisdom, and knowledge in their mature season of life. Written with twenty-four different authors, also in their silver season, Deborah created a unique concept that combines scripture reading, reflection and application questions. Previous books in the series are Blooming in Broken Places, and Bloom Where You Are Bible study.

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

1. Why did you choose to write non-fiction? Let’s just say it chose me. I had been
writing fiction for years. I had six Christian Cozy Mysteries and was working on
my seventh when I was led to write my story, “Blooming in Broken Places.” I’d
been asked over the years to write it, but I wasn’t ready at the time. During the
writing of my seventh mystery, I received a “gentle nudge” to write Blooming. I
had never written non-fiction and was literally afraid to try. I put the word our for
someone to co-write it with me. The lady I chose told me I needed to write it
because it was my story but that she would help mentor me. Julie Morris was true
to her word and helped me every step of the way. I went from being afraid to write
non-fiction to winning Georgia Author of the Year 2018 in Inspiration Category.
God was with me!

2. Why did you choose to write about this particular topic? I wrote “Bloom in Your Winter
Season,” because I’m in my winter season�� I felt there was a need “seasoned”
women to see examples from the Bible where God used “seasoned” women in
mighty ways. Anna, Elizabeth and Lois are just a few examples we have. As my
friend and mentor, Babbie Mason says, “God did not stamp an expiration date on
our forehead.” He can and will use us until our last breath. I wanted to encourage
other women to be mighty Winter Warriors for God!

3. What is your writing area like? Messy. No, really, it is pretty well organized. I have turned
an extra bedroom into a small office and writing area. I also conduct Bible Studies online,
so I have it decorated in the background for when I am on live. However, it can get messy
at times – the papers tend to pile up.

4. How do you balance writing time with other things? I’ve never been one to write on a
schedule. I didn’t have to do that with my publisher, so I was able to write when I wanted
or needed to. However, now that I am spending more time on marketing than writing it is
a little harder to balance. Marketing is a must, and it can take up a lot of time. I’m still
working on the balancing part.

5. What types of research do you do? My cozy mysteries were all researched on site. I
went to the towns they are set in and visited many of the places I write about. I
would take hundreds of pictures, and interview people who lived in the area. I
would also use maps, tourist material, etc. Anything that would give me more
information about the area. Even though my mysteries were fiction, all the
settings were real. As far as my Bible Studies, I used the Bible to study the
women and also used information on the computer. I have several books on
women in the Bible that are my go-to books for learning about them individually.

6. How long does the researching stage usually take? For my mysteries it might take a few
months. As far as the research for my non-fiction I conduct research throughout the
process of writing the book.

7. Was there anything you found particularly interesting while researching? Studying the
women of the Bible who I presented in my book “Bloom in Your Winter Season”
was eye-opening. I’d heard of all the names of these faithful ladies but did not
know them up close and personal. After studying them more intimately I grew to
know them on a deeper level. This helped me to grow in my winter season as
well.

8. Do you think reading helps you with writing? I tell people I came out of the womb reading.
And I believe that! I can’t remember a time I didn’t love to read. I really do believe that for
me, my love of reading morphed into my love of writing. And from talking with other
writers I think this is a very common thing to happen.

9. What is different about writing non-fiction vs fiction? To put it simply they are two
completely different animals. You really must learn how to write both genres.

More from Deborah

Deborah received Georgia Author of the Year Award 2018 in Inspiration Category for her book Blooming in Broken Places. Her companion workbook, Bloom Where You Are, was runner-up in the prestigious Selah Awards 2023 in Bible Study Category. Deborah is a certified Advanced Writers and Speakers Association Power Speaker. She is a member of the Georgia Writers Association, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and American Christian Fiction Writers. Deborah lives in the North Georgia mountains with her husband, Travis.

More from Deborah

Deborah’s latest book, Bloom in You Winter Season, encourages women that God can use them and their strengths, talents, wisdom, and knowledge in their mature season of life. Written with twenty-four different authors, also in their silver season, Deborah created a unique concept that combines scripture reading, reflection and application questions.

Welcome to the Winter Warriors club. A club made up of “seasoned” women who have a desire to give their heart to Abba even during the phases of their winter season. Maybe you’ve been going through changes that have you discouraged and ready to throw in the towel.

Change is inevitable: hearing aids, eyeglasses, and a knee replacement are just a few I’ve already experienced. Not to mention the changes to my body shape and style – yikes! Maybe you’ve been through some of these changes, too. If we dwell too long on the inevitable, it can be easy to get discouraged and want to just sit down and give up.

In this study you will be treated to twenty-four devotions by “seasoned” authors who continue to be active for the Lord in many ways – large or small – it is all for God’s glory.

You will hear me saying often: “God did not stamp an expiration date on our forehead.” While studying these women from the Bible, you will discover that God can and will use you even in your winter season.

As my friend Beth says, “There’s only one alternative to growing old.” And we all know what that is – something we will all have to face eventually, but until then, let’s make a pact to grow old as “seasoned” women being Winter Warriors for our Abba!

Blog Stops

Godly Book Reviews, September 7

Divine Perspective, September 8

Artistic Nobody, September 9 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 9

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 10

Girls in White Dresses, September 11

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 12

Blossoms and Blessings, September 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 15

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 16 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, September 17

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 18

A Reader’s Brain, September 19 (Author Interview)

She Lives to Read, September 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Deborah is giving away the grand prize package of a $30 Amazon gift card and the winner’s choice of one of Deborah’s books!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5434

"Winning the Mountain Man's Love" by Misty M. Beller

About the Book

Book: Winning the Mountain Man’s Love (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch, Book 5)

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: September 3, 2024

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

As the second brother of six, Jonah Coulter has no shortage of family, yet he’s more than ready to find a woman who doesn’t see him as her second choice. Haunted by the loss of his sister Lucy and the rejection of his former fiancée, he sets out to find the aunt of a lost child his family has taken in. Maybe reuniting the girl with her only remaining family will give him the purpose he craves.

After fleeing her past and the man who killed her late husband, Patience Whitman has reinvented herself in the untamed Montana Territory. Relying on her gambling skills to survive, she’s determined to earn enough to buy the life she dreams of—a bit of land and a home of her very own, far enough away from people that she can finally find peace. But then a man shows up in town searching for her and says his family has taken in her niece, Patsy’s perfectly laid plans go awry. If Anna really is here in the Montana Territory, Patience can’t abandon the only family she has left.

As Jonah and Patsy navigate the treacherous landscape of their pasts and little Anna’s future, they must confront their deepest fears and learn to trust each other. But when Patsy’s dangerous past catches up to them, they must risk everything to claim the happily ever after they both crave.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain family saga filled with high stakes adventure, a surprise guardianship, and love that heals wounded hearts.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

It was nice to finally get Jonah's story. I liked Jonah and was glad that he found someone who chose him. There are twists I didn't expect that kept things interesting. I found the book to be well written and easy to read. There is a nice biblical faith thread which I appreciated. It was fun to be reunited with characters from the previous books. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author with over 1 million books old. She writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

More from Misty

A glimpse into our heroine’s world

In Winning the Mountain Man’s Love, Patience’s work as a gambler in the mining town Missoula Mills plays a significant role in shaping her character and her journey. But what was the reality of gambling in this time and place?

During the 1870s, the Montana Territory was a wild, untamed land, attracting adventurers, miners, and those seeking to make their fortune by profiting from the miners. With the influx of men and money, gambling became a prevalent pastime and a lucrative business. Saloons, gaming houses, and even street corners became hubs for various games of chance, including poker, faro, and dice.

For many, gambling offered a quick path to wealth, but it also led to addiction, debt, and desperation. The lack of regulation and high stakes often attracted unsavory characters, making the gambling scene a dangerous and unpredictable world.

Women like Patience, who found themselves caught up in this world, faced even greater challenges. They were often viewed as mere entertainers or worse, and their involvement in gambling was seen as a mark of moral failure. However, for some women, gambling provided a means of survival in a society that offered few opportunities for financial independence.

Despite the risks and the societal stigma, gambling continued to thrive in the Montana Territory throughout the 1870s. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that anti-gambling laws and reformers began to push back against the pervasive gaming culture.

Thankfully, Patience didn’t have to wait so long to leave the gambling world behind her, but that life certainly left its mark on her. I won’t share any spoilers, but I pray you enjoy Patience and Jonah’s story in Winning the Mountain Man’s Love!

Blessings!

Misty

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 3

Melissa’s Bookshelf, September 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 4

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 5

Truth and Grace HomeschoolAcademy, September 6

Devoted To Hope, September 6

Lighthouse Academy Blog, September 7 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Texas Book-aholic, September 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 9

lakesidelivingsite, September 10

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 10

Books You Can Feel Good About, September 11

Stories By Gina, September 12 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 12

Blossoms and Blessings, September 13

Holly’s Book Corner, September 14

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 14

Cover Lover Book Review, September 15

An Author’s Take, September 16

Pause for Tales, September 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5430/

Saturday, August 31, 2024

"Fugitive Search" by Dana Mentink

About the Book

Book: Fugitive Search (Security Hounds Book 2)

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Christian Fiction

Release date: August 20, 2024

A murderer out for revenge…

who is closer than they think.

When the man who killed her father is finally arrested, Catherine Hart thinks it’s safe to come out of hiding…until he escapes and abducts her. But private investigator Garrett Wolfe and his tracking dog rescue her just in time. Now they must work together to escape the criminal on their heels, find Catherine’s kidnapped uncle and stop her sister from walking straight into the fugitive’s path. But when their search yields more questions, can Catherine and Garrett survive the terrifying truth?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

I found this book well written and easy to read. The book flowed well and was a fast read. I liked the good biblical faith thread and the lessons learned. I loved being back at Security Hounds and seeing the dogs and people we met in the previous books. I look forward to getting more stories about the other siblings and their dogs as well as other books by Dana Mentink.

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion. She’s written over fifty titles in the suspense, lighthearted romance and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Poisoned Pen Press.

More from Dana

After dreaming up Wally, the supremely naughty bloodhound, in book one of the Security Hounds series, I didn’t think the next fictional dog could possibly compete in the personality department. Surprise! Pinkerton, the stalwart bloodhound companion to Garrett Wolfe, scrambled onto the scene and into my heart. His faithful dedication and selflessness make up for the streams of slobber he leaves everywhere. He’s also instrumental in solving the latest case complete with twists, turns, and an ending you won’t see coming. (I hope!)

Enjoy this next installment in the series and look out for more bloodhounds in the next three books!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 20

Lily’s Corner, August 20

The Avid Reader, August 21

She Lives To Read, August 21

Life on Chickadee Lane, August 22

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 22

Devoted To Hope, August 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 23

Stories By Gina, August 24

Texas Book-aholic, August 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 25

Betti Mace, August 26

EmpowerMoms, August 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 27

Blogging With Carol, August 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 28

Because I said so- adventures in parenting, August 29

Simple Harvest Reads, August 29 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, August 30

Blossoms and Blessings, August 31

Labor Not in Vain, August 31

Holly’s Book Corner, September 1

Pause for Tales, September 1

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, September 2

Lights in a Dark World, September 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize package of a $75 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5419

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

Saturday, August 24, 2024

" Unison Parenting" by Cecil Taylor -- Epic Book Launch

About the Book

Book: Unison Parenting: The Comprehensive Guide to Navigating Christian Parenthood with

One Voice

Author: Cecil Taylor

Genre: Parenting/Family, more specifically Christian Parenting

Release date: September 17, 2024

Singing in unison is when all voices sing the same note, at the same time, to emphasize the text.

Similarly, families need to parent in unison to emphasize the message they want to send to their

children.

Cecil Taylor uses his personal parenting experience, and those of the families he’s taught and

ministered to over decades, to create unique foundational strategies for unison parenting within a

Christian context. Learn how to stay on the same page throughout the trials of parenting, provide

children with a solid faith foundation, and balance loving nature with firm boundaries to create a

warm, stable environment where the child and parent can eventually collaborate to bring the

child to full, responsible adulthood.

Whether in a traditional or nontraditional family structure, Unison Parenting leads parents

through the ages and stages of childhood into mature adulthood. Additionally, Cecil lays out

parenting fundamentals to manage your child’s growing need for independence during their teen

years, while gradually building trust through incremental decision-making.

Book Excerpt

In my view, a child doesn’t need a mobile phone until they are of an age to be somewhere
unsupervised, where they need to be able to call their parents if needed (e.g., after an
extracurricular activity). It wasn’t very persuasive to me that other kids owned mobile phones.
(A mother from my parenting classes wrote me, “Your lessons helped us realize that it was ok to
say ‘no’ when other parents would say ‘yes’ or ‘they are just being teens.’ ”)
Our family policy was that we would purchase a cell phone for the child when they began
driving. However, the child was allowed to purchase their own cell phone and pay their share of
service on the family plan anytime from sixth grade onward.
I used a spreadsheet with our children to calculate the cost of a mobile phone. Their sources
of money at a young age included gifts, allowances, and paid chores. We estimated how much
money they spent on things like candy or video games. Then they could see the impact of a
mobile phone. Every one of my children decided to delay the purchase of a cell phone until later;
as I recall, they all waited until eighth grade.

Missed Any Excerpts, Go Here

Excerpt One: https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/unison-parenting-epic-book-launch/
Excerpt Two: http://kid-lit.library-lady.blog/epic-book-launch-and-excerpt-unison-parenting-non-fiction/
Excerpt Three: https://www.guildmaster97.com/posts/unison-parenting-epic-book-launch-excerpt/
Excerpt Four: https://www.simpleharvestreads.com/posts/unison-parenting-epic-book-launch/
Excerpt Five: https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/2024/08/celebrate-lits-presents-unison.html
Excerpt Six: https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/2024/08/unison-parenting-by-cecil-taylor-epic.html
Excerpt Seven: https://storiesbygina.com/2024/08/31/unison-parenting-epic-book-launch-with-celebrate-lit-publicity/

About the Author

With more than 30 years’ experience as an adult Sunday School teacher and as many in youth

ministry, Cecil Taylor has impacted lives in local churches throughout his adult life. He founded

Cecil Taylor Ministries to broaden that impact, teaching Christians to live a 7-day practical faith

through books, video studies, and speaking engagements. His ministry is cross-denominational,

focused on the common struggle Christians face in putting their faith into practice and applying

scripture and faith principles to life situations.

Cecil has written three previous books, all of which have been awarded across international,

national, and regional contests. For each book, Cecil has created a study guide, a video study,

and downloadable free leader guides.

"Guess Who Is in God’s Family" by Karen Ferguson - Author Interview

About the Book

Book: Guess Who Is in God’s Family

Author: Karen Ferguson

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Release date: June 24, 2024

When Lucy comes across some old family pictures, she has a lot of questions for Papa Joe.

Who are these people?
Why doesn’t she look like them?

As Papa Joe tells Lucy about her family, he shares with her the uniqueness that God created in each of us from the very beginning, all the way back to our first ancestors, Adam and Eve.

What follows is a wild adventure through the Bible, where Lucy and her papa discover God’s love and faithfulness for all people throughout all of history.

In this second book in the Questions for Kids series, discover how much God loves diversity and how God created your family in the most beautiful and perfect way.

Click here to get you copy!

Author Interview

1. What is your writing space like?
My writing space is very humble. My husband and I relocated to Tennessee from
the Pacific Northwest in 2021, and what we gained in a larger yard, we lost in
square footage inside our home. But that’s fine by us, it suits us really well in this
new season as empty nesters. My writing space is in our bedroom. My husband
also works from home and we wanted to keep a spare room for hosting, so that
was the only room left. Thankfully it’s large enough to manage normal bedroom
furnishings, plus a very large desk for my computer and writing tools. Now all I
need is to figure out a better way to organize all the papers, books, and other
items lying unorganized atop my desk. While I prefer to write without clutter, it
rarely happens that way.

2. When did you become a writer?
Writing has been a part of my work life for 20 years in different forms. I’ve
written in the higher education sector, for employee training, and in business
communications. I’ve also entered a few fiction contests over the years. But it
wasn’t until 2017 that I self-published my first book, a twenty-one day wellness
devotional. When I considered publishing a children’s book, I knew I would want
to go the traditional route because of the illustrations. I needed access to a high-
quality illustrator that could properly bring this story to life for young readers,
and I figured the best way for that would be through a publisher. I ended up
going the hybrid route with Ambassador International and published the first
book in 2022 with the second one just releasing, and more on the way. It’s such
a blessing to work with a knowledgeable team of creatives, and the illustrator is
absolutely amazing!

3. How long does it usually take you to write a book?
When it comes to adult fiction, I’ll have to let you know as I’m still working on my
first one ;) For my picture book series, the idea came to me rather quickly and
somewhat effortlessly. I had thrown around a few ideas for a book series, but
was given both inspiration and confirmation at a writer’s conference I attended
in 2018. For two years, I revisited that idea every once in a while, until my
husband finally convinced me to sit down and complete the first book and send
out query letters. The first book took me about two months of consistent
research, writing, and editing. Fast forward to 2023, and I gave myself three
months to write and polish the second manuscript before sending it to my
publisher.

4. What is your work schedule/routine when you write?
In this season of life, with two beautiful grandkids close by, my writing work
schedule is very flexible. Family is the most important part of my life, and I’m
grateful to invest time and energy into them without feeling pressured to
produce, produce, produce. Do I have dreams and desires to write more, enter
more contests, and publish more books? You bet! But in this season, I’m ok with
prayerfully picking and choosing what to work on, as I remain accessible to my
family. So as you might imagine, I don’t have a hard writing routine right now,
but on most days it looks like working through my to-do list, usually between the
hours of 10am and 4pm.

5. Do bits of yourself/friends show up in your characters?
Oh, yes! I have a fictional memoir that is still sitting in my desk that needs
attention, and that includes me as the main character with friends and family. In
my children’s book series, the main character Lucy is a combination of several
people, including a little bit of myself as a child, minus the fiery red hair. I was
one of those kids with a ton of energy and questions about everything. And if I
felt comfortable with someone, then boy could I talk! I’m still that way. �� Pap
Joe is modeled after my own dad who went home to be with the Lord in
2019—shiny red scooter and all!

About the Author

Karen Ferguson is a freelance writer and children’s book author with a background in K-8 education. A grateful wife, mom, and grandmom she is passionate about writing stories that grab and hold young readers’ attentions, while teaching them all about God’s unchangeable truths, and His unchanging love for them. She wants every child to know their life matters. Her first children’s book, Guess How Much God Loves You, was published through Ambassador International in 2022. Now a seven book series, her newest book, Guess Who Is in God’s Family is scheduled to release June 2024.

More from Karen

Did you know the cherubim that guard the Garden of Eden have four faces – that of an ox, human, lion, and eagle? You’ll find their description in Ezekiel 10:14, and it’s quite different from most angels you’ll see in traditional children’s books. But you will see them beautifully illustrated in this second installment in the Questions for Kids picture book series, all about the First Family in the Garden of Eden.

You see, my mission from the very beginning has been to present accurate biblical accounts to young readers that are foundational to increasing their understanding of the Bible and growing a solid faith in God. Kids are bombarded with so many counterfeit messages these days that contradict the Bible, and it’s leaving them confused and hopeless. Is truth relative? Absolutely not! The real Truth lies in God’s Word, and I am grateful to play a part in counteracting the lies of our culture by presenting Truths straight from the Bible, in a fun and dynamic way.

In this book (and book series), you won’t find a regurgitation of Bible facts (that never worked for me as a child). Rather, you’ll find a young girl with many questions about God and life, much like our own children and grandchildren. And you’ll find her loving grandpa who is happy to answer those questions by pointing her to the Word of God. Their adventures into unique periods in Bible history, driven by some serious 7-year old questions, will help pull young readers into the narrative and connect the Bible to their world. It’ll also open doors to faith-building conversations with parents, grandparents, caregivers, and teachers.

The hardest part of writing these books? Keeping it short enough to fit into the picture book category ;).

I pray you and your young reader will be blessed as you journey with Lucy and her Papa Joe into the Bible to discover God’s power, His faithfulness, and His never-ending love.