Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help

Interview with Rita Gerlach

2012-01-29T15:30:00.000-05:00

Author Rita Gerlach

RitaGerlach is the author of new release "Before the Scarlet Dawn" published by Abingdon Press.

I metRita Gerlach through ACFW and when I was searching for colonial era booksseveral years ago. She was kind enoughto send me copies of her works during a time when I was very ill and I was sotouched by her generosity. We are alsoboth members of HisWriters, those who have either published or planned workswith European characters. Rita is also a member of Colonial American ChristianWriters and a contributor to the Colonial Quills group blog.

Rita,welcome to Overcoming Through Time – With God’s Help.

Wouldyou share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had toovercome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one ofyour characters has had to get past?

I don’twant to give away critical moments in my newest release, Before the ScarletDawn, but Eliza is perhaps the one character that has faced the most tragicmoments of any of my characters in the series (Daughters of the Potomac.) That is not to say that Darcyand Sarah face horrific events, but Eliza is the springboard to the series. Lifewas good for her after she married Hayward, but from the time he is called awayto fight in the Revolution tragedy plagues her life. Like a snowball rollingdownhill each builds on the other. Soon she faces the fact that the only sourceof getting through them is God. In order to ‘overcome’ them, she has to trustthat He will take care of her and those she loves, no matter how dire thesituation.

Whatis your favorite bible verse and why?

Revelation 21:4

AndGod shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: forthe former things are passed away.

Why? AsI watched my dear father suffer over a year’s period from Alzheimer’s, hisdecline and passing caused me to press into my Savior for comfort and reflecton the briefly of life. This verse sums it all up. What we will be given in theend, when He finally establishes His Kingdom, is everlasting peace and joy. Theloss of our loved ones is but a temporary separation. What happiness we willhave when the last enemy to be destroyed is death, and that there will be nomore sorrow or crying or pain. He will make all things new.

DisabilityFriendliness:

Isthis latest release available in audio format or do you have any other worksavailable on audio?

Sadly itis not. I look forward to the day when audio books will become a normal part ofthe publishing process. For now it is expensive for publishers to put books inaudio, and they have to be extremely selective. (CFP: I believe the Kindle version will have audio capability because the PDF converted document has this function.)

Surrender the Wind cover

Whathas been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from yourbooks and why?

That when everything is said and done, in the end it all turns outall right. Love is the cohesive bond that helps us face adversity. For example,the message in my novel Surrender the Wind is wrapped up in fidelity andforgiveness, and the surrendering to our Creator those winds that shove andbatter us. In the Daughters of the Potomac Series my hope is readerswill see circumstances that relate to their own lives.

As author Marylu Tyndall put it in her review of Before the Scarlet Dawn:

It isabout a woman who so desperately wants her husband to love her that she goes togreat lengths to please him. Perhaps many women out there can relate. The storybrings many questions to one's mind about marriage and commitment. . .

Asyou researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touchedyour heart?

Thisquestion brings me back to the new series. Most of my research I do as I amwriting the novels. But before I began I read a book called ‘White Cargo:The Forgotten History of Britain’s White Slaves in America’ by Don Jordanand Michael Walsh, that touched me deeply about the horrific white slave tradethat took place in the 18^th century, where men, women, and childrenwere kidnapped in England and sold into indentured servitude in the Colonies.

Inthis latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, ortherapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

This isan interesting question. I’ve always believed good storytelling can have ahealing effect. I see this mainly in Christian and inspirational fiction. Thegoal of my writing is to give readers a respite from the hectic world we livein. Sometimes immersing in a good book helps us escape the troubles we arefacing and easy our anxiety.

Thankyou Rita for agreeing to answer these questions. Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Thankyou, Carrie, for the privilege of this interview!

GIVEAWAY: A copy of one of Rita's books - your choice!

Christians Recovering from Trauma

2012-01-28T12:30:00.000-05:00

We have wrapped up our Susan May Warren week. In her interview, Susan shared how she and her family survived assault and robbery while serving the Lord in Russia. Why does this traumatic stuff happen? I don't know. We can only trust God and let Him work it out for us. But what can we do to cooperate with that process? As Christians we need to turn to God, pray, search His word, and follow His directions. One of my favorite resources is Blackaby's book - Experiencing God. Christian Book Distributors list of Henry Blackaby resources also includes other great titles.

Recovering from trauma is much like dealing with death. There are many stages you have to go through to get to a healing point or even a "living with it" point. I highly recommend that people find a Christian psychologist to help them talk about their experiences. Be sure whatever therapist you see has a background treating survivors. While God can certainly use anybody to deliver a message, we do well to to seek out a fellow believer for counseling.

A newer and promising treatment, particularly with our wounded warrior veterans, is the use of neurobiofeedback or neurotherapy. EEGInfo is a great online resource that explains about neurobiofeedback and also has links to providers.

Psychiatrists can also prescribe medications to help deal with the initial severe emotional reactions such as depression and anxiety. The need for medications for reaction to trauma typically is short term. There are antidepressants, for instance, that are more suited to briefer periods of use (such as bereavement).

Mindfulness - being aware of what situations triggers PTSD reactions is important. God can heal the broken-hearted and He can make these hurtful memories and images lessen. For some it is almost instantaneous but for most it takes time. Hypervigilance is another issue that resolves with God's help, in time.

Bibliotherapy - Look for Christian books that have a hero or heroine who are addressing their recovery from trauma. This is one reason I include this element in my reviews.

We will be discussing PTSD again in future posts.

Our winner this week will be announced later this evening.

What about you? Have you survived trauma and how has God pulled you through?

Carrie Fancett Pagels' Reviews "The Great Christmas Bowl" by Susan May Warren

2012-01-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren

The Great Christmas Bowl

By Susan May Warren

(Tyndale House, 2009)

Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

This is the review I posted on CBD:

I wouldstrongly suggest that you pick up a copy of this book and hide somewhere andread it without interruption. A great read! This will get you into theChristmas spirit and help you focus on the real reason for the season. Ms.Warren has a great author's voice and a wonderful style. A good example of whyshe is an award-winning author. I was trying to stay away from the CBD boxwhere this book was waiting but I grabbed it and stayed up late and read thisbook all the way through. Order it now!

I loved this book and would re-read it. The setting is great because it is in what Icall the “frozen tundra” of northern Minnesota. A place where football is almost a religion. No, that would be hockey,sorry! Susan May Warren is an unabashedfootball freak with an almost empty nest. This wonderful and funny book makes me wonder if it is somewhat autobiographical.

I loved loved loved the trout costume thatthe heroine, a mother whose family seems to have left her hanging in the wind,ends up wearing when the gentleman who is the mascot is unable to continue hisduties. Susie totally captures the fanaticismfor sports and the “feel” of living up north. I felt like I had gone home for Christmas when I read this (instead ofbeing in bed very ill unable to go to the grocery store much less travelanywhere.) And if you are dealing with “churchladies” who overstep their bounds and the staff who interprets your “maybe” as “YES!!!!I WILL DO IT ALL!!!” then you will recognize some of the characters in this book. I ended up mailing this to a bunch of people I enjoyed it so much.

The Great Christmas Bowl is available throughAmazon, CBD, and other vendors.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment for a chance to win any one of Susan's books this week.

Guest Review of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Susan May Warren

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Baby, It's Cold Outside cover, Summerside Press

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"

By: Susan May Warren
Summerside Press, 2011

Reviewed by: Julie Lippo

I had never read a book by Susan May Warren before. I read it on Nook color. Before I received the book I had attended a chat party hosted by Author Susan May Warren and was intrigued by the storyline.

Susan May Warren's book "Baby It's Cold Outside", is a book that I really can relate to. I grew up in Northern Minnesota where blizzards are very common. In the book it talks about having a storm shelter, which I had never heard of. We did have something similar in the 1970's - we would put a "helping hand" poster/picture on our window letting children know that this was a safe house if they needed help just the same as having a Storm Shelter. Children walking to and from school could find shelter if there was a blizzard or other people if the temperatures were extremely cold and needed to come in out of the dangerous weather.

In this story Dottie's home becomes the Shelter from The Storm where four others have managed to come in out of the blizzard. Will Dottie believe in Christmas again, will she learn to let go of the past? Will Violet learn the true meaning of why Jake is really there to see her? Will Gordon who is Dottie's neighbor finally tell her the truth? And Arnie, the little boy who comes in from the storm, learns something as well. Will all of them learn to believe in miracles, love, and to learn to let go of the past? Will these broken hearted strangers learn to trust and love again and to believe in the spirt of Christmas? Find out in Baby It's Cold Outside!!

Susan has written a story that is so vivid I felt like I was in Dottie's home with all of them and feeling God's love all around me from His loving arms and with Jake, Gordon, Violet, Arnie as well as Dottie herself. Susan truly has a gift from God to bring us such a heartwarming story!! This is an author that you will not want to miss reading. I am so glad that I found her.

Thanks for the guest post, Julie! This book is available as a paperback or Kindle through Amazon and paperback through Christian Book Distributors as well as other vendors.

GIVEAWAY: We are giving away a copy of one of Susan's books this week. Leave a comment to enter in the drawing.

Teresa Mathews Reviews The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren

2012-01-25T20:00:00.000-05:00

The Shadow of Your Smile, by Susan May Warren

The Shadow of Your Smile

By Susan May Warren
(Tyndale House, 2011)

Review by Teresa Mathews

4Stars~ ****

This book introduces us to Noelle and Eli Hueston,married couple of 25 years, parents to three children. It seems that Noelle andEli have grown apart because of a tragic event that forever changed theirlives. I would go into detail but since it is the reason behind all of the paineach character has endured I won’t.

Noelle, a 46 year old wife and mother that has finallycome to the end of her rope with life, has decided to make a life changing decision but beforeshe can act on it another tragedy or maybe not a tragedy at all, strikes. On aroad trip she stops at a coffee shop and while in the restroom a robbery takesplace. Hoping she can get out of the store without getting hurt she makes a runfor it and takes a nasty fall and as a result she loses her memory. Noelle notonly forgets her name, she forgets everything from the last 25 years. She wakesup from a coma and thinks she is still a young beautiful college co-ed. She isSHOCKED to find she has the body of a 46 year old. I have to say this part hadme laughing out loud. Noelle is even more shocked to find out she is“supposedly” married to a totally “grumpy old man” who is trying to convinceher that she is also a mother. The two young men in her room seem very nice andthey are handsome but she cannot remember anything about them. Will Noelle gether memory back? Will she ever remember the good times she had with Eli beforeher world fell apart?

Eli, the former sheriff of Deep Haven, a beautifulsnow covered town in Minnesota, has pretty much given up on his marriage. After“the event” happened, he has lived in guilt for what he thinks was his fault,after all he was the sheriff and it was his job to protect. Eli has tried tofind solace in a lot of different things to ease the pain but nothing exceptthe friendship he has with another woman has seemed to work. He knows this isnot what he should be doing but again out of guilt of what happened he hastaken their friendship further than he should. When Eli gets the call thatNoelle was in a town several hours away from home and has had an accident, herushes to the hospital to be with her. To say he is shocked when Noelle doesn’tremember him would be putting it mildly, but for her not to remember her childrenwas almost more than he could take. Will Eli finally realize the solace hisheart has been looking has been right here with his wife the whole time?

There are several secondary characters that Susan doesa good job telling their story and how their lives play out. Especially Noelleand Eli’s children, in fact I would love for there to be a sequel based ontheir oldest son’s story. (Hint Hint)

This is a story that will make you think about “whatif”. I’m sure we have all had those moments, especially if something tragic hashappened to us, a loved one or a friend. “What if” we could turn back the clockto another time? Would our lives really be better? Shouldn’t we just begrateful for what the Lord has given us? Yes! “In everything give thanks: forthis is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Susan May Warren did an excellent job of making youthink while reading this book. Thank you Susan for making me stop to rememberhow thankful I am for my wonderful husband of almost 25 years (April 11) and myfamily. I can’t wait to read your next book!

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment for a drawing later in the week!

Heiress by Susan Mary Warren

2012-01-24T03:30:00.000-05:00

Heiress (Daughters ofFortune)

By Susan May Warren

(Summerside Press, 2011)

41/2 stars~

Available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.

Review by Diana L.Flowers

Powerfully Moving Story!

Susan May Warren pens apowerfully moving story that takes place during the Gilded Age of America, atime of the elite set; of riches and glamorous cotillions, motorcars andyachts, and forbidden passions and discontentment. It is the story of twosisters, Esme and Jinx Price, daughters of the wealthy newpapaper magnate,August Price, who are as different as night and day. Esme wishes only to followin her father's footsteps, to become a famous female journalist, whereasher younger sister, Jinx, wants only to be a member of the elite society,possessing great riches and status, to the point of wanting her ownsister's fiance, the wealthy Foster Worth.

Broken-hearted Esme'sjourney takes her to Montana, a far cry from what she was use to inNew York; a mining town with vigilantes, gamblers, and asaloon-turned-headquarters for her newspaper. She has no desire to evermarry, but meets the handsome Daughtry Hoyt, wealthy son of the owner ofSilverthread Mines. Will she find love again and what terrible tragedydraws her back to her opulent home in New YorkCity? Does she learn to commit her ways to the Lord andfinally find peace?

Jinx seems to haveeverything her heart could ever desire; a wealthy husband, jewels, thebest parties, but her life is just a facade. One foolish nightthreatens to ruin her life forever, and her best laid plans for her futurecome crumbling in on her. Is there something deeper that money can't buy, anddoes Jinx find it? Will love's elusive dream ever find her again?

This is the secondseries I have read by Susan May Warren, and all I can say is NOW Isee why she wins so many awards for her writing. I was a little nervousstarting into this book, because Ms. Warren does not sugarcoat her charactersor her storyline at all. Her characters are human and sinful, and notknowing God they do some pretty awful things, but you find yourself lovingthem anyway. The storyline drew me in, and I found myself not being able to putthis book down after I got into it, except out of necessity. This novel washeartbreakingly realistic....edgy to be sure, but oh, what a satisfying conclusion!

Susan May Warren, you are one master storyteller!

GIVEAWAY: We are giving away a copy of one of Susan's books this week - your choice of book and format (ebook, paperback)! This book is also available for purchase through other outlets such as Christian Book Distributors (See all Susan May Warren's books on CBD).

Interview with Susan May Warren

2012-01-22T13:00:00.000-05:00

Susan May Warren is the author of "The Shadow of your Smile" and of best-selling, award-winning novels like "Sons of Thunder", "The GreatChristmas Bowl" and "Finding Stephanie". Amazon has a complete selection of Susan May Warren's books. Christian Book Distributors also carries Susan May Warren's novels.

I met Susan May Warren through ACFW several years ago andgot to hear her speak at the Philly conference that Marlene Bagnall runs everyyear (Write His Answer Philadelphia Conference). Rachel Hauck, her sidekick, encouraged me to join the My Book Therapy ningsite right when that first got started up. I have been a Voice’s MyBookTherapyEzine columnist for the past two years. I have enjoyed getting to know Susie better at the ACFWconferences. She is a generous andbubbly person.

Susan, welcome to Overcoming Through Time – With God’s Help. Would you share either the most difficultthing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the mosttragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

In this story, my heroine, Noelle, has to overcome the griefof losing her only daughter. Besieged bygrief, she has withdrawn into herself and her marriage has crumbled. As the story opens, she’s trying to find herway back when she falls and her memory of the last twenty years is erased. As she starts her journey of recovery, herloved ones are besieged by the question: do they help her remember the past, ifit plunges her back into darkness? Or isremembering the happy times worth the grief it will bring?

I wrote this story during the year my daughter left forcollege. Although a struggle for me, itwasn’t the grief that this story portrays. So I had to tap into other memories I wanted to erase to get into the mind of my character. Namely, the home invasion we lived throughwhile serving as missionaries in Russia. A terrifying day where three masked men broke into our home, beat us,and robbed us. Only a divineintervention (and we believe angels) saved our lives.

Ten years later, the event, the memory can still find me,wake me in the middle of the night, creep up on me in a quiet house, or evenwhile I’m sitting in the car. I’ve longwished to erase it. Or not. Because asdistance has allowed me perspective, I’m ever aware of my gratefulness for thelessons it taught me. Faith. Hope in aGod who protects, and heals.

One interesting phenomena when a person goes through anattack such as this is that your brain actually blots out the most traumaticthings until you are ready to see them. I think this is God’s way of protecting us yet again.

Do I want to forget that attack? I wouldn’t mind neverhaving to wake from a nightmare again, in a cold sweat. But I want the reminder that God is alwaysthere. This is the lesson that Noelletakes away – that God hasn’t left her in her grief, or amnesia, but Hisconstant presence had held her together…and will heal her back to love.

What is your favoritebible verse and why?

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as youtrust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the HolySpirit.

I love the simplicity of this verse. God is Hope. He fills us with Joy and Peace…and all wehave to do is trust in Him. And when wedo…our hope overflows.

Disability friendliness:

Is this latest release available in audio format or do youhave any other works available on audio? Yes, quite a few of my books are inlarge print, as well as on audio.

What has been themost important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

My life theme is grace – God gives me grace, I try tooverflow that to others. But I hope thatreaders see God in a new way, touching their lives with His grace as they readmy stories.

As you researchedyour books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

I am always amazed that, at some point in every story, I’min over my head and have to hit my knees and ask God for divine help. He always shows up with answers. For me, that’s the joy of the journey – thefaith building experience of writing a novel.

In this latest work,do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influencethrough reading about a disorder or situation?

My heroine spends a lot of time watercolor painting as a wayto recover from her grief. I think reaching inside in a creative way allows usto express ourselves that we might not be able to otherwise. And I think Godshows up in these moments, too.

Thank you Susan May for agreeing to answer thesequestions and for sharing what God has helped you get through. Our theme this week will address PTSD and overcoming the trauma of assault, with God's help. Your testimony is an inspiration to all of us!

GIVEAWAY: We are giving away a copy of one of Susan's books this week in your choice of format.

Ovecoming Abandonment and Alcoholism with God's Help

2012-01-21T03:30:00.000-05:00

MaryLu Tyndall posts at Colonial Quills group blog and on MaryLu's website.
This past week we have interviewed ML and had reviews of her pirate trilogy which recently re-released!

MaryLu shared about abandonment as an issue for herself and as faced by her heroine, Charlisse, in these books.

Here is a really deep post on abandonment: link

My thoughts -
God will never abandon nor leave you. He will never forsake you. Once a Christian gets that in their head a lot of those issues of feeling alone vanish. And I don't trust "Feelings" nor should you as Joyce Meyer reminds us. When you rely upon the Word you can say to the feeling - "I KNOW what God's Word says, and I am never abandoned by my Father for His Word proclaims that truth."

But we live on earth. We want examples of a godly father. For a married person that, truthfully, often translates into who your husband becomes as a father. Therefor a woman needs to choose her Christian husband carefully, as God directs her path, so she can see in her own life, in her own home, what a good father looks like. That isn't to say that her choice will be perfect. We all have free will and who knows what that Christian husband might choose to do. A spouse with abandonment issues needs to be careful not to react when their husband or wife needs extra emotional space, though. Be mindful of your own history so you can deal with it and not dump it on your partner.

There is a void left in your heart, as a child or teen, when a parent leaves, whether through death, abandonment, or for some other reason such as long-term illness or military. The Enemy will tell you that something is needed to fill that void. Yes, that would be God. But Satan will offer up many other alternatives that are meant to destroy not build you up as your Father would. Alcoholism, as addressed in MaryLu's books, is a common example. There are many recovery groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, all over the country, willing to help people turn from a bottle of alcohol as their god to the their higher power, or God for we Christians.

What about you today? Who can you guide toward God and away from the earthly thing they have been using to salve their wounds?

Teresa Mathews Reviews MaryLu Tyndall's The Restitution

2012-01-19T07:30:00.000-05:00

The Restitution

Legacy of the Kings Pirates Book 3

By MaryLu Tyndall

Review by Teresa Mathews

Five Stars~ *****

The story of Lady Isabel Ashton and Captain KentCarlton continues in this third and last book of Legacy of the King’s Pirates.In ‘The Reliance” book two in the series we were introduced to LadyAshton who was taken captive and ravished by Captain Carlton as a younginnocent girl during one of his drunken moments. Captain Carlton kept her formonths on his ship and this is where she meets Lady Charlisse, wife of CaptainMerrick. Lady Ashton did not want her terrible secret known but Lady Charlissehas guessed she is with child. After being rescued by Captain Merrick and leftwith a loving minister, Rev. Thomas in the town of Port Royal, Jamaica, LadyAshton has her son, Frederick.

As the story unfolds we find Lady Ashton is still inPort Royal, she wants badly to go home to be with her parents, but she has beentold under no circumstances would her son be welcomed. Terribly distressed bythis news, she longs to be home restored to her place as a true lady but sheknows she could never live without her son. Isabel is having a hard timeadjusting to the chores that the minister has asked her to do; she sees thesethings as beneath her station. Little does she know that the things that arecoming will be much worse than she has ever imagined and soon she will not beworrying about trivial chores.

Lady Ashton has been having nightmares about somethinghappening to Frederick; Rev. Thomas tries to sooth her fears with prayer andscripture. Will these dreams come true? Is there really an enemy ready topounce on her and steal her son away and forever change the course of her life?Will she ever be able to forgive Captain Carlton for what he did to her andtrust him to help her find their son?

Captain Kent Carlton is a miserable man, as the monthsgo by he feels as though his life will never be the same, he doesn’t know if hecan go on without Lady Ashton. He spent weeks searching for her after she wastaken from him. He knows what he did to Isabel was wrong and he would giveanything to go back and change things. When a man Kent cannot bear to be nearshows up and tells him about Lady Ashton having his son and that Frederick hasbeen taken captive by a feared pirate, he is shocked. Kent then hopes that ifhe finds the babe and brings him back to Isabel this will be a way to make upfor his past sins. Is he walking into a trap laid by people who want to see himdestroyed? Or will he be able to make Restitution to Isabel for what he did toher. Will she find it in her heart to forgive him? Will he come to know the Godthat Captain Merrick told him about and Isabel serves?

I had read the previous two books in this series so Iknew that this one was going to be amazing. This was a wonderfully excitingstory and all the way through I couldn’t wait to find out what would happennext. It’s spellbinding and it’s action-packed until the end and you will notwant to put it down. There are twists and turns that you won’t expect, and youwill love every one of them. You will finish it with a smile on your face and thelove for a Pirate in your heart! Well done MaryLu.

Christian Book Distributors link for this book.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment for a chance to win one of ML's books this week!

Review by Teresa Mathews of The Reliance by MaryLu Tyndall

2012-01-18T13:30:00.000-05:00

The Reliance

Legacy of the Kings Pirates, Book 2

By MaryLu Tyndall

Review by Teresa Mathews

Five Stars~ *****

The story of Captain Edmond Merrick and his beautiful wife, Lady Charlisse Hyde continues in this second book in the Legacy of the King’s Pirates. They have had their share of problems and separations but as the story opens they are enjoying some beautiful and peaceful time together and are looking forward to the birth of their first child. They are visiting friends in the Caribbean, when the town is attacked by a band of pirates being led by an evil monster from their past. He is set on destroying their lives.

While trying to get Charlisse back to his ship and away from the horrors of the attack, Capt. Merrick leaves her in the safety of a church, only seconds later to witness an explosion that wipes out the church and all of his hopes for a future with his wife.

After witnessing what he thinks is the death of his lovely wife, Merrick turns his back on the God that could have stopped this from happening, and returns to the life of the evil pirate he once was. When Charlisse is taken captive by the man she fears most, her faith in God wavers also, especially when she thinks she has been abandoned by her husband, and the life of her unborn child is threatened. During this ordeal she comes to realize she must rely on God to be her strength and protection.

Aboard ship Charlisse meets a young woman, Lady Isabel Ashton, that has also been taken captive, and because of her, Charlisse has some protection from the lustful captain who has kidnapped her. When they finally come into port, Charlisse sees Merrick’s ship and hope rises that he will rescue her. With help from an unlikely source, Charlisse and Isabel escape from their captor, only to find out that Merrick is not with his ship but has taken up with another pirate in search of whom he thinks is the main cause of Charlisse’s death.

Will Merrick see the error of his ways…will he listen to that still small voice that he hears speaking to him, or will he keep drowning his sorrows in rum and forget God? How long will it take for Charlisse to find Merrick and when she does, will her love for him be able to survive what her eyes see and her heart cannot believe? Will they realize their only hope for survival is their full reliance on God to see them through?

WOW! What a wonderfully written book. If you like excitement, romance, and a dashing pirate thrown in, then this series is for you. MaryLu Tyndall is a talented writer, from the first page to the very last word printed, she had my full attention. She beautifully weaves a story that will pull you in so that you can almost feel the wind blowing on your face and smell the sea air. But what I really loved was the way she balanced the vileness of the pirates with the marvelous wonder of an awesome, powerful God. This is definite must read, I promise you won’t be disappointed matey!

Purchase The Reliance at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book.com

Carrie Fancett Pagels Reviews The Redemption by MaryLu Tyndall

2012-01-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

The Redemption

The Legacy of the King's Pirates (Book 1)

By MaryLu Tyndall

(This originally released in 2006 by Barbour,re-released in 2011by Mission Books)

Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

This was a Christy award nominee!

One of the reasons that I bought my Kindle (click here to purchase Kindle copy!) was sothat I could read MaryLu Tyndall's books! This was her debut novel, as I understand it, and the freelance editorwho was helping me with my manuscript, Susan Lohrer, had worked with MaryLu onthis book. So I was anxious to read it, knowing that history on it.

This was a tension-filled book right from the get goand didn't let up until the end. Lots oflayers of plots and subplots and excellent characterization. The heroine had to go through a lot (and morethan I like to put mine through!) but even the icky stuff seemed central to theplot line.

Charlisse is a feisty heroine who doesn’t give up. Her father, a dissipated wreck of a man is a nasty pirate but Charlisse does not know that when she sets out to find him, leaving the abusive care of her uncle in England. One of her father’s crew is just as conniving as he is and has designs upon Charlisse (actually most of the men in the book are lecherous but this one is the worst!) MaryLu upped the nasty factor on this one (SPOILER ALERT) by the attractive but lecherous man being her own cousin (which served as no deterrent to him!) The hero, Edmund Merrick is a Christian and a privateer. He is put in danger and risks all to save Charlisse.

Set in the 17^th century Caribbean, there are enough pirates, ships, danger, and romance to entertain many types of readers!

Bibliotherapy elements: Abuse, abandonment, betrayal, perseverance, grace, and redemption.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing this week.

Interview with MaryLu Tyndall

2012-01-15T15:30:00.000-05:00

MaryLu Tyndall is the author of The Legacy of the King’s Piratestrilogy. This trilogy has recently rereleased. She is also the author of seven other novels.

I met MaryLu through HisWriters, a group for writers who have either publishedor planned works with European characters. I have gotten to know her better since she joined Colonial American Christian Writers and is now a contributor to Colonial Quills our group blog.

Marylu, welcome to Overcoming Through Time. Would you share either the most difficultthing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the mosttragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

I would say the most difficult thingto overcome for me was not having a Dad. Well, I shouldn’t say not having aDad. It was more like having a Dad who wanted nothing to do with me. You see,my Mom divorced him when I was a baby and he moved away. I saw him once on my16th birthday and I suppose I didn’t make an impression on him because he nevercame back. For a young shy girl, this caused a huge gaping hole in my life.Consequently I grew up extremely insecure and searching for that unconditionallove only a father can give. Which, of course, sent my life spiraling down abottomless pit of despair filled with alcohol and broken relationships andheartache. And I would still be there, if not for the Lord reaching down in Hismercy and pulling me out. Not only pulling me out, but cleaning me off, andfilling my heart with the love I’d been searching for my entire life. In myvery first book, The Redemption, Iwrote about this struggle through the eyes of my heroine, Charlisse.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

I have so many. But one that alwaysstands out to me is a familiar one to everyone. Romans 8:28.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose.”

To me, this verse covers every struggle, every problem, heartache, joy,mountain and valley in life. No matter what we are going through, it all worksout in the end. If we truly believe that, we should never worry or fear or besad.

Disability friendliness:

Is this latest release available in audio format or do youhave any other works available on audio?

Yes, I believe all of my books areavailable in various e-book formats, including Kindle, which I know has audiocapacity. Four of my books have been published in large print as well.Unfortunately, I have no control over the various types of publishing. It is alldetermined by my Publisher.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readerswill get from your books and why?

That God is real and He loves them.That He is not found in a church or building or in a ritual, but that He can beapproached at any time by a truly repentant heart. That He is powerful andactive and will never leave them. And that their lives will be adventurous andfulfilling (Not always easy) if they give their all to Him.

As you researched your books, did you learn anything thatparticularly touched your heart?

Now, I know this sounds strange, but Ilearned that not all pirates were evil. Many of them were forced into piracy by a cruel navy who abandoned them atsome port after the war ended, penniless and without any prospects. Someescaped the Royal Navy due to the cruel treatment of its sailors and joinedpirate crews to get revenge. Others were forced into piracy when piratesattacked their ships and gave them a choice between joining the crew or walkingthe plank! Still others were indenturedservants sent to the New World to serve out an often unfair and brutalsentence. Then, of course there were the privateers, who served God and King,and whose acts were no more unjust than any regular naval ship. So, before you go judging any pirate you meet,look beyond the head scarf, colorful clothing, and cutlass to see the woundedman inside. LOL.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful forbibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder orsituation?

In all three books in the series, the following issues areaddressed in the lives of both hero and heroine:

· Abandonment and abuse by parents and the horrific consequencesof that in a person’s life and outlook on life.

· Alcoholism

· Rejection by a loved one

Other issues addressed: Trust, Faith, Forgiveness, and Fear

Thank you MaryLu for agreeing to answer thesequestions. Have a blessed day and keepon writing!!

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and your email address for a chance to win any of MaryLu's books in your choice of format.

Weekly Review: The Conundrum of Shame

2012-01-14T00:30:00.000-05:00

Sarah Sundin's latest release Blue Skies Tomorrow (Revell, 2011) is available in hard cover large print, paperback and kindle through Amazon and through Christian Book Distributors and others such as Barnes and Noble.

Sarah Sundin's interview earlier in the week touched on shame and its consequences. While the spirit may convict us of wrong doing we know from God's Word that once we have confessed our sins He forgives us. It is the enemy who comes after us with taunts and accusations - him and his minions. When someone waves a forgiven offense in front of your face, turn to your Father and He'll help remove the stench. Recollection or memory of wrong doing is not the same as not forgiving ones' self. When we remember we can might be more aware of stepping into that temptation or situation again.

Here is a link to an article about overcoming shame that is written for Christians:
http://www.ruachministries.org/Talks/A_Pilgrim's_Guide_to_Overcoming_Shame.htm

I like the title of Sarah's latest book. God can give us Blue Skis Tomorrow and we don't need to bring our rain and clouds from yesterdays with us. He gives us a clean slate as far as the east is from the west - we are forgiven. The enemy will bring his own darts of lightening to throw at us. Let us NOT add to the problem by raining down shame on ourselves! His grace really is sufficient.

How about you? What have you done to turn your own unforgiveness of yourself over to God?

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment for a chance to win this newest release or another of Sarah's books including her upcoming 2012 publication "With Every Letter" now available for pre-order through CBD!

May God bless and heal the hearts and minds of our visitors today!

Review by Marian Baay of A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin

2012-01-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin

5 stars *****
(Revell, 2010)

Review by Marian Baay

This is book two in the Wings of Glory series about the Novak brothers who serve as bomber pilots in WWII (available for purchase through CBD and others.) Most of this story takes place in England.

In this second book we meet Major Jack Novak, pilot on a B-17 bomber plane.When Jack gets injured and lands in the hospital, he meets Army Nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. Jack is determined to win Ruth’s heart. But Ruth is not interested in men. Eventually they become friends, but Ruth cannot give more of herself to Jack, because of something awful that happened to her 8 years ago.

Jack also has fears from his past. Both Jack and Ruth let their fears control their actions and it drives them apart.

Can they let go of their fears and give it all in God’s hands? Or will their own need to be in control keep them separated?

Sarah writes so beautifully that I imagined myself in the B-17 together with Jack and his crew. I also went trough the training for Flying Nurse with Ruth. That was tough, I think I never would have made it!

Although the subjects in this book were pretty tough, there was much to learn from Jack and Ruth about love, faith, and forgiveness.

Format: Large print, Kindle and paperback available through Amazon.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Ruth was raped 8 years ago. And when she comes to work with a male collegue she faces some pretty tough situations.

Bibliotherapy: Rape, death of parents, pride, and trust.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of one of any of Sarah's books including her upcoming release. Winner drawn on Saturday afternoon.

Marian Baay reviews Sarah Sundin's A Distant Melody

2012-01-10T14:30:00.000-05:00

A Distant Melody
by Sarah Sundin
(Revell, 2010)

5 stars *****

Reviewed by Marian Baay

A Distant Melody is set during World War II. Allie Miller is the daughter of wealthy parents. They arranged a marriage with a man she doesn’t love. She hopes to get the approval of her mother with this marriage. So far she could never please her mother.When Allie is on her best friend’s wedding, she meets Walter Novak. He is the first person who seems to understand her.

Walter Novak is a pilot in the Army Air Force and flies a bomber plane B17. Shortly he has to leave for England.Walt is hopeless with women. But Allie is the first woman he can talk to and have fun with. Allie stays for a week with her friend and after the marriage she’s going home again. Walt has fallen hard for Allie and when she returns home they share addresses and promise to write each other.

Walt leaves for England and is fighting against the Germans. His crew respects him, but he told a little white lie to earn their respect.

Through their letters Walt and Allie get to know each other and fall in love. But Allie still has her boyfriend and soon is engaged to him. But Allie is unhappy. She’s willing to marry Baxter, but the Lord shows her that she can’t marry an unbeliever. Will she obey the Lord, or will she please her parents?

Allie is praying for Walt and his crew. When they are in trouble the Lord wakes her at night to pray.

Walt is falling more for Allie with every letter he receives from her. He decides he can’t love a woman who is soon to marry another man. It’s best to stop writing and Walt tells another lie in his last letter to Allie. Allie is devastated by Walt’s news. Soon she wakes up again in the middle of the night and must pray for Walt. It’s the last time that the Lord awakens her to pray. What happened that night to Walt? Can Walt tell Allie about his lie before it’s too late?

This book was a nice surprise! Never before have I read a WWII book so very well written. I loved the historical accuracy, the growing love between Walt and Allie, to read about the normal life in the US during the war and the hard life for Walt and his crew in Europe. I learned rich lessons from reading about sacrifice and obedience.

I simply fell in love with this book and I’m looking forward to read the other books in this series: A Memory Between Us and Blue Skies Tomorrow.

CFP: This book is available in hardcover, paperback and Kindle on Amazon.

Interview with Sarah Sundin

2012-01-08T15:30:00.000-05:00

Sarah Sundin is the author of A Distant Melody, A MemoryBetween Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow.

Sarah welcome to Overcoming Through Time.

Would you shareeither the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, withGod’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of yourcharacter’s has had to get past?

Although it might not have been the most difficult thing inmy life, shame was a tenacious enemy and difficult to overcome.

I now call my college years my “stupid years”—I told myselfI was taking a vacation from God and I was going to have fun! Instead offinding joy, I found heartache, chaos, and misery. After I graduated, I slowlyreturned to God and He forgave my sins. However, ironically, the closer I gotto the Lord, the more my shame increased as I saw new dimensions of my sin—howI’d hurt others, led others astray, and grieved the Lord. I felt unworthy ofGod’s forgiveness, unworthy to be a wife and mother, unworthy to serve God inthe church, and unworthy to write the stories I sensed He’d given me. Afterall, if people really knew who I was, they wouldn’t want to listen to me!

The Lord intervened through His word and His people to showme that my past sins weren’t the problem—my current shame was the true problem.Shame is one of Satan’s favorite weapons, and he uses it well to incapacitateChristians. I was had definitely fallen prey.

To shove shame out of my life, I had to immerse myself inGod’s truth:

1) Christ fully redeems our sins. Once for all.When I asked Him to forgive me over and over for the same sin, I was saying Ididn’t truly trust Him to forgive as He’d promised. I actually believed my sinswere too great for His blood to cleanse. I had to embrace the fullness andtotality of God’s forgiveness.

2) Christ covers our sins. When He forgives oursins, He exchanges our filthy, heavy cloak of shame for His glorious robe ofrighteousness. When the Father looks at us, He sees His Son’s righteousness.Our sins are truly wiped away.

3) Christ restores us. After I trusted Hisforgiveness, a new lie took hold. I might be forgiven, but I was damaged anduseless to God. But look closely at the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.The son is completely restored to his position as son, with all the rights,privileges, and authority of a son. That’s what the Lord does for us. He treatsus as His precious children and gives us His authority to do His work.

4) Christ restores us for a purpose. While doingthe hard work of shoving off shame does give personal peace, that is not theprimary purpose. Rather, the Lord restores us to do His work—to teach, to offercomfort, to serve Him, and to show God to others. Isn’t that exciting?

Shoving off shame was hard work,requiring prayer, learning God’s Word, and disciplining myself to refuse todwell on the past and to recognize Satan’s lies and push them out of my headbefore I entered shame’s downward spiral. However, I’ve seen the fruit of thatlabor. Once I’d shoved off the shame, God was able to use me. He’s given me theblessing of teaching in Sunday school, women’s Bible studies, and workshops.And He’s allowed me to write stories that I pray will glorify Him.

What is your favoritebible verse and why?

For dealing with shame, my favorite verse is Isaiah 54:4:"'Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; youwill not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember nomore the reproach of your widowhood.'"

Is this latestrelease available in audio format or do you have any other works available onaudio? All three of my novels are available in large print and as e-bookswith text-to-speech enabled. They are not yet available as traditional audiobooks.

What has been themost important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

I don’t usually write a story with a message in mind, butfind it rises from the characters and their situations. I do hope my readerslearn from the characters’ mistakes and grow in their relationship with theLord. Perhaps what I pray most for my readers is to see themselves as God seesthem, deal with whatever entangles them (Shame? Sin? Fear? Pride?), find God’s purposein their lives, and go do it in His strength.

As you researchedyour books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

It’s impossible to do research about World War II and not doso. Even the most benign research question may turn up a poignant, funny,cruel, or heartbreaking story. I’ve gained a deep respect for those who livedthrough the war. They weren’t saintly heroes, but they had strength, dignity,and honor.

In this latest work,do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influencethrough reading about a disorder or situation?

Bibliotherapy—my, that’s a loaded word with a lot ofresponsibility. In each of my novels, the characters had to deal with sins andissues. In A Distant Melody, bothhero and heroine learn about honesty and obedience. In A Memory Between Us, the heroine deals with shame over her past,and the hero learns to trust in God rather than his own abilities. In Blue Skies Tomorrow, the heroine dealswith spousal abuse in her past, and both hero and heroine learn about fear andcourage.

Thank you Sarah Sundin for agreeing to answer thesequestions. Have a blessed day and keepon writing!!

GIVEAWAY: A copy of one of Sarah's books this week - your choice. Winner announced on Saturday.

Happy Birthday to Sarah Ladd!

2012-01-07T05:30:00.000-05:00

Cupcakes with Dutch picks in them!

Sarah Ladd is having a birthday today. Sarah is my critique partner. She had the honor of appearing on Seekervillethis past week, giving advice on marketing. Here is a link to that post.

Sarah writes Regency and has won many writing contests including the ACFW Genesis for Historical Fiction. She has a proposal out on submission for one of her works.

They look prettier in person and smell great!!!

Here is a link to Sarah’s blog.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a birthday blessing and your email address for achance to take home a goodie bag today. Books by one or more of the authors who havecommented on the birthdays this week will be in the bag!

Friend on Friday Lynn Squire - Epiphany

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000-05:00

God’s Great Provision by Lynn Squire

More than 2000 years ago, God met our greatest need: a needto be saved from the captivity of sin, the wages of which is death.

Through a young virgin, Mary, God would come as a babe andoffer Himself as a sacrifice, a ransom to free us from our sin.

Mary knew she needed a savior. “And my spirit hath rejoicedin God my Saviour.” (Luke 1:47) I doubt Mary fully grasped the trials she wouldendure in order to see Jesus become the Saviour of the world. Yet, by faith,she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto me according to thyword.” (Luke 1:38)

For many, Christmas brings joy and wonder. For others, itbrings sorrow and pain. Even though Mary endured much sorrow and pain becauseof her part in bringing the Saviour into the world, her willing heart made itpossible for us over 2000 years later to experience the hope of eternal lifethrough Jesus Christ.

This hope is what can empower us to endure the trials ourshort, earthly life inflicts on us. If our sights are set on Christ’s eternalkingdom then we will find peace and the ability to endure, even as Mary’s hopedid. She hoped in the everlasting kingdom of the Son of God she would bear. Itenabled her to submit to God and subject herself to those unknown trials that wouldinevitably come.

Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season, and through thehope He brings, we can find joy and peace even when this time on earth offersus none.

CFP: As we wrap up our Christmas season and celebrate Epiphany, let us not forget who the wise men were seeking - the King of Kings! Thank you, Lynn, for this post!

It is My Birthday!!! Party!

2012-01-05T03:30:00.000-05:00

January 5th is my birthday. I am happy to celebrate another year of life granted by God and I thank Him for His blessings! This past year has been filled with so many blessings, and this blog has been one of them. I am so grateful for Diana Flowers, Senior Reviewer, and contributor who is amazing! We have had a number of friends post with us on Fridays, some very regularly sending us reviews, such as Marian Baay whose birthday we celebrated yesterday! And I am glad to welcome Teresa Mathews as a contributor, too!

We are all very happy to be able to read the wonderful books that Christian authors have had published this past year! They are like are like gifts in between birthdays!!!

GIVEAWAYS: Party bags will be going home with some of our commenters.

Happy Birthday Marian!!!

2012-01-04T03:30:00.000-05:00

Cake designed and prepared by Christy Zumbrun, Williamsburg, Virginia.

Our friend Marian Baay, from the Netherlands, has her birthday today. We are celebrating and wishing her many blessings in the year ahead!

Monday winners: Sally Shupe, who won a copy of Melanie Dickerson's ebook of The Merchant's Daughter. Congrats, Sally!
And the winner of Julie Klassen's The Girl in the Gatehouse is....Miss Kallie is our winner of A Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen. Congrats! You will love this book!

GIVEAWAY: A surprise book goody bag for one of our commenters!

Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels of The Chamomile by Susan Craft

2012-01-03T12:30:00.000-05:00

The Chamomile by Susan Craft

(Ingalls Publishing Group, 2011)

Five Stars *****

“A Treasure Trove of Colonial History”

I am going to gush. I just finished reading Susan Craft'sbook. It is not a CBA book, but this isan amazing inspirational book. It is ahistorical with strong romantic elements, not a historical romance. Susan has a command of South Carolina historythat is remarkable and it shows on every page.

This book is like a treasure trove of American Revolution and colonialhistory relevant to South Carolina and unlike anything I have ever read. The closest thing might be The Frontiersman’sDaughter, Laura Frantz's labor of love which is set in Kentucke. Laura spent years researching TheFrontiersman’s Daughter as did Susan in her research for The Chamomile. You simply must read it and if you have notread The Frontiersman’s Daughter you need to read that, too.

I was thinking that Susan might be the Liz Curtis Higgs ofSouth Carolina historical (American Revolution) fiction – she gives that much attention todetail. Just a treasure trove ofinformation along with a tight story and excellent charactertization. Loved it and did not want to finish thisbook.

Bravo Susan!!!

Giveaway: Copy of The Chamomile to one commenter - will do the giveaway on my birthday, January 5th. This book was like a gift to me.

The Chamomile by Susan Craft

2012-01-03T00:30:00.000-05:00

The Chamomile by Susan Craft

Adventure in the Colonies!
Review by Diana L. Flowers

Susan sweeps us away on a colonial journey to British-occupied Charlestown, SC. in the year 1780, a time of danger and mixed loyalities. Even though the British require Lilyan Cameron and her brother Andrew to sign a document of loyalty to the British Crown, they are true-blue patriots...willing to give their lives if necessary, for freedom from oppressive British rule. Andrew ends up a prisoner on a notorious British ship, and Lilyan must somehow find a way to rescue him...with the help of one handsome, charming Nicholas Xanthakos, a scout with Francis Marian.

Lilyan becomes a spy, putting her life and those around her in much danger, including her life-long Cherokee friend, Elizabeth, who is almost raped by a British officer. Will she be able to rescue Andrew from the ship where starvation and deprivation rule?...and what huge role does the "chamomile" play in helping the Patriot spies to communicate one with another? As Lilyan escapes to the wilderness to avoid bounty hunters, will she be reunited with the one she loves?

I was truly impressed with Susan's knowledge of colonial-era history, and I feel like this book would appeal to Heartsong historical fiction lovers everywhere! I admit to being disappointed in the fact that Lilyan and Nicholas had barely had a conversation, and he was already addressing her in terms of endearment. The romance happened too quickly and appeared a bit rushed, but there is indeed such a thing as love at first sight! Nice job, Susan Craft!

Interview with Susan Craft

2012-01-01T19:30:00.000-05:00

Susan Craft is the author of The Chamomile, a historic romantic suspense, a SIBA “Okra Pick.”
Published by: Ingalls Publishing Group
Date: November 2011

Interview by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Susan Craft is also the author of 3 books, A Perfect Tempest and The Chamomile, as well as Laurel, the sequel to the Chamomile, which will be published November 2012 books. Her website is http://www.susanfcraft.com.

I met Susan through Colonial American Christian Writers. She also serves on the Colonial Quills group blog.

Susan, welcome to Overcoming Through Time.

Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?
Like many people, I’ve come to find, I had an unhappy, unhealthy childhood traumatized by alcoholism. The one person that I should have been able to count on to take care of me is the person who caused me the most pain. On the other hand, my neighborhood was full of children, and, like the Little Rascals, we played hard until nightfall, swam in the neighborhood lake, put on plays and musicals, held week-long Monopoly games, and were free to roam around until suppertime. So, my life was unsettling, like a wild ride with major ups and downs, twists and turns. I found solace in books and writing. Although our family was active in church, and I accepted Christ as my Savior at 14, it wasn’t until I was 32 that I let go of my constant comparison with what my life was to what I thought it should be. I also let go of trying to control and fix everything. I was led to the program Adult Children of Alcoholics and, eventually, was able through prayer to forgive my loved one. I thank God that we were able to enjoy many years of a good relationship before they passed away.

There’s a scene in my novel, The Chamomile, where my main character, Lilyan, talks with her brother, Andrew, about her reliance on God for her strength. Andrew reminds her that God is not only her source of her strength, but of her joy too and that she mustn’t worry so much. That scene is a very personal one for me and was written from the depths of my heart.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?
My favorite verse is I Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
– especially appropriate for me is “it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio? My books aren’t available on audio or in large print – at least, not yet. I hope they will be. My mother loved books and spent a lot of time reading to me, my brothers and sister when we were young. Towards the end of her life, she became partially blind and relied on books on tape provided by the SC Commission for the Blind. What a tremendous service!

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?
The Chamomile is about love of family and perseverance in the face of adversity. The title is a reflection of that. When reading Noble Deeds of American Women, I came across this account. A British Army officer noted for his cruelty and relentless persecution of those opposed to his political views was one day walking with Mrs. Anna Elliott in a garden where there was a great variety of flowers. “What is this, madam?” he asked, pointing to the chamomile. “The rebel flower,” she replied. “And why is it called the rebel flower?” asked the officer. “Because,” answered Mrs. Elliott, “it always flourishes most when trampled upon.”
Throughout the novel, my main character, Lilyan, portrays the characteristics of the chamomile. Also, she is a Christian, and as such approaches life from that perspective, in her thoughts, words, and actions. Because I don’t want to sermonize to my readers, I take great care to try to weave inspirational elements into my stories subtlety, naturally.

In my author’s notes I explain it this way: “Finally, but most importantly to me, The Chamomile is an inspirational novel about someone who faces adversity and survives it through faith. My intent was to portray a woman who maintains a genuine, abiding relationship with her creator and who really struggles to live by that faith, but makes a mess of it sometimes. Don’t we all?”

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?
I came across an incredible account of Elizabeth Jackson, Andrew Jackson’s mother. After Andrew and his brother, Robert, were captured after the Battle of Camden, they succumbed to smallpox. Mrs. Jackson walked 50 miles from her home in Waxhaw, SC, to Camden and arranged for their release. Robert died soon after they returned home. When Andrew recovered, Mrs. Jackson received notice that two nephews were imprisoned on British ships in the Charleston Harbor (in The Chamomile, Lilyan’s brother, Andrew, is imprisoned on one of these ships). She walked over 100 miles to Charleston and nursed the young men until she contracted cholera and died in the home of an acquaintance and was buried somewhere outside of Charleston. Though President Jackson made inquiries, no one was able to find her grave. What an inspiration Mr. Jackson was to me. She was brave, resourceful, loving, generous, determined, and selfless to the point of putting others’ health and safety before her own.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation? Susan said “No.” (CFP: Assault, self-defense, trust, dealing with loss – all these issues are in The Chamomile.)

Thank you Susan for agreeing to answer these questions. Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Best of 2011 – Carrie’s Fiction List 2011 Releases

2011-12-31T12:30:00.000-05:00

Laura Frantz’s The Colonel’s Lady, Revell (historical romance, colonial) Laura is a favorite of all four of us who contribute to this blog. Three of us have read TCL. We all wait with bated breath each year for her new release. So I'll tag this one "To Sigh For"

MaryLu Tyndall’s Surrender the Dawn (historical romance)

and Surrender the Night (I am counting these two as one). Diana and Marian and I all included MaryLu on our lists - officially a triple threat! Consistent excellence in writing.

Melanie Dickerson,The Merchant’s Daughter, Zondervan (YA, historical romance) I read this through in one day - she just grips your heart and won't let you go till you are done reading!!!

Now for my count! (Yes, I am cheating! I removed the ones that we all voted for already!) Oh, and I am another Julie Lessman fan but did not get her 2011 release read yet.

Laurie Alice Eakes' Lady in the Mist (Revell), a lovely historical romantic suspense read. One of the best heroes of the year.

CJ Chase, Redeeming the Rogue, Love Inspired Historical (Regency romantic suspense). Amazing!!!

Roseanna White's Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland, Summerside. Roseanna is on Diana's list, too.

Serena Miller, The Legend of Katie Calloway. Best Heroine and we love Serena and Katie!!! She'd on Teresa's list, too!

The Treasure Trove historical book for me:

Susan Craft’s, The Chamomile, Ingalls (historical, colonial)

Top bibliotherapy pick:
Jennifer Hudson Taylor - Highland Sanctuary, Abingdon (Scottish historical romance). Wow! She's also on Teresa's list as is the book.

Available on Audio (My preference!)

In aclass all her own – Liz Curtis Higgs’ Mine is the Night, audible.com download(historical) It would not be fairto even count this audiobook in my top ten because it is in a class all byitself – a fantastic audiobook NARRATED by the author HERSELF!!!! You cannot beat this for really getting thestory, the characterization, and of course that FABULOUS voice of Liz CurtisHiggs!!!

Julie Klassen’s Girl in the Gatehouse, Bethany (historical romance, Regency). LOVE Julie Klassen's writing. She has it ALL - unique storylines, amazing characters, fantastic writing, and beautiful voice! AND it is on audio!!!

Best romance!!!

Kelly Marie Long, Lilly's Wedding Quilt Thomas Nelson (Amish, romance). Hunkiest hero and he is Amish! Great use of bibliotherapy in this book. Lovely voice and taut storyline. She is one of my new favorite authors. And on audio and you have me sighing in gratitude! Thank you Thomas Nelson Publishers for making this wonderful book available in that format!

Released on audio in 2011 - Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist (originally published in pb in 2010 by Bethany House). Also on Teresa's list.

Vannetta Chapman, Falling to Pieces (Amish suspense murder-mystery). This is like inviting your BFF over to visit and she is sharing the story.

Also on Marian Baay's list: Waterfall by Lisa Bergren (YA, speculative, romance) Only one of the trio available in audio at this point in time. This is one of those gripping listens - you pretty much have to stop what you are doing to listen to it. She reaches many different types of readers.

Happy listening and reading in 2012!!!

GIVEAWAY: A Kindle copy of Melanie Dickerson's new release The Merchant's Daughter and a paperback copy of Julie Klassen's The Girl in the Gatehouse. Winners announced on Marian's birthday (January 4th) and on my birthday (January 5th) so come back for the parties!

Teresa Mathews's Favorite Authors List

2011-12-31T00:30:00.000-05:00

Teresa's favorite authors with books read in 2011:

Julie Lessman, All of her books... simply marvelous! A Heart Revealed is Teresa's latest read.

Jennifer Hudson Taylor, Highland Sanctuary, Abingdon

Jamie Carie, Pirate of My Heart, B&H Publishing

Melanie Dickerson, The Merchant's Daughter, Zondervan (BTW - Did you know there was a USA Today interview!)

Favorite authors with releases in 2011:

Deeanne Gist All of her books (Note from CFP: Love on the Line is a 2011 release we hope to read and review on this blog.)

MaryLu Tyndall All of her books....especially the ones with PIRATES! (NOTE from CFP: These have just been re-released!!! MaryLu had two 2011 releases reviewed on this blog and that received top ratings from Diana and Carrie.)

Serena Miller (LFYI SugarCreek, Ohio) CFP: 2011 The Legend of Katie Calloway was one of my picks!

Jody Hedlund (The Preacher's Bride, Bethany) The Doctor's Lady came out in 2011

In 2011 Laura released this book.

Laura Frantz (The Frontiersman's Daughter, Revell) The Colonel's Lady won our Triple Crown!!! Diana, Carrie and Marian picked it! (CFP: The Frontiersman's Daughter is still my favorite book, too, Teresa!)

Jennifer AlLee (The Pastor's Wife, Abingdon, 2010) A new release upcoming in 2012

Diana's Corner - Top 10 Authors' Books for 2011

2011-12-30T07:30:00.000-05:00

In a class of her own Triple Crown (Top Ten for Carrie, Diana, and Marian): Laura Frantz-The Colonel's Lady ( love all of her books)***

Here's my list of the rest of my top 10 ten authors of 2011...not necessarily in order:

Christine Lindsay-Shadowed in Silk, WhiteFire

Julie Lessman-Daughters of Boston Series, Revell ( love all of her books this was a September 2010 release)

MaryLu Tyndall-Surrender the Dawn**

Suzanne Woods Fisher-Lancaster County Secrets Series ( love all of her books)

Marcia Gruver-Backwoods Brides Series

Roseanna White-Jewel of Persia, WhiteFire

Melanie Dickerson - The Merchant's Daughter, Zondervan

Jody Hedlund-The Doctor's Lady

April Gardner - Wounded Spirits (November 2010 release)

Cindy Woodsmall-Ada's House Series (love all of her books) The Harvest of Grace was released in 2011.

Marian Baay's Picks for 2011

2011-12-30T01:30:00.000-05:00

I have found 5 books that I really liked.

1. Laura Frantz – The Colonel’s Lady

2. Lisa T. Bergren – The River of Times series (all books)

3. Carla Stewart – Broken Wings

4. Brandilyn Collins – Over the Edge

5. Meg Moseley – When Sparrows Fall

Marian lives in the Netherlands and reviews and recommends books for a Dutch publisher.

Review - Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland

2011-12-27T00:30:00.000-05:00

Review of Love Finds You in Annapolis,Maryland

By Roseanna M. White

Summerside Press (December 2011)

Roseanna has written a beautiful book. Her voice is fresh and lovely. She lends authenticity to the story with herown history of having attended college in historic Annapolis. Her love for the city is evident in herdescriptions. The story is set duringthe time Annapolis was the nation’s capital during a short time in 1783-84.Roseanna is a member of Colonial American Christian Writers, a group which Ifounded, and Roseanna also contributes to Colonial Quills, our group blog. It was so fun seeing some of the topics weresearched together as a group showing up in the book! That was one of the neatest things about thisnovel, on a personal level. Weappreciate her acknowledgement of the group, as well!

The premise for this book is not a typicalromance nor even for historical romances. So if the reader is expecting a cookie cutter romance this is not goingto be their book. This is not a “let me settle in for my light romance”read. Both the hero, Emerson Fielding, and the heroine, Lark, are flawed people who have a very significantparting right near the beginning. Thisis a Christian fiction and both of these characters have the strongestcharacter arcs I have seen since I can ever remember. I suspect that is one of the many reasons RTgave this book their top amount of stars and selected it as the December TopInspirational Pick. There is profound changein Lark and Emerson, particularly as God leads them to be the persons they weremeant to be and not who they had been at home in Virginia.

One thing unique about this book is that the lifeissues of the young woman are portrayed with such authentic emotion as are Lark’sinterpretation of her former fiance’s actions. Because Ms. White is still inher twenties, I believe she is well able to capture with a freshness andvivacity and authenticity the angst of this age group. Granted, Roseanna married young and haslittle children, but it is clear when reading this book that she offers aunique and fresh author’s voice, and a way of characterization that is more inline with how a young person would indeed react.

If you are going to read this book, don’t pick itup until you have several nights open in a row. You will want to know what happens and won’t want to set this one asideand come back to it.

Bibliotherapy:Thehero is a RevolutionaryWar of veteran with PTSD. The heroine has been “acting” out a rolerather than displaying who God intended her to be. She has been dishonest with herself and withothers in revealing who and what she is. Forgiveness and mercy and restoration of relationship are main themes.

Giveaway: Pick either LFY in Annapolis, Maryland OR either of Roseanna's other two books in e-book format. Great for those new Kindles people got for Christmas!!!

Diana's Corner - Book Review Jewel of Persia by Roseanna White

2011-12-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

Jewel of Persia by Roseanna White

5 stars~ *****
Reviewed by Diana L. Flowers

A GEM OF A NOVEL!

In this fictionalized novel of the Biblical book of Esther, Roseanna White takes us on a mesmerizing, soul-stirring journey into the palace of King Xerxes, King of Persia, a place where opulence and jeweled concubines, gods and goddesses, jealousies, treachery, and forbidden passions rule. It is to this place a lovely young Jewess named Kasia is drawn, and to which her destiny becomes forever sealed.

Kasia and her best friend, Esther, also a jewess, are playing at the river when spotted by the King of Persia and several of his men, and she finds herself summoned to the palace to become the king's next wife. Although the king has many wives and concubines, he falls head over heels in love with Kasia, and she immediately becomes his favorite, inciting much jealousy amongst the other women. Kasia loves the man beneath the crown with her whole heart, but soon learns the ultimate price she must pay for loving a man she must share with many women and his vast kingdom; a man who holds death and life in the power of his hands.

King Xerxes is a man amongst men, handsome and strong, cruel and vengeful, a man of war, but at the same time vulnerable and loving towards his children and Kasia. Although he serves a heathen god, Kasia is determined to place her trust in the Lord God Jehovah, even if it costs her her marriage. As much as she loves Xerxes, why does she decide to talk her husband into making her childhood friend, the beautiful Esther, his new queen? And what unselfish decision does Esther make and what favor does she ask of Xerxes?...that changes the entire destiny of her people, the Jews.

This book absolutely blew me away! I knew that no review I could write would ever do it justice, but I gave it my best shot. Ms. White's realistic characters wound themselves around my heart, as I became totally immersed in their lives. Because this was a fiction based on fact novel of the Biblical book of Esther, Roseanna's research had to have been very extensive! Her knowledge of the intricate details of the history and customs of not only the Jewish people, but the Persians as well, was mind boggling to me. A fabulous page turner with a heartpounding conclusion, Jewel of Persia is guaranteed to keep the reader burning the proverbial midnight oil! What a masterpiece, Roseanna!

(This book made it into Diana L. Flowers' Books of the Year list!!! Watch for the full list soon!)

Merry Christmas to You and Your Kin!!!

2011-12-25T13:30:00.000-05:00

Many blessings to you and your family from Carrie & Diana!

Diana's Corner: Review of Coach and Four: Allisandra's Tale by Linore Rose Burkard

2011-12-24T17:00:00.000-05:00

Coach and Four: Allisandra's Tale

by Linore Rose Burkard

41/2 stars~
Delightful Novella!

Interestingly enough, this delightful short tale by Linore Rose Burkard, takes place in a coach in which Allesandra FitzJames, the ward of King Charles II, finds herself trapped en route to visit with her friend, the Duchess of Langley. When her coach is stopped and the duchess steps out, she trades places with someone, and Allesandra finds herself trapped inside with none other than the debauched and infamous Lord Dorchester. Lord Dorchester is a notorious libertine, well known for his scandalous liasons with questionable ladies, and Allesandra is terrified to be alone with him, in spite of his most handsome countenance.

What is her friend the Duchess thinking, especially when Allesandra's coach was stopped by highwaymen just weeks before?...and one of the masked men had the audacity to steal a kiss from her; a kiss that Allesandra will not soon forget! Who was this masked man and why is Lord Dorchester offering his protection to Allesandra? Is he to be trusted, and are his words of the king's betrayal towards her true?

There was only one thing wrong with this book...it was just too short! I loved it for it reminded me of the masked man, Zorro, in my childhood days, who stole a kiss from many a lady. Ms. Burkard's writing style is impeccable, and although the setting of this book was in a coach, there was never a dull moment. I really enjoyed getting acquainted with this "new to me" author; she truly knows how to tell a story, and I am looking forward to reading her full length novels.

(CFP Note: Linore has three full length novels published with Harvest House, all Regencies.)

Giveaway: Leave a comment for a chance to win this ebook.

Diana's Corner - Review of The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

2011-12-23T17:00:00.000-05:00

The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

5 stars~ *****

(Doubleday, Random House Audio 2011)

Bittersweet Christmas Romance!

Bestselling author, Cindy Woodsmall has crafted another heartwarming, yuletide treasure; replete with Amish buggy rides and knee-deep snow, Christmas singings and weddings, and, of course, unrequited love! Mattie Eash, a young Amish woman and Gideon Beiler have loved one another their whole lives, and it is no surprise to everyone when they announce their engagement. But, on Christmas Eve, Gideon cruelly ends their engagement, after Mattie finds a lovely Englisch woman in his arms. Heartbroken, Mattie flees to Ohio, and pursues her dream of opening a cake decorating shop. She finds a new beau; one that is comfortable for her to be with, and a man who Mattie can trust.

Three years have passed and Mattie is forced to return to Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania, and is determined to avoid Gideon at any cost. When Mattie is forced into a confrontation with Gideon, will he realize the suffering that his deceitfulness and dishonesty has caused? What secret is Gideon harboring, and will Mattie ever be able to forgive him from the heart, even though forgiveness is the Amish way? Why DID he break Mattie's heart on that fateful Christmas Eve and turn to the arms of another?

This was a truly wonderful read guaranteed to keep the reader turning those pages until the conclusion. Cindy Woodsmall is one of the best authors of Amish fiction today, and her realistic plots and characters make for a "can't put down" read! This book dealt with some of the harsh realities of life, and you will read it with eyes filled with unshed tears and a box of tissues; albeit there are plenty of scenes to curve your lips up into a smile as well! So grab a cup of hot chocolate, snuggle up near the fire, and get lost in an Amish winter wonderland!

Formats: Hard cover, ebook, CDs and audio download. (click to purchase)

GIVEAWAY: We are almost there to our celebration of our Lord's birthday. Leave a comment on this book review for a giveaway of a Christian fiction Christmas book.

Friend on Friday (Dutch Time!!!) - Review of Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren

2011-12-22T18:00:00.000-05:00

Review Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren

5 stars *****

Reviewed by Marian Baay

After saving their dad in the 21st century - Gabi, Lia and their parents travel back to the 14th century. More than a year has passed for Marcello. He is even more determined to marry Gabi. But before Gabi can make a decision, her whole family must agree to stay in the 14th century. And before a final decision can be made Gabi is put in prison and Firenze tries to force her in marriage with one of their citizens. Gabi tries to escape, but get captured again and now is lead to the altar immediately.

Can Gabi escape this forced marriage? Can she get back to Marcello before she is bound to another man? Will Gabi's family decide to stay in the 14th century?

I really loved this book. It is the perfect ending of an exciting trilogy. Rarely I have read a trilogy that captivated me so fully. The story drew me deep in. I loved the characters, the adventure, the romance, the setting. Well, I just loved everything about it.

I loved reading about Gabi's growing faith in God. She is trusting Him more and more. I was a tiny bit disappointed that there wasn't much Lia and Luca time. So I really do hope to read more about these characters - maybe in a new series?

This series was written for Young Adult, but as an adult I also loved it a lot! I'm sure I will read this series again to enjoy Lisa's excellent storytelling.

I highly recommend this series for all ages.

GIVEAWAY: We are continuing our celebration this week in anticipation of Christmas. Leave a comment for a chance to win a surprise book. No unwrapping it yet!

Diana's Corner - Review of Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston

2011-12-21T07:30:00.000-05:00

Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston

~4 stars ****

A Wunderbaar Christmas Novella!

In Naomi's Gift, Amy Clipston invites us on a delightful Amish vacation, to Bird-In-Hand, Pennsylvania; resplendent with buggy rides in the snow, children's Christmas programs, lighted Christmas candles in the windows, and romance in the air! Caleb Schmucker arrives in Pennsylvania with his little daughter, Susie, to visit his sister, Sadie, for Christmas. Caleb has a successful business in Ohio, but ever since the death of his wife, the only joy that life holds for him is his precious daughter, Susie. He feels a heavy burden of guilt that his wife was taken and he was left behind, and refuses to enjoy life. Then he meets the lovely, dimpled Naomi King!

Naomi King has had her heart broken by two ex-boyfriends, and feels that God's plans are for her to remain single and help her maam take care of her siblings. Caleb's sister, Sadie, feels that her brother is too good for Naomi, gossiping about her past relationships with the two other young men, and tries to hook him up with her friend, Irene. Will Caleb and Naomi let go of their broken hearts and fear of another relationship, and find love again? Or will Irene make a better mother to Susie?

I have read almost all of Amy Clipston's books and they truly are charming! Although her love for the Amish shines through her novels, she paints a realistic picture of them; an imperfect people with flaws just as any other. This was a novella, so of course it was shorter with less substance than her other novels, but truly a delightful, romantic page turner to snuggle up close to the fire with!

Note by CFP: Available in multiple formats through Amazon, including audio.

Giveaway: We are giving away surprise books every day, mostly Christmas books. Leave a comment for a chance to win.

Happy Birthday Diana!

2011-12-20T06:30:00.000-05:00

It is Diana Flowers' birthday!

Happy birthday Miss Diana, AKA Malibu Barbie!!!

Join me in a rousing chorus 1, 2, 3!!!:

*•♫♪Happy Birthdayto You ♪♫•*¨ *•.¸¸ ♥¸¸ .•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthdayto You ♪•*¨ *•. ¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthdaydear Diana!!! ♪ ♫ •*¨*•.♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Happy Birthdayto You!! ♥ ♥♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪♥¸¸.•*¨ *•.¸¸ ♥

Please wish Diana a happy birthday and leave your email addy for a chance to win a secret book giveaway!

Review of An Amish Christmas - December in Lancaster County

2011-12-19T00:30:00.001-05:00

An Amish Christmas - December in Lancaster County
by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Barbara Cameron and Kelly Long
(2009 version without Kelly Long's novella, 2010 expanded to include, 2011 audio version)

I listened to this book via a download from http://audible.com. My favorite novella was Kelly Long's Christmas Cradles. I also enjoyed Beth Wiseman's A Choice to Forgive. However the other two novellas were thin on characterization and story line and I was quite disappointed in the listen.

The narrator was mediocre at best and mispronounced many words. The ratings on audible.com are low (3's) because of the two novellas that were lacking and because of the poor narration. However, two of the stories were strong. Kelly Long's novella was definitely worth reading on its own. A strong character, an Amish midwife, Anna Stollis, falls for an equally strong handsome and capable young man, Asa Mast, as they go about delivering babies one stormy Christmas night. The hero and heroine are in their late twenties.

Kelly Marie Long is one of my new favorite authors. She really knows how to craft believable characters and her romances are the best around. Grab this book and curl up by the fire for a great read as Anna and Asa bring new life into the world while beginning their own lives together!

This book is available in multiple formats through Amazon.

Giveaway: Hardcover copy of this book to one commenter. Merry Christmas!

Special Friends Week - Interview with Karen Grassi Vogel

2011-12-18T07:30:00.000-05:00

Karen Anna Grassi Vogel is the author of the Amish Knitting Circle Series and Knit Together: An Amish Knitting Novel.

I met Karen when our agent, Joyce Hart, fell and broke herhip. Karen sent an email out to all Joyce’s clients telling them of an e-card service to shower Joyce with cards. Karen is a member of the ACFW Mid-AtlanticGroup, of which I am the Zone Director, and has become our Pittsburgh Area Coordinator. Karen is a Compassion International Representative and we sponsor a boy in Colombia and contribute to a village in Africa through this wonderful ministry, also. So I am happy to claim Karen as a special friend that we are featuring this week on Overcoming Through Time- With God's Help!

Karen, welcome to Overcoming Through Time. Would you share either the most difficultthing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the mosttragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

Thank you so much for having me on Overcoming Through Time.I wrote my novel Knit Together: An AmishKnitting Novel after losing my mom and two cousins in 13 months. My mom was83 and in a four year decline, but my cousin Stacy, age 40, was quickly takenby cancer, and her sister, Renea, age 48, a year later…cancer also. I remembercrying, feeling numb and shaking my fist at God.

I visited my Amish friend, Lydia, in Smicksburg, PA. She’djust lost her sister-in-law due to a heart attack, leaving eight children. Wetalked about grief and loss and I felt she accepted things much better than Idid. I wanted to know why my loved onesdied. Plain and simple….Lord….why didthis happen? But the Amish don’t ask why. They have a profound sense of thesovereignty of God. When a buggy accident happens, or other tragedies, theyseem to know they’re in the palm of God’s hand and everything is going to bealright. They shed lots of tears like we do, but they have an inner knowingthat God is in control. So, I’m Ginny in my book Knit Together, and Lydia is Katie Byler. We live across the streetfrom each other and I learn about grief the Amish way.

I also learn to knit in the book, and I’ve come to seeknitting is a gift from God because it’s really good for your mentalhealth! The idea to do my Amish Knitting Circle series came to mewhen I was doing research on Amish spirituality. I had a long chat with aneighty year old Amish woman who helped start the Smicksburg Amish settlement.When I said I had to leave to go to knitting class, her eyes glowed; she toldme she was a yarn spinner in her younger days. I asked if she could knit, andshe said, “Oh, yes.” I didn’t knowthe Amish knit, but found they do and find great comfort in all the fabricarts: crochet, knitting, embroidery, needlepoint, and sewing. They do manycrafts to relax, just like us English womendo.

What is your favoritebible verse and why?

TheSpirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort thebrokenhearted

andto proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.Isaiah 61:1 (NLT2)

This verseis just full of hope. I first started meditating on it when my dad passed away,on Christmas Day, sixteen years ago. I was brokenhearted and clung to thisscripture. At first I focused on He cameto comfort the brokenhearted andthen I started to see how Christ wants to set captives free. So, my husband andI started getting involved with poverty ministry. We’ve been volunteeradvocates for Compassion International for thirteen years now. Third worldpoverty is cruel, especially to children, and we hope to make a difference…tosee these children set free through knowing Christ’s love and meeting theirbasic needs.

Disability friendliness: My books are on kindle and Nook orany electronic device. I have a kindle and can make it large print and it’salso voice activated. Really love my kindle.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readerswill get from your books and why?

My greatest hope for my book though is people will realizeyou don’t have to be Amish to be happy. I have a town full of people, halfAmish and half English, similar tothe town I lived in in Upstate NY. We saw people wanting to turn Amish, andAmish wanting to be English.

I cameto realize that peace is found in Christ alone. But lately, the Amish have beenbombarded by folks who ask, “How can I become Amish?” Here’s advice one Amishman put in the Budget, an Amishnewspaper:

“If you admire our faith, strengthen yours. If you admireour sense of commitment, deepen yours. If you admire our community spirit,build your own. If you admire the simple life, cut back. If you admire deepcharacter and enduring values, live them yourself."

I put this quote in KnitTogether, and show how Ginny and James Rowland change their life radicallyafter following this advice. So I show a family who doesn’t turn Amish, butgleans a lot from them. I hope readers can do the same.

As you researched your books, did you learn anything thatparticularly touched your heart?

The Amish view shunning as a loving act. I was told that ifa shunned person came back to the community, and repented of their sin, evenafter being away for a decade or more, they would forgive and forget. Theperson would be reinstated into fellowship immediately. They also never stoppraying for shunned people.

Also, after knowing Amish families for twenty years, Ididn’t know how much faith it took to live in community. They have to trust Goddaily to be content to live in their “Colonial” lifestyle. They see the modernconveniences and are always trying to figure out which ones to adopt and whichones will make their lives too fast paced. I was shocked that church membersvoted annually on matters such as allowing gas stoves, indoor plumbing etc.They don’t take a final vote until everyone is in agreement, or at least notupset about the decision.

I have to really watch what I say in front of the Amish,because I don’t want to make them feel the grass is green in English pastures. For example, whengetting peaches from my Amish friend, she talked about how long it took to putup all her fruits and vegetables. I said I got a FoodSaver and all I did wasslice, dice, throw stuff in a bag, push a button, and viola, I am done. As soonas I said this I saw her teenage daughters gawk at me. They just couldn’tbelieve it, and once again, I felt like I had to apologize for bringingdiscontent into their home.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful forbibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder orsituation?

Well, my characters have many problems. Joseph hasPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder, since he was in NYC during 9/11. He’s also aformer drug addict who went through Celebrate Recovery. Ginny’s in grief andgoing through the empty nest syndrome, and learns the whole Serenity Prayerused in Twelve Step Programs. I have an Amish man, Judah, who is shunned butcomes back to the community and lives with the Baptist preacher who counselshim; Judah’s an ACA; adult children of alcoholics. Eli Hershberger, is actuallymy first Amish friend, Harry Hershberger. His buggy was hit and he became aparaplegic. I tried my hardest to portray Harry accurately because to me, he isas inspirational as Joni Erickson Tada. Also,Christmas deals with holiday depression, since I feel qualified to write aboutthat.

Thank you Karen for agreeing to answer these questions. Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

GIVEAWAY: This week we are giving away Christmas books every day. It will be a secret until each night but the books are Christian fiction releases from within the past two years. Leave a comment for a chance to win!

2011-12-17T19:30:00.000-05:00

We enjoyed having Melanie Dickerson up on Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help this week. Our topic this week was unemployment. Please lift her husband up and all of our family members, like my nephew, who are also without work this year. For two years, when we moved from NY to GA because of my arthritis, my hubby was unable to find work. I learned a lot about what it meant to be the breadwinner of the family. I had been the single parent of my nephew but it was different being in a difficult job and having to work a second job in private practice just to keep us in our rental house. I wish I could say that I have kept in practice those lessons I learned during that time of his unemployment. I do know I prayed for years afterward that we would never have to walk through that valley again. We stayed on the prayer list at our church the entire time.

Congratulations Barbara Shelton - our winner this week for Melanie's book!

Guest Post by Cynthia Howerter - No More Job?

2011-12-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

Unemployment
By Cynthia Howerter

So. You didn’t see it coming. Or maybe you did. In either case, it’s a shock. Questions swirl through your mind. What will we do for money? How will we live? What if we can’t make the mortgage payment? How will we buy food? How will we pay our bills? Questions that you can’t answer. At least for now.

I didn’t see my husband’s unemployment coming. Neither did he. But, suddenly, the job was over. Done. Not to be resurrected. And there was no time to prepare.

I remember praying right away. Not a flowery, lengthy prayer. No, I got right to the point: “Help, God. Help!” I didn’t need an abundance of words. God knew what I was praying about. He knows what you’re praying about.

When any adversity strikes us, it is not a random circumstance. As believers, we know that nothing is random, but, rather, that there is a purpose to everything under the sun. So, rest assure that God knew before you did that you or your spouse were going to lose the ability to earn a living.

Why, you want to know, would God allow you to lose your income?

Let me ask you this: Did God have a place in your life before you lost your job? Were you setting aside time everyday to pray and read the Scriptures? Or were you just going about your life inserting God into it whenever you thought about it – which probably wasn’t on a regular basis. Am I right? I know. Ouch.

Did God have your attention before you lost your job? Well, there’s the answer to your question – “why would God allow us to lose our income?” I’ll bet God’s got your attention now.

Now that you’re focused on God, what’s next? My husband and I learned that as soon as adversity happens, we need to ask God to reveal exactly what He wants us to learn. Because you see, God wants to teach you something through this difficult situation. The sooner you ask Him what it is He wants you to learn, the sooner you can hear what He says to you.

Now, how do you focus on God? There are two basic ways. Read the Scriptures and talk to God. Every day. (I’ll talk more about the Scriptures in a later article). Are you waking up during the night filled with fear and anxiety? Stop and talk to God about it. Are you scared and worried? Tell Him. No matter what is going on in your life, focus on God. Every day. Every night.

“Now, Cynthia, didn’t you just tell me that God allowed me to lose my job?” I did. “Then why should I focus on God?” Good question, friend. Would you jump out of an airplane without a parachute? Didn’t think so. Look at your job as the airplane. Your employer just threw you out of the plane at an altitude of 27,000 feet. Exactly what will get you out of this free fall without a messy landing? Bingo. God is your parachute. God allowed you to lose your job and God is able to give you another.

But first, is there something you want to say to God? Umm. Hmm. Give up? Well, let me ask you this: What do you expect your children to do when they’ve been disobedient to you? Ooh. And, you haven’t been disobedient to just anybody. You’ve been disobedient to the God of the Universe. Ever wonder what those knees were made for? Now you know.

Once you decide to make God the main focus of your life, once you humbly ask for forgiveness for your disobedience, and after you ask God to reveal exactly what it is that He wants you to learn through this terrible situation, then wait patiently for God to begin speaking to you. This usually takes awhile. So be patient. But know this: God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him.

“But if we confess our sins, He will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done.” 1 John 1:9.

God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him. Job 42:7-17.

Come back for my next article in the Series “Happy Endings Do Not Only Exist in Fairy Tales.” I’ll be discussing the importance of the Scriptures in the midst of this calamity you’re in. In the meantime, if you know anyone who could benefit from reading today’s article, please tell them about it. This series is meant to be shared.

If you have a story pertaining to unemployment that you would like shared, please contact me. As Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. said every week on TV when I was a kid, “The names will be changed to protect the innocent.”

To God Be the Glory!

Cynthia Howerter © 2011
Residing in Virginia, Cynthia writes Christian historical fiction and nonfiction. She is a popular guest speaker, recently traveling to New York to speak on this topic.

Review of The Merchant's Daughter by Carrie Fancett Pagels

2011-12-15T11:30:00.000-05:00

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

5 stars~ *****
Zondervan (November, 2011)

Make Time for This Timeless Story!

Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Based upon The Beauty and The Beast, a young woman's family betrays her resulting in her servitude to the new Lord le Wyse. Her brother promises her in marriage to a much older and wicked man who is unsuitable for Annabel. Despite his physical injuries and unstable disposition, the new lord protects the young woman.

Betrayed by his wife, his body mangled by an attack by a wolf, the young lord has his own demons he wrestles with. Annabel yearns for the Word. I cried when I read the beautiful passage by Melanie where this young woman finally gets to read from the Bible herself.

I read this book all in one day. I was sick at the time. I recommend you set time aside to enjoy this story. Beautiful voice, lovely story line, very strong spiritual thread - this has the makings of another Christy nominee (or winner this year!).

Bibliotherapy: Abandonment, betrayal,death of parent, and trust.

Bravo Melanie!!! And I want to mention your wonderful critique partners, too, Debbie Lynne Costello and Linore Rose Burkhard, cited in your acknowledgements. I so enjoyed the opportunity to run around with you gals at the ACFW conference in 2010. God put you all together for a purpose!

GIVEAWAY: We are giving a copy of one of Melanie's books, your choice and format, away this week. Leave your email address with your comment.

Review of The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

2011-12-13T19:00:00.000-05:00

Diana L. Flowers, Senior Reviewer/Contributor

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

5 stars~ *****

Enchanting Read!

In The Merchant's Daughter, Melanie Dickerson has crafted a hauntingly beautiful, medieval tale, reminiscent of the timeless classic The Beauty and The Beast. The setting is 14th century England, a time in which lords and castles, servants and comely village lasses, and superstitious townsfolk abound. Our heroine, Annabel Chapman of Glynval, England, was once the wealthy daughter of a merchant, who died and left her family penniless. To avoid marrying bailiff Tom, a lecher who stalks and terrifies her, she agrees to become a servant to Lord le Wyse, who is equally terrifying, but doesn't allow his servants to be mistreated.

Lord le Wyse is formidable; a man with one eye and numerous scars covering his body, and a disposition that leaves Annabel quaking in his presence. She has heard terrible rumors that the lord turns into a howling wolf at night and roams the woods, and actually sees him in the forest one eve on all fours emitting a gut-wrenching, groaning howl from deep within. What has caused the young lord such anguish of soul and disfigurement in his features?

Annabel wishes only to become a nun and learn the Word of God, and is given an opportunity to read and discuss the Bible with Lord le Wyse before retiring for the night. In those moments she sees the vulnerable, kind man within, filled with despair, hopelessness, and feelings of rejection because of his frightening looks. As Annabel is learning to trust God and let go of her fear, she is violently attacked by someone in the woods at night, and a seemingly endless nightmare ensues. Can the beauty and the beast save one another, by the help of God's grace, or is it too late for both of them?

This book was amazing! I was tossed between wanting to savor it or burn the midnight oil to see what happens next, so I chose a happy medium. The storyline was unpredictable, as it was filled with twists and turns, and I was mesmerized! I especially loved seeing the main characters grow and evolve after reading and studying the Bible. Lord le Wyse is absolutely intriguing, and ladies, I can assure you, though beastly, he will look good in your eyes! I was impressed that the author kept a strong spiritual thread throughout, and what a climactic ending! I am so looking forward to Melanie Dickerson's next novel...it appears she gets better with each one!

GIVEAWAY: We are giving a copy of one of Melanie's books, your choice and format, away this week. Leave your email address with your comment.

Interview with Melanie Dickerson

2011-12-11T20:30:00.000-05:00

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice and of The Merchant’s Daughter.

Interview by Carrie Fancett Pagels

I met Melanie Dickerson through HisWriters, anonline group for those who have either published or planned works with Europeancharacters. I have also been blessed to get to hang out with her at the ACFW conferences.

Melanie, welcome to Overcoming Through Time – WithGod’s Help.

Wouldyou share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had toovercome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one ofyour character’s has had to get past?

Wow, where should Istart, Carrie? LOL! I grew up poor in a very poor area in south Alabama, but itmade me determined to succeed and escape my circumstances. I definitely havethat in common with my heroine, Rose! God blessed me and has brought me throughsome very lonely times into a place of trusting God completely (or at least,complete trust is my goal when I’m not trusting as much as I should). I’mthankful for my husband and two kids, and I have confidence in God that I canovercome anything, any disaster or tragedy, that might come my way. For years Iwas trapped by fear and low self-esteem, but I feel God healing me, and he hashealed me, to a great extent. God is faithful!

One of the mostdifficult things we have gone through as a family is the loss of my husband'sjob over fourteen months ago. Then, on April 27th, our area was hit withseveral tornadoes in one terrible day, but God spared us.In this difficulteconomy, we are clinging to God's assurance that He will provide. He hasprovided, in so many ways, and he has blessed me with seeing my first bookreceive lots of acclaim, including being a finalist for a Christy Award. Andthen a dear friend told me, just days before the ACFW conference, that Godnudged her and told her to help me get to the conference. In a matter of a fewhours, she had raised, through ACFW members, enough money to send me to theconference. I was blown away by my friends’ kindness and generosity, as well aswith God’s provision. God is amazing. Absolutely amazing. But I know manyfamilies out there are suffering like we are with the head of our householdunemployed. It’s hard to see your husband go through this. We certainly are notalone.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

“Cast all your anxiety on him because hecares for you.” I Peter 5:7 This used tobe my favorite verse because I used to be so riddled with anxiety! But as Isaid, God has healed me of this problem, to a great extent.

A current favorite is “It is for freedom thatChrist has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdenedagain by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 Whether you are a slave to sin or a slave to guilt or a slave tolegalism, God wants to set you free in Christ! This is a theme that I have setfor my life, as I have struggled with these things, and still struggle attimes.

And I also love “Be imitators of God,therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christloved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice toGod.” Ephesians 5:1-2 That’s pretty much the whole gospel right there! And whatromance writer doesn’t want to claim the verse that says “live a life of love.”

Disability friendliness:

Is this latest release available in audio format ordo you have any other works available on audio?

Wow, I wish it wasavailable on audio! How cool would that be? It is on Kindle and all the othere-book formats. There is also a large print version available.

What has been the most important thing you hope yourreaders will get from your books and why?

I really hope they will get the message thatJesus is the name above every name, and is more powerful than the darkestpower. I also hope they will see that trusting God and listening to his leadingwill serve them well! God has a wonderful plan for your life if you allow himto work things out. So many times we get in the way because we want our ownway, we think we know best, and we just mess things up. But God loves us and hehas a good plan for us.

Carrie Fancett Pagels and Melanie Dickerson at ACFW Conference

As you researched your books, did you learn anythingthat particularly touched your heart?

I actually was surprised that things haven’tchanged as much as people might think since the middle ages. People alwayswanted love, always wanted to succeed and be happy. That never changed. Peoplealways wanted to connect to God and wanted to learn about him, and that hasn’tchanged either. Emotions and conflicts are the same, but it was also fun towrite in the middle ages because some of their values are different, and theirlaws and society were different, making great fodder for conflict and angst—forany writer with an active imagination!

In this latest work, do you have any topics usefulfor bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder orsituation?

The Merchant’s Daughterdeals a lot with overcoming fear, overcoming feelings of betrayal andrelational pain, and learning to trust God and rejoice in the Lord. I think itcan be helpful for someone who’s going through emotional trauma of some kind.

CFP note: In The Healer's Apprentice, Melanie also addressed these issues: Self esteem, trust, abandonment, adoption.

Thank you Melanie Dickerson for agreeing to answerthese questions. Have a blessed day andkeep on writing!!

Giveaway: Leave your comment and your email for a chance to win a copy of one of Melanie's books!

Isolation and Loneliness and the “Good Intentions” of Others

2011-12-10T09:35:00.001-05:00

Why the Internet and Email Can Minister to Parents ofAutistic Children

Mini Rant by Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D.

The "doctor" is in today! Carrie gets up on her psychologist's and parent's perch.

Just read an announcement in our local paper for a two monthcourse for parents of children with autism. FREE. Great, right? Maybe. I read on. This course wasreported by parents WHO HAD ATTENDED it in another locale to have beenextremely helpful to them. (Translation - Those who managed to get to the meeting to actually finish the course, which could have been - how many???)

Here is how I KNEW this was planned by someone who has NOCLUE what parents of autistic children deal with every night:

1) It is planned in the early evening (SO, theparents will do any homework they have and get to any doctor’s appointmentsthey have prior to that time. AND theywill have put a meal on the table and fed their kids and gathered them up togo.) OOPSIES – hmm, some could stay home with the other parent but YIKES theother parent has divorced the caretaking parent (high rate of divorce amongparents of autistic children as Dr. Doom once explained to me in an almostcheerful voice.) Let us assume there was no divorce. Depending upon the age of the child, andseverity of the condition, if the caregiving parent leaves the autistic childmight become quite agitated and engage in activities that range from mildlyannoying to severely destructive.

2) On a school weeknight, not that weekend would beany better, but IF the children are coming THEN you have a commute to and fromthe meeting, missing homework, and returning home to get ready for a bedtimethat is now LATE. Oh, but that is notthe primary thing. AUTISTIC CHILDREN CRAVE ROUTINE. You have just disruptedtheir routine. Therefore they will be uplater and may not sleep well. In somecases with agitated children they may require medication to help them settle tosleep. In which case they will likely begroggy in the morning.

3) I won’teven go there. So many things are wrongwith this scenario that I am having a hard time imagining who could managethis. Perhaps someone with an entiresupport system of extended family members that the child is accustomed to doingthe caretaking, where the child’s issues are milder, where the school system iscompletely supportive, etc., etc.

In our week with Vannetta Chapman, I reviewed her recentrelease “Falling to Pieces: A Quilt Shop Murder Mystery” in which the heroine,Callie, is a lonely young woman. She is taken in by a trio of warm-heartedAmish quilters with their own issues. One of the women has a child with a rare disease. She is fortunate tolive in a very supportive community lessening the potential impact upon her interms of loneliness. Still, Vannettacatches the nuances of this mother’s pain. These women agree to use the internet to help sell their quilts whichwill pay for medical bills as well.

The web can be a support system for parents of children withautism as well. If a child is havingmeltdowns, one cannot take her or him out in public to do the most basic oftasks. If the child’s odd behaviors arenot so bad, can the parent deal with the looks and comments of strangers whenthe child displays these out in public. When the routine required to keep orderin the household precludes attending spontaneous gatherings with friends, thesocial invitations dwindle to nothing. One huge benefit of the internet is that the isolated parent of a childwith ASD can connect with other parents for support even if they cannot leavethe living room.

When other moms are running off to get their nails done or attendingsuch meetings as mentioned above, the mothers of a child with ASD may be justgrateful to step outside the house, alone, to get a breath of fresh air. Can you be a breath of fresh air to a parentof a child with ASD? Offer to dosomething for them or come alongside of them during this difficult season oftheir lives. And don’t invite them to dosomething that is untenable to do – like attend a couple of months’ worth ofgroup meetings on a weeknight away from their homes towing their special needschild along with them. Well meaning, maybe, ill-informed - definitely.

Diana's Corner - Review of A Simple Amish Christmas by Vannetta Chapman

2011-12-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

A Simply Amish Christmas

by Vannetta Chapman
Abingdon Press (October 2010)

4 stars~ ****
Review by Diana L. Flowers

A Simply Delightful Read!

In A Simply Amish Christmas author Vannetta Chapman invites us on a wonderful holiday to Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, amidst the smell of evergreen boughs, lighted Christmas candles in the windows, and Amish buggy rides in the snow! Annie Miller leaves her Amish home at the age of sixteen to live with her English aunt, and earns her degree in nursing, which is totally frowned upon by the Amish. After being gone from her community for three years, Annie is summoned home to help take care of her father, who has been injured in an accident, and meets up with his best friend, the "grouchy bear of a man" as Annie dubs him, Samuel Yoder.

Samuel Yoder, a widower who lost his wife and child a few years back, is the Amish community's healer, because of his vast knowledge of herbs for medicinal purposes. When Annie arrives and they begin to work together serving the medical needs of the Amish, she sees Samuel as a rude, arrogant man, and sparks begin to fly! As Annie continues to live and work alongside her friends and family, her heart begins to long for God's quiet Spirit to fill her heart once again, knowing that the things she can accomplish on her own will not bring her the serenity she desperately needs. Will she stay and work in her Amish community or return to the hospital in the city, back to the desperately ill children she has grown to love? Will Samuel ever be able to let go of his deceased wife, and learn to find love and happiness again?

Vannetta Chapman's research into the ways and language of the Amish people was very extensive, even though the rules vary from one community to the next. Although, Ms. Chapman's love and respect for the Amish shines through her writing, she doesn't portray them as a perfect people without flaws, for hot tempers and jealousy arise, and even an unwed Amish pregnant girl is depicted in this novel. This was a quick, relaxing read, perfect for that "sitting by the fireplace" time of year, when Jack Frost is nipping at your nose!

Very nicely done, Vanetta Chapman!

Review of Falling to Pieces by Vannetta Chapman

2011-12-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Falling to Pieces A Shipshewanna Amish Mystery Series
by Vannetta Chapman
Zondervan (2011)

Five Stars *****

Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Callie is a young widow who comes to Shippshewanna after herbeloved aunt dies. Auntie owned a quilt shop and several Amish women arereliant upon her to sell their quilts. One of the women has a significant needfor the funds as she has a child with a rare illness. Callie is a spunky woman from a big city in Texas suddenlyin small town Indiana. A real fish out of water. But as the story progresses one senses shewas a goldfish swimming in the ocean who needed to be in a tank, required thecozy closeness that provided. Lovely job of dropping that into the story overtime. The Amish quilters are lovely women,each with distinct voices that are also unlike most other Amish stories I haveheard.

Callie hasn’t gotten over the loss of her husband, in factdoesn’t even share this with her new friends until very late in the book. She is an endearing character despite herprickly behavior, which furthers the story line, especially when she becomesthe prime suspect in a murder. This is not a romance but there are a couple ofromantic possibilities. By the end of the story we have a real possibility fora boyfriend in the next book, which I am looking forward to reading/listeningto!

This was a great Christmas season listen because it a) hasan easy tempo b) has an excellent narrator (amazingly she sounds almost exactlylike the real Vannetta Chapman!) c) it’s like having a girlfriend in your roomwith you telling you the story d) while it is a suspense/mystery it has a cozyfeel and is not knuckle whitening – I mean who needs that this time of year? Ithas a soothing quality to it despite the suspense and the murder mystery. Itmay be one of the first women’s fiction reads I’ve read in a long time, butVannetta’s book almost defies genres.

I plan to listen to this book again sometime as I reallyliked it and it has the qualities of a repeat listen - great voice, characterization, and pleasing story line.

Bibliotherapy: Loneliness, estrangement, grieving, childwith a rare disease, and friendships.

Formats: I listened through http://audible.com and it is available in paperback, ebook (e.g., Kindle), and audio.

Giveaway: Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of oneof Vannetta’s books this week.

Interview with Vannetta Chapman

2011-12-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

Interview by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Vannetta Chapman of Texas is the author of Falling toPieces (Zondervan) and

A SimpleAmish Christmas (Abingdon Press).

I met Vannettathrough ACFW and have enjoyed the time I have spent talking with her atconferences, particularly this year’s meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. Vannettais represented by Mary Sue Seymour.

Vannetta,welcome to Overcoming Through Time – With God’s Help!

Would you share either the most difficult thingin your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragicsituation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

Callie Harperfinds herself completely alone when she inherits her aunt's shop inShipshewana, Indiana. Like many young women today, Callie is successfulprofessionally, but her circle of friends (and family) has grown smaller eachyear. So her difficulty lies in her isolation.

I'vecertainly experienced this isolation before, and it's a hard thing to gothrough, but God puts people in our lives for just such times. And God putsCallie in Shipshewana where she meets three women—three AMISH women--who become her friends. They arefriends that she is going to need because it won't be long before she becomesthe prime suspect in a murder.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

Jeremiah29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you ..."

This versehas always encouraged me. It assures me that no matter how dark or depressingthe present looks, no matter how much I've managed to bungle things up, God isin control, and HIS plans for me are good.

Disability friendliness:

Yes, it is inaudio format (download) and it will be released in January (I believe) in largeprint as well.

What has been the most important thing you hopeyour readers will get from your books and why?

Hope andgrace. Life can be difficult and hard at time, and we all need to be remindedof the message of God's hope and his grace for us. You know, this isn't justsomething the preacher tells us on Sunday and then we go back to struggling onMonday ... it's as real as the bread in the breadbox, and there have been timeswhen I had very little of that. But God's hope for us is unlimited and hisgrace never ends. It's sufficient.

As you researched your books, did you learnanything that particularly touched your heart?

Yes. Ilearned that the Amish folk are common, friendly people and that they live outtheir faith and their belief in Jesus to the best of their ability. It was veryencouraging for me.

In this latest work, do you have any topicsuseful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about adisorder or situation?

There is ahandicapped child you will come to know in this story ... and although hisdisease is somewhat rare, especially in our culture, I think it's the way wedeal with disability that is important. The Amish very much embracedisabilities and illness and God's will and not as something to be mourned orquestioned. Their faith is quite childlike and I am learning a lot from them.

Thank you Vannettafor agreeing to answer these questions. Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Thank you!

GIVEAWAY: We have this interview and two reviews up this week and will be doing a giveaway of a book on Saturday. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy ofone of Vannetta’s books in your choice of format (and an email address so we can reach you!)

Baker Mills Kodiak Cakes - Fun Stuff! Giveaway Winners

2011-12-04T02:30:00.000-05:00

Serena Miller shared the following in comments on Diana's review:

There have been so many comments about the meals at the lumber camp making readers hungry, I've decided to share my deep, dark, cooking secret.

I have no earthly idea how to make a decent flapjack from scratch.

Oh, I've tried. I wanted to create a tasty, healthy, whole-grain product. To that end, I tried concoction after concoction but everything I made was heavy and flat. My family ate them, but they weren't real happy about it.

Then I discovered Baker Mills Kodiak Cakes on an end cap at Big Lots about a month ago. The front of the box says "Frontier Flapjack and Waffle Mix. All natural whole wheat, oats & honey. Add water only."

Never heard of them, but I bought one box out of curiosity. I mean, I found them at BIG LOTS! How good could they possibly be, right? And add water only? The only pancakes I had ever made with an "add water only" on the front tasted like wallpaper paste.

To make a long story even longer--after one bite of those flapjacks, I headed right back out the door and cleared out Big Lots end cap. My d-i-l drove to a neighboring town and we cleared out THAT Big Lots store as well. The boxes are all now residing in my freezer.

Here's the thing--these flapjacks are the best I've ever tasted. Whole-grain wheat flour, whole-grain oat flour, non-fat dry milk, honey, egg whites, salt, and leavening. That's it. No weird ingredients. Even my ultra-picky eight-year-old grandson scarfs them down and asks for seconds. (He obviously hasn't caught on to the fact that they're good for him) I was so afraid of running out of my flapjack stash this winter, that I was relieved when I went to their website www.kodiakcakes.com and found out that I could order them direct from the company.

Now here's the REAL surprise! At the New York Fancy Foods show--which has about 10,000 new products each year--Weight Watchers chose these flapjacks as one of their TOP TEN favorite foods and give them a 1 point rating per 4-inch flapjack. How about that? You can eat a stack of them without feeling guilty.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own stock in this company, nor am I related to any of the owners, and this was not a paid public announcement! (CFP: Nor me!)

Link to order a pack of three through Amazon, price including shipping was under $14. I think Diana put that on Santa's list, too ;) !! I ordered a 6 pack for my bunch.

Followup comment by Serena:

Well, when I checked out the site to give you all the contact information, I went ahead and wrote a little "thank you" to the company, and told them about my book and my failure to come up with something near to what my lumber camp cook would have made. I did NOT expect to get a reply.

BUT last evening, I got an e-mail from the Kodiak Flapjacks people--a Cameron Smith--thanking me for my post and saying that they had just ordered The Measure Of Katie Calloway from Amazon and was going to make it mandatory reading for everyone who worked there. He also offered to send me some free boxes of the flapjack mix as a thank-you.

Since I already have a year's worth of this yummy product--I shot back a reply asking if, instead, we could give away whatever amount he was going to send ME to use as a prize for some of YOU!

I had already contacted Carrie to see if she thought it was a good idea, and she loved it.

Unfortunately, I think he must not work on Saturday. I haven't gotten a reply today although I've been checking about every half-hour. I'm hoping for one on Monday.

Anyway, I just thought it would be so neat if I could offer a bonus prize to thank all of you for your wonderful comments and encouragement this week.

So what I want to do--if it is still okay with Carrie--is to go ahead and do two more drawings and giveaways. I'll guarantee mailing a box of Kodiak Flapjack mix to two different winners as a small thank you for an amazing week. If Kodiak decides to kick in whatever they were intending to send to me, that will be just that much better. And no--I won't be taking the two boxes from my freezer stash (lol) I'll have them sent straight from the company to you.

So Carrie and Diana--if you don't mind cranking up the random.org selection process two more times--I would appreciate it.

And thank all of you, once again, for welcoming me so warmly onto this site!

THANKS SERENA - WE ARE GONNA MISS YOU!!!

Winners this week for books were: Nora St. Laurent and Kathy Maher. Congrats you two! Am going to random.org, again right now for two more winners - pancake mix, yum.

Introducing: Reviews by Teresa Mathews - Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio by Serena B. Miller

2011-12-02T03:30:00.000-05:00

Love Finds You In Sugarcreek, Ohio

By Serena B. Miller

5 Stars *****

Beautiful Amish Story With A Twist!

Review by Teresa Mathews

Serena weaves a beautiful story of Rachel Troyer, a policewoman and Joe Matthews, a mysterious drifter. Joe arrives in town with his young son Bobby after his van breaks down. Not having enough money for the repair since someone has stolen his wallet, he needs to find a job and a place to stay. Joe is led to a small Inn that is run by Rachel’s three elderly aunts, who happen to be Amish. Rachel has her suspicions that Joe is running from something, and she wants to find out what before her trusting aunts are possibly harmed.

Rachel’s aunts feel God has led Joe and Bobby to them for a reason, so they offer Joe a job as handyman to help fix up the Inn. The longer Joe stays the more he begins to love the peaceful and quiet life of the Amish, going so far as to think he might make his stay permanent. Rachel slowly warms up to Joe, seeing what her aunts have seen in Joe all along. Although she still has some doubts, when she finally figures out about his past, she understands the reason behind his secretive ways.

When someone finds out about Joe’s secret and betrays him, he knows he has to leave but before he does he severs ties with Rachel, thinking she is the betrayer. But in spite of that, she helps him leave town by giving him her car and some money. After much prayer he realizes he must face his past and go back and claim his future with Rachel and her Amish family. But there is someone who doesn’t want that to happen. When terrible things start to happen to the people he cares for, he knows his past has caught up him.

This is a wonderful story that blends the lives of the Amish and “Englishers” and keeps you turning the pages in anticipation. I truly did not want to put it down. I have always loved a good Amish read and this one did not disappoint. Serena did a marvelous job, this is one is definitely a must-read for all.

Bio: Teresa Mathews is a Christian mom from South Carolina who loves to read Christian books. We are so pleased that she has decided to join us as a contributor on Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help after the new year. Welcome, Teresa, from Diana and Carrie!!!

GIVEAWAY: We are giving away two of Serena's books this week. Reader's choice and format. Leave a comment and your email address. Thanks for stopping by!

Diana's Corner - Book Review of The Measure of Katie Calloway

2011-11-30T03:07:00.000-05:00

The Measure of Katie Calloway

by Serena Miller

Revell 2011

5 stars~ *****

Review by Diana L. Flowers

A "TREE''MENDOUS READ!

In The Measure of Katie Calloway, Serena Miller takes us on an arduous journey beginning in post civil war-ravaged Georgia to a lumber camp in Bay City, Michigan. Katie falls in love with and marries the handsome and charming, Harlan Calloway, a graduate from West Point, the sole heir of Fallen Oaks Plantation in Georgia.

As Sherman and his Union troops burn down everything in their pathway, Fallen Oaks is destroyed, leaving only a small cabin for Katie, her little brother, Ned, and Harlan, to inhabit. After the war, Harlan, turns to alcohol, and beats Katie severely, until one day fearful for her very life, she runs away, taking Ned and a small bag of coins with her, determined to get as far away as the money will take her.

She ends up in the beauful logging country of Michigan, and meets Robert Foster, owner of a lumber camp and desperately in need of a cook for his men.

Robert Foster is a kind and fair man; good to his "shanty boys" as the loggers were called, but a man who carries a deep burden of guilt for not being with his wife when she died giving birth. He, too, was on the battlefield, and saw tremendous atrocities such as couldn't be uttered, and he carries a secret that no one knows. Does Katie find out what it is by reading an old journal she finds of Robert's? And what about the secret she is keeping from him - the fact that she is not a widow, but a married woman.

Katie's work is backbreaking, and she must get up at two in the morning to begin feeding the shanty boys. Gruff on the outside, but with hearts of gold, they all grow to love Katie, and of course, her wonderful cooking! Robert Foster is falling in love with her as well, but Katie fights their growing attraction, as she is still married, and fearful of Harlan finding her.

Add a terrible forest fire that could destroy the whole 680 acre camp, a starving Indian woman with her baby, and a once runaway slave, to the budding, but forbidden romance, and you have one more exciting tale!

Serena Miller's novel is laced with humor (I laughed outright at some of the episodes), but she covers some pretty heavy issues; slavery, spousal abuse, and post traumatic stress disorder, to name a few. Her extensive research into the lumber business taught me alot, and her realistic setting had me actually smelling the scent of spruce and freshly sawed white pine trees. I loved her secondary characters, and still miss the rough spoken and malodorous, but protective and loving shanty boys.

*One word of warning-Do not read this book while hungry, because Ms. Miller's many descriptions of the delectable, mouth watering meals that Katie concocts, will have you craving food and running to the kitchen..mmm.:) Wonderful novel, Serena Miller, and I am wholeheartedly looking forward to the next one!

Giveaway: Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this book in either Kindle or paperback version, your choice!