The past few weeks I have been hitting the marketing trail hard and scheduling events for the Fall season.However, the best events are the ones that occur when a coordinator of an event phones me and sets it up. I love that. No begging...no pleading...no sweating and getting up the nerve to call...I move heaven and earth to do those events.
Honestly, if you have need of someone to do a program for you group or company, I can do it. My needs are simple: I need to be able to have my books available for sale. That is it. Give me a call or contact me on my web page. http://elainelittau.com
This week I am interviewing Joy Bowser.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Joy Bowser - A Wife and a Witness
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
That I am a real person with real problems and real struggles.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
Not sure, it just kind of happened.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I write like I talk. I'm straightforward and terribly honest, be it good or bad.
5. Are you a reader?
Yes!
6. What are you reading right now?
I like Inspirational Romances and I love history also.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication?Tell about it.
I'd like my next book to be A Mom and A Mentor but I'm still living that one!
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them? Time and study!
9. Please put a description of each of your books here.
But in all things we overwhelmingly conquer through him that loved us. Romans 8:37
Because she fell in love, Joy Bowser chose to marry a man who was not a Christian, and in the uplifting A Wife and a Witness, she provides insight for other Christian wives who face the same challenge. A Wife and a Witness is the story of one couple’s struggle to follow Christ together. Join Christian author Joy Bowser as she fearlessly shares her marital experiences in order that readers might be encouraged and inspired by her candid vulnerability. Whether you are a Christian whose husband isn’t a believer, or a wife desiring to improve your relationship with your spouse this book is for you! A Wife and a Witness outlines specific Biblical concepts to help build a stronger marriage especially if your spouse is not saved, and profound insight into what is necessary to keep your trust in the Lord, allowing him to work in your day- to- day life and in your home.
Joy Bowser is a Sunday school teacher, wife, mother and grandmother. Joy lives in Liberty Center, Ohio, with her husband, Bill. Bill and Joy have raised three daughters together. Joy has been a Brownie leader, softball coach, genealogy volunteer, and president of various organizations.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here. http://www.myspace.com/490969833
Thank you Joy. This was a great interview. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These was interesting people!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
I Always Fall in Love in the Fall
I always fall in love in the Fall.
Thirty-five years ago I left my little house in my little Texas panhandle town and went to a little Bible College. The year was 1974. I drove to one of my good friend's house and picked her up along with her stuff and we headed to Baxter Springs, Kansas to the Apostolic Faith Bible College. We were very excited to be all grown up and on our own. When we registered we realized that we were in different dorms but we made the best of it.
I carried a basket full of her stuff to her dorm and the heel of my shoe got caught in a massive crack on the sidewalk. I fell with a great flourish of stuff and basket. Looking up to see if my grace was noticed by anyone, I saw Terry Littau sitting on the hood of his car with a very pretty girl named Priscilla. Boy was I embarrassed. They didn't say a word.
Picking myself up and realizing that my knee was scraped and bleeding, I smiled weakly and said, "I believe I met you last month at Camp meeting didn't I?"
Terry responded. "I don't remember you."
Can you imagine how I felt? "Oh well, I think school is going to be fun. See y'all later."
I went to my dorm room and swore I would never come out again. That is until I met a really sweet girl named Elva Lu. She told me to call her Lulu. She had the confidence that I lacked and we spent the rest of the month laughing the day away. The next month she had to go home to Hempstead, TX because she was ill. I will never forget her. I missed her like crazy.
Back to Terry...His memory got better. He took me out a couple of times and then asked me to marry him. Six months later we were married. Every year when the weather changes and the mornings air is brisk and sweet, I think of falling for my true love. Going to Bible College was one of the best things that ever happened to me.
Since we have been married Terry has learned that whenever there is an opportunity for someone to fall, that would usually be me. He declared that I am accident prone...He is right. I fell for him in the fall.
This week I am interviewing Angela Harris.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Dance in the Rain: His Joy Comes in the Mourning
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
Its hard to pick one. I have a very fun and blessed life. I'm a twin. My best friend and I have known each other since kindergarten. My 12 yr old son has already scuba dived with sharks, and my 14 yr old daughter is in training to be a professional ballet dancer.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
I don't know if there was ever a specific time. I've always loved writing. It became a dream to be published in 1998 after this book began pouring out of my heart.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I write from my heart. I'm not afraid to deal with hard topics or situations, in fact, they fuel me to dig deeper.
5. Are you a reader?
I read in phases. A lot or not at all. The Bible, always.
6. What are you reading right now?
Home school curriculum honestly. My husband and I home school, so I've been gearing up for the year. Have read some of my son's 7th grade required novel over the summer as a refresher.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I think every author has another book, we all have stories to tell. I am working on a novel, another bible study, and a book looking at specific behavior/belief trends in church attending men and women.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Time. Also, I get bored and easily distracted. I haven't decided if working on more than one project is helpful or not. It helps with variety for sure but other than that, the jury is still out. I write a lot at night, when I should be sleeping, but it's when ideas flow. I try just to embrace it as it comes. I have a tape recorder by my bed because without fail as soon as I lay my head down, there is always a thought.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here.
Have you lost someone significant in your life?
Do you feel swallowed up by sorrow?
Are you trying to find the purpose and plan for your life so you can move forward?
Where is God now?
Why did He allow this to happen?
What if the person I love is not in heaven?
So many painful thoughts surround those hurting from a loss. Those in the midst of such pan-come. Journey with author Angela A Dockter-Harris as she guides you through the healing process.This book is a two part book. Part one is a journal which can be personalized to each loss or situation. Includes journal sections for: spouse, child, (infant, miscarriage, stillborn, toddler, or adult), grandparent, parent, sibling, friend.
Also includes a very special section for someone facing death--such as a terminal illness or perhaps a military member facing deployment and unsure of the future. A person can fill out this journal section as a gift to leave for a loved one.
The second half of the book is a bible study. The bible study looks in-depth at sorrow and suffering, anger, acceptance, making amends, letting go, finding purpose, discovering a personal story from the pain and moving forward. Discusses how to find God in the midst of such pain. The bible study also addresses concerns for people who believe in heaven and the concern of dealing with uncertainty of a loved ones eternal decision. This book focuses on making amends, so it can be used in the loss of strained or broken relationships, not just death. This book can be filled out and used/given as a gift, not just after death of a loved one, but to help in the death and dying process to bring open communication and healing. Great for mature teens (with adult guidance recommended) up through adult. Good tool for counselor, lay people, pastors, etc. You can experience hope and healing during mourning.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
I haven't been blogging for long-- and I write on a variety of topics that are different pieces of who I am. It surprises a lot of people who know just a specific part of me, but those who know me know that I'm all over the map so to speak. I've actually blogged very little about the book, which I even find ironic. angelaadockterharris.wordpress.com My book is available through Tate Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Noble. etc....
Thirty-five years ago I left my little house in my little Texas panhandle town and went to a little Bible College. The year was 1974. I drove to one of my good friend's house and picked her up along with her stuff and we headed to Baxter Springs, Kansas to the Apostolic Faith Bible College. We were very excited to be all grown up and on our own. When we registered we realized that we were in different dorms but we made the best of it.
I carried a basket full of her stuff to her dorm and the heel of my shoe got caught in a massive crack on the sidewalk. I fell with a great flourish of stuff and basket. Looking up to see if my grace was noticed by anyone, I saw Terry Littau sitting on the hood of his car with a very pretty girl named Priscilla. Boy was I embarrassed. They didn't say a word.
Picking myself up and realizing that my knee was scraped and bleeding, I smiled weakly and said, "I believe I met you last month at Camp meeting didn't I?"
Terry responded. "I don't remember you."
Can you imagine how I felt? "Oh well, I think school is going to be fun. See y'all later."
I went to my dorm room and swore I would never come out again. That is until I met a really sweet girl named Elva Lu. She told me to call her Lulu. She had the confidence that I lacked and we spent the rest of the month laughing the day away. The next month she had to go home to Hempstead, TX because she was ill. I will never forget her. I missed her like crazy.
Back to Terry...His memory got better. He took me out a couple of times and then asked me to marry him. Six months later we were married. Every year when the weather changes and the mornings air is brisk and sweet, I think of falling for my true love. Going to Bible College was one of the best things that ever happened to me.
Since we have been married Terry has learned that whenever there is an opportunity for someone to fall, that would usually be me. He declared that I am accident prone...He is right. I fell for him in the fall.
This week I am interviewing Angela Harris.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Dance in the Rain: His Joy Comes in the Mourning
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
Its hard to pick one. I have a very fun and blessed life. I'm a twin. My best friend and I have known each other since kindergarten. My 12 yr old son has already scuba dived with sharks, and my 14 yr old daughter is in training to be a professional ballet dancer.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
I don't know if there was ever a specific time. I've always loved writing. It became a dream to be published in 1998 after this book began pouring out of my heart.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I write from my heart. I'm not afraid to deal with hard topics or situations, in fact, they fuel me to dig deeper.
5. Are you a reader?
I read in phases. A lot or not at all. The Bible, always.
6. What are you reading right now?
Home school curriculum honestly. My husband and I home school, so I've been gearing up for the year. Have read some of my son's 7th grade required novel over the summer as a refresher.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I think every author has another book, we all have stories to tell. I am working on a novel, another bible study, and a book looking at specific behavior/belief trends in church attending men and women.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Time. Also, I get bored and easily distracted. I haven't decided if working on more than one project is helpful or not. It helps with variety for sure but other than that, the jury is still out. I write a lot at night, when I should be sleeping, but it's when ideas flow. I try just to embrace it as it comes. I have a tape recorder by my bed because without fail as soon as I lay my head down, there is always a thought.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here.
Have you lost someone significant in your life?
Do you feel swallowed up by sorrow?
Are you trying to find the purpose and plan for your life so you can move forward?
Where is God now?
Why did He allow this to happen?
What if the person I love is not in heaven?
So many painful thoughts surround those hurting from a loss. Those in the midst of such pan-come. Journey with author Angela A Dockter-Harris as she guides you through the healing process.This book is a two part book. Part one is a journal which can be personalized to each loss or situation. Includes journal sections for: spouse, child, (infant, miscarriage, stillborn, toddler, or adult), grandparent, parent, sibling, friend.
Also includes a very special section for someone facing death--such as a terminal illness or perhaps a military member facing deployment and unsure of the future. A person can fill out this journal section as a gift to leave for a loved one.
The second half of the book is a bible study. The bible study looks in-depth at sorrow and suffering, anger, acceptance, making amends, letting go, finding purpose, discovering a personal story from the pain and moving forward. Discusses how to find God in the midst of such pain. The bible study also addresses concerns for people who believe in heaven and the concern of dealing with uncertainty of a loved ones eternal decision. This book focuses on making amends, so it can be used in the loss of strained or broken relationships, not just death. This book can be filled out and used/given as a gift, not just after death of a loved one, but to help in the death and dying process to bring open communication and healing. Great for mature teens (with adult guidance recommended) up through adult. Good tool for counselor, lay people, pastors, etc. You can experience hope and healing during mourning.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
I haven't been blogging for long-- and I write on a variety of topics that are different pieces of who I am. It surprises a lot of people who know just a specific part of me, but those who know me know that I'm all over the map so to speak. I've actually blogged very little about the book, which I even find ironic. angelaadockterharris.wordpress.com My book is available through Tate Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Noble. etc....
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
"Farraday Road" by Ace Collins
Farraday Road by Ace Collins is published by Zondervan. It is a fiction/Christian/suspense novel. When I got my box of books from Zondervan to read and review I looked through the titles and decided to begin with a fiction. My brain was too tired to learn from a Bible study book. I have to have a fresh mind to read instructional books else it is like a steel shield is held over my head to deflect any ideas that try to enter.
So much for that! I opened this book and was launched within the first pages into a murder on a muddy mountain road. It was supposed to be a double homicide, but the local attorney lived to solve the mystery of who his wife's killer was. The story line has as many twists and turns as an Arkansas mountain road. You have to stay on your toes to keep up. It was a good read and refreshing to my tired mind. (Notice I did not say feeble mind.)
You may purchase this book at http://ZONDERVAN.com
So much for that! I opened this book and was launched within the first pages into a murder on a muddy mountain road. It was supposed to be a double homicide, but the local attorney lived to solve the mystery of who his wife's killer was. The story line has as many twists and turns as an Arkansas mountain road. You have to stay on your toes to keep up. It was a good read and refreshing to my tired mind. (Notice I did not say feeble mind.)
You may purchase this book at http://ZONDERVAN.com
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Authors and Other Stuff
Mikey, my son, called and told us that he and Cari had been talking to Maci, our 2 yr old granddaughter. It went like this:
"Maci, do you know that you have a middle name?"
"No"
"Your name is Maci Hope."
"Maci ope?"
"Yes, Maci Hope Littau"
"Maci ope itta?"
They then had lunch the next day and Cari was sitting there. Mikey said to Maci,
"Maci, do you remember your whole name?"
"Maci ope itta." She declared.
Mikey said, "Yes, I am a Littau, Mommy is a Littau, Mee Mee and Pea Paw are Littau."
"OOOOOOh"
Cari said, "Mam ma and Paw paw are not Littau, they are Warren."
Maci grabbed her by the face. One palm on each cheek and said, "That's too much!"
I hope you are enjoying getting to know about the authors I have been interviewing. These people are inspiring to me.
I have "met" most of them through facebook and the Tate Publishing fan page. This week I am interviewing Esther LoPresto
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
My name is Esther LoPresto and my book is “Where’s My Other Sock?”
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I am usually a quiet person, but I can be very random. In addition to being a writer, I am a dancer, and a flutist. I graduated in 2007 and I am in community college working on my associate’s degree in accounting. With all these things going on, writing is a great stress reliever.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
Well, I have always enjoyed making up stories since I was about three years old. As time went on and others encouraged my writing, I dreamed of seeing my works published. In high school, I found that I liked accounting and decided to major in it in college. During my second year, I had a professor that made the concepts so difficult that I became discouraged. With only one class remaining for my degree, I plan to finish it, but the contract from Tate has encouraged me to write more than ever. I hope to write as long as the ideas come and as the King’s scribe, my only hope is to write the words He wants to be read.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?Much like the filming of a movie, I write out of sequence. Usually, I see an interesting scene in my head and start from there, molding the story around that point no matter where it winds up in the finished product. I’m also pretty picky about proper grammar and punctuation, etc. It bothers my friends, but editors seem to like it.
5. Are you a reader?
I think I love reading more than writing! My favorite categories would be fantasy and mystery, but I’ve been getting a little bit into thrillers too. Anything that puts me on the edge of my seat, or makes me think (or both) will find its way to my shelves.
6. What are you reading right now?At the moment, I’m in the middle of a Brandilyn Collins mystery.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I’m constantly making notes on various ideas that might make a good story and I have several works in progress. To explain them would take awhile and I’m pretty private about them until I feel I need an outside opinion. After awhile, you may notice that I use “legends” quite frequently in reference to myself or my stories. This is my biggest project. It is an allegorical fantasy trilogy about life’s trials and faith in the One True King..
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Motivation and time. Ideas come to me at very obscure times: right before falling asleep; walking through a store; in the shower; while reading another book; listening to music, just to name a few. Also, in my last year as a teenager, I find myself using every excuse possible to procrastinate. Then, when I finally do sit down to write, and I get stuck, I feel like giving up. That’s where I am with my next story: stuck and not sure how to continue. But once that obstacle is defeated, I find out where the story is taking me and have a lot of fun with it.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here.
Two socks go into the washer, only one comes out of the dryer... Tori never could have imagined the cause of her missing socks. But one day, after finishing a load of laundry, she started hearing voices in the basement. The voices discussed stealing her family's socks! She knew she had to get to the bottom of this mystery. After her brother calls her crazy, Tori recruits the help of her friends, Sally and Suzie. Together, they learn of secret alliances and sinister plots taking place literally under their feet. The only way to uncover the truth is to send their faithful pets into an unknown world linked directly to the dryer. Join Tori and her friends on this journey to a strange place where they encounter the most unlikely creatures and ultimately answer the question “Where's my other sock?”
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
My book is still in the publishing process, but when it becomes available, information will be on my blog. Readers can email legends149@gmail.com and my blog is Ramblings of a Random wRiter found at http://legendsofxenos.blogspot.com
p://www.facebook.com/pages/Esther-LoPresto/127908277538
Enjoy!
To see other author interviews go to
http://nansjourney.blogspot.com
See you next week. I hope you enjoyed this.
"Maci, do you know that you have a middle name?"
"No"
"Your name is Maci Hope."
"Maci ope?"
"Yes, Maci Hope Littau"
"Maci ope itta?"
They then had lunch the next day and Cari was sitting there. Mikey said to Maci,
"Maci, do you remember your whole name?"
"Maci ope itta." She declared.
Mikey said, "Yes, I am a Littau, Mommy is a Littau, Mee Mee and Pea Paw are Littau."
"OOOOOOh"
Cari said, "Mam ma and Paw paw are not Littau, they are Warren."
Maci grabbed her by the face. One palm on each cheek and said, "That's too much!"
I hope you are enjoying getting to know about the authors I have been interviewing. These people are inspiring to me.
I have "met" most of them through facebook and the Tate Publishing fan page. This week I am interviewing Esther LoPresto
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
My name is Esther LoPresto and my book is “Where’s My Other Sock?”
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I am usually a quiet person, but I can be very random. In addition to being a writer, I am a dancer, and a flutist. I graduated in 2007 and I am in community college working on my associate’s degree in accounting. With all these things going on, writing is a great stress reliever.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
Well, I have always enjoyed making up stories since I was about three years old. As time went on and others encouraged my writing, I dreamed of seeing my works published. In high school, I found that I liked accounting and decided to major in it in college. During my second year, I had a professor that made the concepts so difficult that I became discouraged. With only one class remaining for my degree, I plan to finish it, but the contract from Tate has encouraged me to write more than ever. I hope to write as long as the ideas come and as the King’s scribe, my only hope is to write the words He wants to be read.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?Much like the filming of a movie, I write out of sequence. Usually, I see an interesting scene in my head and start from there, molding the story around that point no matter where it winds up in the finished product. I’m also pretty picky about proper grammar and punctuation, etc. It bothers my friends, but editors seem to like it.
5. Are you a reader?
I think I love reading more than writing! My favorite categories would be fantasy and mystery, but I’ve been getting a little bit into thrillers too. Anything that puts me on the edge of my seat, or makes me think (or both) will find its way to my shelves.
6. What are you reading right now?At the moment, I’m in the middle of a Brandilyn Collins mystery.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I’m constantly making notes on various ideas that might make a good story and I have several works in progress. To explain them would take awhile and I’m pretty private about them until I feel I need an outside opinion. After awhile, you may notice that I use “legends” quite frequently in reference to myself or my stories. This is my biggest project. It is an allegorical fantasy trilogy about life’s trials and faith in the One True King..
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Motivation and time. Ideas come to me at very obscure times: right before falling asleep; walking through a store; in the shower; while reading another book; listening to music, just to name a few. Also, in my last year as a teenager, I find myself using every excuse possible to procrastinate. Then, when I finally do sit down to write, and I get stuck, I feel like giving up. That’s where I am with my next story: stuck and not sure how to continue. But once that obstacle is defeated, I find out where the story is taking me and have a lot of fun with it.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here.
Two socks go into the washer, only one comes out of the dryer... Tori never could have imagined the cause of her missing socks. But one day, after finishing a load of laundry, she started hearing voices in the basement. The voices discussed stealing her family's socks! She knew she had to get to the bottom of this mystery. After her brother calls her crazy, Tori recruits the help of her friends, Sally and Suzie. Together, they learn of secret alliances and sinister plots taking place literally under their feet. The only way to uncover the truth is to send their faithful pets into an unknown world linked directly to the dryer. Join Tori and her friends on this journey to a strange place where they encounter the most unlikely creatures and ultimately answer the question “Where's my other sock?”
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
My book is still in the publishing process, but when it becomes available, information will be on my blog. Readers can email legends149@gmail.com and my blog is Ramblings of a Random wRiter found at http://legendsofxenos.blogspot.com
p://www.facebook.com/pages/Esther-LoPresto/127908277538
Enjoy!
To see other author interviews go to
http://nansjourney.blogspot.com
See you next week. I hope you enjoyed this.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
You Were Born For This by Bruce Wilkinson
You Were Born For This by Bruce Wilkenson was a very good read. On the cover it says, "7 Keys to a Life of Predictable Miracles." This book details how you can open yourself up to live in a way that God can use you as a funnel to deliver miracles from His hand. One of the things that struck me is that I have to get out of my own skin and look around for someone who may be in need of something from God.
Mr. Wilkenson touches on four areas that all of us have concerns about. Part 4 challenged me a lot. It dealt with money, realizing dreams, and forgiveness. I believe that "You Were Born for This" will have the same impact in our world as "The Prayer of Jabez". Have a look at this video!
http://bit.ly/wGT7l Order from http://randomhouse.com/ I have a copy of this book to give to the first person who contacts me and requests it.
Expect miracles in your life!
Elaine Littau, author of Nan's Journey & Elk's Resolve
Mr. Wilkenson touches on four areas that all of us have concerns about. Part 4 challenged me a lot. It dealt with money, realizing dreams, and forgiveness. I believe that "You Were Born for This" will have the same impact in our world as "The Prayer of Jabez". Have a look at this video!
http://bit.ly/wGT7l Order from http://randomhouse.com/ I have a copy of this book to give to the first person who contacts me and requests it.
Expect miracles in your life!
Elaine Littau, author of Nan's Journey & Elk's Resolve
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Busy Season Begins
This Saturday I have a book signing at Liberal, Kansas at the Hastings Book store. September 12 from 1-3 p.m.
Hastings stores are very active stores so this is going to be fun.
As you see I have a few things scheduled and I am really happy about the events. I will always try to squeeze in more though.
I am continuing with featuring Tate Publishing and Enterprise Authors. I have "met" most of them through facebook and the Tate Publishing fan page. In the following weeks you will have the opportunity so see the dedication and heart each person puts in their writing. This week I am interviewing Richard Nance and Rhonda Roth.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Richard Nance and Rhonda Roth, The Hidden World Chronicles Book 1, Journey of the Chosen
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
Who or what we are and where did this book come from
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
About 1963. Only realized I had the time after retirement.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
Keeping the reader going from page one to the last. Getting the readers to relate to the characters. The books are
like watching a good movie that you don't want to end.
5. Are you a reader?
Have been for sixty years. Many good books out there.
6. What are you reading right now?
Fireproof, having a hard time finishing it.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
Yes The Dragon Princess, which is book three in our series.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
I'm sorry but it comes easy to me. Only time is my biggest problem. The biggest thing is to know where you are going but not let the reader know, only give vague hints.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here.
BACK OF BOOK:
Richard Nance with the help of his youngest daughter Rhonda Roth has created a whole new genre of fiction. This unique work, The Hidden World Chronicles Book 1, Journey of the Chosen takes you on a breathtaking ride through all the secret and covert centers of our world. When Dr. Charles Jennings and his co-worker, Sarah Parker uncover a strange discovery in an obscure temple in Tibet, they are instantly whisked away to a government facility where they are sure they will be tossed into prison. What they find is an operation kept secret for centuries. These secrets eventuallly lead Dr. Charles Jennings and Dr. Sarah Parketr, along with three others, to a hidden world that some believed to only exist in myth or spiritual realms. These adventures were made known in a journal left in the faithful hands of a man named Gavin Graham, who has been chosen by Charles to carry on a mysterious legacy begun years ago. Gavin was inexorably drawn in to the complications of an epic battle between good and evil simply by touching the hand of Charles when he was a child when Charles first returned from the Hidden World. With a dazzling incorporation of numerous genres and a challenging mystery to be solved, don't be surprised if at the end of this book you will ask yourself just what your part will be in the saga of The Hidden World Chronicles.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
Journey of the Chosen can be found at all major book sellers or on the internet at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Target.com, Borders.com, or directly from the publisher at tatepublishing.com. Signed copies can be purched directly from me through our web site below.
... www.thehiddenworldchronicles.com ...
Enjoy the web site and send us an e-mail from there. Don't forget to turn up the sound, it adds drama to the site. or e-mail us directly at nancechronicles@aol.com .
Hastings stores are very active stores so this is going to be fun.
As you see I have a few things scheduled and I am really happy about the events. I will always try to squeeze in more though.
I am continuing with featuring Tate Publishing and Enterprise Authors. I have "met" most of them through facebook and the Tate Publishing fan page. In the following weeks you will have the opportunity so see the dedication and heart each person puts in their writing. This week I am interviewing Richard Nance and Rhonda Roth.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Richard Nance and Rhonda Roth, The Hidden World Chronicles Book 1, Journey of the Chosen
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
Who or what we are and where did this book come from
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
About 1963. Only realized I had the time after retirement.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
Keeping the reader going from page one to the last. Getting the readers to relate to the characters. The books are
like watching a good movie that you don't want to end.
5. Are you a reader?
Have been for sixty years. Many good books out there.
6. What are you reading right now?
Fireproof, having a hard time finishing it.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
Yes The Dragon Princess, which is book three in our series.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
I'm sorry but it comes easy to me. Only time is my biggest problem. The biggest thing is to know where you are going but not let the reader know, only give vague hints.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here.
BACK OF BOOK:
Richard Nance with the help of his youngest daughter Rhonda Roth has created a whole new genre of fiction. This unique work, The Hidden World Chronicles Book 1, Journey of the Chosen takes you on a breathtaking ride through all the secret and covert centers of our world. When Dr. Charles Jennings and his co-worker, Sarah Parker uncover a strange discovery in an obscure temple in Tibet, they are instantly whisked away to a government facility where they are sure they will be tossed into prison. What they find is an operation kept secret for centuries. These secrets eventuallly lead Dr. Charles Jennings and Dr. Sarah Parketr, along with three others, to a hidden world that some believed to only exist in myth or spiritual realms. These adventures were made known in a journal left in the faithful hands of a man named Gavin Graham, who has been chosen by Charles to carry on a mysterious legacy begun years ago. Gavin was inexorably drawn in to the complications of an epic battle between good and evil simply by touching the hand of Charles when he was a child when Charles first returned from the Hidden World. With a dazzling incorporation of numerous genres and a challenging mystery to be solved, don't be surprised if at the end of this book you will ask yourself just what your part will be in the saga of The Hidden World Chronicles.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
Journey of the Chosen can be found at all major book sellers or on the internet at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Target.com, Borders.com, or directly from the publisher at tatepublishing.com. Signed copies can be purched directly from me through our web site below.
... www.thehiddenworldchronicles.com ...
Enjoy the web site and send us an e-mail from there. Don't forget to turn up the sound, it adds drama to the site. or e-mail us directly at nancechronicles@aol.com .
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich
“Stray Affections” by Charlene Ann Baumbich, author of the Dearest Dorothy Series, published by Waterbrook Press, is a delightful book that holds important lessons. One lesson that struck me was about the perspective of an adult verses that of a child. What seemed to young Cassandra Higgins to be acts of cruelty were actually steps for survival of her newly widowed mother, “Bad Betty” Kamrowski.
As an adult Cassandra steps out and attends a Collectors’ Convention alone without her best friend. She usually tended to hide in her friend’s shadow and be a follower. For the first time in years she is doing something on her own without her support system helping her decide what to do and think. Because of strange events that take place at the convention Cassandra blurts out a harsh retort to her mother’s scolding.
Cassandra’s uncharacteristic behavior starts the wheels in motion that bring about changes in the lives of many of her friends and family’s lives. She realizes that “Bad Betty” may actually have some good qualities and the things that happened in her childhood hurt her mother also. Cassandra and Betty had become stuck in the mind-set that they created about themselves. In a refreshing way both redefine themselves as the individuals they were meant to be. http://randomhouse.com
Elaine Littau, author of “Nan’s Journey” & “Elk’s Resolve”
As an adult Cassandra steps out and attends a Collectors’ Convention alone without her best friend. She usually tended to hide in her friend’s shadow and be a follower. For the first time in years she is doing something on her own without her support system helping her decide what to do and think. Because of strange events that take place at the convention Cassandra blurts out a harsh retort to her mother’s scolding.
Cassandra’s uncharacteristic behavior starts the wheels in motion that bring about changes in the lives of many of her friends and family’s lives. She realizes that “Bad Betty” may actually have some good qualities and the things that happened in her childhood hurt her mother also. Cassandra and Betty had become stuck in the mind-set that they created about themselves. In a refreshing way both redefine themselves as the individuals they were meant to be. http://randomhouse.com
Elaine Littau, author of “Nan’s Journey” & “Elk’s Resolve”
Fearless by Max Lucado
“Fearless, Imagine Your Life Without Fear” by New York Times Best-Selling author, Max Lucado was a voice of hope in a world of despair. Mr. Lucado points out the facts about the biblical account of Jesus and the disciples in the fishing boat crossing the Sea of Galilee. Jesus led them into the unpredictable waters knowing it would not be a relaxing cruise, but a challenge of faith. While they were being sloshed with sea water would their faith stand? Would Jesus allow them to die? What purpose did this challenge serve? Why would he allow them to go through this trial? These questions are some of the questions we ask today about issues in our lives. Jesus’ words ring clear through the ages. “Take courage…Do not be afraid…Do not fear…”
The author states that the children of today have more fear than people in the past had who were locked up in mental institutions. That is quite an observation. I am sorry to say that I think it is true. With many Scriptural references and dissections throughout the book, the book refuses to be stale but instead vibrates with life and hope. As an added bonus there is a 37 page discussion guide that is perfect for personal reflection as well as group discussion. This is one impressive book.
The author states that the children of today have more fear than people in the past had who were locked up in mental institutions. That is quite an observation. I am sorry to say that I think it is true. With many Scriptural references and dissections throughout the book, the book refuses to be stale but instead vibrates with life and hope. As an added bonus there is a 37 page discussion guide that is perfect for personal reflection as well as group discussion. This is one impressive book.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Presence of God
In Sunday School this morning we were studying about the Presence of God. Psalms 91 was the Scripture verse. I don't know about you but most of the time when I think of the Presence of God I think of a calm and sweet experience. When you read the 91st Psalm you realize that it is set in the location of a battlefield. He covers us with His wings. He is our shield and buckler. He protects us from the terror by night and the arrow that flies by day.
We know that God is everywhere, but usually when I am going through tough times I find myself saying something dumb like, "Where are You?" He is in the battle with you!
I am continuing with featuring Tate Publishing and Enterprise Authors. I have "met" most of them through facebook and the Tate Publishing fan page. In the following weeks you will have the opportunity so see the dedication and heart each person puts in their writing. This week I am interviewing Tanya Chippone.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
My name is Tanya M Chiappone and the title of my book is The ABC's of the B-I-B-L-E
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I have a deep passion forchildren and even more so - I want children to have a deep desire and passion for Christ.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
I have always enjoyed writing butnever really considered putting it to work. I have been called to writing children's books for many reasons - to glorify God and advance His Kingdom, and to advance my own knowledge and understanding of the Word I stand firm upon.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
HAHA - I rhyme everything.
5. Are you a reader?
I do read. I read my Bible all the time. I also enjoy "detectivestyle" books (true stories about murder cases and how they were solved). Kind of a weird spectrum but I find investigations interesting.
6. What are you reading right now?
I just finished Final Truth by Donald "PeeWee" Gaskins.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I actually have one book already completed and another in process. One is about the Creation and the other is about the Ten Commandments. They are both part of a series that will share similar titles. At this time, only God knows how many books will be apart of this series.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
My biggest obstacles have been being a single mom and working. I have also recently become engaged and have decided to relocate over 700 miles away. Packing and planning have also had to take priority over my writing.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok)
My first book (that will be hitting the shelves by November - I hope) is a walk through the Bible - Old and New Testament. It highlights different events, people, and places. It is also educational in that it teaches the alphabet from A to Z.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
Right now they can reach me by sending me an email to diamond_0526@yahoo.com and placing ABC's of the Bible in the subject line. If they provide me with their name and email address I will add them to my address book and provide updates to them once I am further along in the publishing process. Myfacebook fan page is http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Tanya-Chiappone-childrens-book-author/240610360103?ref=ts As of right now, I am not yet sure of where or how to purchase.
We know that God is everywhere, but usually when I am going through tough times I find myself saying something dumb like, "Where are You?" He is in the battle with you!
I am continuing with featuring Tate Publishing and Enterprise Authors. I have "met" most of them through facebook and the Tate Publishing fan page. In the following weeks you will have the opportunity so see the dedication and heart each person puts in their writing. This week I am interviewing Tanya Chippone.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
My name is Tanya M Chiappone and the title of my book is The ABC's of the B-I-B-L-E
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I have a deep passion forchildren and even more so - I want children to have a deep desire and passion for Christ.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
I have always enjoyed writing butnever really considered putting it to work. I have been called to writing children's books for many reasons - to glorify God and advance His Kingdom, and to advance my own knowledge and understanding of the Word I stand firm upon.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
HAHA - I rhyme everything.
5. Are you a reader?
I do read. I read my Bible all the time. I also enjoy "detectivestyle" books (true stories about murder cases and how they were solved). Kind of a weird spectrum but I find investigations interesting.
6. What are you reading right now?
I just finished Final Truth by Donald "PeeWee" Gaskins.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I actually have one book already completed and another in process. One is about the Creation and the other is about the Ten Commandments. They are both part of a series that will share similar titles. At this time, only God knows how many books will be apart of this series.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
My biggest obstacles have been being a single mom and working. I have also recently become engaged and have decided to relocate over 700 miles away. Packing and planning have also had to take priority over my writing.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok)
My first book (that will be hitting the shelves by November - I hope) is a walk through the Bible - Old and New Testament. It highlights different events, people, and places. It is also educational in that it teaches the alphabet from A to Z.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
Right now they can reach me by sending me an email to diamond_0526@yahoo.com and placing ABC's of the Bible in the subject line. If they provide me with their name and email address I will add them to my address book and provide updates to them once I am further along in the publishing process. Myfacebook fan page is http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Tanya-Chiappone-childrens-book-author/240610360103?ref=ts As of right now, I am not yet sure of where or how to purchase.
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Today's Wild Card author is:
and the book:
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
Publisher: FaithWords; Lrg edition (November 12, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
JOYCE MEYER is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, she has written more than seventy inspirational books, including The Confident Woman, Look Great, Feel Great, and the entire Battlefield of the Mindfamily of books. She has also released thousands of audio teachings as well as a complete video library. Joyce's Enjoying Everyday Life® radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences. Joyce and her husband, Dave, are the parents of four grown children and make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $16.99
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: FaithWords; Lrg edition (November 12, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446509396
ISBN-13: 978-0446509398
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Introduction
Everyone has them: those days where nothing seems to get done, except maybe what you’ve added to your already lengthy to-do list. Are you tired most of the time? Are you spent? Do you find yourself wish- ing for a better day—a simpler day? Too many things compete for your limited resources of attention, energy, and time. You may be suffocat- ing and not even know it. If you feel like this, you’re not alone.
Most people today live complicated lives that leave them frustrated and confused, weary and worn out. But I have good news: your life does not have to be that way. You can choose a life of simplicity, fruitfulness, fulfillment, peace, and joy. I want to warn you, however, unless you are determined not to, you will do what everyone else does. You will get sucked up in the system and spend your life wishing things were different, never realizing you are, in fact, the only one who can change things. Unless we are resolute and remain undaunted in our quest for simplicity, we are destined for complication and frustration.
I recall a time when I was complaining to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. How could anyone be expected to do all I had in front of me? Then the realization hit me that I was the one who made my schedule and nobody could change it but me. You can spend your lives wishing things were different, but wishing won’t change anything. Smart decision making and decisive action is what changes things. If you picked up this book looking for change, are you willing to make a decision and follow it up with action?
I wasted many years hoping life would change and things would calm down until I finally realized life itself doesn’t change; in fact, it has the potential to get worse. I understood my only real option was to change my approach to life. I had to say no to another day of rushing around and feeling frustrated. I didn’t want the doctor giving me another pre- scription to mask another symptom of the real problem—stress.
In my search for simplicity, I have come to believe life can never be simple unless I learn to approach all things simply. It is my attitude toward each event in life that determines how easy or complex each situation will be. Perhaps life is complicated because people are compli- cated. Is it possible that life is not complicated, but rather, individuals complicate life in the way they approach it?
I discovered it wasn’t really life or circumstances or other people as much as it was me that needed to change. My problem wasn’t the problem—I was the problem! When you spend your life in frustration trying to change the world and everyone in it, you fail to realize it could be you just need to change your approach to life. It can be very easy for someone to live an entire lifetime and never entertain the notion that the way they do things is the real problem.
Have you ever attempted to have friends over for what you initially intended to be a simple afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun, but somehow, it turned into a complicated nightmare? I remember those days vividly. I’d be at church on Sunday and, without much forethought, invite three couples over for the following Sunday to a barbecue. My initial thought was hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, baked beans, potato chips, and iced tea. My motive was fellowship and fun, but by the time the guests arrived, I didn’t even want them there. Fun was not going to happen, at least not for me. Why? I turned my simple get- together into a nightmare of preparation, expensive food, and fourteen people instead of the original six. My complicated approach to life and my complicated thought process convinced me hot dogs and hamburg- ers weren’t nice enough so I bought steaks we could not afford. My potato chips turned into a huge bowl of homemade potato salad. The simple baked beans became four side dishes I labored over.
Insecure and wanting to impress everyone, I had to spend the week cleaning and getting everything in the house to the point where I thought it would be impressive. Of course, the lawn chairs were old, so I bought new ones. I got angry at Dave because I thought he wasn’t help- ing me enough, and by the time our friends arrived, I resented them, wished they hadn’t come, and had a miserable day of pretending to be the happy hostess when in reality I was frustrated and miserable.
I could not figure out why I wasn’t able to enjoy much of anything in life until God revealed to me I was killing my joy with complication. For years, I prayed God would change the people and circumstances around me when, in reality, He wanted to change me and my approach to life. He wanted me to simplify so, ultimately, He could be glorified.
Let me share with you 100 ways to approach living that can simplify your life and, in turn, release and increase your joy. I believe they will dramatically improve the quality of your everyday experience if you incorporate them into the way you do things. Jesus said He came so we might have and enjoy our life in abundance (see John 10:10). His prin- ciples are simple. Faith is simple! Trusting God is simple! A childlike approach to Him is simple! The plan of salvation is simple!
Jesus offers us a “new way of living,” and I believe it is a simple, yet powerful way that enables us to enjoy everyday life. Are you ready to simplify your life? Are you ready to say good-bye to the complexities you’ve allowed to take over? Let’s get started.
Do One Thing at a Time
When we do things without truly focusing our minds on them, we immediately decrease our strength to do the work before us and do it well. By putting our hands to one thing and our mind to another, we divide the muscle behind our abilities and we make the task much more difficult. It’s like removing an egg yolk from the egg white—both can be used separately but the result isn’t as effective (or tasty) as it would be if we leave the egg whole. However, by directing all of our faculties to the one thing we are doing on a particular day, at that hour, at that moment, we find it much easier to do. The ability to concentrate and stay focused can only come from discipline.
The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to be anxious for nothing. Anxious people are always trying to live ahead of where they currently are. They spend today trying to figure out tomorrow and the result is the loss of simplicity. God expects us to trust Him with tomorrow just as He instructed the Israelites to do when they crossed the barren wil- derness, pressing toward the Promised Land.
Practice living one day at a time; give yourself—your thoughts, your conversation, your energies, every part of you—to the day at hand.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Develop an ability to give yourself to what you are doing. You will sense an awareness enabling you to enjoy the current activity, instead of going through each day in a blur of activity and confusing thoughts which leave you drained and exhausted.
Do you fear you will not accomplish as much if you try to live this way? It’s true you may not do as much, but you will also enjoy what you do a whole lot more. One key to simplicity is realizing that quality is far superior to quantity.
Everyone has them: those days where nothing seems to get done, except maybe what you’ve added to your already lengthy to-do list. Are you tired most of the time? Are you spent? Do you find yourself wish- ing for a better day—a simpler day? Too many things compete for your limited resources of attention, energy, and time. You may be suffocat- ing and not even know it. If you feel like this, you’re not alone.
Most people today live complicated lives that leave them frustrated and confused, weary and worn out. But I have good news: your life does not have to be that way. You can choose a life of simplicity, fruitfulness, fulfillment, peace, and joy. I want to warn you, however, unless you are determined not to, you will do what everyone else does. You will get sucked up in the system and spend your life wishing things were different, never realizing you are, in fact, the only one who can change things. Unless we are resolute and remain undaunted in our quest for simplicity, we are destined for complication and frustration.
I recall a time when I was complaining to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. How could anyone be expected to do all I had in front of me? Then the realization hit me that I was the one who made my schedule and nobody could change it but me. You can spend your lives wishing things were different, but wishing won’t change anything. Smart decision making and decisive action is what changes things. If you picked up this book looking for change, are you willing to make a decision and follow it up with action?
I wasted many years hoping life would change and things would calm down until I finally realized life itself doesn’t change; in fact, it has the potential to get worse. I understood my only real option was to change my approach to life. I had to say no to another day of rushing around and feeling frustrated. I didn’t want the doctor giving me another pre- scription to mask another symptom of the real problem—stress.
In my search for simplicity, I have come to believe life can never be simple unless I learn to approach all things simply. It is my attitude toward each event in life that determines how easy or complex each situation will be. Perhaps life is complicated because people are compli- cated. Is it possible that life is not complicated, but rather, individuals complicate life in the way they approach it?
I discovered it wasn’t really life or circumstances or other people as much as it was me that needed to change. My problem wasn’t the problem—I was the problem! When you spend your life in frustration trying to change the world and everyone in it, you fail to realize it could be you just need to change your approach to life. It can be very easy for someone to live an entire lifetime and never entertain the notion that the way they do things is the real problem.
Have you ever attempted to have friends over for what you initially intended to be a simple afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun, but somehow, it turned into a complicated nightmare? I remember those days vividly. I’d be at church on Sunday and, without much forethought, invite three couples over for the following Sunday to a barbecue. My initial thought was hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, baked beans, potato chips, and iced tea. My motive was fellowship and fun, but by the time the guests arrived, I didn’t even want them there. Fun was not going to happen, at least not for me. Why? I turned my simple get- together into a nightmare of preparation, expensive food, and fourteen people instead of the original six. My complicated approach to life and my complicated thought process convinced me hot dogs and hamburg- ers weren’t nice enough so I bought steaks we could not afford. My potato chips turned into a huge bowl of homemade potato salad. The simple baked beans became four side dishes I labored over.
Insecure and wanting to impress everyone, I had to spend the week cleaning and getting everything in the house to the point where I thought it would be impressive. Of course, the lawn chairs were old, so I bought new ones. I got angry at Dave because I thought he wasn’t help- ing me enough, and by the time our friends arrived, I resented them, wished they hadn’t come, and had a miserable day of pretending to be the happy hostess when in reality I was frustrated and miserable.
I could not figure out why I wasn’t able to enjoy much of anything in life until God revealed to me I was killing my joy with complication. For years, I prayed God would change the people and circumstances around me when, in reality, He wanted to change me and my approach to life. He wanted me to simplify so, ultimately, He could be glorified.
Let me share with you 100 ways to approach living that can simplify your life and, in turn, release and increase your joy. I believe they will dramatically improve the quality of your everyday experience if you incorporate them into the way you do things. Jesus said He came so we might have and enjoy our life in abundance (see John 10:10). His prin- ciples are simple. Faith is simple! Trusting God is simple! A childlike approach to Him is simple! The plan of salvation is simple!
Jesus offers us a “new way of living,” and I believe it is a simple, yet powerful way that enables us to enjoy everyday life. Are you ready to simplify your life? Are you ready to say good-bye to the complexities you’ve allowed to take over? Let’s get started.
Do One Thing at a Time
The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life. When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything elseówe are the busiest people in the world.
ÓERIC HOFFER
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].
—Hebrews 12:2
When we do things without truly focusing our minds on them, we immediately decrease our strength to do the work before us and do it well. By putting our hands to one thing and our mind to another, we divide the muscle behind our abilities and we make the task much more difficult. It’s like removing an egg yolk from the egg white—both can be used separately but the result isn’t as effective (or tasty) as it would be if we leave the egg whole. However, by directing all of our faculties to the one thing we are doing on a particular day, at that hour, at that moment, we find it much easier to do. The ability to concentrate and stay focused can only come from discipline.
The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to be anxious for nothing. Anxious people are always trying to live ahead of where they currently are. They spend today trying to figure out tomorrow and the result is the loss of simplicity. God expects us to trust Him with tomorrow just as He instructed the Israelites to do when they crossed the barren wil- derness, pressing toward the Promised Land.
Practice living one day at a time; give yourself—your thoughts, your conversation, your energies, every part of you—to the day at hand.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Develop an ability to give yourself to what you are doing. You will sense an awareness enabling you to enjoy the current activity, instead of going through each day in a blur of activity and confusing thoughts which leave you drained and exhausted.
Do you fear you will not accomplish as much if you try to live this way? It’s true you may not do as much, but you will also enjoy what you do a whole lot more. One key to simplicity is realizing that quality is far superior to quantity.
The Blog Tour for "Nan's Journey" Begins July 23
It is time to play a Wild Card! Every now and then, a book that I have chosen to read is going to pop up as a FIRST Wild Card Tour. Get dealt into the game! (Just click the button!) Wild Card Tours feature an author and his/her book's FIRST chapter!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today's Wild Card author is:
and his/her book:
Tate Publishing & Enterprises (January 2, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Littau is a life-long resident of Perryton, TX. She met husband, Terry at the Apostolic Faith Bible College in Baxter Springs, Kansas in 1974. They married March 1, 1975 and reside on a small acreage near Perryton where they enjoy spending time with their family and friends. They raised three sons and now have three daughters-in-law and four grandchildren added to their family. They also enjoy visiting with their extended family located in Perryton, Clear Lake, Laverne, and Amarillo.
Author Elaine Littau is a busy woman who by profession is the church secretary for Harvest Time First Assembly of God Church in Perryton. Among other things she has led women’s groups and taught preschool, and was a mentor for the M.O.P.S. (Mothers of Preschoolers) group in her community. She has been active in Toastmasters and enjoys painting, crafts, and playing piano and organ. She was recently appointed to the Campus Education Improvement Committee for Wright Elementary in Perryton. She belongs to Christian Storytellers and Faith Writers writing groups.
“Nan’s Journey” was written over the course of several years. “A salvation message is at the core of the book.” Littau says. “If it weren’t for the Lord, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. I truly enjoy meeting new people.”
Littau is currently working on two other books that are continuations of “Nan’s Journey.” Book signings and speaking engagements are currently set up for venues in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Oregon.
Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 188 pages
Publisher: Tate Publishing & Enterprises (January 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602478325
ISBN-13: 978-1602478329
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Chapter One
It was late. The moon had risen and the night symphony was in full force. Crickets chirped at their rivals, the frogs, and dominated the night chorus. Only one sound in the forest was foreign—a whimper from under the ferns. At the base of the largest pine in the woods was a small form crying, moaning, and whimpering. Black hair, matted and dirty, hung in long ropes down the front of the tiny girl. She had been in this spot for hours. At least that is what it felt like to her. Stretching, she cried out in pain. The blood-covered welts burst open to bleed again. Her back was wet with blood, and her dress was torn and useless.
Why had she dared to speak to the woman that she was obliged to call mother in that way? She knew that talking was not allowed from children before chores were finished. The accusations being made by “Ma” were totally false and she could not let Elmer take the blame for something she herself had forgotten to do. She shut her eyes tight against the memory, but it intruded anyway.
She had just gotten up to take the water off the stove to make up dishwater for the supper dishes. Ma had stepped outside the room to turn down her bed and prepare for sleep. When she reappeared in the kitchen, she realized that the wood supply next to the stove was low. Elmer was standing next to the table gathering the plates for washing. “Elmer, where is the wood you were supposed to bring up to the house?” Before he could answer, a hand had slapped him across his face. Getting back onto his feet and standing as tall as a five year old can stand, he looked her in the eye and said, “Ma, I was sick today, ‘member?”
“So, Elmer, you’re going to play up that headache trick again. Nan, didn’t your good for nothing Mama teach you people how to work, or are you just lazy?”
“Our Mama was good! Don’t you say mean things about her!” Nan yelled as her heart raced at the assault against her real Mama’s character.
“What about it, Elmer, are you like your weakling Mama or what?” Elmer’s eyes became very large and filled with tears. He could barely remember his real Mama, but when he did, he remembered soft kisses and sweet singing and a beautiful face. “I’m sorry; I’ll get the wood now.”
“No, Elmer, don’t. I promised you I’d do it today when your head was hurting, but I forgot. I’ll get it after I do these dishes.”
“Listen here, Nan, I’m the boss around here and Elmer will do what I say, when I say, and you will respect me.”
Nan’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look at me like that, little girl.”
Nan held her breath.
“Well, I guess you will be making a trip to the wood shed…with me!” Ma had grabbed her by the arm and jerked her along behind the shed. The strap was hanging there, waiting. Whippings were becoming more and more frequent. After Ma’s husband left, they had taken on a more cruel form. The last whipping was more like a beating. It took days for the marks to scab over and heal. Little Elmer had come in that night and brought some horse medicine from the barn and applied it to the oozing marks.
The next afternoon when the schoolteacher came over, Ma had already formulated a story. “Mrs. Dewey, we missed Nan and Elmer today at school. Are they sick?” Ma lied the first time in her life and said, “Well Miss Sergeant, since Mr. Dewey is going to be gone for another four weeks, I need more help around here to get things done. I’m holding the kids out until he gets back.” Week after week went by, and Mr. Dewey still hadn’t come home. Everyday Ma grew more and more angry. It became more and more impossible to please her. When she began hitting Elmer, it was too much. Nan had to do something— right or wrong; things couldn’t stay the way they were.
The coolness of the earth had settled into Nan’s bones. She stood silently for a minute and carefully crept up to the farmhouse. As she opened the door, she saw that Elmer was in the pallet at the foot of the stove next to her bedroll. Ma was asleep in her room. The door held open with a rock. Slowly she began peeling off the dress and the dried blood stuck to it. She reached for the old shirt she normally wore over her wounds and under her dress. She had washed it today. It had bloodstains on it, but it would keep her from ruining another dress. She retrieved the old work dress that she wore when chores were messier than usual; it was the only one left. She put it on swiftly and shook Elmer awake with her hand over his mouth. “Baby, we must leave. Do you understand? Stay quiet and I will get some stuff to take with us.”
She found large old handkerchief and began looking for food supplies. There was one sourdough biscuit and about a cup of cold brown beans. She located her tin cup and another rag. She would probably need that. Three matches were in the cup on the stove. She would just take two. Suddenly she heard a sound from Ma’s room. A scampering sound… just a rat. Ma turned over. Her breathing became deep and regular. For once Nan wished that Ma snored. She tied the handkerchief in a knot over the meager food supplies, grabbed their bedrolls, and slowly opened the door.
“Come on, Elmer. Can you carry this food? I’ll get your bedding. That’s a good boy. We must hurry!”
The cold air bit at their faces, but they walked bravely on.
“Elmer, we must go tonight so we can get as far away as we can before Ma wakes up and sees that we are gone.”
For the next half hour the pair walked in silence through the familiar woods past the graves on the hill. In one, a mother dearly loved, in another, an infant who had died the same day as his mother, and the third, a father that only Nan had memory of. Elmer was only two years old when Pa died in the logging accident. Nan snapped out of her reverie and urged Elmer on. Molasses, Pa’s good old workhorse, stood in the pasture. He skidded the logs Pa cut with his axe. His legs hadn’t healed quite right, but Mama hadn’t let Mr. Dewey kill him because he was all she had left of the husband of her youth. Molasses was a faithful friend to Nan and Elmer. He stood there and waited for them to mount him.
“Molasses, take us to…” Nan realized then that they had nowhere to go. Mrs. Dewey had said that they were ungrateful little imps who didn’t realize she and Mr. Dewey were taking care of them out of kindness, and they could easily be put into an orphanage. Nan didn’t know anything about orphanages except what Mrs. Dewey…uh, Ma had told her. “Molasses, just take us out of here.”
Why had she dared to speak to the woman that she was obliged to call mother in that way? She knew that talking was not allowed from children before chores were finished. The accusations being made by “Ma” were totally false and she could not let Elmer take the blame for something she herself had forgotten to do. She shut her eyes tight against the memory, but it intruded anyway.
She had just gotten up to take the water off the stove to make up dishwater for the supper dishes. Ma had stepped outside the room to turn down her bed and prepare for sleep. When she reappeared in the kitchen, she realized that the wood supply next to the stove was low. Elmer was standing next to the table gathering the plates for washing. “Elmer, where is the wood you were supposed to bring up to the house?” Before he could answer, a hand had slapped him across his face. Getting back onto his feet and standing as tall as a five year old can stand, he looked her in the eye and said, “Ma, I was sick today, ‘member?”
“So, Elmer, you’re going to play up that headache trick again. Nan, didn’t your good for nothing Mama teach you people how to work, or are you just lazy?”
“Our Mama was good! Don’t you say mean things about her!” Nan yelled as her heart raced at the assault against her real Mama’s character.
“What about it, Elmer, are you like your weakling Mama or what?” Elmer’s eyes became very large and filled with tears. He could barely remember his real Mama, but when he did, he remembered soft kisses and sweet singing and a beautiful face. “I’m sorry; I’ll get the wood now.”
“No, Elmer, don’t. I promised you I’d do it today when your head was hurting, but I forgot. I’ll get it after I do these dishes.”
“Listen here, Nan, I’m the boss around here and Elmer will do what I say, when I say, and you will respect me.”
Nan’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look at me like that, little girl.”
Nan held her breath.
“Well, I guess you will be making a trip to the wood shed…with me!” Ma had grabbed her by the arm and jerked her along behind the shed. The strap was hanging there, waiting. Whippings were becoming more and more frequent. After Ma’s husband left, they had taken on a more cruel form. The last whipping was more like a beating. It took days for the marks to scab over and heal. Little Elmer had come in that night and brought some horse medicine from the barn and applied it to the oozing marks.
The next afternoon when the schoolteacher came over, Ma had already formulated a story. “Mrs. Dewey, we missed Nan and Elmer today at school. Are they sick?” Ma lied the first time in her life and said, “Well Miss Sergeant, since Mr. Dewey is going to be gone for another four weeks, I need more help around here to get things done. I’m holding the kids out until he gets back.” Week after week went by, and Mr. Dewey still hadn’t come home. Everyday Ma grew more and more angry. It became more and more impossible to please her. When she began hitting Elmer, it was too much. Nan had to do something— right or wrong; things couldn’t stay the way they were.
The coolness of the earth had settled into Nan’s bones. She stood silently for a minute and carefully crept up to the farmhouse. As she opened the door, she saw that Elmer was in the pallet at the foot of the stove next to her bedroll. Ma was asleep in her room. The door held open with a rock. Slowly she began peeling off the dress and the dried blood stuck to it. She reached for the old shirt she normally wore over her wounds and under her dress. She had washed it today. It had bloodstains on it, but it would keep her from ruining another dress. She retrieved the old work dress that she wore when chores were messier than usual; it was the only one left. She put it on swiftly and shook Elmer awake with her hand over his mouth. “Baby, we must leave. Do you understand? Stay quiet and I will get some stuff to take with us.”
She found large old handkerchief and began looking for food supplies. There was one sourdough biscuit and about a cup of cold brown beans. She located her tin cup and another rag. She would probably need that. Three matches were in the cup on the stove. She would just take two. Suddenly she heard a sound from Ma’s room. A scampering sound… just a rat. Ma turned over. Her breathing became deep and regular. For once Nan wished that Ma snored. She tied the handkerchief in a knot over the meager food supplies, grabbed their bedrolls, and slowly opened the door.
“Come on, Elmer. Can you carry this food? I’ll get your bedding. That’s a good boy. We must hurry!”
The cold air bit at their faces, but they walked bravely on.
“Elmer, we must go tonight so we can get as far away as we can before Ma wakes up and sees that we are gone.”
For the next half hour the pair walked in silence through the familiar woods past the graves on the hill. In one, a mother dearly loved, in another, an infant who had died the same day as his mother, and the third, a father that only Nan had memory of. Elmer was only two years old when Pa died in the logging accident. Nan snapped out of her reverie and urged Elmer on. Molasses, Pa’s good old workhorse, stood in the pasture. He skidded the logs Pa cut with his axe. His legs hadn’t healed quite right, but Mama hadn’t let Mr. Dewey kill him because he was all she had left of the husband of her youth. Molasses was a faithful friend to Nan and Elmer. He stood there and waited for them to mount him.
“Molasses, take us to…” Nan realized then that they had nowhere to go. Mrs. Dewey had said that they were ungrateful little imps who didn’t realize she and Mr. Dewey were taking care of them out of kindness, and they could easily be put into an orphanage. Nan didn’t know anything about orphanages except what Mrs. Dewey…uh, Ma had told her. “Molasses, just take us out of here.”
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