Merry Christmas from the Blumers

A Hymn On the Nativity Of My Saviour from A Sinner’s Sacrifice

Ben Jonson (c. 1573-1637)

I sing the Birth was born to-night,
The Author both of life and light;
The angels so did sound it,
And like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light, and were afraid,
Yet searched, and true they found it.

The Son of God, th’Eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,
And freed the soul from danger;
He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word, which Heaven and Earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger.

The Father’s wisdom willed it so,
The Son’s obedience knew no No.
Both wills were in one stature,
And as that wisdom had decreed,
The Word was now made Flesh indeed,
And took on Him our nature.

What comfort by Him do we win,
Who made Himself the price of sin
To make us heirs of glory?
To see this Babe all innocence,
A martyr born in our defence:
Can man forget this story?

Kiriath's Quest by Rick Barry

This week JourneyForth released Kiriath's Quest, a fantasy novel by author friend Rick Barry. Here's more information:

About the Book

When King Jekoniah of Xandria is kidnapped by evil Grishnaki, the royal family searches for a way to save him. The desired ransom is impossible, and an outright war on the Grishnaki would end in disaster—so Prince Kiriath undertakes a secret mission into the Grishnaki’s valley. But danger slows the prince's journey, and as the ransom deadline approaches, Kiriath begins to wonder whether he will reach his father in time.

Read a sample chapter here.

For information about purchasing the novel, click here.

About the Author

Rick Barry is a Christian writer who has participated in more than 25 mission trips to Russia and Ukraine. In part, his writing helps to fund his missionary activities.

Although writing is basically an "in-doors" activity, Rick appreciates opportunities to get outside and try new experiences, which have included skydiving, mountain climbing, rappelling, canoeing, kayaking, wilderness hiking, white-water rafting, and a high-ropes course through tree tops. All experiences in life provide fuel for this writer's imagination.

Publishers who have purchased Rick's work include Focus on the Family, Regular Baptist Press, the Salvation Army, Writer's Journal magazine, In Touch, Power for Living, and others. Rick and his wife Pam currently live in Plainfield, Indiana. They have two adult children, Jessica and Josh.

Visit the author's Web site.

Author Jeff Shaara talks about his historical novels

This week the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Dark Pursuit (Zondervan, December 1, 2008) by Brandilyn Collins.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Brandilyn Collins is known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. She is currently working on her 20th book. For chances to win free copies of her work, join her Fan Club on Facebook. Here’s what Brandilyn has to say about why she wrote Dark Pursuit:

In John Milton’s Paradise Lost Satan’s followers, kicked out of heaven, boast about storming the gates and reclaiming their territory. Beelzebub scoffs at their boasting as merely “hatching vain empires” and suggests a different revengeful scheme: seduce mankind away from God. So Satan visits the Garden of Eden to teach humans the very thing he and his cohorts have learned to be futile—the dark pursuit of hatching their own vain empires instead of following God. He presented man with this “gift” of death, disguised as life. And man fell for it.

Upon this theme of man’s fall and spiritual blindness, I created the characters and events in Dark Pursuit. The story clips along at a fast pace, with much symbolism running underneath.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Dark Pursuit—A twisting story of murder, betrayal, and eternal choices

Novelist Darell Brooke lived for his title as King of Suspense—until an auto accident left him unable to concentrate. Two years later, reclusive and bitter, he wants one thing: to plot a new novel and regain his reputation.

Kaitlan Sering, his twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, once lived for drugs. After she stole from Darell, he cut her off. Now she’s rebuilding her life. But in Kaitlan’s town two women have been murdered, and she’s about to discover a third. She’s even more shocked to realize the culprit—her boyfriend, Craig, the police chief’s son.

Desperate, Kaitlan flees to her estranged grandfather. For over forty years, Darell Brooke has lived suspense. Surely he’ll devise a plan to trap the cunning Craig.

But can Darell’s muddled mind do it? And—if he tries—with what motivation? For Kaitlan’s plight may be the stunning answer to the elusive plot he seeks...

Read the first chapter of Dark Pursuit, here.

My Review

This one was good . . . really good. Once I got into this novel and understood what was happening, I had a hard time putting it down. Collins has done it again. The plot was riveting, and just when I thought I knew who was doing the murders, I was in for a big surprise. Great twist at the end. Believable characters. Real-life conflicts. A flawed protagonist who sees her need for God. A creepy killer who must be stopped before he goes after Kaitlan. What's not to like? I've read several by Collins, but I think this one is definitely one of her best. Don't miss this one.

One Perfect Day by Lauraine Snelling

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
One Perfect Day
FaithWords (October 22, 2008)
by
Lauraine Snelling


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Today, Lauraine Snelling is a member of the more than Two Million Books In Print club, but when she first began, she was a mother of three teenagers with a simple dream to write “horse books for kids.”

All told, she has over 50 books published. She thinks. She’s not sure. She’d rather write them than count them. Lauraine’s work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish and German as well as produced as books on tape.

Awards have followed her dedication to “telling a good story”: the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.

Helping others reach their writing dream is the reason Lauraine teaches at writer’s conferences across the country. She mentors others through book doctoring and with her humorous and playful Writing Great Fiction tape set. Lauraine also produces material on query letters and other aspects of the writing process.

Her readers clamor for more books more often and Lauraine would like to comply, if only her ever-growing flower gardens didn’t call quite so loudly over the soothing rush of the water fountains in her back yard and if the hummingbirds weren’t quite so entertaining. Lauraine and husband Wayne have two grown sons and a cockatiel named Bidley, who loves to tease their Basset Hound named Chewy.


ABOUT THE BOOK


Two mothers end up more closely connected that they could dream...and yet they are strangers to one another.

The first has two children--twins, a boy and girl, who are seniors in high school. She wants their last Christmas as a family living in the same home to be perfect, but her husband is delayed returning from a business trip abroad. And then there's an accident--a fatal one involving a drunk driver.

Meanwhile, the other mother has a daughter who needs a new heart, and so the loss of one woman becomes the miracle the other has desperately prayed for. While one mother grieves, and pulls away from her family, the other finds that even miracles aren't always easy to receive.

If you would like to read the first chapter of One Perfect Day, go HERE

White Christmas Pie by Wanda E. Brunstetter

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing White Christmas Pie Barbour Publishing, Inc (September 1, 2008) by Wanda E. Brunstetter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fascinated by the Amish people during the years of visiting her husband's family in Pennsylvania, WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER combined her interest with her writing and now has eleven novels about the Amish in print, along with numerous other stories and ministry booklets. She lives in Washington State, where her husband is a pastor, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish settlements throughout the states.

This year Wanda also published A Sister's Hope.


ABOUT THE NOVEL

Step into Amish country for this bittersweet holiday romance. Here you'll meet Will Henderson, a young man tortured by his past, and Karen Yoder, a young woman looking for answers. Add a desperate father searching for his son, and you have all the ingredients for a first-class romance that will inspire and enthrall.

Abandoned by his father, Will Henderson was raised by an Amish couple. Now he's about to marry Karen Yoder but is having second thoughts. Can Will overcome the bitterness of his past in order to secure his future? Karen cannot break through the barrier her fiance has suddenly constructed around his heart. When she seeks the advice of an old boyfriend, Will begins to see green. Has he already lost his chance for happiness?

When an accident threatens Will's life, the strength of blood ties is tested. Will a recipe for White Christmas pie contain the ingredients for a happily-ever-after?

If you would like to read the first chapter of White Christmas Pie, go HERE.

Watch the book trailer:

My Personal Testimony

Reprinted by permission from SharperIron.org.

Confessions of a Classic Performer

I grew up on a farm without animals—domesticated animals, that is. Wild cats came and went like vagrants seeking shelter for a few months before setting off in search of something better. Those cats especially liked our classic circa 1900 red barn. As a boy, I remember sitting in the barn’s hayloft while dust motes danced in shafts of sunlight at my feet. Peering up at the cavernous ceiling, I imagined that I was inside a massive cathedral until the flutter of wings drew my attention to a four-paned window inset into the peak. Birds that had been trapped inside the barn fluttered against the glass panes in search of a way out. (Photo, clockwise: Adam, Kim, Laura, and Julia)

In many ways, aren’t we all like those birds before we meet Christ—trapped in the "barn" of self? No, I’ve never been trapped in a physical sense. In fact, I experienced a Christian background many might envy: godly parents and siblings; fundamental, Bible-preaching churches; and a quality Christian school education. But like everyone at birth, I was trapped in my sin as much as any drug addict. Though God spared me from the more obvious pitfalls of a life without Christ, He gave me just as much saving grace as He extends to anyone who calls upon Him. For that I am indeed thankful.

Sealed My Pardon

My mom led me to Christ when I was four years old. I remember sitting next to her in a Buick Opal (I’m dating myself now) on our way to who knows where and chatting about heaven and hell as casually as two friends might discuss the weather. Even at four, I knew I was going to hell if I didn’t trust Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. My mom pulled the car off to the side of the road, and Jesus "sealed my pardon with His blood. Hallelujah! What a Savior!" Yet as is often the case with early conversions, I had doubts. At age nine, I attended a Word of Life concert about the rapture. I remember a big auditorium, lots of people, red carpeting, and a balcony seat. The woman on stage sang a beautiful but frightening song about God's leaving unbelievers behind. Unsure about the decision I had made when I was four, I left the building with confidence that I was on my way to heaven and wouldn't, in fact, be left behind.

One Holy Night by J.M. Hochstetler

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance introduces One Holy Night from Sheaf House (April 1, 2008) by J. M. Hochstetler

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


J. M. Hochstetler writes stories that always involve some element of the past and of finding home. Born in central Indiana, the daughter of Mennonite farmers, she graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Germanic languages. She was an editor with Abingdon Press for twelve years and has published three novels.

One Holy Night, a contemporary miracle story for all seasons, released in April 2008. Daughter of Liberty (2004) and Native Son (2005), books 1 and 2 of the American Patriot Series are set during the American Revolution. Book 3, Wind of the Spirit, is scheduled for release in March 2009. Hochstetler is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, and Historical Novels Society.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1967 the military build-up in Viet Nam is undergoing a dramatic surge. The resulting explosion of anti-war sentiment tears the country apart, slicing through generations and shattering families. In the quiet bedroom community of Shepherdsville, Minnesota, the war comes home to Frank and Maggie McRae, whose only son, Mike, is serving as a grunt in Viet Nam.

Frank despises all Asians because of what he witnessed as a young soldier fighting the Japanese in the south Pacific during WWII. The news that his son has fallen in love with and married Thi Nhuong, a young Vietnamese woman, shocks him. To Frank all Asians are enemies of his country, his family, and himself. A Buddhist, Thi Nhuong represents everything he despises. So he cuts Mike out of his life despite the pleas of his wife, Maggie; daughter, Julie; and Julie s husband, Dan, the pastor of a growing congregation.

Maggie is fighting her own battle--against cancer. Convinced that God is going to heal her, Frank plays the part of a model Christian. Her death on Thanksgiving Day devastates him. Worse, as they arrive home from the gravesite, the family receives news of Mike s death in battle. Embittered, Frank stops attending church and cuts off family and friends.

By the time a very pregnant Thi Nhuong arrives on his doorstep on a stormy Christmas Eve, Frank is so filled with hate that he slams the door in her face, shutting her out in the bitter cold. Finally, overcome by guilt, he tries to go after her, but driving wind and snow force him back inside. With the storm rising to blizzard strength, he confronts the wrenching truth that what hate has driven him to do is as evil as what the Japanese did all those years earlier, and that he needs forgiveness as desperately as they did ...

Frank doesn't know that what God has in mind this night is a miracle. As on that holy night so many years ago, a baby will be born and laid in a manger--a baby who will bring forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing to a family that has suffered heart-wrenching loss.

If you would like to read the first chapter of One Holy Night, go HERE.

Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Until We Reach Home Bethany House (October 1, 2008) by Lynn Austin.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. She has published twelve novels. Three of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, and Fire by Night have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, and 2004 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005.

Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.

Among her lastest books are A Proper Pursuit and A Woman's Place.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Life in Sweden seems like an endless winter for three sisters after their mother's and father's suicide. Ellin feels the weight of responsibility for her sisters' welfare and when it circumstances become unbearable, she writes to her relatives in Chicago, pleading for help.

Joining sixteen million other immigrants who left their homelands for America between 1890 and 1920, Ellin, Kirsten, and Sophia begin the long, difficult journey. Enduring the ocean voyage in steerage and detention on Ellis Island, their story is America's story. And in a journey fraught with hardships, each woman will come to understand her secret longings and the meaning of home.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Until We Reach Home, go HERE

November Newsletter

November 8, 2008

Dear Reader,

Do you ever wish life would slow down? It’s almost mid-November, and here I am working on my second newsletter already. What’s the status of Fatal Illusions? Kregel has said that the novel will be their “lead fiction title of the season,” so I’m getting excited. Right now, a copyeditor is fixing typos and other mistakes. I will have two more opportunities to read the novel: once after Thanksgiving (I can make minor changes) and around Christmastime (I’ll be checking page proofs only for mistakes). The novel goes to the printer at the end of January, and Kregel’s official release is sometime in March.

What else is there to do? I need to finish writing my dedication, acknowledgments, and the Reading Group Guide (discussion questions for reading groups). Several "endorsers" (established novelists) will read the novel and hopefully write positive reviews and recommendations. Review snippets of Kregel’s choosing will appear in promotional materials and somewhere in the novel. A Kregel publicist plans to discuss a marketing plan with me soon. Book signings? Radio interviews? Blog tours? I'm not exactly sure, but I guess I'll find out.

Will the Novel Be Available at My Local Bookstore?

I get this question a lot. Kregel reps are currently pitching the novel to various booksellers, but I have no way of knowing which bookstores will carry it. You may always purchase the novel from online bookstores (see "Ways to Pre-order" at my Web site). Also, with the novel’s ISBN number (available at my Books page), you may order the book from any bookstore in the country. By the way, here’s a special thank you to those who have already pre-ordered a copy. Your vote of confidence is a big encouragement.

What Am I Working on Now?

I’m revising a young adult historical novel with the working title of Part the Waters. Based on a true story, the novel is about an American family trapped in Nazi Germany at the outbreak of World War II. After Part the Waters, I plan to write the sequel to Fatal Illusions.

Book Drawings

Congratulations to Joe and Norma Keys for winning October's book drawing. They will receive a free copy of Shoofly Pie by Tim Downs. For November's drawing, I will be giving away a copy of The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers. Winner of the Gold Medallion Book Award, this is one of the most powerful Christian novels I’ve ever read. Current and new subscribers to my mailing list will be entered in this free drawing. Please invite family and friends to sign up today.

Thanks again for your support and encouragement. May the Lord receive all the glory!
--Adam

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Author's Web Site: www.adamblumerbooks.com
My Freelance Editing Services: www.blumer.org/adam
My Writing News and Book Reviews: www.northwoodsblumer.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rain Song by Alice Wisler

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Rain Song Bethany House October 1, 2008) by Alice J. Wisler
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alice sold her first story to David C. Cook for a take-home Sunday School paper called Sprint. The year was 1988, this was her first submission to a paying market, and the check sent to her was for $125.00.

She was on her way!

Since then, Alice has sold articles and devotions to the Upper Room, Alive Now, Standard Publishing, ByLine magazine and others.

In 2006 she sent her novel Rain Songto Bethany House...and the rest is history! She signed a two -book deal and the second, How Sweet It Is will be out in 2009.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Nicole Michelin avoids airplanes, motorcycles, and most of all, Japan, where her parents once were missionaries. Something happened in Japan...something that sent Nicole and her father back to America alone...something of which Nicole knows only bits and pieces. But she is content with life in little Mount Olive, North Carolina, with her quirky relatives, tank of lively fish, and plenty of homemade pineapple chutney. Through her online column for the Pretty Fishy Web site, she meets Harrison Michaels, who, much to her dismay, lives in Japan. She attempts to avoid him, but his emails tug at her heart. Then Harrison reveals that he knew her as a child in Japan. In fact, he knows more about her childhood than she does.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Rain Song, go HERE.

Less Than Dead by Tim Downs

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Less Than Dead Thomas Nelson (September 9, 2008) by Tim Downs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tim Downs is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Indiana University. After graduation in 1976 he created a comic strip, Downstown, which was syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate until 1986. His cartooning has appeared in more than a hundred major newspapers worldwide.

His first book, a work of non-fiction, was awarded the Gold Medallion Award in 2000. His first novel, Shoofly Pie, was awarded the Angel Award in 2004, and his third novel, PlagueMaker, was awarded the Christy Award for best suspense novel of 2007. First The Dead, the third book in this Bug Man series came out earlier this year.

Tim lives in Cary, North Carolina, with his wife Joy.


ABOUT THE BOOK


Some secrets just won't stay buried.
When strange bones surface on a U.S. senator's property, the FBI enlists forensic entomologist Nick Polchak to investigate the forgotten graveyard. Polchak's orders are simple: figure out the mess.

But Polchak, known as the "Bug Man" because of his knowledge of insects and their interaction with the dead, senses darker secrets buried beneath the soil.

Secrets that could derail the senator's presidential bid.

Secrets buried in the history of a quaint Virginia town.

Secrets someone is willing to kill to protect.

With the help of a mysterious local woman named Alena and her uncanny cadaver dogs, Polchak sets out to dig up the truth.

But with a desperate killer hot on his trail, he'll be lucky to wind up anything less than dead.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Less Than Dead, go HERE

My Review

I'm reading the novel now and hope to have a review up within the next week. Check back soon.

Andrea Carter and the San Francisco Smugglers by Susan K. Marlow

About the Novel

When a winter flood submerges the streets of Fresno, the town has no choice but to close the school for repairs. Andi couldn't be happier. She plans to spend her unexpected holiday out on the range with her palomino mare, Taffy. But Andi's dreams are dashed when she's sent to San Francisco—doomed to spend the rest of the winter at Miss Whitaker's Academy for Young Ladies.

Andi doesn't know how she'll endure two months of city life until she's introduced to her new roommate, the untamable Jenny. She also meets Lin Mei, a small, mistreated servant girl who works at the school. When Andi and Jenny discover a dreadful secret that endangers Lin Mei, they rush to her rescue, only to find themselves trapped in the dark alleys of Chinatown.

Can the girls outwit their captors and escape a terrible fate?

About the Author

Susan K. Marlow, like Andi, sometimes finds herself in bizarre situations—usually while trying to help others. Susan is a freelance editor, teacher, and homeschooling mom. In addition to writing her Circle C Adventures series for tweens, she speaks at young author conference and teaches writing workshops for kids. She and her family make their home in Washington State. Visit Susan's Web site at http://www.susankmarlow.com/.

My Review

I've always loved juvenile fiction and have several bookshelves crammed with favorite Hardy Boys and Sugar Creek Gang novels. So when I met fellow Kregel author Susan Marlow and learned that book four in her Circle C Adventures series was about to come out, I was eager to get my hands on a copy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading book four. Even though I hadn't read the first three novels in the series, I quickly found myself engrossed in Andi's escapades.

What kid wouldn't relate to Andi's excitement to learn that school is closed and then her disappointment to learn that she'll be attending an "Academy for Young Ladies" instead? Spunky Andi, who could benefit from a few rules in etiquette, is more comfortable riding the range on her palomino and doesn't exactly warm up to the idea; but she quickly realizes that she has no choice. Her worst fears come true, particularly manifested in the prickly and severe Miss Whitaker, and Andi wishes she had stayed home. But God clearly has a reason for her being at the academy, and those reasons factor into an exciting plot sure to win over young readers.

Andi makes a new friend in her roommate Jenny, and most importantly she meets Chinese servant Lin Mei, whom Andi learns is actually a slave. When Andi learns that Lin Mei is to be sold and will have to leave the academy, she does what she can to thwart the sinister plan, resulting in an action-packed and satisfying tale featuring several escapes and rescues. I had never heard about childhood slavery in that era before and found the plot element fresh and engaging. The Historical Note at the end of the novel was particularly informative.

San Francisco Smugglers was a refreshing change of pace for me. The novel is an enjoyable, wholesome story I'm happy to recommend. When Andi and her friends find themselves trapped in a dark warehouse with the prospect of being shanghaied in the morning, Andi reminds them that God is with them and will help them through her predicament. It's a pleasure reading an entertaining novel that also provides a spiritual challenge for young readers through Andi's example.

To receive more information about the novel or to purchase a copy, please go here.

Murder on the Ol' Bunions by Sandra D. Moore

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Murder on The Ol' Bunions Barbour Publishing, Inc (2008) by S. Dionne Moore.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

SAndra has been writing for years with historicals being her main focus. By the time she had a polished manuscript in hand, historicals were unpopular. She didn't give up though and decided to try her hand at writing a mystery. A cozy mystery.

Her first book, Murder on The Ol' Bunions , released in April of 2008. Book two of the LaTisha Barnhart Mystery series, Polly Dent Loses Grip, and book three, Eat, Drink and Be Buried will follow in April 2009 and 2010, respectively.

She's almost always running a contest, so drop by her Website, you just might win a free gift!

ABOUT THE BOOK


LaTisha Barnhart’s bunions tell her something’s afoot as she delves deeper into the murder of her former employee, Marion Peters. When LaTisha becomes a suspect, the ante is upped, and she is determined to clear her name and find the culprit.

She’s burping Mark Hamm’s bad cooking to investigate his beef with Marion. . .getting her hair styled at a high falutin’ beauty parlor to see what has Regina Rogane in a snarl. . .playing self-appointed matchmaker between the local chief and a prime suspect. . .and thinking Payton O’Mahney’s music store lease might be the reason he’s singing out of tune when discussion of Marion’s murder arises. LaTisha’s thinking she just might use the reward money to get her bunions surgically removed. But she’s got to catch the crook first.

Small town intrigue, a delightful, vivid cast, and a well-crafted mystery make S. Dionne Moore’s debut novel a must-read! I loved it!~Susan May Warren~Award-winning author of Reclaiming Nick

“S. Dionne Moore has the rare quality of pulling together great characters and compelling plots.”
~Kelly Klepfer~ www.novelreviews.blogspot.com

If you would like to HEAR the first chapter, go HERE and click on the bookcover trailer box!

If you would like to READ, the first chapter of Murder on The Ol' Bunions , go HERE.

Homeland Favorite by Bill Barton and Henry O. Arnold

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Hometown
Favorite Revell (September 1, 2008) by Bill Barton and Henry O. Arnold.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Bill Barton is a business partner with Compass Technologies. An active member and volunteer at his church, Hendersonville Chapel, Barton is a regular speaker at services and other events. He lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee, with his family.

Henry O. Arnold has been a professional actor, writer, and director in theatre, film, and television. He co-wrote and produced the film The Second Chance starring Michael W. Smith and wrote the screenplay for the first authorizedfilm documentary on evangelist Billy Graham, God's Ambassador. Arnold livesin Portland, Tennessee.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Talented, handsome, and personable, Dewayne Jobe rose from humble beginnings in rural Mississippi to play college football in Southern California and beyond. One of the best wide receivers in college ball, Dewayne is assured a promising career in professional football as one of those rare athletes whose exceptional abilities place him in a league of his own. He easily finds success both on and off the field. Dewayne's got a beautiful, intelligent wife running his lucrative endorsement business and carrying his child and the pristine white picket fence to boot.

The only thing lacking is a road sign confirming his address on Easy Street. But catastrophe looms right around the corner and ultimately strikes with a crushing vengeance. Will Dewayne's faith and character stand the test of such tragedy? Or will he lose everything—including the love of his life? This modern retelling of the story of Job will capture readers with the age-old question of why bad things happen to good people—and how good people can survive.

Combining realistic sports action and a deadly serious challenge to faith, Hometown Favorite is a story that won't let you up off the turf until the game clock hits zero.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Hometown Favorite, go HERE.

"An amazing story of betrayal, forgiveness, redemption and hope. The characters are vibrant and alive. Barton and Arnold have a rare and keen understanding of human nature, making the spiritual truths of this story both profound and compelling."
—Michael W. Smith, recording artist

"Like a close game and a score that just won’t turn around, Dewayne’s true fans and Hometown Favorite readers will appreciate the daunting odds fate doles out and this story’s hard-won outcome."
—Darnell Arnoult, author of Sufficient Grace

Win a free copy of Shoofly Pie by Tim Downs

Sign up for my e-mail mailing list. By doing so, you will be automatically entered in October's drawing for a free copy of Shoofly Pie (Bug Man Series #1) by Tim Downs. I read this wonderful Christian suspense novel a few years ago and absolutely loved it. You'll learn things about forensic science—and flies—that you never knew before. Here's a synopsis of this terrific read:

In a remote county of North Carolina, Kathryn Guilford receives the news that her long-time friend and one-time suitor is dead.  She turns to Dr. Nick Polchak, the Bug Man (a forensic entomologist), to help her learn the truth—and she is introduced to a mysterious world of blood-seeking flies and flesh-eating beetles.  But there’s a problem . . . Kathryn Guilford has a pathological fear of insects. Now she must confront her darkest fears to unearth a decade-long conspiracy that threatens to turn her entire world upside down.

Invite family and friends to sign up today!

October Newsletter

ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF MY AUTHOR WEBSITE

October 8, 2008

Dear Reader,

The last time I contacted most of you, I was anticipating the release of my Christian suspense novel this fall. Welcome to the world of publishing! Plans changed, and now the novel is scheduled for release in spring 2009. So much has happened since the last time I contacted you. The novel's title changed from Now You See Him to Fatal Illusions. The manuscript went through three rounds of revisions. I also recently saw the cover. I realized that I may finally be reaching the end of my journey when I stumbled across my novel page at Amazon.com and saw that the novel is now available for pre-order. With that thought in mind, I am pleased to announce that my author's Web site is now live at http://www.adamblumerbooks.com. Now you can read about the novel and check back for updates as the launch date draws closer.

In conjunction with the official Web site launch and the beginning of a monthly newsletter, I'm conducting a book giveaway during the month of October. Those who sign up for my e-mail mailing list will be automatically entered in a special drawing to win a free copy of the Christian suspense novel Shoofly Pie (Bug Man Series #1) by Tim Downs. If you are the original recipient of this e-mail newsletter, that means you are already on my mailing list. Please invite your family members and friends to sign up! The winner of the drawing will be announced in my November newsletter. Looking forward to seeing you at my official Web site!

May the Lord receive all the glory!

John 3:16 by Nancy Moser

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing John 3:16 Tyndale House Publishers (September 9, 2008) by Nancy Moser.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy Moser is the author of three inspirational humor books and eighteen novels, including Solemnly Swear, Time Lottery, a Christy Award winner, and her latest historical, Washington's Lady.

Nancy and her husband Mark live in the Midwest. She’s earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters,
symphonies, and choirs. She gives Said So Sister Seminars around the country, helping women identify their gifts as they celebrate their sisterhood. She is a fan of anything antique—humans included.

Find out more at Nancy Moser.com and Sister Circles.com


ABOUT THE BOOK

Five people looking for a reason to keep living are about to find it in the last place they expect... In my usual "big cast" style comes a story of what happens when one man puts his faith on the line and holds up a John 3:16 sign at a sporting event. Roman Paulson's life revolves around his son, Billy, a University of Nebraska football hero with a promising life ahead of him. But when Billy's coach encroaches on Roman's relationship with his son, Roman fears he'll lose Billy forever. Roman isn't the only one whose world turns upside down. He's one of five unsuspecting people whose lives intersect on a bright fall day.

If you would like to read the first chapter of John 3:16, go HERE.

Isolation by Travis Thrasher

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Isolation FaithWords (September 12, 2008) by Travis Thrasher.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

It was during third grade after a teacher encouraged him in his writing and as he read through The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis that Travis decided he wanted to be a writer. The dream never left him, and allowed him to fulfill that dream of writing full-time in 2007.

Travis Thrasher is the author of numerous works of fiction, including his most personal and perhaps his deepest work, Sky Blue, that was published in summer of 2007. This year he has two novels published, Out of the Devil’s Mouth, and a supernatural thriller, Isolation.

Travis is married to Sharon and they are the proud parents of Kylie, born in November, 2006, and Hailey, a Shih-Tzu who looks like an Ewok. They live in suburban Chicago.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Trapped

Exhausted

Terrified

. . . Alone

When a missionary family moves into a secluded mansion in the mountains of North Carolina, they think they are escaping their nightmares. But when a snowstorm hits and they are trapped inside their new home, their worst fears become reality. As they fight to stay alive, they will be tested in ways they never imagined. Can their love for one another and their faith in God save them from the dangers lurking here?

A masterfully written story that will grip you from its mysterious beginning to its chilling end.

From Publishers Weekly:

"In this dark chiller, Thrasher (Sky Blue; The Promise Remains) demonstrates a considerable talent for the horror genre. Like Stephen King, Thrasher pits flawed but likable characters against evil forces that at first seem escapable but gradually take on a terrifying ubiquity.

The Miller family has recently returned to suburban Chicago after a harrowing experience on the mission field. Hoping to get away from the busyness of suburban living, they travel to the mountains of North Carolina for an extended stay in an enormous, remote lodge where husband and father Jim plans to write a book while trying to reconnect with his family.

When a snowstorm isolates them further and spiritual attacks make them feel they are losing their minds, both Jim and his wife, Stephanie, begin to wonder if God can rescue them and their two young children. Aside from sharing too many plot points with The Shining, this novel hits very few false notes and should appeal to fans of Christian fiction, the horror genre and all who enjoy well-crafted and suspenseful stories."

If you would like to read the first chapter of Isolation, go here.

MY REVIEW

This novel is a gripping, enjoyable, fast-paced ride that is both scary and filled with a clear biblical message. I was literally glued and closed the book on Sunday night only because I had to get some sleep. Yes, this is a horror tale, but the story is more about the family's survival than about acts of violence, more about things that go bump in the night than about blood and gore. Thrasher does a splendid job of balancing scary scenes with clear faith elements. I must admit that when I started reading the novel, the story felt vaguely familiar. After all, there's a big, creepy house; a bad guy who's as evil as they get; nefarious intent; hints of possible demonism. These plot devices have been used time and again, but Thrasher did a good job of putting a new spin on them.

SPOILER WARNING: The nature of evil the family faces is a bit darker at times than I expected or even wanted, but Thrasher does a good job of exercising restraint and handling details with tact. I could tell from the beginning revelations about an exorcism that went wrong on the mission field that satanism was going to be featured in this novel. It was, and a few scenes left me feeling more than a little unsettled. But again, Thrasher exercised restraint and didn't tell the reader more than he needed to know. Unfortunately, though, the imagination does tend to fill in the blanks. For that reason, I think a few story elements could have been scaled back. I didn't really need to see all of the torture devices or the video clip of a whimpering woman just before being sacrificed.

Yes, this novel has a body count, but Thrasher does a good job of implying violence without throwing it in the reader's face, although some details may be too much for some readers. I was impressed with how he'd stop just before the violent act and then cut to someone discovering the body. In that regard, he is a much nicer, cleaner version of Stephen King, to whom he has been compared. For that reason alone, Thrasher deserves a thank you because I don't touch King, who is typically too far over the edge in the violence and subject matter departments for me to waste my time. In many ways, I think this novel is like vicariously enjoying the best of King without wading through a cesspool. So if you've wanted to read King but didn't want to feel like taking a shower afterwards, Thrasher offers a more acceptable and sanitized alternative.

I do have a few nitpicks with the novel. For one, I've never seen so many missionaries drinking beer, wine, and even gin in one book. The missionary's wife even gets a little tipsy. I guess I must represent the ultra conservative fringe because every missionary (and I know quite a few) and believer I know avoids alcoholic beverages—and for good reason. Sure, believers may debate the issue, but I found the imbibing a bit distracting. One other nitpick is that if you've ever seen a horror film, you know that the villain always comes back, even when he's supposed to be dead. This cliche unfortunately found its way into Isolation. My last nitpick is that I think events are tied up a little too neatly at the end. I don't want to give anything away, but a pretty severe event occurs to one member of the family. Somehow God works a miracle, and everything's suddenly fine. In my opinion this plot twist was the weakest part of the story.

I appreciate Thrasher's message as depicted through Jim, the father, who has pretty much turned his back on God since things went sour on the mission field. We see Jim's disillusionment time and time again. When the family faces trials, they should be reaching toward God, but adversity actually drives them farther away. Jim becomes more bitter and more isolated from what he knows to be true. His struggle is actually quite compelling because so many of us can relate. How many of us have faced seemingly unexplainable hardships and couldn't help wondering where God was? In the end, it takes a miracle to open Jim's eyes. I was happy to see Jim return to his faith, but I couldn't help thinking, Life doesn't always work that way. Things aren't always magically fixed at the end. What if God hadn't worked the miracle? Without the miracle, would Jim still have turned back to God? I guess that's the million-dollar question for everyone. Do we still trust God even when He seems to turn His back on us?

All in all, I was impressed with Isolation. Some of the subject matter flirted closer to the edge than I would have preferred. Some of the violence may be too much for some readers, but I personally don't think Thrasher went too far. He is truly a master at suspense, and I had a very hard time putting the novel down. I was also pleased that he didn't compromise the faith elements in the story and produce a secular story with a couple references to God thrown in. This novel centers squarely on faith and the Word of God, and I found that fact refreshing. In the end, it's the Word of God that wins the day. This was the most suspenseful, fast-paced ride I've enjoyed since the last Peretti or Dekker. I'll definitely be looking for the next Thrasher novel.

Fatal Illusions now available for pre-order

Fatal Illusions, my debut novel, is now available at Amazon.com. Pre-order your copy today. Read more about the novel here.

House of Wolves by Matt Bronleewe

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing House
Of Wolves Thomas Nelson (August 12, 2008) by Matt Bronleewe.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born in Dallas, Texas, Bronleewe Matt Bronleewe was raised on a farm in Kansas, where he lived until he left for college in 1992. At Greenville College in Illinois, Bronleewe formed the band Jars of Clay with his dorm roommate and two neighbors, and the group soon found success. Though Bronleewe opted to leave Jars of Clay early on to pursue an academic career, he soon found himself in Nashville, co-writing, producing, and playing music professionally.

To add to his list of accomplishments, Bronleewe has expanded his love of story telling beyond music into authorship. He is currently penning a five-book series for Thomas Nelson Fiction. His first book Illuminated began the adventurous series about rare manuscripts and the mysteries within. Bronleewe currently resides in Brentwood, Tennessee, with his wife and three children. He continues to write and produce music, and he also volunteers through his church to help disadvantaged youth in the community. Bronleewe enjoys reading, taste-testing good food, and watching sports, as well as indulging his interests in art, architecture, design, and science.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A mysterious book with a dangerous secret. An evil brotherhood out to conquer the world. One man stands between them . . . with his family in the balance.

In the twelfth century, Henry the Lion collected the rarest relics in Christendom. And to protect his most precious acquisitions, he encoded the whereabouts in a gorgeous illuminated manuscript called The Gospels of Henry the Lion. The manuscript has been showing up and disappearing ever since. No one knows where the relic has been hidden or know about its ultimate power. Only one man holds the key to the mystery. He's carrying it in his briefcase at his son's school for show-and-tell, and he thinks it's a fake. But he's about to find out just how real it is because the wolves are rapidly closing in. And if August Adams can't decode the secret in time, the world's balance of power will forever be altered.

If you would like to read an excerpt of House of Wolves, go HERE.

Merciless by Robin Parrish

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Merciless (Bethany House - July 1, 2008) by Robin Parrish.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Parrish had two great ambitions in his life: to have a family, and to be a published novelist. In March of 2005, he proposed to his future wife the same week he signed his first book contract.

More than ten years he spent writing for various websites, including About.com, CMCentral.com, and Infuze Magazine, which is a unique intersection between art and faith which he also conceived of and created.

One of his more "high concept" ideas for Infuze was to return to his love for storytelling and create a serialized tale that would play out every two weeks, telling a complete, compelling story over the course of nine months. That serialized story eventually came to the attention of several publishers, who saw it as a potential debut novel for Robin Parrish.

In 2005, Bethany House Publishers brought Robin full circle by contracting him for the rights to not only that first book, Relentless -- but two sequels including Fearless and Merciless. A trilogy that unfolded in the consecutive summers of 2006, 2007, and this year, 2008. One massive tale -- of which that first, original story would form only the foundational first volume of the three -- spread across three books.

Robin Parrish is a journalist who's written about pop culture for more than a decade. Currently he serves as Senior Editor at XZOOSIA.com, a community portal that fuses social networking with magazine-style features about entertainment and culture. He and his wife, Karen and son live in North Carolina.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The world as we know it has ENDED.
DEATH and CHAOS creep across the globe and only the POWERLESS can RISE UP to stop it.

But can anything stop the onslaught of the DARKWORLD

From the earth's depths crawls a figure with skin like granite, flames for eyes, and the face of Grant Borrows.
Oblivion has arrived.

Every clock around the world has stopped. Time has frozen.

The Secretum have fulfilled the prophecy, unleashing on earth the most powerful being to walk the earth in thousands of years. His name is Oblivion and his touch is death.

He can't be slowed.
He can't be stopped.
And he can't be killed.

But as long as any live who trust in hope and love and freedom, the fight is not over.

They have only one chance before he brings forth the Darkworld.

Oblivion is: Merciless

"Robin Parrish is the kind of writer who understands how to entertain from the word go. His stories are sure to shape fiction for years to come."
~TED DEKKER, author of ADAM

If you would like to read the first chapter of Merciless, go HERE.

"Part the Waters" Submitted to Kregel

I recently submitted the manuscript of a young adult (tween) novel called Part the Waters to Kregel Publications. I had mentioned the project to my editor at Kregel last fall, and he expressed interest. After finishing the edits on FATAL ILLUSIONS in June, I finally found time to dust off PTW (which I'd written in 2007) and spend some time reviewing the project. I also did some marketing research to determine whether other novels in the market are like mine; this type of research is always helpful for publishers as they determine whether the project is a fit for them. Anyhow, I shot off the manuscript along with a two-page synopsis and the findings of my marketing research. Now I wait to see if Kregel wants the project.

For those interested in what Part the Waters is about, let me first share a bit about the background of this project. When I was on staff at Northland Baptist Bible College, I became friends with science professor Arthur Raske. While getting to know Art, I heard an amazing story about his family's escape from East Germany at the close of World War II. Someone else had already written his story. Upon reading the story, I saw its potential, not only for magazine articles but also for a young adult novel.

I did write a two-part article for Northland's Heart magazine about the Raske family's amazing experience and escape, but I felt that the story needed more exposure. I became consumed with the idea of writing the story for a young adult readership as a full novel, but immediately I faced a few challenges. In the true story, Art was only two years old at the time of his family's Atlantic crossing, so I chose to make Art older and develop a fictitious characterization. The second challenge was research. This story is about an American family trapped in Germany at the outbreak of World War II in 1939. They endure the hardships of homefront Germany during the war and later escape. The challenge was finding books about homefront Germany during the war. Though the Holocaust provided some background for my novel, my story is not a true Holocaust account. But most books about Germany in this area are about the Holocaust, so I faced a few challenges in just finding material about what Germany would have been like for the average German from 1939 to 1945.

Anyhow, here is the summary blurb of what Part the Waters is about. I'm leaving the project in the Lord's hands to do with it whatever He wants. But it was a blast to write because the true story practically told itself.

A reunion with grandparents in 1939 Germany turns into a nightmare for eight-year-old Minnesotan Walter Schroeder and his family when Germany invades Poland. As World War II breaks out, the Schroeders—American citizens—become trapped behind enemy lines, all the while under the watchful gaze of the Gestapo, who suspects them of being American spies. To protect his family, Papa, a German native, joins the army, leaving them to fend for themselves in a land oppressed by the Nazis and their ruthless dictator. When the German army falls at Stalingrad, Papa’s letters cease. Will Walter see his father again? If so, do they dare dream of escape?

Based on a true story, Part the Waters is an adventure story about faith, prayer, and God’s protection in danger. As Walter learns, God still performs miracles, even for ordinary people like him.

The Jewel of Gresham Green by Lawana Blackwell

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Jewel of Gresham Green (Bethany House - August 1, 2008) by Lawana Blackwell.
About the Author

A full-time author, Lawana Blackwell's books include her beloved Gresham Chronicles and Tales of London series.

"I had told myself long ago that three books in a series are enough for my attention span, and so after The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark, I devoted myself to the trio of books in the Tales of London series, then wrote A Table By the Window, my contemporary novel. All along, I received letters from readers asking me to continue the Gresham series. Many, many wrote that the dairying village of Gresham and its people sent them back to a more peaceful time in the midst of their busy days.

"Prayerfully, I decided to return to Gresham, setting the story fifteen years after Julia Hollis and her children first left London for abandoned coaching inn which became Larkspur Inn. I believe readers would like to see how the children—Philip, Aleda and Grace, Elizabeth and Laurel—turn out as adults. But I like to inject fresh faces into every book, hence Jewel Libby and her daughter Becky find Gresham a haven from a bad man. Writing the book was like coming home, visiting old friends."

Blackwell lives in Louisiana with her husband, Buddy, a supervisor at an oil refinery. They are empty nesters who love to visit their three grown sons, Joseph, Matthew, and Andrew, and three lovely daughters-in-law, Kristine, Penny and Heather, granddaughter Madelyn, and grandson Chandler.

Her other interests include visiting her parents and siblings in Mississippi, vegetarian cooking, and naturally, reading.

About the Book

To protect her precious daughter from the danger nipping at their heels, Jewel Libby must flee the only home she's ever known. Caring friends direct her to the vicarage in the peaceful dairy village of Gresham, but she arrives there to find Vicar Andrew Phelps and his wife immersed in troubles of their own.

The children of Vicar Andrew Phelps and Julia Hollis from the popular Gresham Chronicles series have grown up and are dealing with their own challenges. Philip Hollis, now a successful London surgeon, has a controlling wife who resents his close family ties.

Aleda Hollis lives in a cottage on the outskirts of Gresham, where she enjoys her privacy and a writing career. When Andrew becomes ill and in need of Philip's skills, and Aleda's quest for privacy unwittingly advances an evil man's schemes, it's Jewel Libby, a newcomer to Gresham, who becomes an unexpected support and source of strength to the family. An unlikely romance adds to the intrigue of this jewel in their midst.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Jewel of Gresham Green, go HERE.