Shake It Off

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
-Phillipians 1:4-6

Who here had written their first novel not knowing that the novel needed scenes in it? Who has written a story about a character no one could care less about to read to the end? Anyone wrote a biblical anecdote for your church pastor and he couldn't get the message? Who here is down because their first novel didn't sell as well as they hoped? Who here is contemplating quitting because they can't come up with a cool hook to write about? Who is still pitching to editors? Who is helping other authors get book deals, yet their still unpublished? Who here thinks their stories stink? Who here is on the brink of wanting to quit?

Well, I have bad news for you...You can't. Come over to TMA today to let me tell you why. Here.

Don't Forget this Read

I meant to spotlight this book as a great Valentine's read last month, but I was sick. I have surgery next week, please pray for my speedy recovery. Selah turns seven this Thursday. Unbelievable!!

Through all of what I've experienced so far this year, I must mention a book that is dear to me, not because of the author or the writing. It's too late for me to do a critical review on this book. But Deb Raney's Remember to Forgett touches on a topic that I have personally experienced.

Domestic violence.

From the book cover: Remember to Forget

What if you could start all over again? What if you had a chance to walk away from mistakes in your past and reinvent yourself?

Maggie Anderson did just that. One dawn morning Maggie was carjacked, while living in New York with her abusive boyfriend. She escaped the car jacker, then thought to herself: Why don't I escape from my life? She finds herself in a small town, Clayton, Kansas, and attempts to do just that. But of course, women with issues have to find a handsome man[Trevor Ashlock] looking for a second chance at love while she tries to figure her issues out...most importantly, when she's living on the down low.

Child, this is my life. Accept I had a police escort to a safe haven and then hid in a big city, Atlanta, where I live now. Hint: metropolises are easier to hide in. :)

Fans of Deb Raney will enjoy the book of course. If you haven't read her works before this is a nice one to get into. In fact, it is the first of a new novel series.

I met Deb at the ACFW Conference last year. I also met her at the Women of Faith Conference in Atlanta last summer. She didn't remember me then. But she rights her backside off. I don't know how she spits these books out. But it's good for you. She will keep your book satchel filled with a inspiring love story.

But don't forget this book. And if you believe that you are in danger, contact me or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-SAFE

Dee

Cooking with Cyndy Salzmann

OK. God is really good, because lately, baby...books have been showing up at my door that is more than what I was praying for.

Case in point: Cyndy Salzmann's new novel, Crime and Clutter (A Friday Afternoon Club Mystery).

It' almost spring and Dee's duplex has way too many things in it. I need to declutter. You know?

So I'm skimming through this novel(something I always do to decide on which books to review,) and low in behold there are household cleaning tips in here. Yes, Ma'am! You want to know how to make your house smell spring clean you gotta read the book.

But what's interesting is that I'm not asking myself why are there recipes and cleaning tips in a novel? No. Not this book prude. I am excited. I love the break in monotony and I love how it all ties in the novel. Believe. Cyndy is making a point here. Actually she's solving a mystery.

Book summary:
The Friday Afternoon Club(FAC)--a cross between my girlfriends Ladies Night out and Bunko Friday Club-- are six women(Elizabeth, Lucy, Marina, Jessie,Kelly, and Mary Alice who get together Friday afternoon to unwind, gripe and get into more trouble. :) Disclaimer: The Marina in this novel is not our Christian Fiction Blog's Marina. Hee Hee.

The book is written in Elizabeth's point of view. She's a lifestyle columnist, who is having an identity crisis, because she can't seem to keep her household in order like she writes. Sounds familiar? Marina begans to notice that galpal Mary Alice, the domestic diva-- which attributes to the Martha Stewart like recipes and tips throughout the novel-- is hiding an old van chopped full of junk. The VW is all Mary Alice has left of her father. As the ladies try to clean the thing out, they uncover a mystery that sends them back to the 1960's to discover forgiveness, redemption and what matters more than a clean house.

One of my favorite lines in the novel is:

"My mom used to tell me that a woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she's in hot water."

I love that line.

So if you want to help the FAC solve their mystery, get the recipe for five-minute fudge or getting that house smelling lemony flesh or better yet, discover God under all your clutter. Read this book.It comes out in April 2007. It's a nice, nice read.

Dee

JUANITA BYNUM is Back! Learn How to Love God the Way He Loves You in Her Latest Release

Enjoy!
Marina Woods
Good Girl Book Club Online

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Christian Retailing Asst. Editor Position Announcement

Position: Assistant Editor

Department: Editorial

Salary: Not specified

Position Overview: Experienced Editor needed for Christian Retailing magazine to handle the book news section including book reviews, first-time author pages, content editing and writing feature articles.

Qualifications: Requirements include: 2+ years editorial, writing and journalism experience, BA Degree in communications, Journalism or English, strong proofing ability, strong organizational skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word and Outlook

Contact: Tamarrah Phillips

Posted on: Mar 09, 2007

Apply online for this job

Abraham's Well Best Inspirational

Congratulations to Sharon Ewell Foster. My mag, Romantic Times voted Abraham's Well as 2007 Best Inspirational. Ha!! I told ya, Sharon. When you tell the truth God has your back.

Congrats again. :)

Abraham's Well By Sharon Ewell Foster / Bethany Inspired by true events, authentic slave narratives, and other historical accounts, Abraham's Well is the profoundly moving story of the Black Cherokee--African Americans, both slave and free--who, along with native people, walked the Trail of Tears. It is the story of their forced removal from the Southeast to Indian Territory--modern day Oklahoma--and of the courage and faith of one woman as she struggles to overcome her desperate circumstances.