Obama Wins the Democratic Presidential Nomination

CNN Reports

Senator Obama makes history as the first African-American to lead a major US party ticket to possibly becoming the next President of the United States.

This is the email tat was sent off to his supporters.

Friend,

I'm about to take the stage in St. Paul and announce that we have won the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

It's been a long journey, and we should all pause to thank Hillary Clinton, who made history in this campaign. Our party and our country are better off because of her.

I want to make sure you understand what's ahead of us. Earlier tonight, John McCain outlined a vision of America that's very different from ours -- a vision that continues the disastrous policies of George W. Bush.

But this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past and bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.

It's going to take hard work, but thanks to you and millions of other donors and volunteers, no one has ever been more prepared for such a challenge.

Thank you for everything you've done to get us here. Let's keep making history.

Barack

Mike Dellosso's The Hunted

Mike Dellosso, is a writing friend and brother in spirit to me. Becoming published within this industry is harder than others. I know this personally, as I struggle to become a published novelist myself. So I was pleased to learn of Mike's book deal and, of course, concerned and quite prayerful when he was diagnosed with cancer two months before the release of his debut novel.

I live with two chronic illnesses and remember very well how hard it is to be more than just a medical survivor. I can imagine how taxing it is to try to promote a book through all of this.

But we know we have a God, a wonderful, magnanimous God who will make it all right. We, the Christian Fiction Writing Brotherhood unite this week to host an online book tour, of Mike's book. With great pleasure today Christian Fiction Blog is honored to spotlight his novel, The Hunted. as our Trailer Park Tuesday pick.

A Summary of The Hunted:

A town’s deadly secret will drive one man to the edge of his faith…

After learning of the disappearance of his nephew, Joe Saunders returns to his childhood home of Dark Hills. With rumors spreading of a rogue lion roaming the woods, he embarks on a mission to learn the truth. As he peels away the layers of Dark Hills, he discovers a secret that has been shrouded for three generations in a deadly code of silence. Will his young faith be strong enough to battle the demonic forces behind it?

Participating Blogs: (Check them out!)

A Peek at My Bookshelf
Alien Dream
An Author’s Life
Artistic Blogger
Behind the Mountain
Blog Tour Spot
Camy’s Loft
Canadian Prairie Writer
Chatter Matters
Dee’s Christian Fiction:
Fictionary
Gatorskunz and Mudcats
Good Word Editing
Heart Chocolate
His Reading List
Home-Steeped Hope
Humbleoradio
In the Dailies
jessicajournal
Kells Creative Musings
Life in the Midst of Writing
Life with Missy
Light for the Writer’s Soul
Margaret Daley
Mommy Come Lately
My Cup 2 Yours
My Name is Michael Snyder
Not Just Romance but a Love Story
Notes in the Key of Life
Novel Journey
One Day
Penning Prose
Portrait of a Writer . . . Interrupted
Real Women Scrap
Refresh My Soul
Relevant Blog:
Savvy ReViews
See Ya On the Net
Sumballo
Terri’s Treasures
The Book Beat
The Law, Books and Life
The Surrendered Scribe
The Suspense Zone
The Write Message
wandering, wonderings of a whacked-out woman
Windows to My Soul
Wisdom Walk
Writing Career Coach
Writing on the Edge

Rock & Rise Higher Community Concert: Canton Jones

Another great event put together by

Dr. Stacia Pierce!

Life Changers Is hosting a Community Event Entitled:

ROCK and RISE HIGHER

This event is a FREE concert open to the Lansing Community especially for youth and high school graduates.

Sunday June 8, 2008 at 7:00pm

Live Performances by Canton Jones

and IROCC Williams...

Celebrity Guests and NFL players will appear to encourage attendees and provide them with success principles to help them rise higher in life right now.

Honoree Ariana Pierce (daughter to Drs. James and Stacia Pierce) will be recognized for outstanding community service and and incredible scholastic performance- has maintained a 4.0 throughout her scholastic career and is valedictorian of her class.

Held at Life Changers -3000 W. Miller Road*

Lansing, MI * 48911
Contact: Sharlette Thornton 517-648-0726
www.ArianasPlace.com

Gospel Music Channel Founder Charles Humbard

ATLANTA, June 2, 2008—Charles Humbard, founder and president of the Gospel Music Channel, was among a small group of music industry leaders honored for “their commitment, hard work and longevity in helping to make the gospel music industry what it is today.” The group was feted last week by the International Gospel Industry Retreat at its first Service Honors Awards ceremony, held at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida.

While artists are usually the focal vocal point of most of the group’s visible activities, those who work behind the scenes were brought out to the forefront to be recognized. The honorees included the top key leaders of virtually every component of the gospel music industry.

The visionary behind the awards show was Dr. Bobby Jones, producer and host of the new Bobby Jones: Next Generation series on GMC, which premiered June 1. Jones conceived of the awards because he felt it was time to recognize those who do so much for the music industry.

In addition to Humbard, the honorees selected for this first-ever award included:

James “Jazzy” Jordon, Zomba Music

Don Jackson, The Stellar Awards (Central City Productions)

Susan Austin, The Sheridan Gospel Radio Network

Lewis Gibbs, The Word Television Network

Edwin Hawkins, Gospel Music Arts & Music Seminar

Walter Hawkins, Gospel Music Arts & Music Seminar

John Styll, Gospel Music Association (The Dove Awards)

Sheilah Belle, The Belle Report

Bryant Scott, Tyscot Music Group

Dr. Mack King Carter, Mt Olive Baptist Church, Ft Lauderdale, FL

Bishop Victor Curry, New Birth Baptist Church, Miami, FL

Al “The Bishop” Hobbs, Gospel Music Workshop of America

Special guest performances were given by Jones, Byron Cage, Demita Haddon, Deitrick Haddon, 21:03, Sunday Best’s Crystal Aikens, George Huff, Melvin Williams and Marvin Sapp.

Gospel Music Channel (http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com) is the fastest-growing network in television today and can be seen in nearly 40 million homes on various cable systems around the country and nationwide on DIRECTV.

FIRST: DragonLight

It is June FIRST, time for the FIRST Blog Tour! (Join our alliance! Click the button!) The FIRST day of every month we will feature an author and his/her latest book's FIRST chapter!

The feature author is:

Donita K. Paul

and her book:

DragonLight: A Novel

WaterBrook Press (June 17, 2008)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Donita K. Paul is a retired teacher and award-winning author of seven novels, including DragonSpell, DragonQuest, DragonKnight, and DragonFire. When not writing, she is often engaged in mentoring writers of all ages. Donita lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado where she is learning to paint-walls and furniture! Visit her website at http://www.dragonkeeper.us. The Books of the DragonKeeper Series:DragonSpell, DragonQuest DragonKnight, DragonFire DragonLight. Visit her website.

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Castle Passages

Kale wrinkled her nose at the dank air drifting up from the stone staircase. Below, utter darkness created a formidable barrier.

Toopka stood close to her knee. Sparks skittered across the donee*l child's furry hand where she clasped the flowing, soft material of Kale's wizard robe. Kale frowned down at her ward. The little doneel spent too much time attached to her skirts to be captivated by the light show. Instead, Toopka glowered into the forbidding corridor. "What's down there?"

Kale sighed. "I'm not sure."

"Is it the dungeon?"

"I don't think we have a dungeon."

Toopka furrowed her brow in confusion. "Don't you know? It's your castle."

"A castle built by committee." Kale's face grimaced at the memory of weeks of creative chaos. She put her hand on Toopka's soft head.

The doneel dragged her gaze away from the stairway, tilted her head back, and frowned at her guardian. "What's 'by committee'?"

"You remember, don't you? It was just five years ago."

"I remember the wizards coming and the pretty tents in the meadow." Toopka pursed her lips. "And shouting. I remember shouting."

"They were shouting because no one was listening. Twenty-one wizards came for the castle raising. Each had their own idea about what we needed. So they each constructed their frgment of the castle structure according to their whims."

Toopka giggled.

"I don't think it's funny. The chunks of castle were erected, juxtaposed with the others, but not as a whole unit."

Continue hear to read the entire first chapter.

*Doneels- one of the seven high races. These people are furry with bulging eyes, thin black lips, and ears at the top and front of their skulls. Generally are musical and given to wearing flamboyant clothing.

Will Contemporary Christian Music Emulate Christ Again?

This month I get the pleasure to attend the AARP Songs of Inspiration Concert featuring some of the greatest women entertainers of our time: Yolanda Adams, Patti Austin, Shirley Caesar, Jamia[of August Rush,]Chaka Khan, Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick, CeCe Winans, and Ann Nesby. Songs of Soul and Inspiration honors the musical legacy of the African American church and the extraordinary voices that flowed from the church into the worlds of popular music and film.

I am excited about gospel music's influence on pop culture, but very concerned about the future of gospel music. Today it seems as if the roles are reversed, that pop culture has become gospel's muse instead of Christ.

Yesterday I spoke with my friend, Doug Ramsay, Vibes & Scribes podcaster and inspirational guitarist, about how Christian entertainment has--to its detriment--infused secular society into His art to achieve higher radio ratings and sells, instead of remaining an original art form.

This is what we discussed.

Christian Fiction Weekly Wrap

For the week May 26-May 31, 2008

I have been so busy this week I couldn't post as regularly as I do. I discovered many things I want to share, so I am going to do this digest version from now on on Friday along with the Weekend Chatterbox, at least through the summer.

The 2008 Summer Beach Read Nominees Are...

Below are my top book pics for the summer. I had to choose from 100 titles. I may have missed a genre(crime and horror.) I added an extra young adult, because I love reading YA during the summer. You can continue to add to this list in comments.

On another note, in my sidebar I have Faith Point(Books A Million) button that has many of these titles on sale for the summer. Since Amazon doesn't count for book reporting, then Faith Point would help the authors and purchasing through us, supports Christian Fiction Blog. Thanks for all who have helped keep this blog going.

So here's the list:

1. So You're One of Them? (Literary)
   
2. Too Little, Too Late (Urban Contemporary)
   
3. Dance Into Destiny (Women's Fiction Young Adult Urban)
   
4. Skizzer (Transcontinental Women's Fiction)
   
5. Rick Acker's Blood Brothers (Legal Thriller)
   
6. You Had me at Good Bye (Romantic Comedy)
   
7. Danny Gospel (Romance)
   
8. The Summer of Cotton Candy (Young Adult)
   
9. Lisa Samon's Bella: The Movie Novelized (Mainstream)
   
10. Claudia Mair Burney, Death, Deceit & some Smooth Jazz (Romantic Suspense Comedy)
    
11. Melody Carlson's Mixed Bag (Young Adult)
    

Still Time to Sign up for the VIP Online Writer's Conference.

A Mini Concert I Recommend to my Atlanta Friends...

WEDNESDAY WINDOWN at CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK

PRESENTS

Chandra Currelley

JUNE 4^TH AT 5:00PM

THE WAIT IS OVER! COME SEE AND HEAR THIS INCREDIBLE INSPIRATIONAL JAZZ & SOUL ARTIST YOU’VE SEEN IN TYLER PERRY’S “WHAT’S DONE IN THE DARK” AND “DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN”!

JAZZ AND URBAN SOUL FROM