In accordance with new FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review on my site are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. I am in no way compensated for any reviews on my site.
Christian Fiction Author Shana Burton featured in October Christian Fiction Online Magazine
Fall is one of my favorite times of year for reading. The summer book best-seller blitz is over. My book tour winds down. My next book isn’t due to my publisher for a few months, so I have time to visit some book festivals and soak myself in a good read.
This year I wanted to read something funny, romantic, and filled with Christian principles. Georgia Book of the Year Nominee and Double Day Book Club Pick Shana Burton’s new book, Catt Chasin’, fit that need. I’ve known Shana for a few years. She is the sweetest person you’d ever meet, and she’s quite shy. This month she opens up about the book, how its message brought her closer to Christ, and why dating coaches and people watching make great fodder for plot points.
Click here to read more http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/best_multicultural.html
Essence Magazine Bestselling author Shelia Goss and Kensington Books New Suspense Author Miranda Parker team up to host a free online writing workshop for their fans and aspiring writers.
This three day workshop will include two components:
How to Plot your Novel. Miranda Parker host
In this workshop you will take your working story idea and build a novel ready plot that can also be used as book proposal synopsis.
On Day One you will learn the basics and writing techniques to compose a novel plot and will receive a homework assignment to apply these rules to your working story.
On Day Two you will present your story plot to the other participants in the workshop to be critiqued by Miranda Parker and the group. Miranda will send you revisions and suggestions.
On Day Three you will submit the final plot.
How to Bring Your Characters to Life. Shelia Goss host.
In this workshop you will take your main character in your working story and learn techniques to build a publishable character story arc.
On Day One you will learn how to make your character novel worthy.
On Day Two you will present your character sketch to other participants in the workshop, to also be critiqued by Shelia Goss and the group. Shelia will send revisions and suggestions.
On Day Three you will submit your final sketch.
This workshop includes:
a private Facebook group for participants
one on one feedback from both Shelia Goss and Miranda Parker
a private online workshop to protect their work
More about Shelia Goss:
Shelia M. Goss writes in multiple genres. She is the author of the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning Newsand Black Expressions Bestseller My Invisible Husband and Roses are thorns, Violets are true, Paige’s Web, Double Platinum, His Invisible Wife, Hollywood Deception, Delilah, Savannah’s Curse, and Ruthless (Dec. 2011). She’s also the author of the young adult book seriesThe Lip Gloss Chronicles: The Ultimate Test, Splitsville, Paper Thin, Secrets Untold and Secrets Undone (2012).Shelia also writes young adult fiction. Be sure to share the news of her books with a teen in your life. The website is www.thelipglosschronicles.com. The Ultimate Test, Splitsville, Paper Thin, and Secrets Untold are the books in the Lip Gloss Chronicles series.
Miranda Parker is the author of A Good Excuse to Be Bad, book 1 in the Angel Crawford Bounty Hunter Series. She has been featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, RT Book Reviews Magazine and Publishers Weekly. She has also made featured author appearances for the 2011 (NBCC) National Book Club Convention, Black Pearl Magazine’s Chocolate Social, The Decatur Book Festival, and the Atlanta Press Club. She is also the Social Media/Marketing Head for the ITW Debut Authors Program and a contributing editor to The Big Thrill. Bestselling Author Reshonda Tate Billingsley states that "Angel is a good girl in a fast paced, kick butt, bad boy chase, sexy thrill-ride. Can’t wait for the next man hunt." She resides with her family in Georgia near a horse ranch and her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. On a perfect day she can be found curled up with a good book or in a movie theater with a bucket of popcorn. Visit her blog at www.mirandaparker.com or on facebook at www.facebook.com/mirandaparkerbooks
This summer I saw an early screening of Courageous, the Movie at the 2011 ICRS Convention in Atlanta. The movie released yesterday nationwide. Here's my review.
Synopsis: Courageous is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, GA. It is the story of law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, and their partners. They are confident and focused: they willingly stand up to the worst the world can offer. While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they're quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark. When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God ... and to their children?
Protecting the streets is second nature to these law enforcement officers. Raising their children? That will take courage.
Runtime: PG-13. 2 hours, 4 minutes
Review: This movie’s writing is far better than Fireproof. I loved, loved, loved the scene when Officer Hayes took his daughter to dinner and gave her a promise ring. I loved when Officer Mitchell danced with his daughter. Kudos for those bright moments. However, there were some melodramatic, predictable, and questionable spots that kept it from receiving a 5 star rating from Christian Fiction Blog.
Without sharing much of the plot and the denouement, I want to address my challenge with the constant negative and stereotypical portrayals of people of color in the movie. I’m from South Georgia and have many relatives in Albany, where this movie is set. It would be hard for me to watch this movie with them without cringing. For the record southern af-am gang members aren’t jumped-in like it is portrayed in the movie nor do they wear do-rags and cut off jean shirts. There are many Af-am churches in Albany that could have helped Sherwood on what gang members really look like now. (They could have contacted me, since I was once on a gang prevention task force.)
Moreover, the comic scene whereby the latino friend masqueraded as the stereotypical Tony Montana, greasy Latino Drug Lord was disturbing and not funny. My in-laws are Latina, as well as my child. I’m not in the mood to have a conversation with her about living with a double stereotype , which has been pushed by leaders of our faith. Furthermore, it is more evident after reading the praise of The Help that many of us do not know American Immigration history and how damaging these prejudiced roles are to the psyche of our society.
Although I understand the message this movie wants to get out, I do not understand the need for perpetuating stereotypes in order to do it. It puts people off, which I’m sure wasn’t its desired intent. All men, regardless of race, are challenged by being fathers. Criminal behavior is not regulated just to people of color, and all af-am men who grew up in single parent households aren’t doomed to a life of crime, nor are the ones who aren’t criminal an exception to the rule.
At some point American Protestant Society including CBA and Sherwood has to realize that if they want to evangelize Christ message to everyone, if they want to edify the Body of Christ, if they want to glorify God, they are going to have to see everyone as equal. Casting people of color is a step forward; Casting them to stereotype is two steps back. Otherwise Courageous, is a movie only for white protestant fathers, which I don’t believe- especially after having a chat with director Alex Kendrick.
Sure Tony Dungy praised the film in USA Today. However, he doesn’t speak for me and I’m proof positive he doesn’t speak to the men of color in Albany, Georgia, whom this movie will most assuredly single them out to be bad men.
Welcome to Day 2 of Book Blogger week. This year Christian Fiction Blog is participating in the BOOK Blog Swap. I received the honor to interview Kate Scott of Parchment Girl Blog. Parchment Girl Blog was created in 2009. Here's the interview:
Who introduced you to book blogging and what about their blog inspired you to create your own?
No one person introduced me to book blogging. Over time I discovered a number of amazing book bloggers and was inspired by their professionalism and passion for books.
Your blog design is gorgeous. How did you decide on the design for your blog?
Thanks! I hired Darcy, the gifted designer behind GraphicallyDesigning.com to create the perfect look for my blog. I gave her my general ideas of what I wanted it to look like and she turned them into a work of art!
Since you became a book blogger, which book has surprised you the most in a good way and why?
The book that has surprised me the most is actually one I read just a few weeks ago--Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand. I'm not a big crime reader (aside from cozy mysteries), but I was super impressed with Bertrand's gritty, realistic style and great character development. Christian fiction has come a long way in terms of quality, but Back on Murder surpassed every expectation I had.
What blog communities do you belong to and why did you choose them?
I belong to the Ning community for book bloggers. I like to interact with other book bloggers in the forum, swap ideas and answer questions. Other than that I'm just a part of the community of Christian book bloggers who interact via Twitter and blog comments.
What do you love most about BBAW?
Discovering new blogs to follow! I'm excited to check out the shortlisted blogs in each category and read some of these interview swaps!
Miranda Parker's A Good Excuse to Be Bad included in Book Fun Getaway
Good Monday
If you haven't read my novel, A Good Excuse to Be Bad, tonight you could win a copy and possible a KINDLE!! Today I'm participating in The Book Club Network's Big Book Fun! They will be giving away a KINDLE & my novel Miranda Parker A Good Excuse to Be Bad TONIGHT?? It's Not too late to win these gifts!! Contest Starts at 9p.m. Eastern Standard time! Join and pass this news on today It's Free and we have lots of books to give away www.bookfun.org
Miranda
Sunday, September 3rd I will be one of the stage captains for the Decatur Book Festival. I will be working the Decatur High School Performing Arts Center. Here’s the rundown on the events and more about the authors who will be presenting. I hope you come out and join us tomorrow. We have a great line up! I’ll be wearing a gray tee. :)
Decatur High School
12:00-12:45:
Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind featuring Ellen Brown shares the fascinating stories behind Margaret Mitchell's classic and how it became a Hollywood blockbuster. I hope she tells us whether Scarlett won Rhett back.
Veteran sportswriter Jack Wilkinson[E-6] has collected every essential piece of Braves knowledge and trivia, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them all from 1 to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist as you progress on your way to fan superstardom.
The Atlanta Opera has commissioned a one-hour children’s opera around the famed tales of Brer Rabbit — popularized by Joel Chandler Harris — for its 2011-2012 season, and at the AJC Decatur Book Festival we will have a special presentation about its development and creation (as well as a sneak peek of some of the songs!).
The Decatur Book Festival Is The Largest Independent Book Festival in the Nation The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical is an annual, free book festival that takes place over Labor Day weekend in Decatur, Georgia at several venues located in and around the downtown Decatur Square. Conceived in 2005 and launched in 2006, the festival brings more than 300 authors to Decatur for the holiday weekend. The authors give readings, talks, and panel discussions. The event is free and open to the public. Miranda Parker will discuss how the city of Decatur became a main character in her Angel Crawford Series. She will also reads and sign her novel A Good Excuse to Be Bad, which has just been selected as a top pick by the Atlanta Press Club. http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2011/authors/detail.php?id=253
Fall is one of my favorite times of year for reading. The summer book best-seller blitz is over. My book tour winds down. My next book isn’t due to my publisher for a few months, so I have time to visit some book festivals and soak myself in a good read.
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