Happy Labor Day!

I hope everyone is having a great 3-day weekend! My prayers go out for the people enduring Hurrcane Gustav. Having lived through several hurricanes growing up in Florida, I understand the terror of being in the middle of such a ferocious storm.
Here in CA, it is warm and sunny, and I have to work today due to a looming deadline on Book 2 of my Charles Towne Belles series, now named The Blue Enchantress.

But, I wanted to share a couple of things: First, I added a link on my website called "Tall Ships". If you share my obsession with the romantic age of sail, please check it out. I have a whole page filled with pictures from the HMS Surprise. (very cool)

Secondly, I wanted to post this picture of me and my fellow Barbour authors at the ICRS convention last July. From right to left is Kelly Hake, Mary Connealy, Christine Lynxwiler, Wanda Brunstetter, the winner of our drawing, and me!



I'm also planning on having a book giveaway later in the week, and I'm thinking of starting a study on Fear. More on that later. but for now.. enjoy your day off!

Chapter-a-week!

When the Soul Mends
book #3 in the best-selling "Sisters of the Quilt" series
by Cindy Woodsmall

. . . . When the Soul Mends, the brilliantly written third story in the "Sisters of the Quilt" series . . . Kathleen Y'Barbo, author of Beloved Castaway

Returning to the home she fled in disgrace, will Hannah find healing for the wounds of the past?

With her heart now in the hands of a new love as well as the two children left in their care, Hannah Lapp finds her Englischer life more than she'd ever hoped for and is actively pursuing a future with Martin and in medicine. When she receives a call from her sister Sarah, desperate for help, Hannah reluctantly returns to the Old Order Amish community that ostracized her. Once home, she must face her disapproving father and her former fiance, Paul Waddell, and it seems only Paul holds the key to her sister's mental health. When Hannah dares to speak her mind to him, she realizes that a lie separated them--one Paul knows nothing about. As they work together for Sarah's sake, her feelings for Paul become too strong to ignore.

Will Hannah choose the Englischer world and the man who restored her hope, or will she return to the Plain life–and perhaps to her first love?


Available September 16, 2008

www.cindywoodsmall. com

Preorder your copy through www.cbd.com or it will be available at your favorite bookstore starting September 16th.

Bayou Paradox
by Robin Caroll
Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense

It can cure you. Or it can kill you . . .

Tara LeBlanc and Sheriff Theriot lay it all on the line as they stand to lose everything as a killer gets ready to pounce in the untamed Louisiana bayou.

"Romantic suspense south of the Mason-Dixon line--the genre belongs to Robin Caroll"
Colleen Coble, author of Anathema and the Rock Harbor series

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.
If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person's particular taste.

Me adventures upon the sea!

Well, I made it back (unfortunately) from my tall ship adventure this past weekend in San Diego. Here's a list of some of the ships my husband and I toured.

A three-masted Schooner, the American Pride

A topsail Schooner, the Californian

The Barque, USCG, Eagle (no picture)

The Brigantine, Irving Johnson (no picture)

The Snow Brig, Pilgrim (no picture) (Brigs were often used by pirates)

The Gaff Topsail Schooner Spirit of Dana Point

The Barque, Star of India (Always docked in San Diego)

and the really cool ones:

The HMS Bounty (used in the movie, Mutiny on the Bounty)

And the HMS Surprise (my personal favorite and the same ship used in the movie, Master and Commander)

The best part, however, was the cannon battle sail. A three hour tour of San Diego Bay aboard The Spirit of Dana Point during which we engaged in gun battle with the Schooner, American Pride, (personally, I think we whipped 'em) in addition to various tourist sailboats and basically anyone that got in our way! Needless to say, I was in my element and never wanted to leave!

Here we are firing on the American Pride

And the shot from our ship



One of the guns aboard the HMS Surprise (I will have more pictures of this ship on my website)

Our captain seeking out another ship to plunder!


I have lots more pictures that I plan on posting on my website next week. If you're interested, check them out. I'll put the under the tab: Tall ships.

I had a blast (no pun intended) and realize one thing. I was born in the wrong century!

Avast, ye maties. Prepare to be boarded.

What is Heaven like? The conclusion

For those of you who have taken this Heaven-bound journey with me, we've learned a few things about our Home. I call it Home because I want to start thinking of it as such. Home is a place where we all feel comfortable, where we can be ourselves, relax, enjoy life, hang out with friends and family, eat our favorite foods, entertain guests. It is a place of comfort and rest and fun--a place we long for when we're not there. If you don't have an earthly home like that, rest assured you have a heavenly one! This earth is not our home. We are only traveling through and I firmly believe that the more we grasp that, the better the journey will be.

As we've seen, Heaven is a glorious place. We will have bodies that never get sick or tired or grow old. We will eat and drink and have parties with our friends. We will work and create things that give our lives meaning and fulfillment. We will read and learn and play sports and watch movies and do all the wonderful things we enjoy here on this earth, but at a much higher level. We will be surrounded by such beauty that this earth will pale in comparison. We'll play with animals, have our pets with us. All our dreams will be fulfilled!

Now, in light of that, how then should we live?

Suppose you and a bunch of other people are all invited to a huge mansion for a week and told that in order to be happy you had to go through the rooms and get as much stuff as you could. The catch was, you had to fight against the other people in order to get the things you wanted. But suppose that at the end of the week you knew you had to relinquish everything you had gathered before you left the mansion. Now, also suppose that you were told that if you spent the week getting to know the Master of the mansion and speaking with him, following him around and doing what he said, that when you left at the end of the week, there would be a chest full of treasure waiting for you outside the door that you could take with you. Which would you choose?

Since nothing we have or can gain on this earth lasts except the things we do for God, and this life is but a blip on the screen of eternity, it would make sense to spend our time here following Jesus and obeying and trusting Him. Anything else is a waste of our time. As we saw, we will be rewarded in Heaven with greater joys and responsibilities depending on what we do here on earth. So, what are we waiting for? Let's start storing up our treasures in heaven.

Matthew 6:19-20 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 2 Peter 3:13-14

Make a daily effort to focus on Heaven and what it will be like. I guarantee that soon the things of this world will lose their allure.

Arg, I'm off t' sail the ocean blue!

Well, perhaps just the San Diego Bay! Tomorrow, my hubby and I will be flying down to San Diego for their annual Festival of Sail. Here's a link if you want to check it out: Festival of Sail

I'm very excited because I will get to tour ships like the USCG Eagle,

The HMS Bounty,

And the HMS Surprise (the very ship used in the film, Master and Commander)

And that's not all! On Sunday we have booked passage aboard the Spirit of Dana Point to engage in a cannon battle with the American Pride! So I finally get t' test me skills wit' the big guns, eh?

So, if you hear on the news that a mad blonde women, wearing an eye patch and sporting a flintlock pistol hijacked one of the tall ships from San Diego Bay and set sail fer the Caribbean with a crew of ruffians by her side, then say a prayer fer a fair wind and a clear horizon, and that I live to tell the tale, will ye?

Chapter a week and Book Giveaway!

Scroll down for more information on the Book Giveaway.

But First!
Single Sashimi
By Camy Tang

(MaryLu here, breaking in to tell you I've read this book, and it's fabulous!)

Drake Yu. Why would Drake call her after … what, five years? Six?

Venus heard in his voice that resonance that was almost a growl, that titanium-hard determination to get what he wanted. And he usually got what he wanted. The voice said: "I want you to work for me."

Not this time… If it was a choice between Drake and McDonald's—she' d choose french fries. She'd never work for him again. It would take an act of God.

Venus Chau is determined to start her own game development company and launch the next Super Mario-sized phenomenon. However, she needs an investor to back her idea. When Drake Yu, an old nemesis, approaches Venus with a contracting opportunity at his sister's startup, the offer to become Chief Operating Officer tempts Venus to think the unthinkable.

Venus would rather throw away her PS3 than work for Drake again … except Grandma bribes Venus to do this favor for Drake's wealthy family with a coveted introduction to the most respected investor in the game industry. It's also a short job—only a few months—so Venus won't have to stand Drake's presence for very long.

But one wild youth group, a two-faced assistant, and Grandma's determined match-making threaten to make them both fail—or go insane. With the encouragement of her three cousins, Lex, Trish, and Jennifer, Venus discovers that even a wounded heart can undergo a beautiful transformation …

HEALING PROMISES
Defenders of Hope, book two
by AMY WALLACE
Multnomah Fiction April, 2008

Faith Under Fire

When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he's seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the beast of cancer. As he continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?


"Once again, Amy weaves a suspenseful tale of intrigue that will leave you begging for more. Healing Promises is heart-wrenching and powerful. The chase to stop a killer kept me turning the pages, and Clint and Sara's story broke my heart and kept me cheering for them right to the last page. Whether you want an emotional story straight from the heart or a suspense full of twists and turns, Healing Promises delivers it all."
— Wanda Dyson, author of Intimidation and Why I Jumped

"In Healing Promises Amy Wallace does what so few writers are willing to do: She looks down the gun barrel of reality, and she does it without flinching. This novel was so real, it nearly breathes on its own. I highly recommend it."
—Brandt Dodson, author of the Colton Parker Mystery series and White Soul


"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
Job 1:21


To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

We had such a great response to our last book giveaway that we've decided to make it a regular event! So we are giving away a ten-pound box of autographed Chapter-a-Week books to one Chapter-a-Week member again.
Simply send an email with "Chapter-a-Week Summer Reading Giveaway" in the subject line to cawcontest@gmail. com and you'll be entered in the drawing. The deadline for signing up is September 5th and the winner will be announced September 12th. Get your entries in and be sure to tell your friends to sign up for Chapter-a-Week!
To qualify, the return email address must be on the Chapter-a-Week membership list. Continental U. S. residents only, please. Industry professionals should refrain from entering, and though we'd love you to share our books with your friends, these books are not for resale.
Thanks and happy reading!
Your friends at Chapter-a-Week

What is Heaven Like?-- Part 10

To answer last week's questions:

Will we see our beloved pets in Heaven?

This is a particularly poignant question for me right now as my oldest daughter suffers greatly with the news that her precious cat, Honey, has a terminal disease that will take her life within the month. As I cry along with my daughter, I'm reminded of a similar time, almost two years ago when I held my constant companion and friend of 15 years in my arms while the vet put him to sleep. I cried for a week and still think of that cat, who we called SnowBall. The Bible is not entirely clear on this issue but it does give us some clues. As we've already seen, there will be animals on the New Earth. And we know from Romans 8:21-23 that animals, along with all of creation suffer in this present fallen age, waiting for God to make things right. So, it would make sense to me that God would simply bring back some or all of those animals who suffered here on earth and regenerate them for the New Earth. Why not? And if we asked Him to bring back our pets, why wouldn't He? God is a good God, full of grace and mercy and the giver of all good gifts. So, I for one, have no doubt that I will see Snowball again and other pets who have passed away, and my daughter will see her precious Honey fully restored and healthy on the New Earth.

Will dreams be fulfilled and missed opportunities regained?

Let's face it. We live in a fallen world. Things aren't the way they're supposed to be. When God created Adam and Eve, He wanted them to rule the world, to be prosperous and mulitply. His plans were good plans. In John 10:10, Jesus tells us He came to give us Life and life more abundant... to have life to the full! The Lord longs to bless us. (Part of that blessing may be allowing trials in our lives to build our characters and bring people to Him, but ultimately they are blessings) He has a plan for our lives--a purpose that fits exactly how we were made. But sometimes things don't work out that way. Sometimes circumstances occur that drag us down. We lose our hope or get sidetracked by the world or Satan's lies. And our lives don't end up the way we had dreamed or the way God intended. But never fear. This earth is not our only chance! As we've seen through our previous sessions, we will have full, meaningful lives for all of eternity on the New Earth. So, maybe you've always wanted to travel to France, or learn how to ski, or write a novel (hey, there's an idea!), or play an instrument, or basically just do something important with your life, but you never had the chance here on Earth. You will be able to do all those things in Heaven. Suppose some disease or accident has kept you in bed or in pain or in a wheelchair. Here's what Joni Eareckson Tada has to say about that. (She's been a paraplegic since her youth) "I haven't been cheated out of being a complete person---I'm just going through a 40 year delay, and God is with me through that. Being glorified--I know the meaning of that now. It's the time after my death here, when I'll be on my feet, dancing!"

There will be no more sorrow or disappointments or lost dreams in eternity. If God placed a dream inside of you, then He will fulfill it, either in this world or the next.

Will there be new inventions and new technologies?

I say, why not? God is a creator. He has a creative mind. When He creates, He looks at it and says it is good. And mankind, created in God's image has the same creative mind. Even in our fallen society, look what mankind has achieved? Look at the art of Rembrant, Monet, Michelangelo. The music of Chopin, Bethoven, The Beatles! Look at our inventions: Cars, trains, rocket ships to the moon. And just in my generation: Color Plasma TVs, Computers, Cell phones, microwaves, Ipods, DVDs. Just think what immortal man can come up with in a perfect world with the creativity of God flowing through him? Sure God can just say the word and bring something into existence but He knows how much we enjoy creating things ourselves. I don't know a single person who doesn't enjoy making something, who doesn't get fulfillment out of creating something new whether it be a cake or a computer program, or a new song. The possibilities are endless, and exciting!

Next week, I'm going to end this series on Heaven by summing up what we've learned and hopefully giving us a new way to look at this life on earth and look forward to the next one. So, stay tuned.

Chapter-a-week!

The Black Cloister
By Melanie Dobson

Trapped inside an abusive cult, one woman is dying to break free.

After her mother commits suicide, Elise Friedman travels to Germany to search for answers and discovers her mother's dark secret inside the walls of a medieval abbey. When the man who destroyed her mother threatens to destroy her as well, Elise fights for a way out of the darkness before she is consumed.

"From the moment I opened up to the first page of The Black Cloister, I was hooked. This intense, well-crafted story about a modern day cult will have you wondering long into the night." --Linda Hall, Shadows in the Mirror

FOR PETE'S SAKE
#2 in the Piper Cove Chronicles
by Linda Windsor

Avon Inspire ISBN 978-0-06-117138- 3 $12.95

Ellen isn't sure true love exists…until she landscapes the estate of the widower next door. Adrian has it all—at least on the surface. He's engaged to a beautiful woman and he'll soon have a stepmom for his troubled son, Pete. Yet from the moment Ellen rescues him on her Harley, his well-ordered world turns upside down. With his business under investigation for espionage and his son pushing for the tomboy-next- door as his new mom, Adrian's façade of happiness shatters. As Ellen's three best friends step in to help her navigate the uncharted waters of love, she must ask herself if she's ready to risk her heart and trust that God has brought this family into her life for a reason. [Available at local and online bookstores.]


BEST BOOK AWARD, Long and Short Reviews: "Linda Windsor will have you laughing, hurting and loving along the way...packed with chemistry, emotion, action, suspense, laughter, fun, faith and love. It is truly one of a kind. There was not a boring moment among the pages and I found myself completely drawn into the lives of these characters and the town of Piper Cove."

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

Two fun announcements

Stepping Stones Magazine for writers is having a Book Cover contest! If you have a favorite book cover you'd like to nominate, go to the link at the end of this paragraph and get the details. Authors cannot nominate their own covers. Sounds like a fun contest to me! and Stepping Stones is a fabulous online magazine you'll want to check out anyway. Stepping Stones Magazine Cover Contest

And for you Science Fiction - Fantasy Writers (and readers) out there, I'd like to give you a preliminary heads-up to a new Publisher on the scene. Marcher Lord Press. If you're a writer and have had a hard time placing your manuscript with the mainstream publishers or if you're a reader looking for good Christian Speculative fiction, I encourage you to read the following News Release

New Indie Publisher Specializes in Christian Fantasy and SF


Colorado Springs, CO – August 2008 – The creative force behind WhereTheMapEnds. com, one of the Web’s premier sources of interviews and content related to Christian fantasy and science fiction, is pleased to announce the creation of a new independent publishing company, Marcher Lord Press.

Marcher Lord Press immediately becomes the leading indie publisher of Christian speculative fiction.

The Marcher Lord Press Web site (www.marcherlordpress.com) went live on October 1, 2007 , and the company’s first original novels will release on October 1, 2008 .

After more than 13 years working in the Christian publishing industry as a published novelist and professional editor on staff with three Christian publishing companies, Marcher Lord Press founder Jeff Gerke has created his own publishing venture to specialize in the kind of Christian fiction he says is lacking in the current marketplace.

“I’ve always loved Christian speculative fiction,” Gerke says. “Christian fantasy, science fiction, time travel, supernatural thrillers, the works. My own first novels were near-future technothrillers. But I was always frustrated that these novels seemed to get short shrift in the industry. So I decided to do something about it.”

The first lineup of Marcher Lord Press titles includes Hero, Second Class, a comic fantasy in the tradition of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, by first-time novelist Mitchell Bonds; The Personifid Invasion, a futuristic spiritual warfare thriller by R. E. Bartlett; and Summa Elvetica by Theodore Beale, an exploration of what would happen if something very much like the Catholic church existed in a fantasy world and decided to explore whether or not elves have souls.

Going forward, Marcher Lord Press will release six original novels a year in two release cycles: April and October. Marcher Lord Press will then begin augmenting its original releases with the re-release of Christian speculative novels that have gone out of print—all with new covers and bonus content like lost chapters or original short stories by the author.

“I’m shooting for a specific readership,” Gerke says. “I like to call them ‘Christian who love Battlestar Galactica’ or ‘Christians who love Heroes’ or—my favorite—‘Christians who would go to Comic-CON if given the chance.’ I want to give them the kind of fiction that is currently all but absent in today’s publishing climate.”

Indeed, a trip to Comic-CON 2009 in San Diego is the grand prize in the drawing to be held on Launch Day, October 1.

The name of the company comes from the marcher lords of European history. A marcher lord maintained the boundary with an enemy nation, such as the English lords who held the boundaries with Scotland or Wales . Marcher lords guarded against invasion and looked for opportunity to expand the borders of the home country.

Jeff Gerke has been in the Christian publishing industry since 1994. He has written six Christian novels—under the pen name Jefferson Scott (see www.jeffersonscott.com)—and has served on the editorial staffs of three Christian publishing companies: Multnomah Publishers, Strang Communications, and NavPress.

While at Strang, Jeff spearheaded the launch of Realms, the first-ever imprint of speculative fiction in the Christian publishing industry. After leaving Realms, Jeff headed up the fiction line for NavPress. Jeff is now a freelance book doctor, editor, and writer working from his home in Colorado Springs .

Jeff operates www.WhereTheMapEnds .com, one of the premier Web sites for content, interviews, craftsmanship, and inside information about the Christian publishing industry and Christian speculative fiction in particular. He also operates The Anomaly (http://wherethemape nds.proboards58. com/index. cgi), a forums site for original Christian speculative fiction.

Jeff and Marcher Lord Press may be reached at 719/266-8874 or through the contact information found at http://www.marcherl ordpress. com/ContactMLP.htm.

My cover for The Red Siren

One of the most fun parts about being an author is getting the first peek at the cover of my new book. My publisher asks for my input before they send it to the design team, and I do my best to describe the characters, the setting, and my vision of what the cover should look like. Truthfully, it never looks like I envision. But in most cases, it looks even better! There are many things to consider when desiging a cover and marketing has a big say in how it appears. They do studies on what types of covers attract the most people: what colors, what scenery, what type of characters. This is so important because the cover has to be so appealing that at the very least, it causes people to pick it off the shelf. After they pick it up, they will read the back and see if the story interests them. At least that's what the studies say, and honestly, that's exactly what I do. If a cover draws my eye, I will definitely pick up the book and read the back. How about you? How much does a good cover influence whether you pick a book off the shelf? What about the opposite question. What if you've heard a certain book is really good and you go to the store to buy it, but the cover is hideous. Do you still buy it?

Well, here's the cover for my upcoming release, The Red Siren. What say you? Would you pick this off the shelf?








Faith Westcott, a fiery redhead, is a lady by day and a pirate by night. How long can she maintain this dual identity before she’s caught red-handed? Dajon Waite, who scours the Carolina coast, expunging it of pirates, is a more-than-capable captain in the British Royal Navy. But when asked to take on the guardianship of Faith and her two sisters, he finds himself in deep water. Having vowed to avoid women, what will he do when he begins falling for Faith? Can the all-consuming love of a godly captain redeem a not-so-ladylike pirate?

What is Heaven like? -- part 9

To answer last week's questions:

Will animals inhabit Heaven or the New Earth?

I'm a real animal lover. I take in every stray cat that comes to my house. (We currently have 4, but have had up to 6 in the past) I've also had birds, bunnies, rats (yes, I know, Yuk) gerbils, and fish. One of my favorite things to do is visit a zoo or wild animal park. So, I can't imagine Heaven without animals. Well, rejoice... here's what the Bible has to say about that:

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:6-9

Sounds like alot of animals to me! And not only that, but they'll be friendly too.

Do animals have souls? and how does God consider them?

Consistently throughout scripture, God used animals to further His purpose. He used ravens to feed Elijah (1 Kings 17) He made a giant fish swallow Jonah (Jonah 1:17), he sent a fish with a coin in its mouth to the disciples (Matt 17:27) and he used a donkey to get Balaam's attention and save his life. (Numbers 22). God created animals. He loves them. And since they appear to have feelings and thoughts, they must have souls.

"What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it." Matt 10:29

How will people and animals relate?

I think the best way to answer this question is to point you to this video: Please watch it, You'll be glad you did.

A lion named Christian

Here's next week's questions.

Will we see our beloved pets in Heaven?

Will our dreams be fulfilled and missed opportunities regained?

Will there be new inventions and new technology in Heaven?

*** Most information taken from Heaven by Randy Alcorn

Winners of The Falcon and the Sparrow!

First of all, I was humbled and thrilled to receive so many wonderful comments on this contest! I read each one and want to thank all of you very much for your thoughtful words. They meant a great deal to me. And thanks for entering! I chose the followng 5 names out of my tupperware bowl yesterday... (My husband's baseball hat was dirty)

Congratulations to:

Diane

WindyCindy

Melanie Dickerson

Ashley M.

Carole

Would Ashley M. and Melanie Dickerson please contact me at marylu@mltyndall.com and give me your addresses? You didn't leave an email address where I could contact you. Thanks!

Chapter-a-week!

Unbridled Dreams by Stephanie Grace Whitson

"This new historical novel by a bestselling author entertains with lovable characters, humorous scenes and the wisdom of faith that Whitson and her characters share in her books."

4 stars from Romantic Times

Irmagard Friedrich dreams of becoming "Liberty Belle" in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. When her doting father orchestrates an audition, she begins to realize that dream. But the Wild West is more mud and manure than applause and acclaim, and Belle's willfulness could ruin everything. . .including her budding romance with Shep Sterling, the King of the Cowboys.

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together. If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person's particular taste.

The winner of Michelle Sutton's book:

It's Not About Me is ------> Deb Piccurelli! Congratulations Deb! And thanks so much to all of you for entering and for your wonderful comments. They meant a lot to Michelle. If you didn't win, I encourage you to put this book on your "To Buy" list. It won't be released until September but you're not going to want to forget to pick up your own copy.

P.S. I'll be drawing the winners for 5 copies of my book, The Falcon and the Sparrow, on Monday.

What is heaven like - Part 8

Welcome Heaven seekers! Here are last week's questions:

What will our daily live be like?

For part of the answer, I go to Genesis and study the description God gives us of Adam and Eve's life before the fall. They had meaningful and enjoyable work. (To care for the garden and the animals), abundant food (they could eat of any tree save one), a beautiful environment, unhindered friendship with God (He would come and walk with them in the evening) and relationships with other people and animals. They also had a day of rest, just like God ordained. So, rest and relaxation will definitely be a part of our lives in Heaven. Sound good? Aren't these all the things we all strive for in our earthly lives?

Also, as we've already discussed, each of us will be given important tasks of rulership in Heaven (or the new earth) These will be things we not only enjoy but that are talents are perfectly suited for. No more dragging yourself to work or school and staring at the clock waiting to go home. No. I imagine we will all be anxious to get to work each morning. We will look forward to it with great anticipation because our work will fulfill us and through it, we will please God. Work was created before the Fall and was meant to be enjoyable. God, Himself, is a God who enjoys work. Why shouldn't we?

Will we sleep? Eat? Play?

The Bible speaks a lot about rest and entering our rest, but will we actually sleep in heaven? I don't believe the Scriptures are clear on that. Our bodies will be perfect but will they ever run down, get tired? My personal opinion is that they won't, but I don't know for sure. For those of us who enjoy sleep, perhaps it will be a part of your routine. For others, like myself, who struggle getting a full night's sleep, and would rather stay up and be productive, perhaps we won't need to sleep. Either way, it's heaven, and it will be perfect.

As I discussed in a prior post, would it be heaven if we couldn't eat? Our best example of this is the resurrected Jesus. In His glorified body, he both ate and drank. Also Revelation speaks of a grand wedding feast. So, yes, I believe we will eat, and we will enjoy it. I receive vegetables and fruit from a local organic farm and I have to say that the fresh produce is so much more flavorful and so much better than the stuff you buy in a grocery store. But I believe food on the new Earth will be even better. I can't wait.

Will we play? Just look at all the fun activities God has created for our enjoyment on earth. Sports, Art, Music, Movies, Good Books, Games...etc. Do you think those will end in Heaven, on the new earth? The Bible tells us that Every good thing comes from God. My opinion is that they will not end, but be even more fun, even more enjoyable. Maybe you've always wanted to oil paint but didn't have the time or talent to pursue it. Perhaps you'll be able to in Heaven. Maybe you've always wanted to play baseball, but in this competitive, crooked world, you never made it. Maybe in Heaven you can play with the Angels!

Will we have homes?

Jesus said in John 14 "In my Father's house are many mansions. . .I go to prepare a place for you." To me, this means that we will all have homes just like we have here on earth. Places that are just ours where we can go after working or playing and just rest. Places with our most precious things set around us, where we can have guests over for dinner or a movie. Why not? Isn't that one of the wonderful things we enjoy on this earth? And since Jesus is preparing it, I believe He'll stock our homes full of the things that mean the most ot us. He'll furnish it according to our tastes and needs. He knows everything about us. I truly beleive that when we first walk into our new house, we'll feel like we finally have arrived home.

Next week's questions:

1. Will animals inhabit Heaven or the New Earth?

2. Do animals have souls and how does God look at animals

3. How will people and animals relate?

Most of these discussions are taken from Heaven, by Randy Alcorn. Highly recommended book if you want to know as much as you can about where you're headed.

Introducing Edgy Inspirational author, Michelle Sutton!

You do not want to miss reading the books of this up and coming new author, Michelle Sutton. Her first release is entitled It's Not About Me, and I had the privilege of reading it before it came out on the market. Here were my thoughts on it:

"It's Not About Me is a must read for every young adult in today's world, boy or girl. Not only does it explore in depth the intense sexual pressures placed upon today's youth, but also the serious effects of alcoholism and rape. More importantly, it addresses issues of true Faith and Christianity which cut at the core of our beliefs: issues such as what does it really mean to follow Jesus? Does going to church or even being a pastor's son make you a Christian? As you follow the lives and the ardurous love triangle of three young adults, Annie, Tony, and Dan, you'll not only fall in love with them, you'll cry with them, yearn along side them and weep for their heartaches and struggles. Kudos to Michelle Sutton for addressing such timely topics with such finesse."

Michelle has graciously answered a few questions for me:

1. How long have you been writing and what aspect of being an author do you find the most difficult, and what do you find the most rewarding?

I began writing fiction in August of 2003, so it's been five years ago this month! What I find most difficult about being an author is having to work a day job as well as find the time to write, etc. Plus, all the waiting kinda stinks, too. People who don't like delayed gratification need to self-publish. I've learned to be VERY patient.

2 I notice you lable yourself an edgy inspirational author. Can you define what that is? And why have you gone that route in your writing?

People actually labeled me as "edgy," including publishers who regularly asked my agent for less edgy novels. I tried to change that but decided it's who I am and how I write, and if I changed that about myself I would gut my voice and my unique style. So I kept it and made a brand for myself. So far it looks like I achieved that. As far as what it is? To me edgy is daring to say what most people think and do and writing about real situations.

3. What prompted you to write "It's Not About Me." ? Was there something in your own past or something you've seen in young adults these days?

Ah, probably both. I know a lot of young girls (especially through counseling them as a social worker) who allowed themselves to be pressured into doing what their boyfriends wanted only to get dumped anyway. I've also worked with people who have addictions such as alcoholism and have worked with some capacity with pretty much every type of vice.

4. What do you hope young adults or anyone who reads your book will come away with? Is there a lesson or some moral truth you hope to convey?

Yes. The takeaway value of my story is that God is always good and He uses even our poor decisions to lead us to Him. I also hope young adults will examine their own hearts and motives and make better choices in life as a result of reading my story.

5. I see you are editor in chief of an online Christian Fiction Magazine. Tell us a bit about the magazine, how it got started and your hopes for it. Also how can we suscribe to it?

Christian Fiction Online Magazine was born July 1, 2008, but the owner, Bonnie Calhoun, and I began working on it since April when we decided to plunge ahead and make a go for it. Bonnie does the website and billing and I work with the columnists and content. We have great columns totally focused on Christian fiction. No non-fiction allowed. Traditionally Christians have been big purchasers of non-fiction, but many have stereotypes or simply aren't familiar with current trends in Christian fiction and the quality of it. We're trying to bridge the gap and advertise to the world that Christian fiction is top notch reading material. To subscribe all you have to do is fill out the form on the home page that says "subscribe" to the magazine.

Here's the link: Christian Fiction Online Magazine

6. How closely knit is your writing and your spiritual life? My spiritual life is who I am. Not perfect, but forgiven and willing to extend grace to others as it has been extended to me. To write a story without some faith element would not work for me because it's so much a part of the fiber of my life.

7. What is on the horizon for you? The sequel(s) to INAM are coming out and I have other surprises up my sleeve that I am not at liberty to discuss yet. Sorry.

That's okay. I guess we'll have to wait. (Sigh) But thanks so much for visiting us today!

You can find out more about Michelle at her website: http://www.michellesutton.net/index.html or her blog http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/

But most importantly, you can order a copy of It's Not About Me here

And don't forget to view the book trailer




But if you leave a comment, I will be drawing a name to win a free copy on August 11th. Please be sure and leave your email address in your comment, otherwise I can't get in touch with you!

Chapter-a-Week!

Shadow of Colossus
~A Seven Wonders Novel~
by T.L. Higley
(B&H Publishing, August 2008)

In a world enslaved by money and power,
one woman dares to be free.
Will an explosive secret keep her in chains?

The place is the island of Rhodes; the time, 227 BC. In the ten years that Tessa of Delos has been in bondage as a hetaeira, a high-priced Greek courtesan to a wealthy politician, she has learned to abandon all desire for freedom and love. But when her owner meets a violent death, Tessa is given the chance to be free—if she can hide the truth of his death and maintain a masquerade until escape is possible. Now Tessa must battle for her own freedom and for those she is beginning to love, as forces collide that will shatter the island's peace and bring even its mighty Colossus to its knees.

"Shadow of Colossus is a beautifully told tale, richly detailed, and set beneath one of the great wonders of the world. If you've ever dreamed of traveling in the ancient world, you'll want to be there as a fallen woman rises and the great Colossus falls!"
—Ginger Garrett, author of In the Shadow of Lions

Love Starts With Elle by Rachel Hauck

The last of five lowcountry sisters to find love, Elle Garvey is willing to give up her home and career for the man she loves. But when life doesn't turn out like she planned, Elle discovers God has a plan for her much better than her own.

Romantic Times, 4.5 Stars, Top Pick.
"Hauck is quickly making a name for herself as an insightful, thoughtful author."
- Melissa Parcel


To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together. If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person's particular taste.