Memoirs in March final week with 2 free ebooks.

Last week: March 29 - April 2:

These are two very different books, except that they both touch on the Middle East. And both stories tell what happened when the author walked the path of obedience to God. They both describe a life that is transformed by the presence and power of Christ.


Book Description :
By the time Jake was nineteen he was feeding an insatiable lust that was looking for opportunities to act out. He found those opportunities in Mediterranean ports while serving as an aviation ordnanceman aboard the Naval aircraft carrier, USS America. At a time when the Gulf War was unfolding, Jake should have been totally committed to God and country. However, the seedy world of pornography and prostitution sabotaged his Christian life and made his commitment to the Navy a low priority. Even later, as a church-going civilian, his sins came back to haunt him. The author doesn't pull any punches in this hard-hitting story that takes the reader from the Persian Gulf War zone and the gritty underworld of prostitution to the glorious rapture of God's saving, delivering grace.
Ordering Info :
172 pages
Price: $12.99
Available through Amazon.com and other online retailers, or through bookstores anywhere.
The Amazon Kindle version is FREE March 29 - April 2here .
http://amzn.com/B005I7FFPK
Review Quote:
"An inspirational and engaging read from beginning to end." ~ Midwest Book Review
About the Author:
The life experiences of Jake Porter include being shot at a bank ATM, while working as an armored-vehicle driver; serving in the U.S. Navy during Desert Storm; and living in California, Montana, and Arizona, where he now resides with his wife. They have two young adult children, just leaving the nest.
Author Photo:

Interview with Jake Porter:
STORM TOSSED deals with a sensitive topic. Why is your story and message needed today?
The content of this book is an honest account of my personal struggle with pornography and sexual addiction. Lust is a sin most Christian men battle against, but it is the one area in our lives we don't want to discuss. For the most part, the church and its leaders are silent on the topic. It's too dirty and too uncomfortable to address for most of us; but shying away from it isn't going to help us defeat this powerful weapon of Satan. STORM TOSSED doesn't pull any punches by tiptoeing around the subject matter.
Help us understand how a "Christian" who has grown up in the church might become a "sex addict."
Addictions are used to fill a void in our lives. Instead of turning to Christ, we may fill that hole by turning to drugs, alcohol, gambling, or overeating. In my case, I soothed my loneliness and feelings of failure with pornography and prostitutes. It didn't take long for me to be consumed with those activities. Even after I was aware of the problem, I couldn't stop. I felt ashamed, and thought I was the only one in the world who struggled with it. The problem only worsened and it began to eat away at my sanity.
My book will show readers that the roots of sexual sin are similar to idolatry and witchcraft. There is no distinction between obsessively looking at pornographic photos and kneeling before a graven image. The pornographers of the world are out to hook men and boys - and increasingly women - with their product just like a drug dealer does. One taste and they're hooked. Today, the Internet has made sex/porn addiction even more widespread.
(As a side note: The Bush Administration got some laws passed that forbid U.S. military personnel and civilians from engaging in activities overseas that would be illegal in the States. This includes visiting places that deal in human trafficking and child prostitution.) How well it is enforced, I don't know.
What hope is there?
When I cried out to God for help, He answered me. My story offers no guarantee of how to overcome sexual addiction, but it does candidly discuss what worked for me. Unless we men are free from this disabling sin, we can never be the husbands and fathers God has called us to be.

Book Description: Come with John and Judy Pex as they hike the 600-mile Israel National Trail from the Egyptian to the Lebanese borders. During 42 days of trekking through spectacular scenery, Arab towns and villages, past Jewish, Muslim, Druze, and Christian holy sites, they discover: + Sights seldom seen by tourists + Physical challenges and spiritual tests + Cultural encounters and historical insights + Lessons about peace, faith, and endurance. This book will appeal to: 1) Students of the Bible 2) Middle-agers who want vigorous role models and new challenges 3) Christian believers seeking creative ways to test and share their faith 4) Young adults pursuing the great hiking trails of the world 5) Readers interested in Israel. Illustrated with (color) photos of scenes and people from the Trail. Ordering Info : 176 pages Price: $14.99 Available through Amazon.com and other online retailers, or through bookstores anywhere. The Amazon Kindle version is FREE March 29 - April 2 here . http://amzn.com/B00725SP1W Review Quotes: "I wholeheartedly recommend this book for its glimpses of the people, history, and beauty of the land, and for the author's spiritual insights." - Jeremiah Greenberg, The Messianic Times, Jan/Feb 2008 "For thirty years I have had the incredible experience of traveling the land given to Israel by God -- from Dan to Beersheba to Eilat. However, 'walking the land' with my friends Judy and John [by reading this book] has brought a whole new dimension and depth to my understanding of Israel and its people. I know you'll be enriched spiritually through Judy's story of the insights given her by her God on this journey of a lifetime." -Kay Arthur, Precept Ministries International About the Author: In their fifties, Judith and John Pex, who run a hostel in Israel, felt the need for renewal and decided to walk the 600-mile Israel National Trail. In WALK THE LAND, Judith shares what they discovered about God, themselves, and the history and people of Israel, and how their love for the land opened doors to share their faith in Yeshuah (Jesus). Author Photo: Author Video: Interview with Judith Galblum Pex: You have traveled much of the world. What are your favorite cities/places to visit? Usually the latest place I've been becomes my favorite, though I prefer the more remote locations over large cities. One incredible experience was going with Galit, who is like an adopted daughter for us, back to the village in Gondar, Ethiopia where she was born. She had left there with her mother twenty years previously as a young girl and walked to Sudan from where they were air-lifted to Israel with Operation Moses. For people who have not yet read your book: What drew you to Israel? I was traveling around the world, searching for a purpose in life. After hitchhiking alone through Europe for a year, my goal was to reach India, where I thought I would find a guru. I decided to stop in Israel on the way. I'm Jewish and have relatives here, so I thought it would be a comfortable place to rest before the big trip East. I never dreamed that Israel would become my home. What were the biggest challenges and rewards in raising four children in Israel? Our oldest son was born our first year in this country, and I had no family and no fellowship of believers in Eilat. I think that raising children in a different culture than the one you grew up in is always a challenge. But, on the other hand, raising children anywhere isn't easy. All four of our children served in the Israeli Defense Forces which also presented challenges. I am thankful to have raised them in an international, multi-cultural environment. They feel very Israeli, but have three passports and are citizens of the world. The best part is seeing them develop into independent adults whom I enjoy being with. How did you and John get started running a hostel? There are several reasons. Both of us had traveled a lot and felt that we understood what kind of place backpackers were looking for. At the time, no such hostel existed in Eilat. When we started the Shelter we had three children and couldn't travel as we used to, so a hostel enabled us to keep meeting people without leaving home. Furthermore, we have always opened up our home to guests and we really needed a hostel just to accomodate all the folks who were staying with us! Did you know you wanted to write a book about your journey on the Israel Trail before you hiked it, or was it a decision you made afterward? Before we walked the Israel Trail I had started a book about our experience in running the Shelter Hostel. So writing a book was on my mind. I thought that our journey on the Trail would be a good subject for a book, so I kept a diary of our walk for that purpose. You find many parallels between your walk on the Shvil Israel (the Israel Trail) and your spiritual walk. I love maps and when I'm hiking I enjoy checking the map often. That way, even if I get off the path, I can't stray too far. I make sure I read my Bible every day also to keep me on the right path for my life. Another lesson I thought of is that sometimes on a hike we come to a crossroads and have to make a decision about which way to go. Once we've chosen a particular trail, I try to be satisfied and appreciate it. Even if it isn't what I'd thought, I can always enjoy and learn something from it. Which languages do you speak? Besides English, I speak Hebrew and Dutch (John is from Holland), fluently, and some French, which I studied in school. Do you have a favorite Bible verse? I have many favorites, but there's one special chapter -- Isaiah 53. In verse 6 is the key: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." It is amazing how clearly Isaiah speaks about the Messiah here, 700 years before Yeshua, Jesus, was born. Many Israelis, when they read this chapter for the first time, think they are reading a portion of the New Testament. What would readers be surprised to know about you? When people meet me today they are often surprised to hear I was a hippy/traveler and that I lived for three years in Alaska in an Eskimo village above the Arctic Circle.

CFBA the Hope of Shridula by Kay Strom

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Hope of Shridula Abingdon Press (March 2012) by Kay Strom

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from Kay:

Kay Marshall Strom… who am I? Well, I’m a traveler… a railer against social injustice… a passionate citizen of the world. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ. I’m a 21st century abolitionist who speaks out against slavery of all kinds. I am a beach walker and a gardener and the off-key singer of songs. I’m a wife… a mother… a sister… a daughter… a friend.

Most people, though, know me as a writer and a speaker. So here is a bit more about that part of my life:

Of my 39 published books, seven have been book club selections, twelve have been translated into foreign languages, and one has been optioned for a movie. My writing credits include numerous magazine articles, books for children, short stories, television scripts and two prize-winning screenplays. Along with my husband Dan, I also have produced a series of booklets for writers. My writing has appeared in a number of volumes including three versions of the NIV Devotional Bible and the devotional book My Heart—Christ’s Home, Through the Year.

I love to write, and I love to share about topics close to my heart. I speak at seminars, retreats, writer’s conferences, and special events throughout the country. And because I do enjoy travel, I even speak on cruise ships!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Blessing in India series is a saga set in India’s heartbreaking history and breathtaking present that points toward a future of hope.  Along the way, name-only Christianity collides with Hinduism, and then is confronted by an entirely new understanding of the call to follow Christ.

India: 1946. For forty-eight years, Ashish and his family toiled as slaves in the fields of the high-caste Lal family, and all because of one small debt. At fifty-four, Ashish was old and worn out. Every day was a struggle to survive for his family including his only daughter.  

His wife had named the girl Shridula—Blessings. “Perhaps the name will bring you more fortune than it brought me,” Ashish told his daughter. His words proved to be prophetic in ways he could never have imagined. And when the flames of revolt brought independence to India, they seared change into the family of Ashish.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Hope of Shridula, go HERE.

Getting to Know you Thursdays with Daphne Webb with giveaway

Please join me in welcoming Daphne Webb to my blog today.  Its been good getting to know Daphne better.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I live in the southern part of the USA in the state of Mississippi, where it's hot and steamy in the summer and once-in-a-blue-moon snowy in winter. Although I live in the south, I adore the northern areas and love to travel. I am fast becoming the crazy cat lady, well, maybe not crazy yet...but definitely way too many cats. Thought about getting a parakeet, but then my tom named Somebody would have an apoplectic fit trying to "rescue" it from the cage, so I stick with the fish that he likes to stare at. I'm a right brain/left brain thinker, in other words, I'm logical and analytical, plus, creative and free-spirited. I can be bribed with Sudoku books and Scrabble games. On a more personal note about me, I'm a widow (but not old and gray, well, not old...) and I home school two sons, 17 and 10.  

2. When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books?

Just about anything sci-fi or Star Wars I would read, plus Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. Then I was introduced to Anne of Green Gables and Louis L'Amour. I really had no favorite book. It seems as though all the books I read became my favorite and I would read them over and over again.

3. Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and right write?

When it came to reading, I had for a while stuck with science fiction and fantasy. When I started writing, it was children's stories and then contemporary novels (not romance...can't write kissy-kissy romance). I do have a few science fiction novels that deal with quantum mechanics and string theory on hold. Have to get past the three I am working on now before I can venture into that realm.

4. Did you have favourite authors growing up who have influenced you?

Wow. There were so many: Stephen King, Louis L'Amour, Colin Forbes, Anne McCaffrey, Lois McMaster Bujold, Timothy Zahn, Lillian Jackson Braun, Simon Lang, L.M. Montgomery, Daphne du Maurier...just to name a few.

5. When did you know you wanted to be an author?

When I was six I wrote my first poem, a poem about cats. From that day forward I always wanted to write.

6. How did you go about becoming an author?

I wrote and wrote and wrote, and then that dream was lost in life until recently. I wrote a children's book titled I Lost My Hat. That brought my buried dream to life. I attended my first ACFW conference in 2010. Through online friendships made in ACFW, I learned about the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference. There I met my publishers who accepted my book Mississippi Nights. It wasn't just writing; I learned the craft, learned to polish and edit. Trends were changing and I wanted to be right there in the forefront in the new style of writing--deep POV.

7. If you were not a writer what would you like to be?

Believe it or not, I wanted to be an astronaut. When I learned that I was fearful of heights, I decided that astronomy was the route. I still study astronomy, but my love of writing was greater.

8. Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?

I love to go on road trips. When I'm not on the road, I paint, I fish or go hiking. Just recently took up fencing, which I absolutely love! And I listen to music. There's a lot that I like to do, play board games, play Halo. 

9. Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?

I'm planning on visiting South Dakota soon, but a place that is foremost in my mind to visit is Scotland. My ancestors came from there and I want to visit the area where they had their lands before becoming outlawed.

10. If you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why?

Franklin Graham: he is a man with a wonderful heart and has done so many wonderful things for the world.

George W. Bush: I don't care if most people don't like him, to me he was a wonderful President and a man who was placed in the right place at the right time. He is definitely a man of integrity.

Condoleezza Rice: I love how she remains steadfast in her faith and beliefs. I admire her greatly.

Finally can you tell us about your current books and/or any that will

be coming out soon. Also where we can find you on the web.

My current book is Mississippi Nights, available online and in bookstores (if they don't have it, then tell them to order it. lol).

Here's a short blurb for the book:

Two brothers, one death--the bond of brotherhood faces its greatest challenge against resentment and guilt.

Can the love between two brothers eventually win against pain and guilt? When firefighter David Boyette's fiancee perishes in a car fire, he blames his brother, Sgt. Jeremy Boyette, for her death.

Three years later, David returns home with a dark and devastating secret. With the help of family, a woman's love, and a small child's devotion, can David overcome insurmountable odds as he and Jeremy face the bitterness that enslaves him? Together the brothers must decide if the bond of brotherhood is stronger than resentment and hate.

To keep up with me, you can visit www.dmwebb.com (and buy a personalized and autographed copy there, too). Also at the following: https://www.facebook.com/WebbDM, https://www.facebook.com/MississippiNightsNovel, shoutlife.com/dmwebb, and on Twitter as @DaphMichele.

At present I am working on my second novel, Alabama Days. And plotting the next two.


Giveaway
Daphne is giving away an copy of her book Mississippi Nights to one lucky reader. To enter please leave a way to be contacted and a comment from the interview. Entries just saying looks good enter me or looks like a book I would like to read enter me without a comment on the interview or a question for Daphne will be disregarded. Entries end 5 April 6 pm Australian time.

Interview with Margaret Daley of Saving Hope.

Please help me welcome back Margaret Daley to my blog. Today she is talking about her latest book Saving hope and the important issue it highlights. At the end you will find a giveaway for this book.

1.   Saving Hope is the first book in the Men of the Texas Rangers series. How did the series come about? 

I have been fascinated by the Texas Rangers--a small elite group of law enforcement officers who cover the large state of Texas. Their history goes back into the 19th century. Then I interviewed a Texas Ranger and my respect grew even more by his dedication and desire for justice. There has been stories done about the Texas Rangers in a historical setting but not a lot in a contemporary one.

2.    How did you come up with the theme for Saving Hope?

 The Children of the Night Organization in California interested me. I started researching the issue of human/sexual trafficking and was appalled by how serious this problem is worldwide. Working with teenagers as a teacher made the subject even dearer to my heart.

3.    Saving Hope besides being a great book is very informative what would you like people to take out of the story? 

The importance of stopping human/sexual trafficking, an awareness of the problem and a sense of hope are what I would like people to take away from the story.

4.    How did you go about researching the subject? 

I interviewed a Texas Ranger, read articles and books about this--from facts to people who were involved in sexual trafficking.

5.    The issue of child or teen prostitution is not something a lot of us wouldn’t think about or have been aware off.  I know I didn’t know that much about it. I love how the book shows how easy it is for a teen to be recruited. What would you say to parents to help them be more informed about the subject? 

Read my book, become informed about the problem and be aware of what could happen.

6.    Do you have any comments for people reading the book? 

I hope you walk away from reading Saving Hope with something that enriched your life--a sense of hope even in a world filled with evil.

7.    Can you give us a hint of what the next book in the series will be about? 

Shattered Silence, out in October 2012, is about bullying in various situations--from children to adults. This is another subject I'm passionate about. I worked in a high school for years and saw the evidence and effect of bullying on teens.

Book Description:
When a teenager goes missing from the Beacon of Hope School, Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan and school director Kate Winslow are forced into a dangerous struggle against a human trafficking organization. But the battle brings dire consequences as Wyatt's daughter is terrorized and Kate is kidnapped. Now it's personal, and Wyatt finds both his faith and investigative skills challenged as he fights to discover the mastermind behind the ring before evil destroys everyone he loves.


For a chance to win this book in Amazon ebook format leave a comment relating to the interview and an way to contact you. You have to Tuesday 3 April 6 pm Australian time to enter. Any entries just saying please enter me will be discarded. 

KCW Communications Four Tips to Improve your Listening skills.

Karen Jordan Author, Speaker   Four Tips To Improve Your Listening Skills By Karen Jordan    “Are you listening to me?” Has someone ever asked you that question? Or maybe that thought pierced your heart and mind, as you felt the sting of someone else ignoring or rejecting you?   Consider these four ways to improve your listening skills.   Resolve to be quick to listen. Many times, people who come to us for help, just need for us to listen. James 1:19 offers this advice, "Understand this … You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry" (NLT).     Decide to be available. Jesus gives us an example of a wise counselor who made Himself available to listen. “The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught” (Matt. 6:30).    Desire a discerning heart. Not only does Jesus listen, He discerned the needs of others. When His disciples came to Him after their ministry tour, Jesus observes their need for solitude and rest: “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile” (ibid.).     Choose to be quiet. Jesus also taught His disciples the importance of being quiet. In Matthew 11:15, Jesus asks his disciples, "Are you listening to me? Really listening? (MSG)     At times our failure to listen before responding can provoke a negative, emotional response from our loved ones or friends, who may need our help. In fact, Proverbs 18:13 warns us, "Answering before listening is both stupid and rude" (MSG).   What can we offer others with our response, after we listen to their needs? Grace, not criticism or judgment. Romans 2:4 reminds us, "Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" (NLT) Companionship. We must encourage others to be dependent upon Jesus, not co-dependent upon us. Jesus promised His followers, "I'll be with you … day after day after day, right up to the end of this age" (Matt. 28:20 MSG).    So, the next time someone comes to you for help, I hope you ask yourself this question first: “Are you listening … Really listening?” (Matt. 11:15)   Karen Jordan is best known for telling the stories that matter most. She has multiple writing credits and trains other writers as well. Contact her for speaking events, writing assignments, and interviews at kj@karenjordan.net or visit www.karenjordan.net.

Book Review Lilac Wedding in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad

Product Description:
When she ran away from the juvenile home she was raised in, Cat Barker left more than an unstable childhood behind. She also left her first love, Jake Stone. The two had more in common than anyone understood, but neither knew how to trust. Now Cat needs help, and there's only one person she can turn to—Jake, her daughter's secret father. Though Cat can see the tender man she once cared for, she still fears love and marriage. Until a daunting challenge renews her faith—and teaches them all a lesson about trust.


Book Review:
First Thanks to Janet for my review copy. 
I started this book and wanted to keep reading. I thought I would just read another 20 pages but 100+ and it's 1am in the morning and the book is finished. I love a book that keeps me turning pages. The second half of the book read so quick and easy it didn't seem like a few hours had past. Jake Stone is the second of the Stone brothers and is still dealing with his childhood issues. Cat was in the care home with him and they became good friends. Now years later Cat has sort out Jake to reveal he is her daughters father and that she has something she needs to tell Jake. I love the story there daughter is adorable and steals the book at times.  They head back to Dry Creek for Jake's brothers wedding. This is a hard book to say to much about as so much happens in the book that I would dearly love to talk about but my policy is if it happens after the first chapter or two I won't talk about it as I like readers to discover for themselves what happen. I will say I love  the story and where Janet took it. This is a good read and one of my favourites for the year. 

CFBA topur The Chase by DiAnn Mills

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Chase Zondervan (March 27, 2012) by DiAnn Mills

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.

DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills


ABOUT THE BOOK

To the FBI it's a cold case. To Kariss Walker it's a hot idea that could either reshape or ruin her writing career. And it's a burning mission to revisit an event she can never forget. Five years ago, an unidentified little girl was found starved to death in the woods behind a Houston apartment complex. A TV news anchor at the time, Kariss reported on the terrifying case. Today, as a New York Times bestselling author, Kariss intends to turn the unsolved mystery into a suspense novel. Enlisting the help of FBI Special Agent Tigo Harris, Kariss succeeds in getting the case reopened. But the search for the dead girl's missing mother yields a discovery that plunges the partners into a witch's brew of danger. The old crime lives on in more ways than either of them could ever imagine. Will Kariss's pursuit of her dream as a writer carry a deadly price tag? Drawing from a real-life cold case, bestselling novelist DiAnn Mills presents a taut collage of suspense, faith, and romance in The Chase.

Watch the book video!



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

CFBA Tour Missing by Shelley Shepard Gray

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Missing Avon Inspire; Original edition (March 20, 2012) by Shelley Shepard Gray

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Since 2000, Shelley Sabga has sold over thirty novels to numerous publishers, including HarperCollins, Harlequin, Abingdon Press, and Avon Inspire. She has been interviewed by NPR, and her books have been highlighted in numerous publications, including USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

Under the name Shelley Shepard Gray, Shelley writes Amish romances for HarperCollins’ inspirational line, Avon Inspire. Her recent novel, The Protector, the final book in her “Families of Honor” series, hit the New York Times List, and her previous novel in the same series, The Survivor, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. Shelley has won the prestigious Holt Medallion for her books, Forgiven and Grace, and her novels have been chosen as Alternate Selections for the Doubleday/Literary Guild Book Club. Her first novel with Avon Inspire, Hidden, was an Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two children in college, and is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and currently leads a Bible study group, and she looks forward to the opportunity to continue to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.

When she’s not writing, Shelley often attends conferences and reader retreats in order to give workshops and publicize her work. She’s attended RWA’s national conference six times, the ACFW conference and Romantic Times Magazine’s annual conference as well as traveled to New Jersey, Birmingham, and Tennessee to attend local conferences.

Check out Shelley's Facebook Fan page


ABOUT THE BOOK

In the first book in her new Secrets of Crittenden County series, Shelley Shepard Gray delivers another page-turning romance set in Amish country

Perry Borntrager had been missing from the quiet Amish community of Crittenden, Kentucky, for months when his body was discovered at the bottom of an abandoned well. Everyone had assumed Perry left Crittenden on his own, seduced by the wider world he discovered during his rumspringa, but now the truth has thrown this once-peaceful town into chaos. The first death from mysterious circumstances in Crittenden in more than two decades has invited the scrutiny of the outside world: a police detective arrives to help their local sheriff with the investigation. His questioning begins with Lydia Plank, Perry’s former girlfriend, and Perry’s best friend, the Englisher Walker Anderson.

Lydia and Walker know they didn’t have anything to do with Perry’s death, but they both hold secrets about his final days. Do they dare to open up about the kind of man Perry had become? In the oppressive shadow of these dark times, they discover strength in a most unlikely companionship that offers solace, understanding, and the promise of something more.

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

Getting to know you Thursdays with Peggy Blann Phifer with giveaway

Today please welcome Peggy Blann Phifer to my blog today. Peggy is also offering one reader an ebook read before for info. 

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was blessed to have been born into a Christian home with Godly parents. I was the oldest of three, with one sister and one brother. My sister Martha was truly a “Martha” to my “Mary.” I loved helping my dad with anything he did, while Marty was a little homebody from the beginning . . . Mom’s happy little helper. And that was fine with me. I hated anything to do with housework. Still do. My brother was a natural-born clown with a bizarre sense of humor, which I shared with him.

When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books?

I loved books and reading from early on. Mom would read aloud to us often, and I had a great time imagining the faces and scenes as she read. “Little Women” was one of the first I remember reading myself. The one that stands out vividly even now was “Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan. That was one Mom read to us aloud one summer as we’d sit out on the front lawn after Church. Good memories. (Jenny here, I liked Little Women, I remember getting junior clubhouse a magazine for children with readings, contests etc and they had Pilgrim's Progress in it each month and reading it that way.)

Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and write?

As a writer of romantic suspense, that’s what I read the most of. But when I need a break, both from the writing and reading of that particular genre, I really enjoy disappearing into the past. Particularly period historical fiction like Victorian, Regency, Edwardian, and Medieval. As you can see, my reading journeys take me to the British Isles. That’s my heritage, so it’s what I like to read.

How did you go about becoming a writer?

I’ve always loved to write. I used to make up stories of my own, silly, fanciful stuff that, fortunately, have not survived the passage of time. Then I started re-writing some of the books I read, sometimes changing the ending, or adding a mischievous character. That was fun. After that, I began creating real stories and over time, I knew I loved the process.

If you were not a writer what would you like to be?

A designer. I love creating things. I used to design my own clothing for my paper dolls. Not the Betsy McCall doll. I’d cut out models from catalogs, mostly those modeling swimsuits or underwear, and mount them on cardboard. Then I’d outline their figure on plain paper and design gorgeous gowns. But now, I think I’d probably be an interior designer, or one of those people who “stage” homes for sale, or model homes in a new development. That would be so fun.

Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?

I think my answer above would fit here, too. J

Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?

I’d love to go back to the places of my heritage on both sides of my family: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. I’d really like to take what they used to call “The Grand Tour” – an extended jaunt through Europe across the sea on a big ship with a steamer trunk full of lovely clothes.

If you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why?

Barbara Bush. I have always admired her unpretentious attitude. She’s real people. Sheila Walsh (Women of Faith) because of her quick wit, gracious personality, and . . . she’s Scottish! Queen Elizabeth II. Do I have to explain? LOL

Finally can you tell us about your current books and/or any that will be coming out soon?

My current release, To See the Sun was released in January 2012, and is the first book in a 3-book series called Desert Faith Series. You can read the back cover blurb and the first chapter at: http://peggyblannphifer.com/my_books.htm  

Book 2, To Hear the Wind, is in the works but there is no projected release date yet.

You can find my book at the following:

·         Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/See-Sun-Desert-Faith-Book/dp/1468121081/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327193258&sr=1-3

·         Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/See-Sun-Desert-Faith-ebook/dp/B006US56MI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327193258&sr=1-1

·         B&N Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-see-the-sun-peggy-blann-phifer/1108167699?ean=2940013729612&itm=1&usri=peggy+blann+phifer

Bio:

Peggy Blann Phifer is an author and columnist, book reviewer and author interviewer, whose work has appeared on various Web sites and writer periodicals both in print and online. She is also an avid reader who loves to escape by diving between the covers of a good book. Peg enjoys handcrafts of all kinds and her home shows off some of her work, though most end up as gifts for friends and family. A retired executive assistant, Peg now makes her home in southern Nevada with husband of 25 years, Jim. TO SEE THE SUN is her debut novel, released January 2012

Contact her at her website at: http://peggyblannphifer.com

Visit her blog “Whispers in Purple" at http://www.whispersinpurple.com

Facebook.com/pegphifer

Twitter.com/pegphifer

Giveaway

For a chance to win a copy of To See The Sun in ebook format. Peggy would like you to leave a comment addressing some part of the interview. Please leave a way to contact you by putting your email in a form like myemail at myemail dot com. The winner will receive a voucher from either Amazon or Barnes and Nobel for a ebook. Remember you must follow the instructions any comments just saying enter me will not count.
you have till Friday 30 March 6pm Australian time to enter.

Memoirs in March hostage in Taipei by McGill Alexander

Paperback:

Ordering Info:
317 pages
Includes black/white on-the-scene news photos and personal photos
Price: $13.95
Available through Amazon.com and other online retailers, through bookstores anywhere, and direct from the publisher.
e-Book:

Ordering Info:
The Amazon Kindle version is FREE March 22 - 26 here.
http://amzn.com/B007B6QRYY
About the Story:
A Christian family were taken hostage by Taiwan's most-wanted criminal, Chen Chin-hsing. Mac Alexander, a South African diplomat, and his family were held at gunpoint and seriously wounded in crossfire with the police. Demanding justice for his imprisoned wife, Chen threatened to commit suicide once his mission was accomplished. Besieged by media and police, confusion ensued; but several heroes rose above the danger; and through God's miraculous intervention, the Alexander's faith overcame and grasped the heart of Chen Chin-hsing. The Alexander's showed the world a stunning example of Christ's forgiveness in the midst of violence and revenge.
Read Excerpt:
here.
http://www.cladach.com/HITexcerpt.pdf
Review Quotes:
"The Alexander family sowed the seeds of love in hatred, forgiveness in harm." ~ Baptist Mass Communications
"People were amazed how each member of this family could have Cso nobly, courageously and lovingly towards this most notorious criminal." ~ Jennifer Sun, Campus Magazine
About the Author:
McGill Alexander is a career soldier who served as Brigadier General in the South African Army. From 1996-97 he was on assignment in Taipei, Taiwan as South Africa's military attache. Mac and his wife, Anne, are the parents of three daughters and have several grandchildren.
Author Photo:


Interview with Anne Alexander:
1. Hello, Anne. Your husband, Mac, wrote Hostage in Taipei. But, of course, you were very much a part of the story. Since many readers of this blog are women, I'm sure they would like to hear from the woman's viewpoint: What was it like to be taken hostage by a ruthless killer (Chen Chin-hsing) in your own home?
I am an optimist and a person who does not panic easily. I had a sense of God's angels all around and I knew that he was with us. With his help I managed to stay calm throughout the nightmare ordeal.
2. Your husband and then one of your daughters, Melanie, was used by Chen as a human shield in his shoot-out with the Taipei police. In the storm of bullets Melanie was near-fatally shot. What was it like to watch your family in mortal danger and be helpless?
It was frightening when I saw all the loss of blood from Mac. Melanie had no external bleeding, so I assumed she had not been seriously injured [though her wound was much worse internally), I immediately went across the room and tied Mac's necktie around his leg (where he had taken the bullet) to stop the bleeding.
3. Your rescue and release are a wonderful story of God's intervention and the heroism of a police chief. But you went way beyond just being a survivor. You later visited your hostage-taker in prison and shared the Gospel with him. Tell us about that visit and the outcome of it?
I was approached by one of our church members and asked if I would go with him to visit Chen in prison. It was my 50th birthday and I agreed. After some wrangling with the authorities we were allowed to see him for 5 minutes. I presented a Taiwanese Bible to him and told him we were on our way back to South Africa; and that we were fine and had forgiven him. Also that God loved him and if he confessed his sins God would forgive him. A few months later I was notified that he had become a Christian through the prison ministries. [Later, Chen was executed.]
4. Do you think this experience caused trauma and/or lasting effects for you and your family?
It did cause trauma as we were never given trauma counseling afterwards. Six months later I was diagnosed with severe depression - something I had never suffered from before. It had a more lasting effect on our two daughters. One still harbors great bitterness towards Chen and doesn't understand how we could have forgiven him. Our youngest daughter, a child at the time, developed untold problems during her teen years.
5. Your husband is an impressive man of many accomplishments. You've been a great support to him, but have there been challenges?
As a soldier's wife I learned to spend many months alone with the children while he was away fighting a war, never knowing when I would see his commanding officer at my front door with bad news. I had learned to put everything into God's hands.
6. During the hostage crisis all of Taiwan was glued to their TVs. It was described as one of Taiwan's biggest news stories ever. You were thrust into the limelight with TV, radio, and newspaper radios. Was that a trial or a blessing?
The subsequent limelight was very exhausting as we were in the process of packing up to come home[to South Africa]. We were literally hounded by the press. We realized, however, that God was using what happened. Our Christian testimony and response was presented to an entire nation. We felt that we had to respond to media requests and be there for interviews.
7. Your family's hostage story was the basis of a National Geographic TV episode. The TV producers flew to South Africa to interview you and Mac and your daughters. For the drama parts they chose actors who resembled you. They even took crews to Taiwan to re-enact scenes of the hostage-taking. How did you feel when you first watched the TV episode?
It was very accurate! It made us realize once again how great is our God. We have had comments from many Christians who have watched it - from the U.S., UK, Spain, Italy, and even India.
8. Thank you, Anne, for visiting with us. Is there anything else you or your husband would want to say to readers today?
God can use the most unusual circumstances to bring his love through to others. We were just one small spoke in the large wheel. Never underestimate God!

---

Author Video:
Watch the TV docudrama of the Alexander's story here:

CFBA Stuart Brannon's Final Shot by Stephen Bly

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Stuart Brannon's Final Shot Center Point Pub; Lrg edition (March 2012) by Stephen Bly

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stephen Bly (August 17, 1944 – June 9, 2011) authored 106 books and hundreds of articles and short stories. His book, The Long Trail Home (Broadman & Holman), won the prestigious 2002 Christy Award for excellence in Christian fiction in the category western novel. Three other books, Picture Rock (Crossway Books), The Outlaw’s Twin Sister (Crossway Books), and Last of the Texas Camp (Broadman & Holman), were Christy Award finalists. He spoke at colleges, churches, camps and conferences across the U.S. and Canada. He was the pastor of Winchester Community Church, and served as mayor of Winchester, Idaho (2000-2007). He spoke on numerous television and radio programs, including Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family. He was an Active Member of the Western Writers of America. Steve graduated summa cum laude in Philosophy from Fresno State University and received a M.Div from Fuller Theological Seminary. The Blys have three sons: Russell (married to Lois) and father of Zachary and Miranda (married to Chris Ross) and mother of Alayah; Michael (married to Michelle); and Aaron (married to Rina Joye) and father of Keaton and Deckard. A third generation westerner, Steve spent his early years working on California farms owned by his father and an uncle.

Janet Chester Bly received a B.S. degree in Literature & Languages and Fine & Performing Arts from Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, Idaho. She speaks at women’s luncheons and retreats and does writers’ workshops. She is a member of Winchester Community Church where she serves as music director. She has authored eleven nonfiction and fiction books and co-authored twenty others, as well as contributed to five books. Janet’s hobbies include decorating her home in “country clutter,” reading almost all genres of fiction and mall walking. She lives in Winchester, Idaho–elevation 4,000 feet, population 300– situated on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation.



ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1905, at 58 years old, legendary lawman Stuart Brannon - now a rancher and widower - had no intention of leaving his beloved Arizona Territory to attend the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon, nor to participate in the celebrity golf tournament for the Willamette Orphan Farm. Even an emotional appeal for his longtime friend didn’t persuade him. His life no longer consisted of bloodthirsty men to track down . . . people trying to kill him . . . lawless gangs preying on the innocent.

Then the telegram came: Stuart, I need you in Portland. Tim Wiseman is missing. I think there’s a cover-up going on. Tell folks you’re going to the Exposition. Nose around. Find out how a U.S. Marshal can disappear and no one knows why. I’ll contact you there. T.R.

How could he refuse a request from the President of the United States?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Stuart Brannon's Final Shot, go HERE.

CFBA Tour The Dog That Talked to God by Jim Kraus

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Dog That Talked To God Abingdon Press (March 2012) by Jim Kraus

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jim Kraus grew up in Western Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. He attended the Paris-American Academy in 1971 and has spent the last twenty years as a vice-president of a major Christian publishing house. He has written more than 20 books and novels (many with his wife, Terri). His book, The Silence, was named as one of the top five releases in 2004 by the Christian Book Review website. He is also an award-winning photographer. He and his wife and 14-year-old son live outside of Chicago with a sweet miniature schnauzer and an ill-tempered Siberian cat.


ABOUT THE BOOK

A wonderfully quirky, heart-breaking, heart-warming and thought-provoking story of a woman's dog who not only talks to her, he talks to God. 

Recently widowed Mary Fassler buys a miniature schnauzer, Rufus, and her world is turned sideways in the midst of her grief. It seems that Rufus speaks. And not just to her. He also talks to God.

Mary has no choice except to believe Rufus, the miniature schnauzer, who claims to speak to the Divine.

The question is: Will Mary follow the dog's advice, and leave everything she knows and loves? Is this at the urging of God? Or is it something else?
Will Mary risk it all or ignore the urgings of her own heart?

If you would like to read a chapter excerpt from The Dog That Talked To God, go HERE.