I am pleased to present the cover of my soon-to-be-released novel Making Music Together. This book had a long gestation period. It started out as a novella and evolved into a full-length romance novel. Making Music Together is a Christian romance that focuses on a love triangle between Mark the protagonist, Trudy the love of his life, and Abigail, his boss’s daughter who will do anything to win his heart.
If you enjoy emotional, page-turning, clean romantic fiction, you must get your hands on a copy of Making Music Togetherwhile it’s still on preorder. It will burn your soul.
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After many years, Women For All Seasons has taken on a new garment. This devotional/workbook features the lives of twelve of the best-known women of the Bible grouped according to seasons.
As the Bible says:
There’s a time for everything,
And a season for every activity under heaven … Ecclesiastes 3: 1
Have you ever wondered how women in biblical times coped with the challenges that modern-day women face? How did they maintain their faith in God when the odds were so heavily stacked against them? Often treated as second-class citizens, females in biblical times were to be seen and not heard, existing solely to fulfill a man’s purpose of producing an heir.
A barren woman was considered good as dead. We see this in Rachel’s desperate cry to her husband Jacob, “Give me children or I die,” and in Hannah’s mournful prayers for a son. However, in Jesus’s day, women became very active in ministry and He treated them with the love and respect they deserved. Regardless of the time period in which they lived, women have always enjoyed the favor of God.
Women For All Seasons is written in easy-to-read modern-day language from the point of view of each character. You can use the book as a devotional, workbook or journal and for your Bible study. The views expressed at the end of each chapter are mine as well as those gained from bible references.
As you will see, God is not limited by seasons. If you are in the winter of your life, He works just as well as if you are in your spring. I pray that you will find this book a source of inspiration and encouragement to keep trusting and waiting on God when you don’t see the answers. I pray that it will become a valuable addition to your library and you will share it with your Bible study group and other women in your life.
Please write your comments on the new cover and any thoughts you may have on the book. God bless.
Eliana, God Has Answered by Candace Charbonne is the tragic story that no woman ever wants to tell. It’s the story of a woman giving birth to a stillborn baby after 37 weeks and 5 days of pregnancy and the gut-wrenching details of how Jesus Christ helped her cope during the darkest period of her life.
How does a mother process the fact that the baby she had carried inside her almost to full term was now gone and all she has left are the hundreds of pictures she took after giving birth? How does she explain to her young children, who had eagerly awaited the birth of their baby sister, that she is in heaven and that God took her for a reason?
Candace, a devout Catholic, drew on her faith in God and the support of good friends and family members to help her get through this trying time. This type of pain does not go away easily, and Candace continued to struggle with her grief for months afterward. However, God showed Himself to her in mysterious ways and she became pregnant again. This pregnancy was short-lived and she and her husband gave up on the idea of having another baby.
But God had the last word. One year after losing Eliana, Candace became pregnant again. This baby, a boy whom they named Jeremiah, also had some difficulties before birth, but by God’s grace, he survived. Whether you have ever lost a baby or not, this book will have you reaching for the Kleenex as you share in Candace’s pain and grief. It will enhance your faith in God as you learn of the way He cares and supports us in our most difficult moments. Whatever your situation in life, I strongly encourage you to get a copy of this book.
Sitting on a Rainbow: A 21st century Irish American Morality Tale, is a
story of severe loss and courageous resilience, financial markets and
malfeasances, Irish history and mythology, despicable greed and justice
rendered, and broken promises remaining to be mended.
Set in West Palm Beach, Fl. in 2013, or thereabouts, protagonist Patrick
Connelly (a.k.a. Paddy or Pat) is a mid-fifties paraplegic and veteran
stockbroker/financial adviser at a major Wall Street firm.
About the Author
First-time author James Patrick Rooney was born in Bronx, New York, raised
in Westchester County and has been living and working in Northern Palm Beach
County, Florida for his entire adult life. Young Jimmy’s first loves
included sports, particularly ice hockey, a variety of music and culture,
and his adopted homeland of Ireland.
When a hockey-related injury at age nineteen left him a paraplegic, he
turned his focus away from the physical toward developing his mind. Soon
after finishing college at then infamous “Suntan U,” he began a
successful thirty-year career in financial advisory with a major Wall Street
firm. About that same time, he met his enduring love – his family.
Married to Cindy ever since, together they’ve raised two superb
children, Patrick and Megan, who are now thriving young adults.
While managing an ambitious reading group (2005-2014), Jim was inspired to
write more competently (i.e., several college-level creative writing courses
and other modes of self-learning). To hone his skills he wrote short
stories, imaginary book reviews for his reading group, and later edited and
authored articles for the lifestyle website Throomers (2018-2020). After
stepping away from financial advisory in 2014, he began working on his first
novel. As is often said, starting with a few core ideas the story then wrote
itself.
Part memoir, part fiction, part fantasy, Sitting on a Rainbow is an honest
look at living with disability, while it also offers an insider’s view
of retail financial advisory and celebrates the current-day relevance of
Irish history and mythology. Jim hopes his lighthearted, romantic,
suspenseful, and cautionary morality tale will entertain all who come and
sit on the rainbow with him.
Browsing through the internet, I came across a list of authors’ blogs and I decided to pause in my scrolling and see what other authors were writing about. You guessed it, I was looking for ideas. I found an author who wrote on a subject I heard other authors talk about and even participated in. The subject was what makes an author successful. Now, if you are a reader, you know who the successful authors are, and if you are a writer you know that too.
But how do you define success as far as your writing goes? Is it when you sell your first million copies or when you sell your first thousand? Or is it when you get on the New York Times Bestseller list? The author of the blog said another author complimented her on helping her with another business, then asked how come she was not a megastar in the writing world.
Naturally, the author was taken aback. Which brings me to the title of this post A Book Goes Home. A few weeks ago I visited Trinidad and Tobago, my homeland and I took a few copies of my debut book Coming Out of Egypt. I wanted to do something I should have done years ago when the book was first published — donate them to the San Fernando Carnegie Library which is featured in the book.
I was surprised to see all the changes that had taken place over the years. The building I visited used to be the only lending library in San Fernando and it was stocked wall to wall with books. It has now been transformed into a reference library and the lending library has been moved to another location.
But what shocked me was the response I received from the assistant librarian when I introduced myself. He said, “Oh, we know you, and we know your book.”
I said, “You do?”
He said, “Yes, we know this book.”
I didn’t press him, but his reception — feigned or not — made me smile. He invited me to wait so I could meet the head librarian who was out on lunch. When I told him I was in a bit of a hurry, he wrote her name and number on a paper and gave it to me so I could call her. Later, when I spoke to her on the phone, she sounded just as happy to meet me as her coworker had.
So, is that success? I would say, yes. Are the 5-star reviews on my sales page a measure of success? Yes. When someone meets me and says how much she enjoyed my book, that to my mind is success. I know that many writers, yours truly included, struggle to sell books. On any given day, someone is giving a course or a webinar on how to sell more books so we could one day qualify for the world’s definition of success. But for many that definition remains an elusive dream.
Someone said, “Sir, there will always be a man more handsome than you; lady, there will always be a woman more beautiful than you. Stop comparing yourself to others.”
I leave you with this quote borrowed from the writer’s blog: The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It’s doing something that you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile. I think of my strawberry soufflé. I did that at least twenty-eight times before I finally conquered it. — Julia Child
What is your idea of success? Leave a comment in the box below
Angela writes contemporary Christian women’s fiction. She is the author of four novels and one Christian non-fiction book and has written for devotionals and anthologies such as Chicken Soup For the Soul and Guidepost.
You Raise Me Up centers on the author’s journey of coping with his wife’s
passing. Anyone who has lost a spouse can use this book as a tool to recover
from loss. In this book, the author feels his late wife’s outstretched-
blanket that helps to cope through, “Grief”, “to Smile”,
“to Laugh”, “to Respect” and most important, “to
Lead”. Those were her “fruits” to live by.
About the Author
Thomas J. (Tom) Snee stepped down as the former National Executive Director
for Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Alexandria, VA. He is a retired Navy
Master Chief /Surface Warfare Specialist with over 30 years of naval
service, and a Vietnam Veteran. He has since returned to teaching, to
motivate and inspire Middle and High School students in the Northern
Virginia area. He is continually active with his Church, Boy Scouts, and
other Youth Groups.
A Cleveland, Ohio native, Tom grew up and graduated in 1965 from Willoughby
South High School, Willoughby, OH; Mohegan Community College, Norwich, CT,
AS, Liberal Arts; Excelsior College, Albany, NY, BS, Liberal
Arts/Psychology; and George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, M.Ed, Education
Leadership. He is a member of the FRA, Knights of Columbus, Surface Navy
Association (SNA) and National Eagle Scout Association (NESA). Mr. Snee was
married to the late Karen A. Habina for 46 years, having a family of four
children and seven grandchildren. He currently resides in Burke, VA.
You Raise Me Up centers on the author’s journey of coping with his wife’s passing. Anyone who has lost a spouse can use this book as a tool to recover from loss. In this book, the author feels his late wife’s outstretched- blanket that helps to cope through, “Grief”, “to Smile”, “to Laugh”, “to Respect” and most important, “to Lead”. Those were her “fruits” to live by.
Angela is a blogger and author of Christian women’s fiction. Her latest release is Love, Lies, and Grace.
The Waters’ are a strong, prominent black family in Philadelphia with
access to the good life. Money, power, and lack of respect flow through the
tight-knit family as destruction threatens to rock the foundation they are
all trying to keep together.
Judge Waters and his wife, Lillian, work overtime to save their marriage,
but when hatred and bitterness take over, all bets are off. Once the
fighting starts, their children Keenan Jr., Naomi, and Saint go off into the
world, wearing their parent’s drama as a coat of arms. They then lie,
cheat, and steal, causing havoc in the lives they come across, just like
their mother and father taught them to do.
Ultimately, damaging secrets and decade-old lies will all come crashing
down around them. When death comes knocking, The Waters Family and their
shattered fate hang in the balance, wondering what’s coming next . .
.
About the Author
Nick Haskins is the author of My Husband’s Wife, Betrayed,
She’s Obsessed, and his new book series, Dark Waters, dropping this
summer. Nick was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, where he currently
resides. After years of aspiring to become a professional screenwriter, he
began to shape his creative dreams and released his first African American
fiction book, On the Edge of Heat, in 2011. In addition, Nick has been
actively working on his first feature film and developing a new streaming
series.
Readers can visit Nick’s website at www.nickhaskinsbooks.com, email
him at nickhaskinsbooks@gmail.com, or follow him on social media
@iamnickhaskins
His Only Son is an independent film made by Angel Studios on a shoestring budget of less than $250,000. It was initially set to premiere in around 600 theaters but thanks to a crowdfund that raised over 1,235,000 in under a week and overwhelmingly positive reviews from audience members, it’s now showing in 1,200 theaters and counting.
His Only Son recounts one of the most controversial moments in the Old Testament—when Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac on the mountain of Moriah. While traveling to the place of the sacrifice, alongside Isaac and two servants, Abraham is flooded with vivid memories from the years he and Sarah spent longing for the son they were promised—the son he must now lay upon the altar.
This is one of the most impactful Easter films in a generation.
A few things about His Only Son you might like to know:
The sacrifice of Abraham and Isaac parallels the sacrifice of Christ on the cross
The location where Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, Mount Moriah, is also believed to be the same location where the Temple in Jerusalem was built, where Christ was later crucified.
Angel Studios has produced several titles through crowdfunding, including The Chosen—whose episodes have been viewed over 420 million times—Dry Bar Comedy, The Wingfeather Saga, and The Tuttle Twins.
This beautiful movie has already been made, but is set to be released theatrically during the 2023 Easter season, beginning March 31.
Tickets are selling fast. To see His Only Son in theaters this Easter, purchase your tickets now at https://bit.ly/hisonlysonfg
Sometimes genuine love requires uncompromising sacrifice.
It’s easy to make an idol of routine—finding comfort in the
boundaries set before you. Something About Ruth is an intricately woven,
magnificently crafted story about three ordinary strangers, who, after
Katrina, are plucked from their own securities and set against unordinary
circumstances. But fate brings them together.
Ruth, an outsider.
Naomi, a wounded mother.
Boaz, a no-nonsense man of character.
The path that brings them all together is scarred with the pain of loss,
the bitterness of starting over, and the faith that sustains them.
Early Reviews
“This story will take you back in time while holding you in the present moment. Ruth jumps off the page with her bright narrative and unique character, it’s a must read!”
~Brikitta Hairston
“Belonging and finding love was just a piece of what belonged to her.”
~Crystal Books and Soul
“If the author doesn’t put this on audio, AND have the screenplay written for a 90 minute TV movie, she is doing her talent a disservice!”
JC Miller is a freshly anointed, faith-based author who uses her childhood
experiences in the Bronx, New York, to capture the soul of inner-city
living. As a former student of Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute and a
graduate of the Te’Hillah School of Urban Ministry, Miller utilizes her
studies to intertwine pop culture with divine accounts of biblical
characters. Through sharing these stories, her goals are to encourage people
to study the bible and not make it complicated, to view themselves through
the lives of those characterized, and to find healing in Christ.
JC Miller recently co-founded a publishing company, Jess, Mo’ Books,
with her childhood friend, M.R. Spain. Together, these ladies are creating
fresh content to uplift, educate, and motivate women through blogs, social
media groups, and a yearly online magazine.
Ruth’s face became stern, and from the cramped backseat she zoomed in on my eyes through the rearview mirror.
“Listen, Ma Nay, wherever you go, I’m going, and where you stay, I’ll stay.” I turned to face her because I felt the presence of another party in the car. Ruth’s response wasn’t even on the level of her understanding…it was higher. She was speaking what the Holy Spirit conveyed.
“Your family will be my family, and ya God my God. So help me; where you die, I’ll die, and I’ll be buried right there next to you,” she insisted without batting an eye. Ruth held her hand up as though taking an oath.
“May God deal with me alone if anything but death separates us!”
Angela is a blogger and author of Christian women’s fiction. Her latest release is Love, Lies, and Grace.
This women’s History Month I would like to highlight female writers who hail from the Caribbean as a means of showcasing the contribution these women made to the world of literature.
First on the list is Rosa Guy (1925-2012), who was born in Trinidad (my native country) and immigrated to Harlem, New York. Her parents died while Rosa was very young, and she lived for a time with a relative who was a supporter of black nationalist Marcus Garvey. Rosa attended New York University where she studied theater and writing and at the American Negro Theater she studied acting.
In 1950, Rosa went on to cofound the Harlem Writers’ Guild, an organization that nurtured the works of prominent writers such as Paule Marshall,Audre Lorde, and Maya Angelou. When Rosa died in 2012, Maya Angelou said of her, “she was never afraid of the truth.”
Indeed, while Rosa wrote for both adults and young adults, her books explored topics that were off-limits for young adults at the time — topics such as the tensions between African Americans and West Indian Blacks, unwanted pregnancy, and same-sex relationships.
Rosa wrote sixteen novels, the most successful one for adults being My Love, My Love: Or, The Peasant Girl(1985), a retelling of “The Little Mermaid” set on a Caribbean island. This novel was adapted into a musical and ran on Broadway for over a year while being nominated for eight Tony awards. Rosa’s work received the Coretta Scott King award, the New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year citation, and the American Library Association’s Best Book Award.
Rosa’s work was not only limited to the stage or to writing. She became an activist in traditional civil rights and also in a Black nationalist literary organization, On Guard for Freedom. This group featured in a famous protest at the United Nations during the Bay of Pigs Cuban invasion and actively supported the liberation of the Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba.
If you read one book by a Caribbean author this women’s history month, make it one by Rosa Guy.
Angela is a blogger and author of Christian women’s fiction. Her latest release is Love, Lies, and Grace.
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