CFBA: Chasing Charity - Marcia Gruver

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Chasing Charity
Barbour Publishing (April 2009)
by
Marcia Gruver


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marcia Gruver is a full time writer who hails from Southeast Texas. Inordinately enamored by the past, Marcia delights in writing historical fiction. Her deep south-central roots lend a Southern-comfortable style and a touch of humor to her writing.

Awarded a three book contract by Barbour Publishing for full-length historical fiction, Marcia is busy these days pounding on the keyboard and watching the deadline clock. Diamond Duo, the first installment in the trilogy entitled Texas Fortunes, is scheduled for release in October 2008.

Marcia won third place in the 2007 ACFW Genesis contest and third in the 2004 ACFW Noble Theme contest. Another entry in 2004 finished in the top ten. She placed second in the 2002 Colorado Christian Writer’s contest for new authors, securing a spot in an upcoming compilation book. “I Will Never Leave Thee,” in For Better, For Worse—Devotional Thoughts for Married Couples, was released by Christian Publications in January 2004.

She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Fellowship of Christian Writers, and The Writers View—and a longstanding member of ACFW Crit3 and Seared Hearts, her brilliant and insightful critique groups.

Lifelong Texans, Marcia and her husband, Lee, have one daughter and four sons. Collectively, this motley crew has graced them with ten grandchildren and one great-granddaughter—so far.


ABOUT THE BOOK


When, in full view of family and friends, Charity Bloom's fiance leaves her stranded at the altar and takes off with her best friend, Charity is humiliated. How will this raven-haired beauty ever recover from losing both her betrothed and best friend on what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life?

When tall, handsome roughneck Buddy Pierce finds oil on Charity's mama's land, he hopes to free the Blooms from their poverty-stricken state. But will Buddy find the real treasure lies above ground-in Charity herself?

Ruing the day he left his fiancee for Emily Dane, Daniel Clark is determined to recapture Charity's affection. But can he remove the three things that stand in his way-a manipulative mama, a spurned lover, and the stranger at his ex-fiancee's side?

When Daniel re-stakes his claim on Charity's heart, tongues wag and minds speculate amid schemes and scandals in Humble, Texas. Whom will she choose-the handsome roughneck or the deceitful rouge?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Chasing Charity, go HERE

NO YELLING: Update

In my defense, I have a two year old who is trying to drive us crazy. These last few days have been rough. The first time I lost it, was when the little one decides to take his juice he just begged for and poured it in the middle of the floor. Later on he decided to beat up the T.V. He refuses to go to sleep, so I lost my cool again.

The next day I made it through the morning, but the two year old was on again. So the last few days, I’ve been biting the tongue with the older kids and losing my mind with the youngest.

I know it’s because of a bad habit that I’m finding it hard to stop the yelling. I believe in my head that if I yell it will get to him, but he laughs at me and I know the yelling isn’t working. There is no reasoning with a 2 year old. They are insane. LOL

I ask for your prayers because this is day seven and I have a ways to go. LOL I sound like I need a drink.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

My Son, John - Kathi Macias

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
My Son, John
(Sheaf House Publishers April 2009)
by
Kathi Macias


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathi Macias is an award-winning author of more than twenty fiction and nonfiction books. She has also ghostwritten and collaborated on books for a number of well-known individuals. She is a staff member for The Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service and a member of The Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network, Christian Authors Network, American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Writers Fellowship International, Advanced Writers/Speakers Association, for who she serves as membership chair, and orange County Christian Writers Fellowship. She is the 2008 winner of AWSA’s Golden Scroll Award.

A Former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Macias is a credentialed minister and served as an associate pastor at a large church in Southern California, where she did biblical counseling, trained small group leaders, and oversaw support/recovery ministries. She is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences, and has appeared on several radio and TV programs.



ABOUT THE BOOK


Murder.

Could there be a more chilling word?

Could it be any more horrible than to have a loved one killed, brutally and heartlessly, without obvious reason or motive?

When Liz Peterson's elderly mother is found viciously beaten to death in her home, Liz and her husband, Charles, along with their grown son, John, and teenage daughter, Sarah, are horrified beyond words. Their previously predictable, respectable lives seem to have vanished without a trace, as they struggle to make sense of a senseless act.

And then a second blow-more devastating, if possible, than the first-rocks them to their core. John is arrested for his grandmother's murder. As what's left of the Peterson family begins to crumble under the weight of loss and accusation, the Petersons' longstanding Christian faith is put to the test in a way they could never have imagined, and unconditional love is stretched to its limits. Will family ties and relationships withstand such a crushing blow, or will evil succeed in dividing and conquering this once close and inseparable family?

Watch the chilling trailer!!



If you would like to read the first chapter of My Son, John, go HERE

This Week Online

A few links to interesting articles or interviews:

Jill Scott Talks ‘The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’
A Forever Treasure
http://forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com/2009/03/forever-treasure.html

NO YELLING - Day 1

I survived my first day and no yelling. Believe me it wasn’t easy. The morning went well. The kids didn’t aggravate me, everyone was in a good mood, which made the morning flow perfect. My worse yelling times is after I pick the kids up from school. We stopped at the grocery store, the one place I’m known for yelling. We picked up dinner and went home with no yelling, even when my middle son wanted to whine because I wouldn’t buy him candy.

At home I did a lot of deep breathing instead of letting my tongue loose. I also called on Jesus a few times because I was seriously ready to let it loose. I was able to make it to bed without one mean word coming from my lips.

The biggest test came at 4:30 this morning when the youngest decided it was morning time and he need some milk because he was thirsty. I refuse to move and I stayed calm instead of letting the temper flare.

Both kids yelled a few times last night. They kept wanting to know what they would win if they make it through the month. I told them they win, learning how to be nice to people instead of mean.

I have a feeling this is going to be a rough month.

NO YELLING

For the month of April I’m fasting from yelling.

It seems like the only way I know how to talk to my kids is yelling. After I do it, I feel horrible. Why did I just say that?

I told my kids I would like them to join me because the 2yr old is yelling now and that’s not right.

Do you yell at your kids? Join us in our fast.

Let’s become moms who don’t yell.Yes it will be hard, but if we support each other will get though April and the rest of the of the year.

I DID IT

I submitted my first story to the Genesis contest. I wasn’t going to at first. My mother changed my mind. She reminded me that I was writing, but no one was reading my books. What’s the use of writing them if no one is reading them. I had the same words from another friend.
Do you think God was talking to me? LOL

I spent Saturday reading over the 15 pages and getting them ready. This one story I hadn’t looked at in a few months. Oh boy it was in need of some work.

Last week I had a teleseminar with Best selling author, Victoria Christopher Murray on editing your manuscript. She gave her tips on how she edits her manuscripts. It was an excellent workshop. I’m not going to give away all the tips, but I will give away one that will help me. She said you know you’re finish with the manuscript when you can pick a page and not be able to change anything on it.

I took this advice to heart when it came to the 15 pages. I worked on them all Saturday until I felt there was nothing else I could do to them. I pray the judges feel the same way.

I would love to win, but I’m really hoping for some excellent feedback to help me be a better writer and hopefully be able to get my manuscript in front of an agent or editor. All the craziness will be worth it.

BLOG TOUR: If Tomorrow Never Comes

Childhood sweethearts Kinna and Jimmy Henley had simple dreams—marriage, children, a house by the sea… Everything they needed for happily ever after. What they didn’t plan on was years of infertility, stealing those dreams, crushing their hopes.

Now, all that’s left is the memory of young love, and the desperate need for a child to erase the pain. Until…

When Kinna rescues an elderly woman from the sea, the threads of the past, present, and future weave together to reveal the wonder of one final hope. One final chance to follow not their dreams, but God’s plan.

Can they embrace the redemptive power of love before it’s too late? Or will their love be washed away like the castles they once built upon the sand?

Author Bio:

Marlo Schalesky is the author of several books, including Beyond the Night and Empty Womb, Aching Heart. A graduate of Stanford University , Marlo also has a masters of theology with an emphasis in biblical studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. Married over twenty years, she lives with her husband, Bryan, and their five children in California .

Build it and they will come

NOT!

I’ve learned when it comes to events, people will attend if they want to.

Let’s talk about the hot topic of the week the Christian Book Expo. They set up this wonderful expo and the readers didn’t come.

WHY?

This is the question every event planner wants to know. We can debate about it for months, but the real deal is, they didn’t want to come. If they knew about it and it sounded interesting enough, they came. If they knew and didn’t want to pay the fee or if didn’t offer what they wanted, they didn’t come. If they didn’t know about it, they couldn’t come.

Why didn’t I attend?

When I look at events for the year, I look at the cost for me to leave St. Louis and get there and the cost for hotels and what is it I want from the event. This event sounded fantastic on paper, but only a few of the authors I read were in attendance. None of the African American authors I read were going. None of my reader friends were going, which meant I would be bunking alone if I attended.

To me it sounded like a book fair you had to pay to get in. I love book fairs because it usually means that I’m going to get books and meet authors. However this year I knew I couldn’t justify a book fair that wasn’t in St. Louis. Flying to Dallas for one didn’t make financial sense.

I’m sure others had the same conversation with themselves. Is this the event for me?

There are many events each year and trying to decide which one to attend is hard. For those planning events, always take this into consideration. Who do you want to attend? Will your event make the list of events these people will attend? Or will you be wondering what happen to the attendees?

This year I’m hosting another online conference. Each time I try to feature workshops I hope people will attend. It’s a hard job organizing an event. However you learn from your mistakes and hopefully the next one will be even better. Hopefully next year, the Christian Book Expo will be the expo that draws all the readers. Maybe I’ll be able to attend.

How do you decide which literary event to attend?

Connecting with old friends

Sometimes I love the internet. In high school I had a best friend. I could talk to him about anything. We’ve lost touch over the years and I’ve always wondered how he and his family have been.

Everyone is always talking about how they’re connecting with high school friends, so I decided to look him up, but I never could find him. Last week I decided to try again. I found a person, but he didn’t have a picture. So I looked through his pictures hoping to see someone I recognized. I came across a picture of who I thought was his son. I clicked on the pictures and it was my friend as a teenager, only it was his son. So I sent him a request to be friends.

I didn’t hear back, so I figured ah man he doesn’t want to keep in touch.

Today I got a friendship request approved. Yeah!

I was able to check out his page with his pictures. He has a beautiful family. I sent him a message and hopefully will start our friendship up again.

Who have you reconnected with over the internet?

When Do You Stop Chasing Dreams?

One item that has been on my list for a long time, is getting published. As you know that's not an easy task. This year marks ten years in trying to scratch that off the list. I had to look over the years to see if I've been wasting my time. Am I one of those who goes to the American Idol knowing I can't sing, but trying anyway. When I first started writing at sixteen, I can say I was one of those contestants. I didn't have a clue and I knew my writing was the bomb. NOT.

Ten years is a long time to be chasing a dream, but I learned from a writer who took 15 years to get published, you can't give up. She told me to write the books and throw them in the closet. When it's your time, you won't be a one book wonder. Six books later, I'm happy to say that I don't feel like a failure because I'm not published. I made time to write six books while publishing SORMAG, being a caregiver for my mother, three children and a wife to a husband who sometimes is ready to turn me in. It wasn't easy, but I enjoyed every moment of it.

If those books never get published, I know that I've learned a lot writing them, and this magazine has taught me a lot about the writing business. So I think my 10 years were worth it and I guess I'll give it another ten years. As an encourager of dreams, how can I tell you to continue chasing your dreams and give up on mine.


When do you stop chasing dreams?

BLOG TOUR: Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and Day with a Perfect Stranger

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger

By David Gregory

You are Invited to a Dinner with Jesus of Nazareth

The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky’s desk amid a stack of credit card applications and business-related junk mail. Although his seventy-hour workweek has already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what kind of plot his colleagues have hatched.

The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who appears to be more than comfortable discussing everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.

…………..

"You’re bored, Nick. You were made for more than this. You’re worried about God stealing your fun, but you’ve got it backwards.… There’s no adventure like being joined to the Creator of the universe." He leaned back off the table. "And your first mission would be to let him guide you out of the mess you’re in at work."
………….

As the evening progresses, their conversation touches on life, God, meaning, pain, faith, and doubt–and it seems that having Dinner with a Perfect Stranger may change Nick’s life forever.


Day with a Perfect Stranger:

What if a fascinating stranger knew you better than you know yourself?

When her husband comes home with a farfetched story about eating dinner with someone he believes to be Jesus, Mattie Cominsky thinks this may signal the end of her shaky marriage. Convinced that Nick is, at best, turning into a religious nut, the self-described agnostic hopes that a quick business trip will give her time to think things through.

On board the plane, Mattie strikes up a conversation with a fellow passenger. When she discovers their shared scorn for religion, she confides her frustration over her husband’s recent conversion. The stranger suggests that perhaps her husband isn’t seeking religion but true spiritual connection, an idea that prompts her to reflect on her own search for fulfillment.

As their conversation turns to issues of spiritual longing and deeper questions about the nature of God, Mattie finds herself increasingly drawn to this insightful stranger. But when the discussion unexpectedly turns personal, touching on things she’s never told anyone, Mattie is startled and disturbed. Who is this man who seems to peer straight into her soul?

SORMAG's Reader's Choice Awards

RULES:

We invite you to vote for your favorite books for 2008.

SORMAG READER's Choice Awards, are awards voted on by the readers. You vote on your favorite books, the books with the most votes is the winner.

Authors can vote for themselves. Before you vote, take a moment to read over the categories, write down your nominations, then come back and vote. Please write down the titles of the book, an Author's name can not be substituted for a title. Placing someone's name in all the categories does not increase their chance to win. If we receive a ballot with one person's name down the whole ballot it will be deleted. Only valid emails are accepted, if your email is returned your vote will not count. This is due to ballot stuffing.

Deadline March 15, 2009

If the form doesn't work, copy and paste and send to sormag2@yahoo.com
You should receive a thank you response, if you don't receive one in 24hrs your vote wasn't received. SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE

Name:
Email Address:
City/State:
Age:
Romance Novella Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Romance Book Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Fiction Book Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Non Fiction Book Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Christian Romance Book Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Christian Fiction Book Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Christian Non Fiction Book Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Children/Young Adult Book Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Self Published Fiction Book Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Self Published Non-Fiction Book Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Poetry Book Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Best Book Cover Of The Year (Book published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Author Of The Year (Mainstream Author published Jan 08-Dec 08)
New Author Of The Year (mainstream/self pub in Jan 08-Dec 08)
Self Published Author Of The Year (Self Published Author published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Children/Young Adult Author Of The Year (Author published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
Poet Of The Year (Author published Jan 2008-Dec 2008)

create web form

AWARD WINNER

2009 Online Literary Awards

Cheryl Donovan present the first Legends Awards to:

SORMAG-Shades of Romance Magazine

SORMAG – Shades Of Romance Magazine was started because of editor LaShaunda Hoffman’s love of AA romance novels and the lack of support for them. SORMAG was an extension of an online forum called Aspiring African-American Romance Writers she started on delphiforums.com in 1999. In 2000 SORMAG became a bi-monthly online magazine. As the romance writers began to expand into the mainstream market the magazine evolved to feature not only romance but all literature. In 2005, SORMAG advanced to the blog concept which offers readers interactive freedom. The blog lead to SORMAG becoming a publishing industry legend! Website: http://www.sormag.com/

Mosaic Literary Magazine

Launched in 1998, Mosaic is a quarterly magazine exploring the literary landscapes of Black and Latino writers. Each issue contains a unique blend of essays, profiles, and reviews. Mosaic is published by the Literary Freedom Project, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt not-for-profit arts organization that supports the literary arts through education, creative thinking, and new media. Editor/Publisher Ron Kavanaugh. http://mosaicmagazine.org/

Outlaw Marshall Blog Tour

John “The Stranger” Brockman is back by popular demand!

A good deed grants outlaw Whipley Langford early release from prison and a friendship with Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman. Another good deed gets Whip framed for murder and looking at life through a hangman’s noose. John arrives just in time to reveal the true murderers and lead Whip to Christ.

A new man and a fast draw, Whip becomes Brockman’s deputy. Life is still fast and dangerous, and there’s a pretty lady Whip would like to get to know better too. Before he admits his love, Whip is shot in a bank robbery. Survival looks slim until he awakens to hear his lady confess her love. Weeks later, they are married.

Readers who are familiar with the Journeys of the Stranger and Angel of Mercy series reunite with well-loved characters John and Breanna Brockman. Western history buffs will enjoy a wholesome, fast-paced story where the Gospel is presented clearly. Christian readers will learn how to lean on the Lord in times of trial and non-Christians will have the opportunity to make Christ their Savior.


About The Authors:

Al Lacy is an evangelist and author of more than one hundred historical and western novels, including the Journeys of the Stranger, Angel of Mercy, and Mail Order Bride series, with more than three million books in print.

JoAnna Lacy, Al’s wife and longtime collaborator, is a retired nurse. The Lacys have been married over forty years and live in the Colorado Rockies.

Leave a comment for a chance to win this book.

Is it time to move past Black History Month?

My answer is NO. What’s wrong with having a month that celebrates your culture? What’s wrong with having a month that informs the world about Black history?

This year I signed up to be a girl scout leader. I thought it would be a fun way to spend time with my daughter. At our last meeting I decided to talk about a local Black History. One lady I admired growing up was Julia Davis. She was a local historian who made it her business to keep the Black history known at the public libraries.

My girls had heard of her name but only because a library had been named about her. They didn’t know who she was. Why?

I think its because there is so much the teachers have to teach during the year, they don’t have time to touch on everything. Which is why I believe Black History Month is important, during this month, they can make time to focus on the history of Black Americans.

If this wasn’t Black History month, the girls probably wouldn’t have heard about Julia Davis. Until all history is taught in school, Black History month will always be needed.

WHO IS JULIA DAVIS

Julia Davis was born in 1891, attended Sumner High School, Normal School, and Stowe Teachers' College and became an educator and historian of black history in St. Louis. Since 1941, she has organized the annual Negro history exhibit at the St. Louis Public Library. She served on the National Education Association Committee on Teacher Education and Professional Standards, as secretary for the St. Louis branch of the Association For Childhood Education, and has been active in other educational organizations. She retired as a public school teacher on November 20, 1961.

Dr. Julia Davis, established the Julia Davis Fund at the St. Louis Public Library in 1961 on the day she retired from teaching in the St. Louis public school system. The fund, designated for the purchase of literature by, for and about African-Americans, has provided for the acquisition of more than 2,000 volumes.

The Julia Davis Collection is housed in the beautiful Great Hall of the Central Library at 13th and Olive Streets downtown. On April 21, 1974, the St. Louis Public Library made history by dedicating a branch to a living person - Dr. Julia Davis. This branch houses the same volumes found in the Central Library and is the site for many African-American cultural activities held throughout the year. This library was on Naturalbridge.

Julia Davis gave the Julia Davis Research papers to the Black History Research Project from October 1980 to April 1981for permanent preservation at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-St. Louis at the University of Missouri- St. Louis. Julia Davis continued to donate material through October 1988.


Do you think we should move past Black History Month?

Illusions Blog Tour

ILLUSIONS

After three years of marriage, Denise Hightower discovers that her husband, Pastor Bryce Hightower, has a secret addiction that not only jeopardizes his marriage, but impairs his ability to effectively preach the gospel.

Yielding to pressure from her mother and her husband, Denise agrees to keep his addiction a secret, although her self-esteem plummets. Her life as the perfect First Lady is falling apart at the seams. Denise suffers in silence until she is confronted with the addiction from a trusted member of the church.

Self-centered and determined to uphold his pastoral image, Bryce is oblivious to his wife's emotional state. He's convinced that he can overcome his "little problem" on his own, so he rejects the spiritual help God sends him. But when his secret is discovered, will he be able to come clean with himself, God, and his congregation before he loses it all?

For more information about Wanda, visit her at http://www.wandabcampbell.net/.

What If?

It's the oldest trick in the book. The Enemy slithers his way into the mix, tempting people to question God and ask the "what if" questions by planting seeds of doubt and confusion. Denise has always been a confident woman, quite satisfied with her curves. With the burden of carrying her husband's dark secret, her world begins to unravel.

Have you ever lost your self-esteem trying to please a man? Do you know a friend or relative who is in this same boat? We hope you will purchase Illusions to learn more about Denise' story. Leave your comments below and let us know your thoughts.


THIS WEEK: Celebrate Wanda's birthday & Valentine's Day

This week's winner will receive A Box of Sees Candies and a coupon for a FREE print design (choose a bookmark, postcard or business card) courtesy of Tywebbin Creations. Winner are responsible for printing.

Check Wanda B. Campbell's blog for the winners.


MEET WANDA B. CAMPBELL

Wanda B. Campbell is an extraordinary and talented writer who brings creativity, a new sense of hope, and restoration through the healing power of God to the Kingdom, by way of Christian fiction. She uses real life everyday issues to exhort, motivate, and give comfort.

An avid reader since childhood, Wanda recently responded to the voice in her head by penning and self-publishing her debut novel, First Sunday in October, (January 2007). A romantic at heart, Wanda uses relationships to demonstrate how the power of forgiveness and reconciliation can restore us back to God and one another.

Wanda currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband of nineteen years and two sons. She also has the unique position of being the oldest of five siblings and also the youngest of twelve. Her hobbies include writing and reading of course, traveling, and collecting magnets from around the world. Wanda is the self-proclaimed biggest Oakland A’s fan.

WEEK 2 – Inside Illusions (Denise Hightower)

Feb 9 - Carla Nix, Kendra Norman-Bellamy
Feb 10 - Cecelia Dowdy, APOOO Books
Feb 11 - SORMag
Feb 12 – Dee Stewart
Feb 13 – Robin Caldwell
——
WEEK 3 – Inside Illusions (Pastor Bryce Hightower)

Feb 16 - Pat Simmons
Feb 17 - Stephanie McKenny / Passion For Life Show (8:00 pm EST)
Feb 18 – Cheryl Donavan
Feb 19 – Michelle Larks
Feb 20 - Maurice M. Gray, Jr.
——
WEEK 4 – What Readers Are Saying

Feb 23rd – Linda Beed / WrittenVoicesPodcast.com
Feb. 24th - Paulette Harper
Feb. 25th - Deena Peterson
Feb. 26th - Shana J. Burton / Something to Talk … Shawneda Marks (9pm EST)
Feb 27th – Jenny Blake, Michelle Sutton

Valentine Blog Tour

I Do Again:

With their professional success and adorable twin daughters, Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs looked like the perfect couple. But their polished facade concealed a widening chasm between two people unable to connect on an intimate, soul-deep level.

After years of frustration, Cheryl’s desire for emotional fulfillment led to an affair and, finally, divorce. Yet, incredibly, seven years later, Jeff and Cheryl once again stood at the altar, promising to “love, honor, and cherish” one another. A new and vibrant love had risen out of the ashes of this family’s pain.

I Do Again details the fascinating real-life story of a couple whose relationship seemed shattered beyond all hope until a spiritual awakening led them to reconsider their definitions of “happily ever after.” A riveting account of the power of prayer and redemption, this remarkable book offers renewed hope for even the most troubled marriages—and reveals why the rewards of restoration are well worth the wait.

Author Bio:

Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs are the founders of Hope Matters Marriage Ministries, and for the past several years they have shared their incredible story of a marriage restored with audiences across the nation. Jeff is an account manager with OshKosh B’Gosh, and Cheryl has served as director of the Frisco, Texas , office of the Center for Christian Counseling. They live in Dallas , Texas with their two college-age daughters.


Love As A Way Of Life Devo:


In his book Love As a Way of Life, best-selling author Gary Chapman shows readers how to cultivate a new lifestyle built around the seven characteristics of authentic love. Now in a companion devotional, he provides ninety inspirational readings to help Christians consistently live out the characteristics of love in every relationship.

Each devotional entry showcases biblical truths that guide a life of love, offering fresh insight and practical guidance in how to make love a lasting habit. Over the course of three months, readers will learn to follow God’s lead as they practice the characteristics of a loving person: kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity, and honesty.

The Love As a Way of Life Devotional makes an ideal gift for the holidays or for any special occasion. Couples, parents, new graduates, and anyone celebrating a milestone in life will welcome this inspiring daily guide to richer, more satisfying relationships.

Author Bio:

Dr. Gary Chapman is the author of twenty-six books, including the New York Times bestseller The Five Love Languages, with more than 4 million copies in print. His daily radio program, A Love Language Minute, is broadcast on more than 100 stations nationwide. Dr. Chapman, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College , Wake-Forest University , and Southwestern Seminary, serves on a church staff in North Carolina .

For Couples Only Box Set:


Since their debut, these revolutionary guides have sold well over a million copies, been translated into fifteen languages, and sparked much fascinating water-cooler conversation around the country. Now together in the For Couples Only boxed set, these books provide the perfect resource to help you understand what you never knew about the woman or man in your life.

Each volume is based on input from more than a thousand members of the opposite sex—including an unprecedented nationwide survey and hundreds of personal interviews. This innovative approach yields candid and surprising answers about everything you don’t “get” about your significant other—even what that person deeply wishes you knew. It also produces simple but groundbreaking awareness of how you can best love and support the one who is most important to you. [Part of me wanted to make this paragraph past tense—yielded and produced—because of the first paragraph, but that took away some of the immediacy of what the books offer. I’ll leave that up to you.]

So whether you are newly dating or have been married fifty years, get ready to know each other in a whole new way. The adventure is just beginning!

Author Bio:

Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn hold graduate degrees from Harvard University and are popular national speakers, authors, and entrepreneurs. They are also active church members and the parents of two young children, and they enjoy every minute of living life at warp speed.

First Writing Of The Year

It’s February and I finally had time to sit down and write. I decided in January if its only 15 minutes a day I was going to make time to write, easy said than done. Each day, I made an excuse of why I didn’t have time. Then I made a deadline and I refuse to miss it. I’m having one of my chapters critiqued. My deadline is Feb 15th and I will make it.

Last night I was able to get through half the chapter, hopefully tonight I will finish it up. The revising part has always been the hardest for me because I never know when to stop. I think that’s the bad part about being not published. You never really have a deadline to meet, so you’re forever tweaking your manuscripts. I think the deadline wakes you up to the knowledge that you need to finish and move on to the next one.

After this chapter revision, I’m moving on to a new story. Something fresh and exciting and totally different from what I have ever written, a children’s story.

Body Clock

My two year old’s body clock is completely off. It has been since birth. Lately he doesn’t want to go to bed when we do. I usually turn on PBS kids and let him watch that until he falls asleep. The problem with that is I’m usually half asleep wondering when he is going to fall asleep.

Last night he decided he wanted to watch t.v. in his sister’s room, which was fine until he decides to get into her hair gel. This little guy knows when he’s wrong. He comes back into my room and wakes me up. He’s covered with brown gel. I want to beat him down. It’s three in the morning and he wants to play in gel. I take him into the bathroom and clean the gel off. It’s caked in his hair and all over his hands and arms. How can you be cute with gel all over you?

This morning as I’m driving I realized I missed my Kodak moment. I was too sleepy to realize, he will only be two once and hopefully this will be the last time he gets into hair gel.

What did you do when your kid stayed up and you wanted to sleep?