Wednesday, 19 November 2008

Bethany Books for Blokes!

Well, actually I'm very keen to read them all too :) There's nothing like a great suspense/thriller novel to get the blood pumping!

I hear great things about Robin's books (must get them out of my TBR pile!), I love Tom Morrisey's stories, especially Deep Blue and love the premise of Pirate Hunter and then there is debut author, Shawn Grady! His book looks and sounds fantastic and I'm always up for discovering a new author to add to my must read list.


Each of these books release in July, 2009 from Bethany.






Offworld by Robin Parrish

The return of NASA's first manned mission to Mars was supposed to be a momentous day. But when the crew loses touch with ground control before entry, things look bleak. Safe after a treacherous landing, the crew emerges to discover the
unthinkable--every man, woman, child, and animal has vanished without a trace.

Alone now on their home planet, the crew sets out to discover where everyone has gone--and how to get them back--only to discover they may not be as alone as they thought.








Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey

From the blue waters of the Caribbean and the Florida Keys to the wind-swept wilds of the Outer Banks, Pirate Hunter combines the romantic popularity of a pirate tale with an inspirational story of modern-day treasure hunters.

Following a captured slave who's been freed by the sixteenth-century pirate who takes his ship, the novel weaves a rollicking tale of adventure. Paralleling this story in the present are the treasure hunters seeking the gold--and stories--of the past. Greg Rhode--a preacher's kid who has become a marine archaeologist--hires on to participate in Phil Rackham's salvage operation in the Florida Keys. He is hoping that Rackham will make him rich, not suspecting the true riches he'll eventually confront.








Through the Fire by Shawn Grady

Firefighting burns in Aidan O'Neill's blood. The son of a fireman, O'Neill has a sixth sense about fire and often takes dangerous risks. When one act of disobedience nearly gets a rookie killed, O'Neill is suspended. His weeks off are supposed to be a time to reflect but instead he escapes to Mexico, where another rash act of bravery actually kills him. But only for a few minutes.

Called back to Reno, he's now haunted by visions of hell and paralyzed in the face of fire. And at the worst time, because an arsonist is targeting Reno. With a growing love interest with one of the investigators complicating everything, Aidan must discover where his trust rests as the fires creep ever closer.



Tell Rel:~

Are any of the men in your life readers?

Which ones do you think will interest him, or will you be grabbing them first?


Tuesday, 18 November 2008

Every Now & Then by Karen Kingsbury

Losing his firefighter father in the Twin Towers collapse of 9/11 left Alex Brady a shattered man. Determined to prevent further atrocities happening again, Alex fled from the people who loved him and became a police officer with the K9 unit in Los Angeles, California. Sharing the remaining remnants of his heart on his beloved police dog, Bo, Alex only makes time for his dog, his work and staying in the best shape he can, all the better to catch the ones planning evil.

Holly Brooks followed Alex Brady to California hoping to mend the rift in their relationship but her plans met with dismal failure. Making a new life for herself working for a building entrepreneur, Dave Jacobs and his son, Ron, Holly soon finds herself in the midst of a physical and emotional firestorm she didn't see coming.

Every Now & Then introduces the emotionally distant Alex Brady into the lives of familiar characters from Beyond Tuesday Morning, Clay and Jamie Michaels and their friends, Joe and Wanda Reynolds. Karen invites the reader back into their lives with consummate ease, shedding more light on their lives since 9/11. Pleasingly, each of the characters still struggle with their past and I particularly appreciated the authentic tension played out between Clay and Jamie as Jamie is drawn back into the horror of the September day as she reaches out to the wounded Alex. More interaction and dialogue between Alex and Holly, one of Karen's many talents as a writer, would have made the book more appealing to me personally. That being said, the story is otherwise vintage Karen - deep felt emotion, engaging characters and the struggle to fathom God's place in a pain filled world with a sweet and encouraging ending.


Relz Reviewz Extras

Read my reviews of One Tuesday Morning and Beyond Tuesday Morning

Visit Karen's website

Buy this book at Amazon or Koorong

2009 Bethany House Releases ~ Historicals

Bethany continues to select beautiful covers for their books. Here are more of what's on offer in 2009.

Click on the titles to pre-order from Amazon or on the author name for more information. Check back tomorrow for more previews with my post, Bethany's Books for Blokes!

And I have a new idea here at Relz Reviewz which will pop up now and then - Tell Rel - it will be a question I would love to know your answer to! You'll see the first one at the bottom of the post!


A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist

In 1860s Seattle, a man with a wife could secure himself 640 acres of timberland. But because of his wife's untimely death, Joe Denton finds himself about to lose half of his claim. Still in mourning, his best solution is to buy one of those Mercer girls arriving from the East. A woman
he'll marry in name but keep around mostly as a cook.

Anna Ivey's journey west with Asa Mercer's girls is an escape from the griefs of her past. She's not supposed to be a bride, though, just a cook for the girls. But when they land, she's handed to Joe Denton and the two find themselves in a knotty situation. She refuses to wed him and he's about to lose his land. With only a few months left, can Joe convince this provoking--but beguiling--easterner to be his bride?

Releasing June, 2009



Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell

In the small Puritan community of Stoneybrooke, Massachusetts, Susannah Phillips stands out both for her character and beauty. She wants only a simple life but soon finds herself pursued by the town's wealthiest bachelor and by a roguish military captain sent to protect them. One is not what he seems and one is more than he seems.

In trying to discover true love's path, Susannah is helped by the most unlikely of allies, a wounded woman who lives invisible and ignored in their town. As the depth, passion, and sacrifice of love is revealed to Susannah, she begins to question the rules and regulations of her childhood faith. In a community where grace is unknown, what price will she pay for embracing love?

Releasing June, 2009




How Do I Love Thee? by Nancy Moser

The year is 1845. Elizabeth Barrett is a published poet--and a virtual prisoner in her own home. Blind family loyalty ties her to a tyrannical father who forbids any of his children to marry. She has resigned herself to simply existing. That is, until the letter arrives...

"I love your verses with all my heart," writes Robert Browning, an admiring fellow poet. And as friendly correspondence gives way to something more, Elizabeth discovers that Robert's love is not for her words alone. Could it be that God might grant her more than mere existence? And can she risk defying her father in pursuit of true happiness?

Nancy Moser has crafted a romantic, emotion-charged novel based on the true story of beloved poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Releasing June, 2009




A Dream to Call My Own by Tracie Peterson

Lacy Gallatin, the youngest of the Gallatin sisters, is a woman with a mission: to find her father's killer. Haunted by the belief that she's failed him, Lacy is also battling a desire to have something more than just revenge, something she can't quite figure out.

Enter Dave Shepard, deputy sheriff for the area. Dave has been fervently trying to find the man who killed George Gallatin, but he always feels inadequate when it comes to the beautiful Lacy. When they are together, the tension crackles between them--both when they argue and when they kiss. Lacy finds him frustratingly irresistible but is it truly love?

Releasing June, 2009







That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake

Gooding, Texas, is about to gain a double blessing--a veterinarian and a doctor. But when siblings Enoch and Taylor Bestman arrive, the discovery that Taylor is a lady doctor has the town up in arms. E
specially Karl Van der Vort, the town blacksmith, who becom es the first patient...against his will.

Though hesitant to believe in Taylor's doctoring skills, Karl finds himself oddly protective of this surprising woman who dares to drive about town on her own, wearing the color red, for heaven's sake! Taylor, on the other hand, wants only to prove that doctoring is her life's calling, despite the town's opposition. The result? Pride meets attraction head-on, and sparks begin to fly.

Releasing August, 2009




A Surrendered Heart by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller

At twenty-one, Amanda Broadmoor had the right to make her own way in life, but her father and mother hardly saw it that way. Women working in the medi cal field were still frowned upon, and Amanda had been reared to marry and produce heirs, not tend the sick. And especially not those suffering from cholera.

"And Mama can be such an alarmist," Amanda whispered.

At the first report of cholera in Rochester, Amanda's mother had suggested the entire family take refuge at their summer estate on Broadmoor Island in the St. Lawrence River. However, that idea had been immediately vetoed by her father. Father had said his work would not permit him to leave Rochester, and for once, Amanda had agreed with one of his decisions. After devoting so much of her time and energy to medical training at Dr. Carstead's side, she couldn't possibly desert her work--not now, not when she was needed most.

Releasing August, 2009


Tell Rel:~

I'd really love to know which of these books most appeals to you and why.

Cover? Story? Author?

Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine!

Sneak Peek at A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman

Julie Lessman's books are such a treat! I was so taken with Brady in A Passion Redeemed I can't wait for his and Beth's story in A Passion Denied ~ sigh!

Hang in there until it releases in May, 2009. For now here's a look at the final cover.....



A Passion Denied, is the story of Faith and Charity’s little sister, Beth (Lizzie), a shy bookworm who dreams of a fairy-tale romance. It unfolds a man’s dark past and a young girl’s shattered dreams … and the God who redeems it all.

Elizabeth O’Connor is the little sister John Brady always longed for. With a fire for God in his belly, he has been her spiritual mentor since she was thirteen, sharing her love of literature and her thirst for God. But when his gangly protégé blossoms into a beautiful young woman bent on loving him, he refuses to act on the attraction he feels. His past won’t let him go there.

Unfortunately, “Lizzie” won’t let him go anywhere else … until his dark and shocking secrets push her away.

White Christma Pie by Wanda E Brunstetter ~ Tracy's Take

What is it about?

Will Henderson remains a young man in turmoil sixteen years after his father left him with Amish couple Mark and Regina Stoltzfus at just six years old. While Mark and Regina have cared for and loved Will with great commitment, Will is unable to let go of the bitterness he feels towards his father, Frank.

Will holds his fiancé, Karen Yoder, at arm’s length as their upcoming wedding has him doubting his ability to be a good husband and father. He wonders if he will destroy his family the way he feels his father destroyed his life, by abandoning him. Karen longs to comfort Will and seeks to help him through the issues that arise before him. She is the epitome of the perfect wife-to-be, yet he seems intent on building a wall around his heart and keeping her out.

What I thought:

Wanda E Brunstetter has again delivered an engaging and beautiful story based on the lives of the Amish. ‘White Christmas Pie’ will snatch your attention and propel you toward the very last sentence, desperate to know if Will can set aside his bitterness and forgive his father.

I ached with Will as he was reminded of his abandonment by a newspaper article about another child, left without the love and care of her parents. His heartache is altogether tangible, his bitterness and unforgiveness entirely understandable. Wanda has done an outstanding job of taking the reader on Will’s heart-journey.

As Will faces the full force of his feelings and all their ugly ramifications in his life, he is surrounded by people who love him and would see him through his trials with victory. I felt myself willing him to stop and listen, to heed wise advice and to humble himself before the God who loves him.

In ‘White Christmas PieWanda shows how one can overcome deeply wounding experiences in our lives and seek forgiveness and healing rather than clinging to unforgiveness and bitterness as our companions through life. With God even the impossible is possible, giving us people who love us to be the gentle zephyr that blows our hearts towards Truth.


Guest reviewer:~ my friend and lover of all things Amish, Tracy from Beyond My Picket Fence


Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Wanda's website

Buy Wanda's book at Amazon or Koorong


CFBA Blog Tour of White Christmas Pie by Wanda E Brunstetter


This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

White Christmas Pie

Barbour Publishing, Inc (September 1, 2008)

by

Wanda E. Brunstetter



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Fascinated by the Amish people during the years of visiting her husband's family in Pennsylvania, WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER combined her interest with her writing and now has eleven novels about the Amish in print, along with numerous other stories and ministry booklets. She lives in Washington State, where her husband is a pastor, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish settlements throughout the states.

This year Wanda also published A Sister's Hope





ABOUT THE BOOK

Step into Amish country for this bittersweet holiday romance. Here you'll meet Will Henderson, a young man tortured by his past, and Karen Yoder, a young woman looking for answers. Add a desperate father searching for his son, and you have all the ingredients for a first-class romance that will inspire and enthrall.

Abandoned by his father, Will Henderson was raised by an Amish couple. Now he's about to marry Karen Yoder but is having second thoughts. Can Will overcome the bitterness of his past in order to secure his future? Karen cannot break through the barrier her fiance has suddenly constructed around his heart. When she seeks the advice of an old boyfriend, Will begins to see green. Has he already lost his chance for happiness?

When an accident threatens Will's life, the strength of blood ties is tested. Will a recipe for White Christmas pie contain the ingredients for a happily-ever-after?

If you would like to read the first chapter of White Christmas Pie, go HERE

Watch the book trailer:



To read Tracy's review, click here

Monday, 17 November 2008

The winner of A Beautiful Fall is.....


The random number generator picked 9 which was Jen ~ congratulations!

Your book is on its way :)

Sneak peek at 2009 releases from Bethany House ~ contemporary

Words Unspoken by Elizabeth Musser

Lissa Randall's future was bright with academic promise until the tragic accident that took her mother's life--and brought her own plans to a screeching halt. Eighteen months later Lissa is still unable to get back behind the wheel.

Ev McAllistair's driving school looks like Lissa's best hope for getting her life back on the road again. His patience and fatherly wisdom seem to transcend the driving experience. But Ev's own complicated past is about to resurface, with consequences for everyone in his orbit...






Sometimes a Light Surprises by Jamie Langston Turner

Though it was years ago, Ben Buckley has never gotten over the loss of his wife. But even more than the mystery surrounding her death is the radical change that occurred in her life shortly beforehand. Their marriage was unusually happy--until she met a woman who "turned her on to religion." Baffled, angry, and still feeling guilty for the way he treated Chloe those final weeks, Ben now lives behind the protective walls of severed relationships and a rigid work routine.

When two unlikely people enter his narrow world, Ben's view of his life begins to change, and gradually the barriers he's erected around himself come tumbling down.

For readers who enjoy character-driven, thought-provoking stories that stay with them long after the last page is turned.




How Sweet It Is by Alice J Wisler

Deena Livingston leaves behind a broken romance and her chef job in Atlanta to spend time at her grandfather's cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. But her grandfather has an odd request: he wants Deena to teach cooking classes to the ragtag group of middle-schoolers who attend the local afterschool program, The Center. Reluctantly, Deena agrees, but how is she supposed to convince these kids that cooking at home is better than eating at McDonalds? And after all she went through in Atlanta, why is she attracted to Zack, the social worker at The Center? Can a Dr. Seuss-quoting plumber, a curly-haired basketball player, and a group of middle-schoolers change Deena's outlook on life?





All three books release in May, 2009 from Bethany House

Which one most appeals to you?

Character Spotlight ~ Siri Mitchell's Marget & Lytham

Today the spotlight shines on....................................................Marget and Lytham




Acclaimed author and a very lovely lady, Siri Mitchell, addresses the lengths women went to for the sake of so called beauty in Elizabethan England in her latest novel, A Constant Heart.

Siri's Chateau of Echoes is one of my all time favourite books, along with Kissing Adrien, so I can't wait to read A Constant Heart which is next in my TBR.


Enjoy Siri's thoughts on:~

MARGET – As the novel opens, she’s 17 years old, small and delicate with ‘the face of an angel’. She has blue eyes and dark hair, although she ends up bleaching it during the course of the story. Her hands are particularly fine.

I pictured her to look like one of the pre-Raphaelite models (after she bleached her hair). Alight with innocence and goodness. (Yes, I know that most of those models were not the ‘angels’ that they seemed, but they did a good job looking like they were, didn’t they?)


LYTHAM – As the novel opens, he’s in his mid-30s, tall dark and ‘dashing’ in the most old-fashioned sense of the word. He has a closely clipped beard and moustache. A perfect specimen of a 16th century courtier, he excels in ‘leaping’ and hunting and dancing.

I pictured him as a young Jeremy Irons. Dark-haired and soulful.

Strengths and weaknesses

MARGET – She’s extremely loyal and in spite of many reasons not to remain so, she stays faithful to her husband. Hers is the constant heart of which the title speaks. But she’s too trusting. And much too willing to believe anything that she’s told will help her to further her goals.

LYTHAM – He’s a man of honor. And he writes poetry! But he’s so worried about how to gain influence with the queen and how to accrue more power than he nearly trades away everything of worth.

Quirk (if any)


MARGET – She actually likes to attend the theater instead of simply buying the plays in portfolio form. Can you imagine!

LYTHAM – Like most courtiers of the time, Lytham practiced singing, and dancing, and leaping almost obsessively in hopes that when the time came to actually perform, he could do so with apparent effortless ease.



Your inspiration for the characters

MARGET – When I read that the cosmetics Elizabethan women used gave them lead poisoning, I wanted to know what would have prompted a woman to use them.

LYTHAM – I was interested in discovering what a ‘man in tights’ would really have been like. And eager to explore what was considered ‘manly’ back then. Writing poetry? Dancing? Playing the treble viol?

As I was writing the book, the song Beautiful One by Jeremy Camp kept playing in my mind.

Background to
the story

Marget is a knight’s daughter who has the good fortune to marry an earl. Lytham is an earl who has the
good fortune to marry a knight’s daughter with a very nice dowry.

When Lytham reacts unexpectedly to Marget’s best assets (her looks, her accomplishments, her kind heart) and when Queen Elizabeth takes offense at the girl, Marget endeavors to please no matter what the cost…and it might just end up costing her everything she has.

In the court of Queen Elizabeth beauty is a curse, friendship is boug
ht and sold, and true love is the unpardonable sin.


Thanks Siri - fascinating reading :) Appreciate you sharing with us.


Be sure to check out Siri's other titles by clicking on the links below in Relz Reviewz Extras. And please don't forget to comment to encourage Siri :)


Come back on Thursday for my spotlight on Christy Barritt's Gabby St Clair, a special post in conjunction with Deena's Author of the Month feature at A Peek at my Bookshelf

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Chateau of Echoes

Interview with Siri

Visit Siri's website

Buy Siri's books at Amazon or Koorong

Check back soon for my review of A Constant Heart and a "getting to know Siri" interview.


Sunday, 16 November 2008

Faith and Fiction Saturday: Reviewing


The delightful Amy from My Friend Amy has begun asking a question on her blog every Saturday regarding books and such for anyone to answer. I can't promise I will answer every time but I thought this question deserved a response from me :)

The past couple of days there has been a big flare-up in the broader book blogging community regarding review policies and a blogger's obligation to an author once they've received a review copy. For those of you who belong to the blogging alliance FIRST, we've also discussed this issue a little bit.

I decided to make today's question about this, because I think this is an even tougher situation for Christian reviewers who review Christian books. So here goes...do you receive review copies of Christian books? If so, do you review them honestly? How do you handle it when you don't like a book but are obligated to provide a review? Who do you see your first commitment being to in book reviewing (besides God)? Yourself? The author? Your readers? Does your review change based on the spiritual content of the book or is it solely based on technical or artistic merit? Have you ever had a negative experience with an author after giving them a negative review? (please don't name names)
Here are my thoughts:~

As you all know I receive many books from publishers and/or authors to review. It is a privilege and in most cases a fabulous experience. My blog only reviews books written from a Biblical world view (Christian fiction, if you like!). I strive in my life (not always with success!) to honour God and in my reviewing likewise. That being said, I am committed to providing an honest review which will include the things I enjoyed about the novel and also anything I felt detracted from the story.

I recently responded to a question put to me about reviewing and this is part of my response which is relevant to the question -

"If I don't have anything positive to say about a book I will not review it as my aim in reviewing is to encourage rather than damage. There have been numerous books over the last couple of years that I haven't written a review for because the book was not good at all, even ones from very well known authors!

What I look for is something that engages me, touches my heart, entertains or challenges me. I review the story rather than the technique. I also review for the genre a bit. So if the book is a fun and lighthearted read, I rate it compared to other light hearted reads - I don't mark it down because it doesn't have deep substance, if it is not designed to."

I have not had a negative response from any authors - they have been gracious to a fault and a number have even actively sought my constructive criticism. My experience has been that authors wish to improve their craft and are often open to what their readers think.

I welcome any thoughts on this topic you might have!

Saturday, 15 November 2008

A Gift with a Difference ~ Hands of Hope


Rel here:~ Tired of the consumerism out Western countries are trapped in? Think about giving a gift with a difference - that has meaning and will not sit at the back of a cupboard or be discarded!

Give the gift of life this Christmas

Hands of Hope, a charity of Women Helping Women A World Away, is announcing that their Holiday Gift Cards are available for purchase. These cards provide food, income and water for impoverished women and children in Zambia, Uganda, and Southern Sudan.


They can be purchased on the Hands of Hope website www.handsofhopeonline.org for $15.00, $30.00 and $50.00. Purchasing these cards will provide goats, chickens or wells to help change lives. What could be a more meaningful gift for holiday giving for family, friends, and customer appreciation?


Hands of Hope helps mobilize communities to respond to the needs of women and children around the world. With an ever-expanding support base in the Chicago area, Hands of Hope works to raise community awareness regarding poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa and its relevance globally. We are confident in the integrity of the channels we have established so that contributions provide the highest possible impact for the most critical needs.


A Chicken Card will purchase a gift of twelve chicks and be given to an impoverished family in Africa.


As the flock multiplies, a struggling family will be given the hope to survive. Your gift will help those in need for generations to come.


A Goat Card represents an actual goat being purchased for a needy family.


Beyond providing much needed milk, a few goats can quickly become a herd, providing sustenance and additional income that can make the difference between whether a child goes to school or not.



A Well Card will go toward funding a well in the Western Province of Zambia.


Statistics show that nearly half of all people in developing countries suffer from health related problems caused by unsafe water. In addition, African women and children spend several hours every day collecting water which is often miles away and may or may not be contaminated. This well will provide clean and safe drinking water and will go a long way to ease a heavy burden for hundreds of village people who struggle daily with basic physical needs.



Links: http://www.handsofhopeonline.org

The cards: http://www.handsofhopeonline.org/goat.asp

Purchase cards: http://www.handsofhopeonline.org/goat.asp#purchase

How HOH got their start: http://www.handsofhopeonline.org/history.asp

Current Projects: http://www.handsofhopeonline.org/ourwork.asp

Contact at Hands of Hope:

VickyWauterlek, Hands of Hope

VWAU@aol.com

847-381-7367

Friday, 14 November 2008

Getting to know Chris Coppernoll

Chris Coppernoll is the host of Soul2Soul Radio, an interviewer whose talks with people of faith are heard weekly in over 30 countries, an American novelist, and the author of four books. His most recent novel, A Beautiful Fall is available now from David C. Cook.

Chris writes with poignancy and emotion and his stories will touch your heart. Now read the interview and find out a little of the man behind the words!

Thanks Chris :)



Your first pet’s name?

Growing up, the first pet I remember was a cat named Beezy. It was an all white cat, slightly skittish of people, and growing up in a small house with 6 people, I can understand why. Today, we have two sister cats from the same litter named Lily and Bailey who are easy and relaxed animals. Someday I hope to live in the country and have lots of dogs.

Your best friend’s name in primary (elementary) school?


Briney


Did you have a special toy that went everywhere with you when you were young? Please describe.

Yes, when I was quite young I carried a small, dull brown mon
key with me on occasionally long trips. Once it fell in a lake, thrown by my brother, and forever afterwards smelled like a trout. There was nothing cool like Playstation in those days. I also had a box of sticks.

If you were stranded on a desert island what one object would y
ou want with you? (Besides your Bible)

What did
Tom Hanks find useful in that movie? I'd probably want an automatic coconut opener, preferably one that doesn't run on batteries. Or one of those thatch roof pedal cars Gilligan drove around his island. What other object? Fishing pole, pocket knife, wet suit and spear, 24 volume Encyclopedia Britannica? A satellite phone would come in handy, then again so would a boat.

What's yo
ur favourite ice cream flavour?

Vanilla. It reminds me to live a simple life.


What did you want to be when you grew up?

A Christian. It's the only thing I still want to be every morning when I wake up, and each evening when I go to bed. I have it by faith, but I want each decisio
n I make to be what a Christian is, even if I were the only one there was.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Australia! Honestly, that's the one land I'd love to spend a month in. Rain forest, desert, city life, country, outback––




Favourite book?


Bag of Bones by Stephen King. I'm not a fan of the g
enre, but the way he describes Mike Noonan's relationship with his deceased wife in the book was especially moving and has stuck with me for years.

Favourite movie?

Probably About a Boy with Hugh Grant. It's funny, and even though he's dishonest throughout most of the film, there's an honesty between the characters that intrigues and entertains me.

Heroes, Bones, Lost or The Brady Bunch?

24


Captain Jack Sparrow, Indiana Jones or Jason Bourne?


Jack Clayton (from Providence)


Baseball, basketball or gridiron? (I’d put cricket in there but don’t like my chances!)

America
n Football

Where's the most interesting place you have been?

I worked in untamed Montana one Summer after school let out. The crew I worked with hiked the mountain each day. Once we came upon a windy rock bowl in a great plain area. We each leaned over the edge of the bowl at such an angle you would normally fall, but with the wind blowing up, the pressure kept each of us from falling. It was a spectacular feeling.

Great Barrier Reef, Uluru (Ayers Rock) or Sydney Harbour Bridge?


Great Barrier Reef!

What's your most fervent prayer?


Lord, make me more like You.


What is your favourite Bible verse (or "one" of your favourites) and what does it mean to you?


"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

Besides God, who has influenced you the most?


That's an interesting question. Probably a woman I met in college (funny, it's always a woman, right?). She explained the Lord to me in both words and deeds. Her dad baptized me.


What's the brave
st thing you've ever done?

In light of what U.S. and Australian military personal do everyday, I'm no
t sure the word "bravery" applies. I think in every life though, people are put to the test often in very difficult circumstances. Our first instincts are toward self-preservation, and escaping those trials. But God sometimes asks us to stay where we are, even though it may feel like an impossible command. When we do as God asks us, we can safely say it's faith, and a small amount of bravery that we exercise in our simple act of obedience.

What was your most embarrassing moment in Junior High School?


My 7th talent show and my music teacher, Mrs. VanConnet, had to tune my guitar for me - while I was on stage with my rock band - just prior to performing in the big talent show in front of the entire school. I'm fortunate to be able to function at all.


A Beautiful Fall


Why love stories?


Everyone in th
e world wants to be loved, by God and at least one other person, and so do I. I try to write life stories, rather than love stories, because the two are so closely connected. It's transformational when a character in one of my books finds either kind of love. If my stories encourage a reader to seek after God, drawn by His Spirit, that's the ultimate transformation.

Describe each of your main characters with one word

Michael - sacrificial

Emma - blessed

Christina - brilliant

Bo - callused
Samantha - friend

Jim - grounded

Noel - servant


Many female readers may think there are no more men lik
e Michael around any more. What do you think?

I know lots of Michaels. That kind of man never seeks the spotlight, he's never the center of attention. He may be someone you'll unknowingly meet today, or someone you've already met. A Michael is any man who places the needs of another ahead of himself.

What do you hope readers take away from this story?


The message of A Beautiful Fall is so simple it's easily missed: Home. Home is the place where we belong, where people know and accept us. It's a larger id
ea than just a house with loved ones living in it. Home is as wide as a county, as deep as a lifetime, and as high as Heaven.

A Beautiful Fall is your second novel. What was easier/harder in the writing process than your debut story, Providence

Providence has 700 working parts that all had to be together to make the story snap open and shut for readers. A Beautiful Fall has 5 parts, and all I had to do was invite readers to slow down enough to enjoy that.


How does your faith impact your writing?


Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven as being like
yeast that permeates all the dough for making bread. I hope my faith has permeated all of me to such an extent that whether I'm writing, working, or with friends, it's something greater than me they see.

What is in your writing pipeline?


I'm writing my third novel. I've been working away at it for most of a year, and still have another two months to write before it has to be turned in. All I can say at this point is it centers on the premise of internet dating, but believe me, it won't stay there long.

Thanks Chris for sharing with us ~ it is so appreciated :) Looking forward to reading your next book!

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of A Beautiful Fall

Visit Chris' website

Buy Chris' books at Amazon or Koorong


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...