Fearless Friday - Meet Jill Richardson!

Jill Marie Richardson

 

 

Don't Forget to Pack the Kids:

Short-TermMissions for Your Whole Family

 

About Jill

Jill has been a high school teacher, pastor, editor, and writer, and the field is still wide open for future options. She writes in a variety of genres, having published hundreds of magazine articles, one novel, one book of plays, and two non-fiction books.

Currently, she is marketing a young adult novel involving one very unwilling heroine and her questionably legal friend. She is about to sign a contract for a teen devotional/youth group guide based on Tolkein characters. She is writing a book on her most-requested speaking topic, “How Come I Was So Nice before I Had Kids?”

Jill has a BA in English and Education from Washington University in St. Louis and an MDiv in theology from Bethel University, St. Paul. She speaks in Chicago and surrounding areas. She serves as Pastor of Discipleship at Resolution Church.

Connect with Jill

Facebook

Blog
Youtube

About the Book:
Think mission trips are only for teenagers and adults-no-kids? Think again. Do you long to: --See your kids understand other cultures and levels of privilege? --Help them realize they can be ministers at any age? --Inject compassion and generosity into your daily life and their future? --Do something meaningful for others now? Don't let fears that your kids are too young, you don't have the money or the time, or anything else stop you. Start planning that life-changing experience now! Detailed, step-by-step instructions to make it happen fill this book. Pack the kids--and go!


Buy the Book on Amazon

$8.00 paperback, $3.99 Kindle

ISBN-10: 0615581188

ISBN-13: 978-0615581187

 

What is your unique talent: Seriously, my talent is to see what people really need and relate my speaking to it in a way that communicates God's grace and applies. Not so seriously, it's to police grammar and to sing the really high notes in our theater productions.

Share something not many people know about you: I had to take weapons away from students when I student taught in a tough neighborhood. All 5'2” 115 pounds of me (back then).

Are you a “pet person” or prefer no pets? Um, would telling you we once had 23 animals in our house answer that question? We're now down to 3 cats and 2 tree frogs, however.

 

Would you rather travel or stay at home? I love to travel! I want to go everywhere, but right now most especially New Zealand, Tasmania, Iceland, Scotland, and the Galapagos Islands.

Do you read more or write more? I've read more recently, but they take turns.

Prefer cake or pie? Pie.

Would, or do, ride a motorcycle or prefer to ride/drive a car? A car. Too scared of motorcycles. Could be all the years my husband worked in the ER. Mostly, I'd prefer to be on a train or boat and let someone else do it.

Bus or taxi or walk? Walk.

Are you part of a big church congregation or a small church? Small. I serve in a church plant. It's the best experience ever.

Do you like to telephone people or prefer to use e-mail? I hate phone calls. Much rather email.

Are you happy or joyful? Joyful. I'm a pretty even keel person who doesn't show a ton of emotion. It's just in there deep. You won't see me jumping around much, but I'm very full of joy.

Do you eat at home or eat out? If I can avoid cooking, I will. But can't really afford that all the time!

Listen to music or prefer quiet? When working, I must have quiet.

Prefer sunrises or sunsets? I used to prefer sunsets, but I think I've changed my mind. Maybe it's just because I never used to get up early enough to see sunrises. There's something about the subtlety of a sunrise that is so peaceful, slow, and full of promise. Truly beautiful.

Fearless Friday! - Meet Kimberly Rae

Kimberly Rae
Author, Speaker, Former Brave Girl
www.stolenwoman.org www.stolenwoman.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/HumanTraffickingStolenWoman
https://twitter.com/KimberlyRae10

 

Kimberly Rae has lived in Bangladesh, Uganda, Kosovo and Indonesia. She has been published over 200 times and has work in 6 languages. Her Amazon bestselling Stolen Series on international human trafficking (see www.stolenwoman.org) has led to another series for younger teen girls. Kimberly is always contracted for a series on living with chronic health problems. Having returned to the US due to health problems, Rae now lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children.

 

ISBN-10: 1461068932

ISBN-13: 978-1461068938

Human Trafficking…Asha knew nothing about it before meeting 16-year-old Rani, stolen from her home and forced into prostitution in Kolkata, India. Asha must help this girl escape, but Mark, a third-generation missionary, keeps warning her away from the red-light district and its workers. Will she ever discover why? And will they ever stop their intense arguments long enough to admit their even more intense feelings for one another? When Asha sneaks out one last time in a desperate attempt to rescue her friend, someone follows her through the night. Is freedom possible? Or will she, too, become one of the stolen?

Available at amazon.com, kindle, www.stolenwoman.org

 

 

 

 

Your unique talent: I sing and play the piano, and I painted a huge mural of Thomas the Tank Engine on our basement wall for our kids. =)

Share something not many people know about you: I'm afraid of flying (which is ironic, seeing how God has sent me on 18-hour flights with no stops, and to 20 countries!).

Getting to Know You:

Are you a “pet person” or prefer no pets? No pets-I have asthma.

Would you rather travel or stay at home? Love to travel (at least I did before I got sick)

Do you read more or write more? These days I write more because with 2 young kids I don't have time to do both! But I used to definitely read more.

Prefer cake or pie? Cake--CHOCOLATE!!!

Would, or do, ride a motorcycle or prefer to ride/drive a car? Car. I rode the back of a motorcycle side-saddle once in Thailand. That was enough for me!

Bus or taxi or walk? Bus, unless it's a short walk.

Are you part of a big church congregation or a small church? Small church

Do you like to telephone people or prefer to use e-mail? Definitely e-mail.

Are you happy or joyful? I like to be both!

Do you eat at home or eat out? Both, but if I had more money, I'd eat out more. =)

Listen to music or prefer quiet? Music, definitely.

Prefer sunrises or sunsets? Sunsets

Fearless Friday! Meet Hallee Bridgeman

Hallee Bridgeman lives with her husband and their three children in small town Kentucky. When she's not writing Christian romance novels, she blogs about all things cooking and homemaking at Hallee the Homemaker.

Hallee started writing when her oldest child and only daughter was a baby, but a busy professional career and being the wife of a deployed soldier had her shelve her books for another time. Two more children, a cross country move, and God's perfect timing brought the books back to be dusted off and presented to you now.

Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit.

She prays her books are a blessing to you and would love to hear back from you.

Connect with Hallee:

Hallee Bridgeman
Sapphire Ice, Emerald Fire , Topaz Heat
Find Hallee's books:
Amazon,Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads
Find Hallee online:
Her Blog -- Facebook -- Twitter -- Google+-- Manic Readers

Purchase Sapphire Ice

ISBN: 9781452416526
Short description The men in Robin's life have never been anything but pushers and users. Tony's intrusion into her exhausted world both infuriates her and intrigues her. Does Tony have a chance to break through the wall of ice Robin built around her heart? Extended description To Robin Bartlett, men were nothing more than violentusers. After a hair-raising childhood, Robin and her two younger half sistersbattled simply to survive. Determined to give her sisters a very different lifefrom that of their mother; to never have to rely on a man for anything, sheworked two jobs and put them both through college, while accepting help from noone. Her heart had turned to ice and she had no use for men or God.Antonio “Tony” Viscolli had grown up on the streets, homeless. At seventeen, heentered a downtown church with the intent of casing it, but found himself onhis knees at the altar. After being fostered by the youth minister, Tonyfollowed God’s leading and eventually became a very successful and powerfulbusinessman. In a fallen world, he was a gem.When Tony bought the restaurant where Robin bartended, she immediately resentedhis intrusion into her well ordered, but exhausting, life. She suspected hisoffering her special attention and constant kindness was merely his way ofexpecting something from her in return, something she wasn’t willing to give.Tony knew God had led him to Robin. Would she ever allow herself to trust him?Could she ever allow herself to trust God? Or would the winter of their tragicyouth rise from the shadows of the past and freeze any chance at happiness?

 

Purchase Emerald Fire

ISBN: 9781452449715
Short description Beautiful and vivacious Maxine Bartlett finally finds a love that will release her from the prison of her terrifying past. But, will her new husband's mistrust of God stand in the way of their happily ever after?

Extended description A terrifying past imprisoned Maxine Bartlett all her adult life, shackling her with fear anytime a man even touched her.

In a spontaneous weekend, she unintentionally elopes with an unlikely groom. After a magical wedding night filled with love and passion, "Maxi" finally discards her dreadful chains.
She doesn't know that her new husband has turned his back on God. Worried over how the world might see the completely unexpected – and some would certainly say inappropriate – marriage, in his pride he promises Maxine a quiet annulment.

Unwilling to let their marriage disappear as if it never happened, Maxine refuses to cooperate. Seeking God's will, she moves in with him and informs him that when he decides to act like her husband again, he will find his loving wife waiting for him right there in their home. As the days stretch into weeks, the newlyweds slowly begin to trust and even love each other.

Then, just as they begin to live the "happily ever after" love story that neither of them ever dreamed could come true, a sudden and nightmarish catastrophe strikes that could wreck everything. Will her husband realize that he must trust God once more? Can he find peace and strength enough to carry them through the flames?

Purchase Topaz Heat

ISBN: 9781452471600
Short description From the moment Derrick meets Sarah he knows there is no one else for him. Derek is a poor tough street kid made into a billionaire's protégé and groomed for wealth and success. Sarah sees only an unshaven tough kid covered with tattoos. She shuts down every advance. A decade later, will Sarah finally set aside her prejudices and open her heart to true love?

Extended description: The very moment Derrick meets Sarah, he realizes he has a reason to live. Sarah sees only an unshaven tough kid covered with tattoos and shuts down every advance.

Sarah Thomas has no memory of her broken young life leading up to the tragic murder of her mother. Her memory begins the morning she wakes in the home of her loving adoptive parents. She doesn't even know her sisters exist until her 15th year. She learns to love her siblings, but always feels a little out of place in their presence.

A benevolent billionaire offers Derrick DiNunzio a home and an education. Fresh off the streets and rescued from a criminal future, Derrick sheds his old life. He trades his ripped leather jacket for silk suits; dealing drugs for mentoring "at risk" youth; lock picking and back door jobs for the rigors of mountain climbing and hotel management.

Sarah cannot seem to see beyond the past Derrick left behind … until one day she does. When they finally come together, an indictment threatens their future. Now the heat is on. Will Sarah finally set aside her prejudices and open her heart to true love or will the long forgotten past tear them apart forever?

Hallee, share your unique talent:

I can cook anything. Reading cookbooks is a way for me to relax. I cook whole, fresh foods from scratch -- so far from scratch that I actually grind my own wheat to make flour. If my family consumes it, chances are good that I made it -- from bread to pasta to yogurt.

Share something not many people know about you:

I know that I will eventually work in ministry in Africa. It calls to my heart. I don't ever talk about it, because when I do, I feel like I'm making excuses for not already doing it. I have always been drawn there, and will be ready to go when God says, "Go!"

                                                                                      Getting to Know You:

Are you a “pet person” or prefer no pets? I have a dog and a cat, but often think about how much simpler life would be if I didn't have them. My family loves them, though, so we will likely have one dog and one cat always.

Would you rather travel or stay at home? I LOVE to travel. I like being home and don't like having to leave to run errands and such, but a couple times a year, we travel.

Do you read more or write more? I haven't read a piece of fiction in years. Any reading time I have is used for reading homemaking books, cook books, or faith-based books about parenting, marriage, or life in general.

Prefer cake or pie? Yes. Heh.

Would, or do, ride a motorcycle or prefer to ride/drive a car? I prefer to drive a car.

Bus or taxi or walk? I will walk first. I don't mind long walks.

Are you part of a big church congregation or a small church? My church is moderately sized -- about 200 on Sunday mornings.

Do you like to telephone people or prefer to use e-mail? I do not like to talk on the telephone. I much prefer electronic correspondence. I did learn while my husband was in Afghanistan that I like video conferencing - it's much easier than talking on the phone to me. I look forward to the day that video conferencing replacing telephones as a norm.

Are you happy or joyful? Joyful.

Do you eat at home or eat out? Food is very much a focus to our family. We have educated ourselves about the benefits and/or danger of food and try to eat naturally and fresh. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of restaurants who cater to that kind of eating where I live. So, the default is to eat at home. But, going out is a treat, because preparing a meal is an involved process for me. We have a few restaurants we cater occasionally.

Listen to music or prefer quiet? Much prefer quiet.

Prefer sunrises or sunsets? Sunrises.

FEARLESS FRIDAY meet Sammie Chandler

Author Sammie Chandler leads off the parade of the John 316 Marketing Network Author introductions.
We hope you will enjoy getting to know our special members, make new friends and find new authors to love. While each spot will have a similiar framework, each author makes his or her spot unique.
One of our goals is NetWorking, so plug in and enjoy!

 

MEET AND GREET Samantha Ryan Chandler

 

The tale of Samantha Ryan Chandler's life is evocatively portrayed in her book: A Love Story, How God Pursued Me and Found Me. It tells of a life that is as disturbing and unsettling as it is uplifting and, in the end, gratifying. How "A girl from Nowhere, Louisiana" finds her way from such humble beginnings to live and walk amongst presidents and the supremely rich, only to find her trust and faith betrayed by those that she loved and trusted the most. She would be tested to the point where she began to doubt her own sanity and, at the moment of her greatest desperation and doubt, she was found by God and brought back from the brink of hopeless despair. Blessed with an almost unquenchable optimism and a unique sense of humor, she relates the story of a life that will speak to those who have encountered abuse, unfairness and anguish. Her love for her children and her faith in God carried her through a crucible of fire and in the end, made her a better, stronger person, ready to carry on with a life that is again filled with love, joy and laughter. A Love Story, How God Pursued Me and Found Me will both inspire you and touch your heart.

 

·         ISBN-10: 1615077588

·         ISBN-13: 978-1615077588

·         Kindle edition

·         Amazon Best Seller, 2012 National Indie Excellence Book Awards – finalist

·        Amazon.co (USA), Amazon.co.uk (UK), Barnes & Noble, Christian Books, and autographed copy from website. Book cover in attachment

 

Your unique talent

I have an optimism about life that defies logic for the circumstances I encounter. I also have an uncanny memory...almost photographic

 

Share something not many people know about you

Readers would not know this as I have an extremely silly side and find humor in strange places. I love to laugh and laugh hardily out loud somewhat like Julia Roberts, quite robust.

 

Describe your personality:

I am very much an extrovert. When I was a little girl growing up in Louisiana, my mom would worry all the time as I would go up to strangers at gas stations and chat them up. I have never met a stranger nor have difficulty speaking at length with people I don’t know. This is why I am invited to many parties to keep conversation going!

Are you a “pet person” or prefer no pets?

I have horses that are my passion to ride. I ride Arabians which are known in the horse world as unstable and very skittish. That possibly is the attraction. If something is easy to do, then I am not interested. I ride endurance which means many miles at a time, 20-30 miles. In the past, I kept a journal of each ride and amount of miles but stopped at 10,000 miles. At this date, I would venture to guess I have clocked 15,000 miles in the saddle.

 

Would you rather travel or stay at home?

I am a true “gypsy” having clocked over a million air miles with one airline. While on a trip, I am thinking ahead to the next one.

 

Do you read more or write more?

Since my book has been published, I have little time to read; but find myself writing a great deal. There is so much work after a book hits the market than simply writing it. I have written several articles for Southern Writers Magazine. I started my next book last fall and wrote about a months worth but have not looked at it since. Before I was an author, I read a great deal of the time.

 

Prefer cake or pie?

I prefer both!! My sweet tooth is the size of Alabama.

Would, or do, ride a motorcycle or prefer to ride/drive a car?

Neither, I prefer to ride my horse fast through the woods. I find motorcycles scary.

 

How about taking the bus or walking?

I love to walk. I started exercising everyday when I was 16 and it is a lifestyle choice. I have been known to climb stairs in buildings that have elevators. I did this once in heels going down 22 flights of stairs. My three girls were taught at an early age that “walking makes great legs”.

 

Are you part of a big church congregation or a small church?

I am a member of First Baptist in Atlanta with Dr. Charles Stanley as pastor. It is one of my greatest joys to have this as my church. I have learned not be quantified knowledge of scripture from Dr. Stanley. The church feels small but my guess is 10,000 members.

 

Would you describe yourself as happy or joyful?

I am very happy and also eternally optimistic.

 

Do you like to telephone people or prefer to use e-mail?

I prefer email. I feel at the end of the day that I have talked for hours on end.

 

Do you eat at home or eat out?

I love to cook and experiment. My favorite to make is bread and of course desserts. Growing up in Louisiana, eating is a sport.

 

Listen to music or prefer quiet?

I love to play the piano but do not listen to music very much. I just never seem to have enough quiet time.

 

Prefer sunrises or sunsets?

I could say both but let me break this down for the reader. If it is a sunrise, then an early command performance is at hand to be there in time awaking early. Having raised three girls, I have seen many a carpool sunrise. My answer now is sunsets.

 

Samantha Ryan Chandler
Amazon Best Selling Author
2012 National Indie Excellence Book Awards - Finalist

A Love Story...How God Pursued Me and Found Me..an Impossibly True Story