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Saturday, December 22, 2012

Shop 'Til You Drop, 40 FREE Kindle Books, After-Christmas Sale


I’m totally excited about the Shop ‘Til You Drop Books and More sale going on over at Body and Soul Publishing. Partly because my four Kindle books, Seventh Dimension – The Door, Children of Dreams, The Donkey and the King,  and How to Launch a Best-Selling Christian Book are all included in this free sale. Sale starts on December 26. I am one of forty authors participating, and the sale runs through December 28th, 2012. Readers can score over 40 FREE Christian books – AND one lucky reader will walk away with a $25 Amazon gift card.

Besides my books, bestselling authors such as Shelley Hitz, Staci Stallings, Heather Bixler, Krystal Kuehn, Marcia Laycock, William Burt, Amanda Stephan, Bob Saffrin, Grant Carroll, Carol Round, Martin Roth, Deborah H. Bateman, Roberto Ornan Roche, Carol Brown, Deborah McCarragher Pauline Creeden, Krystal Kuehn and Janet Perez Eckles are just a few of the names that readers will see on the books that are included in this sale. 

The books range from Christian romance to  fantasy novels, to international thrillers, to Bible study, to book marketing, and even children’s books. Readers can rack up savings of over of $140 on books during this sale. Make sure you check it out, especially if you received a new Kindle for Christmas at: 


While you’re there, don’t forget to enter to win the $25 gift card.

Friday, December 21, 2012

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?
 
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.


Monday, December 10, 2012

Book Launch of Journey to Terreldor, by Chris Hibbard



Enjoy the book trailer!




          I woke lying on my back and shivering. I saw rays of sunlight and patches of blue through pine boughs weighed down by snow. Though I was cold and stiff, I felt better than I had in days.

          Why am I outside? I remembered and my heart sank. It’s only a dream, I tried to convince myself. Yet that morning something seemed clearer, more real than the jumble of hallucinations and doubtful memories of the previous six days.

Focus, Mark, I told myself, focus on today. The past will sort itself out soon enough.

          I couldn't have been more wrong.

          Lying there, I heard the sounds of my older brother stirring. At least we’re together, I thought. My mind reeled as I again failed to sort out the foggy memories of the day before I’d found him.

Without warning, my mind latched onto a more recent memory. I lay back on a bed of pine needles and let my mind sink into the dream I’d had just before waking. I saw it so clearly, and yet I fought its sense of reality.

My brother David shook me gently, holding a cold hand over my mouth. I sputtered before I realized he meant to keep me quiet.

“Shhhh,” he whispered, removing his hand. “More trolls—they’re coming toward us.”

          Trolls?  My mind staggered as I fought growing panic. I held my breath and crawled on my knees to peer through prickly branches, trying not to disturb the snow weighing them down. I saw a nightmare’s collection of ghouls marching toward us—monsters too horrible to consider real, and yet too fearsome to ignore. They were eerily familiar, as if I recognized them from a dream. My breath caught in my chest as they approached.

None of them were shorter than a man, and some were much taller. Where their skin showed, I saw some were covered in splotches of green, and the others had skin in tones of mud and sand. They were shaped like men, but short, squattish men who had no business being so tall. Their jaws seemed to project from their skulls, and they gave me the unlikely impression their teeth were trying to escape from their lips. I could imagine them capable of nothing but violence.

          My panic didn’t last long. Before they took a dozen steps, they veered left and headed downhill, away from us. Still and breathless, my mind shouted silent wishes after them. Don’t hear me breathing. Don’t turn around.
         
“That was the second group,” David whispered. “I think they’re on patrol.”




          Chris M. Hibbard was born in the suburbs of New Jersey, the second of three brothers. His family soon moved to Alaska, where he grew up scrambling over the mountains and beaches of a remote village wedged between thickly wooded peaks and deep fjords. His childhood shaped in him an early love for family and the outdoors, and inspired such hobbies as wildlife photography, grafting fruit trees, and other horticulture.

          His first novel began as a collection of stories he invented to entertain his children. He, his wife and four children make their home in the Piney Woods of South Texas.

To see his other written works, visit http://Terreldor.net.



Make your own photo slideshow at Animoto.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Fearless Friday! Meet Kevin Smith

Meet Kevin Mark Smith, an evangelical criminal defense and family law attorney in Wichita, Kansas. Kevin graduated cum laude from Regent University School of Law in 1999 where he served as Issue Planning Editor for the Regent Law Review. He is a former Assistant District Attorney for Sedgwick County, Kansas. He has published several law journal articles and other nonfiction articles with publications such as The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

 
 
 
 
 
Broken: A story of hope and forgiveness
B008VTIC02
Find on Amazon
$2.99

 
Broken follows the lives of Robert Allen Baxter and family as they try to understand how God could allow an innocent young man to suffer at the hands of a criminal.
 Ps 34:18 “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
This Scripture is prevalent throughout the story as each of the family’s members as well as periphery characters discover their own brokenness and realize that such horrific circumstances often usher in God’s healing grace.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Get to know Kevin!
 
Your unique talent: Evangelical Criminal Defense and Family Law Attorney

Share something not many people know about you:
I like to hunt. Deer, birds, whatever. We are stewards of this earth and harvesting the fruits of it is required by God.

Are you a “pet person” or prefer no pets?
I love dogs, but my wife won't let me have one. Instead, we have a cat.

Would you rather travel or stay at home?
Home.

Do you read more or write more?
Lately I write more. However, reading is my second favorite leisure activity.

Prefer cake or pie?
Cake

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

Bus or taxi or walk?
Walk

Are you part of a big church congregation or a small church?
Small, The Family Church

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

Are you happy or joyful?
Joyful

Do you eat at home or eat out?
Out

Listen to music or prefer quiet?
Music, classical.

Prefer sunrises or sunsets? Sunsets.
I prefer to sleep through sunrises unless I'm in a deer stand.

 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

A Tribute to the Late Sandra McLeod Humphrey – The 26th Person Who Made a Difference






By Lorilyn Roberts 
Founder of the John 3:16 Marketing Network

This week has been a difficult one for the John 3:16 Marketing Network family. We lost one of our own, Sandra Humphrey, and her dear husband, Brian, who died in a tragic house fire. Sandra helped many authors in the network—through her heart-felt encouragement, her sacrificial involvement with all of us, as well as sharing her beautiful writing.

When Sandra applied to the John 3:16 Marketing Network, I went to her website, as I do with all prospective members. Her love for children struck me—the website colors were kid-friendly, and her encouraging messages to young people excited me that she wanted to join our group. Shortly afterwards, when she discovered I was a homeschooling mom, she sent me a copy of her book, They Stood ALONE, 25 Men and Women WHO MADE a DIFFERENCE.

When the book arrived, I found the following words Sandra penned to my two daughters on the front page: “To Manisha Hope and Joylin, May you always follow your hearts and never give up your dreams! With Much Love, Sandra McLeod Humphrey.” 

Another time I posted a blog about a member of the network, Melissa Main, who had just returned from a mission’s trip to an orphanage in Mexico. I shared a little about the international adoption of my two daughters who were also orphans, http://lorilynroberts.blogspot.com/2012/08/they-will-know-we-are-christians-by-our.html

Sandra commented on the piece that she and her husband had adopted a five-year-old little Korean girl many years ago, after “she had been found wandering the streets chewing on stones when someone from the orphanage found her.”

More recently, I just released a YA novel, Seventh Dimension – The Door, and someone emailed me that I should see if Sandy would write a review for me. I contacted Sandy and she responded she would be more than happy to. I added her name to my “to do” list to send her a copy of my book. Before I had a chance, Sandra bought my book and posted a beautiful review on Amazon—just a few days before the tragic accident—and then emailed me that Amazon sent her a note that someone found her review helpful. 

As busy as she was, she always had time to do the small things that made you feel like you mattered to her, that she cared about you. Little did I know, three days later she wouldn’t be with us any longer.

Tears fill my eyes as I think about how much her family must be grieving at their tragic loss, especially the day after Thanksgiving and right before Christmas. How great must be their sorrow, as well as all of those whose lives she and her husband touched. The newspaper article made numerous references to Sandy and her husband’s unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, their love of family, their commitment to church, and their outreach into the community – even helping the animals at the local humane society.

Because we are a closed group to the public, I wanted to share a few comments by others in the John 3:16 Marketing Network and what she meant to them—what she meant to so many authors.

Please read the comments below and be blessed! If you would like to do something in memory of Sandy and Brian Humphrey, the family has asked that memorials be sent to the local human society en lieu of flowers: Hennepin County Animal Humane Society. Gearty-Delmore 763-553-1411

***

I am so shocked and sad to hear this. Sandra became a friend who helped me above and beyond with my launch. She was kind and caring. She pulled back after her launch to make preparations to downsize and move house. This is tragic.
Rich will be her reward for their tender loving hearts. 
Yvonne Pat 


Oh my! how tragic. My prayers and condolences to the family. This is a tough one. May the God of all comfort, be with [the family] at this difficult time. 
Valerie Knowles


I am in shock. I follow Sandra and received all her Facebook updates with regard to her love of animals so I was stunned to read here that she had passed away. I just went to the Mpls. Star Tribune and found this article. http://www.startribune.com/local/west/180687261.html
This is surreal. I had no idea Sandra lived about seven miles from me. She lived in Minnetonka and I live just a couple miles from Minnetonka.
Julie Saffrin 


What a wonderful lovely tribute. God bless this family. I will pray. 
Rose Johnson 


This is shocking, sad and a reminder of how we should all live our lives. What a legacy!! 
Carol Round


My heart is broken. Sandy reached out to me as I am still a newbie to this group. She read my blog posts, commented and encouraged me. I helped with her last launch, and to be perfectly honest, I was concerned when I did not hear anything at all from her during my launch. Not that she had to reciprocate, but I just knew that she would have encouraged me in some way. I write this with a much-saddened heart. My prayers are with the family and as difficult a pill as this is to swallow, I know they are at peace. 
D. Washington Jones
  

My heart goes out to the family of this wonderful couple. Their sudden death will leave a large hole in their [family’s] lives.
Barbara Ann Derksen

  
I worked last night so I'm just now responding to this tragic news. I am a bit overwhelmed with this news of Sandy and her husband. A young man that my family knows recently died in a terrible accident. He also was a wonderful, dedicated Christian husband and father. These are such abrupt reminders of the frailty of life and that God holds the numbers of our days in His hands.

As I stare at Sandy's book that I recently purchased, I'm reflecting on the subtitle: "25 Men and women Who Made a Difference." There should be a chapter in that book for Sandy herself as she has made such a difference in so many lives. I will miss her and be in prayer for her family. 
Elaine Cooper

  
My prayers go out to her family. So sad. Life is so fragile. 
Paulette Harper


Holding the family close in heartfelt prayer and love...No words for such tragedy. 
Elizabeth Chalker


I never knew Sandy, or had the chance to talk with her. But, my heart breaks for her family. I lost both of my parents several years back so I can relate to her children, and I know exactly how they are feeling dealing with the sudden deaths of their parents…please let me know if there is anything I can do. I would love to send out as many copies of my book to the family - however many they need. Please just let me know. 
With a heavy heart, 
Jessica Zondervan


Oh my goodness, how tragic!
I so enjoyed Sandra, and as someone else mentioned earlier, she was a great encourager.
She will be missed terribly.
Praying for the family - as well as the John 3:16 Family - for the loss of a great friend.
Amanda Stephan


What a great loss for the Humphrey family and all who knew this precious couple. We mourn with you and pray God's boundless peace and comfort over you all. What a beautiful tribute to two parents who modeled Christ with their actions, words, and giving of themselves. They leave behind such a powerful legacy and precious memories for all who knew and loved them. May God multiply their outreach - even from their heavenly abode and touch many lives for Him. 
Our prayers and condolences are offered to their children and grandchildren with greatest sincerity and sadness... 
Deborah McCarragher


Friends,
Knowing the shock of losing a loved one suddenly and tragically, I know how meaningful it was for folks to write of their experiences with my son.
They really warmed my heart.
An idea: How about those of us who had encounters with sweet Sandy, jot what those were and mail them to the family/children?
She was such a beautiful encourager and from heaven, she might want that to continue.
I tried to navigate to catch the details of the article, but cannot. Sigh! So I wasn’t able to find the address or details.
Can someone be an angel and send me the address? I’ll be sending the family my book as well. But I will wait a little while until the shock subsides.
Janet Eckles


Sandra was a good sister and friend of mine, always with her support through the emails that I received from her, sharing and posting my promotions. I was [a] partner in her last book launch promotion. I'm very sad, but my bad English doesn't reach to express it.
We request that the Lord accompany their family in all [ways].
Roberto, Cuba



This is so devastating! Sandra helped me recently with my book launch. She was such a lovely lady. How do we contact her children?
Laura J. Davis


So sad! Our hearts and prayers go out to the family.
Krystal Kuehn


So sad. My prayers are with the family. I am truly inspired to give more. Thankful to the family for sharing their story.
Heather Bixler


I'm so saddened to hear about this. What terrible timing to have this happen right before the holidays. Praying for the family to be comforted. It's at least comforting to know that Sandy and Brian will be spending their holiday in the presence of the One whom they faithfully served. 
Marlayne Giron


When my new blog at Broken Psalms launched, Sandy was quick to post an encouraging comment. I appreciated the love in her heart that came through in every email message she sent me. 
Alice J. Wisler

I was shocked and so sad to hear about Sandy and her husband's tragic passing. Sandy was also giving and helping promote others above herself. A great example to us all!
Shelley Hitz

I was so sorry to hear about Sandra. We were working on a project together and she was such an encourager to me. She will be sorely missed in this world. 
Debbie Malone


I didn’t meet Sandra in person, but we developed a friendship through email. She was a supportive person. I didn’t know how strong of a connection we had until I heard of her death. It hit me hard. One side of me was extremely sad, but the other side was rejoicing knowing she was in heaven. 
Tom Blubaugh



I knew Sandy through the John 3:16 Network, and was sad that her suggestion "I've been thinking it would be cool to share a blog with several other authors who write character education kinds of books for kids--is this something you might be interested in?" was never realized. I only knew her though our correspondence, but I considered her a friend, and am keeping both of them in my prayers. My condolences to the family...
Sherrill S. Cannon



  So sorry for the shock of the loss of both of your parents. You all are in my prayers as you both grieve and give thanks for the wonderful legacy they have left you. I had only begun to get to know Sandra through the John 316 Network. I appreciated and share her passion for the children. I’m praying the Lord strengthen you in your inner being and comfort you and walk with you through the grief. 
Blessings, Carol Brown


***





God gained two amazing saints when He brought Sandy and Brian Humphrey home to glory – riding on the wings of an angel. I can’t wait to meet this couple in heaven. They bask now in the presence of Jesus—and I pray we all remember the great love Sandy shared with everyone. May we follow her Godly example. Sandy wrote the book They Stood Alone! 25 Men and Women WHO MADE a DIFFERENCE, and I declare Sandy the 26th person WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE.


Believers Who Have Died
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.