CrossReads Book Blast: Carlene Havel's "Here Today Gone Tomorrow"

Here Today Gone Tomorrow

By Carlene Havel

About the Book

Disappointed, dumped, divorced. Everything Casey Slaughter counted on is gone. While contemporaries start their families, Casey works two jobs to haul herself out of debt. Friends and family recommend a new husband to solve all her problems, but Casey resists their well-intentioned advice. Although she longs for a soul mate, the last thing her flattened self-esteem needs is more rejection—and comparisons to her beautiful, talented older sister do nothing to enhance Casey’s confidence. Unable to have children, she feels she has nothing to offer in marriage. Will bitterness and insecurity destroy her, or can renewed faith in God provide some measure of comfort for this wounded heart? Can Casey ever find love again, or will a string of disasters keep her forever on the run?

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  Carlene Havel has lived in numerous US states, the Philippines, and Turkey. Like most writers, Carlene has always loved to read, and her taste is eclectic. Her other hobbies include sewing, knitting, crochet and embroidery. She especially enjoys Bible study, normally devoting one day each week delving into the scriptures with a small focus group. The Havels make their home in San Antonio, Texas, in the midst of a big, extended family.

Follow Carlene Havel

 

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Crossreads Blast! Unembraceable

TITLE:  CrossReads Book Blast: UnEmbraceable by Precarious Yates



Title: UnEmbraceable
By: Precarious Yates

About the Book

From the author of "Revelation Special Ops" comes a terrifying, hauntingly real and daringly hopeful tale of betrayal and love.
Leonard, a computer programmer, has a unique gift: by words alone he can calm violent situations. Which is helpful with all these kids running around the streets behaving like zombies. He has his own set of sorrows to face, but he's prepared for anything. Anything except Tamar, and the thunderous inkling that she will be his wife. This doesn't make any sense to Leonard. She stole his wallet. And his heart.

Painful circumstances ripped family and stability from Tamar's grasp, but with gutsy tenacity she faces life head on. Meeting the gorgeous and single Leonard changes everything. But surely a guy like him would never fall for a girl of the streets like her.


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Precarious Yates

Precarious Yates lives in Texas with husband, daughter, sheep, dogs, chickens, rabbit, lizard and by the time you read this some other exotic creature her husband or daughter has brought home. She had studied the plight of and worked toward the abolition of modern slavery for over a decade before sitting down to write Revelation Special Ops. She was further inspired by the work of her sister-in-law, who helped to found Love146, an organization that works to raise awareness about human trafficking and builds safe homes in vulnerable regions. Yates spent several years overseas as a missionary in Ireland, and also did missions work in India and the Philippines. Her passion for literature has become her means of further educating young adults of the realities of modern slavery, while producing hope through the power of Christ Jesus in us.


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We would like to send out a special THANK YOU to all of the CrossReads book blast bloggers!

Rose Chandler Johnson - God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea

Meet Rose Chandler Johnson, author of God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea, published July 11, 2013.

 Her devotions, poems, and articles have appeared in numerous Christian publications. She enjoys writing for her popular blog, Write Moments with God, and engaging with her readers.  Rose is from a small Georgia town, and has lived in Martinez, GA for the last twenty-eight years.  She has been a French and English teacher for the last twenty years.  Rose enjoys baking, gardening, and spending time with her six children and their families.

I recently asked her to give me some insight into her new devotional book

Is there a story behind your book God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea?

 I was reading some of my old journals recently and I came across an entry from 1979.  It was a prayer in which I told the Lord I wanted to write a book that was relevant and encouraging and that would “point others to the heart of God”. I believe that the Lord gave me that desire and that God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea is a realization of that desire, even though I wasn’t  thinking of that consciously when I wrote it.

How did you decide to write your devotional?
When I decided to make Jesus the Lord of my life, in 1977, I starting reading a devotional every morning.  It was just what I needed to help me focus and structure my time. I’ve incorporated devotional reading in my quiet times with God for decades. I think most people could benefit from that format.  So, I think that comes back to my desire to be relevant and encouraging.

 

Sweet Tea invokes the idea of the South in the summer. Does that play a part in your devotional?

I love sweet iced tea. I feel like I can’t do without it.  I literary drink a pitcher a day.  In the South, nothing is more refreshing than a glass of sweet iced tea, except experiencing God in those small, everyday moments.  So, when my publisher asked for a title that had some of my Southern personality, I said God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea.  The “sweet iced tea” says it’s personal, relevant, and refreshing.

What is your favorite verse? What makes it special to you?

I’ve always loved the 17^th Chapter of John.  It’s Jesus’ prayer to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion.  It’s so special because He prays for those of us who believe in Him.  The very cry of His heart is recorded there for us.  John 17: 21 is my favorite verse.

What other books have you written? Do you have anything else in the works?

God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea is my first book.  I’ve written poems, articles, and other devotions which have appeared in print, but this is my first book.

Share the links to your book and to your social media.

God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea:  Experiencing God in the Midst of Everyday Moments. A devotional journey. Published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas [ISBN 978-1-938499-86-9]

Available from Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/God-Sweet-Iced-Tea-Experiencing/dp/1938499867/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371496155&sr=8-1&keywords=Rose+Chandler+Johnson

Available in print from Barnes & Noble.com

Blog: Write Moments with God.  http://www.writemomentswithgod.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rechanjo

Pinterest:   http://pinterest.com/rosecjohnson/boards/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rose.c.johnson

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/18188725-rose-chandler-johnson

Becoming Grandma!

(Posted on Geezer Guys and Gals on July 24, 2013, but wanted to share it here too.)

In one month, I will become a GRANDMA! We are so excited to see this baby's arrival.

I have two sons and four nephews. My husband is one of three sons. His father, one of 2 sons. The Tatums have only had sons since the Civil War (my husband's cousin Susan was a rare exception). However, in the current generation one of my nephews has three GIRLS. AMAZING! So when my youngest and his wife announced their pregnancy, we all wondered if the girls would continue.

When each of my sons was born, my mother-in-law would say, "What else?" I loved my sons, don't get me wrong, but I so wanted a girl to sew for. I did sew for my sons, but it's not quite as thrilling. Part of me also wanted to prove that having a girl in this family was possible. So when my first great niece was born, I was thrilled. When the second great niece was born, I knitted them each a purple sweater. When the third was born, I was simply delighted with such a beautiful family of girls.

What does this "Becoming Grandma" mean to me? Both my sons and daughters-in-law have been trying to conceive. Our youngest and his wife miscarried in October before this pregnancy came to be. My oldest son and daughter-in-law are walking the path of infertility. So some of "becoming a grandma" has involved grief for the child lost and for the child so greatly desired. There's also grief for the strain in relationship between my sons as "having a baby" has overshadowed both their lives. As only a bystander in this process of conception, becoming grandma is joy at what is to come and the hope for a child yet unrealized.

When it came time to peek into the womb, we were anxious to know the sex of the child. The sonogram answered our questions: It's a boy! Of course, we would have been thrilled with either a boy or a girl, but I found a strange excitement mixed with calm about having another little boy.

Yes, I have knitted a baby blanket in a color combination called grape jam. That purply color seems all too appropriate for a toddler dragging it behind him.

Many friends extol the joys of grandparenthood with wallets of pictures, with pins & tee shirts proclaiming grandparent status, and with a myriad of stories of the cutest things their grandchildren have done. I happily await that day when this boychild is gathered into my arms. I know I will feel the thankfulness, pride, and joy of his parents, but I also anticipate the warmth of this baby and the inexplicable deja vu of holding my own sons. The memories from the past will flood back to being a mom, dedicating them to God, watching them learn so many things including the stories of Jesus, and helping them navigate education, marriage, and adulthood.

I'll also have the privilege of looking into his face and seeing the future.

Mary E. Hanks Book Blast!

TITLE: Book Blast: Winter's Past by Mary E Hanks 6/11/13 - $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!
Winter's Past (2nd Chance Series) By Mary E Hanks

About the Book:

Ty wants to make things right. Winter can’t forget their past. Winter Cowan is scheduled to speak in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. A city she’s avoided for ten years because of Ty Williams, her ex-husband. But what are the chances of Ty showing up in church? And didn’t she already forgive him? Even though he broke her heart and ruined their short, six-month marriage? She had to forgive him to go on with her life. To preach the gospel. To share God’s love across the nation. Then, like a tidal wave, the word "Forgive" crashes over the worn sands of her past. Winter realizes her heart does still rip a little each time she remembers what Ty did to their marriage. To her. And just as she feared, Ty shows up at the meetings in Coeur d'Alene. Only this man is someone she wouldn’t recognize if she saw him on the street. He’s older, sure, but he’s…different. Radically changed from the guy she once knew, he stands before her in a prayer line, crying—crying!—and humbly asks her forgiveness. This man who broke her heart, betrayed her, is now gut-wrenchingly sincere in his apology, prays for her like a long-lost friend, tenderly reaches into the forgotten places of her heart, and he has a request. One unbelievable request that could change everything...

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  Mary E Hanks Mary E Hanks is an author of 2nd chance stories and a playwright/director for youth theater. When she's not writing novels, she's usually working on a play. She loves encouraging young people to share their talents, and an added bonus is getting to "see" her words brought to life onstage. At present, she's directing her 24th production. Mary served as a pastor’s wife in Alaska and also worked in Christian education for many years. She and Jason have been married for 37 years and have raised four children. They now live in the country near Blanchard, Idaho, a place where deer and wild turkeys play in their front yard. A romantic at heart, Mary believes we all need a 2nd chance sometime.
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For Teachers Who Care for America's Children

When I taught middle school, we did the iconic tornado drills regularly. Always one student asked me, "Mrs. Tatum, why don't you have to 'tuck and duck' against the wall with the rest of us?" My response was always the same, "My job is to give my life for you." All of my students were amazed by my response. They'd say things like, "You're supposed to die?" I'd say, "If necessary, yes."

In watching the Oklahoma tornado coverage, story after story concerns teachers who saved the lives of the children by their quick thinking and self-sacrifice. The Sandy Hook Elementary teachers did the same when the unthinkable occurred. Six teachers died preserving the lives of students.

Teachers practice drills for fire, tornado, shooters, and more. They talk about how best to protect children. While teachers are under fire concerning standardized testing, teachers have also taken on the most difficult job - not only teaching, but loving, protecting, reassuring, feeding, clothing, and looking out for our nation's children.

Teachers are not paid what they are worth to our society, partly due to the fact that teachers don't go into teaching to make money. Yes, they want to make a living doing something worthwhile. But they are all there to care for kids. The ones with no home, ones who are abused, ones who have parents in jail, hospital, or gone, and ones who may have every material comfort but no adult who cares for their emotional well-being. Teachers take the hands of children, some unlovable, hug and comfort children, some lacking good hygiene, and yes even teach them to punctuate sentences and work mathematical problems, even though some face serious learning disabilities.

I grew up in St. Louis County and experienced my share of tornadoes. I never said, "My job is to die for you, if necessary" lightly. Rather, I knew that God had called me and my fellow teachers to stand in the gap for my students, day in and day out, in whatever drama the day may hold. Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13 NIV) Teachers emulate the love of Christ everyday with their children.

Author Interview: Richard Blackaby

Welcome to Christian Author Interviews. Enjoy our interview with Richard Blackaby in this episode. Listen in via the video or audio and share your thoughts in the comments. Don't forget to enter the giveaway below and share this interview with your friends!

Listen to the audio here:

About Richard Blackaby

Dr. Richard Blackaby is the president of Blackaby Ministries International where he works with his father Henry and brother Tom. He is an author and a popular international speaker. Richard is married to Lisa and they have three amazing children: Mike, Daniel, and Carrie. Richard has a Ph.D. in history. He loves reading biographies and hockey. He works with leaders in the home, church, and business community, helping them develop their leadership to higher levels. Richard also co-authored the revision of "Experiencing God" and speaks often in churches and to Christian organizations.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway Christian Author Interviews is hosted by Shelley Hitz of Crossreads and Body and Soul Publishing. We would like to send out a special THANK YOU to all of the CrossReads bloggers!