Winner Announcement!



The winner of the drawing from last week's fiction Friday is Lynn!

There's a new giveaway just about every time I host an author here on the blog, which means almost weekly. And you'll only find posts about authors and books that will appeal to you, Christian women of faith. The rules to enter a giveaway are ridiculously simple: Just leave a comment after the post (include a way to contact you, such as your email) and that's it!

What Did Lynn Win?
Last week's giveaway was a surprise package. After I hear that Lynn has received it, I'll post the contents. I've decided to do a surprise package every now and then, so that instead of winning just one book, it'll be a couple of them, and some add-ins that are either pretty, fun, tasty, or all of the above!

Don't forget to tune in this coming Friday, when I'll be hosting Carrie Turansky with her new release, A Man To Trust.

Beautiful Life Wednesday:
(What's Beautiful About Abortion?)




Why post about abortion on "Beautiful Life Wednesday" here at Woman of Faith? I do it because abortion is a thing that prevents millions of people from having a beautiful life each year.

Abortion ends life, period. There is absolutely nothing beautiful about it. But until we stop sanctioning it with our laws or otherwise turning a blind eye, I am compelled to address the issue.

Jesus said he came to "give LIFE; and that more abundantly."
Abortion is death--the absolute opposite of what God came to earth to give us.

I'd like to share the thoughts of a greater thinker than I, today. Someone who gave his life for what he believed.The following is from "Bonhoeffer on Abortion," a post I saw on John Piper's blog, "Desiring God".

Bonhoeffer’s clear and strong views on abortion (are)..decisive on the immorality of it, and pastorally compassionate toward the persons in crisis.

Destruction of the embryo in the mother’s womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed upon this nascent life. To raise the question whether we are here concerned already with a human being or not is merely to confuse the issue. The simple fact is that God certainly intended to create a human being and that this nascent human being has been deliberately deprived of his life. And this is nothing but murder.

A great many different motives may lead to an action of this kind; indeed in cases where it is an act of despair, performed in circumstances of extreme human or economic destitution and misery, the guilt may often lie rather with the community than with the individual. Precisely in this connection money may conceal many a wanton deed, while the poor man’s more reluctant lapse may far more easily be disclosed.

All these considerations must no doubt have a quite decisive influence on our personal and pastoral attitude towards the person concerned, but they cannot in any way alter the fact of murder. (Quoted in Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer, 472, paragraphing added)

________


I pray these words speak to your heart as God intends.
As Christians, we don't hate women who feel compelled to end the life of their baby.
We just pray for life. Period.

Two decades ago I started a book with the theme of a teenager in crisis due to an unwanted, unexpected pregnancy. My writing took other directions, but if the Lord gives me the chance, I'll finish that book someday. I pray rather, He helps our country end the legalization of this bloodshed so that girls like the heroine of the story won't have to face such awful choices. Those like her would still have to face the consequences of their actions, but like so many before them, they'd likely discover that the "unwanted pregnancy" is a gift in disguise: a beautiful life!

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
website www.LinoreBurkard.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LinoreRose
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorNewsfromLinore/

Woman of Faith Hosts Child of Faith!


This little girl's joy is infectious.So glad her parents caught this on tape!
It's only about a minute and a half long, but it will bless your day--guaranteed!
(Like Friday's short vid., this is hosted on a private website, HopeFaithLove.com, so no YouTube ads or sidebars.)

What more can I say? ENJOY!
Click Here

Oh--be sure to listen for how she says "Hallelujah."
Precious!

Warmest blessings,

Linore
website: www.LinoreBurkard.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LinoreRose
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorNewsfromLinore/

Take Five for this Celtic Woman--Roma Downey's--"Irish Blessing"






This beautiful little masterpiece of pictures and music, with narration by Roma Downey is one of the most worthwhile "view this" emails I've ever received. It's better than a "YouTube" video because it comes with no obnoxious ads or distracting side bars. Furthermore, it's a blessing to both eye and spirit!

Special thanks to my reader-turned-friend Lois for sending it to me (It's beautiful, Lois, just as you said--thank you!) which I now take great pleasure in sharing with you.

Take five from your hectic life and prepare to de-stress.
Be sure to have your sound/speakers on.



I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Once again, click here and be blessed!

Until next time,

Linore
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SARAI: by Jill Eileen Smith


Fiction Monday!



I usually do "Fiction Fridays" here on WOMAN OF FAITH, highlighting great Christian fiction or books that are at least family friendly, but I fell behind last week, so welcome to Fiction Monday! My guest today is author Jill Eileen Smith, here to talk about her new release, SARAI. (Isn't it a beautiful book?)

Hi, Jill. Please tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into writing.

I’m wife to Randy (best husband ever!), mom to three wonderful adult sons, servant to two sweet but sometimes demanding kitties...aspiring Bible scholar, amateur historian, musician, and above all- a disciple of Jesus Christ. When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading for pleasure, bike rides to the park, and getting coffee with friends.

My writing journey began in my teens with some sappy poetry, which didn’t go very far. In my early adulthood, I set writing aside and tried my hand at every handicraft that interested me, but nothing ignited my passion. A Bible study on King David led to the desire to read a novel on his life. When I couldn’t find one that satisfied, I sat down to write the book I wanted to read. My artistic passion was born. Twenty years of learning the craft and many trials later, The Wives of King David saw print.


Congratulations on that! You got great reviews. Tell us about your latest release.

Sarai, book one in the Wives of the Patriarchs series is the story of Sarah and Abraham. Here’s the back-cover copy:

He promised her his heart. She promised him a son. But how long must they wait?

When Abram finally requests the hand of his beautiful half sister Sarai, she asks one thing—that he promise never to take another wife as long as she lives. Even Sarai’s father thinks the demand is restrictive and agrees to the union only if she makes a promise in return—to give Abram a son and heir. Certain she can easily do that, Sarai agrees.

But as the years stretch on and Sarai’s womb remains empty, she becomes desperate to fulfill her end of the bargain, lest Abram decide that he will not fulfill his. To what lengths will Sarai go in her quest to bear a son? And how long will Abram’s patience last?


I admire that you go so far into the past to find your stories. Did you have any experiences that prompted your love of biblical fiction?

When I was in my teens, I read Two From Galilee by Marjorie Holmes. It was a love story of Joseph and Mary, which brought the biblical story to life for me. I closed that book and thought, “These people were real!” The Bible became a living, breathing book to me and its characters people I wanted to get to know.


How long does it take you to write a novel?

I start with research into the biblical account of the story. Then I pour over books on culture, geography, history, and the life and times of each era. I study maps and calculate ages and distances traveled. One little word in the biblical account can lead to a day of research. I’ve studied everything from the history of silk to how long sheep carry their young. As I write, the need to describe things can make me ask questions like, “How do you climb a date palm tree?” Since I don’t have one in my backyard, YouTube videos are the next best thing!

Research takes at least a month or more, and I continue to research throughout the months of writing. This includes making an idea board with pictures of my characters, writing character sketches, and paragraph summarizing of the story. The book goes through at least three or four rewrites, is read by one or two critique partners, and is read aloud by me to listen for rhythm before I finally turn it into my editor.

It is very important to me that I get the biblical part of the story as close to the Scriptures as possible, so I take care to not rush into an opinion on how things might have been without study and prayer.


You sound very diligent. Where is your favorite place to write? Do you have a designated office space?

I love my laptop and a Lazy-Boy recliner, which is where I do most of my writing. I have a desk that is ergonomically better than the recliner, but I don’t use it as often. My office is a converted wet bar off our family room.


Love that! Can you share some of the fictional qualities you chose to give Sarai and why you chose to portray her this way?

I see Sarai as a woman whose desire for a child overshadows her faith. While Sarai does believe in Abram’s God, she has not met Him face to face. Her servant Hagar has that privilege years before it comes to Sarai, who has not personally heard His voice nor the promises that He has given to Abram. While she is normally a strong woman, in this one thing that she cannot control, she wavers.

This lack of trust in the promise that God will indeed give Abram a son and heir, leads her to do some things she would not normally do if she weren’t so tempted and so desperate. In more than one instance her lack of trust leaves her with deep regrets.

While I cannot know whether Sarai did some of the things I portrayed her as doing, I did so to show the greater grace of God. Sarah, like each one of us, was born in sin and needed forgiveness and redemption. I attempted to think as she might have thought in the culture of her day, faced with the idolatrous practices of those around her. Not everyone in Abram’s camp believed as Abram did. As is true for us today, each one of us must choose. Sarai was no different.

You've certainly made me curious to read the book. Do you have a life verse or a mission statement that guides your writing?

I do: “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.” Psalm 115:1 NKJV

“I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another ...” Isaiah 42:8a ESV


What’s coming next? Can we have a preview?

Rebekah, book two in the Wives of the Patriarchs will release next year. This book could end up being one of my favorites, but it was by far the hardest book I’ve ever written. In the end, I saw Isaac and Rebekah in a whole new light. I can’t wait to share the discovery with readers!

Thank you, Jill. Your books sound delicious!
Take a closer look at the book on Amazon Amazon

Or purchase a copy at CBD

Or at Barnes and Noble.

About Jill:
Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling author of Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, all part of the the Wives of King David series. Her research into the lives of David's wives has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Bathsheba was named Top Pick 4 1/2 stars from RT Book Reviews for March 2011, and the book received a starred review from Booklist which means "Outstanding in its genre."

GIVEAWAY ALERT!
Do you plan on reading Sarai?. Let me know in a comment and I'll choose one commenter to win a (surprise) package! Hint: Guaranteed to please any reader of Christian fiction.
Warmest Blessings,

Linore
website: www.LinoreBurkard.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LinoreRose
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorNewsfromLinore/

Regency Recipe–Wild Goose Chase



[I'm a contributing writer to the Regency Reflections Blog, and this is an article I recently posted there. Thought I'd share it with you too. Enjoy!]

To write an historical romance, it sometimes is necessary to feed your characters (can’t let them starve now, can we?), which means researching food from the time period is just as important as other aspects of research.

While researching for my regency Christmas ebook, I discovered that transposing period recipes from Georgian or Regency cookbooks is a challenge.

Read the rest of the article...

Click through the link above to get the recipe, too!
Happy Weekend,

Linore
website: www.LinoreBurkard.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LinoreRose
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorNewsfromLinore/
Sign up for my free monthly ezine--I give free books every month!


Being Able to Say “NO” ~ Your Life Might Just Depend on It


With Life Coach Deborah Luxton

Truth for Life's Journey ~ "...know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Linore: Deborah Luxton, certified Christian Life & Leadership Coach, is with us today. Thanks for stopping by Woman of Faith, Deborah! Tell us a little about the teleconferences you've been bringing to women.

Deborah: Many people have a hard time establishing boundaries or they find it hard to maintain them. If you fall into one of these areas or you would like to have some additional considerations for boundaries in your life, my teleconference is for you.

I've been on both sides of the fence when it comes to establishing boundaries or needing to maintain them. I'll tell you about my struggles and out of control life before learning how to control the chaos. I also share how I made a complete turn-around in my life, and I teach how you can do the same by implementing and keeping boundaries.

In my FREE, 1 hour Teleconference, you will learn ~
• What healthy boundaries are
• How your words impact your boundaries
• Things to have in place when implementing boundaries
• How to stick to your boundaries
• How to get additional help with boundaries

BONUS for those in attendance ~
• You will receive a free handout on boundaries
• You will have time to get your questions answered on the call or through email
• SURPRISE BONUS! (I can't tell you or it wouldn't be a surprise!)

Linore: Wow! It sounds like you cover a lot of great stuff. How can women contact you to set up a free teleconference with you?

Deborah:
They can call me or send an email and we can discuss their issues.
Phone: (314) 578-3003
Email: gfluxton(at)gmail.com
Visit Debbie Online

To Your Authentic Life,
Coach Deb ~ Christian Life Coach for BUSY Professional Women

About Debbie:

Debbie Luxton is a Christian Life & Leadership Coach, Teacher and Speaker for BUSY Professional Women ~ Specializing in women who “have it all together on the outside, but are falling apart on the inside.”

Debbie is a Founding Partner and Certified Independent Coach with The John Maxwell Team. She coaches, teaches and speaks on 5 Leadership Programs. She is the owner of Truth for Life’s Journey, and Co-leads a "Celebrate Recovery Ministry." She also serves on the Missouri Recovery Network Board of Directors. Debbie is a member of the National Association for Professional Women, is a contributing author in the 2011 book Inspired Women Succeed and retired from a 30 year Fortune 500 corporate career.

Debbie is passionate about living to serve as the Lord has called her and for you to know that “A disillusioned, unmanageable, no time for God or yourself life is NOT what God wants for you."

Image source:http://help4newmoms.com/wordpress/2011/04/what-the-help4newmoms-blog-is-all-about/

Winner Announcement


Last week's "Fiction Friday giveaway was a pdf copy of Tom Blubaugh's Night of the Cossack, and our winner is MARY KAY!
Mary, you didn't leave your email, so please contact me by leaving a comment with your email or send me a note at Linore (at) LinoreRoseBurkard (dot) com.

Congratulations on winning, and thanks to Tom for the giveaway.
Warmest Blessings,

Linore

Weekend's Over--Unwind With This



Saw this through Pinterest--a beautiful rendition of "Doxology" by those vocal
acrobats, the Martins. My personal favorite by them is their version of the Lord's Prayer, but this is still a lovely way to spend two to three minutes and enjoy your God.

I've had a child home sick for almost a week--after THREE visits to the doctor, one prescription and two other OTCs, she is finally back to school today. I always enjoy watching her sprint to the school bus after the driver stops and beeps her presence at the curb, but today was extra sweet. Seeing a little one up and about after days of listlessness and fever is just special. I'm grateful she's over the illness.

What about you? Listen to the song below and pick something to thank God for. There's more around you than you think for which to be grateful.

Source: youtube.com via Joyce on Pinterest

Fiction Friday


Night of the Cossack


by Tom Blubaugh

I love when I can recommend a book wholeheartedly, and today's Fiction Friday spotlights just such a one. Read on to see how you can win a copy for yourself.



Night of the Cossack is a compelling adventure by Tom Blubaugh about a teenager who is forced to grow up quickly during tumultuous events in the early 1900s in Russia. Young Nathan Hertzfield faces many life or death situations throughout the book. Join him on his perilous and exhilarating journey through parts of Russia and Europe, and find out how he eventually emigrates to America. The story is based loosely on the life of the author's grandfather. Adventure, suspense, and warmth make it a riveting story.


This is one of those reads that works for all ages, young and old (beginning, I'd say, for ages nine and up). For slower readers, age eleven or thereabouts. If you have a reluctant young reader, the opening is explosive enough to keep anyone turning pages. And, if you homeschool or teach in a classroom, the book even has companion lesson plans. (It is so obviously a great pick for educators that I was deeply satisfied to find this out.)

Here's the five-star review I left on Amazon:

Night of the Cossack is an exceptionally well-written historical tale. Blubaugh's clean, tight prose moves along at a clipping pace and the elements of great fiction are all here: high stakes, peril, uncertainty, as well as the coming-of-age of a young Jewish man whose life is torn apart by societal upheaval in early 19th century Russia. The book brings history to life through the eyes of its young male protagonist and ends on just the right note of hope, making it a perfect pick for teachers and educators looking for worthwhile fiction for young people. Readers of any age will enjoy this, but I think middle-school teachers should grab this book and dovetail it with world history lessons for their students. Scholastic should pick this one up for sure. Eye-opening, interesting, compelling, and even fun, Night of the Cossack is exactly what a really good book should be.

In other words, this one's a keeper.

Win A Copy!


What about you? Do you enjoy personal glimpses of history through fiction? Leave a comment and Tom will award one commenter with a free copy of the book in pdf form.

Amazon purchase link.
Lesson Plan Barnes and Noble Link

About the Author


Tom Blubaugh was raised in a small town in southeast KS, and was writing poetry by age 14. Tom has written many articles for denominational and business magazines and co-wrote The Great Adventure for Barbour Publishing.(2009). Night of the Cossack is his first work of fiction. Retired now, Tom and his wife Barbara have six children and fourteen grandchildren. Besides writing, Tom devotes most of his time to volunteer work.

Purchase link including lesson plan

Don't forget to leave your comment for a chance to win a free copy in pdf form for your computer or reading device!
Good luck!
I wish you hours of happy reading,

Linore

Heart-Warming, Soul-Stirring Christian Romance