It's Devo Monday at Woman of Faith

with Guest Devotional by Kathi Macias

"Never Too Old"

Kathi has a wonderful way with words, and this guest post is no exception. Are you dismayed at how fast the years slip past? Never fear. God can use you at any time, at any age, and He just may choose to use you most later rather than sooner. 
Special thanks to Kathi for this encouraging post.
--Linore

And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old

when they spoke to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:7, NKJV).

            We live in a youth-oriented culture, where anyone over the age of 65 is supposed to hang up their work ethic and spend whatever years they have left chasing a little white ball around a golf course. Nothing wrong with playing golf, mind you, but when it becomes our sole purpose for getting out of bed in the morning, we’ve lost our direction.

            God did not create us to serve ourselves. We are made in the image of the Creator, and God has called us to partner in that pursuit, to one degree or another; that partnership doesn’t end when our hair turns gray or our step slows a bit due to arthritis.

            I love reading about Moses and Aaron, don’t you? They were in their eighties when God sent them to confront the most powerful man on earth. God didn’t send young men in their prime of life so they could flex their muscles and pound their chest and intimidate Pharaoh. He didn’t send rich rulers from other countries who could threaten him with their armies or bribe him with their riches. He sent two brothers who, between them, had lived more than 160 years on this earth. Neither had experienced an easy life, since Aaron was raised as a Hebrew slave, and Moses, after growing up in a palace, had to flee for his life into the desert. And though Moses initially resisted God’s call to go to Pharaoh, he finally accepted, with his older brother at his side.

            We can learn a lot through the story of Moses and Aaron and their ultimate success in leading the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt. First, as long as we live on this earth, we are never too old to be useful to God. Second, if we continue to partner with God in whatever He has purposed for us, we can experience tremendous victories at any stage of life. And finally, though we may consider ourselves inconsequential in the scheme of things, God can use us to effect powerful changes in the lives of others.

            So wherever you are today and whatever is going on in your life, listen for God’s voice. He just may call out to you from the burning bush and send you forth on the greatest mission ever.

***My newest releases, Deliver Me From Evil and Special Delivery, are now available at most online venues and in bookstores across the country. You can find/order them, along with previously published books, on my website (www.kathimacias.com).

www.kathimacias.com

www.thetitus2women.com

Communicating the vision… (Hab.2:2)

alandkathi@ca.rr.com

www.kathimacias.com

Image from the artist's website 

Today for "Fiction Friday" I have a treat for you.  

Authors Debbie Lynne Costello and Kathleen Maher have united to create a blog aimed at informing EVERYONE (readers and authors alike) of the newest blog book giveaways and other bookish contests.

Debbie Lynne says, "Fiction Addiction was created to help readers find free books, for bloggers to advertise giveaways, and so authors can reach new readers. We love to gain new followers but you don't have to follow to benefit from us. If you are a blogger wanting to advertise a giveaway, go to this link http://fictionaddictionfix.blogspot.com/p/how-to-advertise-your-giveaway.html and learn how to advertise with us. (It's free!) 

If you're a reader and want to find giveaways stop by http://fictionaddictionfix.blogspot.com/  because we put up new giveaways several times a day. If you follow us through Feedburner you'll get all the information in your mailbox as often as we update it.

(Note from Linore: I highly recommend subscribing through feedburner if you love Christian books. You won't believe all the giveaways you'll be able to participate in, and even if you don't win books, you'll still learn about many, and usually from the author.) You'll also discover scads of new book blogs that you'll enjoy browsing.

Have fun, and have a great weekend. I'll be working on my next short story along with a writing buddy who is working on hers. I want to have it available for you SOON.


Warmest blessings,


Linore

This is where I'd like to read my next book. How about you?

Linore Rose Burkard
Join me on facebook!

Book Consultant on Duty!

I've got some great new books for you today.

1. Good, Clean, Fun 

The Allegra Biscotti Collection, and its sequel, Allegra Biscotti: Who, What, Wear, aren't "Christian" fiction, but they're good, clean fun. In fact, I loved them. 

I got the first one during a free promo on Amazon, but I enjoyed it so much I immediately bought the sequel. They are perfect for teens (and tweens who read well), and even Grandma will enjoy them. I love a book that you can breeze through with pleasure, and both of these fit the bill. (They seem, if anything, too short. That's how much fun they are.) Whimsical illustrations fill the pages as plain ol' teenaged Emily becomes the hot new fashion designer Allegra Biscotti. Thing is, it's a secret! And secrets can lead to great, big trouble. 

  

2. Heaven Is Now

 I haven't read this yet, but it looks like a worthwhile addition to the plethora of "heavenly" releases out there. Published by Baker Book House, I expect a solid Christian worldview, and am looking forward to see what this guy has to add to what's on the table with other recent releases like Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, (Interesting, if a bit long) and Heaven is For Real, by Todd and Colton Burpo. (Loved this one! If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it.)   

.  3. Well-written, Intriguing Memoir

  I love memoirs, autobiographies, and real-life accounts. Thus, Finding an Unseen God: Reflections of a Former Atheist appealed to me from the outset, but after picking it up just to get a feel for the writing, I ended up reading straight through to the end!  Written in easy-to-read prose that is nevertheless respectful of the readers' intelligence, Chole (Ko-lee) gives an intriguing account of coming from atheism to faith. (I plan on sending a few copies of this to people of whom "faith" is not a descriptive word.) 

Are you planning your summer reading, yet?  And do you send people books as a form of evangelism?

Feel free to share your thoughts.

Warmest Blessings,

Linore

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

So Much For "Safe"!

Pro-abortion groups love to tell us that abortion is "safe" and "rare."
As for safe, I don't think the babies would agree. 
Neither would the thousands and thousands of women who deeply regret having killed the little life inside them. But even worse, the procedures themselves aren't even "safe". Take the story of the following two women who were severely injured due to botched abortions earlier this year. 

(The following story comes from the National Pro-Life Alliance Newsletter:)

"Not only were the two women carried away from an abortion mill in ambulances, but from the same mill, on the same day, just minutes apart from each other.

It all happened at an abortion mill in Birmingham, Alabama, where just after nine thirty in the morning, an ambulance arrived, but was sent away.

Then, less than one hour later, the ambulance rushed back, closely followed by a second ambulance and an emergency vehicle."

 "The paramedics had to make their way through a trash-filled alley to get inside the abortion mill.

Because the gurney couldn't navigate the narrow back hall and dilapidated staircase, the paramedics had to carry the patient out by hand, and lay her down on the gurney in the trash-filled alley."

"The woman was immediately put into an ambulance, bleeding and unconscious, and rushed to a nearby medical center.

But it didn't end there.  Moments later the paramedics brought another patient through the alley, this time in a wheelchair.

The woman, with an oxygen mask and wrapped in a blanket was carefully maneuvered out of the narrow doorway by emergency personnel.

Then they whisked her away too."

"This all happened on -- of all days -- January 21st, just one day before the 39th anniversary of the disastrous Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion-on-demand to allow women to have so-called "safe" abortions.

Apparently the abortionists didn't get the memo about the "safe" part.

So what about that "legal" part then? Surely abortion mills follow the law?

Not even close.

Because of increased pressure from the National Pro-Life Alliance members and other pro-life groups, state health departments all across the country have finally begun to conduct inspections.

Many of these abortion centers have not been inspected for years.  Some -- never.

And abortion mills regularly violate the few laws that govern them."

"They misread pregnancy tests, use expired drugs, ignore ultrasound laws that require a woman be given the option to view her preborn child in the womb, distribute controlled substances without physician authorization, have non-licensed employees perform abortions, just to name a few.

Inspectors found that the abortion facility in Birmingham didn't even wait long enough to verify if patients were pregnant before proceeding with abortions.

Is it any wonder that women show up at emergency rooms all across America with fevers, infections, and permanent damage after trusting their bodies to these hellish places?

The abortion industry insists that ONLY IT should police itself, but that has NEVER happened.

When they have already sunk so low as to justify killing innocent babies, it's hardly surprising they wouldn't care about a few women dying here and there.

As for the "rare" part of the argument, almost 56 million abortions since the disastrous Roe v. Wade decision soundly disprove that claim.

1.6 million a year, more than 4,000 per day, and many more due to dangerous home abortion pills.

Hardly rare and likely only to get worse, until people of conscience prevail and overturn Roe v. Wade, and the butchers are out of business forever.

And that's why your National Pro-Life Alliance continues to lead the fight to pass the Life at Conception Act to overturn Roe v. Wade and ultimately end abortion-on-demand."

For Life, For Life,

Martin Fox, President      
National Pro-Life Alliance

"P.S. Thanks to Jill Stanek for the photos.

P.P.S. If you can, please consider chipping in with a donation to help the National Pro-Life Alliance to expand our ongoing program to identify up to two million pro-lifers in target States and House districts."

Only Seven Days Left For Early-Bird Registration!

10 more days remain for the early registration discount for the Work in Progress, 2-day writing conference sponsored by ACFW Ohio. I'll be one of the workshop presenters, and I'd LOVE to see you there!

Check our web site for details and a registration form:

www.acfwohio.com

Until April 30 -- registration must be postmarked on or before April 30 -- you can register for $60 instead of the regular charge of $75.

This fee covers meals, attendance at all workshops, and pitch sessions with your choice among 2 editors and 2 agents -- see our web site for the names and agencies/publishing houses represented.

We will have a "marketplace" set up where attendees can offer items for sale during the conference -- writing-related items, as well as just plain fun AND books written by attendees -- along with a booksigning on Saturday afternoon after the conference wraps up. Plus we will have a freebie table for attendees to put out promotional material, AND raffle baskets donated by attendees.

We have blocks of rooms booked at 2 local hotels, right next door to each other.

If you're "iffy" about attending, I still recommend registering. Take advantage of the $15 discount/savings. You can always cancel for a full refund.

So please do check out the ACFW Ohio Work in Progress conference details, and register!!

www.acfwohio.com

Michelle Levigne

President

I liked this post so much, I wanted to share it with you. The following is from Regency Reflections, a newish blog of which I am a contributor. This post comes from Jessica Snell. Thank you, Jessica, for letting me share this with my readers!

Praying the Psalms

by Jessica Snell


The best times and the worst times of our lives have one thing in common: it’s hard to find words for them. Our hearts cry out to the Lord, but so often those cries are wordless. Our thoughts and emotions whirl, formless, and what we long for are the words to express what we’re feeling and thinking.
The Psalms have long been the prayer book of the church, and praying them regularly, so that our hearts and minds are soaked in their rhythms and phrases, gives us the words that we desire when our hearts are full. When we pray the words of the psalms, we don’t have to doubt whether our words are good and true and right. They are. They’re the words the faithful have used for centuries to pour out their hearts to the Lord.



Getting Started

A few things to consider, if you’re new to the practice of praying the Psalms:
1) Revisit the familiar ones and go deeper with them. There’s a reason Psalm 23 is so beloved. The ones you’ve memorized are the ones that are already deep in your bones, and the more you pray them, the more meaningful they’ll become. There’s always further to go in prayer, because the Lord’s goodness is infinite.
2) Read new ones regularly. Some of the best are the Psalms of Ascent, from Psalm 120 through Psalm 134. These were sung on the way up to Jerusalem, and they’re possibly the most beautiful and joyful and accessible psalms in the book, with many reminders of God’s great faithfulness. Perfect for the Easter season.
3) Try them set to music. There are many great hymns that are paraphrases of the Psalms (Isaac Watts wrote a vast number) or you can try singing them to plainsong (use the Book of Common Prayer and the 1984 Hymnal to get started). They were written to be sung, and though we don’t have the original tunes, singing them to the ones we have is a great joy.
4) Remember that they’re both poetry and prophecy. Most Psalms can be read in several ways: as the words of the man who composed them, as prophecy about Christ, and as prophecy about Christ’s church. And probably more that I’m missing because I’m still only a beginner myself! But it’s clear there are layers of meaning in each psalm. You don’t have to focus on each meaning every time you read a given psalm, but it’s good to be aware, for example that the “beatus vir” – “blessed is the man” – in psalm 1, is probably first about Jesus, the perfect man, and then about those who, by his grace, are sanctified by his Spirit, and then . . . well, like I said, I’m a beginner and need to study them even more myself. (Patrick Reardon’s excellent book, Christ in the Psalms, is a great place to start.)
5)      Mostly, just read them a lot. It was traditional to read the Psalms in the morning and the evening – more often than that if you happened to be a monk or a nun! In this case, familiarity doesn’t breed contempt; it breeds love.


Prayers for All Seasons

In the hard times of my life, I find myself returning to the Psalms again and again. Frustration or fear or sorrow rises, and I find myself saying, “Hope, oh my soul, in the Lord, for I will yet praise him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.” Triumph and joy ride shouting in my soul, and I find myself declaring, “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, had it not been the Lord who was on our side, then they would have swallowed us alive . . . Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us to be torn by their teeth!”
The words of the Psalms are words that God gave to his people, so that we would know how to pray, so that when our hearts were full, with joy or with sorrow, we would have the words to express ourselves to him. I am so grateful for this great gift.
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

"It's a YES"!

Watch this clip from Britain's talent-show equivalent to "American Idol." It gave me goosebumps and put tears in my eyes.  Unbelievable!

"Shy Guy Blows Away Audience"

Great "note" to start a day on.

Warmest Blessings,

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

A Sacred Revolution!

Today's guest post by Amber Gallagher is a special treat. Homeschoolers, Sunday school teachers, and parents, listen up! This is a sexual revolution in the GOOD sense--stepping back towards purity, holiness, appreciation of one's body, and the sanctity of the marriage bed. Your kids need this. MY kids need this. Here's Amber, telling you what it's all about:

Back in the 1960’s, young people led a widespread revolt against morals, self-control, and modesty. They called it the “Sexual Revolution” as they encouraged one another to express “free love”—throwing off restraint and embracing the indulgences of the day. It turns out that a lot of what that generation fought for has not turned out to be so "freeing" after all. Since the days of the so-called “Sexual Revolution,” the teen pregnancy rate, STD rates and divorce rates have all spiraled out of control.

It is only when Jesus Christ is enthroned in our hearts as our precious Savior that we will walk in true freedom, victory and peace. It is for this purpose that we were born. It is our heritage and there is no other way.

We are made in the image of a sacred God and nothing but the sacred will satisfy our restless hearts.

Several years ago, I felt the Lord calling me to begin to urge young people to take up arms in an altogether different kind of revolution—The Sacred Revolution.

Sacred means to be holy, pure, set apart for service and worship to God.

Revolution (or Revolt) is a sudden, radical, or complete change. It is the overthrow of one ruler and establishing the replacement of another, by those who are being governed.

Thus, Sacred Revolution Ministries was born. This is a ministry where our heart is to not settle for the temporary “charms” this world has to offer, but instead we are determined to live the adventurous life with Christ.

We are made in the image of a sacred God and nothing but the sacred will satisfy our restless hearts.

At Sacred Revolution Ministries, we strive to offer resources that help cultivate a genuine and ever growing relationship with God for young men and women. We believe that purity is at the heart of this kind of life. Isn’t it interesting that impurity is the very thing the devil uses to distract and destroy the hearts of so many of our youth today? If it were not important, why would our enemy spend so much time trying to entice us to sabotage our own purity?

The Bible says in Matthew 5:8 (NIV) that Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

The ones who choose purity will see Him in this life!

This powerful truth impassioned me to write two Bible study curricula: The Princess Within: Living Like a Princess from the Inside Out and The Sacred Revolution: Uncovering Purity for the Modern Day Knight.

The Princess Within: Living Like a Princess from the Inside Out is for young ladies who want to live out the amazing journey of discovering their God-given destiny as daughters of The Great King as well as to learn how to fulfill His purpose for their lives on this earth.

What students saying about The Princess Within:

"After living through so many divorces, and being abused so many times, my heart grew hard and cold. God spoke through so many of your stories and showed me that romance is real, and sex can be beautiful (in proper context)."

"Hearing about the depth of God's love, and how much he treasures us, was completely mind blowing."

The Sacred Revolution: Uncovering Purity for the Modern Day Knight Bible study will help lead young men on a journey to reclaim their rightful destiny as sons of the Most High God. It offers an eye-opening look at the importance of purity and holiness as well as strategies of war for conquering temptation and setting boundary lines for maintaining a victorious and flourishing relationship with God.

To find further information on these life-changing Bible study curricula, to have Amber Gallagher speak at your event, or to learn about purity summer camps offered for young men and women, please visit www.sacredrevolt.com or www.princesswithin.com.

What do you think, readers? Isn't it time we helped young people make a sacred revolt? Get on board by visiting Amber's website. There are young people in your life who need this stuff. Even those who are committed to abstinence will be fortified and strengthened by reviewing the biblical reasons for doing so.

Amber, I thank God for raising up warriors like you and your team for the sake of our youth, our culture and the world!

Bio:

Amber Gallagher, who is often referred to as “The Abstinence Lady,” is a singer, speaker and author. She has presented the purity message to over 60,000 students through her work at the Community Pregnancy Center where she has spent the last ten years as Director of Positive Life Choices Education Program. This hopeful romantic enjoys spending time with family (especially her husband) and friends, horseback riding, singing, playing piano and most importantly growing ever closer to the heart of the Great King.

ACT FAST--GET THESE FREE!

Thought I'd quickly share a batch of Kindle books I just picked up for free on Amazon. Some free books are there for a long time and the price doesn't change, but many are only available free for a day or a few days. If any of the following interest you, pick 'em up quick!

(And remember, you can get a free Kindle app for your pc or iphone, etc. if you don't have a Kindle. If you use a Nook, check Nook Books for the same titles. Chances are if they're free on Kindle, then they'll be free on Nook, too.)

Kissing Adrien [Kindle Edition] $0.00 (This one's by Siri Mitchell! How neat that it's free--get it while it lasts.)
Sold By: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Desires of My Heart - Meditation on Psalm 37:4 [Kindle Edition] $0.00
Sold By: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Promise Me This [Kindle Edition] $0.00
Sold By: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Speaking of Jesus: The Art of Not-Evangelism [Kindle Edition] $0.00
Sold By: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Live Organic (52 Brilliant Ideas) [Kindle Edition] $0.00
Sold By: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Growing Up Country: Memories of an Iowa Farm Girl [Kindle Edition] $0.00
Sold By: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

An interesting thing about the availability of free books is that it doesn't stop me from buying a book when I decide I want it. What about you? Do you get the freebies, and if so, has it resulted in your spending less on books? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks, and don't forget there's a book giveaway going on right here right now--just scroll down to the last post and leave a comment. You could win a romantic suspense novel by Dora Hiers.

Until next time,

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

Book Spotlight and Giveaway of Journey's Edge

by Dora Hiers

" An outstanding debut novel. Well-written, and packed with ample emotion, suspense, and entertainment. In Journey's End, [Hiers] has without doubt begun a promising journey of her own. I anticipate the next offering from this talented writer."
Delia Latham


Welcome to Fiction Friday here at Woman of Faith, where you can win a copy of debut author Dora Hiers's Journey's Edge!

(Dora has graciously offered to award one reader with a free book. Leave a comment after the post with contact info for a chance to win this exciting new story!)

Dora says the faith element in her novel comes from the following verse:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Cor 5:17(NIV)

The cover of the book looks like this journey will have readers on the edge of their seats! According to the back cover description, it just might:

A Routine Audit? Hardly.

Red flags—including some goon who's following her—raise McKinley Frasier's suspicions that numbers don't add up at the insurance firm. When someone tries to snatch McKinley's daughter from school, she turns to police officer and ex-fiance, Renner Crossman—the cop who walked out on her a month before their wedding. But Renner's not the same guy who broke her heart ten years ago. He calls himself a "new man." She trusts the new Renner with her daughter's safety...but what about her heart?

Now, thanks to Dora, we can view the story from the hero's eyes, Renner Crossman, himself:

"Hey. Renner here. The new and improved version, not the old Renner, the jerk who seduced women, then dumped them. Walls painted white by God’s grace, I’m determined to set things right with people I’ve wronged in my life. Beginning with Kinny.

Beautiful, wholesome, pristine Kinny. Like springtime opening her arms wide after a long, harsh winter; new blossoms popping out to embrace the sun. Unspoiled, if you catch my drift, until a month before our wedding date.

So, I called Kinny a few days ago to apologize, right? Got her voice mail and left her a message asking to meet in person. I could have called that number a hundred times just to hear that sweet voice. Yeah, I’m so not over her.

But, I did the right thing breaking up with her, even if it was lousy timing. She blamed me for the deaths of her mother and brother. Well, not me, but the badge in general.

Ten years later, I’m still a cop, just a different kind: a Deputy U.S. Marshal. That won’t matter to Kinny, though. I still carry a gun and a badge. So, it’s probably best that she blew me off and didn’t show up tonight. With an early morning appointment for a job transfer to Charlotte and plans to hunt down a house near my friends, my plate’s mighty full.

When Kinny stumbles into my room after midnight, a thug hot on her heels, what choice do I have but to protect her? Will she still see me as the “old” Renner? Or can I model the “new man” in Christ?

Sounds like an interesting journey, indeed. Ready to grab a copy? Show your support for a new Christian author, and show the world that Christian women not only have spending power but CHOOSE to use it for quality, clean, fiction.

Buy from Amazon:

Buy from the publisher: Pelican Book Group:

Or, buy an autographed copy at Dora's blog: http://dorahiers.blogspot.com/

After a successful auditing career, Dora left the corporate world to be a stay-at-home mom to her two sons. When her youngest son didn’t want her hanging out at school with him anymore, Dora started writing heart racing, God-gracing books. Dora belongs to the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Carolina Christian Writers. Dora and her husband make their home in North Carolina. When she’s not writing, Dora enjoys reading and family gatherings. She despises traffic, technological meltdowns, and a sad ending to a book. Her books always end with happily-ever-after’s.

Readers can connect with Dora at her website: http://www.dorahiers.com,

or on Facebook: Dora Hiers Author,

or Twitter: @DoraHiers

Thanks for coming by and don't forget to leave a comment (with contact info.)for your chance to win a copy of Dora's book!

Can I Trust This Man?

Every woman asks herself this question when she's considering a relationship. No woman would
willingly marry a man she felt she couldn't trust.

Would you?

Welcome to Woman of Faith, where I am happy to introduce you to author Carrie Turansky's latest release: A Man To Trust.

Genre: Contemporary Inspirational Romance
Faith Element: High

A Man To Trust, Love Inspired, March 2012

After years spent helping run her family’s Christian Bookstore, it’s time for Adrie Chandler to give her own dream of playing flute as part of a symphony, a chance. But can she really trust the beloved shop to new manager Ross Peterson? The man is too handsome, too charming…too much a reminder of another dream Adrie had to let go of – marriage. Yet Ross surprises her by knowing a thing or two about making sacrifices. Suddenly, Adrie’s questioning what she really wants, after all. And whether the dreams she once thought unlikely are actually--with a man to trust--within reach.

"I thoroughly enjoyed Carrie Turansky's first book in this series, and was eager to return to her realistic and memorable characters in the quaint town of Fairhaven.

I loved the welcoming and cozy bookstore, Bayside Books (it made me think of a grownup version of The Shop Around the Corner in the movie, "You've Got Mail") and the entire setting of the story along the bay--so picturesque. I even learned about clam digging. I loved seeing both main characters confront and work through the emotional issues of their pasts, then realistically grow in sacrificial love. And I loved finding again what Carrie Turansky is so well known for writing--a satisfying story with a warm, and happy ending."

Cathy Golhke, Reviewer

Purchase link:

http://www.carrieturansky.com/books/amantotrust.html

Thanks for coming by Woman of Faith, Carrie. Before you go,
I'd like to get your answers to a few questions that readers often ask authors:

What do you feel is the most challenging aspect in writing?

One of the most challenging skills a writer needs to learn is to silence the internal editor that slows you down and questions every word and sentence. Turning her off helps your creativity flow. You can write more quickly and your unique writer’s voice appears on the page.

2 . Which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?

For me, the ideas and characters simmer together at the same time. I like to use resources from My Book Therapy (Susan May Warren) and Michael Hague to create my characters and plot. Both of these teachers encourage you to work on your characters and plot at the same time, step by step.

3. Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?

In A Man To Trust, the heroine, Adrie Chandler, is trying to decide what’s more important to her in life. She has spent years training as a classical musician and wants to play her flute professionally with a symphony, but when the opportunity finally arrives, she’s not sure she should follow through on that dream. I hope readers will identify with Adrie’s desire to find God’s will and discern how to best use their gifts and talents. I also hope they’ll see how trusting God and forgiving hurts in the past can help build trust and stronger relationships in the present.

4. Is there a particular Bible verse that has helped you through a difficult time?

I love the Psalms. That’s where I usually run for comfort and guidance when I am facing a difficult time. Psalm 46 has been very meaningful to me: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” He doesn’t promise to just send us help and strength, he says He IS our refuge and strength, and He is always available to help us. That is so comforting!

5. Can you tell us something more about A Man to Trust?

All the main characters are Christians, but each is struggling to learn and grow in their walk with the Lord. The hero is a new believer. The heroine is the daughter of missionaries and was raised in Kenya. She struggles to find God's will and path for her life, how best to use her gifts and talents, and how to find her significance. Plus there is a sweet romance.

Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of ten novels and novellas. Carrie writes contemporary and historical romance, and her latest releases are A Man To Trust, Surrendered Hearts, and Christmas Mail-Order Brides. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, speaker and counselor. They have five young adult children and three grandchildren. Carrie leads women’s ministry at her church, and when she is not writing she enjoys gardening, reading, flower arranging, and cooking for friends and family. She loves to connect with readers on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and through her website: www.carrieturansky.com

GIVEAWAY!
Leave a comment about a trust issue you've had to face in your life. One commenter will win a free book from Carrie! Note: Don't forget to include contact info so we can let you know if you win!

Winner's name will be announced on Tuesday, April 10th!