Friday, November 21, 2008

The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips by Stephen Baldwin & Mark Tabb


This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips

FaithWords (November 5, 2008)

by

Stephen Baldwin
&
Mark Tabb


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

STEPHEN BALDWIN - actor, family man, born-again Christian - makes his home in upstate New York with his wife and two young daughters.

Equally adept at drama and comedy, Baldwin has appeared in over 60 films and been featured on such top-rated television shows as Fear Factor and Celebrity Mole. He has his own production company that is developing projects for television and the big screen. These days, however, his role as director, co-producer and host of Livin' It - a cutting-edge skate video is bringing out his white hot passion for evangelism.

Writer and communicator Mark Tabb calls himself an “internationally unknown author.” Although his books have been published around the world, he is best known for his collaborative works. His 2008 release, “Mistaken Identity”, written with the Van Ryn and Cerak families, hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list for two weeks, and remained on the list for over two months. He and actor Stephen Baldwin teamed up on their 2005 New York Times bestseller, “The Unusual Suspect,” and with their first work of fiction, “The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips,”


ABOUT THE BOOK

Even years of experience haven't prepared Officer Andy Myers for this case---

When Officer Andy Myers met Loraine Phillips, he had no interest in her son. And he certainly never dreamed he'd respond to a call, finding that same boy in a pool of blood. Even more alarming was the father standing watch over his son's body. Myers had never seen a man respond to death-particularly the death of a child-in such a way. When the father is charged with murder and sentenced to death, he chooses not to fight but embrace it as God's will. Myers becomes consumed with curiosity for these strange beliefs. What follows is the story of the bond these two men share as they come to terms with the tragedy and the difficult choices each one must make.


If you would like to read the first chapter of The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips, go HERE

*STRONG LANGUAGE*

Monday, November 17, 2008

Gretchen's Scribbles: Developing A Thick Skin

It is said - by whom? you might ask - by, well most everyone, that you have to develop a thick skin as a writer. I'm definitely not known as someone who has a thick skin - I've been labeled things such as "sensitive" and "tender." However, those literary "criticisms" that I've received, I find exhilirating! I think, "I knew that! I knew there was a problem there...and now I need to fix it".

I think that an excellent way to work at this - and to discover your temperament - is to be part of a writer's critique. The group that I'm going to in Lititz, PA does this. Your 2-5 pages of manuscript is read aloud and the individuals in the group critique it. You are not allowed to defend it, only to answer direct questions. I enjoy it. I do realize that it may be an entirely different experience to receive rejection e-mails/letters and to discover that there may not be anyone interested in publishing the novel that I've written.

I also know that this isn't easy for everyone. I saw a woman (who was an excellent writer, by the way) who looked very upset as she sat in her car as I drove away the other day. I felt bad...she had been in the group I had critiqued. Hopefully...and most importantly, I guess...neither her nor I will quit...but we'll hang onto the fact that God has given us a gift...a weapon...that can continually be sharpened and improved.

White Christmas Pie by Wanda E. Brunsletter


This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

White Christmas Pie

Barbour Publishing, Inc (September 1, 2008)

by

Wanda E. Brunstetter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Fascinated by the Amish people during the years of visiting her husband's family in Pennsylvania, WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER combined her interest with her writing and now has eleven novels about the Amish in print, along with numerous other stories and ministry booklets. She lives in Washington State, where her husband is a pastor, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish settlements throughout the states.

This year Wanda also publishedA Sister's Hope

ABOUT THE BOOK

Step into Amish country for this bittersweet holiday romance. Here you'll meet Will Henderson, a young man tortured by his past, and Karen Yoder, a young woman looking for answers. Add a desperate father searching for his son, and you have all the ingredients for a first-class romance that will inspire and enthrall.

Abandoned by his father, Will Henderson was raised by an Amish couple. Now he's about to marry Karen Yoder but is having second thoughts. Can Will overcome the bitterness of his past in order to secure his future? Karen cannot break through the barrier her fiance has suddenly constructed around his heart. When she seeks the advice of an old boyfriend, Will begins to see green. Has he already lost his chance for happiness?

When an accident threatens Will's life, the strength of blood ties is tested. Will a recipe for White Christmas pie contain the ingredients for a happily-ever-after?

If you would like to read the first chapter of White Christmas Pie, go HERE

Watch the book trailer:

My Take On White Christmas Pie:

I didn't make it far with this book. I just couldn't get into it as much as I tried. I love the title and the concept though. For the wide audience that loves Amish romances (and there have been a few that I've liked), hopefully you'll enjoy it alot more!