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	<title>Blogs of Books &#187; Uncategorized</title>
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	<link>http://blogsofbooks.net</link>
	<description>Book Reviews &#38; Author Interviews</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:17:53 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>The Butterfly Effect</title>
		<link>http://blogsofbooks.net/2010/09/07/the-butterfly-effect/</link>
		<comments>http://blogsofbooks.net/2010/09/07/the-butterfly-effect/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:17:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Susan K. Stewart</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogsofbooks.net/?p=308</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was reluctant to accept for another Andy Andrews book for review because I&#8217;ve not found his previous work compelling. The title, The Butterfly Effect (How Your Life Matters), intrigued me.

The butterfly effect theory simply stated says a butterfly can flap its wings and the resulting motion of air will cause other movements in the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I was reluctant to accept for another Andy Andrews book for review because I&#8217;ve not found his previous work compelling. The title, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1608100286?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=bloofboo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1608100286">The Butterfly Effect (How Your Life Matters)</a>, intrigued me.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1608100286?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=bloofboo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1608100286"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-316" title="butterfly" src="http://blogsofbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/butterfly-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" hspace="5"/></a><br />
The butterfly effect theory simply stated says a butterfly can flap its wings and the resulting motion of air will cause other movements in the air, which can ultimately start a hurricane on the other side of the world. Andrews uses this premise to show that each person on earth has the same type of on other people, now and generations later.</p>
<p>Andrews proves his point by tracing  how the decision of one 19th century professor set the course of the United States for generations. And how one former slave influenced a 20th century vice-president. The linear progression of each of these individuals is interesting, I was looking for more story.</p>
<p>While not categorized as a gift book, the size, quality of cover and paper, along with the graphical layout is gift book quality. The 100 pages can be read in one sitting. The Butterfly Effect might be a worthy graduation gift.</p>
<p>When I finished reading the book, my first thought was that I had just read a magazine article stretched to make a book. Had I picked it up while browsing at a book store, I wouldn&#8217;t have bought it. I was expecting something with more substance. I was expecting complete stories.</p>
<p>Tell me more about that unknown professor. Who was he? How did he get in a decision-making position? What qualified him to be where he was at the pivotal moment in history? Make him real. Make him matter to me.</p>
<p>Andrews attempts to use the two examples of people who are in positions that lend themselves to be influential. I think most readers may be like me in thinking that I&#8217;m not a vice-president or professor, how can I make decisions that influence the world?</p>
<p>As with other Andrews&#8217; books, I was less than impressed with the content. The idea is good, but it just didn&#8217;t fulfilled the promise.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1608100286?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=bloofboo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1608100286">The Butterfly Effect (How Your Life Matters)</a><br />
Andy Andrews<br />
ISBN: 978-1608100286<br />
$14.95</p>
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		<title>Why We Write About Loss</title>
		<link>http://blogsofbooks.net/2010/03/29/why-we-write-about-loss/</link>
		<comments>http://blogsofbooks.net/2010/03/29/why-we-write-about-loss/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:00:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Susan K. Stewart</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogsofbooks.net/?p=261</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Liz Allison and Cecil Murphey, authors of Words of Comfort for Times of Loss, tell us why they write about loss.
On the morning of July 12, 1992, my husband, Davey, left home like any other morning—he kissed my forehead and hugged our kids.That afternoon I answered a knock at the door, sensing something wasn’t quite [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Liz Allison and Cecil Murphey, authors of <strong>Words of Comfort for Times of Loss</strong>, tell us why they write about loss.</p>
<p><em>On the morning of July 12, 1992, my husband, Davey, left home like any other morning—he kissed my forehead and hugged our kids.That afternoon I answered a knock at the door, sensing something wasn’t quite right. When I glimpsed the faces of Davey’s two best friends—they didn&#8217;t have to speak—the looks on their faces said it all.</em></p>
<p><em>That day, after lunch with his race team, Davey had hopped into his helicopter and taken an unplanned trip to the nearby Talladega Superspeedway to watch a buddy practice. Attempting to land in the infield, he had lost control of his helicopter and crashed. Although paramedics airlifted Davey to a Birmingham hospital, sixteen hours later he was pronounced dead.</em></p>
<p><em>Immediately following Davey’s death, I had to work through my grief enough to plan his funeral and make hundreds of small-but-significant decisions, all while maintaining the time and energy to care for our two young children, ages one and three. Well-wishing friends hovered around me and frequently asked, “What can I do for you?</em></p>
<p><em>Most of the time, I could only respond with a blank stare. Looking back, my friends could have done many things for me, but they didn’t know what to do, and I didn’t know what to tell them.</em></p>
<p><em>I hope the insights I have gained during the aftermath of Davey’s death will help you as you struggle with your own grief.</em></p>
<p>—Liz<br />
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;</p>
<p><em>Two weeks after my father suffered a mini-stroke, a massive stroke took his life. On the day of his funeral, my older brother, Ray, died of cancer. Over the next eighteen months, I lost two brothers-in-law and my mother.</em></p>
<p><em>On the Sunday after Dad’s and Ray’s funerals, a parishioner rushed up to me, hugged me, and said, “Pastor, I heard about the deaths. Were they saved?”</em></p>
<p><em>I honestly don’t remember what I answered, but I wanted to shout, “Does it matter right now? I hurt. I’m so filled with pain that I’m not sure I can handle the worship service today!”</em></p>
<p><em>In 2007, our house burned down. Our son-in-law, Alan, died in the fire. The next day, a neighbor pulled up in front of our burned house, got out of his car, and started to look around. “Where did he die?” he asked.</em></p>
<p><em>Through the years, I’ve met many like those two people. Maybe they didn’t know what to say. Perhaps they were so focused on what they cared about that they were unaware of my pain. Instead of helping me, those comments made me feel even worse. What I needed was compassion. I didn’t get that from either of them, but I can offer it to you.</em></p>
<p><em>That’s why we’ve written this book.</em></p>
<p>—Cec</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p>About <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0736924299?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=bloofboo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0736924299"><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bloofboo-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0736924299" border="0" alt="" width="1" height="1" /><em>Words of Comfort for Times of Loss</em></a></p>
<p>Through great personal loss, authors Cecil Murphey and Liz Allison have gained insight to share with others who<br />
are going through uncertainty, depression, and loneliness after losing a loved one. They also offer advice for those<br />
<a href="http://blogsofbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/words-of-comfort.jpg"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0736924299?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=bloofboo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0736924299"><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bloofboo-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0736924299" border="0" alt="" width="1" height="1" /><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-267" title="Words of Comfort for Times of Loss" src="http://blogsofbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/words-of-comfort-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>comforting someone who is grieving.</p>
<p>Among comforting paintings by artist Michal Sparks, brief stories, personal experiences, and prayers offer a meaningful path toward healing for readers when they:</p>
<ul>
<li>feel alone and lost in their grief and want to reconnect with others and to life</li>
<li>seek to make sense of their loss alongside their sense of faith, purpose, and God</li>
<li>want to honor their loved one without clinging to the past in unhealthy ways</li>
</ul>
<p>Readers are given gentle permission to grapple with doubt, seek peace, and reflect on loss in their own way without judgment and with understanding and hope. A perfect gift for a loved one dealing with loss and grief.</p>
<p><strong>Table of Contents</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Little Joys</li>
<li>You&#8217;re Not Alone</li>
<li>One Simple Thing</li>
<li>Accepting Help</li>
<li>Make It Go Away</li>
<li>Why Did You Leave Me?</li>
<li>If Only I Had</li>
<li>What&#8217;s Wrong With Self-pity?</li>
<li>Perfect Grieving</li>
<li>Am I Crazy?</li>
<li>Material Possessions</li>
<li>Facing Those Special Days</li>
</ul>
<p>About the Authors:</p>
<p><strong>Liz Allison</strong> was married to NASCAR driver Davey Allison until his tragic death in 1993. Widowed at 28 with two young ch<a href="http://blogsofbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/liz-allison.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-263" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" title="Liz Allison" src="http://blogsofbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/liz-allison.jpg" alt="" width="60" height="84" /></a>ildren <img src="file:///Users/skstewart/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" />to raise, Liz faced the long journey of pain, loss, and grief with great faith. Committed to encouraging others, she returned to her work in TV reporting, has published eight books, and hosts a weekly radio show. Please visit <a href="http://www.lizallison.com" target="_blank">www.lizallison.com</a></p>
<p><a href="http://blogsofbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/cec-murphey.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-262" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" title="Cec Murphey" src="http://blogsofbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/cec-murphey.jpg" alt="" width="81" height="120" /></a><strong>Cecil Murphey</strong> is an international speaker and bestselling author who has written more than 100 books, including New York Times bestseller 90 Minutes in Heaven (with Don Piper). No stranger himself to loss and grief, Cecil has served as a pastor and hospital chaplain for many years, and through his ministry and books he has brought hope and encouragement to countless people around the world.<br />
Please visit <a href="http://www.cecilmurphey.com" target="_blank">www.cecilmurphey.com</a></p>
<h3>The Grand Prize Give Away</h3>
<p>Leave a comment for a chance to win the Grand Prize Giveaway. Drawing will be held on April 9.</p>
<p>Grand Prize Giveaway includes:</p>
<p>This special grand prize giveaway is designed especially for someone going through a difficult time. The winner can keep or pass along to someone who could use the pick-me-up.</p>
<ul>
<li>Words of Comfort for Times of Loss</li>
<li>Heaven Is Real</li>
<li>Gift Edition, 90 Minutes in Heaven</li>
<li>Journal</li>
<li>Pens</li>
<li>Potato soup</li>
<li>Oyster crackers</li>
<li>Dove silky smooth milk chocolate</li>
<li>Dove silky smooth dark chocolate</li>
<li>Ultra-plush spa socks</li>
<li>Large gel eye mask</li>
</ul>
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		<title>The Call of Zulina &#8211; Discussion Begins</title>
		<link>http://blogsofbooks.net/2010/02/01/the-call-of-zulina-discussion-begins/</link>
		<comments>http://blogsofbooks.net/2010/02/01/the-call-of-zulina-discussion-begins/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:10:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Susan K. Stewart</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogsofbooks.net/?p=226</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This discussion has ended. Want to talk about another book? Leave your suggestion on the Book Discussion page.
Welcome to our book discussion of The Call of Zulina by Kay Marshall Strom. This book is the first in the Grace in Africa series.
We will be using the questions in the book as we talk about this [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>This discussion has ended. Want to talk about another book? Leave your suggestion on the Book Discussion page.</strong></p>
<p>Welcome to our book discussion of <em>The Call of Zulina</em> by Kay Marshall Strom. This book is the first in the Grace in Africa series.</p>
<p>We will be using the questions in the book as we talk about this novel. I will post the question each Monday. Comment any time during the week, and I&#8217;ll wrap it up on Friday.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s begin:</p>
<p><strong>In <em>The</em> <em>Call of Zulina</em>, the first book in the Grace in Africa series, Grace Winslow straddles two worlds. Do you see her as more African or more English? On what do you base your opinion?</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/12/07/the-call-of-zulina/">Read my review</a> of <em>The Call of Zulina</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1426700695?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=bloofboo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1426700695"><br />
Need a copy</a> of <em>The Call of Zulina </em>(affiliate link)</p>
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		<title>Christmas Miracles &#8211; A Conversation with Cec Murphey</title>
		<link>http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/11/19/christmas-miracles-a-conversation-with-cec-murphey/</link>
		<comments>http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/11/19/christmas-miracles-a-conversation-with-cec-murphey/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:35:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Susan K. Stewart</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogsofbooks.net/?p=127</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Marley GibsonCo-authors of Christmas Miracles, from St. Martin’s Press
I am extremely privileged to have the opportunity today to talk to my friend and co-author, Cecil “Cec” Murphey, and to chat about our upcoming book, Christmas Miracles.*
Marley:  Cec, thanks for spending some time with me today.
Cec:    Marley, it&#8217;s great that you could take time away [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>by Marley Gibson<br/>Co-authors of <em>Christmas Miracles</em>, from St. Martin’s Press</strong></p>
<p>I am extremely privileged to have the opportunity today to talk to my friend and co-author, Cecil “Cec” Murphey, and to chat about our upcoming book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312589832?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=bloofboo-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0312589832"><em>Christmas Miracles</em></a>.*</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #800080;">Marley:  Cec, thanks for spending some time with me today.</span></strong></p>
<p>Cec:    Marley, it&#8217;s great that you could take time away from important things like making a living to spend a little time with me.</p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Marley:  I’m so jazzed about our <em>Christmas Miracles</em> book that’s coming out soon. I’ve had a lot of questions from folks wanting to know how we met, what brought us together, etc. So, I thought we’d do a back and forth on how it all came to be. Of course, I have to give props to our amazing agent and friend, Deidre Knight, for bringing us together. For those of you who don’t know, Cec co-authored the runaway New York Times bestselling hit <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0800759494?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=bloofboo-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=0800759494"><em>90 Minutes in Heaven</em></a> with Don Piper.</strong></span></p>
<p>Cec:  I have to say thanks to Deidre Knight as well. Between Deidre and my assistant, Twila Belk, I&#8217;ve been able to sell quite a few books. <em>90 Minutes in Heaven </em>has been my big book. I&#8217;m also proud of a book I wrote in 1990 called <em>Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. </em>The book has never been out of print and has hit close to four million in sales. Early this year, Cuba Gooding Jr. starred in the made-for-TV film version.</p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Marley:  That’s amazing! You are truly prophetic and definitely “the man behind the words.” Now, people ask how we teamed up. Sadly, there was a personal tragedy that brought Cec and me together as friends.</strong></span></p>
<p>Cec:  True. In early 2007, our house burned and our son-in-law died. Aside from the grief over Alan, we lost everything. Deidre and Jan, my-then-assistant, sent the word out of our tragedy without telling me. I&#8217;m immensely grateful for every gift people sent, but I probably wouldn&#8217;t have admitted I needed help and wouldn&#8217;t have asked. They taught me how much we need other people.</p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Marley:  Deidre put out a call to other clients of The Knight Agency, to help Cec and his family out in any way in their time of need. At the time, my company was moving and we were cleaning house. We had a ton of office supplies that we were either going to throw away or give to some of the charities the company worked with.  I got my boss’ permission to send a large care package to Cec…full of office supplies for him to re-stock his writer’s office. You name it…post-its, staples, paper clips, pens, pencils, markers, white out, ruler, scissors, paper, notebooks, notepads, envelopes, a laptop case, tape, glue, folders, binder clips…etc. A veritable potpourri of office delights.  I was hoping that it would help Cec have a sense of getting his office back so he could keep working.</strong></span></p>
<p>Cec: Marley&#8217;s gift was the most unexpected I received. We hadn&#8217;t met, although Deidre Knight had spoken of her many times and kept telling me she was wonderful. I wonder if you can imagine what it was like for me to open that box from someone I didn&#8217;t know. I saw all those practical things for my office and yelled for my wife.  I felt as if I were reading a first-grade book. &#8220;Look! Look and see! Oh, look!&#8221; I was overwhelmed by the gift and even more to receive it from a stranger. Those supplies were the most practical gift anyone could have given me. I&#8217;m still using black paper clips and red folders from Marley.</p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Marley:  Awww…thanks, Cec! I didn’t have to think twice about doing it. Writing is such a solitary “sport,” but the writing community always astounds me with how they help their own.  Not long after that, over plates of spinach and Gouda omelets, Deidre introduced me to Cec in person and I was thrilled to finally meet the man behind the words. Deidre knew we needed to work on a project together and thus began our brainstorming. What did you think of that first meeting, Cec, and cooking up the idea to work together?</strong></span></p>
<p>Cec:  Deidre and I had already spoken about a Christmas book and I had some idea about what it should contain, but nothing had come together. One day Deidre told me that Marley was coming to visit her and she wanted us to work together on a Christmas project. Marley and I talked before we ate and again during the meal. Everything felt right to me. I knew my strengths and Marley knew hers (and Deidre knew both of us). Everything clicked. Marley, a far better networker than I am, immediately sent out the word for submissions. Within days she had almost four times more than we could use. (She read every one of them!)</p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Marley:  I was truly impressed with the submissions we received and it was hard narrowing it down to the ones we chose for the book. We’re fortunate to have such a go-getter agent in Deidre Knight. Cec, can you share how the whole idea of <em>Christmas Miracles</em> came about and what you thought of the project originally?</strong></span></p>
<p>Cec:  For me, it actually started while I was on the rapid-rail train from the Atlanta airport when I listened to teens talk about Christmas and it was mostly about gifts. I had the idea then, but nothing really came together. Months later when Deidre I and had a meeting, she brought up the idea of a compilation and mentioned my working with Marley. I&#8217;ve been Deidre Knight&#8217;s client since 1997 and I&#8217;ve learned to listen carefully when she comes up with an idea. I said yes before she gave me all the information.</p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Marley:  That’s the truth about Deidre! Getting back to those submissions, I want to say we got more than two hundred submissions for Christmas Miracles. So many wonderful stories to read through and select for the book. It was a challenge to pick and choose which ones were right for the book, but I loved every minute of it. After I chose the entries that would go into the book, Cec toiled long hours editing the works for a unified voice. What was the biggest challenge you found in the editing process, Cec?</strong></span></p>
<p>Cec:   I&#8217;ve been a ghostwriter and collaborator for twenty-plus years and this was a switch to give the book a unified voice—which was mine. It would have been easier to stay with each writer&#8217;s voice, but the book—like many compilations—would have been uneven in tone and quality. When I discussed this via email with our delightful editor, Rose Hilliard, she was (to my surprise) familiar with my work. She told me she liked the warm tone of my writing and that I don&#8217;t waste words. &#8220;That&#8217;s the voice we want,&#8221; she said. It still wasn&#8217;t easy, but it was an exciting challenge. After Marley and I agreed on the stories and gave them that unified voice, our editor pulled six contributions. Although different, Rose felt they were too similar to other stories.</p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Marley:  Can you give our readers a preview of the book? A favorite story perhaps…or one that moved you to tears?  (I have to say the little boy who wished for nothing but to be able to read a book all the way through because of his stutter had me bawling when I read the submission.)</strong></span></p>
<p>Cec:  That&#8217;s not fair! I liked them all. The one that touched me most, however, is the last story in the book, &#8220;Sean&#8217;s Question.&#8221; We had almost finished the book and I was teaching at a conference in Florida. I felt we needed one strong story at the end. Despite all the good ones, I didn&#8217;t feel fully satisfied to conclude the book. On the last day of the conference, I met a conferee named Sara Zinn for a consultation. As we talked, I mentioned <em>Christmas Miracles</em> and that I still needed one more story. &#8220;I have a Christmas story,&#8221; she said and told me about Sean. As I listened, tears filled my eyes—but, being the macho type I am, I was sure it was an allergy. Sara wrote the story, and it became the one I sought.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #800080;">Marley:  Oh yes…that one is an emotional one all right. It was meant to be in the book because of how you met at the conference. Now, you and I have both had challenges in our lives that others might have found too much to take, but we are both very strong in our faith and our relationship with God. How do you think <em>Christmas Miracles</em> is going to help others feel closer to God and experience His miracles in their own lives?</span></strong></p>
<p>Cec: Awareness and appreciation are the two things I want readers to grasp. Awareness means for them to realize that they&#8217;re never totally alone in life. Those unexpected, out-of-the-ordinary events remind us of that. Appreciation means to be thankful for what we already have. Too often, and especially at Christmas, we focus on what we&#8217;d like or what is supposed to make us happy. <em>Christmas Miracles</em> gently reminds readers of both.</p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Marley:  In this day and age when our country is fighting two wars, unemployment is high, and a lot of people have a lack of hope and faith for their future, what do you want readers of the book to take away from <em>Christmas Miracles</em> and how can the stories in our book help provide comfort to those struggling?</strong></span></p>
<p>Cec:  I want readers to see that miracles do happen—sometimes simple, unexpected blessings or those that involve the supernatural (as in one of Marley&#8217;s stories). I call myself a serious Christian. For me, the world&#8217;s greatest miracle began with the birth of Jesus. Regardless of a person&#8217;s religion, this book encourages readers to think about life during the Christmas season and see that life as more than gifts and celebrations. It&#8217;s also a reminder that God loves us and hears our needy cries.</p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Marley:  Beautifully put, Cec, and I couldn’t agree with you more. Can we share what’s next after Christmas Miracles? </strong></span></p>
<p>Cec:  Why it&#8217;s the Cec and Marley show, of course. Because of our go-getter agent and our enthusiastic editor, we&#8217;ve already received thumbs up for <em>The Christmas Spirit.</em> This will be stories of people who express the true spirit of Christmas by acts of love and kindness, for release in the fall of 2011.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #800080;">Marley:  And I can’t wait to start working on that project!  Thank you so much for your time, Cec, and answering my questions. It was a privilege and honor to work with you and I look forward to our future projects together. You’ve helped me along during a trying time and I appreciate your friendship and support.</span></strong></p>
<p>Cec:  I liked this project because Marley had to send out the word, collect submissions, read them, and discard the weaker ones. I get to see only the better-written stories. (Don&#8217;t tell her that I have the better job.) Although I mentioned only one story, all of those in the book touched me because of the poignancy of their situations and the miraculous answers. I won&#8217;t say the stories increased my faith, but they increased my appreciation for the delightful mix of human need and divine intervention.</p>
<p>Marley: Thanks again, Cec! God Bless! And to our readers, please be sure to pick up a copy of <em>CHRISTMAS MIRACLES</em>, out October 13, 2009 from St. Martin’s Press. It’s a great stocking stuffer or gift basket filler. Christmas MiraclesWe hope you, too, will discover your own Christmas Miracles in your life.</p>
<p>Marley Gibson is a young adult author whose first published books in the Sorority 101 series were released by Penguin Group in 2008 under the pen name of Kate Harmon. She has a new Ghost Huntress series with Houghton Mifflin written under her own name. She can be found online at <a href="http://www.marleygibson.com" target="_blank">www.marleygibson.com</a>.</p>
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		<title>Interview with Jennifer Kennedy Dean</title>
		<link>http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/11/12/interview-with-jennifer-kennedy-dean/</link>
		<comments>http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/11/12/interview-with-jennifer-kennedy-dean/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Susan K. Stewart</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bible]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Study]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prayer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bible study]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[religion]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogsofbooks.net/?p=106</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Jennifer Kennedy Dean is Executive director of The Praying Life Foundation and a respected author and speaker. She is the author of numerous books, studies, and magazine articles specializing in prayer and spiritual formation. Her book Heart’s Cry has been named National Day of Prayer’s signature book. You’ll find articles and daily quotes from Jennifer [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="file:///Users/skstewart/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot-5.png" alt="" /><strong></strong></p>
<div id="attachment_109" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 111px"><strong><strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-109" href="http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/11/12/interview-with-jennifer-kennedy-dean/e1251817468/"><img class="size-full wp-image-109" title="e1251817468" src="http://blogsofbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/e1251817468.gif" alt="Jennifer Kennedy Dean" width="101" height="125" /></a></strong></strong><p class="wp-caption-text">Jennifer Kennedy Dean</p></div>
<p><strong>Jennifer Kennedy Dean </strong>is Executive director of The Praying Life Foundation and a respected author and speaker. She is the author of numerous books, studies, and magazine articles specializing in prayer and spiritual formation. Her book Heart’s Cry has been named National Day of Prayer’s signature book. You’ll find articles and daily quotes from Jennifer at the National Day of Prayer website. Her book, Live a Praying Life, has been called a flagship work on prayer.</p>
<p>Jennifer was widowed in 2005 after 26 years of marriage to Wayne Dean, her partner both in life and ministry. They are the parents of three grown sons. Jennifer makes her home in Marion, KY.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #993300;">You are known for your extensive research and your fresh insights. Do you have a method for gleaning new concepts?</span><br />
</strong><br />
Of course, the truths are not new, but I think I sometimes am able to frame old truths in new ways. I always find that when I put the words of Jesus into their original Hebraic setting and experience the scene through the viewpoint of His real-time audience, some new little fragment of truth finds its way into my thinking. I like to let the Scripture breathe. To let it sit in my heart until its full aroma has time to emerge. There&#8217;s the hard-core research, and then there&#8217;s the marinating. Turn your imagination loose and unfurl your curiosity, and listen to the living Word.</p>
<p><span style="color: #993300;"><strong>You have a series of Bible studies in the format of <em>Set Apart</em>, designed to be interactive. This series of studies has video series and leader&#8217;s kits available. What is the advantage to this kind of format?</strong></span></p>
<p>I try to produce a new Bible study with <a title="video commentary" href="http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=7a2a32c15229df5a5359" target="_blank">Set Apart</a> every year. I like the interactive format because I like to pull the reader into the Scripture to experience the Word. I like to challenge the reader to interact with the thoughts and ideas and to take the time to absorb them and apply them, rather than just to read. The other thing I like about this format is that it can be done by an individual, or as a group. In the video series, I like to be able to teach the main points of the material and set the learners&#8217; up for a productive week of personal study. I love feeling like I get to be part of your Bible study group! The kits have lots of other resources for  leading a small group in the study.</p>
<p><span style="color: #993300;"><strong>Several of your studies have theme songs that go with them, as <em>Set Apart </em>does. How do these songs come about?</strong></span></p>
<p>I have developed a song-writing relationship with a talented musician named Roxanne Lingle. I write poems, we turn them into lyrics, Roxanne composes and arranges the music, and Roxanne records the songs. For <em>Set Apart</em>, we have the theme song in the form of a music video, which is a new addition. In the leader&#8217;s kit you have the audio track, accompaniment track, lead sheet, and <a title="music video" href="http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d155726c8c57d0b6f7a8" target="_blank">the music video</a>. The theme song becomes an important and worshipful part of the study experience.</p>
<p><span style="color: #993300;"><strong>About the Book:</strong></span></p>
<p>(Marion, Kentucky) &#8211; In a world of self-love and materialism it&#8217;s reassuring to know that God&#8217;s Word has a better plan for living. Renowned author and speaker, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, provides insight to the life of Christ, specifically the Sermon on<br />
<img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-110" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" title="Set Apart Cover" src="http://blogsofbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Set-Apart-Cover-150x150.jpg" alt="Set Apart Cover" width="105" height="105" /> the Mount, in her new book, <a href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=bloofboo-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&amp;asins=1596692634&quot; style=&quot;width:120px;height:240px;&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot; marginwidth=&quot;0&quot; marginheight=&quot;0&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" target="_blank"><em><strong>Set Apart: A 6 Week Study of the Beatitudes.</strong></em><em><strong><br />
</strong></em></a><br />
Through careful study of the Hebrew traditions of biblical times, Dean leads participants into a deeper awareness of this early ministry sermon series by Christ.</p>
<p>Jennifer guides readers to a heightened understanding of each beatitude, correlating the Ten Commandments with the Sermon on the Mount to tie these Old and New Testament principles together. Dean shares how living the Set Apart Life is an exciting and life-changing spiritual journey. Participants surrendered to Christ will see a total transformation: outward actions of holiness as well as inward attitudes of joy. Believers following along in this workbook will experience the life God intends. This blessedness comes from seeking and knowing God.  Anything outside the realm of Jesus Christ results in emptiness&#8211;the ultimate opposite of blessing.</p>
<p>Each chapter includes interactive questions for readers to answer, emphasizing God&#8217;s desire to reproduce the character and attitudes of Jesus in each Christian&#8217;s life. Along with the Bible study book, there is a Leader Kit that includes six DVD sessions and a CD with bonus material for small-group leaders. Jennifer&#8217;s website, <a title="praying life" href="http://www.prayinglife.org" target="_blank">www.prayinglife.org</a>, provides opportunities for previewing the Set Apart materials and extra resources for pastors and leaders.</p>
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		<title>Interview with Kay Marshall Strom</title>
		<link>http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/10/26/interview-with-kay-marshall-strom/</link>
		<comments>http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/10/26/interview-with-kay-marshall-strom/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:57:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Susan K. Stewart</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogsofbooks.net/?p=87</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Author Kay Marshall Strom has two great loves: writing and helping others achieve their own writing potential. Kay has written thirty-six published books, numerous magazine articles, and two screenplays. While mostly a nonfiction writer, the first book of her historical novel trilogy Grace in Africa has met with acclaim. Kay speaks at seminars, retreats, writers’ [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Author Kay Marshall Strom has two great loves: writing and helping others achieve their own writing potential. Kay has <a rel="attachment wp-att-96" href="http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/10/26/interview-with-kay-marshall-strom/kay-strom-pine-river-park-spokane-2008-2/"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-96 alignright" style="margin: 5px;" title="Kay Strom - Pine River Park - Spokane - 2008-2" src="http://blogsofbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Kay-Strom-Pine-River-Park-Spokane-2008-2-150x150.jpg" alt="Kay Strom - Pine River Park - Spokane - 2008-2" width="120" height="120" /></a>written thirty-six published books, numerous magazine articles, and two screenplays. While mostly a nonfiction writer, the first book of her historical novel trilogy Grace in Africa has met with acclaim. Kay speaks at seminars, retreats, writers’ conferences, and special events throughout the country and around the world. She is in wide demand as an instructor and keynote speaker at major writing conferences. She also enjoys speaking aboard cruise ships in exchange for exotic cruise destinations.</p>
<p><strong>Interview</strong></p>
<p>1. How did you come up with the storyline of <a style="&quot;border:none" title="the call of zulina" href="&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&amp;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref%255F%3Dnb%255Fss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3DThe%2520Call%2520of%2520Zulina%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Dstripbooks&amp;tag=bloofboo-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&quot;&gt;Name Your Link&lt;/a&gt;&lt;img src=" target="_blank"><em>The Call of Zulina</em></a>?</p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="color: #000080;">While in West Africa working on another project, I toured an old slave fortress and was struck dumb by a set of baby manacles bolted to the wall. The characters of Lingongo and Joseph Winslow, Grace&#8217;s parents, are modeled after real people who ran a slave business in Africa in the 1700s.  I &#8220;met&#8221; them when I was researching Once Blind: The Life of John Newton, a biography of the slaver turned preacher and abolitionists, author of Amazing Grace. The more I thought about them, the more I wondered, &#8220;If they&#8217;d had a daughter, who would she be? Where would her loyalties lie?&#8221;</span><br />
</span><br />
2. What inspired you to write a book so entrenched with uncomfortable issues?</p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;">I used to think that non-fiction was the meat and potatoes of writing and fiction was the chocolate mousse dessert&#8230; fun, but not of much value. But I&#8217;ve come to understand that truths can be revealed through fiction just as powerfully as through non-fiction. Sometimes, more so! The fact is, for so long we have tried to look away and pretend that this horrible chapter in history never happened. But it did, and we still feel the effects today. Moreover, the roots of slavery&#8211;hunger for power and money, fear and diminishment of people unlike ourselves, and humanity&#8217;s endless ability to rationalize evil actions&#8211;abound today. The time seemed right.</span></p>
<p>3. How have your travels around the world equipped you for writing such a historical novel?</p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;">People ask me where my passion for issues such as modern day slavery come from. To a large degree it is from the things I have seen and heard on my numerous trips to India, African countries, Cambodia, Nepal, Indonesia, and other places around the world.</span></p>
<p>4. Tell us a personal story regarding modern day slavery.</p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;">A most pervasive type of slavery is what is known as bonded servitude, where entire poor families are bound into virtual slavery&#8211;sometimes for generations&#8211;because of a small debt. This is especially common in India. I visited a village in central India where the women had been freed from bondage and set up with a micro loan that allowed them to raise a small herd of dairy cows. They worked so hard and saved every rupee. When they had enough saved, they persuaded a young teacher to come and start a school for their children. Then they used further profits to make low interest loans to others in the area so they could start their own businesses, too&#8211;a little bank. I sat in a circle with the five women who made up the &#8220;board of directors.&#8221; Only one could read and write.  I asked, &#8220;How will the next generation be different because of what you have done?&#8221; They said, &#8220;No more will be like us. When people look us, they see nothing. But when they look at our children, they see real human beings with value.&#8221;<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #000080;">From invisible slaves to human beings&#8230; all in one generation!</span></p>
<p>5. Grace, the lead character in <em>The Call of Zulina</em>, forsakes all to escape the slavery of her parents and an arranged marriage.How common is this scenerio today in other countries?</p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;">Horrifyingly common. Slavery today takes many forms. According to UNICEF&#8217;s more conservative count, there are about 12 million people living as slaves today&#8211;three times as many as in the days of the African slave trade. As for child arranged marriages, I have talked to girls &#8220;enslaved&#8221; to husbands in many countries. Examples include a girl in Nepal married at 9 to a middle-aged man, one in India married at 11, a 13-year-old in Egypt married to a man older than her father.  I&#8217;ve seen it in Africa, Eastern Europe&#8230; so many places!</span></p>
<p>6. What about in America, are there slavery and trafficking issues here?</p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;">Unfortunately, there are. The U.S. State Department estimates between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the Untied States each year, although it concedes that the real number is actually far higher. And it&#8217;s not just states like New York and California that are affected, either. According to the U.S. Justice Department&#8217;s head of the new human trafficking unit, there is now at least one case of trafficking in every state.</span></p>
<p>7. You&#8217;ve had 36 books published, and more written and contracted for future release. How has this one impacted your own life?</p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;">Some books report, some tell stories. This book has torn my heart.</span></p>
<p>8. Briefly tell us about the next two books in this Grace in Africa trilogy.</p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;">In Book 2, Grace watches her reconstructed life smashed by slavers and revenge, and she is forcibly taken to London. There she faces a new kind of tyranny and another fight for freedom&#8230; and for her husband, who is enslaved in America.</span></p>
<p>Book 3 is set in the new United States of America, in the heart of the slavery. It is a story of slavery at it&#8217;s worst and redemption at its best.</p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><strong>About <a style="&quot;border:none" title="the call of zulina" href="&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&amp;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref%255F%3Dnb%255Fss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3DThe%2520Call%2520of%2520Zulina%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Dstripbooks&amp;tag=bloofboo-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&quot;&gt;Name Your Link&lt;/a&gt;&lt;img src=" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000000;"><em>The Call o f Zulina</em></span></a></strong></span></p>
<p><img src="file:///Users/skstewart/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot-4.png" alt="" /></p>
<div id="attachment_88" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><a title="the call of zulina" rel="attachment wp-att-88" href="http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/10/26/interview-with-kay-marshall-strom/zulinacover/" target="_blank"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-88" title="zulinacover" src="http://blogsofbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/zulinacover-150x150.jpg" alt="The Call of Zulina" width="150" height="150" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Call of Zulina</p></div>
<p>An arranged marriage, a runaway bride, and an ugly family heritage of brutal and inhumane slavery operations leave no room for a fairytale story. Grace Winslow, daughter of an English sea captain and African princess, finds herself in a horrific position of betrothal. Doomed to marry an obnoxious white man, whom she does not love, Grace runs away to escape the slavery she’s been surrounded by all her life. Instead, her journey from home brings her face-to-face with issues of extreme slavery, abuse and human trafficking. In the end she discovers slavery is more than just chains and finds grace that exceeds a name given to her by her parents.</p>
<p>Written by Kay Marshall Strom, <em>The Call of Zulina</em> links historical slavery issues with the modern-day crisis tainting many countries. On the heels of important legislature regarding human trafficking, Strom tackles the subject boldly as she sheds light on the practices and techniques used by angry slave traders. Seen as an advocate for those who have no voice, Strom finds words to communicate the message of history to today’s readers. While this book shines the light on an uncomfortable subject, the message of hope, freedom, and justice prevail and eternal truths discovered.</p>
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		<title>The Noticer</title>
		<link>http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/04/28/the-noticer/</link>
		<comments>http://blogsofbooks.net/2009/04/28/the-noticer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:55:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Susan K. Stewart</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[I struggle with the right words to describe The Noticer by Andy Andrews from Thomas Nelson. Is it the beginning of a movement, or a good marketing plan? Is it a feel-good book, or a short story stretched to fill about 150 pages? Is it autobiographical, or just written to sound like it? I&#8217;m afraid [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I struggle with the right words to describe <em>The Noticer</em> by Andy Andrews from Thomas Nelson. Is it the beginning of a movement, or a good marketing plan? Is it a feel-good book, or a short story stretched to fill about 150 pages? Is it autobiographical, or just written to sound like it? I&#8217;m afraid the latter of each of these questions is my impression.</p>
<p>I like the idea behind The Noticer Project (<a href="http://www.thenoticerproject.com/" target="_blank">www.thenoticerproject.com</a>). Think of five people who have impacted your life and write a note of appreciation &#8211; on the website, of course. However, as I began reading the book, I began feeling the project was a marketing device for a lack-luster tale.</p>
<p>The story surrounds a man, named &#8220;Jones&#8221;, not &#8220;Mr. Jones&#8221;, who helps people change their perspective on their own lives. I kept looking for Jones to point these people to the others who influenced their lives. It wasn&#8217;t there. Jones appears and disappears with regularity in the community. Each time to help someone out of a personal dilemma. Jones pointed each of them to their own lives and how to change. Not a bad thing, but not the concept I was expecting. In none of the encounters is any one thanked, except Jones.</p>
<p>The various vignettes of encounters with Jones reminded me of the 80&#8217;s television show &#8220;The Highway to Heaven&#8221; starting Michael Landon. In fact, these short tales could have been story ideas for that program. Unlike &#8220;Heaven,&#8221; where we knew that Landon&#8217;s character was an angel, it is never explicit with Jones in <em>The Noticer.</em></p>
<p>There are good principles to learn from the stories and from Jones&#8217; philosophies. There are also comments, such as &#8220;Deciding to fly away and <em>actually</em> flying away are two very different things,&#8221; that are worthy of posting over a desk or on the refrigerator. A Reader&#8217;s Guide is included at the end of the book for book discussions or personal reflections.</p>
<p>Although I enjoyed most of the little stories, it wasn&#8217;t a page turner. I could have easily set the book aside and not gone back to it. Considering the marketing hype, I was disappointed with this book.</p>
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		<title>Grand Opening</title>
		<link>http://blogsofbooks.net/2008/12/22/grand-opening/</link>
		<comments>http://blogsofbooks.net/2008/12/22/grand-opening/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:31:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Susan K. Stewart</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blogsofbooks.net/?p=104</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Blogs of Books is now open for reviews. Books of all stripes will be reviewed. I will always try to give an honest opinion to help you make the most of your book reading time.
When possible, I&#8217;ll include a link to sample chapters or other excerpts.
Disagree with my assessment? Say so.
Has my review helped you? [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Blogs of Books is now open for reviews. Books of all stripes will be reviewed. I will always try to give an honest opinion to help you make the most of your book reading time.</p>
<p>When possible, I&#8217;ll include a link to sample chapters or other excerpts.</p>
<p>Disagree with my assessment? Say so.</p>
<p>Has my review helped you? Tell your story.</p>
<p>Have an alternative to the book listed? Let others know about.</p>
<p>Blogs of Books is for you the reader. Join the fray.</p>
<p>Do you have a book you&#8217;d like reviewed? You may send it to<br />
<strong> Blogs of Books<br />
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