*The Scavenger Hunt does not start until August 30 at noon EST. We are testing the links to make sure we are ready for you tomorrow.*

Welcome to the inaugural Back to School Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt. We hope that throughout this hunt you discover some new books and get to know a little more about us.

A few things before you begin:

This hunt is a blog hop. Collect the “clues” (pieces to the longer phrase) at each stop. Enter the individual giveaways along the way, then click on the link to the next stop and repeat until you reach #28, where you will input the full phrase as your entry to the grand prize drawing.

The hunt begins August 30, 2023, at noon EST and ends September 4, 2023, so you have plenty of time to visit each stop. If you need to step away and come back later, make a note of the last stop you visited, and go to this post with the list of all stops on the hunt.

If you are having trouble viewing the posts, you may need to switch browsers. Chrome and Firefox sometimes work better than Microsoft Explorer or Edge.

Welcome to my blog! I hope you’ve enjoyed collecting all the clues so far on our Blog Hunt!

Today, I want to talk about a subject that isn’t always top-of-mind when we think of “back to school”.

Back to school memories are bittersweet for me. I’m old enough to remember when school yard bullies stole your lunch money and gave you black eyes. And going to the principal’s office for “fighting” got you a phone call to your parent’s office and then a meeting with the principal.

In middle school, I was a skinny-minny kid and prone to being bullied. I was in the “accelerated” class, which means I was a grade ahead of my age, and some older kids who were a lot bigger than I was took exception to it. I spent a couple of years getting “beat up” on my way home from school. My parents expected me to stand up for myself and fight back. I was furious with them because I thought they didn’t care about my bruises and scrapes. Eventually, I learned to physically fight back. No more scratches or stolen lunches.

That’s an unheard of proposition these days. When my own children were in grade school, people thought that bullies had disappeared by magic, fighting wasn’t allowed, and everyone had to get along. There was (ha-ha) zero tolerance for bullying, even though any kid with a brain knew bullies lurked outside at recess.

My children have Down Syndrome so were supposed to be in a different part of the school yard under supervision. However, I had always told them that if any kid hit them, they were to hit back. One day at lunch hour, a “regular” boy decked my son. My son, who was about 9 yrs. old, got up and hit him back, except the other boy ran away. The teacher couldn’t catch him, so only my son was dragged into the principal’s office. I was called to the school and asked to explain my stance on allowing “bullying” behavior.

When the principal said he might have to suspend my son for a day, I shrugged my shoulders and said I’d take him home right then, along with his sister. I had already stated that if someone hit my kids first, they would hit back and explained why I thought it was beneficial for special needs children to know how to defend themselves. I suggested he might want to question the teacher about her lack of supervising skills, and he backed down on the one-day suspension.

I’m grateful that despite how scared I was of the bullies who terrorized me in middle school, my parents taught me how to stand up to them, and to stand up for myself. However, bullying has taken a much darker turn nowadays than simply stealing lunch money or your backpack.

Bullying now includes cyber-stalking/bullying/extortion. It’s not true that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”.

If your own child, regardless of age because high school is a dangerous place for bullies to lurk about, shows signs of anxiety, withdrawal, unexplained headaches, injuries they can’t explain, etc. please speak to them about being bullied.

Don’t let the symptoms go by or shrug them off. Cyber-bullying can lead to self-harm and suicides. Let them know that they can tell you *anything*, even if they’ve been conned into sending compromising photos of themselves to someone via their cell phones.

Here are some resources to read and share with your child/teen:

https://www.stompoutbullying.org/helpchat

https://www.cyberbullying.ca

https://www.cybertip.ca

https://www.crisistextline.org/topic/bullying

I hope these are helpful for your school year.

Here is my book, NORTHERN DECEPTION (Heroes of the Tundra Book 1) which is part of the Grand Prize package:

Reunions can be deadly.

After a savage attack in university, Kira Summers fled to the safety of northern Canada and her work as a polar bear scientist. But when her whistleblower brother dies in a mysterious car crash, she must return home to bury him and pack his belongings. Unaware she’s carrying explosive evidence someone’s willing to kill for, she has no choice but to rely on the one person she never thought she’d see again.

Lukas Tanner, a widowed single father of a special needs toddler, moved to Churchill five years ago. As the proud owner of Guiding Star Enterprises, a wilderness tour company, he and his daughter lead a simple life. But when Kira comes crashing back into his world, he realizes God has other plans. Now, Lukas and Kira must confront a merciless killer as their past and present collide in a deadly race – a race they must win if they have any hope of a future together.

If you can’t wait to see if you win, you can buy it here: https://amzn.to/3Iq6EsT

NORTHERN HEARTS (Heroes of the Tundra Book 2) is here: https://amzn.to/33CFJeE

NORTHERN PROTECTOR (Heroes of the Tundra Book 3) is here: https://amzn.to/32qDKK4

AND the next book in the series, NORTHERN REDEMPTION (Heroes of the Tundra Book 4) is coming out October 10, 2023! Here is the blurb:

Runaway bride Lise Dumont has escaped back to Churchill, Manitoba to reclaim her job as a Conservation Officer. She’d rather face down polar bears than marry her abusive ex-fiancé. Once she’s back home in the small town, the peace of the tundra soothes her spirit.

Northern Lights Helicopter Tour owner, Rory Gallagher, isn’t looking for any relationship deeper than the one he has with his pet cat. He enjoys being single and footloose, despite his family’s desire for him to settle down and produce grandchildren. Scarred by memories of not being able to save his father from drowning seven years ago, Rory’s fine with being alone.

Until Lise blazes back into town and helps talk him down from a helicopter crash. When two hardened escaped convicts take them hostage just as a blizzard closes in, it forces the two to rely on each other to survive. They each must face their past before they can have a future.

Can a relationship born out of life and death stakes be enough to last for a lifetime?

I have a Canadiana Gift Giveaway especially for you! Here is a photo of your Prize Package, available only from me.** This is open to US and Canadian readers:

INCLUDES:

Polar Bear Unisex Socks (because all of my books have a polar bear in them!)

Canvas Book Tote Bag, 14.5″ high, 12.5″ wide

Book Journal for those of you who love to record your book reading! 8.5″ x 11″ soft cover

Genuine Canadian Tim Horton’s Maple Flavoured Coffee 300 gm bag

A print copy of NORTHERN DECEPTION

**Book cover may be the original green cover.

Please fill out the Rafflecopter at: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/38979fb2342/

Thank you SO much for being here today!

Here is your next clue: SOMEONE ELSE,

Next stop: 

https://tabithabouldinauthor.home.blog/2023/08/29/back-to-school-christian-fiction-scavenger-hunt/

The post BACK TO SCHOOL CHRISTIAN FICTION SCAVENGER HUNT appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

An Uncommon Time

Part II

Thanks to Caesar Augustus’s demand for a census, which Mary didn’t mind, since it rescued her from Nazareth, Mary and Joseph trod the same crowded road Mary had six months ago.

The donkey plodded along, and she recalled arranging her clothing to mask her expanding abdomen when she’d walked back into Nazareth after her visit with Elizabeth.

Mary planned to circle around Joseph’s house, but as she was about to, there he stood. Smiling.

“You know that angel?”

“Um hm.”

“I met him in a dream. He told me this incredible story’s true. The hundreds of years we’ve waited for our Messiah have ended. Right here, in Nazareth. And just so you know, it doesn’t surprise me one jot that Yahweh picked you. I’m so sorry I didn’t believe you before. Forgive me?”

“Oh, Joseph.” She’d run into his arms.

She’d begged to go with Joseph, though a wife could stay at home if she wanted. Only, she couldn’t stand the staring eyes and wagging tongues of Nazareth, or her parents’ shame, one more moment. Now the sun set as Joseph led their donkey into Bethlehem.

Ouch! What was that? Wait, was it the beginning of birth pains? They grew stronger as the couple came to each door, where another innkeeper rebuffed Joseph.

Finally, an innkeeper who also claimed no rooms, seeing her endure a strong contraction, pointed to a stable behind his inn. “You can take her there.”

The Son of the Most High would be born in a stable? Not a palace? Not even a house? Yahweh, what are You doing?

You are rich in something more than gold and silver, Mary. I draw attention to what matters by where you birth My Son.

Joseph piled up clean straw for her, and when she’d accomplished Jesus’s birth, she gazed down into His eyes–His deep eyes held eternity, and love. God had done what He said He would do. Joseph took Him from her and laid Him in a manger where he’d arranged more clean straw. How could she mother God’s Son? How can I, Lord?

I will guide you. But you will make mistakes because you are human, and I am prepared for that.

Rough shepherds appeared and lingered at the entrance. “May we come in? An angel told us while we were keeping the temple sheep that our Savior is here in a manger.” They looked over at Jesus sleeping in His swaddling cloths.

Mary wondered again. No kings, prophets, priests, or warriors–just shepherds? Common people, like her and Joseph. Father, are You telling us that faith is more important than the power, education, or wealth our world approves?

Exactly

“Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

May the amazing birth of our Savior lead us all to ponder.

Jane Carlile Baker met Jesus fifty-five years ago. She serves children and is on the tech team in her church. Jane’s written three biographies, one nonfiction study of the Bible’s take on living in our times, and two novels. She’s at work on the third, Rogue Irishman, set in her beloved Ireland. Jane edits both fiction and nonfiction. She and her husband live in Central California with a dog and three alpacas. They have three children, five grandsons, and two great-grandchildren.

Jane hopes “A Common Girl, An Uncommon Time” warmed your Christmas. She’d love to send you free short stories once a month if you’ll sign up with your email at janecarlilebaker.com.

The post Christmas Blog Tour – Welcome Back Jane Carlile Baker appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Far From Home Christmas

In 1975, I accepted Jesus Christ’s work on the cross for my salvation, and a few months later, my parents sold my childhood home. We moved into a new community for people over 55. Because of my parents’ ages, they allowed me in. The promise of the clubhouse pool helped sell me on the idea and get excited.

The day we unpacked the moving truck, a friendly neighbor approached from across the street, and introduced us to another neighbor, Bea. She had a son my age. As we stood in our driveway, Bea told us there were four teens now, and she was happy to meet me. She invited me to her church, the youth group, and was the first Christian woman I met. Bea discipled me before I’d heard what it was. She also has the gifts of mercy and evangelism. It’s always Christmas in her heart.

Bea is 100 years old now, and my “second Mom.” She and her family adopted me by welcoming me as a sister. Her two youngest sons were my close friends. One had the travel bug and urged me to come over to Israel and work on the kibbutz for the summer where he lived, then work for the winter in Germany. I did.

It was 1981, and I fulfilled my dream of overseas travel after listening to his stories of working seasonal jobs and traveling for several years. The thought of going to Bible story locations burned within my soul. Experience where Jesus lived and see where He died? Yes. Not only enjoy gorgeous posters of castles on my walls, but to go inside them? I must.

I purchased a one-way ticket to Israel, worked on the kibbutz for the summer, traveled, then flew to Germany to work for the winter. Visiting 14 countries gave me the experiences I wrote about in my short stories, and how God gave me the unexpected encounters with Him as I traveled.

I’d never been so far away from home until that 1981 Christmas and never dreamed of celebrating it in the magnificent setting of the German Alps. It remains my most fantastic memory of Christmas, and I wrote a short story about it for Grace Publishing’s Celebrating Christmas anthology. My hope is it will resonate with your heart.

My Bavarian Christmas story is a gift to you when you sign up for my newsletter. Merry Christmas to all!

https://sparrow.world/christmas-in-bavaria/

Bio:

Author E.V. Sparrow ministered through short-term missions, worship team, prayer teams, and led small groups in Single’s and Divorce Care ministries. Sparrow’s stories surprise readers when they encounter God’s unexpected presence. She recently signed a contract for three books, with Celebrate Lit. Watch for her first release in December 2023.  You can connect with her here: https://linktr.ee/ev.sparrow

The post Christmas Blog Tour – Welcome Ev Sparrow appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Christmas Season Must Watch Christmas Movie List

I love the holiday season. It’s not just Christmas—it’s the love, anticipation, grace, and thankfulness that fills our house every November, December, and January. I start decorating the first weekend of November, and I have to pace myself when it comes to wrapping presents, donating gifts, and baking (and baking and baking) so I don’t do it all in one week.

While I’m doing all of those things, I always have a Christmas movie playing in the background.

Though I enjoy Hallmark holiday movies, I can’t watch them while I work—it’s too easy to get sucked into the plot and stop working! Instead, I have my Must-Watch List of traditional and nontraditional movies. They’re perfect for the season without being too distracting (because I’ve seen each one a dozen times!).

Christmas movies became a staple in my life when I was single because I often felt lonely in my apartment by myself. Even though I’m married now, we’re a childless couple. We spend Thanksgiving or Christmas with my family, but we spend the other holiday at home with each other. I love my husband, but our small family lacks the craziness I grew up with two sisters with less than four years between all of us. I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but now I crave the familiar coziness of it all.

Though I’d rather be with family, these holiday movies set the mood, and because I’ve seen them so many times, it makes it feel like the house is full of friends. I can’t wait to watch them again this year!

Here’s my list of Must-Watch holiday flicks.

Traditional:

White Christmas
The Santa Clause (1, 2, and 3)
The Holiday
Elf
Holiday Inn
The Man Who Invented Christmas

Nontraditional:

Little Women (1994)
Die Hard (1 & 2)
While You Were Sleeping

I’ll also usually watch Home Alone and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but those are really for my husband, not so much for me.

What about you—are you a fan of Christmas movies? Which is your favorite?

(Movies aren’t the only tradition at our house—click here for the easy-to-make recipes for my husband’s two favorite holiday treats!)

Bio:

Author of hopeful fiction with a healthy dose of romance, Karin Beery also owns Write Now Editing, helping authors turn good manuscripts into great books. She lives in northern Michigan with her husband and pets. They drink too much (decaf) coffee, put up their Christmas tree the first weekend in November, and do their best to live every day for the Lord.

Some places where you can connect:

https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinbeery/

https://twitter.com/karinbeery

https://www.instagram.com/karinbeery/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karin-beery

https://www.amazon.com/Karin-Beery/e/B07HQ2GZQS

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2666258-karin

The post Christmas Blog Tour – Please Welcome Karen Beery appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Welcome everyone! This month I’m hosting some fellow Christian authors who will share their thoughts about Christmas, and have some special gifts just for you.

Today I’m welcoming author Jennifer Hallmark, who’s going to share 10 Ways to Display Kindness During The Holidays. Take it away, Jennifer!

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”–Aesop 

The holidays have arrived, dressed in glitter, bearing the aroma of pumpkin, cinnamon, and pine. Traffic has jammed around malls and supercenters. And who can forget the increase in events? Parties, special church services, and family gatherings, to name a few.

A time of joy, laughter, and togetherness.

But not for all.

During this time of pandemic illnesses, high inflation, and families uprooted from their homes due to job changes and fresh starts, people are lonely. Unsettled. Depressed.

Crying out for relief.

What can we do? Is there a way, as individuals, churches, or civic groups, that we can help?

Yes! We can make a difference in our community, state, nation, and world. From small acts of kindness to large charitable undertakings, everyone can do something. We just have to start. Over the years, I’ve had the blessing of participating in “good deeds” to make the holidays brighter for someone in need. Here are some ideas that you, as an individual, or your group, can look into:

Individual:

• Send Christmas cards. Who doesn’t enjoy receiving a cheerful card in the mail?
• Make a phone call. Brighten someone’s day with the sound of your voice.
• Bake or create a gift. People enjoy homemade presents.
• Deliver packages of socks to a nursing home or homeless shelter. An often-requested item.
• Smile while you shop. You never know what people are going through and what a smile might mean.

Church or Civic Group

• Invite the community to a holiday dinner. Look for people new to the area or who might be struggling and extend a personal invitation.
• Participate in an event to help children. Send shoe boxes of gifts (Samaritan’s Purse), backpacks of food and school supplies (Baptist Christmas Backpack Ministry), or pick a child from an Angel Tree (Salvation Army). For local outreach, check with your community’s child welfare services.
• Sponsor a drive-through or walk-through nativity scene or Christmas event. Offer fun games, photo opportunities, and free hot cocoa and provide a safe place for people new to the community to enjoy the holidays.
• Host a food drive for your local food bank or for specific needy families in your area.
• Create gift baskets for the elderly, those hospitalized during the holidays, and/or the military.

Whether you share a card, phone call, visit, homemade gift, or smile, you can make a lonely person feel loved and accepted during this special time of year. The blessing you receive in return will be worth it all.

What do you plan to do to make the Christmas season more meaningful? I’d love to know!

Gifts for you: How would you like to receive ten of my favorite cake and cookie recipes, read the first chapter of my debut novel, Jessie’s Hope, and sign up for my newsletter, all for free?

Here’s the page with all the information. Thanks!

Jennifer Hallmark writes Southern fiction off the beaten track and her website focuses on her books, love of the South, and the unexpected in stories. Jessie’s Hope, her debut novel published by Firefly Southern Fiction, was a 2019 Selah Award nominee. She also hosts a podcast on persevering during chaotic times, “Determined to Dance,” and is a mentor with Word Weavers International.

The post Christmas Blog Tour – Please Welcome Jennifer Hallmark appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Welcome back to the blog Lisa! Congratulations on your latest book! But before we get into that, can you please tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

I’m an award-winning author of The Ben Ripple; Choosing to Live through Loss with Purpose and Dancing in the Rain; One Family’s Journey through Grief and Loss. As well, I’m a long-standing writer for Just Between Us magazine and online devotionals including The Story and Good Ground. I’m also a speaker, blogger, pastor’s wife, mother of four (3 on earth, 1 in heaven), mother-in-love to two, and Nana to four (so far).

I love walking, spending time in my kitchen, Skyping my grandchildren (who live too far away), and dating my husband of almost 40 years. My greatest joy and passion is sharing the truths and life-giving principles of God’s Word Straight from the Heart, based upon Romans 15:18 that says, “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me.” 

So, let’s talk about your latest book, “A Ministry Survival Guide”. This sounds like something a lot of women can use in their daily lives.

A Ministry Survival Guide is more than just a survival guide. It’s a sur-thrival guide! It explores the joys and challenges of life in the spotlight of ministry. Relatable stories, survival tips, biblical mentors, and a Bible study guide provide a valuable resource for pastors’ wives, women in ministry, and anyone desiring to thrive not just survive in the Christian life.

It covers topics on: living a public-private life, fortifying your marriage, balancing family and ministry, preventing burnout, navigating transitions, managing painful relationships, growing through personal challenges, building a godly support system, discovering blessings beneath burdens, and nurturing your soul.

 What inspired you to write this book?

My inspiration behind my story came as a result of almost forty years’ experience as a pastor’s wife and woman in ministry. I’ve not only experienced the joys, struggles, and challenges firsthand, I’ve witnessed and come alongside many others in the same position as they’ve tried to make their way in ministry. For years I kept an entire computer file of notes on scripture that has ministered to me personally throughout the last forty years along with short subtitles that triggered memories related to my experiences.

Who knew that it would take a year of seclusion amid a pandemic to provide me with the opportunity to go public with it all? It wasn’t until then that I understood why the Lord had lain Jeremiah 30:2 upon my heart in January 2020: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.’” Looking back with 20/20 vision, it all makes sense to me now. If I’m completely honest, I welcomed the pandemic as a gift—a reprieve, if you will.

It gave me the necessary time to lock myself away in my house and remain in social isolation, out of the spotlight of public ministry, to reflect upon my forty years in ministry. Now my prayer is that others, pastors’ wives, women in ministry, and women from all walks of life will be encouraged as they fulfill their calling in whatever form it takes.

What was the catalyst for your interest in writing?

Up until writing daily prayer requests—turned blog—turned book around my 18-year-old son’s battle with leukemia in 2008, I had honestly never considered writing. However, others felt differently. Those who were praying for us and joined our journey online, prompted me to publish. They felt it was not only a source of encouragement but also a powerful resource for others.

What began as an outlet for my grief, opened up a writing platform with the editor of a Christian Women’s magazine, Just Between Us. This, in turn, led to a Christian Publisher inviting me to submit my manuscript and enter it into a Free Publishing Contest. I won. And the rest is HIS-story.

Do you have a day job? If so, how do you find time during your day to write?

Since the pandemic, my day job as an inspirational speaker has taken a back seat to my writing. My writing helps me process my personal thoughts. Most of my writing stems from my personal experience. Because of that, there never seems to be a shortage of things to write about.

Therefore, I always make time to write. I find that whether I’m at my computer or not, my mind is always actively writing, processing thoughts, and adding scriptural application. I need creative space that enables me to put my thoughts into writing and speaking material. So I seize moments whenever and however I can.

Were there any surprises that came up for you as you wrote your story?

There were a few surprises as I wrote my story. The first was how good it felt to finally release forty years of pent-up ministry experiences, challenges faced, and lessons learned. To be honest, it surprised me how much I’d learned. And it surprised me just how desperately I felt prompted to share it with those who could benefit from what I’d learned.

Once I let the cat out of the bag that I was prayerfully considering publishing my experiences in ministry I was surprised at the immediate interest from women. Not only women in ministry, but women in general, begging for a book like this! I have to say they’ve all been very nice surprises!

What does your family think of your writing?

Seeing as all of my books involve my family, including this one pertaining to my ministry alongside my pastor-husband, they were, and still are, very supportive. The hardest part of writing my books, given the personal nature of them, has been maintaining a semblance of sacred and privacy while we, quite literally, live out our private lives in front of a live audience to this day.

Who was the first person you allowed to read your completed book?

There were actually a few supporters I immediately sought out for perspective and encouragement. One of the first I reached out to was Shelly Esser. She and I met when I was in the process of writing my first book. Even though I didn’t realize I was writing one at the time. She is a professional editor of the magazine she eventually invited me to write for, Just Between Us.

It’s a magazine initially published for pastors’ wives but has since expanded to reach women from all walks of life. Shelly’s perspective spoke from the volumes of women she hears from on a daily basis regarding their need for encouragement and inspiration. Things I was seeking to write for a similar reading audience.

The next person I reached out to was my oldest daughter, Natalie, who watched me live out everything I was now portraying to a hungry audience of ministry wives. I knew she’d help me to keep it real without divulging too much information. She’s the one who told me how much wives and young moms would benefit from such a book as this one. Natalie has also written the Foreword of my book.

The next person whose opinion meant everything to me was my sister-by-heart, Jamie. She’s known the deepest part of me for years. She allowed me to read it aloud to her and was able to guide me through the process of exposing sacred spaces in my heart. I’m eternally grateful for these three women of God as well as others who have since journeyed with me to make this book a reality.

What’s next for you as an author?

Many doors have opened up to me as a result of my writing. I’ve already mentioned, Just Between Us magazine with both their printed issues and online presence. I plan on continuing writing for them for as long as I have breath to breathe that would help encourage other women.

My publisher, Word Alive Press, also opened the door wide and invited me to write a monthly blog, Straight from the Heart. That came as a tremendous encouragement to me and affirmation that my writing was worth reading. I can’t think of a greater compliment they could have given me.

Other opportunities have come in the form of devotionals for The Story and Good Ground devotional app. I’ve also been sought out to contribute to books like Good Grief People and Hot Apple Cider with Cinnamon.

Who knows where my writing will take me next! My heart is always open. That’s where it really gets exciting as I continue to write Straight from the Heart!

I’m going to share your beautiful cover and back cover blurb with our readers and then get into an excerpt from it:

A Ministry Survival Guide: Straight from the Heart explores the joys and challenges of life in the spotlight of ministry. Relatable stories, Survival Tips, Biblical Mentors, and a Bible Study provide a valuable resource for pastors’ wives, women in ministry, and anyone desiring to thrive, not just survive in the Christian life.

• Living a public-private life
• Fortifying your marriage
• Balancing family and ministry
• Preventing burnout
• Navigating transitions
• Managing painful relationships
• Growing through personal challenges
• Building a godly support system
• Discovering blessings beneath burdens
• Nurturing your soul

An Excerpt from A Ministry Survival Guide:

A Ministry Survival Guide: Straight from the Heart is written as an interactive book. It’s one thing to share my own personal experiences and another to invite the reader to consider their own. It is designed for personal or group study and is definitely a Book Club read! With that, here’s a sampling of my book:

For years, my family and I set aside an hour a week to check out of life as we knew it. With munchies in hand, we’d each nestle into a comfy chair and tune into the television reality show Survivor. The show aired the night before my husband’s day off. So we affectionately called it Survivor Night.

For those unfamiliar with the show, each season a new group of castaways is dropped off on a tropical island in the middle of nowhere with only a backpack containing a few essential items. The goal of the game is to see who will “outwit, outplay, and outlast” the others to become the sole survivor, winning a million dollars.

While the show isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I have a strange connection to it. Throughout each season, I grow to appreciate the players’ endurance and stamina as they bear up under extreme weather conditions and compete in grueling challenges. I feel the pain of defeat in their losses and rejoice with them in their victories. I see them carefully build alliances only to be blindsided by those they thought they could trust. I weep with them when their families arrive for a reward, realizing how valuable those relationships are. I identify with their efforts, struggles, and frustrations as they fight to survive against all odds.

During every single episode I say to myself at some point, often out loud, “I could never do that!” Until I finally realized I have done that! That’s when it occurred to me that the reason I find such a connection to the game is that ministry is a lot like Survivor.

You see, I’m a survivor. Not merely a sole survivor but a soul survivor. What the castaways play out in front of a camera for forty days, I’ve lived for forty years before a live audience called the church. At times it’s felt like I’ve had a spotlight on me, my marriage, and my family. I’ve been scrutinized and reviewed by critics. I’ve fumbled through unrehearsed lines and unscripted scenes, most of it unedited.

While I may not win a million dollars at the end of it all, my reward is waiting for me in glory. I find assurance in what 2 Timothy 4:8 tells us: Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)

Survival Tip: Rise to the challenge. The game of Survivor is full of challenges. These challenges test endurance, stamina, and skills that push the survivors to their physical, mental, and emotional limit. Likewise, your endurance will undoubtedly be put to the test in ministry. You will be pushed to your limit. There will be moments when you doubt you have what it takes to accomplish what God has called you to do.

You’re not alone. He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). The Lord’s desire is that you not only survive, but thrive in what He’s called you to do. He never calls you without equipping you. As 2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Why not take some time right now to recommit your ministry to Him?

I’m so excited for this book, Lisa!   Readers, you can buy it on Amazon at:

https://amzn.to/3MQK2E3

Signed copies are available for $20 each plus shipping. Order by emailing: lisakelliott22@gmail.com 

My book is also available where books are sold or order online: Wordalivepress.ca, Christianbooks.com, Chapters/Indigo, and US-based Anchor Distributors.

Where can readers find you online?

You can contact me at lisakelliott22@gmail.com,

Follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-Elliott-Straight-from-the-Heart-SpeakerAuthor-370667793001091), or visit my website at: https://lisaelliottstraightfromtheheart.wordpress.com/

Blog www.wordalivepress.ca/blogs

Just Between Us Magazine www.justbetweenus.org

100 Huntley Street: 100 Huntley Street: Search

100 Huntley Street: Dancing in the Rain: One Family’s Journey Through Grief

FamilyLife Workshop This Day Forward Parenting Conference – FamilyLife Canada

Do you have a question for Lisa about her ministry journey or any of her books? Leave it in the comments and she’ll get back to you. She loves to interact with readers. If you’d like to send her a private message please use her email address listed above.

Thanks for being with us today! 

The post Author Interview with Lisa Elliott on her new book “A Ministry Survival Guide” appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Happy Christmas in July! Welcome to the seventh blog in this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway, which runs July 12-23, 2021. At the bottom of each author’s blog post, you will find the secret words. Write them all down and provide the provide the entire answer on this Google form. See below for a list with links of all participating authors!

Note: You must grab all the secret words from every author in the Christmas in July Reader Giveaway to be eligible to win a $400 Amazon gift card. At the end of this blog post is a link to the next blog, and so on, to the final blog post (20 in all). At each blog stop, the author will also give away copy or copies of their featured Christmas book.

My publisher came to me with the idea of doing a special Christmas novella for my Heroes of the Tundra series, because Book 1, Northern Deception, ends in November, with an epilogue at the end of the winter in March. They thought putting a story within my tundra world at Christmas time would be a great idea and I agreed with them, even though I’d never tried to write a Christmas story before – never mind a novella!

I was already writing Book 2, Northern Protector, which is set in the following summer right after Northern Deception. It was a challenge to switch horses and think about Christmas and what that might look like in Churchill, Manitoba, which is a real town. I decided to make it as similar to a Hallmark story as I could, with a simple but interesting timed mystery, and a budding romance. I knew that the town of Churchill does an annual Santa Claus event at their Town Centre so that every child in town receives at least once present for Christmas, so I used that as my ending and wrote backwards.

It was fun to come up with my own twist on Christmas traditions, as I made my hero and heroine complete opposites: Jake Miller is an older chef who’s used to running the business and settled into his career and life in the northern wilderness. Kali McIntyre has dreams of opening her own dessert bar in the big city, and is a firecracker with visions of how to completely re-do everything that’s been “working” for The Great Northern Lodge up until her arrival. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but I had a ton of fun coming up with her wacky methods of changing Christmas traditions that had stood the test of time in the north.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

Wealthy socialite Kali McIntyre dreams of opening her own dessert bar, Sassy Sweets, in downtown Winnipeg—until her father crushes that dream when he cuts her off financially. He’s determined to get her to use her law degree to join the family’s high-powered law firm. She’s determined to do anything but that. And when an unknown-to-her aunt dies in Churchill, Manitoba, leaving her an unbelievable inheritance, Kali’s on the next flight up north to make her dreams a reality. Chef Jake Miller has lived in Churchill for the past ten years, working hard to keep The Great Northern Lodge afloat through some tough times. But then his business partner dies unexpectedly, without telling him that she’d changed her will or that she had a niece who is set to inherit everything. Now, Jake and Kali have thirty days to work together and decide—who will stay and who will go—before Christmas rolls around. Secrets, attempted murder, and a new menu all add up to a Christmas unlike any other.

For your chance to win 3 E-book copies of NORTHERN HEARTS, please leave your family’s favourite Christmas tradition in the comments. Is it something baked? Something decorative? A family activity?

(I’m giving away E-books because I value all of my national and international readers!)

Now, it’s time to for the secret words: the guilty 

Save the secret words, and when you reach the final blog, enter all the secret words on this form for a chance to win a $400 Amazon gift cards!

Thank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Carol Stratton and her Christmas book “The Littlest Bell Ringer” – a middle grade novel . You can find it at this link. Remember, this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway will end on July 23 at 8 PM EST!

Here’s a list of all participating authors with their links, just in case something goes wonky. Enjoy!

1. Sarah Hamakerhttps://sarahhamakerfiction.com/2021/07/10/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway-dangerous-christmas-memories/
2. Jill Kemererhttps://jillkemerer.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
3. Dennis Baileyhttps://dennisbaileyfiction.com/2021/07/08/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
4. Peggy Sue Wellshttps://singlemomcircle.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
5. Terri Weldonhttps://terriweldon.com/blog/
6. Jennifer Chastain https://jenniferchastain.com/2021/07/11/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
7. Laurie Wood’s secret words: the guilty, (her blog isn’t working right now)
8. Carol Strattonhttps://www.carolgstratton.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
9. Terri Reedhttp://www.terrireed.com/2021/07/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway.html
10. Anne Greenhttp://anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com/
11. Pam Greenhttps://pamgreenwrites.com/2021/07/11/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
12. Izzy Jameshttps://enotsilent.wordpress.com/2021/07/11/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
13. Nancy J. Farrierhttps://nancyjfarrier.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
14. Dana Mentinkhttps://dmentink.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
15. Hallee Bridgemanhttps://www.halleebridgeman.com/christmas-in-july
16. Susan Lyttekhttps://sajlyttek.com/blog/1526-Christmas-in-July-Reader-Giveaway?sel=1-0
17. Zoe McCarthyhttps://zoemmccarthy.com/activities/christmas-in-july-reader-give-away
18. Sherry Kylehttps://www.sherrykyle.com/forever-yours-this-christmas-christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/

The post CHRISTMAS IN JULY READER GIVEAWAY: NORTHERN HEARTS (Heroes of the Tundra Novella) appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Welcome back, Shannon! We’re excited to hear about your other passion – outside of writing, of course!

When I was a kid, my mom sewed most of her clothes and mine. They were simple patterns and I loved my clothes. This was before everything had to be in style and name brands weren’t a thing. One year, I got patterns for Barbie clothes for Christmas. There was a pattern for a skirt, dress, top, and pants. I made simple sew by hand clothing for Barbie and Ken out of my mom’s scraps.

I made this shirt for my Mod-Hair Ken. Isn’t he groovy. Yes, I still have my Barbies. They were my favorite toy, so I saved them. I only have a son, but maybe I’ll have a granddaughter someday. She can make fun of Ken’s hair, which looked much better back in his day.

In my tweens, I bought precut quilt squares. My mom taught me how to use the sewing machine, but it intimidated me. I remember being afraid I’d sew my fingers, so I ended up sewing the squares together by hand and my grandmother quilted it for me. I still have and used it for years, but some of the squares need restitched, so I put it away. She’s been gone seventeen years now, so I love it even more. One of these days, I’ll repair it.

In high school, my best friend sewed her own clothes. Really, cute, trendy stuff. When I said I wanted to learn, we went to the store for me to pick out my pattern and fabric. I hated every second of it. Though I managed to use the machine and not sew my fingers, I tore out more stitches than I kept. Every little pucker of getting off the line mattered when it came to clothing. I ended up with a cute top, but I wore it only a few times because it reminded me of the frustration of making it.

Early in my marriage, my grandmother cleaned out her fabric stash and gave it to me. I found really simple easy sew dress, tank top, and short patterns and made some clothes. There really wasn’t anything fashionable about them, but the right fabric made them cute.

And then I saw some beautiful curtain toppers at J.C. Penney for way more than I wanted to pay for them since I’m painfully frugal. The next time I went shopping, I looked through a pattern book and found the curtain toppers. I bought the fabric of my choice and made them for a fraction of the cost.

During the process I learned that with curtain toppers, if you make a pucker or sew a bit crooked, it doesn’t matter. I’d found my sewing love. At one point, I made heavy moire drapes with fancy valances for our living room. But now I have simple toppers with blinds.

Over the years, I expanded to sewing comforters. It matters if you make a pucker more, but I buy fabric with straight lines in the print or square panels and all I have to do is sew along the lines. I sewed every comforter our son had from the time he was born until he was about fourteen. He had Noah’s Ark, Bob the Builder, Spiderman, Camouflage, and Big Buck comforters.

When he was fourteen, he crushed my soul and asked if he could have a store-bought comforter like all his friends. I still have all the ones I made him in a tub for future grandchildren though. There’s no hurry since he’s only nineteen now. But I do have fabric I’ve bought with future grandchildren in mind.

I also sew items for friends and family. When anyone has a baby, they get a comforter and curtain toppers to compliment their nursery. My cousin just became a grandmother. Her daughter did the nursery in a national parks theme since she and her husband love to hike. I made a twin size quilt, so they’re new baby boy will be able to use it past infancy.

Even though minimalist décor is all the rage now and most people just have blinds or shades on their windows these days, I still have curtain toppers. And I made them all. My office has pastel, seashell toppers. I bought this fabric fifteen years before I had a use for it. My family room is decorated cabin rustic, so I have burlap with woodland animal trim in there.

My new laundry room has my favorite toppers. There are pictures of wicker furniture, wood rocking chairs, glass tea pitchers, and geraniums. They say, Sweet Tea Sippin, Screen Porch Views, Front Porch Sittin, Neighborhood News. My kitchen curtains blend with the family room since it’s all open. They’re burlap with coffee label trim since my kitchen is all about coffee.

I currently have a fabric stash way bigger than my grandmother did. Since we just converted our tiny spare bedroom/junk room into a laundry room, I’ll soon have a sewing nook in there. No more dragging my sewing machine and supplies to the kitchen table. As soon as the sewing table I ordered arrives, my machine will be at the ready whenever I want. Oh the curtain toppers and comforters I shall make.

Question: Do you sew? If so, clothes, home décor, or both? If not, what’s your craft love?

We’re part of Shannon’s Blog Tour for A TEXAS BOND. Leave a comment to be entered in her Grand Draw. She’ll be doing the draw March 10, 2021 and winners will be notified by email.

Here’s the beautiful cover and back cover blurb for A TEXAS BOND:

A Texas Bond by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

(Book 3: Texas Hill Country series)

Finding his family is only the beginning…

He came to find the children…

Will he stay to win her heart?

Learning he’s an uncle shocks Ross Lyles—but after years of handling his brother’s bombshells, at least this surprise is a blessing. A pair of five-year-old blessings Ross is determined to meet, if he can convince their aunt to give him a chance. Fiercely protective, Stacia Keyes is worried he’ll try to take the children…and lassoing her trust is harder than he ever imagined.

Available at Walmart from mid-Feb to mid-March. Or online:

A Texas Bond – ChristianBook       A Texas Bond – Amazon         A Texas Bond – BarnesandNoble

Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does.

She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.

Connect with her: Shannon’s Website, Shannon’s Blog, Shannon’s Facebook, Shannon’s Goodreads, Shannon’s Pinterest, Shannon’s Twitter, Newsletter Archives, Shannon’s Amazon Author Page and Shannon’s Bookbub. Sign up for her Newsletter to get a free e-book, recipes, behind the scenes info, & enter exclusive giveaways: Shannon’s Newsletter

Recently, Shannon joined Scrivenings Press as co-owner/acquisitions/content editor.

The post On Blog Tour with Shannon Vannatter for her new book A TEXAS BOND appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.