Ginger High- Books R Us

INTERVIEW OF FEATHER STONE AUTHOR OF THE GUARDIAN'S WILDCHILD.

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Sat, 26 May 2012 01:37:00 +0000

I would like to welcome Feather Stone Heather to Books R Us. Heather is the author of The Guardian's Wildchild. Thanks for stopping by.

Can you tell me who or what was the inspiration for the book?

I had no ambitions to write a book. Writing was something I did for my own pleasure. That is until I had become so tortured by a vision that I thought that writing about it would stop the constant replay.

Though many might think I’m guilty of an over active imagination, I have to admit to having many paranormal experiences since childhood. No witches or vampires, but plenty of events that cannot be explained away through traditional science.

I met my spirit guide when I was about eight – in the flesh! It’s a long story, but suffice to say that experience had a profound effect on the rest of my life. Later, when I was drowning in a lake, and losing consciousness lying on the bottom, I again heard my guide say, “If you stand, you can breathe.” I had just enough resolve to do as he bid. Sure enough. My nose was just above the water.

What does this have to do with writing The Guardian’s Wildchild? While I’ve had many paranormal experiences, none have been as profound as the space/time travel that took place over ten years ago. In an attempt to steal the relentless wind from my vision’s sails, I sat at my computer’s keyboard and excitedly told the story. I sought explanations of the who’s and where’s and how’s. Answers came spontaneously. Page after page, day after day the energy of the paranormal experience never dissipated. I became a slave to the disembodied narrator of the story.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “She’s exaggerating. She’s being very grandiose with a flair for the bizarre.” No, I’m not clairvoyant (chuckling). But I do understand your skepticism. This is truly why and how I wrote The Guardian’s Wildchild. I wrote for five years. What was puzzling was the passion I felt while writing. The energy was empowering, dazzling with creative juices I never before believed was possible.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

Writer’s block is not allowed in my world. I suppose there are days when inspirations fail to tantalize, my imagination becomes overly concerned with what is perfect. On those days I simply review previous chapters and rework, correct, perhaps even delete complete paragraphs. I either move forward into the story, or do research, or edit.

On rare occasions I’ll become overwhelmed with a feeling the story has suffered a sudden death, the sizzle has become fizzed out. I’ll force myself to upload the file, read the last paragraph, and sit in silence.

Meditation has always worked for me. No matter what demons are vying for power to overwhelm me with doom, meditation brings me back to my core. It’s a place of authentic power and my loving inner guide. It’s a place, I believe, where we connect with our source. I will actually feel a shift, a physical sense of the story’s reel resuming its forward motion. The visions become clear and my fingers will struggle to keep up on the keyboard with the disembodied narrator.

Can you tell me your experiences in finding a publisher for the book?

That was a learning experience. Friends will tell you I can be a smidgen stubborn. In writing classes, the instructor emphasized the importance of seeking a publisher that will be interested in the story’s genre. Unfortunately, I didn’t do my research as carefully as required. And, it was difficult to pin down my story’s unique genre classification.

I started out approaching publishers whose interest and business is in the area of fantasy and mystery. After months of waiting for a reply, it was disappointing to receive their “Thanks, but no thanks,” form letter.

I talked to an editor about how to get over this hurdle. She advised to cut my manuscript down from the 500 pages to 300. Her reasoning was that publishers are less likely to accept a huge manuscript from an unpublished writer. I spent the next two years rewriting. It was painful and intense work – but a superb learning experience.

I then went to the book stores. I searched for books that had a similar genre and noted who the publisher was. It was then that I realized my genre was more in the area of paranormal (without the vampires) than fantasy. Back at the computer I searched for ‘paranormal’ publishers who were accepting manuscripts. Up popped “Omnific Publishing.”

That was the beginning of a long process of sending portions of my manuscript (electronically, thankfully) to Omnific for review. I followed their criteria to the letter and all was going well until the finally message again saying, “No thanks.” I was devastated. This was the last straw in my mind. I worked up the courage to ask them why they rejected my manuscript. Normally, that is simply not done.

To my relief, I got a reply. The reason was that there was a part, an important part of the story that was missing. I realized that in my attempt to reduce the number of pages, I had hacked and burned too much. Again, I went back to rewriting, replaced the lost details about the Guardian’s background.

Amazingly, Omnific agreed to take a second look at my manuscript. When I received the e-mail stating they would publish The Guardian’s Wildchild, I let out a scream. I almost never scream. It was a thrill that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

How long did it take you to write the book and how long did it take to get the book released?

I wrote The Guardian’s Wildchild while I was working fulltime as a paramedic and research assistant. Free time to indulge in my fantasy of being a writer was severely limited. After five years, the first draft was completed. I then interviewed five editors and accepted one, Elizabeth Medwid.

Together we went over every sentence, word by word. She assigned me projects to complete. I had to write a biography of each character in detail, from their birth to their death – most of which never appeared within the story. However, the characters became living, breathing, hauntingly real people in my world.

After three more years, I was ready to submit my manuscript to publishers. Two years later, I took a photo of my book on the Cole’s book shelf. A total of ten years to see a dream come true.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why?

Ah, you don’t know me. I don’t play favorites. I love all the characters – after all, they are like my children. However, if I was to pick one that I admire the most, it would have to be Captain Samaru Waterhouse. The man went through hell and gave up the most to save his sons and get his life back which, I might add, was on the verge of being lost to the Dark side. His strength of character, not to mention he’s great looks, endurance of his will power, nearly at the cost of his sanity, was incredible. At yet, he remained so human, believable, one that any person in a crisis could relate to.

What are your current / future projects?

You know, I thought that The Guardian’s Wildchild was my one kick at the cat (sorry kitties). No plans to write another book. However, just weeks after my book was available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, I was flooded with images from the Middle East, and a story that was too powerful to ignore. I have completed only half of the first draft. I hope be ready to do the editing by January 2013. That’s when the story is infused with its soul. The working title had been “Cursed Angel” but I’m guided to change it to “Forbidden.”

This is an intense story of a man and a woman struggling to survive the war torn city’s evil inhabitants. Witnessing a politically charged criminal event during her visit in Persia, Eliza becomes a quasi-prisoner. Captain Hashim Khan of the city’s police force is charged with ensuring she remains out of sight. His very life and that of his family depends on it. Within the benevolent main population, Eliza seeks refuge and hopes to escape home to Canada. The complication is that Eliza is struggling with insanity, a result from a horrific accident four years ago. It doesn’t take long before Eliza and Hashim discover their passion for each other. However, this is forbidden. Not because Hashim is Muslim, but because ….. Well, you’ll have to read Forbidden.

Do you have any tips for a young writer just starting out?

Write because you must, not because you wish to be famous or wealthy. Write only what you’re passionate about, not what appears to be selling hot.

Do your research. For example, I know nearly nothing about the Middle East or Islamic Law, or the Muslim faith. As it is not recommended to travel to the Middle East, I have to immerse myself into that culture which is available here. I’ve interviewed an Imam at his mosque and have been invited to return. I’ve was given an arm load of books and videos. I’m reading the Quran and several other books about life in that region. I’ll be interviewing more people who have lived in the Islamic countries.

Unless you are especially gifted and no other employment, expect your first manuscript to take years to complete. To maintain that dedication, the story must be one that haunts you day and night.

Take courses on development of plot, characters, dialogue, etc. It is also a great time to receive objective assessment of your work. One area that I had to work on was delving into evil, writing about intense hatred, motives bordering on insanity, or insanity itself. I feared that any intense focus on those feelings in the virtual world would invite trouble into my physical world.

Finally, don’t give up. There will be people who will love your work (family and friends are not useful when needing objective advice); and there will be people who can’t stand your creation. Believe in yourself every step of the way, with one caveat. Be big enough to accept sound criticism from a professional editor. You may be directed to delete words, phrases, even entire paragraphs that you believed was sacred. Listen to your gut. If you delete stuff, save a copy of the original file. You may need to go back and “undo” the delete. I love ‘undo.”

If your book was to be made into a movie, Who would you like the main character to be played by and why?

My heroine, Sidney Davenport, is a strong willed young woman. Detests rules. She is a powerful Guardian and has grown up among her people who live an austere lifestyle on a remote, uncharted island. She’s not glam or sophisticated. It is difficult to find a movie star that has a profile photo which will fit Sidney’s character. When I began writing The Guardian’s Wildchild, I looked for photos of my characters. In a magazine I found Sidney. Not a movie star or glamorous model. But she is Sidney down to her bare feet.

It was similarly difficult to find a photo of my hero, Captain Samaru Waterhouse, who is a Japanese American. I needed to find not only a photo of a tall, mature Asian man, but also one that revealed a ruggedly handsome man with a determined look on his face. A man in control, and a bit threatening. A captain-of-a-ship kind of man. There were no movie stars that fit his profile.

Then, one afternoon while shopping in a department store, I saw Captain Waterhouse. He took my breath away. The advertisement poster hanging from the ceiling was huge, showing an Asian man with the perfect expression. Don’t you agree?

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing? Where do you like to vacation? Can you tell us briefly about this?

Oh, you shouldn’t have asked that. My husband will tell you that I’ve always got several projects on the go all the time. It depends a lot on the season. I live in Canada, central Alberta. The weather pretty much dictates what we do. Right now, my flower gardens are showing signs they’ve beat winter’s wrath. In spite of wearing gloves while gardening, my fingernails are a disaster all summer long. In winter, I knit afghans, read books, play poker. Ongoing regardless of the weather, I walk my dog, Jasper, and my cat, Leo – well, except when the temp dips below -20C. I love photography, water color painting, and writing.

I’m a Reiki practitioner and love to meditate. I’m on a journey into the Shamanic traditions (non drug) and continue to experience the paranormal that has been a part of my life since childhood.

My favorite vacation spot is Hawaii, but away from the tourist traps. My hubby and I lived there while he attended university, so we know the great spots to hang out, privately. I’m blushing.

Can you tell me where we can purchase your book?

Thank you for inquiring. Here are the links where The Guardian’s Wildchild can be purchase.

The Guardian’s Wildchild is available for purchase at:

Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Omnific Publishing http://www.omnificpublishing.com

FEATHER STONE’S WEBSITES:

Website: http://featherstoneauthor.com

Blog: http://featherstoneauthor.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/FeatherWrites

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FSauthor

About the Book:

Caught in a reckless attempt to stop Dark forces, Sidney Davenport, a young, rule breaking, spirited member of the secret paranormal community of Guardians, finds herself imprisoned on a naval ship and slated for execution. Her struggle with the unfamiliar emotions of fear and anger becomes even more complicated when she can no longer fight her attraction to the very man who has orders to perform her execution. Captain Sam Waterhouse, a meticulous naval captain who's suspected of treason, teeters on a precipice between Darkness and Light. When he receives an unusual prisoner, a paranormal journey begins to unravel his disciplined life. All the while, humanity is unknowingly at great risk when two Dark forces team up to acquire control of an elusive power. Sidney and Sam attempt to quiet their powerful feelings for each other, only to discover they can save each other, and in doing so, they might even save the world. Through stunning imagery, an intricate and adventurous plot, and a strong cast of characters, Feather Stone gives readers a fascinating glimpse into the future-a future that is chilling, yet full of hope.

INTERVIEW OF ETHAN JONES AUTHOR OF ARCTIC WARGAME.

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

I want to welcome Ethan Jones to Books R Us. Ethan is the author of Arctic Wargame (A Justin Hall Novel) and two short stories being released today on Amazon. Thanks for stopping by.

Interview by Ethan Jones.

Can you tell me who or what was the inspiration for the book?

I wrote Arctic Wargame in 2008-2009. When I started, it was just before the global crisis, when the oil prices were skyrocketing. There was a lot of talk about discovering new resources, mainly in the Arctic, since that’s the last unexplored frontier. Newspapers were buzzing with plans of the Arctic powers to militarize the region and to claim these riches for themselves. I set up my story against this background, imagining a scenario when one of these Arctic powers would go beyond tough rhetoric and actually begin armed actions on the ground. What if an Arctic power decided to take some unilateral military action in that sensitive area of the world?

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

I experience writer’s block time after time. It is usually when I am around the mid-point of the book. The beginning starts with passion and then the story kind of tanks. I try to think about what to write and take a break for a few days. Do some promotion or marketing or brainstorm about writing or revising another story. Usually this helps. But not all writer’s blocks are the same, so sometimes it just takes longer.

Can you tell me your experiences in finding a publisher for the book?

I shopped Arctic Wargame around in 2009 and 2010 to a few hundred agents and publishers over the course of 2009-2011. I received some great feedback. A few agents asked for a partial manuscript and two or three for a full. But no one was willing to make an offer or sign a contract. In the mean time, I kept writing.

I had not considered self-publishing because it seemed like a lot of work and I had truly hoped an agency or a publisher would pick up my works. Upon the suggestion of a good friend, I dusted off Arctic Wargame. I found three great beta readers, all published writers, and we took a new stab at my gibberish. Then I worked with two great editors and proofreaders, to create the best possible work. After formatting it professionally, it finally saw the light of publishing through Amazon.

How long did it take you to write the book and how long did it take to get the book released?

It took me about nine months to write the first draft, then perhaps another nine months to revise it.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why?

I like Justin Hall, the main character. He is a smart and tough man, brave and resourceful, yet caring and kind. As a Canadian, he is all into cooperation and teamwork. Justin has a difficult background. His mother died in a car accident, and Justin blames his father for her death. But he didn’t let that get in the way and has made a great career for himself, doing something he loves to do.

What are your current / future projects?

I’ve finished two short stories, Carved in Memory––which is a prequel to Arctic Wargame and explains an important aspect of Justin’s background–– and The Last Confession––about justice coming to a dying NY mobster during his last confession to his priest. They are released along with Arctic Wargame on Amazon on May 22.

I’m working on revising Tripoli’s Target, which is the second book in Justin Hall series. This time, Justin and his partner, Carrie O’Connor, return to North Africa to meet with one of the masterminds of a terrorist network. The man in question has promised them high-value intelligence, related to an assassination plot against the US President during her visit to a G-20 summit in Tripoli, Libya. The US Secret Service is informed about this plot, and they take all necessary measures to protect the President. However, new intelligence points at a large flaw in Justin’s and Carrie’s plan. They must now scramble to avoid the disaster. Tripoli’s Target will come out in fall 2012.

Fog of War, the third book in Justin Hall series, is my other project. Justin infiltrates Iran to help extract a defector, a nuclear scientist who can provide information on Iran’s uranium enrichment program and its plans to build a nuclear bomb. Easier said than done. The release of Fog of War is tentatively planned for spring 2013.

Do you have any tips for a young writer just starting out?

I learned as I wrote, so my advice is to begin writing and learn as you go.

Read a lot of books, so you can see what works and what doesn’t. Learn from other authors, how they create their story lines, their plots, their chapters.

Be patient and keep writing. Eventually, you’ll have something good.

If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you like the main character to be played by and why?

I haven’t really given that much thought to this question. It takes a lot of time for a book to be turned into a movie. Since Arctic Wargame is a Canadian spy thriller, it would be great if a Canadian author could play Justin. Ryan Gosling, for example. They are about the same age and body shape.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing? Where do you like to vacation? Can you tell us briefly about this?

I work out and go for walks with my dogs in the forest. I read and blog. I like landscaping and during the summers we work around the house.

I was blessed with a great trip to Belize a few years back and it was wonderful. My wife and my son visited the Great Barrier Reef, snorkeled with stingrays, turtles and sharks, and enjoyed the sun, the sea and the great beauties of this peaceful (and English-speaking :-) country. For Canadians, burdened by five months of snow, a break to the warm climate in the winter is a much-needed escape. I would love to go again to Belize.

Can you tell me where we can purchase your book?

Arctic Wargame is available here.

Carved in Memory can be purchased here, and The Last Confession is found here.

Thank you,

Ethan Jones

About the Book:

Canadian Intelligence Service Agent Justin Hall—combat-hardened in operations throughout Northern Africa—has been demoted after a botched mission in Libya.

When two foreign icebreakers appear in Canadian Arctic waters, Justin volunteers for the reconnaissance mission, eager to return to the field. His team discovers a foreign weapons cache deep in the Arctic, but they are not aware that a spy has infiltrated the Department of National Defense.

The team begins to unravel a treasonous plan against Canada, but they fall under attack from one of their own. Disarmed and stripped of their survival gear, they are stranded in a remote location. Now the team must survive the deadly Arctic not only to save themselves, but their country.

READ AN EXCERPT

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF THE BOOK MOMUMENTAL BY J. GRANT

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Tue, 22 May 2012 23:07:00 +0000

Book Details:

Title: Momumental: Adventures in the Messy Art of Raising a Family.
Author: Jennifer Grant.

Publisher: Worthy Publishers
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Purchase: Amazon|Barnes & Noble.

One mom’s humorous and candid memoir shows would-be supermoms how to create a realistically balanced family life without losing their minds.

A longtime former writer for the Chicago Sun-Times and now a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, Jennifer Grant is no stranger to the common reader. MOMumental is a foray into the enormously amusing, creative, and taxing process of raising a family and a starkly honest memoir that mothers everywhere can identify with. With narrative that is chock-full of humorous, poignant stories drawn from her everyday adventures as a mother and wife, Grant presents an entertaining and inspirational book that will give readers uncommon insights about being an intentional parent.

Download Chapter One

About the Author

Jennifer Grant is mother to four children and author of Love You More: The Divine Surprise of Adopting My Daughter (2011). For more than a decade she wrote for papers in the Sun-Times newsgroup. Currently she freelances for the Chicago Tribune and is a regular contributor to her.meneutics, Christianity Today magazine's blog for women. Grant is a Wheaton College graduate who received her master's in English and Creative Writing from Southern Methodist University. She lives outside of Chicago, IL.

My Thoughts:

I have always tried to be a "perfect mom" but I realized that no one is perfect and the book helped me realize that. the book is full of wonderful stories about parenthood that put a smile on my face. The author provided me with tips on how to be a "real mom" and showed us all that no one is perfect. It was written as a memoir full of real life experiences of the author and her family. You do not have to be a mom to appreciate the book and I recommend it to everyone who wants to learn a little about parenting.

Contest:

Thanks to Jennifer Grant and Worthy Publishing, I am able to give away a copy of the book. (USA only)

Contest ends on 6/7/12@11:59 PM EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF POST HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS- HONEY ROASTED CEREAL

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:51:00 +0000

I have been searching for a cereal that has whole grain and low sugar but most of the brands that I have tried had no taste or had too much sugar added. Honey bunches of Oats is not only good for you but it tastes great.

The cereal has-

10 grams of whole grain per serving. The cereal brings together 4 nutritious grains into crispy flakes and crunchy granola bites.
Only 6 grams of sugar per serving.
It provides 9 essential vitamins and minerals.
It is heart healthy.

My Thoughts-

The box of cereal did not last long in my household. The cereal was fantastic, crunchy, and was not overly sweet like other brands(Honey Nut Cheerios has 9 grams of sugar per serving.) I only had one bowl of the cereal before it was devoured by my kids. It was so good that I had to go out and get some more. So head on over to the Honey Bunches of Oats website and checkout all of the flavors that they offer. You can even purchase them online if you wish.

CONTEST:

Thanks to Post, I am able to give 3 readers a coupon for a free box of Honey Bunches of Oats (Any variety).

Main entry:

Leave a comment answering the question-

What flavor of Honey Bunches of Oats you would like to try? (Varieties listed on bottom of page.) and then enter via Rafflecopter:

Contest ends on 6/6/12 @ 11:59pm EST- See Rafflecopter for Rules.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
.

Disclaimer: Post provided a free sample of Honey Bunches of Oats-Honey Roasted for my honest opinion

AND THE WINNER OF THE DON'T BLOW YOUR COVER SPY CONTEST IS.........

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Sat, 19 May 2012 14:46:00 +0000

I have spent a day looking over all of the entries and even had input from my kids. I asked them separately and they picked the same person. They were all great covers and the winner is.........

I would be a building restorer and land developer. I would have access to many types of critical buildings in the city and knowledge of what to hide in the walls or uncover secrets hidden in them. People would need my expertise in advising them on either repairing a building damaged by warfare, or fortifying one in preparation or building it to special specifications. Sometimes a client might have an unusual request for hidden doors and exits.

Thanks everyone for entering and I hope you enjoyed the contest. Please enter my other contests that I am hosting.

It's Me! Peter Pan - $200 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway.

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:01:00 +0000

Relive a classic fairy tale starring your child! Use your child’s face as Peter Pan and embark on an adventure with the lovable Tinker Bell, Wendy, John and Michael where they meet Peter Pan’s arch nemesis, Captain Hook. Can your child become the Hero of Neverland?

Download It’s Me! Peter Pan for FREE from the iTunes store here:

It's Me! Peter Pan

To celebrate, It’s Me! Peter Pan will be giving away a $200 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky reader! Giveaway is open worldwide and ends May 31st at 11:59 PM EST.

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REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF PINTEREST FOR DUMMIES

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:42:00 +0000

When I first heard about Pinterest, I did not know what to expect but it has really taken off and now holds a large part in social media. Thanks to the author and Global Influence, I had the opportunity to review Pinterest for Dummies.

Organize your life, your likes, and more with Pinterest and this fun how-to guide

Now you can organize your digital life with Pinterest, a hot new site that lets you create visual bookmarks of your favorite things and "pin" them on virtual pinboards. Want to save something from a blog? Have a favorite retail website? Want to pin a quick photo you took with your phone? Organize them all with Pinterest and this fast, friendly guide that shows you just how to do it. You'll see how to set up an account and your boards, how to pin and re-pin, where to use hashtags, find ways to share pins with your other social networks, and more.

Helps you get the most out of Pinterest, a visual collection of bookmarks that you can organize into virtual pinboards
Shows you how to set up an account and boards, how to pin and re-pin, use hashtags and like pins, and even share pins with your other social networks
Also discusses Power Pinners, using search, and finding people to follow
Offers tips, trick, and techniques to make the process easy and enjoyable

Pinterest is fun and easy, and even more so with Pinterest for Dummies!

My Thoughts:

This is a great source for learning how to use the newest social crave. the book will show you how to set up your profile, boards and how to share your "Pins" with your friends. I was a bit confused in the beginning but the book has made Pinterest very easy to use. There are so many ways to use the sites and you can link the site with Twitter, and Facebook so your pins can be shared and you can follow new members. I especially liked the chapter on etiquette because there are rules to be followed so everyone can benefit from the service. So if you are confused get yourself a copy and you will become a pro in no time.

Contest:

Win A copy of the Book (USA/ CAN ONLY)

Please leave a comment entering the question and then enter via Rafflecopter:

What one thing about Pinterest confuses you the most?

Contest ends on 5/26/12@11:59pm EST. See Rules on Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer:

I was given a free copy of the book by the publisher for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review

ENTER TO WIN A KITCHEN AID MIXER!!

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:06:00 +0000

WIN A KITCHEN AID MIXER FROM DEAR CRISSY

ENTER HERE!!

REVIEW OF THE GIFT OF GOOD AND EVIL BY G. MITCHELL

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:01:00 +0000

The Gift of God and Evil revolves around a young girl, Megan, who struggles in life to hide her strange and frightening gifts of foresight and power of suggestion from her friends and family. Megan fears that society will reject her for being different, and later in life she learns that her gifts have a higher purpose.

About the Author:

A native of Texas, Ms. Mitchell has three children: Stephanie, Bobby, and Elisha. Ms. Mitchell is a medical technologist at the University Health System. She is also the author of In My Sister's Shadow.

My thoughts:

I have always been a fan of paranormal suspense but this book falls short. The idea behind the story was very imaginative and I was looking forward to reading it. Due to the lack of character development, grammatical errors and poor story flow, I found it hard to finish but I persisted. I like to read a story where I can connect with the characters and feel like I am right there with them experiencing the action but I felt disconnected from the story. I did enjoy the ending but it did not make up for the poor editing. I hope the author will continue to write in the future and develop her writing skills.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?dorrance+7XZRvv+index.html

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF FOR MOMS BY K. CARLSON

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:34:00 +0000

Both of my kids are graduating high school in June and I wish I had had this book while they were growing up. It is full of tips to make your life easier and less stressful.

In the first new Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff book in nine years, Kristine Carlson shows how moms can live with less stress and more happiness. Carlson gives mothers tried-and-true advice that will empower them to find greater peace, joy, and harmony within themselves and their homes. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms reveals how to:

Be a Mom, Not a Friend.
Balance Being a Woman and a Mom.
Pursue Your Passion, But Not at the Expense of Your Children.
Reclaim Your Family Time.

Connect with Don't Sweat Moms:

My Thoughts:

What a fantastic book full of interesting and relevant tidbits that can make your life easier. When I get stressed, I take a deep breath, close my eyes and reorganize my thoughts. This allows me to tend to the crisis that may be unfolding before me. The book was easy to read, and each chapter touches on a subject that affects us today. I always wanted to be a perfect mom and I have learned from experience that may not be possible. Chapter 1 touches on that subject and reminds us that you do not have to be perfect to raise kids today. There is a handbook for almost every topic but I have never found one appropriate for parenting that was written in a way that was easy to follow and understand. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms is concise and right to the point. It is the perfect book for the mom to be and will help them start on the road to parenting.

CONTEST:

Thanks to the author I am able to giveaway a copy of the book (US only)

Mandatory entry:

Tell me what you do to reduce stress in your life and then enter via Rafflecopter.

Contest ends on 5/26/12 @ 11:59PM EST. See Rafflecopter for rules.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

LAST DAY TO ENTER THE DON'T BLOW YOUR COVER SPY CONTEST- WIN $100

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:54:00 +0000

DO NOT FORGET TO ENTER THE!

Jerusalem Assassin "Don't Blow Your Cover" Spy Contest?

CONTEST ENDS TOMORROW

You could win up to $400 by leaving your best undercover disguise in 4 locations listed below:

Share your best covert ID for Paris via Me and Reading
Share your best covert ID for Zurich via Books R Us
Share your beset covert ID for Amsterdam via A Day In Motherhood
Share your best covert ID for Tel Aviv via I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

For more information Please visit http://spycover.pen.io/.

Contest ends on 5/15/12

HEY YOU NEVER KNOW YOU MAY JUST WIN!!

ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF THE PEARL MOUNTAIN IMAGE CONVERTER SOFTWARE

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:13:00 +0000

Do you ever have difficulty resizing your digital photos to send to friends and family? Check out Pearl Mountain Image Converter to help you find the perfect size photo.

Pearl Mountain Image Converter is a photo converter as well as batch image converter, which helps you convert images to other formats, resize, rotate, crop, add watermark, apply effects and add border to thousands of images at a time. Some of the highlighted features include:
•   Convert thousands of files at once in batch mode.
•   Supports the most popular image formats: BMP, JPEG, TIFF, RAW, PNG, GIF, TGA, and PSD, and almost all image formats.
•   Save operations that you usually use as profiles and bring convenience to you in the future.
•   Convert between many different image file formats.
•   Resize image for any different use, such as for web, e-mail, photo printing, Facebook, MySpace, mobile phone, ipod/ipad/iphone, etc.
•   Add image and text watermark for Image Copyright Protection
•   Adjust image brightness, contrast and saturation in batch to make your images look more special.
•   Apply border to images.
•   Crop photos, removing unwanted areas.

Thanks to Pearl Mountain Technology, I am able to give away 5 copies of the Image Converter software.

Contest ends on 5/20/12 @ 11:59 EST. See Rafflecopter for contest rules. Winner will receive a license code for the software downloaded from http://www.batchimageconverter.com/image-converter/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MOTHER'S DAY BLOG SERIES- WHAT ID DIDN'T KNOW BY RHONDA SHROCK

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Sun, 13 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series - a week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today's best writer's (Tricia Goyer, Sheila Walsh, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Bonnie St. John, and more). I hope you'll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother's Day.

What I Didn't Know by Rhonda Shrock

I always knew I wanted to be a mother. As a girl, I played house with my dollies, shushing them when they cried and kissing their plastic heads.

Looking back at that girl, I realize now that there was a lot she didn't know. This morning over my fresh-ground coffee, this mother of 22-1/2 years scratched out a list of 10 things she didn't know then that she knows now.

1. I didn't know - how could I? - just how completely a tiny, helpless scrap of humanity can capture the heart and hold it forever. From that first whooshing heartbeat and the first butterfly brushes, a mother's heart is never again her own. For all eternity, it enlarges, walking and pulsing and moving outside of her body; in my case, in the shape of a blue-eyed boy with rooster tails. Times four.

2. I didn't know that the size of a mother's heart is always changing, stretching to embrace each new baby that comes, then growing again to love their friends and then their own families.

3. I never knew, as I changed my dolly's dress, how many reasons there are to worry when you're a mama. Didn't know about the nighttime vigils. Didn't know the anxiety of separation, the terror that floods when you turn around in the grocery store and they're gone. Didn't know about the fear of the pond next door or the concern that pays for swimming lessons. Didn't know the thousand-and-one reasons that keep a mother awake, whispering prayers on her pillow in the dark.

4. No one told me that loving so much means that you will hurt hard and keen; that what pains your child hurts you even worse. I didn't know then that a playground taunt travels through that smaller heart and lands square in yours, stinging and burning like fire. I didn't know that motherhood makes lionesses of us all and that there'd be days I'd have to bite my tongue and pray to not sin.

5. I didn't know how exhausting it is, being a mother. I didn't know that it takes everything you've got and then some. Didn't know the bone-deep exhaustion; how it strips you bare and shows how selfish you can be, but, too, that you have more strength than you know.

6. I didn't know, playing house, how much joy mothers feel; joy so big that it makes up for the pain. Just looking at those eyes and the curve of the cheek can make you so happy it hurts. Watching them grow and find their talent and win at something...all the money in the world can never buy that kind of happiness.

7. I didn't know how making babies and raising them, how it binds you to their father. I didn't know the intimacy you feel when your eyes meet above those tousled heads, and your smiles say, "Just look at what we've done."

8. That girl in the homemade dress, she didn't know that letting go is one of the hardest things a grown-up mama will ever do. Rocking those babies in that small rocking chair, she didn't really know that babies grow up and walk away and there goes your heart, out into the big, wide world. No one told her that part.

9. I had no idea how rewarding it is, being a mother. How the happiness that comes from boy kisses and awkward hugs can't be bought or sold. How proud you feel when you see what they're growing up to be and that all the planting and pruning and watering and feeding is finally making fruit!

10. I didn't know how much my babies would enrich my spiritual life or how they would change the way I pray. I didn't realize they would lead me to a deeper dependence on the Heavenly Father or how I much I would need His wisdom to raise them aright.

These are things I didn't know before I was a mother. But I know them now. Oh, how I know them now! And I’d do it all again.

###

Rhonda Schrock lives in Northern Indiana with her husband and 4 sons, ages 22, 18, 13, and 5. By day, she is a telecommuting medical transcriptionist. In the early morning hours, she flees to a local coffee shop where she pens “Grounds for Insanity,” a weekly column that appears in The Goshen News. She is an occasional guest columnist in The Hutch News. She’s also blogged professionally for her son’s school of choice, Bethel College, in addition to humor and parenting blogs, and maintains her personal blog, “The Natives are Getting Restless.” She is a writer and editor for the magazine, "Cooking & Such: Adventures in Plain Living." She survives and thrives on prayer, mochas, and books.

Exciting News – the latest Pearl Girls book, Mother of Pearl: Luminous Legacies and Iridescent Faith will be released this month! Please visit the Pearl Girls Facebook Page (and LIKE us!) for more information! Thanks so much for your support!

MOTHER OF PEARL BLOG SERIES- HE WILL WALK WITH YOU BY C. BAILEY

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

He Will Walk With You by Carey Bailey

As a little girl, I loved baby dolls. Loved them! I played school, adoption agency, daycare operator and babysitter all day. I felt like I was born to be a mama. Therefore, I was a bit anxious when the ages, 22, 25, 28 and 32 came and went and there were no babies. Have you ever desired something so much and feared never getting it? That was me.

My day finally came at the age of 34. I soon realized that God knew what He was doing when He had me wait. To my shock, it wasn’t as easy as playing with dolls. I was surprised that it wasn’t the dream world I imagined it would be! I felt like life became a gigantic prayer.

“God, HELP me!”

“Please, God. Please, please, please make it all better. I can’t do this!”

“God, this feels impossible. Where are you?”

While I adore motherhood, it is harder and there are more adjustments than I expected. (I am hoping there are some nodding of heads and Amen’s being said out there in cyberworld.) Not only did I have a new life to care for, but my identity suddenly felt all scrambled up. It took me until my son was one to finally feel confident in my new role as a mother, confident that I could drop my child off at preschool without crying, confident that I could go out with the girls’ and the world wouldn’t fall apart, and confident that I could go on a date night and have conversations that didn’t revolve just around our son.

I was feeling settled in my new world and then WHAM! I discovered I was pregnant again. Can I be vulnerable with you? I actually cried when I found out. And they were not tears of joy. I feel awful saying that out loud, and I hope you will give me a moment to explain. It was not that I didn’t want another baby or feel like I couldn’t love a new life, it was just that I got scared. Discovering a little person was on the way sent a panic through me. Would my son still receive the love and attention that he deserved? How was my husband going to feel about my body changing again? Would I ever be able to pursue the vision I felt God had for me in writing and publishing? I was truly wondering if I was going to be able to handle another intense wave of identity crisis like the one I had just been through. I wasn’t sure.

God and I needed a serious talk. And in that conversation He carefully reminded me of this:

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

He reminded me in our time together that I, too, am His child and He has every intention of loving me, caring for me, and giving me the future that He has planned for me.

As mothers, we can get so caught up in parenting that we forget that we, too, have a spiritual parent who loves us as His child. He loves you as much as He loves the children He has given you. He will never forsake you. And on those days when motherhood seems too overwhelming and too impossible I step back and take a deep breath. Then I remember that this journey I am on, right now, is the one He has designed and create uniquely for me. I simply need to live in it, learn from it, and allow His love to sweep over and through me.

He will walk with me! He will walk with you! Grab His hand.

###

Carey Bailey is a recovering perfectionist, wife, proud mama, and the Family Life Director for her church in Arizona. She hosts an online community for moms called Cravings: desiring God in the midst of motherhood where she strives to make God time easier. Not less meaningful, just easier. She is the author of Cravings {The Devotional} which is a set of forty devotional flashcards for the mama on the go. Visit Carey online blog: www.cravingstheblog.blogspot.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CravingsOnline and Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/careycbailey/

MOTHER OF PEARL MOTHER'S DAY BLOG SERIES-STEPPING OUT ON FAITH BY B. ST. JOHN

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Stepping Out on Faith by Bonnie St. John

"Darcy . . .”

“Yeah, Mom?”

I momentarily held the undivided attention of my teenage daughter. Her thumbs, free of their ubiquitous texting keypad, quietly dangled by her side. Her computer and its omnipresent Facebook page were completely out of sight. I had almost forgotten what she looked like without all these adolescent accoutrements. As we sat down together on the burgundy leather sofa in our living room, I realized this fleeting state of electronic dislocation was my chance to hatch a plan I had been formu- lating for the past several weeks. Carpe diem.

“How would you like to write a book together?”

“About what?” I asked my mom. Write a book? This was a real surprise. I felt a bit suspicious, but still curious. I love to write, and Mom kept telling me I was really good at it. I like writing poetry, fantasy, and sci-fi, though. The books Mom wrote were all nonfiction. I wondered what we could possibly do together.

“Well . . .” I hesitated. If I wanted her to commit to any extra work out- side her busy schedule at school—not to mention work alongside her mother—I had to make this really great. “It would be about women as leaders,” I continued, “a mother-daughter investigation into leadership styles and structures.”

“Leadership?” I blurted. It came out as if I had a bad taste in my mouth—which I did. I couldn’t imagine a more boring topic to write about. What is there to say about leadership anyway? When you’re in charge, you just get things done, right? Who wants to talk about that?

Her furrowed brow told me I was losing her fast. “Um . . . we could find women leaders all around the world!” I said impulsively, frantically casting the ultimate bait.

“Really? Would we get to travel a lot?” I hadn’t thought about that. Heck, I’d write about the mating habits of tsetse flies if I got to go to Africa to do it!

But this project wasn’t just about the influence it would have on Darcy. I wanted to do something that could have a potent impact on an alarming trend I had witnessed in workplaces across the country: far too many women appeared to be making a choice not to apply for top leadership positions when presented with the opportunities to do so.

This project, then, was a bit of a Trojan horse. On the one hand, the saga of a mother-daughter journey could seduce female readers, who might never bother to read the Harvard Business School dissertations on the subject, into a meaningful conversation about leadership. At the same time, if Darcy met a series of brilliant, accomplished women— people even a cynical teen would be in awe of—perhaps they could tell her all the things I’d like her to know—and more.

And she just might listen.

But where to start? How would we make it work? I suggested we do most of our research by phone, as I did for How Strong Women Pray. My telephone interviews with a governor, some CEOs, actors, sports figures, a college president, and others yielded great stories and information. I promised my intrepid co-author, though, that we could punctuate these conversations with a few visits in person to exciting and exotic places—all with reasonably priced airfares.

“Why don’t we follow each subject as she goes about her daily life? That way our readers get to come along with us and get a behind- the-scenes look at what happens to them. Instead of just a boring interview, we—and our readers—get to hang around with these women, see them in their natural habitat, and even see how other people treat them.”

Although I agreed it was a wonderful approach, this idea of “job- shadowing” each featured subject wasn’t going to be easy. Would these high-powered, important women deign to allow us that kind of access? Would they be able to impart the kind of wisdom that would resonate with our readers and truly make a difference in their lives? We looked at each other, both of us hooked on a crazy idea that we weren’t sure we could pull off.

“It sounds impossible, Darcy,” I said. “We might as well get started.”

And so, we stepped out . . . on faith.

###

Bonnie is a 1984 Paralympics silver medal winner in ski racing. Her education includes a degree with honors from Harvard, a Rhodes scholarship, and an M.Litt in Economics from Oxford. Her career includes positions as an award-winning sales rep for IBM and a Clinton White House member of staff. She now is a much-in-demand speaker, who makes nearly 100 speeches each year to corporations and civic groups. You can visit her on the Web at www.bonniestjohn.com.

Re-printed with permission from How Great Women Lead by Bonnie St. John and Darcy Deane

GOD'S EYE BLOG TOUR- GUEST POST, REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY.

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:01:00 +0000

I want to welcome A.J. Scudiere ands Utukku to Books R Us. They are traveling the country with their paranormal romance God's Eye. Thanks for stopping by.

Media Type: Ebook, Paperback and AudioMovie

Title: God's Eye
Author: A.J. Scudiere
Publisher: Griffyn Ink Publishing
Pages: Paperback; 419
Release Date: October 1, 2011
Intended Reading Group: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance

About the Book:

Katharine Geryon is living the life her family name has dictated, and why not? After all, it has given her a good job in the family company and a fine life with all the things she should want. But all that changes as increasingly disturbing events begin to occur: soot stains on the carpet, glimpses of strange black animals, and cryptic messages written on her bathroom mirror. Baffled and afraid, Katharine begins to doubt her own sanity.

At the same time, two charismatic men enter her life: Allistair, her new assistant at work, and Zachary, a well-heeled neighbor who just moved into her building. Katharine soon finds each of them inextricably entangled in her affairs. As her life becomes stranger and her dreams more terrifying, she realizes neither man is what he seems and that she's caught in something far beyond her own comprehension. For the first time, she must reach beyond her own boundaries. There Katharine forges her first true friendship with Margot, a librarian who helps her discover what these men really are, why she's drawn to them, and what they want with her.

The answer places Katharine in the middle of a fierce battle that forces her to decide between the two men fighting for her soul.
In the end, only one can be saved, but all three will be judged.

God's Eye AudioMovie

By A.J. Scudiere

I wish I could film myself while I listen to the God’s Eye AudioMovie.

You would probably laugh hysterically at me. I’m sure I make faces and even jump back a bit at the scary parts – which then makes me laugh hysterically at me. I have no good excuse to jump at the scary bits; I wrote them.

I find listening to a book to be a different experience than reading one. Though I have always been a reader, I’m definitely a listener now too. With the AudioMovie format, Stefan Rudnicki has lifted the audiobook to another level.

As an author, though I can write the story the way I want, I can never put in enough detail to make you hear the words exactly the way I hear it. Every time you read it you’ll hear and see things the way your brain performs the story and different things will have meaning because those things have meaning to you. When you watch a movie, you see what the director thinks the main character looks like and hear the words the way the actress believes the character would say them. But you still pay attention to the parts that have meaning to you.

An AudioMovie is a happy medium between the experiences of film and reading. Rudnicki does a fantastic job of using often subtle sounds to bring the experience more fully to life than what you would experience with a single reader. Hearing the conversations take place between two actors is a much richer experience than hearing even a phenomenal single actor perform the scene. Just like in real life, the two readers come at the story from two different perspectives, they use inflection differently and bring different interpretations to the characters.

Without the visuals, the story remains true to the version in your head. But that extra layer – the thing that makes even ME get involved or be surprised – is the use of the soundtrack and sound effects. Though I can picture the street a certain character lives on, hearing the chirp of birds and the soft rustle of the trees not only makes the setting come alive, but makes Katharine’s discovery there all the more startling.

So, if you could watch me listen to my own book, you would probably laugh at me. You would be amused as you watch my shoulders hunch up. Even though I know exactly what’s coming next, you’ll see my eyes close tight as I finally realize that low, rhythmic sound is the demon . . . sitting . . . right . . . behind me.

Connect With The author:

Authors Website

Blog Tour Site

My Thoughts:

I had the pleasure of receiving the book in the AudioMovie version and I was extremely impressed. I downloaded the entire novel on my Itouch and headed for the gym. The actors portraying the characters were fantastic and I could hear their emotions in their voices. Before I knew it, I had walked five miles. Sound effects were added that made me feel that I was part of the storyline. People talking in the background, footsteps,broken glass (that part made me jump) and many other interesting sounds. The beginning of the book was a little slow but toward the middle of the book the plot took off and I was hooked. Katherine's soul is in jeopardy and she has to make a choice between good and Evil. When strange creatures show up in her apartment and strange passages are written on her mirror she questions her sanity. She heads to the library to find some answers and meets the Librarian Margo. The two of them try to find the answers to the strange occurrences. Katherine has two men in her life Allistair and Zachary who play havoc with her emotions. There are parts that were erotic and only for the adult reader. What choice does Katherine make? I guess you have to read the book to find out. I highly recommend the AudioMovie version of the book. So if you like thrillers, romance and the paranormal this is the book for you.

Contest:

Win the AudioMovie version(USB) of God's Eye.

Contest ends on 5/23/12 @11:59pm EST and is open to USA/CAN residents 18 years or older. See Rafflecopter for rules.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MOTHER OF PEARL MOTHER'S DAY BLOG SERIES- WHY I AM NOT BY TRICIA GOYER

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

What I Am Not by Tricia Goyer

Becoming a mother is a complicated thing. Not only am I trying to negotiate a relationship with my child, I am trying to negotiate a relationship with myself as I attempt to determine how I mother, how I feel about mothering, how I want to mother and how I wish I was mothered.

— Andrea J. Buchanan, in Mother Shock3

Sometimes the easiest way to discover who we are is to know who we are not.

• We are not our children.
We all know mothers who go overboard trying to make themselves look good by making their children look great. I saw one woman on the Oprah television show who had bought her preschool daughter more than twelve pairs of black shoes just so the girl could have different styles to go with her numerous outfits! Just as we -don’t get report cards for mothering, we also -don’t get graded on our child’s looks or accomplishments. While you want your children to do their best and succeed in life, your self-esteem -shouldn’t be wrapped up in your child.

Life as I See It:

My individuality will never end. There will be no one exactly like me, not even my child. She will be like me in some ways, but not at all in others. I -wouldn’t have it any other way.

— Desiree, Texas

• We are not our mothers.
I remember the first time I heard my mother’s voice coming out of my mouth. The words “because I told you so . . .” escaped before I had a chance to squelch them.

It’s not until we have kids that we truly understand our mothers — all their frets, their nagging, and their worries.

It’s also then that we truly understand their love.

Since you are now a mother, it’s good to think back on how you were raised. If there were traditions or habits that now seem wise and useful, incorporate them into your parenting. You also have permission to sift out things you now know -weren’t good. Just because you’re a product of your mother, that -doesn’t mean you have to turn out just like her. Repeat after me, “I am not my mother.”

• We are not like any other mother out there.
Sometimes you may feel like the world’s worst mother. After all, your friend never yells at her son — and sometimes you do. Then again, your friend may feel bad because you have a wonderful bedtime routine that includes stories and songs. In many cases, the moms you feel inferior to only look like they have it together. All moms feel they -don’t “measure up.” Instead of feeling unworthy, we should realize that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. The key is where we place our focus.

The Bible says, “Let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without . . . comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we -aren’t” (Romans 12:5 – 6, MESSAGE).

The problem with comparison is, we always measure our weaknesses against the strengths of others.

Instead, we need to thank God for our strengths. We can also ask God to help us overcome our weaknesses — not because we want to compare ourselves, or look good in someone else’s eyes, but because we want to be the best mom out there.

###

Tricia Goyer is a CBA best-selling author and the winner of two American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Awards (Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights). She co-wrote 3:16 Teen Edition with Max Lucado and contributed to the Women of Faith Study Bible. Also a noted marriage and parenting writer, she lives with her husband and children in Arkansas. You can find her online at www.triciagoyer.com or at her weekly radio show, Living Inspired.

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF AS ONE DEVIL TO ANOTHER BY R. PLATT

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:32:00 +0000

As One Devil to Another: A Fiendish Correspondence in the Tradition of C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters is an astonishing debut work that C. S. Lewis’s biographer and foremost Lewis authority Walter Hooper calls “a stunning achievement, the finest example of the genre of diabolical correspondence to appear since this genre was popularized by C. S. Lewis.” Enter into this chilling and diabolical tale, one that reveals the very tricks and strategies of Hell. Through a series of letters between devils created by Platt, senior devil Slashreap trains his young protégé, Scardagger, to win an individual soul away from Heaven and into their clutches. As the devils plot their way to triumph, they reveal the spiritual dangers and risks we face in today’s society. Their frighteningly accurate perspective on issues such as contemporary technology and sexual mores is interwoven with timeless matters such as the power of prayer, the purpose of suffering, and the promises held out by Heaven . . . and Hell. Destined to become a modern classic, As One Devil to Another is a brilliantly written, deeply unsettling perspective on twenty-first-century society . . . a glimpse of ourselves through the eyes of those who have embraced their underworldly existence.

Read the first Chapter

watch on tyndale.com

My Thoughts:

Although I did enjoy the book, I found it hard to read at times. I found my self re-reading some passages and chapters before I fully understood what the author was saying. The letters were written in the classical style and that is why I had some difficulty with the book. The premise behind the book was interesting. I have never read the The Screwtape Letters: With Screwtape Proposes a Toastby C.S. Lewis so I can not compare the two books. There were numerous illustrations that helped to explain the letters and some of them were very humorous. The book reminds us all that it is very easy to fall into Satin's hands and be corrupted. Would you like to win a copy of the book?

Contest:

Win a copy of the book Open to USA/CAN only

Contest ends on 5/23/12@11:59pm EST. See rules on Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer:

I was given a free copy of the book by the publisher for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

SAVE $25 ON YOUR UTILITY BILLS AND ENTER TO WIN SOME ENERGIZER BATTERIES

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:01:00 +0000

Would you like to save $25 on your utility bills? With the rising cost of utilities we can all use a little help especially if we have a hot summer. For decades energizer has been partnering with Habitat for Humanity to make someones life better.

Through the Energizer Utility Cash program, you can collect codes from select Energizer battery and lighting products and redeem them online for savings, up to $25 total savings each per person/household/email address, off your own utility bill. You start earning rewards with just two codes and will need 10 codes total to earn the full $25. Or you can help make a positive impact and choose to turn the codes into a donation to Habitat for Humanity®.

Contest:

To get you started with the promotion Energizer is giving ONE of my readers two specially marked packages Energizer Max AA batteries with special codes.

To Enter:

please leave a comment with a way that you can reduce your energy bills and then enter via Rafflecopter.

Contest ends on 5/20/12 @11:59 PM EST and is open to USA residents 18 years or older. See rules on Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was given 2 packages of AA Energizer batteries for this promotion.

MOTHER OF PEARL BLOG SERIES- WIN A PEARL NECKLACE

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

She’s…My Everything by Suzanne Woods Fisher

“A mother is one who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take.”

--Cardinal Mermillod

Just a few more months. My mother was hoping Dad would hang on long enough so they could celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary in April. But on January 1st, as the sun rose on the new year, my dad’s worn out heart beat its last. Dad had battled Alzheimer’s Disease for ten years. As many of you know, AD is a long, hard journey. Hard on the one afflicted with the disease, hard on the caregivers.

But not without its blessings.

Four years ago, as I began researching stories for Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World, my path crossed with a handful of Plain families who were coping with Alzheimer’s. It was just about the point when Dad’s illness was shifting from early to mid stages AD and the timing was a divine accident. I learned so much as I observed the calm acceptance of these families. Rather than waste time shaking a fist at God for allowing this disease to take their loved one, they put their energy into trusting God’s sovereignty. They didn’t deny the difficulties and complications and sadness of Alzheimer’s, but they didn’t dwell on them. “God has a plan,” one woman told me. “He always has a plan.”

Something else I noticed was how privileged my Amish friends felt about caring for their loved one. Caring for the elderly, they believe, is the time to give back to them.

Those encounters shaped my perspective of Dad’s illness. I started to pay attention to how God provided answers to new wrinkles created by Alzheimer’s, just in time. God may be slow, but He is never late.

I started to cherish special moments or good days with Dad—just as he was at each point in his illness. Not mourning the past, not dreading the future.

I really miss my dad. I miss his scratchy whiskers and the way his eyebrows would wiggle at us, even as words failed him. Yet I have such peace in my heart that he was well loved and well cared for, right to the very end. And as hard as Dad’s end of life has been, it isn’t the end. We will meet again. As the saying goes, “Some may see a hopeless end, but as believers we rejoice in an endless hope.”

There’s a beautiful story that illustrates my parents’ 59-year marriage. This event happened about a year or two ago. My sister had accompanied our mother to the doctor appointment for Dad at the Stanford Memory Clinic.

Dad had declined quite a bit that month. He was weak and lethargic, even to the point of whispering, as if it took too much energy to project his voice. During the doctor's appointment, the doctor told my mother and sister that Dad was now in late stages of Alzheimer's. Dad didn’t have much vocabulary left, but when the doctor asked him who mom was, he whispered something back. The doctor looked at Mom and asked, "Did you hear what he just said?"

Mom shook her head.

"When I asked him who you were, he whispered, 'She's...my everything.'"

###

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a writer of bestselling fiction and non-fiction books about the Old Order Amish. Her interest in the Plain People began with her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. Suzanne is the host of Amish Wisdom, a weekly radio program on toginet.com, and writes a bi-monthly column for Christian Post. Suzanne can be found on-line at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.

Re-printed with permission by Cooking & Such, www.sherrygorebooks.com.

Exciting News – the latest Pearl Girls book, Mother of Pearl: Luminous Legacies and Iridescent Faith will be released this month! Please visit the Pearl Girls Facebook Page (and LIKE us!) for more information! Thanks so much for your support!

REVIEW OF NATURE'S SLEEP MEMORY FOAM SLIPPERS

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:11:00 +0000

Thanks to Nature's Sleep I had the opportunity to try a pair of their Memory Foam slippers and boy am I glad that I did.

They come in two styles open and closed and come in a variety of sizes and colors. I chose the closed toe slippers in pale blue. I have tried other bargain slippers and they never lasted and were poorly made. the seams would fall apart and I had to throw them out very quickly. The memory foam slippers are well made and cradle your feet in softness and comfort. They also have a slip resistant sole and fit perfect. I have wide feet and have a tough time finding comfortable slippers. The slippers retail for $25-$30 and are definitely worth the investment. I recommended them to all of my friends.

So if you would like to purchase a pair of these great slippers, head on over to the site and you can order your own pair. They are offering a 50% off coupon to use on their website. Please use BEARS50 when you to receive the discount.

So stop by the site and check out all of the other products that Nature's Sleep has to offer.

Disclaimer:

I was sent a free pair of Nature's Sleep Memory foam slippers for my honest review and was not compensated in any way for my review.

PEARL GIRLS MOTHER OF PEARL BLOG SERIES DAY 2

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Tue, 08 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Joy Comes from Perseverance by Sheila Walsh

One of the most important lessons I have learned in my own life is the joy that comes from perseverance. Eugene Peterson, borrowing a phrase from Friedrich Nietzsche, wrote his book “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction …Discipleship in an Instant Society.” He points to the Psalms as the way believers have always learned to pray what they live and live what they pray but it is not a short journey. It is an intentional commitment to keep walking even when you are worn out.

*If we want to see lasting results in any area of life it’s important to keep walking in that direction.

*If we want to have a better understanding of the Gospel of John then it takes time and commitment to dig deeper day after day.

*If we want to be thinner this summer than last summer then the work begins now not then.

So too in our relationship with Christ…..

*If we want to know Him at a more profoundly intimate level, that also takes an intentional seeking after Him every day.

As a grown woman I have come to love the beauty of this gift. Passing this “mined treasure” onto my son on the other hand has been an interesting challenge. We live in such a fast paced, attention-challenged culture where the latest thing can be delivered to your doorstep by tomorrow for a few dollars more. But, as you know, by the time it is delivered it has already been replaced or updated!

How do we speak then into the lives of our children to help them understand and value perseverance?

For me…part of the puzzle meant a large piece of poster board, scissors, some photos and a bottle of Elmer’s glue. My son, Christian and I spread everything out on a sheet in the game room as I explained our project. “We’re going to make a family faith-tree,” I said. “These are photos of family on your dad’s side and on mine. Many of them have gone on to be with Jesus but the seeds they planted into our family continue to grow.” Then we wrote down their names and when they came to faith in Christ (as many as I knew). It was quite something to see when we were finished.

“Your life matters Christian. Running your race well matters.”

That night we read these words from the writer to the Hebrews,

“We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up.”

Hebrews 12:1 (NCV)

###

Sheila Walsh is a Bible teacher, speaker, singer, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. Sheila Walsh is the creator of the award-winning Gigi, God’s Little Princess® and her new series, Gabby, God's Little Angel. Meet Gabby in Gabby's Stick-to-It-Day. As a featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability and humor with God’s Word. She resides in Dallas with her husband Barry and son Christian. Visit www.sheilawalsh.com for more information about Sheila, her other books or Women of Faith.

Exciting News – the latest Pearl Girls book, Mother of Pearl: Luminous Legacies and Iridescent Faith will be released this month! Please visit the Pearl Girls Facebook Page (and LIKE us!) for more information! Thanks so much for your support!

WELCOME TO THE MOTHER OF PEARL MOTHER'S DAY BLOG SERIES

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:04:00 +0000

AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/6-5/13 and the winner will on 5/14. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there, Happy Mother's Day!

Priceless Treasure by Cindy K. Stiverson

We've heard it said and often find it true:

You don't know the value of a treasure until you're without it.

We take for granted the things in life that seem so readily available.

A paperclip or rubber band, to hold things together.

A tissue or napkin, to wipe our nose to clean our face, to absorb our tears.

A Bible to speak words of wisdom and instruction and life and love.

And a Mother, who is all these things and more.

She is readily available.

She holds things together.

She wipes our nose, cleans our face (and our fingers, and, well…everything else!)

She absorbs our tears and calms our fears.

"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." (Proverbs 31:26)

She loves.

Within hours after my mother passed into the gates of our heavenly home, I was missing her. Her quick wit…humor…charm. Her warm smile and melodious laughter, which served her well to the very end, as did our Lord Jesus Christ, who so graciously allowed her to slip quietly and peacefully into His arms.

She simply stopped breathing.

As I stood at her bedside in those priceless moments after her passing, I wanted to touch her skin as much as possible while there was still warmth in her body; to nuzzle my nose against her head and breathe in the scent of her hair while she was still there. Priceless treasures I was guilty of taking for granted, clouded by unmet needs. I was so consumed with what she was not, that I never fully appreciated who she was. It’s like I was blind, but now I see!

I see her strength, her commitment. Her perseverance…sacrifice…her unspoken love. I see how much she meant to me, how much she did for me, how much she taught me, and how much of the good in me was modeled by her.

She was a virtuous woman, as described in Proverbs 31 of the Bible.

“Her children stand and bless her… a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise (vs. 31).”

This last verse of the poem serves as an epitaph for the woman of virtue. It speaks of the legacy she leaves in her passing. It spurred me to write a personal epitaph for my mother, which I read at her funeral.

We publicly declare your praise today,

and in the days to come,

for you deserve to be praised and blessed,

"We honor you, Mom, for all you have done!"

In my earliest of memories,

You worked so hard, striving for the rest.

You persevered through great trials

and did your very best.

I know you are being rewarded

in ways far beyond our reach.

We honor you now by practicing what you've taught,

and even what you preached!

You've stood for us for all these years,

Today, we stand for you!

I pray that our applause on earth

will reach your heavenly ears.

With the reading of this poem, I asked everyone to stand. We clapped our hands in celebration and praise of the life of my mother, Margaret Alice Stiltner.

Imagine our surprise to discover that she had left a poetic epitaph for us! She had clipped it from an old magazine and framed it. I found it when I was cleaning her home, on a nightstand by her bed. My mother was never versed at expressing emotion. This was her sweet way of kissing us good-bye: a priceless treasure to remember her by.

###

Cynthia (Cindy) Stiverson is a speaker, writer, and artist. In 1998, she founded Woven: Women of Virtue Network, a spiritual formation and friendship ministry. She pastors the women at Newark Church of the Nazarene in Ohio. She is currently working on her fourth Woven Workbook, and also a book for mothers and daughters on the subject of sexual abuse. Cindy considers raising her daughter, speaker/author Nicole Braddock Bromley, to be her greatest achievement. She loves the men in her life, hubby Mark, grandbabes Jude and Isaac, and son-in-law Matthew. You can find more of Cindy at www.WovenWomen.blogspot.com and www.CynthiaStiverson.com

Exciting News – the latest Pearl Girls book, Mother of Pearl: Luminous Legacies and Iridescent Faith will be released this month! Please visit the Pearl Girls Facebook Page (and LIKE us!) for more information! Thanks so much for your support!

When To Plant Tender Annuals In Your Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:49:00 +0000

I love to work in the garden and plant annuals and many varieties of vegetables but is it the right time to plant them. I found this great article that can help us determine the best time to plant them.

When To Plant Tender Annuals In Your Garden - Organic Gardening Articles

When To Plant Tender Annuals In Your Garden

By Glory Lennon

As soon as the garden centers fill to bursting with tiny pots, large hanging baskets and endless flats of annuals the winter-weary gardening enthusiast can barely keep from grabbing all within sight whether or not it is the correct time to plant these out in the garden. Flowers bring the hope of spring and with that the end of cabin fever. Who doesn’t crave that after a long, cold winter?

Alas, many a time do these folks regret rushing out as soon as they feel a warm spell to gather their favorite annuals for planting outside. When they plant these tender annuals too soon in their gardens there is a very good chance the frost will come back without warning to bite them in the bud. Mother Nature, after all, is fickle and we all know she likes to flirt with that rascal Jack Frost which in turn brings havoc to our gardens. Woe be the impatient gardener!

Don’t deny it. You know you’ve done it. Even the most experienced among us have. We want the earliest tomatoes in the neighborhood. We wish to get a jump on a way-too-short growing season. We want to think spring and the warm weather will stay if we cross our fingers and beg pretty-please. But wanting and wishing isn’t going to help you here. What you must do is learn the Last Frost Date for your area if you want to know when to plant annuals safely in the garden.

The Last Frost Date is just the date when your particular area is relatively safe from a killing frost, relatively being the operative word. Here we come to the tricky spot because even knowing this magical Last Frost Date does not guarantee it will not frost nor get cold enough to harm our fragile annual plants during the night-time hours between sunset and sunrise.

So, what good is knowing it? Just like knowing in which Hardiness Zone you reside and garden will enable you to grow plants suited to your area, the Last Frost Date will give you a general idea of when it is safe for the planting of tender annuals. Within each Hardiness Zone, however, there can be several different Last Frost Dates due to differences in elevation, the proximity to large cities and/or large bodies of water and how much rainfall or snow your region may get in the spring.

To know for certain what is your Last Frost Date and also in which Hardiness Zone you live go to http://www.almanac.com/garden/frostus.php and enter your city, town, village or the nearest one to you. This should give you the safest time for the earliest planting of the tenderest of annuals.

Now, a bit of friendly advice from one who knows through achingly harsh experience. Once you know your Last Frost Date do yourself a favor and add two weeks before you plant. Why? Jack Frost is a bit of a renegade and often cheats on Mother Nature. He tells her all is wonderful and safe, but as soon as she becomes complacent, he can turn nasty and spurn her without remorse. Once you’ve gardened long enough you will know this to be quite true.

So, take heed, be safe, learn your Last Frost Date and you’ll know for certain exactly when is the best time to plant tender annuals out in your garden without risking damage to them. You are now allowed to breath easy.

Author Glory Lennon Resource: For more fun gardening facts and amusing stories come visit http://www.helium.com/users/32782

Article Source: When To Plant Tender Annuals In Your Garden

Article From: Organic Gardening Articles

INTERVIEW BY M. SUSSMAN AUTHOR OF CRASHING EDEN

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen Burmester) — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:50:00 +0000

I would like to welcome Michael Sussman to Books R Us. Michael is the author of Crashing Eden. Thanks for stopping by.

Interview

Can you tell me who or what was the inspiration for the book?

The novel stems in part from experiences I had with meditation as a teenager and young adult. I’ve also been interested in world mythology for many years, and am especially intrigued by the widespread myths suggesting that humans have degenerated from an ancient state of grace, symbolized by Paradise or the Golden Age.

The story began to take shape when I wondered what might happen if we were somehow able to recapture the state of mind experienced by people before the Fall. What if we built a device that altered our brains in such a way that we felt like we were back in the Garden of Eden?

To be honest, my son also provided much inspiration and also helped me enormously in coming up with the plot.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

Yes, I’ve definitely had periods when I couldn’t write a thing and had no ideas. It’s a terrible feeling. With other types of work you can just “phone it in”, but not with writing.

With mild writer’s block, I can overcome it by exercising, being in nature, taking a hot bath, or simply taking a break from writing. With more serious cases, it takes some psychological/emotional exploration. The blockage may be due to depression. It may stem from avoiding something that you need to write about. In one case, my writer’s block evaporated when I shifted from writing for adults to writing for children!

Can you tell me your experiences in finding a publisher for the book?

Currently it’s nearly impossible to sell a novel to one of the major publishing houses without an agent, so I initially focused on finding an agent. It was a tough sell, though, because the story is quite outlandish and may be considered blasphemous by some folks. Several agents loved the story, but felt the novel belonged with an indie publisher. Sure enough, it was the small independent publishers that were drawn to the story, and I went with Solstice Publishing.

How long did it take you to write the book and how long did it take to get the book

released?

I wrote the first draft in about five months. I then paid a freelance editor to do a developmental edit of the manuscript. Based on her critique, I spent another half year rewriting the novel. After getting further feedback, I spent several more months polishing the story.

One of the great thinks about working with a small publisher is that you don’t have to wait two or three years before your book is available. I signed a contract in February and the novel will be released in May.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why?

I especially like the protagonist’s best friend, Deon Jenks. He makes some great wisecracks and does his best to keep Joss honest with himself.

What are your current / future projects?

I’m working with a fabulous British illustrator on a comical adventure story in verse, titled The Great Gogglemog. I hope to start another novel this summer.

Do you have any tips for a young writer just starting out?

Definitely join a writer’s group. Your writing cannot progress in a vacuum, and you cannot rely on friends or family to give you the feedback you need.

If you’re writing for children or young adults, join the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (http://www.scbwi.org/). They hold great conferences and can help you find a critique group. Also check out Verla Kay’s chat site (http://www.verlakay.com/) which provides a wealth of information and emotional support.

If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you like the main character to be played by and why?

I have to admit, I’m not very familiar with teen actors! To go way back in cinematic history, I’d want someone like James Dean. Dark and brooding.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing? Where do you like to vacation? Can you tell us briefly about this?

I’m a musician and dancer, and I love to read. Most of all, I like to spend time with my son, who is thirteen and a great guy.

Mostly, we like to vacation in Cape Cod or go skiing in New Hampshire or Vermont.

Can you tell me where we can purchase your book?

The novel is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as at Solstice Publishing:

http://bit.ly/GEZGcz

Thanks so much for inviting me to do this interview and helping me spread the word about Crashing Eden!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

For one boy and his friends, the path to Paradise comes at a cost—one they may not be prepared to pay.

When a biking accident leaves 17-year-old Joss Kazdan with the ability to hear things others can't, reality as he knows it begins to unravel.

A world of legends exists beyond the ordinary life he's always known, and he is transported to the same Paradise he's studying in World Mythology. But the strange gets even stranger when his new friends build a device that delivers people through the gates of the Garden of Eden.

Now Samael, the Creator God, is furious. As Samael rains down his apocalyptic devastation on the ecstasy-seeking teens, Joss and his companions must find a way to appease Samael—or the world will be destroyed forever.

Author Bio:

Michael Sussman is the author of Crashing Eden, a YA fantasy/paranormal novel, and Otto Grows Down, a children’s picture book featuring illustrations by Scott Magoon.

Dr. Sussman is a clinical psychologist and has also published two books for mental health professionals. He’s the author of A Curious Calling: Unconscious Motivations for Practicing Psychotherapy and the editor of A Perilous Calling: The Hazards of Psychotherapy Practice.

Dr. Sussman resides in the Boston area with his son, Ollie.