Robin Lee Hatcher's Write Thinking

Win a 10-lb box of Christian fiction

Want a chance to win a copy of my new release, FIT TO BE TIED? Well, here it is. FIT TO BE TIED will be among the books being given away by Chapter-a-Week. Here's the information:

Christmas is just around the corner! So Chapter-a-Week is giving away another ten-pound box of autographed Chapter-a-Week books to one Chapter-a-Week member (to join, follow this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChapteraWeek/join). If you get a friend to sign up (and they mention your name in their email) you'll be entered twice! The more friends you sign up the more times you'll be entered!

Simply join, if you aren't already a member, then send an email with "Chapter-a-Week Christmas Giveaway" in the subject line to cawcontest@gmail.com and you'll be entered in the drawing. The winner's name will be drawn on November 27th, the day after Thanksgiving so the books will arrive in plenty of time for Christmas!

Get your entries in and be sure to tell your friends to sign up for Chapter-a-Week!

To qualify, the return email address must be on the Chapter-a-Week membership list. Continental U. S. residents only, please. Industry professionals should refrain from entering, and though the authors love for you to share their books with your friends, these books are not for resale.

Thanks and happy reading!
Your friends at Chapter-a-Week

So what are you waiting for? Join Chapter-a-Week today and then send your email.

~robin

Things Novelists Do While Their Novels Remain ... Unwritten

In honor of all the writers participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), here's our take on things we can do to procrastinate. However, despite all that procrastination, the authors in this video still manage to get a book written every now and then. Actually, we've written 200+ books to date. We invite you to drop by our web sites (see below video) to learn more about us and our books. In the meantime, have a little chuckle on us.

Angela Hunt

Robin Lee Hatcher

Kristin Billerbeck

Terri Blackstock

~robin

Fit To Be Tied gets a Starred Review

Is it okay if I get a little excited over something? I received some great news today. My latest book, Fit To Be Tied, got a starred review from The Library Journal (those starred reviews are hard to come by!). I can't help but be excited about it because I wanted so badly to give Cleo Arlington the story she deserved. I just love her. And I fell in love with Sherwood Statham too and wanted readers to feel the same way about him. Wanting something so much also brings with it a bit of fear that I didn't accomplish all that I wanted to. To read a review like this one is sweet, indeed.

Here's the review:

Hatcher, Robin Lee. Fit To Be Tied. Zondervan. (Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, Bk. 2). Nov. 2009. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-310-25806-3. pap. $14.99. CF

In 1916 Idaho, Cleo Arlington is an expert rancher and horsewoman but not exactly high society's idea of a gentle lady. When she is commissioned to turn British aristocrat Sherwood Statham into an authentic cowboy, Cleo has to contend with her lack of knowledge of the opposite sex as well as her growing attraction to Sherwood. In turn, Sherwood is disconcerted by the beautiful, if unladylike, Cleo. VERDICT A master of lively historical romances, Hatcher (Catching Katie; Speak To Me of Love) demonstrates an expert ability to craft spunky, unlikely heroines who go against the tide of the times in which they live, making for fun, exciting stories. She also pays close attention to historical detail. This second series entry (after A Vote of Confidence) is highly recommended for readers of inspirational and historical romances and women's fiction.

I don't have a favorite book among those I've written. Each one is a favorite for a different reason. But I do have some favorite characters and Cleo and Sherwood are among them. For a little more about these two characters, here are a couple of "spotlights" that posted this week on other blogs:

Faith and Fiction on Fire

Relz Reviewz

~robin

those characters in my head

Over 28 years have passed since I began writing my first novel. I have experienced plenty of highs and lows in this business. One of the good parts has been getting to know so many other writers and discovering that I am not the only person who sometimes lives in a fantasy world of her own making. I'm not the only person who hears invisible characters whispering lines of dialogue in her ear.

But as much fun as that sounds (and is), I've also learned that we creative sorts have rather fragile natures. At times we are strong and courageous. If not, we would never send our books out into the world to see what others think of them. But at other times the littlest thing can shake us to the core.

I have a new book out in the world right now (Fit To Be Tied), and I've been a bit nervous. I came to love Cleo so much and want others to love her too. Will they? Will readers take to Cleo and root for Sherwood to win her heart? Have I written a story worthy of these two special characters? (I'm quite sure other writers can relate to those questions. If not, don't tell me. I don't want to learn that I'm the only one.)

Anyway, although I haven't seen any reader reviews showing up on-line as yet, I have received a couple of emails from readers in the last couple of days that made my heart dance and have relieved the anxiety a bit.

"I always read the books before my husband does because I go through them quicker. So he had to hear me keep saying, 'No Cleo! No Cleo!' when I came to the part where she was [Robin here: I'm snipping so as not to give anything away]. Usually I quickly flip to the back pages to find out what happens, but this time I didn't want to ruin the book so I made myself wait until I got to the end to find out. But I gave lots of advice to Cleo while reading it! Your book definitely made the people come alive and kept me captivated."

"[Fit to be Tied] was WONDERFUL! I liked A Vote of Confidence, but this one blew it out of the water... I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it. You had my heart going out for Sherwood from page 2. It was fantastic."

I wonder if readers know how much emails like the above mean to writers. I wonder if they know how much we appreciate when they take the time to post a review to CBD and/or Amazon and/or other on-line retailers. Even more, I wonder if they understand how grateful authors are when readers spend their hard-earned dollars to purchase our books new so that our publishers will continue to contract and publish our books.

I hope they do. I hope you do. Without you readers, we novelists would only be able to play with our characters in our heads instead of sharing them with others. As Cleo would say, folks'd think we were as crazy as popcorn on a hot skillet. {{grin}}

~robin

It's Here!!! FIT TO BE TIED is shipping from Amazon!

FIT TO BE TIED, my 61st release, has arrived at Amazon and is ready for immediate shipment. So if you were waiting for it to be available from that retailer, now's the time. And if Amazon isn't your preferred retailer, you can also order Fit To Be Tied at ChristianBook.com.

If you want to know more about the story, you can read the blurb and an excerpt here.

And you can view the story trailer here.

Fit To Be Tied has arrived

When I opened the front door yesterday, I found my first copy of Fit To Be Tied on the doorstep. That means it has begun its trek through the distribution channels. The first place you'll probably find it is on Christianbook.com, maybe within the next few days. And I hope you'll have as much fun reading Cleo's story as I had writing it.

Here's me in my office this morning with my lone copy (just ignore the cluttered desk, okay?):

~robin

ChristianBookVideos.com is Giving Away 5 Books a Week for 5 Weeks

ChristianBookVideos.com will give away five Christian books each week for the next five weeks. Each week, five individuals will be chosen to receive a free book.
 
To be eligible to win a free Christian book from ChristianBookVideos.com, individuals must visit ChristianBookVideo.com’s website and take a short three to four question survey. The site will feature a new survey each week and individuals must take the survey to be entered to win that week’s drawing. Five random winners will be chosen each week to receive a free Christian book.
 
ChristianBookVideo.com’s book giveaway begins the week of September 27, 2009. The website will feature a new survey and different book giveaways each week.
 
The book giveaway each week will be as follows:
 
Week of September 27  
How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I’m Surrounded by Loose Cannons?
Kathi Macias, New Hope Publishers
 
Week of October 4        
Believe That You Can
Jentezen Franklin, Charisma House
 
Week of October 11
Cashless: Bible Prophecy, Economic Chaos, & the Future Financial Order
Mark Hitchcock, Harvest House Publishers                      
 
Week of October 18
The Ten Testaments: Lessons from the Greatest Teacher of all Time
Scott Campbell, WinePress Publishing
 

Week of October 25
Fiction title from publisher, Sheaf House, to be determined.

ChristianBookVideos.com is the one-stop viewing place for Christian book videos on the Internet. Launched in February 2009 by Marketing Christian Books Inc., of Charlotte, NC, ChristianBookVideos.com is rapidly becoming the premiere viewing place for Christian book trailers.

To enter to win a free book each week, take the survey on ChristianBookVideos.com’s website at http://www.christianbookvideos.com.

If God is Good by Randy Alcorn

Let me begin by saying, there is no writer that I respect more than Randy Alcorn, personally or professionally. Whenever I've had a question for him, he's answered it based on biblical principles and with a deep understanding of God's word. His responses are never rushed but thoughtful and detailed. I love both his fiction and his non-fiction. My favorite Alcorn novel is Safely Home. That book shook me to my core. My favorite Alcorn non-fiction release, to date, is Heaven. It opened my eyes to all the Bible has to say about my eternal home.

Now comes his brand new release, If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil. I haven't had a chance to read the entire book (it's a big one and not something to rush through). But I know that it's giving me much to ponder because who hasn't asked that question at some point in their life: If God is good, why...?

If God is good, why do people have to suffer? If God is good, why do bad things happen to good people? Or for that matter, why do good things happen to bad people?

IF GOD IS GOOD

Every one of us will experience suffering. Many of us are experiencing it now. As we have seen in recent years, evil is real in our world, present and close to each one of us.

In such difficult times, suffering and evil beg questions about God--Why would an all-good and all-powerful God create a world full of evil and suffering? And then, how can there be a God if suffering and evil exist?

These are ancient questions, but also modern ones as well. Atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and even former believers like Bart Ehrman answer the question simply: The existence of suffering and evil proves there is no God.

In this captivating new book, best-selling author Randy Alcorn challenges the logic of disbelief, and brings a fresh, realistic, and thoroughly biblical insight to the issues these important questions raise.

Alcorn offers insights from his conversations with men and women whose lives have been torn apart by suffering, and yet whose faith in God burns brighter than ever. He reveals the big picture of who God is and what God is doing in the world–now and forever. And he equips you to share your faith more clearly and genuinely in this world of pain and fear.

As he did in his best-selling book, Heaven, Randy Alcorn delves deep into a profound subject, and through compelling stories, provocative questions and answers, and keen biblical understanding, he brings assurance and hope to all.

---

Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspectives Ministries and a bestselling author. His novels include Deadline, Dominion, Edge of Eternity, Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, The Ishbane Conspiracy, and the Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written eighteen nonfiction books as well, including Heaven, The Treasure Principle, The Purity Principle, and The Grace and Truth Paradox. Randy and his wife, Nanci, live in Oregon and have two married daughters and four grandsons.

Intervention by Terri Blackstock

Terri Blackstock's new book Intervention was inspired by her personal experiences with her daughter's addictions. Six years ago she became aware that her daughter (then in her early twenties) had a severe prescription pill addiction that was killing her, and she hired an interventionist to convince her daughter to go to treatment. After a grueling few hours, her daughter agreed to go. As Terri put her on the plane with the interventionist, she was hit with the crushing feeling that her daughter was in the hands of a stranger, and anything could happen. That's when this book was born.

Over the past few years, Terri's family has been in a tornado of relapses and rehabs, with one emergency after another, and grace upon grace. But through all this, God has taught her to pray as never before, and he's shown her how many other families are experiencing the same thing. He's also shown her that many blessings can come from crises such as this. Terri has tried to fold all of those experiences into this suspense novel of desperation and hope. She's also added a page to her web site (Hope for Families of Addicts) which has tips on dealing with a loved one who has addictions.

Though the book is fiction, Terri poured much of herself into Barbara, the mother who's desperate to save her daughter. And Terri's own daughter has given her blessings for Terri to talk about this, in hopes of helping other hurting families and raise awareness about the perils of addiction. To see/hear Terri share her personal story about Intervention, don't miss her interviews on American Family Radio's "Today's Issues" on September 24, Moody Radio's "Chris Fabry Live on September 25, and "The 700 Club" on September 29.

In Stores Everywhere September 22nd

It was her last hope—and the beginning of a new nightmare.

Barbara Covington has one more chance to save her daughter from a devastating addiction, by staging an intervention. But when eighteen-year-old Emily disappears on the way to drug treatment—and her interventionist is found dead at the airport—Barbara enters her darkest nightmare of all.

Barbara and her son set out to find Emily before Detective Kent Harlan arrests her for a crime he is sure she committed. Fearing for Emily’s life, Barbara maintains her daughter’s innocence. But does she really know her anymore? Meanwhile, Kent has questions of his own. His gut tells him that this is a case of an addict killing for drugs, but as he gets to know Barbara, he begins to hope he’s wrong about Emily.

The mysteries intensify as everyone’s panic grows: Did Emily’s obsession with drugs lead her to commit murder—or is she another victim of a cold-blooded killer?

In this gripping novel of intrigue and suspense, bestselling author Terri Blackstock delivers the page-turning drama that readers around the world have come to expect from her.

Watch the Intervention video trailer

You Were Born For This by Bruce Wilkinson and David Kopp

His New York Times phenomenon The Prayer of Jabez changed how millions pray. Now Bruce Wilkinson wants to change what they do next.
 
Anyone can do a good deed, but some good works can only happen by a direct intervention from God. Around the world these acts are called miracles—not that even religious people expect to see one any time soon. But what would happen if millions of ordinary people walked out each morning expecting God to deliver a miracle through them to a person in need? You Were Born for This starts with the dramatic premise that everyone at all times is in need of a miracle, and that God is ready to meet those needs supernaturally through ordinary people who are willing to learn the “protocol of heaven.”
 
In the straightforward, story-driven, highly motivating style for which he is known, Wilkinson describes how anyone can be a “Delivery Guy” from heaven in such universally significant arenas of life as finances, practical help, relationships, purpose, and spiritual growth.

You Were Born for This will change how readers see their world, and what they expect God can do through them to meet real needs. They will master seven simple tools of service, and come to say with confidence, “I want to deliver a supernatural gift from God to someone in need today—and I expect to!”

One of the world’s foremost Christian teachers, Bruce Wilkinson is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Prayer of Jabez. He is also the author of numerous other bestsellers, including A Life God Rewards, Secrets of the Vine, and The Dream Giver. Over the past three decades, Wilkinson has founded several global initiatives, including organizations that recruited and trained thousands of Americans to address hunger, AIDS, and poverty in Africa. Bruce and his wife, Darlene, have three children and six grandchildren. They live outside Atlanta.

David Kopp has collaborated with Bruce Wilkinson on over a dozen bestselling books, including The Prayer of Jabez. He is an editor and writer living in Colorado.

Need a laugh? Outsourced Book Trailer

I hope everybody is enjoying my book trailer for Fit To Be Tied. But here's another one which had me laughing up a storm. This guy has a great mind for thinking up topics for his books. I bet it's easier than coming up with a plot and characters. He's living it!

~robin

Fit To Be Tied, coming in October 2009

I hope you enjoyed the trailer and will be watching for the book. You can pre-order Fit To Be Tied at Christianbook.com or Amazon.com.

~robin

Imagine your life without fear

The title of this blog post is the sub-title for a great new book by Max Lucado, FEARLESS.

The truth is I have never read a Max Lucado book that didn't speak to some area of my life. That's certainly true of this one. If you are ever fearful in life, if the first thing you do is imagine the worst case scenario, if you watch the news on TV or read it in the paper and worry that the world is coming apart at the seams, or even if your fears are of smaller varieties, you need to read this book.

I'm a novelist, and one of the things that is natural for a novelist is to imagine "what if?" It's a great tool when you want to write fiction that pulls a reader into the story and won't let go. But it isn't a great way to live one's personal life. Always wondering "what if?" will drive you crazy in a hurry. I know. Been there, done that. And we can certainly fall into fear about the future these days. Just look around at all that's happening!

But I want to imagine my life without fear. As the author says, "If we trust God more, we can fear less. What a comforting promise." Thanks, Max, for writing this book.

If the above doesn't convince you that you want to read FEARLESS, Imagine Your Life Without Fear, here's the blurb from the publisher:

Each sunrise seems to bring fresh reasons for fear.

They're talking layoffs at work, slowdowns in the economy, flare-ups in the Middle East, turnovers at headquarters, downturns in the housing market, upswings in global warming. The plague of our day, terrorism, begins with the word terror. Fear, it seems, has taken up a hundred-year lease on the building next door and set up shop. Oversized and rude, fear herds us into a prison of unlocked doors. Wouldn't it be great to walk out?

Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, or doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, where you could trust more and fear less.

Can you imagine your life without fear?

One more tidbit, this one a funny story from my past. Chapters in this book cover things like fear of disappointing God, fear of not protecting my kids, fear of overwhelming challenges, etc. The title on the chapter about fear of worst-case scenarios is called There's a Dragon in My Closet.

I am guilty of this more often than I like to think. But it was the title that brought back a memory from my childhood. When I was a kid, our bathroom had a great big closet in it. Not just one that would hold towels and other linens, but it had room for a vacuum and a broom and cleaning products. It even had room for a person or ... a gorilla. You had to go right past the closet before you could close the bathroom door. I used to go into the bathroom, close the door, and then begin thinking there was a gorilla in the closet. I was terrified to stay in the bathroom and terrified to leave because I had to get right next to the closet in order to open the door and escape. Frozen in fear is a good term.

While I don't worry about gorillas in closets anymore, my mind can quickly take me to crazy places. That's not how I want to live.

~robin

Surrender All by Joni Lamb

Earlier this summer, I received a copy of Surrender All: Your Answer to Living with Peace, Power & Purpose by Joni Lamb. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to read the full book yet, but I want to take a moment to share it with you because I've read enough to let me know that it's a book worth reading. And if you don't believe me since I haven't finished it, believe Francine Rivers who said:

"Surrender All is a book to be savored and saved. During a trying time in my life, Joni's words and the stories blessed me and reminded me that I can trust the Lord with everything. I can continue to cling to Provers 3:5-6. I know this book will greatly encourage everyone who reads it, and I hope thousands will!"

I had the pleasure of meeting Joni in the fall of 2004 when I appeared on her show to talk about alcoholism in the Christian home. When I wrote my novel Beyond the Shadows, I thought God wanted me to tell the story in order to help those who love an alcoholic to know they aren''t walking that path alone, to encourage them to keep trusting God in the midst of chaos. But when I reached the end of writing that book, I knew that God had also called me to write it in order to bring me to another place, a deeper place, of surrendering to Him.

In the preface to Surrender All, Joni writes:

"I share my story and the stories of others who have surrendered to the Lord in hopes that you will grasp the simple yet profound importance of surrendering your life to the One who created us all. Surrender doesn't guarantee a worry-free life. We are still faced with struggles and trials along with our daily victories and moments of great hope. My desire, most of all, is to help you find your place in a world full of chaos and human suffering. There is a place of peace, power, and purpose in this world—and it begins with one word. Surrender."

Amen. That's a priceless lesson for believers to grasp hold of.

I encourage you to read Surrender All. I know that I am going to be reading the remainder of the book very soon. It is, indeed, a book to be "savored and saved."

~robin

Back to School Fiction

Hey, if the kids aren't back in school yet, they soon will be. Maybe that means you'll have a little more time to indulge in reading great Christian fiction.

There are plenty of books to choose from. Naturally I hope you're waiting on pins and needles for the next book in The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series, Fit To Be Tied, but until October gets here, you can browse through my What's New in Christian Fiction blog to see what might appeal to you.

I posted several new summer titles just today:

Rose House by Tina Ann Forkner

The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love by Beth Pattillo

The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Look To The East by Maureen Lang

There are many other titles listed on the blog besides those above, and I continue to add titles as I can. So make What's New in Christian Fiction a regular blog to visit. You just might find another favorite book among them.

~robin (writing like crazy on the next book in The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series)

Make Love, Make War by Brian Doerksen

Brian Doerksen is among my favorite worship leaders. I love his music and have several of his CDs. Most of the lyrics cut straight to my heart when I listen and when I sing along, both in church and by myself. So imagine my excitement when I saw that he had a book out that tells the stories behind some of his beautiful worship songs. I think my favorite song of his is "When You Shepherd Me (the 23rd Psalm)," and that isn't one of the covered songs. But that's okay. I loved the book anyway. Included in each chapter are tips for songwriters, a nice plus.

MAKE LOVE, MAKE WAR
NOW Is the Time to Worship

Award-winning songwriter Brian Doerksen shares insights behind some of the most beloved songs of our time as he provokes readers to love and war.

What is true worship?  It can elevate us into the presence of God, renew and refresh our spirits, and offer the deepest expression of love for our Savior.  Yet worship can also be a call to arms, a battle cry, a salvo in an ancient spiritual war that continues today.  In his first book, Make Love, Make War: Now Is the Time to Worship (David C Cook, August 2009), award-winning songwriter Brian Doerksen challenges Christians to make their lives an offering of radical worship.
 
An acclaimed songwriter, recording artist, author, conference speaker, and pastor, Doerksen believes God is calling us to love and to battle—to spread peace and wage spiritual warfare.  “Each is essential to our daily spiritual walk,” writes Doerksen.  “We do this through how we live, how we serve Him, and how we protect and fight for what matters most.  One of the ways I make love and war is through music.”
 
In Make Love, Make War, Doerksen shares the stories and inspirations behind some of today’s most influential songs of worship, including “Come, Now Is the Time to Worship,” “Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing),” and “Refiner’s Fire.”  While offering special tips for aspiring songwriters, Doerksen also reveals rich truths and insights about the nature of God, His calling for us, and how we can wage spiritual war and share His love through a life of radical worship.
 
“I believe that we know love and war are at the heart of everything inside us, and everything going on all around us,” says Doerksen.  “We sense that there is nothing that Satan hates more than the worship of Yahweh by those who are faithful to the Lamb.  He spends more than a little energy convincing us that there really is no war going on, and that the sum total of our lives’ calling is to be nice.  But God is provoking us to rise up and fight.  The war He calls us to make is always for the sake of love!”
 
Beginning August through September, the “Hear It First, Read It First” contest and promotion for Make Love, Make War will be sponsored by David C Cook, Integrity Music, HearItFirst.com, and Gibson/Epiphone Guitars.  By visiting HearItFirst.com, fans and readers will be able to enter to win prizes, as well as download free music video performances of Brian Doerksen (i.e., “It’s Time” and “Holy God”) and free sample chapters from Make Love, Make War.

Brian Doerksen has always had a passion for expressing worship through music.  He is an award-winning songwriter of some of today’s most popular songs of worship.  He is currently developing a musical of hope based on Luke 15 called “Return.”  Brian, his wife, Joyce, and their six children reside in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.
 

His Name is Jesus by Max Lucado

I have been enjoying Max Lucado's writing for many years, and a few years ago, I used one of his small daily devotional books in my morning quiet time. Those pages were highlighted and highlighted and highlighted. I was completely blessed by that devotional.

Recently, I've had the pleasure of going through His Name is Jesus, The Promise of God's Love Fulfilled. It follows the life of Jesus from birth to resurrection, according to the publisher the first of Lucado's books to do so. Here is the official blurb:

Drawing from his classic writing on Jesus combined with new reflections and breathtaking art, Max Lucado again opens our eyes—and hearts—to the life and work of the Savior in a way that will change lives forever. “Jesus was, at once, common and not; alternately normal and heroic. One minute blending in with the domino players in the park, the next commanding the hell out of madmen, disease out of the dying, and death out of the dead.” Who was this man who spoke as easily with kids and fishermen as widows and waves? It is the question that has echoed down through the centuries to us today, and here is a visually stunning book that answers aspects of that question.

This is, unsurprisingly, a wonderful book from a wonderful author. It's a small coffee-table book, and should be left out for others to see and open and read. Here is a sample that jumped out at me:

The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention. It may be the closest you'll ever get to God. Watch closely. It could very well be that the hand that extends itself to lead you out of the fog is a pierced one.

Isn't that beautiful? And oh-so-true. I know. I've taken hold of that pierced hand in more than one trying time in my life.

Treat yourself to this book. You'll be glad you did.

~robin

A Novel Idea coming in November

Interested in writing Christian fiction? Here's a book for you.

I'm so pleased that I was able to participate in this book because the proceeds are going to such a good cause. I actually wrote two pieces for it, but Tyndale ended up with so many contributions that they were only able to use one of them. You can pre-order the book now.

Want to know more about MAI (Media Associates International) and how this project came to be? Check out their latest newsletter.

A Novel Idea
ChiLibris

List Price: $14.99
Binding: Softcover
Trim Size: 6 x 9
ISBN: 978-1-4143-2994-9
CPC Sub Category: Reference
Release Date: November 2009

Best-selling Christian fiction writers have teamed together to contribute articles on the craft of writing. A Novel Idea contains tips on brainstorming ideas and crafting and marketing a novel. It explains what makes a Christian novel “Christian” and offers tips on how to approach tough topics. Contributors include Jer B. Jenkins, Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers, and many other beloved authors. All proceeds will benefit MAI, an organization that teaches writing internationally to help provide literature that is culturally relevant.

New in Christian Fiction

Here's a quick reminder that I'm adding new books all the time to my New in Christian Fiction blog. You can simply scan through the entries or you can search by genre. So if you're looking for something new to read, drop on over and have a look. You might find something just for you.

Michael Hauge Hits the Mark

I'm in Denver at a Christian novelists' gathering before ICRS (International Christian Retail Show), and today we had a full day with Michael Hauge who teaches screenwriting and uses movies to help writers understand story and structure. I have listened to his CDs on screenwriting and some of his DVD on the Hero's Two Journeys. Great stuff. But hearing him in person was a real treat. I have eight pages of single spaced notes that I plan to put to good use when I get home and am back to work on my WIP.

And there is nothing, absolutely nothing like being with my brothers and sisters in Christ who are dedicated to writing stories that honor God. The support we give to one another and the laughter we share is a beautiful thing.

Here are a few shots from last night and today (click to see large version):

My roommates, Tamera Alexander and Sunni Jeffers

I said, "Pose for your photos, Brandilyn Collins." And boy, did she. {{grin}}

Clockwise from lower left, Brandilyn Collins, Nancy Moser, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Patti Hill, Carol Cox, Mindy Starns Clark (facing away), and Lori Copeland

The lovely Deborah Raney leading us in some icebreaker games.

Harry Kraus leading us in morning devotions.

Michael Hauge teaching away.

That's all for now. I'm headed to bed.

~robin

Sisterchicks In Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn

SISTERCHICKS IN WOODEN SHOES
June 2009

When a mammogram result comes back abnormal, midlife mama Summer Finley makes a snap decision to relegate fear to the back burner and fulfill a lifelong dream. Summer heads for Holland where she meets up with tulips, wooden shoes, and her best friend, Noelle.

 
Pen pals since fourth grade, Summer and Noelle have never met face-to-face. Through decades of heart-level correspondence, they have sustained a deep friendship. A week of adventure helps both women trade anxiety for a renewed and deeper trust in God. When Summer confides in Noelle about the abnormal medical report, Noelle finds the freedom to share a long-held heartache, and both women discover they needed each other more than they realized.
 
Women ages 35 and up, readers of Christian Boomer Lit, and fans of books such as The Yada Yada Prayer Group will enjoy Robin Jones Gunn’s humorous and uplifting style. True-to-life characters and moments of poignancy bring a deeper understanding of the value of life and the gift of true friends. Readers guide and bonus material included.

About the Author:

Robin Jones Gunn is the best-selling and award-winning author of over seventy books, including the Glenbrooke, Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, Katie Weldon, and Christy and Todd: The College Years teen series. The Sisterchicks® series has sold more than 300,000 units, bringing her total sales to more than 3.5 million books worldwide. A Christy Award winner, Robin is a popular speaker, both at home and abroad, and is frequently interviewed on radio and on television.

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For more great reading suggestions, check out the What's New in Christian Fiction blog.

New in Christian Fiction

My new blog for Christian Fiction has taken off in a grand way. I hope you'll check it out. Don't forget to subscribe either to your blog reader or via email so you can stay up with the information.

Today's posts include information and links for Saints in Limbo by River Jordan; Stealing Home by Allison Pittman; and Never the Bride by Cheryl McKay & Rene Gutteridge.

~robin

Amish Love

What’s all the hubbub about Amish fiction? Major media outlets like Time and ABC Nightline are covering it, and authors like Cindy Woodsmall are making the New York Times bestseller list regularly. What makes these books so interesting?

Check out the recent ABC Nightline piece here about Cindy and her titles When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and When the Soul Mends. It’s an intriguing look at Amish culture and the time Cindy has spent with Amish friends.

And don’t forget that Cindy’s new book The Hope of Refuge hits store shelves August 11, and is available for preorder now.

Six titles now available for the Kindle & other ebooks

I was really excited when I checked out the Amazon Kindle store and discovered that Zondervan now has six of my titles available for the Kindle. (These same titles should start showing up on other ebook sites shortly if they are not there already.) That brings my total Kindle books to ten which is one-third of my Christian fiction titles.

Because I'm such a fan of reading on the Kindle, I have been anxiously awaiting more of my books being available to others like me. So if you've been waiting to buy my latest books to read on your Kindle, you're in luck. A Vote of Confidence, When Love Blooms, and Wagered Heart are among those listed for immediate upload to your Kindle reader. Enjoy!

And on a related subject, here is a link to an excellent article on the cost of publishing books and why an ebook doesn't really cost a publisher that much less to produce.

~robin

New Blog for Readers of Christian Fiction

I decided to start a blog to help readers find new Christian fiction releases. Although I love sharing about other books on Write Thinking, I don't want that to become all this blog is. Therefore, I decided to have a new blog, What's New in Christian Fiction, just for that purpose. You can find the link in the Write Thinking sidebar, but you might want to subscribe to the blog feed so that you'll see the new posts as they show up.

Check it out! It's still very new, but it will grow.

~robin

Shadows on the River by Linda Hall

One of my writer friends has a new book out that I want to share with you.

SHADOWS ON THE RIVER
(Steeple Hill/Love inspired Suspense)
by Linda Hall

SHADOWS ON THE RIVER is the story of Ally Roarke. When she was a young teenager she saw her best friend pushed to her death. Here are Ally's own words:

"I was only fourteen when I witnessed a murder on the riverbank. A murder that went unpunished. Unless you count what happened to my family. We were forced out of town by the teenage killer's prominent parents. And the murder was forgotten—by everyone but me. Now, the killer is a respected businessman. I can't let him get away with it. But I'm a single mother with a child to protect, what can I do? The new man in my life, Mark Bishop, warns me to be careful. For there's already been another murder. Close to home."

About Linda:

Award winning and twice Christy-nominated author Linda Hall has written fifteen novels plus many short stories. She has also worked as a freelance writer, news reporter and feature writer for daily newspaper. She grew up in New Jersey where her love of the ocean was nurtured. Most of her novels have something to do with the sea. When she's not writing, Linda and her husband enjoy sailing the St. John River system and the coast of Maine. In the summer they basically move aboard their 34' sailboat aptly named - Mystery.

What others are saying:

With a voice well suited to mystery and suspense, Hall creates an almost gothic atmosphere and a wonderfully satisfying conclusion in this final installment of her Shadows series.
— Romantic Times 4 stars

Enjoy!

~robin

10 Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe by Larry Osborne

Here's one of those books where a title immediately made me want to read it.

Just Because “Everyone Believes It” Doesn’t Make It True

10 DUMB THINGS SMART CHRISTIANS BELIEVE

People don’t set out to build their faith upon myths and spiritual urban legends. But somehow such falsehoods keep showing up in the way that many Christians think about life and God. These goofy ideas and beliefs are assumed by millions to be rock-solid truth . . . until life proves they’re not. The sad result is often a spiritual disaster—confusion, feelings of betrayal, a distrust of Scripture, loss of faith, anger toward both the church and God.
 
But it doesn’t have to be so. In this delightfully personal and practical book, respected Bible teacher Larry Osborne confronts ten widely held beliefs that are both dumb and dangerous. Beliefs like these:
 
• Faith can fix anything
• Christians shouldn’t judge
• Forgiving means forgetting
• Everything happens for a reason
• A godly home guarantees good kids
…and more.

New Audiobooks Available

I'm so excited. Three of my books from Zondervan are now available as unabridged downloadable audiobooks at a very reasonable price: $14.99 each. Which ones? A Carol for Christmas, Return to Me, and When Love Blooms. Eventually, these audiobooks should also be available from Audible.com (hopefully soon), but as of the writing of this blog post, they can only be found on Symtio.

Do you know about Symtio? Symtio is the first multi-channel digital media platform for retail. With Symtio, customers purchase eBooks, audiobooks, and soon music and movies, in-store and download them from anywhere they have an internet connection. It’s the link between digital media and the retail experience. (FYI, if you don't have a local Christian bookstore or your bookstore doesn't offer the Symtio experience, you can purchase directly from the Symtio site.)

Symtio takes gift cards to a more personal level. Giving a Symtio digital product card says you’ve thought about your gift, much as when you used to give bound books or music. While Symtio products have the feel and convenience of a gift card, the difference is that you’ve hand picked and purchased a specific product with the recipient in mind.

More and more people are transitioning to the ease and convenience of digital media. Music came first, but eBooks, audiobooks, and movies are quickly gaining popularity as well. The key difference with Symtio is that by making its products available for purchase in retail stores, customers can shop the way they always have while still taking advantage of the digital revolution.

Here’s how Symtio works:

1. Purchase. Customers purchase a new book in the form of a Symtio product card at any store where Symtio products are sold—this is the tangible element that keeps the retail experience familiar. When customers make their purchase, the card is activated at POS in our system and ready for download. To see a list of participating stores, check out our retail locator.
2. Download. From the comfort of home or a local coffee shop, customers download their new digital product from www.symtio.com. They simply enter the unique 16-digit PIN found on the back of their Symtio product card and then they will be guided through an easy process to the right file type they need for their player.
   
3. Enjoy. Once the digital file has been downloaded customers can enjoy their new book on digital devices such as an iPod, Zune, Sony Personal Reader, PDA or personal computer (either Windows or Macintosh) depending on the type of file they choose to download.
   

~robin

A new release from Susan May Warren

Nothing But Trouble!
by Susan May Warren  

PJ Sugar knows three things for sure:

• After traveling the country for ten years hoping to shake free from the trail of disaster that’s become her life, she needs a fresh start.
• The last person she wants to see when she heads home for her sister’s wedding is Boone—her former flame and the reason she left town.
  
• Her best friend’s husband absolutely did not commit the first murder Kellogg, Minnesota, has seen in more than a decade.
  

What PJ doesn’t know is that when she starts digging for evidence, she’ll uncover much more than she bargained for—a deadly conspiracy, a knack for investigation, and maybe, just maybe, that fresh start she’s been longing for.

About Susan:

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Christian Fiction Writers' Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia , Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

Susan is running a "sweet" contest when people go "Hunting for Trouble" in their local bookstore! Click HERE for the Contest details!

A Chance to Win books and more

Have you had a chance to read A Vote of Confidence yet? If not, it's still on sale for $8.99 at Christianbook.com and for $10.19 at Amazon.com. It's also available this month in your local Christian bookstores as well as Walmart, Costco, and Sam's Club.

Not only that. You can have a chance to win a copy of A Vote of Confidence plus three other books and other goodies including spa products from The Body Shop. Visit the special giveaway page at Christian Fiction Online Magazine to see a photo and read the list of the gift items someone will win, then follow the instructions you'll find there.

And if you aren't signed up for my newsletter, now would be a good time to do so. Subscribers have more opportunities for contests such as this one.

~robin

Jane Kirkpatrick duo

The perfect pairing of a heart retrenching tale and a real life view of a Utopian community, both set in the1800s, any fan of Jane Kirkpatrick will be sure to love! Even if you are new to Kirkpatrick’s work, you can certainly expect to be captivated and longing for more while discovering new fascinations you never knew you had. Her extraordinary experiences mixed with her rich history have given her the ability to draw you in and make you feel like you are experiencing her unique stories as they happen.  This rare gift has helped her to become one of today’s best selling authors. Be prepared to be blown away by her words as you get a glimpse into an entirely new world.

A Flickering Light

Returning to her Midwest roots, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick draws a page from her grandmother’s photo album to capture the interplay between shadow and light, temptation and faith that marks a woman’s pursuit of her dreams.

She took exquisite photographs,
but her heart was the true image exposed.

Fifteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele loves nothing more than capturing a gorgeous Minnesota landscape when the sunlight casts its most mesmerizing shadows. So when F.J. Bauer hires her in 1907 to assist in his studio and darkroom, her dreams for a career in photography appear to find root in reality.

With the infamous hazards of the explosive powder used for lighting and the toxic darkroom chemicals, photography is considered a man’s profession. Yet Jessie shows remarkable talent in both the artistry and business of running a studio. She proves less skillful, however, at managing her growing attraction to the very married Mr. Bauer.

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

I started telling others about The Noticer by the time I'd finished reading the very first chapter. The publisher describes it as a blend of "fiction, allegory, and inspiration," and that makes for a very interesting and entertaining read. But this book isn't just about entertainment. It has so much wisdom between its covers that I found myself underlining and marking the pages so I could return to them again.

There was one chapter where Jones, a mysterious man who helps others gain perspective, is talking to some young people about how to avoid divorce in the future by paying attention (noticing) the people they date. I immediately wanted my 16 year old granddaughter to read that chapter. There was another chapter where Jones talks to a woman in her 70's, helping her to see that her life still has worth and importance, and I found myself telling others "of a certain age" about some of the wisdom Jones shared in that chapter.

This book is a treasure and every chapter a gem. Its about 160 pages long and gift book size. You are going to want to buy several copies and give it to people you love. Read it. Learn from it. Enjoy it.

Here's the official blurb:

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Sometimes, All A Person Needs Is A Little Perspective

THE NOTICER

A moving story of common wisdom from the bestselling author of The Traveler’s Gift.

Orange Beach, Alabama is a simple town filled with simple people. But they all have their share of problems – marriages teetering on the brink of divorce, young adults giving up on life, business people on the verge of bankruptcy, and many of the other obstacles that life seems to dish out to the masses.

Fortunately, when things look the darkest – a mysterious old man named Jones has a miraculous way of showing up. Communicating what he calls “a little perspective,” Jones explains that he has been given a gift of noticing things that others miss. In his simple interactions, Jones speaks to that part in everyone that is yearning to understand why things happen and what they can do about it.

Based on a remarkable true story, The Noticer beautifully blends fiction, allegory, and inspiration.

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Don't miss this wonderful book.

~rlh~

Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace

“If you love breath-stealing suspense, unforgettable characters, and remarkable spiritual depth in your fiction, Enduring Justice is a book to savor. Amy Wallace is at her best with this poignant, grace-filled addition to her deeply satisfying Defenders of Hope Series.” —CLAUDIA MAIR BURNEY, author of Wounded: A Love Story

ENDURING JUSTICE

Secrets Can’t Last Forever

A PAINFUL PAST

Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her memories.

A RACIALLY-MOTIVATED KILLER

As a Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. Difficult cases and broken relationships have plagued his entire year. But when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.

A LIFE-ALTERING CHOICE

A racist's well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. The dividing line between the two is the choice to heal. But when the attack turns personal, is justice enough?

Christian Fiction Monday

Ruby’s Slippers by Leanna Ellis
Wizard of Oz meets Cinderella

When Dottie Meyers loses her ‘no place like home’ during a Kansas tornado, she wakes up to find a pair of ruby slippers left by her father who abandoned his family thirty years ago. With her sister hot on her trail to find the treasured ruby slippers, Dottie travels a yellow brick road with three friends to find her father. No wizard can solve her problems. Only the love of a heavenly father can heal her wounds and give her the desires of her heart.

There’s no place like … the heart for God’s healing touch.

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Winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, Leanna Ellis writes quirky women's fiction. When she’s not busy writing, taxiing her kids to and from dance and fencing, or taking the dogs in and out, then she’s contemplating some new weird plot.

Same Kind of Different as Me

I have nothing but high praise for this wonderful book that brought me to tears more than once. As the stories of these two men—one black, one white—are told, beginning in their boyhoods, you can't help but root for them, ache for them, want more for them. One ends up homeless. One ends up wealthy financially but poor in spirit in many ways. But when God causes their paths to cross, that's when the story begins to take hold of your heart. Do not miss reading this book!

SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME
 by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

A true, inspirational story that crosses the barriers of society.

Meet Denver, raised under plantation-style slavery in Louisiana until he escaped "da Man"—in the 1960s—by hopping a train. Then, after another 18 homeless years on the streets of Dallas, God moved . . . and a godly woman named Deborah prayed, listened, and obeyed. Mountains began to move, beginning with her husband, Ron, an international art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani suits and art-collecting millionaires.

The story takes a devastating twist when Deborah discovers she has cancer. Will Deborah live or die? Will Denver learn to trust a white man? Will Ron embrace his dying wife's vision to rescue Denver? Or will Denver be the one rescuing Ron?

There's pain and laughter, doubt and tears, and in the end a triumphal story that readers will never forget.

Order your copy today before you forget. You'll be so glad you do.

Chapter a Week summer book giveaway

Summer is just around the corner! So Chapter-a-Week is giving away another ten-pound box of autographed books to one Chapter-a-Week member.

If you're already a member, simply send an email with "Chapter-a-Week Summer Giveaway" in the subject line to cawcontest@gmail.com and you'll be entered in the drawing. If you're not already a member, sign up for Chapter-a-Week first, then enter. If you get a friend to sign up and they give us your name you'll be entered twice! The deadline for signing up is May 15th and the winner will be announced May 22nd so the books will arrive in plenty of time for summer reading.

Get your entries in and be sure to tell your friends to sign up for Chapter-a-Week!

To qualify, the return email address must be on the Chapter-a-Week membership list.  Continental U. S. residents only, please. Industry professionals should refrain from entering, and though we'd love you to share our books with your friends, these books are not for resale.

Thanks and happy reading!
Your friends at Chapter-a-Week

TOUR DE FORCE by Elizabeth White

There are so many good books by good writers that I probably could blog twice a day every day and still not be able to list them all. But my hope is that, because of my posts, someone will discover a book they wouldn't have known about otherwise. Like the latest offering from author Elizabeth White, Tour de Force.

A Passion for Dance

Gilly Kincade is a rising star on the New York ballet scene. Dancing is her life's passion, second only to her love for Jesus, and she believes her faith sets her apart--but hasn't held her back. Chosen for a plum role in a new ballet choreographed for her, it seems the sky's the limit. Then she meets Jacob Ferrar....

A Passion for God

Jacob Ferrar has left behind the glittering temptations of stardom in New York ballet. He has established a reputation as a brilliant, innovative artistic director of a regional dance company in Alabama, with a vision for choreography that glorifies God and encourages the audience. In fact, he's certain nothing could make him go back....

Becomes Love's Tour de Force

When Jacob offers Gilly the lead in his original Easter ballet, she begins to reevaluate what she's willing to sacrifice for dance. And he sees exciting potential of shining light on the world's dark stage. But their brilliant first performance is destroyed by a terrible accident, and Gilly and Jacob find themselves facing an uncertain future. Together, they dance the fine line between personal vision and God's will, listening for the beat of the Father's heart.

Romantic Times BookClub says:

“White takes readers behind the scenes into the competitive dance world. It's refreshing that Gillian befriends and respects people living different lifestyles while still boldly living out her faith.” (4 stars)

Stupid About Men by Deborah Dunn

You can't read this blog and not know that I write historical romance and contemporary women's fiction. I like to tell stories about people falling in love, either for the first time or all over again (as in the case of a marriage in crisis). In my personal life, I have known love and I have known heartache. And I might as well admit it, I have been stupid about men.

Whether or not you're looking to get real life romance right, if you're a writer, this is a good book for you to read to help understand many of your female characters who may be Stupid about Men. Here's a bit more about it:

Tired of Kissing Frogs?

Even the most capable and intelligent women are sometimes struck stupid when it comes to relationships with men. Maybe you're like Cinderella, who thinks that only a man can rescue her; or perhaps you are like Little Red Riding Hood, always attracted to "bad boys"; or maybe you find yourself simply settling, like Rapunzel, because you don't believe you can do any better. And somehow, you always end up kissing frogs.

No matter what kind of "stupid" you are, licensed marriage and family therapist Deborah Dunn will show you why you keep making the same mistakes with men, and will empower you to take control of who you are and become smart about life.

Learn the 10 most common mistakes women make.

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Have fun with it!
~rlh~

Beyond This Moment by Tamera Alexander

Rave! Rave! Rave! I recently finished reading Tamera Alexander's From A Distance, the first Timber Ridge novel. It was great. Now I've got Beyond This Moment, the second book in the series, on my Kindle 2, waiting for me to finish a couple of non-fiction books I'm currently reading. And let me tell you, I cannot wait to read Beyond This Moment. Here's the skinny:

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Lives are made up of tiny steps. Some are chosen for us; some we choose.
All hold the power to change who we become—but only if we let them.

When Dr. Molly Whitcomb, Professor of Romance Languages, steps off the train in Colorado Territory, she makes a choice—one that goes against everything she stands for. Yet it’s the only choice that offers her a chance to regain a fraction of all she’s lost.

Sheriff James McPherson’s instincts about people rarely miss the mark. He senses Professor Whitcomb is hiding something. He just doesn’t know what. When James learns Molly’s secret, his own reputation is undermined. But when Molly Whitcomb’s reinvented life begins to unravel, it threatens his job, the stability of Timber Ridge, and what he always knew to be true about himself.

What others are saying about Beyond This Moment:

"Pull up a comfy armchair! The main and secondary characters in Beyond This Moment instantly become people to care about, and the plot twists will keep you turning pages long into the night. The themes of racial tolerance and second chances are as timely today as they were back in the early days of Colorado's history." — Romantic Times, 4 1/2 star review

 “Tamera Alexander paints scenery with the written word, and makes characters, stories, and insights linger long after the book is read.”— Cindy Woodsmall, New York Times bestselling author

 “The characters are charming, engaging, and very realistic ... a great story that will have readers quickly turning pages ...”— The Romance Readers Connection

About the author:

Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville, Tennessee, where they enjoy life with their two college-age children and a precious--and precocious--silky terrier named Jack.

If you have a minute, you can visit Tamera's website and her blog.

Timely Messages for Holy Week

I've got a couple of new non-fiction books to tell you about from two authors whose past books have impacted my spiritual life. I expect these books to do the same for all who read them. Experiencing the Spirit by Drs. Henry and Mel Blackaby will help you understand the power and purpose of the Holy Spirit, helping you to make the Day of Pentecost a daily experience in your life. The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn will help you use the time or money from your fasting to invest in a kingdom that’s eternal.

Experiencing the Spirit
Serve God as never before

The first Christians “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) shaking the gates of hell even in the face of severe persecution. The result: People all around “were filled with wonder and amazement” (Acts 3:10).What can give Christians today the same impact?

God’s Holy Spirit is ready to answer that for us in an awesome way, as Henry Blackaby and his son Mel Blackaby make clear in Experiencing the Spirit. You’ll see how the proof of the Spirit’s presence is our awareness of God’s personal assignments for us, plus our supernatural enablement to carry out those assignments. You’ll find essential clarification on the difference between natural talents and spiritual gifts. You’ll explore the dynamics of being filled with the Spirit through intimate relationship with Him, committed obedience, and radical departure from sin.

Instead of considering what you can do for God with your abilities and talents, you’ll be encouraged here to seek what God wants to do through you supernaturally by His Spirit, empowering you beyond your personal competence and capacities. Release the Holy Spirit’s work at the very core of your experience of the Christian life.

The Treasure Principle
Flip-Flop Your Concept of Giving!

Bestselling author Randy Alcorn introduced readers to a revolution in material freedom and radical generosity with the release of the original The Treasure Principle in 2001. Now the revision to the compact, perennial bestseller includes a provocative new concluding chapter depicting God asking a believer questions about his stewardship over material resources. Readers are moved from the realms of thoughtful Bible exposition into the highly personal arena of everyday life. Because when Jesus told His followers to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” He intended that they discover an astounding secret: how joyful giving brings God maximum glory and His children maximum pleasure. Discover a joy more precious than gold!

Story Behind the Book: After years of writing and teaching on the theme “God owns everything,” in 1990 Randy Alcorn was sued by an abortion clinic (for peaceful, nonviolent intervention for the unborn). Suddenly he had to resign as a pastor and was restricted to making minimum wage. Legally unable to own anything, Randy gave all his book royalties to missions work and need-meeting ministries. He and his family have experienced the reality of The Treasure Principle—that God really does own everything, takes care of us, and graciously puts assets into our hands that we might have the joy and privilege of investing in what will last for eternity.

Author Bios:

Dr. Henry Blackaby has devoted his life to the ministry. A multi-faceted talent, he has served as a music director, senior pastor, college president, missionary, and later as an executive in Southern Baptist Convention. Blackaby is the author of more than a dozen books with more than one million copies sold, including the best-selling Experiencing God. As the President of Blackaby Ministries, he is a vibrant speaker and the father of Dr. Melvin Blackaby. Melvin serves as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Jonesboro in Georgia, where he lives with his wife, Gina, and their three children.

Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM). Prior to 1990, when he started EPM, he served as a pastor for fourteen years. He has spoken around the world and has taught on the adjunct faculties of Multnomah Bible College and Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Randy is the best-selling author of twenty-seven books (over three million in print), including the novels Deadline, Dominion, and Deception as well as Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, the Gold Medallion winner Safely Home, and Wait Until Then.