1. I’m an obsessive movie attender. I love to go by myself. It’s my alone time. Sometimes I sneak out to go to a movie by myself. I attend movies with my wife and friends but I also really like to go by myself. I’m not sure why I like to do that. I could have worst habits I suppose.
2. I lay awake in bed at 3 a.m. sometimes imagining conversations or chapters in an upcoming book. I get some great ideas. It’s just not too good for logging in your eight hours of sound sleep. If you were normal you wouldn’t be a writer anyway, I guess.
3. I was once a co-defendant with 60 Minutes and Dan Rather when I worked for a newspaper in Wyoming. They did an expose on corruption in the town. I got grouped in with them. I was later dropped from the lawsuit. However, I still have the court papers that lists me as a co-defendant.
4. I love to eavesdrop on conversations and watch people in restaurants or coffee shops. I use it to help me with dialogue. The downside is that some young women probably think I’m creepy. I find their real dialogue endlessly fascinating.
5. I have to be listening to music on iTunes while I write. I don’t know why but it helps a lot. Music invokes feelings and emotions and I find myself tapping into those as I listen to music. During the course of writing a novel, I usually hone in on certain songs which would be a soundtrack for that book. Those songs are ones which really touch the vibe I’m going for in the story.
6. In “The Illusion of Certainty” I have two of the characters compete in the Hood to Coast relay race. It is 197 miles and begins at Mt. Hood east of Portland, Oregon and ends on the beach in Seaside, Oregon. Participants will each run 15-20 miles in the race. I ran Hood to Coast seven times. I still try to run each day…but not that far.
7. Peacock Lane, the Christmas street, mentioned in “The Illusion of Certainty” is a real place. I had a good friend who bought a house there. She invited me to her Christmas party each year.
8. I met my wife in 8th grade. We started getting serious about one another later in high school We been married since 1970 and have known each other since we were 13.
9. I have always wanted to write a mystery or a detective series. I’m actually working on the first book in the hoped for series right now. I hope I can do it. I find myself think about committing crimes now and clues for solving them. I’m not sure how good a criminal I am yet.
10. Even though I live in Seattle now I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am an avid San Francisco Giant baseball fan. My first game was when I was eight years old. I went to the old Seals Stadium with my dad. There have been good times and bad but the Giants are kind of in my DNA.

I hope you will continue to follow my adventures and writing projects at my blog at www.gregmessel.com. My writing has taken me to places I didn’t think I would go and in directions which surprise even me. Join me for the journey and I would love to discuss it all with you…unless I’m at a movie.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Greg Messel has written three novels and three unpublished memoirs. He published his premiere novel “Sunbreaks” in 2009, followed by “Expiation” in 2010 and “The Illusion of Certainty” in 2011. Greg has had a newspaper career as a columnist, sportswriter and news editor. He won a Wyoming Press Association Award as a columnist. Greg also spent many years in the corporate world as a Financial Manager. He now devotes his energies to writing at his home in Edmonds, Washington on the Puget Sound just north of Seattle, where he lives with his wife, Carol.

You can visit his website at www.gregmessel.com.  Connect with Greg on Twitter at www.twitter.com/gregmessel or Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.messel.

The Illusion of Certainty follows two parallel storylines. Marc is a successful businessman who seems to have everything—a great job, a beautiful wife, a house in an upscale neighborhood of Portland, Oregon and two great kids who are preparing for college. But something is not right. Marc is unsettled by the sudden change in his wife, Aimee, who seems distant and unhappy. What’s going on with her?
The second storyline involves a successful young attorney, Alexandra Mattson. Alex, as she is called by her friends, meets a handsome young cop, Sean, during an unexpected crisis in her neighborhood. Sean and Alex seem made for each other and begin to merge their futures in a world of uncertainty.

The only certainty in life is that we will face uncertainty. Despite all fo the technology and controls available in the modern world, sometimes the only comfort comes from the human touch.

• ISBN-13: 9781936750528
• Publisher: Sunbreaks Publishing
• Publication date: 7/20/2011
• Pages: 452

BUY THE BOOK… Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Please note that these were FREE as of TODAY. I can not guarantee that they will be free at a later time from this post. Hopefully you’ll get the chance to download them while they remain free.

Below are today’s latest free finds (click the covers to the download pages)…

SELF-HELP

BUSINESS / FINANCES

ADULT FICTION

CHILDREN’S FICTION

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

CLASSICS

MISCELLANEOUS

Found any new free ebooks lately?

I am a LinkShare affiliate. Some images contain a Linkshare which compensates me a little.

On My Shelves is a weekly post at The Book Faery Reviews which shares THREE books from our personal collection. These books could be favorites, books to be read as soon as possible for our own enjoyment, as well as books to be read soon for scheduled reviews.

Books let us into their souls and lay open to us the secrets of our own.  ~William Hazlitt

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly - It’s a few days before Halloween, and Samuel Johnson and his dachsund Boswell witness strange goings-on at 666 Crowley Avenue. The Abernathys don’t mean any harm by their flirtation with the underworld, but when they unknowingly call forth Satan himself, they create a gap in the universe. A gap that holds a pair of enormous gates—the gates to Hell. And there are some pretty terrifying beings just itching to get out….Can one small boy defeat evil—and harness the power of science, faith, and love to save the world as we know it?

In his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the death of his mother. He is angry and alone, with only the books on his shelf for company. But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness, and as he takes refuge in his imagination, he finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. While his family falls apart around him, David is violently propelled into a land that is a strange reflection of his own world, populated by heroes and monsters, and ruled over by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a mysterious book…. The Book of Lost Things. – FROM AMAZON

The Meaning of Night: A Confession by Michael Cox- ”After killing the red-haired man, I took myself off to Quinn’s for an oyster supper.” So begins the “enthralling” (Booklist, starred review) and “ingenious” (Boston Globe) story of Edward Glyver, booklover, scholar, and murderer. As a young boy, Glyver always believed he was destined for greatness. A chance discovery convinces him that he was right: greatness does await him, along with immense wealth and influence. Overwhelmed by his discovery, he will stop at nothing to win back a prize that he knows is rightfully his.

Glyver’s path to reclaim his prize leads him from the depths of Victorian London, with its foggy streets, brothels, and opium dens, to Evenwood, one of England’s most beautiful and enchanting country houses, and finally to a consuming love for the beautiful but enigmatic Emily Carteret. His is a story of betrayal and treachery, of death and delusion, of ruthless obsession and ambition. And at every turn, driving Glyver irresistibly onward, is his deadly rival: the poet-criminal Phoebus Rainsford Daunt.

The Meaning of Night is an enthralling novel that will captivate readers right up to its final thrilling revelation. – FROM B&N

Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas - From the critically acclaimed author of Tallgrass comes a powerful novel about an unlikely friendship between two women and the secrets they’ve kept in order to survive life in a rugged Colorado mining town.

It’s 1936 and the Great Depression has taken its toll. Up in the high country of the snow-covered Rocky Mountains, eighty-six-year-old Hennie Comfort has lived in Middle Swan, Colorado, since before it was Colorado. When she first meets seventeen-year-old Nit Spindle, Hennie is drawn to the grieving young girl. Nit and her husband have come to this small mining town in search of work, but the loneliness and loss Nit feels are almost too much to bear. One day she notices an old sign that reads prayers for sale in front of Hennie’s house. Hennie doesn’t actually take money for her prayers, never has, but she invites the skinny girl in anyway. The harsh conditions of life that each has endured create an instant bond, and a friendship is born, one in which the deepest of hardships are shared and the darkest of secrets are confessed. – FROM AMAZON

As Tracy’s past begins to threaten their future with Jack, Bobbi is forced to face the unsettling truth about God’s grace. But this time, what will it cost to forgive the unforgivable? -FROM B&N

• Pub. Date: April 2011
• Publisher: Mindstir Media
• Format: Paperback , 404pp
• ISBN-13: 9780981964836
• ISBN: 0981964834

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Like the first book in the Covenant of Trust Series, Paula Wiseman does an excellent job in portraying a marriage who’s been tainted by infidelity yet rebuilt through faith. Bring the woman back into the picture with a child this time and you wonder if this couple will make it through the pain again. Will they go backwards and lose what they rebuilt or will they move forward? I’ve been there. I was once Bobbi. Honestly there are probably STILL days I feel like Bobbi. Wiseman portrayed it all very well. While not all marriages may have the support system that Bobbi and Chuck had, in the end, their faith kept them strong so they could move forward (like my husband and I). I once again recommend this book series to married couples who may or may not have lived through infidelity.

You can read my review of the first book, Contingency, here and Paula’s guest post about the 10 Things You Can Do to Help Your Writing Career Before You’re Published here.

I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR REVIEW ALONG WITH THE PUMP UP YOUR BOOK PROMOTION. NO COMPENSATION WAS RECEIVED. ALL OPINIONS STATED ABOVE WERE NOT INFLUENCED BY ANYONE AND ARE MY OWN.

Paperback: 298 pages
Publisher: Stones Point Press (September 27, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1882521129

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Hugh Aaron, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, received a Liberal Artsdegree in the Humanities at The University of Chicago. For three years as a Seabee he served in the South Pacific during WWII. He was CEO of his own plastics manufacturing business for 20 years before selling it to write fulltime. Several of his short stories have been published in national magazines and 18 of his essays on business management have appeared in The Wall Street Journal. He is the author of Business Not as Usual: How to Win Managing a plays.

His latest book is a short story collection, Stories From a Lifetime. You can visit his website at www.stonespointbooks.com or his blog at www.businesswisdom.blogspot.com.

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…You know what I love best about a collection of short stories in a book? I can pick a random story and jump right into it. That is something I could easily do with Aaron’s book Stories From A Lifetime. Each different story has a message and will touch your heart one way or another. There is truly a story for everyone in all kinds of situations within this book and once you’ve read them, you’ll eventually find yourself sharing it with another. I for one, will be sharing this lovely collection of stories with those at the office.

MY BOOK Rating: 4 out of 4 stars

I received a copy of the book for review to participate in Aaron’s book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion.
No compensation was given and all opinions stated above are mine.

• Pub. Date: August 2010
• Publisher: Michael Scott Miller
• Sold By: SMASHWORDS – EBKS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
• Print Length: 286 pages

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Michael Scott Miller works with numbers by day in the business world and with words by night. He began writing shortly after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and has had his work published in the Welcomat (now Philadelphia Weekly) and wrote music reviews for the Wharton Journal while his wife was getting her degree there.

Miller’s debut novel, Ladies and Gentlemen…The Redeemers, has been downloaded more than eight thousand times and has received tremendously positive reader feedback, earning 4-star to 5-star ratings at Amazon, barnesandnoble.com, Smashwords, and Kobobooks. The complete set of reader reviews and comments can be accessed at http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/40309/ .

Miller grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ and now lives in Lafayette Hill, PA with his wife and three children.

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Ladies and Gentlemen…The Redeemers is a fairly inspirational short read that just makes you feel good afterwards. The characters Miller put together in this novel felt like real people and has you realizing that one can do whatever they put their mind to no matter what others might be telling them. You saw their imperfections and struggles. You saw them get through their issues and grow. You see them learn from each other and work together no matter how different their backgrounds are. It’s easy to want to root these musicians and actually care for them as their personal stories unfold within the pages. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is in need of inspiration and those who enjoy uplifting reads.

Read his guest post from the other week about The Art of Creating Believable Characters.

A copy of the e-book was provided by the author for a review in participation with Pump Up Your Book.
No money compensation was received and all opinions stated are my own.

On My Shelves is a weekly post at The Book Faery Reviews which shares THREE books from our personal collection. These books could be favorites, books to be read as soon as possible for our own enjoyment, as well as books to be read soon for scheduled reviews.

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book.
~Author Unknown

Number ONE. Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom - Want to read.

In HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, Mitch Ablom offers a beautifully written story of a remarkable eight-year journey between two worlds – two men, two faiths, two communities – that will inspire readers everywhere. – FROM INSIDE BOOK JACKET

Number TWO. The Romanov Bride by Robert Alexander – Want to read.

As the Russia of Nicholas and Alexandra rushes toward catastrophe, the Grand Duchess Elisavyeta is ensconced in the lavish and magnificent Romanov court. In the same city, but worlds apart, Pavel is a simple village man in search of a better life. When his young wife, Shura, is shot and killed by tsarist soldiers during a political demonstration, Pavel dedicates his life to overthrowing the Romanovs. Pavel’s underground group assassinates Elisavyeta’s husband, the grand duke, changing her life forever.

Grief-stricken, the grand duchess gives up her wealth and becomes a nun dedicated to the poor people of Russia. When revolution finally sweeps in, Elisavyeta is the last Romanov captured, ripped from her abbey in the middle of the night and shuttled to Siberia. It is here, in a distant wood on a moonlit night, that Pavel is left to decide her fate. – FROM B&N

Number THREE. Remembered by Tamera Alexander - Want to read.

The threat of war—and a final request—send Véronique Girard from France to a distant and uninviting country. In the Colorado Territory, she searches for the man who has held her heart since childhood—her father. Pierre Girard left Paris for the Americas to seek his fortune in fur trading, vowing to send for his wife and daughter. But twenty-five years have passed and his vow remains unfulfilled. Sifting through shards of broken promises, Véronique embarks on a dangerous search for a man she scarcely remembers. His grief finally healed, Jack Brennan is moving on with life. After years of guiding families west, he is now working as a freighter to the mining towns surrounding Willow Springs. What he doesn’t count on is an unexpected traveling companion on his trips up into the mountains, and how one woman’s search will cause havoc with his plans . . . and his life. – FROM B&N

Circle of Seven productions created the following trailer for The Muir House and they did such a great job, I now want to find a copy for myself. Enjoy!

A Love Story. A Lost Story. All Under One Roof.

Willa Muir can’t say yes to the love of her life, until she explores her past and solves the mystery of a haunting dream. But when Willa’s desperate search unearths unthinkable secrets, her heart collapses. Can Willa shake her past to embrace a love that could finally lead her home? Learn about the book here, http://bit.ly/gnU4g6 Learn about this author here, http://bit.ly/m5h6gq Literary Christian fiction -FROM CIRCLE OF SEVEN PRODUCTIONS

BUY FROM BARNES & NOBLE

• Pub. Date: June 27 2011
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Format: Paperback , 336pp
• ISBN: 0310330335

Homefires is set in the Deep South’s Bible Belt on the eve of unprecedented moral changes. It is the story of Janeece and Kirk Crenshaw, a couple married just after their high school graduation who set out to make a life for themselves. It is a life marked by surprises, none more dramatic than when Kirk receives his “high-calling” and becomes a pastor. It is a life marked by tragedy, the most heart-rending of which is a devastating event very close to home. And it is a life marked by challenges: to their church, to their community, and most decidedly to their marriage. And as the fullness of time makes its impact on their union, Kirk and Janeece must face the question of whether they have gone as far as they can together. - FROM B&N

• Pub. Date: June 2011
• Publisher: Story Plant, The
• Format: Paperback , 450pp
• ISBN-13: 9781611880069

BUY THE BOOK… Amazon | Barnes & Noble (I am a B&N affiliate.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Emily Sue Harvey’s writing to make a difference. Her upbeat stories have appeared in dozens of anthologies including “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” “Chocolate for Women,” “From Eulogy to Joy,” “A Father’s Embrace,” “True Story,” “Compassionate Friends Magazine,” and “Woman’s World.” Emily Sue served as president of Southeastern Writers Association in 2008-2009. Her first novel, Song of Renewal, published by Story Plant, was released in the spring of 2009. For more information visit www.renewalstories.com or www.emilysueharvey.com.

FOLLOW THE AUTHOR…Facebook Fan Page – Website - Blog

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Homefires (I keep saying & typing HomeFRIES EVERY.TIME. Can’t help it! HA.), is one of those novels where you feel like a fly on the wall listening in or just buzzing around everywhere the characters are at a given moment. The characters felt real to me and I could relate to them in one way or another. Course it probably helps that 1) My husband and I were high school sweethearts (been together over 1/2 our lives and married 11yrs this past June 10th) 2) have a family and 3) it was my faith in God that helped us through the toughest moments in our marriage. While there were some parts I couldn’t COMPLETELY relate to or I found to be slower than I wanted, I still couldn’t help wanting to stick around for what would happen next or see how one of the characters would respond emotionally. Homefires is a very moving and inspiring drama about love, family, and even self discovery. Overall, I enjoyed Harvey’s novel and I recommend this book to anyone looking for something inspirational.

Sidenote…what was with all the italics? There were so many! Perhaps some things were over-emphasized or perhaps it was to help with the tone in our reader voice?

This book was provided to me for review as part of Pump Up Your Book.
All opinions stated above are my own.

Bobbi Molinsky’s comfortable life is shattered when a forwarded email from her husband’s account lands in her inbox. The email teases, “My whole evening is free again.” After an angry confrontation with Chuck, she is left with the broken remains of an eighteen year marriage. Bobbi agrees forgiving Chuck is the right thing, the God-honoring thing to do, but it leaves her empty and isolated. Teaching her second-graders is a burden. Taking care of her boys saps all her energy. It seems God Himself has walked away, leaving her to struggle alone. Bobbi can’t deny the transformation in Chuck, but genuine forgiveness requires trust, and trust is a risk she’s not willing to take. Can she let go of her deepest, most primal fears and save her marriage? – FROM AMAZON.COM

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: Mindstir Media (December 3, 2010)
• Language: English

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…After working several years as research chemist, Paula Wiseman was blessed the opportunity to stay home with her children and follow the writer’s path. She has been published in several Cup of Comfort devotional books and in Life Savors for Women. She blogs on matters of life and faith at paulawiseman.com. Contingency: Book One: Covenant of Trust Series, her debut novel, spent time on the Amazon.com Christian Fiction bestsellers list, and was also the #1 Hot New Release in Christian Fiction. Indemnity is her second novel. She enjoys small town life in Illinois with her husband, Jon, and three children.

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…I will admit, this took me some time to read. Not because I didn’t like it. Course it’s very hard to like the topic of infidelity. It took me some time, because this book reached inside of me the place and time I’d rather not go back to (and ironically, during the “anniversary month”). Wiseman, did an excellent job in portraying how marital affairs can hurt AND bring a family back together through their faith in God. I could connect with each of the characters even those outside of the immediate family. I was there. I felt each emotion that Wiseman portrayed for each of her characters involved.

For those who’ve dealt with infidelity and even those not touched by the pain, this is a great book to read. It’s yet another reminder (no matter how uncomfortable) of how precious marriages are, the reasons we take our vows, and the reminder of what could happen when we lose focus on God and each other.

I very much look forward to reading the second in the series when we watch how this couple gets through when the “other woman ” comes back into the picture.

Be sure to stop by and read Paula Wiseman’s guest post from yesterday. She gives tells us 10 Things You Can Do to Help Your Writing Career Before You’re Published.

My Book Rating: 3 out of 4 stars

I received a copy of this book for review along with the Pump Up Your Book Promotion. No compensation was received. All opinions stated above were not influenced by anyone and are my own.

1. Write the next book.
Let’s face it, when you finished your book, you achieved a tremendous goal, pouring a lot of work into a creative endeavor. You gave yourself a wonderful present, allowing your gifts and talents to be expressed in a tangible way. And it felt good, didn’t it?

Feed that. Get to work on the next project. Start making outlines, drawing diagrams, filling out characters, following whatever system or non-system you use. Study the craft of writing and incorporate that new knowledge into the next story. Is there a sequel in the first book? Or maybe a side story?

Personally, every time my book got rejected, I took a break from it and wrote a draft of a new story. Let’s just say I have several to work with now.

2. Blog.
Writers need to write. Blogging helps hone your voice, and your creative rhythm. It also tightens your discipline and work ethic. Check out WordPress or Blogger to get a blog set up in minutes. I started blogging almost two years before my book released.

3. Syndicate.
Once you’re a polished, regular blogger, it’s time to learn how to deliver that content to your readers. Feedblitz has more features and options, but charges a small monthly fee based on number of subscribers. Feedburner is free, but has some limitations. Either service can have you syndicated quickly and easily. There are other services, but most of the blogs I subscribe to use one of these.

4. Publish a Newsletter.
Vertical Response, Constant Contact and Mail Chimp can help you design and publish a slick newsletter, and they will manage your email list for you. Determine the schedule that works for you, be it monthly, bimonthly or quarterly.

5. Develop a Facebook page.
If you have a Facebook account, you’ve probably kept friends and family updated on your writing adventure. Now consider building a page for your book, or for yourself as an author. A page gives you much more latitude for promotion than your personal profile. When agents and other professionals follow up on you, having a page will keep the focus on your book and not your personal life.

6. Build a Social Media presence.
There are plenty of social media platforms, and you could easily run yourself ragged trying to keep up with all of them. Take some time to explore them and see how well they fit you. Twitter, LinkedIn, and Goodreads are good places to start. Also investigate the social aspects of Amazon. You can build an author page there, and join discussion groups for your genre.

7. Educate yourself.
Read other writers, not just in your genre. Read blogs from authors, agents and marketers and soak in the tips. Check their sites and social media presence, and make a note of what you like. Read writing books.

8. Identify your market.
Once you publish, the next adventure is selling your book. Who will buy it? Consider who your readers are, and determine the best way to reach them. Where do they hang out online- Goodreads groups? Discussion boards? Commenting on other writers’ blogs? Begin formulating a plan (and a budget) for marketing your work.

9. Plan and populate a website for your book.
Reserve the title of your book as a domain name if possible. This can be done for around $10 with a registration service like GoDaddy. Even if you don’t use the domain name later, it’s good to keep someone else from snapping it up. Consider whether you will want to feature the book on a page on your blog site (from step #2), or if you’d rather keep it separate. What content will you include? Go back to the things you learned in #7 from checking out other sites. What kinds of content were included on the sites you liked? What styles suited you or your book’s theme? Even if you are not the techie type, it helps to have a clear vision for your designer.

10. Commit to professionalism.
This doesn’t mean you have to be at the desk from 9-5. However, you do need to return phone calls and emails in a timely manner. Respond to your DMs and comments with grace and consideration. Always bear in mind that the internet is forever, and Google has made the world a very small, instantly accessible place.

If the list seems overwhelming, remember it doesn’t have to be done immediately. Graze through it a little at a time, learning and growing as you go. Best of luck to you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…After working several years as research chemist, Paula Wiseman was blessed the opportunity to stay home with her children and follow the writer’s path. She has been published in several Cup of Comfort devotional books and in Life Savors for Women. She blogs on matters of life and faith at paulawiseman.com. Contingency: Book One: Covenant of Trust Series, her debut novel, spent time on the Amazon.com Christian Fiction bestsellers list, and was also the #1 Hot New Release in Christian Fiction. Indemnity is her second novel. She enjoys small town life in Illinois with her husband, Jon, and three children.

Bobbi Molinsky’s comfortable life is shattered when a forwarded email from her husband’s account lands in her inbox. The email teases, “My whole evening is free again.” After an angry confrontation with Chuck, she is left with the broken remains of an eighteen year marriage. Bobbi agrees forgiving Chuck is the right thing, the God-honoring thing to do, but it leaves her empty and isolated. Teaching her second-graders is a burden. Taking care of her boys saps all her energy. It seems God Himself has walked away, leaving her to struggle alone. Bobbi can’t deny the transformation in Chuck, but genuine forgiveness requires trust, and trust is a risk she’s not willing to take. Can she let go of her deepest, most primal fears and save her marriage? – FROM AMAZON.COM

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: Mindstir Media (December 3, 2010)
• Language: English

I very highly recommend this book. It’s well written, full of suspense, drama, romance, and a powerful message. It will hook you from the start and keep you hooked to the end. – M.Vasquez

What Next?

You’ll need to confirm that you want to receive it by clicking a link in an email you’ll receive after signing up. Please check your inbox (and put us on your white list to avoid missing out on our news). We will never rent or sell any information we collect. Any additional mailing information is used for giveaway shipping and used for that purpose then deleted.

This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don’t have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun! This is a weekly event! And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added! We get over 200 links every week!!

“What book influenced or changed your life?
How did it influence/change you?”

There were two books actually that come to mind. Not because I was a prostitute wanting out or that I was impatiently waiting years for a child but because of the reminder of faith, something I DESPERATELY needed back in 2006. What books are they you ask?

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is a story about a woman who was sold into prostitution at a very young age. It’s set in the mid 18oos during California’s gold rush. Angel, the main character is saved multiple times by Michael who helps her get out even though she keeps leaving him because of doubt. He shares his faith in God with her in subtle ways and in the end she finally sees the truth and love of God.

This timeless classic is a powerful retelling of the book of Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

It’s a story that will have you crying from sadness, angry for multiple reasons, crying because you’re reminded of that unconditional love, and crying with happiness. So yes…you will want a box of tissues handy while reading this book. This is a book I first listened to in audio, then bought in hardback, and one I could read over and over again as a reminder of God’s unconditional love for us.

No Woman So Fair by Gilbert Morris is another story of faith. Sarai leaves a world of “luxury” to be with a man of faith she loves and trusts, Abram. She follows him towards God’s promised land and along the way we watch the struggles of impatience, suffering, and doubt as well as the triumphs.

A Life of Ease and Pleasure Awaited Her, But She Has Chosen the Path of Devotion

I enjoyed this one very much and would no doubt re-read again and again (which is why I have the hardback on my shelves).

WHAT BOOK INFLUENCED OR CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

What Next?

You’ll need to confirm that you want to receive it by clicking a link in an email you’ll receive after signing up. Please check your inbox (and put us on your white list to avoid missing out on our news). We will never rent or sell any information we collect. Any additional mailing information is used for giveaway shipping and used for that purpose then deleted.

So what is Karma? We seem to use the word as a fear tactic insuring our goodwill toward others.

Karma simply means – action.

The definition in Hinduism/Buddhism: action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or reincarnation.

Many will argue the case of karma occurring exclusively in a next life while others adamantly endorse the idea we will feel karma’s full force as a payback in the same life. What they all have in common is the belief we are accountable for our deeds and actions.

Yet we see greed, self-satisfaction, lust, murder, rape, and mayhem all around us and many of the individuals who carry out these acts seem to get by just fine in life, without retribution in any form. While others, the kind, caring, giving souls, grow poorer, hungrier and more desperate in their quest for survival.

Life may not seem fair but you may rest assured, karma seeks truth.

The millionaire who layed off his entire labor force and shipped it off to China may look to the outward world as if he is showered with riches, yet hidden from view is the cheating wife, the daughter who committed suicide or the lack of any real friendships.

Do I believe in Karma? Absolutely! I’ve experienced it within my lifetime and if you are honest with yourself, you will agree that you also have felt the force of karma. How many have judged another, stating they would never ever do such a thing only to find, under the same circumstances, they reacted the exact way years later?

To me, karma is the ultimate judge and it takes care of the world and universe just fine, thank you. There is no need for me to condemn someone and I am free to be responsible for my actions alone. It is up to each individual to take responsibility for his or her life, never blaming someone else.

In my mind, karma sets you free to be the person you are without apology. I’d fear it if I chose the wrong path in life and embrace it if living through kindness, compassion and care.

THE BOOK…“What goes around, comes around.” Truer words were never spoken, as evidenced by the complex interactions and fates of the characters in “The Turn of The Karmic Wheel.” When the residents of Raleigh begin to hear music and voices that aren’t “there”, and to receive frightening messages from no discernable source, it soon becomes apparent that changes must – and will – be made: to their everyday lives, to their relationships, to their bodies, and, most importantly, to their souls.

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: All Things That Matter Press (August 13, 2010)

Excerpt from Chapter One, ‘The Turn of the Karmic Wheel’

Harry went to the window and watched his friend walk down the street. He wondered if he should be concerned. For some reason, he felt a bit of uneasiness; just couldn’t put his finger on the why or wherefore. Aw, hell, he reasoned, it ain’t none of my business. Yet there was something eating at his mind, a voice telling him to go no further with this transaction. It was a gut feeling he couldn’t shake, a feeling that his friend and neighbor of over 30 years was not ‘quite right’. There was definitely something ‘off the scale’ about Euclid today. A vivid image entered his mind. A vision so unfathomable he had to let it go. Harry shivered as he moved to slowly close the store’s door, continuing to watch the retreating figure kicking stones along the road, unable to shake his feelings of dread.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Monica M. Brinkman is the author of the newly released novel, ‘The Turn of the Karmic Wheel’, a mixed genre of suspense, horror, the paranormal and spirituality. Ms Brinkman is also a co-host of an exciting new blogtalkradio show called ‘The Six Unsynchronized Souls, A Woman’s View’ that airs the first and last Thursday of each month, 7 PM CST. You may join the live show by calling 213/769-0952. For the schedule shows, click on the below referenced link.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/six-unsynchronized-souls/

Visit Monica’s personal web site, Meaningful Writings, to view articles, short stories, videos, books and inspirations @ http://tinyurl.com237mvru

The Immortals by J.T. Ellison - It is Samhain—the Blood Harvest. Nonbelievers call it Hallowe’en. The night when eight Nashville teenagers are found dead, with occult symbols carved into their naked bodies. It’s a ritual the killers believe was blessed by Death himself.

When children are victimized, emotions always run high, and this case has the public both outraged and terrified: a dangerous combination. Recently reinstated homicide lieutenant Taylor Jackson knows she has to act quickly, but tread carefully.

Exploring the baffling culture of mysticism and witchcraft, Taylor is immersed in a darkness that threatens to unbalance the order of her world, and learns how unchecked wrath can push a killer to his limits.

Perspectives on Social Media Marketing by Bough & Agresta – PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING addresses 89 of the most compelling and important issues that marketers face on a regular basis when it comes to social media, providing advice and insight on how to deal with each issue from the perspective of two thought leaders in this arena: Stephanie Agresta from Porter Novelli and B. Bonin Bough from PepsiCo. Together, they discuss what social media is, how it has changed the marketing landscape, how to implement a tactical and strategic social media plan across your organization, how to best measure the ROI of a social media campaign, and more.

Immanuel’s Vein by Ted Dekker – This story is for everyone–but not everyone is for this story.

It is a dangerous tale of times past. A love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice.

Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover.

With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds.

Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow.

Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter.

But remember, not everyone is for this story.