Recently in Contemporary Category

If you have followed our blog long enough, you know that we have a lot of authors who pop in to share about their books. Well, today is a first. We have a character from a book here to share her story. Harriet Beamer, who is the central figure in the new novel Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus by Joyce Magnin, is here to talk about, well, how she came to be. 

Welcome Harriet!

Hello there Harriet here, so the other day I got to thinking about what would have inspired Joyce to write a book about me. She laughed and then smiled and looked into my eyes and said, well to tell you the truth Harriet, your story grew out of reluctance and fatigue. That was when I looked at her with a bit of trepidation. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the whole story. But we sat with a cup of tea and

she told me that it was two years ago when her daughter, Emily Kate called needing a ride home from college. “I had a headache,” Joyce said. “I was tired and just didn’t feel like driving. It was only a forty-minute trip but still I was wishing she would take the bus that day. And that got me thinking about public transportation in general which got me thinking that a person could take a bus pretty much anywhere they wanted to go—even across the country? I wondered. And that was the day the idea for Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus was born. The more I considered Harriet the bigger the story grew.”

 Well, I don’t have to tell you that I was certainly sold on the notion. The idea of a journey is a perfect metaphor for growth and so it was only natural that my journey should not only be about making my way from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania to Grass Valley, California, but also about my inner journey, emotional, and spiritual. So the next thing I knew, Joyce sold my house, put my dog, Humphrey on a plane and off I went not only to find her children but to also find God’s calling on her life at that time.

Yesterday Joyce received this email. This is one of the reasons, she says she writes. Isn’t it amazing how God can use a slightly neurotic, middle-aged author to bless others. Not to mention a slightly confused, senior citizen with little more than a huge salt and pepper collection, a Bassett hound and a lot of energy. I am astonished every time. Here’s the letter. Joyce said I could share it with you.

Dear Joyce,

I was given an advance reading copy of your book Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus to read for a bookstore. I will highly recommend that those who work there encourage patrons to buy the book. Many of their customers have much in common with Harriet. What a delightful character you have created in Harriet. It was a treat to read of her travels and her journey discovering God's plan for her life. I do hope you have additional adventures planned for Harriet. We have traveled to several of the sites Harriet visited and your descriptions are excellent.

At times, I felt like Harriet could be my mother, except that my mom is 89, but she would be glad to take a trip like Harriet. In fact, she has done her own version of that. Mom and I love to read and one series she especially enjoyed was the Mitford series by Jan Karon. While in her early eighties, Mom joined an on line group that would discuss the Mitford books. Over time, the group dwindled down to about a dozen faithfuls and they became prayer partners and good friends as they would share payers and praises with each other. Someone in the group suggested that they meet for a weekend. We live in South Texas, and the others were scattered from California to Washington, D.C. and from Canada to the Mexican border here in South Texas. So in her mid-eighties, Mom hopped a plane, alone, to go to Canada to spend the weekend with people she had only met on line. Those ladies have been such a blessing to her. She has traveled two other times (again alone) to meet with them in Pennsylvania for a few days and again in Canada. Along the way, like Harriet, she reaches out to those around her and shares a word of encouragement and God's love.

You see, this reader said it all. Funny, but even a quirky character like Harriet Beamer can resonate with so many people. And that I suppose is why I write, first because I love words and stories, having been irrevocably word-struck when I was three years old, and because I pray that I might just happen to say something someone else needs to hear.

I hope that as you read about my grand cross-country adventure you will see a bit of yourself in me and in how I discover that God isn’t finished with me even though some others might think so and that it is possible to actually feel God’s pleasure.

You can learn more about me, Harriet Beamer on my blog: harrietbeamer.blogspot.com or on her Facebook Page:facebook.com/harrietbeamer

Happy Trails and may God’s pleasure be evident in your life.

Harriet Beamer

I hope you all had a great Easter weekend!

Beth Wiseman has just released a new book, and guess what? It’s not Amish!  Beth’s strong storytelling will resonate with readers in Need You Now as she shares a family’s story that many readers will be able to relate to.

When big-city life threatens the safety of one of their children – Brad and Darlene Henderson move with their three teenagers from Houston to the tiny town of Round Top, Texas.

Adjusting to small-town life is difficult for the kids, especially fifteen-year-old Grace who is coping in a dangerous way.

Married life hasn’t always been bliss, but their strong faith has carried them through the difficult times. When Darlene takes a job outside the home for the first time in their marriage, the domestic tension rises.

While working with special needs children at her new job, the widowed father of one of Darlene’s students starts paying more attention to her than is appropriate. Problem is, she feels like someone is listening to her for the first time in a long time.

If Darlene ever needed God… it’s now.

Some other tidbits for your Monday…

Tidbit #1 – Karen Kingsbury’s latest novel, Loving, debuted last week #1 on the New York Times Best Seller List.   I’m pretty sure that’s the first time she’s been about #1. How fun is that?! I love seeing Christian books make strong appearances on national best seller lists.

Tidbit #2 – Today is the last day to pre-buy Beverly Lewis’ new book, The Fiddler before it releases tomorrow. Pre-buy it for just $10!  See our stores for details.

In the book industry we talk a lot about “sleepers.” Those are the books that when they first come out, yes, they might sell pretty well, but then BAM! Something happens that causes the book to just start selling really well.   Sometimes it’s caused by an author making a lot of appearances on major media outlets but most of the time it’s the result of word of mouth.

Late last week I noticed a new “sleeper”… The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck. I grabbed a copy of it to see what all of the hoopla was about. Oh, my goodness… loved it! The back cover of the book does a great job of telling you what it’s about:

Charlotte owns a chic Birmingham bridal boutique. Dressing brides for their big day is her gift – and her passion. But with her own wedding day approaching, why can’t she find the perfect dress – or feel certain she should marry Tim?

Then Charlotte purchases a vintage dress in a battered trunk at an estate sale. It looks brand-new, shimmering with pearls and satin, hand-stitched and timeless in its design. But where did it come from? Who wore it? Who welded the lock shut and tucked the dog tags in that little sachet? Who left it in the basement for a ten-year-old girl? And what about the mysterious man in the purple vest who insists the dress has been “redeemed”?

Charlotte’s search for the gown’s history – and its new bride – begins as a distraction from her sputtering love life. But it takes on a life of its own as she comes to know the women who have worn the dress. Emily from 1912. Mary Grace from 1939. Hillary from 1968. Each with her own story of promise, pain, and destiny. And each with something unique to share. For woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte’s heritage, the power of courage and faith, and the beauty of finding true love.

  

I really enjoy books that have both contemporary and historical aspects in them. We spend a lot of time with Charlotte in present-day Birmingham but we also get transported back to different points in time to learn about the other ladies tied to the wedding dress. Each has a story that by themselves makes for a great read. When those threads are tied together, they all lead back to Charlotte, which was a twist that I didn’t see coming.

I can recommend The Wedding Dress to just about any fiction lover. It’s got something for everyone no matter your taste in genre. I’ve always heard great things about Rachel Hauck’s writing and reading her for the first time has shown me why she’s well-liked among readers as well as well respected among her fellow authors. 

Before I head off to order more of The Wedding Dress for our stores, I wanted to share some pictures from the launch party we had with Karen Kingsbury yesterday. Our Franklin, Tennessee store had the priviledge of hosting Karen as she released her latest book, Loving. There were hundreds of fans there who were excited to meet Karen. It was cool to overhear conversations between these readers as they shared what they enjoy about her writing and how her stories have encouraged them.

Karen did a Q&A session where readers were able to ask her questions.

 Do you recognize these people with Karen? Yep, that’s Bailey (a.k.a. Karen’s daughter Kelsey) and the guy who plays Cody in the trailer for Loving (a.k.a. Kelsey’s now-fiance, Kyle who is also a member of the Christian music group Anthem Lights).

Karen meeting one of her many readers who came out to see her

Since there is a wedding in Karen’s new book, we had to have a wedding cake to celebrate! Dave, the manager of the LifeWay Christian Store in Franklin, and Lindsey who works in our corporate offices, were fired up about getting cake!

Kelsey and Kyle signed a lot of books, too!

Our Franklin LifeWay Christian Store staff posing with Karen

Happy Karen Kingsbury release day to you!

Loving, the fourth book in the Bailey Flannigan Series, is out today. Pick up your copy at any LifeWay Christian Stores for $11.24 or visit us online.

If you live in the Nashville area, Karen will be signing books and hosting a Q&A at the LifeWay Christian Store in Franklin (Cool Springs) from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Neta Jackson just released Stand By Me, the first book in her new series, A SouledOut Sisters Series.

Kathryn Davies is as bright young woman from a prominent Phoenix family. But after making a leap of faith at a Christian music fest, dropping out of med school, and moving to inner city Chicago, her family all but disowns her.

When Kat discovers SouledOut Community Church, she longs to become a part of the multicultural church family. But her tendency to immediately say whatever she’s thinking steps on the toes of nearly everyone she meets – especially Avis Douglass.

Avis has a strong faith, is the principal of one of Chicago’s highest performing elementary schools, and is a founding member of SouledOut. But the country’s economic downturn has thrown both her and her husband’s jobs in question. And Avis hasn’t heard from her youngest daughter in moths – an estrangement that gnaws at her every day. Where is God in this?

Kat’s flamboyant zeal for living a “radical” Christian life is a stark contrast to Avis’s more reserved faith. But in God’s timing, the two women discover they need each other in ways neither of them expected.

Check out the first chapter to Stand by Me. There is also a reading group guide in the back of the book which makes it a great book club selection.

Life Experience Fiction

 “So…you were sexually abused as a child?”

 “This is…your life story?”

 “You understand…emotionally destructive relationships?”

 These are the kinds of hesitant questions I receive from readers—oftentimes readers who’ve lived experiences similar to my own.

My answers: Yes. No. Yes.

Last year, after the release of my debut novel, Words, when others would ask what genre I write, I’d stumble. “Well, it’s Contemporary Fiction, or it’s Women’s Fiction, sort of. Or, I guess it fits into the Main Stream Fiction category too.

Then one day I defined my own genre: Life Experience Fiction. I write stories loosely based on my own life experiences.

Yes, I was sexually abused for 12 years of my childhood—years that made me question the goodness of God. It took me another 12 years of work with Christian counselors to claw my way out of that pit of despair.

But is Words my life story? No. It is the story of fictional characters, Kaylee and Sierra. But my experience informed the emotions of those characters. And my experience birthed my passion for sharing the essence of my story, through a novel, with others who’ve suffered.

Last month, my second novel with B&H Publishing Group released: Lost and Found.

Again, it is a story based on experiences from not only my life, but also the life of Madame Jeanne Guyon, one of the most important women in Christian history.

I came across the writings of Jeanne Guyon as God’s healing work continued in my life—as I recognized how my own passivity was a destructive force in an important relationship—a relationship I ultimately had to walk away from. As I read Madame Guyon’s autobiography, I knew I’d found a mentor to walk alongside me as I grieved that astounding loss.

But again, Lost and Found isn’t my story, nor is it Jeanne Guyon’s story, but our stories informed the emotions and the illuminations of fictional characters.

So why do I choose to expose myself in this way? Because I believe it’s how God’s led me. Though, I didn’t follow without a fight. Exposure comes with emotional risk, I thought—and I didn’t want to take that risk. I wasn’t willing to risk because my focus was on me, and the pain I’d endured, rather than on God and His healing touch.

Once my focus shifted, I realized it isn’t my story that I’m sharing. It’s God’s story. God’s glory! Oh, how could I resist sharing the story of God’s unfathomable mercy and grace?

A story of redemption.

A story of hope.

A story of healing.

This isn’t about me. It’s about Him.

And without Him, we’d each live in a pit of despair. Instead, He offers us life lived to the full—life lived in Him, with Him, for eternity. It is a life of ultimate joy.

My prayer as I continue to write stories based on lessons I’ve learned, is that others will see themselves in the stories I create. But most important, I pray they’ll see, and come to know, the God of all hope. He is waiting, with arms outstretched, to embrace each of us with His comfort and love.

I’ll soon run out of personal experiences to share. One woman can only have so many issues! I’ll stretch and grow as an author and develop new stories. But the constant in those stories, I know, will be the story of God and Who He is.

Ginny L. Yttrup is a child of God, a mother, a friend, life coach, and an obsessive pet-lover. Her latest novel with B&H Publishing Group, Lost and Found, released February 15, 2012. Ginny is blogging as her protagonist from Lost and Found, Jenna Bouvier at www.iluminar.me. Follow Jenna’s journey to intimacy with God.

You may read more about Ginny or contact her through her website: www.ginnyyttrup.com.

Our internet store is currently pre-selling the next book from Karen Kingsbury!

Click here to pre-order your copy of Loving for just $10. The book will be releasing on March 27.

Many of you have been anxiously awaiting today for months! Karen Kingsbury’s latest novel is now available at LifeWay Christian Stores. Pick up Longing for just $10!

Did you know that many churches, ministries, and individuals set aside specific time in October and November to pray for the persecuted church? Maybe your church is doing a special emphasis on it over the next few weeks. It serves as a reminder to all believers that we need to constantly be praying for our brothers and sisters who live in areas where being a Christian threatens their lives on a daily basis. 

Here is a map that shows you areas of the world where persecution of believers is happening today.

Randy Alcorn, the best-selling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, has always had a heart for the persecuted church. His novel, Safely Home, just received a fresh new cover in honor of the 10th anniversary.  In this novel, Alcorn brings us the story of Li Quan who lives with the threat of being discovered for his Christian faith. His old college roommate, Ben Fielding, has no idea that his friend is facing life and death daily in China. 

I’m happy to have Randy Alcorn here today telling us about how he crafted this powerful story and what he hopes the readers will take away from it.

Why did you write Safely Home?

The inspiration for the story came from a painting by artist Ron DiCianni called Safely Home. I first met Ron many years ago at the Christian Bookseller’s Convention (now called ICRS). We had a nice chat, I gave him a few of my books, and he signed one of his prints and gave it to me. I admired his paintings; he enjoyed reading my books.

Later Tyndale House sent me a beautiful signed painting of Safely Home, which I immediately hung on my office wall, where it remains to this day. Eventually Ron Beers from Tyndale asked me to write a novel based on the painting, which portrays a man on his knees. Since this beautiful work of art is in the front of every printed copy of Safely Home, I’ll take the time to describe it:

The man’s His clothing is worn and tattered. He’s just walked down a long strip of blood-red entry carpet that has led him to the foot of a throne. His arms dangle at his sides. He appears both exhausted and relieved, overcome with emotion. His head rests on the chest of one kneeling down to him, holding him tight in a loving embrace. The one hugging him has stepped off the throne. It’s the King, the Creator of the universe, who is also, incredibly, a man. King Jesus.

A few feet to the right, open shackles lie on the palace floor. The man had been a prisoner on earth. He’d suffered terribly at the hands of those who despised him because they despised his King. In his right hand, hanging limply to the ground, is a beautiful gold crown.

This man is a martyr. He has lived out Revelation 2:10—he’s been faithful unto death, and his Lord has given him the crown of life. To many, the most important thing is the preservation of their life on earth. To this man, obeying his Lord was more important than prolonging his earthly life. He’s one of those who “did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11).

In the background of the Safely Home painting (I’m looking at it right now) stands an angel, reverently watching, holding out a white robe. The angel is the man’s guardian. In the stone­work on both sides of the carpet walkway you can see the continents of earth below. In the novel, I have the main character meet his guardian after meeting his Lord, as depicted in the painting.

Several things strike me in this painting. One is heaven’s view of earth below. Another is the look on the man’s face, at long last freed from pain and persecution. But what really strikes me is the look on the face of King Jesus. He, too, is full of emotion. His face radiates compassion and approval. His nail-scarred hands, drawing the martyr to Himself, are silent testimony to the extent of His love.

This man who has endured great suffering is safely home at last. The evil that assailed him in the Shadowlands can no longer touch him. He’s forever beyond its reach, for between evil and the man stands the Lord of the cosmos, the one who embraces him and says, “Never again will I let you suffer.”

On my computer is the verse, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” I’m always keenly aware of this truth, but never more than when I write a book. Safely Home was a particularly huge challenge. My goal was to tell a compelling story, one which fueled the reader’s imagination, and also served the purpose of Proverbs 31:8-9, speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

What does the story still mean to you today?

As I was writing Safely Home, I thought, who am I to convey the joy and trials of Chinese Christians? I

spent a week in China, met Christians, read lots of books, interviewed people, but I still didn’t feel qualified to write this book (in fact, I wasn’t qualified). Along with the help of a prayer team which plays a vital role in my writing, I often got on my knees a few times an hour, praying He would give me the words. Writing this book made a deep impact on me.

The characters in the book and their families came alive for me, and I am grateful to say that by God’s grace they have come alive to countless people who have written to me over the years. Many tell me their lives were changed, some are serving Christ in China today as a direct result of God speaking to them through the book. Others give away a substantial amount of their income to help persecuted Christians around the world.

In fact, one hundred percent of royalties from Safely Home go to help persecuted Christians and to spread the gospel in their countries. This book is my gift to the Lord and to my persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ.

What do you want readers to come away with from the book?

I hope readers will enjoy this story. It isn’t a downer; it’s an inspiration and encouragement. It has its light moments, and it conveys a fresh view of heaven. I pray it helps readers to find their joy in Christ and serve Him with greater joy and abandonment.

My prayer ten years after writing it is the same as it was back then—that readers will come away with a greater love for their brothers and sisters overseas, a greater love for Christ, and with a deep sense of anticipation for Heaven and living forever serving and worshipping our King on the New Earth.

On my blog, I’ve written more about the persecuted church, including several posts specifically about China.

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A special note about next week... We're going to be celebrating the first anniversary of A Novel Bookshelf!  We'll be doing giveaways every day so be sure to stop in!

Have a great weekend!

We all enjoy a novel that is a light-hearted, fun, and relaxing read.  However, sometimes it can be good to read a “meatier” novel. There are a lot of novels on the shelves today that explore harder themes like the persecuted church, trafficking, abuse, etc. 

One of the newer voices in this area is Kathi Macias. She’s joining us today to share about her latest works and why she chooses this genre to write in.

Welcome, Kathi!

FICTION WITH A MISSION

       From the moment I signed the contract with New Hope Publishers for my four-book Extreme Devotion fiction series, I began hearing variations of the same question from potential readers: What’s the genre?

          Tough one to answer. I suppose contemporary international fiction sums it up best, since each book is set in a different country and takes place in modern times. But New Hope, which is known for its passion for missions, has opted to call it “Fiction with a Mission,” and I couldn’t be more pleased with that label.

The first two books of the series, No Greater Love, which is set in South Africa in 1989 during the violence and upheaval preceding the overthrow of Apartheid, and More than Conquerors, set in Mexico and dealing with the Mayan culture and influence, released April 5, 2010. Book three, Red Ink, is set in China and released in October 2010, while the final one, People of the Book, set in Saudi Arabia, released in April 2011.

The writing and production of this series was an exciting shared adventure, as I partnered with New Hope Publishers in their first fiction launch even while I learned about the unique aspects of writing fiction in international settings. Of the four countries highlighted in the books, I have been to only one—Mexico—but I have never set foot in the area where the Mayan culture is so strong and where much of that book takes place. Can anyone say RESEARCH? Online research, library research, books and videos and movies—and people. My greatest resource for authentic research was connecting with people who either currently lived in the countries where my stories occur or had recently lived there. Though I began the writing of the stories based on much of my online and book research, the majority of personal touches that make readers say, “Wow, it’s like I’m right there!” came about as a result of feedback from those who know the areas and culture firsthand.

And now we are in the midst of the Freedom series, a “fiction with a mission” trilogy based on the topic of human trafficking. The first book, Deliver Me From Evil, released in September 2011, with the following two books in the series releasing in January and April 2012. Though much of these three books takes place right here in the States, as I wanted readers to understand that human trafficking doesn’t just happen in faraway lands, the books will also contain a strong sub-plot set in the Golden Triangle area of Thailand. (Yep, more research!) Even our stand-alone 2011 Christmas book, A Christmas Journey Home, has an international setting, with the story going back and forth between the Baja area of Mexico and the Arizona desert.As an author of Christian books, this is my way of “going into all the world” to fulfill the Great Commission—and helping my readers do the same. I pray my venture into international fiction will

truly prove to be “fiction with a mission” for all who read it—and who may find themselves called to expand their own outreach in response to God’s call on their lives.