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Is where we introduce listeners to people who have found their way out of the dark shadows of life and back to light and those who lead others on their journey from darkness to light.

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Meet seasoned authors, learn about new books and find inspiration to help you along your journey. No matter how far you’ve come or where you are going, I’d be honored to travel with you. If you like what you see, please subscribe to avoid missing updates.

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Latest Show

2024-11-04
Episode #268 - Featuring Liisa Eyerly

Liisa Eyerly is an author whose love of scripture and history melded with a career background in teaching and library media to spark her writing career. She is the author of Obedient Unto Death and Fortunes of Death, the first two books in the Secrets of Ephesus series. Join us as Liisa discusses fascinating facts she has learned about the culture and practices of the first century through her extensive research and shares about her tour of Ephesus.

Recent Shows

2024-10-24
Episode #267 - Featuring Lana Christian

2024-10-03
Episode #266 - Featuring Marlene Bagnull

2024-09-12
Episode #265 - Featuring Rebecca Nolting

2024-08-30
Episode #264 - Featuring KELLY IRVIN

Recent Posts

SLIM TO NO CHANCE OF SUCCESS by LANA CHRISTIAN
11/1/2024 9:10:00 AM BY Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: New Star

AUTHOR: Lana Christian

PUBLISHER: Scrivenings Press

GENRE: Biblical Fiction

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Series

TARGET AGE: 18−90

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR LANA CHRISTIAN TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. LANA TALKS ABOUT TWO OF HER LIFE ASPIRATIONS THAT OTHERS DEEMED IMPOSSIBLE, BUT SHE KNEW DIFFERENT.

SLIM TO NO CHANCE OF SUCCESS

Lana Christian

“You’re doing what?”

A relative gasped in disbelief as I told her I was moving cross-country. Driving—alone—to seek treatment for late-stage Lyme disease.

“There’s no way this can succeed.”

Humanly speaking, she was right. I was desperately ill. Newly divorced after thirty-three years of marriage. Financially on sinking sand. How could I navigate a 2,200-mile drive, move where I knew no one, earn a living, and hope that a doctor I’d never talked to could help me after four others had failed? The risks were great. The chances of success were slim.

That was ten years ago.

While still weathering the aftershocks of those life quakes, God nudged me to write a story about what happened to the Wise Men.

By then, I was sixty-one.

I didn’t even know what biblical fiction was.

Talk about another endeavor with slim chance of success. The publishing industry is challenging enough, but that goes double for breaking into the biblical fiction niche.

I’d already had a lengthy writing career—in health care. Did that count for anything?

Here’s the thing: God didn’t need me to be young or able-bodied to start a new chapter of my life as a faith-based author. He simply needed me to trust Him and be faithful to Him.

He gave me Isaiah 64:3-4 as encouragement. I jotted this paraphrase:

EXPECT the impossible.

CELEBRATE the unseen.

And PRAISE God for it!

I printed that as big as I could and taped it on my bedroom door so I would see it all the time. (It’s still on my door.)

Isaiah 64:3-4 reads like this in the Berean Standard Bible:

3When You did awesome works that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled at Your presence.

4From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

I revisited those verses countless times, claiming and trusting that God would do what I couldn’t anticipate or imagine. I wasn’t always patient in my prayers. But whether I was asking for protection and provision, inspiration and guidance, or courage and perseverance, I continued to pray that God would do exactly what He said He would. Something awesome I couldn’t expect.

Because the Great I AM is the Great I CAN.

It took seven years to get from initial inspiration to a four-book contract with a wonderful traditional publisher.

I wonder if the Wise Men had Isaiah’s words to encourage them. To follow their convictions, they bucked their culture, government, and official religion. Humanly speaking, they risked everything—with little to no chance of succeeding in their quest.

It really is true that if God brings you to it, He will see you through it.

Blurb for New Star

Akilah, a highly respected priest-scholar in Magi society, considers all his astronomy discoveries well-deserved stepping-stones to a more fulfilling life. But the appearance of a new star challenges his priorities. As Persia totters on the brink of an undesirable king coming to power, Akilah declines a position that could turn that tide. Instead, he studies a star that doesn’t appear in any almanac or religious writings. Except Jewish.

When he connects the star with prophesies of an eternal child-king, it plunges Akilah and his colleagues into three countries’ religious conflicts and circumstances beyond their imagining. Akilah realizes his knowledge of Jesus could potentially destroy Magi society and its power over Persia’s official religion and government. Untrusting of his Council, a thousand miles from aid, and bound in a potentially career-ending contract, Akilah must decide how far he will go to protect what he knows of Jesus—and whether the cost of his belief is worth the risk.

Amazon purchase link

Lana Christian is an award-winning author in business and creative writing. Since 2019, she has won six faith-based writing awards, including one from Baker Publishing Group for her short story about Lot. She loves making Scripture come alive by writing devotionals and biblical fiction. Her author website includes her blog, “Encouragement from Living History.” Connect with her on X (Twitter) at @LanaCwrites or her website.

A LETTER TO READERS FROM AUTHOR ERMA ULLREY
10/21/2024 10:00:00 PM BY Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: Sadie, A Short Story

AUTHOR: Erma M. Ullrey

PUBLISHER: Merryheartink

GENRE: Clean Romance

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Stand alone

TARGET AGE: 18+

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR ERMA ULLREY TO PATTI’S PORCH. ERMA SHARES A LETTER TO READERS WITH A SPECIAL INVITATION!

Dear Readers,

Let’s be honest. We enjoy life most when God pours out His love and lavishes His unending blessings on us. Then, during seasons of pain and suffering, our faith is apt to shrink. And who do we wail against? The very One who gave His life for us. Who stands with us through every storm. In Whose arms we find comfort and peace.

As my hubby and I continue the journey through his Stage 4 cancer, we’ve rediscovered the mighty fortress we have in Him.

Several years ago, God took me on a deep dive through the murky waters of life. While navigating the cool streams and the unfathomable oceans, He showed me more facets of His love and joy than I ever thought possible. And birthed in me this short story, Sadie, a glimpse at the clean romance novel

TAGLINE

On the brink of happily-ever-after, a twist of fate demands the ultimate gift of love from Sadie Hayden and Pete Dougherty.

DESCRIPTION OF SHORT STORY

Sweethearts from McCall, Idaho, Pete and Sadie’s live have taken them in different directions. Until now. On the brink of declaring their relationship, a phone call turns Sadie's world upside down. The tragic loss of her sister and brother-in-law gives Sadie custody of their ten-year-old daughter Brooke. As Sadie’s faith wavers, Pete’s love shines a beacon of hope into her shattered soul. But is it enough to strengthen Sadie, or will grief squash their happily-ever-after?

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

Thank you for clicking on the BookFunnel link and downloading Sadie, a free romantic short story that gives a glimpse into my clean-read, contemporary romance novel, Sadie’s Gift:

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/387r562aai

I love these characters, and I hope you will too! In fact, if you love them, please subscribe to my website and encourage your family and friends to subscribe too:

https://merryheartink.substack.com/

Trust me, I get it. No one wants another email or newsletter. However, Sadie’s Gift will not see the light of day if I don’t increase my audience. I NEED YOU!

As Sadie’s Gift moves closer to publication, I’ll give you more reasons to be happy you subscribed! I promise!

From my heart to your home,

Thank you, and God bless you,

Erma :)

Erma Ullrey is a follower of Jesus Christ. Married for forty-three years,she enjoys four wonderful children, three outlaws, and four precious grandchildren. She worked in the medical field for over twenty-five years. After completing her B.S.H.S., she became a health educator and received international credentials in childbirth education (I.C.E.A.) and lactation consulting (I.B.C.L.C.). She’s served as a women’s Bible study leader, and participates in a local book club as well as local and national writers’ groups.

Erma is the winner of several writing awards including: 2024 ACFW Genesis Double Finalist; 2023 ACFW First Impressions Finalist; 2023 1st place Contemporary Romance, Scrivenings Press; 2023 Finalist, Scrivenings Press and Faith, Hope, and Love; 2022 ACFW Genesis finalist; 1st place ACFW 2020 First Impressions; 2st place, 2020 ICAN; 1st place, 2020 ACFW Virginia Crown Award; 1st place, 2019 ICAN; 2019 ACFW Genesis Finalist; 1st place, 2018 OHCWC Blue Seal Award winner (tie); 2nd place, 2018 Georgia Peach.

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FROM DEATH TO LIFE by JUNE FOSTER
10/18/2024 1:10:00 AM BY Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: The Other Side of the Fairy House, A Christmas Time Travel Tale

AUTHOR: June Foster and Kelly Cordova

PUBLISHER: Winged Publications

GENRE: Christian Time Travel

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Stand Alone

TARGET AGE: 18-90

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR JUNE FOSTER TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. JUNE RAISES THE QUESTION OF WHO WE WKNOW WHO TRULY HAS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD.

FROM DEATH TO LIFE

June Foster

Our pastor told an amazing story. An older man in our congregation was quite ill. Doctors gave him only weeks to live.

A few days earlier, the pastor and his wife visited the man in the hospital. After a while, the patient asked everyone in the room to leave except the minister. Then an amazing thing happened. The ill man told our church leader that he wasn't ready to depart the earth. He had no assurance where he'd end up.

The glorious conclusion of the story is the man prayed to receive Jesus in his heart. Now when he left earth, which he did one week later, he'll be with the Lord for all eternity.

That's a marvelous story, but as I listened, I wondered why this incident reached out and grabbed me. This man was a member of my Sunday school class, had attended our church, and heard the gospel preached Sunday after Sunday. But as wonderful as that is, we can sit in church, some of us, all our lives, and not really have a personal relationship with the Lord.

What a glorious thought. No matter how old we are, Jesus waits with open arms for us to give our lives to Him.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast" - Ephesians 2: 8-9.

Examine your heart and see if you have received this free gift from God.

Blurb for The Other Side of the Fairy House

Madison Montgomery’s dreams come true when her boss at Cliffside Realty Group sends her to the picturesque tourist destination of Travisburg, Tennessee, just days before Christmas. Her task? Photograph their new listing, an enchanting estate owned by eighty-two-year-old Ana Thatcher, who can no longer manage the historic property. The original owner, Robert Vanderheim, a wealthy 1930s entrepreneur, adorned the grounds with delightful stone basins and fountains. Madison's mission is simple: capture the estate's beauty and, if possible, uncover the mythical Fairy House.

But when Madison discovers she must work with drone operator Ben Taylor, her high school nemesis, the assignment takes an unexpected turn. The snowy drive down becomes a challenge when a flat tire derails their journey. Ben, now a ranger in Tennessee’s Donaldson Gap State Park with dreams of becoming a US National Parks designer, reluctantly joins the mission. As old tensions resurface, Madison and Ben are forced to confront their past.

A sudden accident in the forest leaves Madison unconscious, only to awaken to a bewildering sight: Ben in vintage attire, calling her "ma’am" as if they’ve never met. Has Madison slipped through time to Robert Vanderheim’s era, or is she trapped in a surreal dream?

In this heartwarming tale, Madison must navigate a world between past and present, discovering love and the true magic of Christmas along the way. Will she return to her familiar life, or find herself forever changed by the mysteries of Travisburg? And will Ben seize the chance to show Madison the man he's become, and the love he's always had for her?

The Other Side of the Fairy House is a charming holiday romance that will sweep you off your feet and remind you that sometimes, dreams really do come true.

Amazon Purchase link

An award-winning author, June Foster is a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. June began writing Christian romance in 2010 as she and her husband traveled the US in their RV. Her adventures provide a rich source of information for her novels. She brags about visiting a location before it becomes the setting in her next book.

To date, June has written over thirty contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels and novellas. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who encounter real-life difficulties yet live victorious lives. She's published with Winged Publications.

June is active in her church and her ladies' fellowship group. She enjoys writing devotionals as well as fiction. She frequently attends writers' conferences such as Blue Lake Writers' Conference and Florida Christian Writers Conference.

Her novel, The Inn at Cranberry Cove, won the 2021 Selah award for Romantic Suspense. It is available on Amazon in paperback, hardback, and eBook format. In 2023, June won the Ames Award for her book Christmas at Cranberry Cove, book three in the same series.

Visit June at www.junefoster.com to see a complete list of her books.

Kelly Cordova lives in Texas with her husband, Tom. Before settling in El Paso, she and her husband served as missionaries in Peru. She homeschooled their six children. Kelly has a bachelor's degree in photojournalism and a master's degree in public affairs journalism. The Other Side of the Fairy House is Kelly's second novel.

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