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Step Into The Light Blog Talk Radio

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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PATTI’S BLOGS

The Over Fifty Writer (1^st and 3^rd Friday)

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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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Step Into the Light Blog Talk Radio Show

Latest Show

2023-11-23
Episode #246 - Featuring Lisa Hatfield

Lisa Hatfield is the author of the Ready to Go? series, fictionalized accounts of natural disasters. Lisa strives to be a blessing to other people and help them get themselves ready for disasters. Lisa strives to be a blessing to other people and help them get themselves ready for disasters. Lisa discusses her latest release, To Melt A Snowdrift. In addition to preparedness for inclement winter weather, Lisa talks of "drifts" that can occur in relationships.

Recent Shows

2023-11-09
Episode #245 - Featuring Becca Wierwille

2023-10-26
Episode #244 - Featuring Teri M. Brown

2023-10-12
Episode #243 - Featuring Janet Fichter

2023-09-23
Episode #242 - Featuring Debra E. Stout

Recent Posts

HELPING KIDS DISCOVER HOW PRECIOUS THEY ARE TO GOD by SANDRA KAY CHAMBERS
12/1/2023 1:50:00 PM BY Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: Fingerprint Devotions:

40 Devotions To Help You Realize You Are a Kid Uniquely Created by God for a Purpose

AUTHOR: Sandra Kay Chambers

PUBLISHER: Ambassador International Publishers

GENRE: Children’s Devotional (Stand Alone)

TARGET AGE: 8-12

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR SANDRA KAY CHAMBERS TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. SANDRA TELLS US ABOUT THE INSPIRATION BEHIND AND PURPOSE FOR HER UNIQUE DEVOTIONAL FOR KIDS.

SANDRA IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR A PAPERBACK COPY OF FINGERPRINT DEVOTIONS.

HELPING KIDS DISCOVER HOW PRECIOUS THEY ARE TO GOD

Sandra Kay Chambers

Writers are always asked when they first considered themselves a writer. I guess my answer is when I won an essay contest in elementary school. In high school I had a great English teacher who inspired me to major in English in college. After earning my teaching degree, I went on to get an MA in Education, focusing on Learning Disabilities.

Teaching kept me pretty busy, but I also did some freelance writing and have since published hundreds of news stories, profiles, lifestyle stories, travel and feature stories for more than 20 publications. In 2014, I self-published a book on prayer: Lord, It’s Boring in My Prayer Closet: How to Revitalize Your Prayer Life.

As far as my children’s writing, one morning during the COVID lockdown, I decided to write a picture book about my daughter just for fun. I liked doing it so much I kept writing more picture books and when one book won an award at a writer’s conference, it inspired me to keep going.

I never thought about writing a kid’s devotional until I discovered some interesting fingerprint facts online. I kept researching the topic and writing these facts down. I believe God gave me an idea to put them into a kid’s devotional. I had read a few current award-winning children’s devotionals that paired fun scientific facts with a related devotional, a scripture, a journal activity and a prayer.

I started pitching my idea and finally received a contract from Ambassador International Publishers in May 2022. As every writer knows, it’s a long journey from contract to publication, but my devotional was published a year and a half later on Nov. 7, 2023.

I think this book is important, because we’ve all heard the news of a mental health crisis among our children and teens since COVID. Not only that, but social media has been shown to play a role in making children and teens feel like they don’t measure up.

As a Christian, I believe that God created every person to be unique, one-of-a-kind, with gifts and talents they can use to make the world a better place. This book helps kids discover their worth, value and purpose in life. There’s also a free downloadable activity packet available to download from my website when the book is purchased.

From the beginning of this project, my prayer has been that this devotional will reach not only children in Christian homes, but children who are not being raised in a Christian setting or attend church. God supernaturally connected me with the church outreach director for 7Homes, a Christian, NC-based foster and adoption agency. I am donating books for their “care bags” they give to kids who have to be taken out of their homes, sometimes suddenly. The devotionals will also be used for Christmas gifts for their foster children.

Book Cover Blurb for Fingerprint Devotions:

Out of approximately 7.9 billion people on earth today, no two people have the same fingerprints! Our fingerprints show how unique and special each person is to God. This devotional book for kids ages 8-12 ties together fun fingerprint facts with a scripture, short teaching, a fun fingerprint fact, a journal question or activity and a prayer.

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN A PAPERBACK COPY OF FINGERPRINT DEVOTIONS BETWEEN NOW AND MONDAY, DECEMBER 11TH AT MIDNIGHT MT. (U.S. residents only eligible).

BY LEAVING A COMMENT, YOU GRANT PERMISSION FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE REVEALED TO THE AUTHOR IF YOU ARE THE WINNER TO FACILITATE RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOK.

Sandra Kay Chambers has been a teacher and writer for most of her professional life. She is the author of two award-winning books and the contributor to two compilation books. She is also a journalist with over 700+ news stories. She is the host of the 5-Minute Parenting Podcast. You can find out more about Sandra on her website.

SUBSCRIBE TO PATTI’S BLOGS HERE

MY CHRISTMAS "ARROW BOOK" by AUBREY TAYLOR
11/28/2023 12:45:00 AM BY Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: The Christmas We Both Needed

AUTHOR: Aubrey Taylor

PUBLISHER: Aubrey Taylor

GENRE: Historical Fiction, Holiday Fiction

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Both—a book related to the Gott Mit Uns Series

TARGET AGE: Adult

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR AUBREY TAYLOR TO PATTI’S PORCH. AUBREY TALKS ABOUT THE MESSAGE SHE SHARES IN HER CHRISTMAS NOVELLA.

AUBREY IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR A PRINT OR EBOOK COPY OF THE CHRISTMAS WE BOTH NEEDED.

MY CHRISTMAS “ARROW BOOK”

Aubrey Taylor

Last year I spent the holiday season working on a Christmas novella entitled The Christmas We Both Needed. It was published in time for Christmas in July, and I’m excited to reintroduce it now, at the most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas is a sweet story of a friendship between a young woman who is estranged from her husband, and a young man who has grown up with a stunted view of who he is, who God is, and what love is.

I will confess that some readers may need to approach this book with an open heart. Christian and Emmy’s situation immediately strikes one as an appearance of evil—a married woman living with a handsome young man who is not her husband. Furthermore, there are few works of Christian fiction that include a character who is struggling with same sex attraction.

I know not every reader is ready to dive into this topic, but I also believe that there are readers for whom this book is timely and relevant. That’s why I call Christmas my “arrow book.” Many people have loved ones who are struggling with their identity in this area, and while I am not attempting to put forth answers, I hope that the book might encourage thoughtful prayer.

Written in first person, the novella opens with narrator Christian Richter’s recollection of baking cookies with his mother, and the memory of being derided and despised by his father. It then proceeds a few years, to the Christmas he loses his innocence at the hands of one of his uncle’s old war comrades.

The story then moves to 1935. Christian is an adult, living in the early years of Nazi Germany and doing what most young men were doing at that time. Except Christian isn’t most young men.

Through his friendship with Emmy, he begins to catch a glimpse of what it actually means to be loved by God. The two make a pact to reach out to those who have hurt them, and Christian also makes a private resolution that sets the stage for what will happen in the next book, The Rubicon.

Some have criticized The Christmas We Both Needed because Christian’s story does not resolve by the end of the book. Since it is related to other books in a series, it is intended to give the reader a desire to read on! What is more important is that it is not simply about Christian’s attraction to men, it is about his desire to be loved. It is about childhood wounds, a lack of understanding of who God is, and a lack of understanding of who he is in God’s eyes. These are things he will continue to wrestle with through much of The Rubicon.

In The Rubicon, Christian leaves Emmy’s home and finds a new sense of purpose and identity in Germany’s swelling pre-war army. Yet the memories of his time spent with her become the standard he holds as he begins to consider courting women and living what he calls “a normal life.”

Towards the end of The Rubicon, much of what Christian believes he has achieved begins to crumble. We cannot recreate our own identity: we can only look to Jesus, who holds the key to becoming the people He made us to be.

The bold statement below is made by Emmy, and though it ends on a note of insensitivity, I believe it is significant for anyone who wrestles with the need for human love:

“…this is not about you going from loving men to loving a woman, or even about you finding someone to spend the rest of your life with. I want you to be so happy with who you are, who God made you, and who He is, that you would be content no matter what, even if it meant you never got married and devoted your life to serving Him. I can’t even begin to imagine the things God might want to do with your life if you weren’t so desperately seeking someone to wrap your arms around.”

What is my takeaway from Christian’s story? As someone who spent many years believing a man’s love would complete me, I relate to him. If Christian were standing before me, focusing on his sexuality would mean missing an opportunity to tell him how much Jesus loves him, and how much God desires to be the one that completes him. It would preclude my ability to share my own experience of longing for love, and how not even the wonderful husband I have now can be everything I need.

Colossians 2:10 (NKJV) says, “you are complete in Him.” If that is a promise from God, we can trust Him to make sure it is fulfilled.

Blurb for The Christmas We Both Needed:

Every year, the Christmas season comes to remind me just how imperfect this world is.

Christmas has never given me anything to look forward to, but I’m learning to grit my teeth and get through the season without dragging too many people down with me. My reasons for hating Christmas are more than I’d ever admit to anyway.

I’m renting a room from a girl named Emma. This was supposed to be her first Christmas as a married woman. Instead, she finds herself estranged from the man she loves and living with me, his former best friend. In a perfect world, either he would be sitting here, or Emma and I would have fallen madly in love. Once again, the Christmas season has come to remind me how imperfect this world is.

Both sweet and gritty, The Christmas We Both Needed touches the very heart of the season. You won’t want to wait until Christmas to open these pages!

CW/TW: While this is a clean book, The Christmas We Both Needed features sensitive themes including homosexuality, prostitution, abuse and alcoholism.

Patti’s review of The Christmas We Both Needed

The Christmas We Both Needed delivers a sensitive story of companionship and loneliness while delving deeply into issues that may prove disturbing for some readers. Although a historical novella set in Germany, the book tackles subjects that stand in the forefront of cultural controversy in the United States today.

Author Aubrey Taylor has created an engaging character arc for both Emma and Christian as they explore together the depths of their discontent, their need to reconcile past hurts, and their acceptance of God’s grace.

This book should be read by those who can consider a character’s non- Christian behavior with compassion and an understanding of what motivates unhealthy choices.

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN A PRINT OR EBOOK COPY OF THE CHRISTMAS WE BOTH NEEDED BETWEEN NOW AND FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8TH AT MIDNIGHT MT. (U.S. residents only eligible)

BY LEAVING A COMMENT, YOU GRANT PERMISSION FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE REVEALED TO THE AUTHOR IF YOU ARE THE WINNER TO FACILITATE RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOK.

After creating stories prolifically as a child, Aubrey Taylor has enjoyed a renewed interest in writing in her 40s. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and three children, and enjoys reading, playing music, crafting, sketching, exploring the outdoors, and traveling whenever possible. She is a lover of Jesus, the Bible, history, German culture, tea, and cats, and has a special heart for those who struggle with severe anxiety and depression.

Connect with Aubrey:

SUBSCRIBE TO PATTI’S BLOGS HERE

PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU by JODIE WOLFE
11/17/2023 12:30:00 PM BY Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: Wooing Gertrude

AUTHOR: Jodie Wolfe

PUBLISHER: White Rose Publishing

Genre: Historical Romance

Series or Stand Alone: Book 3 in Burrton Springs Brides Series

Target Age: Adult Women

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOM AUTHOR JODIE WOLFE TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. JODIE TALKS ABOUT HOW TO FIND PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM.

JODIE IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR AN EBOOK COPY OF TAMING JULIA (book one in the Burrton Springs Brides series.

PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU

Jodie Wolfe

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV)

Finding peace in the middle of the storm is the theme of my new book, Wooing Gertrude. Gertrude Miller is on the verge of all her hopes and dreams coming to fruition. She’s sent for a mail-order groom and is about to open her dress shop. What could possibly go wrong?

Have you ever felt like Gertrude? That everything is about to go your way only to find it all crashing to the ground? I’ve been in the same boat as Gertrude numerous times throughout the years. The more I search for peace, the more elusive it seems.

I’ve discovered instead of searching for peace, I need to seek Jesus and His Word. He promised in John 14:27 that He would leave us with His peace and gives it to us freely. It’s only when I release my struggles to Him and trust for Him to work even when I can’t see an answer, that peace finally comes. Reading through all the Bible verses dealing with peace helps too.

I hope you’ll pick up a copy of Wooing Gertrude and join her journey in discovering where to find true peace.

Blurb for Wooing Gertrude

Enoch Valentine has given up finding peace for his past mistakes. He throws everything he has into being the new part-time deputy in Burrton Springs, Kansas while maintaining the foreman position at a local horse ranch. But when trouble stirs on the ranch, he questions whether he's the right man for either job.

Peace has been elusive for most of Gertrude Miller's life, especially under the oppressiveness of an overbearing mother. She takes matters into her own hands and sends for a potential husband, while also opening her own dress shop. Gertrude hopes to build a future where she'll find peace and happiness.

Will either of them ever be able to find peace?

(Check below for a first page sneak peek!)

Purchase Links

Amazon Kindle

Pelican Boo Group Ebook

Pelican Book Group Print

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE PAGE ONE SNEAK PEEK AND LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN AN EBOOK COPY OF TAMING JULIA BETWEEN NOW AND MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH AT MIDNIGHT MT. (U.S. residents only eligible for giveaway)

BY LEAVING A COMMENT, YOU GRANT PERMISSION FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE REVEALED TO THE AUTHOR IF YOU ARE THE WINNER TO FACILITATE RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOK.

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW). She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Connect with Jodie:

First Page Peek

Burrton Springs, Kansas

August 4, 1877

Gertrude Miller’s life couldn’t get any better. She grinned, patting her pocket. Her fingers traced the two skeleton keys. After months of planning and preparing she finally had moved into her own place a week ago, away from the overbearing reach of her mother. In two days, she’d be opening the clothing shop beneath her apartment.

She studied the trail leading into town hoping for a wisp of dust indicating the stagecoach was on its way, but saw none. Smoothing the light blue flowered fabric of her skirt, Gertrude’s hand settled against her churning stomach. What would George Witt think of her when he arrived? Would he see past her faults and still find her loveable? Would he like the place she picked for them to live?

The many letters he’d written to her crinkled in her reticule, as she clutched it close to her heart. His last missive declared he planned to marry her shortly after arriving. Mama would have a conniption, which was why Gertrude hadn’t breathed a word to her mother that she’d marry tomorrow after the church service. Mama would try to do everything in her power to prevent it. Gertrude didn’t plan to say anything to her until they were sitting side by side in the church. No use creating a stir ahead of time.

Her dress hung from a hook in her new place waiting for the blessed event. She’d spent hours sewing it and adding yards of intricate lace she’d crocheted.

Thank you for allowing me to visit today, Patti.

Always a pleasure to host you, Jodie! Thank you for sharing with us!

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