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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PEACE AND GRIEF by Christina Sinisi 5/29/2020 9:30:00 PM BY Patti Shene
FEATURED BOOK: The Christmas Confusion
AUTHOR: Christina Sinisi
PUBLISHER: Anaiah Press
GENRE: Contemporary Christian Romance
SERIES OR STAND ALONE: First in the Summer Creek Series
TARGET AGE: Adult
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR CHRISTINA SINISI TO PATTI’S PORCH. CHRISTINA SHARES A POWERFUL DEVOTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE CAN FIND PEACE DURING TIMES OF GRIEF.
CHRISTINA IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR AN EBOOK COPY OF THE CHRISTMAS CONFUSION.
GRIEF AND PEACE
by
Christina Sinisi
In the last four years, I have lost a family member with each turn of the calendar—makes me a little nervous for 2020. A colleague and friend just passed away a few weeks ago at a relatively young age. I’ve often thought of each loss as pricking a hole in my heart and the grief is a sieve, leaking who I am. We can’t help but want it to stop. We want those whom we love to stay with us. We greedily hold them close—and when I write we, I mean me.
Lamentations 3:32-33 (Women of Faith Bible; New International Version) states, “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.”
God didn’t plan for us to be separated from those we love—he didn’t even want us to be separated from Him. But original sin made that happen, and, as is so very evident, we live in a broken world. A broken world teeming with sin and grief and pain.
At the same time, those of us still here keep going. We wake in the morning and the sun is shining, or just as needed by a thirsty ground, the rain pours. In every way, the world keeps turning. It doesn’t seem appropriate. It’s wrong.
But the world continuing on is actually the next part of that first verse. He will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. The fact that we can rest in the assurance that the sun will continue to shine, the birds keep on singing, is part of that “unfailing.” God is with us in our grief, he is with us in our coming and in our going. He loves us and wants to be with us.
He greedily holds us close.
Prayer: Dear Lord, Lamentations is a book of sorrow, we know that, but some of the most beautiful, comforting verses in your word are found there. Lamentations 3:22-23 reads: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Thank you, God, for the sun continuing to shine and life going on, despite our grief. Thank you that your Son continues to shine and brings us peace, with time. Amen.
Book Cover Blurb for The Christmas Confusion:
When Tiffany Marano’s high school sweetheart drove off to join the Marines and never looked back, she swore off men. Now, she’s content to teach at Summer Creek, South Carolina’s local elementary school, lead a Sunday school class, and spend weekends with her niece—until Nick Walsh suddenly reappears wearing a wedding ring and with a daughter in tow. Everything about Tiffany’s calm, quiet life is now one disordered mess.
Nick Walsh comes face to face with Tiffany after all these years, and sparks fly. But not the happy glittering kind, because each of them thinks the other responsible for their estrangement. Before they can work it out, though, Tiffany’s sister disappears. Left with custody of her niece and forced to work with new police detective Nick to find her sister, old feelings begin to resurface. As they start to unravel the truths that left them confused and apart for too long, Nick must learn to let go of his past. But can Tiffany let go of her fear and learn to trust that God isn’t the only one who won’t abandon her?
DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN AN EBOOK COPY OF THE CHRISTMAS CONFUSIONBETWEEN NOW AND TUESDAY JUNE 9TH AT MIDNIGHT MST.
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.
A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist inThe Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest and The American Title IV Contestwhere she appeared in the top ten in theRomantic Times magazine. Her published books includeThe Christmas Confusionand the upcomingSweet Summer, the first two books in theSummer Creek Series.
By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the LowCountry of South Carolina with her husband and two children and loves a good cooking challenge. Connect with Christina:
WHY I WRITE by Marie W. Watts 5/27/2020 12:15:00 PM BY Patti Shene
FEATURED BOOK: The Cause Lives: Warriors for Equal Rights
AUTHOR: Marie W. Watts
PUBLISHER: Las Tortugas Press
GENRE: Upmarket fiction, mystery/crime
SERIES OR STAND ALONE: First book of trilogy: Warriors for Equal Rights
TARGET AGE: Adult
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR MARIE W. WATTS TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. MARIE SHARES THE MOTIVATION BEHIND HER WRITING ENDEAVORS AND OFFERS HELPFUL TIPS TO ASPIRING WRITERS.
MARIE IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR AN EBOOK COPY OF THE CAUSE LIVES: WARRIORS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS.
WHY I WRITE
by
Marie W. Watts
I write to share things I’ve learned along the way. My wish is that these nuggets will resonate with my readers and make their day a little brighter. Giving my audience something to think about is another goal of my blog, Stories About Life.
Reading has always been a joy. Maybe it’s because, as a child, my parents read in bed every evening. When our television broke, they didn’t bother to get it fixed for several years. Books were always available and cherished.
And writing? As a teen, I envisioned living on an island and being a writer. Today my central Texas ranch is my island, and I write!
Life, however, got in the way of my dream. My first published work was a co-authored textbook that was published when I was forty years old. Then, at forty-eight, I self-published my first novel. It would be another ten years, however, before I began to write in earnest.
It’s never too late to write, but the sooner you get started, the better.
My suggestions for aspiring writers are:
Read often. Choose a variety of works from the classics to genre.
Write about what you know. My trilogy, Warriors for Equal Rights, is about federal investigators combatting employment discrimination, a job I did, and something I am passionate about.
Take writing classes. You don’t have to spend tons of money to go to fancy writing retreats. Online and in-person classes are available. A variety of courses from different instructors can be invaluable. And, the libraries are full of books on the art of writing.
Actually write! Writers’ block can be tough, and it’s easy to put it off. Just tell yourself you only have to write for ten minutes.
Press your characters. Throw obstacles at them.
Don’t get discouraged. Remember that Louis L'Amour, the famed writer of Westerns, received two hundred rejections for his stories before the first one was published. His first Western novel was published in 1953 when he was in his forties.
Have fun.
Blurb for The Cause Lives: Warriors for Equal Rights
ll Alice wants is to retire.Until the call for justice gets in the way.
Alice Arden can’t wait to retire in eighteen months, but her boss at the federal discrimination and harassment agency she works at has other ideas. She assigns Alice to head a newly created task force responsible for catching more lawbreakers, and Alice can’t refuse.
Already burned out and suffering from a worsening disability that might put her in a wheelchair, Alice finds more than she had bargained for in her new team with racism, a sociophobe, and hidden agendas at play. Threats on their lives because of a case they’re working on drive Alice to the bottle until she discovers an unnerving secret.
Forget retirement. Alice is about to embark on delivering justice in the sexual harassment case of her career, and if she goes down, it’ll be with guns blazing.
DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN AN EBOOK COPY OFTHE CAUSE LIVES: WARRIORS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS BETWEEN NOW AND SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH AT MIDNIGHT MDT.
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.
Marie W. Watts is a former employment discrimination investigator and human resource consultant. Coauthor of Human Relations, 4th ed., her work has also been published in The Texas Bar Journal and The Houston Business Journal, as well as featured on Issues Today. The second book in her Warriors for Equal Rights series, Only A Pawn, will be published in late spring, 2020. Marie and her husband live on a ranch in central Texas. In her spare time, she supports a historic house and hangs out with her grandsons. Connect with Marie:
GOD’S PERFECT TIMING by Alexis A. Goring 5/22/2020 11:30:00 PM BY Patti Shene
FEATURED BOOK: Stories and Songs of Faith: My Journey with God
AUTHOR: Alexis A. Goring
PUBLISHER: Soaring Beyond, an imprint of Winged Publications
GENRE: Devotional - Christian Living
SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Stand alone
TARGET AGE: Ages 12 and up
IT IS A PLEASURE TO WELCOME MY FRIEND AND AUTHOR ALEXIS A. GORING TO PATTI’S PORCH. ALEXIS, A DEVOTIONAL WRITER SINCE HER TEEN YEARS, SHARES HOW GOD BROUGHT HER LATEST DEVOTIONAL PROJECT TO COMPLETION.
GOD’S PERFECT TIMING
by
Alexis A. Goring
This is the real story about how God inspired me to write my first nonfiction work – a book filled with my original devotionals.
How Stories and Songs of Faith: My Journey with God came to be is quite the story because God moved me to write these devotionals before I knew that I was writing a devotional book!
Allow me to explain what happened …
First: A little background information
I’ve been writing devotionals ever since God birthed my devotional writing ministry within me after recovering from being sick and hospitalized at age 16. During that recovery period, God met me where I was and started teaching me. I often refer to it as being a student in God’s classroom. The lessons that God as the Master Teacher imparted flowed effortlessly from my mind to pen and onto paper. These lessons were written in devotional style. Family, friends, teachers and pastors gave positive feedback when I shared my writings. I know this was a God-ordained ministry because prior to getting sick, I never wrote devotionals nor was I taught how to write in this style or format. I don’t think I even read devotional books before then!
Second: the story of how God works to lead us to our destiny
As I grew up in my walk with the Lord from age 16 and in the years that followed, my devotional writing ministry grew stronger. Publishing opportunities started showing up, first in the GC Women’s Ministries annual devotional book filled with devotionals that are written by women, for women. After graduating from college in April 2007, a faith-based publication called Collegiate Quarterly (CQ) paid me to be the Growing Up columnist and write columns in devotional style for their publication. In August 2010, I started my first blog “God is Love” and eventually began publishing my devotionals there. As I grew as a writer and got to know other faith-based bloggers, they invited me to write devotionals as a guest on their website. God continued to bless my devotional writing ministry.
Third: the story of how my first devotional book was born
Despite writing devotionals since age 16, it didn’t dawn on me to put together my own devotional book … until January 2019. It was then that I realized how much experience I had writing devotionals and I thought it would be a good idea to place most of them into a book of my own.
I reached out to the bloggers who’d hosted me as a devotional writer and asked if I still had the rights to my work published on their blogs. They assured me that those devotionals still belonged to me and that I was welcome to republish my work anywhere at anytime. By the time I finished rounding up my devotionals from guest blog posts and my own blog from over the years, I had about 30.
Next, I decided that if I had a total of 44 devotionals then that would be enough for a book. After I had finished writing a few more, I realized I wasn’t getting much work done. Remembering my training as a journalist and how I thrived on deadlines, I decided to set deadlines for myself. Around that time (January and February 2019), I had been writing devotionals a few times a month for my friend Peggy’s blog “Whispers in Purple.” She had a sign-up form online to fill her guest blog calendar. I noticed that at the time, not many people were signing up for her Faithful Friday series that featured devotionals. So I booked myself to write original devotionals for her blog every Friday for the rest of that year.
Fourth: How God used people to push me to my best goal
By Summer 2019, I had 44 devotionals and thought I was done. The next step was to decide on the structure for my book and the theme. Therefore, I reached out to a book editor, and she told me that if I had 52 devotionals then my book could be in a weekly devotional format to cover a whole year. I wasn’t sold on that idea until I shared it with a trusted literary agent and she told me that I “need to keep going” and write a total of 52 devotionals. Reluctant at first because I was tired, I decided to press on and meet that mark. I wrote devotional number 52 toward the end of February 2020.
Fifth: God moves behind the scenes
When I embarked on this devotional book writing adventure, I had the end goal in mind of publishing my own book as an indie author. My plan was to save money from my day job to accomplish that goal. But in Fall 2019, I lost that job. However, God was still moving because by December, Cynthia Hickey of Winged Publications (who published my previous fiction stories) offered me a contract for my devotional book and assigned me to one of her editors on staff who had a background in editing devotionals!
During this time, God also made a way for me to gather 20 professionals from a variety of backgrounds (counselors, pastors, journalists, Christian authors, a gospel music singer, and an award-winning actress) to read an advanced copy of my book and write endorsements.
Finally: God’s timing is perfect
Stories and Songs of Faith: My Journey with God was published in April 2020. Some of my endorsers have said that my devotional book was born at the perfect time considering everything we’re going through with this worldwide Coronavirus pandemic. And so far, every reviewer on Amazon.com has given my book a five-star rating!
All of this would have been impossible without God’s guidance. I am grateful that God enabled me to write this book. It still amazes me how He was there all the time, gently prompting me with ideas and leading me through the writing process even before I realized that I was writing my first devotional book!
I hope that my story encourages your heart and inspires you to seek God. He loves you (John 3:16) and He has good plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11)!
Blurb for Stories and Songs of Faith: My Journey with God:
Stories and Songs of Faith: My Journey with God is a 52-week devotional that will bless your heart, soothe your soul, encourage your mind, and strengthen your God-given spirit.
Join author Alexis A. Goring on an inspirational journey. Each devotional builds from real-life experiences that impart many faith lessons learned along the way.
Each day is built on the foundation of a Bible verse or edifying quote, followed by Goring's personal story and reflection questions for a personalized experience.
All of the devotionals are tied to a song in order to go a little deeper into the heart of the message. A song directory at the end of the book connects the reader with music online to further enhance the study experience and glorify God.
Spend a year on a journey growing closer to the Lord through Stories and Songs of Faith, and discover personal transformation as time with Jesus Christ changes your heart to look a little more like His.
Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.
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FEATURED BOOK: The Christmas Confusion
AUTHOR: Christina Sinisi
PUBLISHER: Anaiah Press
GENRE: Contemporary Christian Romance
SERIES OR STAND ALONE: First in the Summer Creek Series
TARGET AGE: Adult
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR CHRISTINA SINISI TO PATTI’S PORCH. CHRISTINA SHARES A POWERFUL DEVOTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE CAN FIND PEACE DURING TIMES OF GRIEF.
CHRISTINA IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR AN EBOOK COPY OF THE CHRISTMAS CONFUSION.
GRIEF AND PEACE
by
Christina Sinisi
In the last four years, I have lost a family member with each turn of the calendar—makes me a little nervous for 2020. A colleague and friend just passed away a few weeks ago at a relatively young age. I’ve often thought of each loss as pricking a hole in my heart and the grief is a sieve, leaking who I am. We can’t help but want it to stop. We want those whom we love to stay with us. We greedily hold them close—and when I write we, I mean me.
Lamentations 3:32-33 (Women of Faith Bible; New International Version) states, “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.”
God didn’t plan for us to be separated from those we love—he didn’t even want us to be separated from Him. But original sin made that happen, and, as is so very evident, we live in a broken world. A broken world teeming with sin and grief and pain.
At the same time, those of us still here keep going. We wake in the morning and the sun is shining, or just as needed by a thirsty ground, the rain pours. In every way, the world keeps turning. It doesn’t seem appropriate. It’s wrong.
But the world continuing on is actually the next part of that first verse. He will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. The fact that we can rest in the assurance that the sun will continue to shine, the birds keep on singing, is part of that “unfailing.” God is with us in our grief, he is with us in our coming and in our going. He loves us and wants to be with us.
He greedily holds us close.
Prayer: Dear Lord, Lamentations is a book of sorrow, we know that, but some of the most beautiful, comforting verses in your word are found there. Lamentations 3:22-23 reads: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Thank you, God, for the sun continuing to shine and life going on, despite our grief. Thank you that your Son continues to shine and brings us peace, with time. Amen.
Book Cover Blurb for The Christmas Confusion:
When Tiffany Marano’s high school sweetheart drove off to join the Marines and never looked back, she swore off men. Now, she’s content to teach at Summer Creek, South Carolina’s local elementary school, lead a Sunday school class, and spend weekends with her niece—until Nick Walsh suddenly reappears wearing a wedding ring and with a daughter in tow. Everything about Tiffany’s calm, quiet life is now one disordered mess.
Nick Walsh comes face to face with Tiffany after all these years, and sparks fly. But not the happy glittering kind, because each of them thinks the other responsible for their estrangement. Before they can work it out, though, Tiffany’s sister disappears. Left with custody of her niece and forced to work with new police detective Nick to find her sister, old feelings begin to resurface. As they start to unravel the truths that left them confused and apart for too long, Nick must learn to let go of his past. But can Tiffany let go of her fear and learn to trust that God isn’t the only one who won’t abandon her?
DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN AN EBOOK COPY OF THE CHRISTMAS CONFUSION BETWEEN NOW AND TUESDAY JUNE 9TH AT MIDNIGHT MST.
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.
A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist in The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest and The American Title IV Contest where she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. Her published books include The Christmas Confusion and the upcoming Sweet Summer, the first two books in the Summer Creek Series.
By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the LowCountry of South Carolina with her husband and two children and loves a good cooking challenge. Connect with Christina:
Website/Blog: https://www.christinasinisi.com/
Twitter: @ChristinaSinisi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christina-Sinisi-Author-105861987440664/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Instagram: @csinisi123
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/csinisi/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/101218889-christina-sinisi
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