Christian Writers' Market Guide 2007~ by Sally E. Stuart

"And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]."

~ Isaiah 40:5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sally E. Stuart is the author of thirty-four books and has sold more than one thousand articles and columns. Her long-term involvement with the Christian Writers' Market Guide as well as her marketing columns for the Christian Communicator, Oregon Christian Writers, and The Advanced Christian Writer, make her a sought-after speaker and a leading authority on Christian markets and the business of writing. Stuart is the mother of three and grandmother of eight.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

For more than twenty years, the Christian Writers’ Market Guide has offered indispensable help to Christian writers. This year, for the first time, this valuable resource comes with a CD-ROM of the full text, so you can search with ease for topics, publishers, and other specific names.The 2007 edition also includes up-to-date listings of more than 1,200 markets for books, articles, stories, poetry, and greeting cards, including information on forty new book publishers, eighty-three new periodicals, and thirty-four new literary agents. Perfect for writers in every phase, this is the resource to get noticed–and get published.It contains listings for: 695 periodicals, 228 poetry markets, 355 book publishers, 133 online publications, 29 print-on-demand publishers, 1185 markets for the written word, 321 photography markets, 31 e-book publishers, 122 foriegn markets, 112 literary agents,and 59 newspapers.It also gives you comprehensive lists of contests, writers groups and conferences, search engines, pay rates and submission guidelines, editorial services and websites.Christian Writers’ Market Guide is a "must have' for any serious Christian writer that is looking to get published!

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400071259

Sally's website is: http://www.stuartmarket.com/

Daughter of Silk~ by Linda Lee Chaikin

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen."

~ Matthew 28:19-20

In a country where being a protestant (Huguenot) was considered heresy, Rachelle Dushane-Macquinet, a member of a family renowned for producing fine silk and a Huguenot, works with her famous grandmother producing gowns for Princess Marguerite of France. As Rachelle finds herself serving within the royal court she comes to discover that there are rumors of a plot forming against the Huguenots headed by Catherine de Medici the queen mother and regent. Desiring to protect her family and those who share her faith Rachelle finds an ally in the handsome Marquis Fabian de Vendome. Will Rachelle be able to save herself and those she loves from death, or will she too fall victim to the Catherine de Medici's schemes?

Prior to reading this book I did not know much about what protestant Christians suffered in France. This book not only explains that but also speaks of the cruel mother Catherine de Medici and the things that she did to gain power. This book was very good and kept me on the edge of my seat while I was reading it. The sequel to this book is Written on Silk and will be going on my to be ordered list.

Next on my reading agenda~ Amanda~by Debra White Smith

Recipes and Wooden Spoons (Tales from the Grace Chapel Inn)~ by Judy Baer

"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

~ Matthew 25:40

After going through a bad divorce Judy decides to come back to her home town, Acorn Hill, to open an inn with her two older sisters in their childhood home. Since Judy's mother died giving birth to her, Judy has always been eager to find out details of the mother she never knew. One day while sifting through things in the basement she comes across one of her mother's cookbooks. In the pages of this book Judy starts to learn more about her mother's personality, but with the stress of running the inn and being back in the small town Jane begins to question if moving back was such a good idea after all.

This book was great, and it made me hungry. The book not only had a great storyline with interesting characters, but it also had some neat recipes as well. There are a few parts in the book that will make you laugh out loud and other parts that cause you to think about the impact we can have in other people's lives if we listen God's leading.

Next on my reading agenda~ Daughter of Silk~ by Linda Lee Chaikin

The Longing Season~ by Christine Schaub

"I once was lost, but now I'm found was blind but now I see."
~from Amazing Grace by John Newton


I am excited to say that I have joined the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance! The book tour for this week is The Longing Season by Christine Schaub. This book tells the story of John Newton the man who wrote Amazing Grace. I have not had the opportunity to read it yet, so for now I am going to post the review by CFBA.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christine Schaub is the author of the MUSIC OF THE HEART series, including Finding Anna, the “rest of the story” behind the writing of the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” (October 2005) and The Longing Season, the story behind “Amazing Grace” (July 2006) with Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Books.In 2003, Christine won the “On the Page” screenwriting contest at Screenwriting Expo 2 in Los Angeles. Her one-page story, written on-site in 24 hours for Jacqueline Bisset, was selected by the actress as the best Oscar Wilde-type comedy for her persona.While working in freelance corporate communications, Christine completed three feature-length screenplays, including a drama/comedy, romantic comedy, and sci-fi action/drama; developed four biopic teleplays for the stories behind the hymns; and published an online column for the MethodX website (Upper Room Ministries).Christine honed her writing skills after more than 15 years in corporate communications for healthcare, pharmaceutical, and entertainment companies. She has also been a featured conference speaker on working with at-risk youth and changed lives in the classrooms with her creative presentation style.Christine's love for the arts and creativity have taken her from church platforms to civic and professional stages, performing classics and dramas from her own pen.Christine graduated from Anderson University with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. She has served on numerous boards and committees, usually as Communications Chair, and has received both regional and national awards in writing and design.

ABOUT THE BOOK All of the books in the MUSIC OF THE HEART series are based on a hymns and their histories. The Longing Season is about one of the greatest redemption stories of all time: John Newton and his song, Amazing Grace.
Nature conspires against him, tossing the ship like a toy. Directionless--just like his life.
It seems his odyssey will end here, in the cold Atlantic.
Grief and terror grip his heart, but he will not surrender...not yet.
She reads the sentence again and again.

The first day I saw you I began to love you.

He'd written the words, sealed and posted them, then vanished.
She has a choice--turn toward the future, or wait, wating and hoping.
And so begins her season of longing.

http://www.christineschaub.typepad.com/

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764200607

Tangerine~by Marilynn Griffith

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

~ John 14:3

Okay, I know I said that I was going to read Recipes and Wooden Spoons next, and I am reading it now, but the day after I posted my last entry Tangerine came in the mail. I was so excited to read this last book in the Shades of Style series that I dove right in.

This book is about Jean Guerra another designer at the Garments of Praise fashion house. She is the one that always seems together, so when she gets the opportunity to work on a line of men's suits with a designer from Reebok it is nothing she can't handle, or is it? When the designer walks through her door Jean is speechless. Her husband, which no one at Garments of Praise knows about, walks back into her life. Will they be able to come together and be a family once again, or will the past prove insurmountable?

This book was great. If you haven't read two other books in the Shades of Style series, Pink and Jade, you definitely should check them out too. After reading the stories of the other designers I was so curious to find out what Jean's story was and this did not disappoint. I love Marilynn story telling. I got so caught up in the book that I have been seriously putting of my midterm paper which I need to write, so I am off to do that.

Next on my reading agenda~ finishing Recipes and Wooden Spoons~ by Judy Baer

The Justice~ by Angela Hunt

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. "

~ Philemon 4:7

Daryn Austen's dream was to be the first female president of the United States. She worked and sacrificed and made her way to the office of Vice President finding that she was left to a role that was more for show. On June 6, 2003 that all changed. After the President died unexpectedly Daryn found herself in the position she always dreamed of. After establishing herself in the White House she hires Paul Santana, a lawyer she had a relationship with in law school, to serve on her staff and later in the Supreme Court. Things seemed to be working out well until Paul accepts God into his life. Now feeling betrayed Daryn finds herself in overwhelming circumstances that leave both Daryn and Paul changed forever.

This is the second book that I have read by Angela Hunt and this book was griping. It was a excellent political thriller and its lessons of forgiveness were humbling. The characters in the book are so vivid that the entire story captures your attention until its conclusion. This is definitely another great read by this author.

After this intense novel I think I am in the mood for something lighter :)

Next on my reading agenda~ Recipes and Wooden Spoons~ by Judy Baer

Central Park~by Debra White Smith

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

~2 Corinthians 5:17

This book is for all of the Jane Austen fans out there. Central Park is a modern day telling of one of my personal favorite Jane Austen tales Mansfield Park. If you haven't read the book or seen the movie you do that first. I don't think you will be able to fully appreciate the book without a frame of reference. Before the book starts the author lists the Austen characters with the names of the modern day equivalents that she invented for the story. This makes it easy to draw a correlation between both tellings. As for the story line she pretty much sticks to the original keeping all of the essential elements of the story intact. I enjoyed the book a lot. I ordered another book from her Jane Austen series so I will let you know what I think of that one when I get it.

Next on my reading agenda~The Justice~ by Angela Elwell Hunt