My daughter and I are reading this book out loud together.
Book Recap:
Golden’s Rule is the story of how a slave’s diary provides inspiration to a modern-day girl battling cancer. The plot focuses on multi-racial fourteen-year-old Maddie Bergamo who seems to have it all—brains, mad moves on the basketball court, true friends, a cute boyfriend, and understanding parents—when suddenly, she is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Caught now in a fight for her life, Maddie tries to remain upbeat and positive, and live as normally as possible. But the tumor starts to claim her coordination, speech, and even her ability to read—and soon it all becomes too great for her to handle. In this darkest hour, Maddie receives an unexpected gift: her great-great-great-grandmother Golden Lea Jackson’s extraordinary diary of life as a slave. Golden Lea’s weathering of trials and hardships are woven into Maddie’s own story of survival and the result is portraits of two girls who find strength and dignity in the direst of circumstances. Golden Lea’s courage against overwhelming odds in the mid 1800s is an inspiration to modern-day Maddie.
Today I'm glad to be featuring Michele Wahlder and her book Alphatudes. Be sure to read to the end as I have a book to giveaway. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a life & career Coach, author and motivational speaker and am the founder of Life Possibilities, a company that guides people to become the highest vision they hold for themselves in their lives, careers and relationships through the vehicles of coaching, seminars and books. I hold an MS in Counseling and Development from Texas Woman’s University and a BA in Communications from Tulane University. I serve as the Global Spokesperson for Bayer’s Global MS Campaign and live in Dallas, Texas, with her fiancé Michael, “bonus daughter” Zoe and Portuguese water dog Moses.
You sound like a busy person. When did you first know you wanted to write a book?
The idea for my book, Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude, came to me in a most unlikely way.I wasn’t feeling grateful at all.In fact, I had been going through a period of disrupted sleep and was quite cranky over my inability to sleep soundly.I had tried many different techniques, but none had worked. On one particular night, while lying in bed, the concept of gratitude entered my thoughts.I spontaneously started thinking of things I was grateful for using the structure of the alphabet –it was easy and fun! Counting my blessings instead of counting burdens or sheep, turned out to be a habit that had begun to affect my outlook on life in a positive way.
I shared the “Alphatudes” process with my life coaching clients and got a really great response .The positive results encouraged me to want to share the process with a larger audience – I became a writer!
That's so cool when things just fall into place. I had a college professor that always encouraged her students to list three things you are thankful for before you even get out of bed each morning. Many times she'd start the class calling on 3 random students to give her something they are thankful. Many times she'd ask us to list attributes of God. Loved that professor, still do and keep in touch with her.What is one thing you are most thankful for right now?
My loving, supportive family and friends.
It always helps to have a good supportive backing. When you are asked to list blessings what is one that you always include?
My health.
What is one you tend to forget?
My perfect way that my body functions without my help – i.e. breathing, walking, chewing etc… It is such a miracle!
Aren't our bodies an amazing machine? How long have you been writing?
I have been journaling for over 15 years. Besides articles for Life Possibilities’ newsletters and various other publications, writing for the public in book form, began 2 years ago with Alphatudes.
I've never taken the time to keep a journal many people do though. Who or What has been you’re biggest inspiration in writing?
I would have to say Louise Hay. At the time when she wrote her first books, what she had to say was controversial – but she wrote anyway.
It's always helpful to have a good inspiration. If you could spend an evening with some special people, who would you invite and why?
My grandmothers and my mother – there are so many things I wish I could have asked them and learned from them. I dedicated the book to the three of them.
Mothers are always good at teaching us important things in life. They leave lasting impressions. If you were planning a Girls Night only:Who would you invite and what would you do?
I would invite my book consultant team at The Cadence Group, right now. I have been working with them for a year and haven’t met them in person. I would love to have a long dinner and just get to know them more personally.
Of course dinner, food is a wonderful thing at a party. I love parties. Could you tell us a little about the featured book
Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude—26 Solutions for Life’s Little Challenges, uses the structure of the alphabet, to provide 26 spiritual solutions to help individuals develop a perspective of gratitude to better cope with the challenges of life. It offers a rare combination of uplifting and beautiful illustrations, quotes, narratives, affirmations and prayers to give the reader an experience of gratitude rather than just a theoretical explanation. This book will help you:
Heighten your awareness and appreciation of life’s daily gifts
Attract opportunities with a positive mind-set
Surmount life’s challenges with a healthy reservoir of gratitude
Find the hidden blessings in difficult situations
Free yourself from worry, negativity and resentment
I totally enjoyed reading your book. Why did you feel this type of book was needed?
In a world obsessed with negativity and materialism, I wanted to give people a simple, practical and fun method to shift their thinking toward the positive. In our society, we desperately attempt to get more and more, which leaves us feeling lacking and negative. Alphatudes helps readers to discover the prosperity and abundance that is already theirs!
What do you hope the readers of Alphatudes will come away with?
My hope is that as readers use this method to grow in gratitude and optimism, it will become a natural reaction to the events their lives and will allow them to build a more positive relationship with themselves and the world.
Have you written any other books?
Not yet!
Do you write only non-fiction/self-help type? At this point, yes.
Do you have any other books in the works?If so can you tell us about what is ahead?
Only ideas that aren’t fully formed yet.
What is your favorite part of writing?
Being amazed by what comes through my hand onto the paper.
I since I'm not much of a writer I think what I got down on paper would amaze me too. What is your least favorite part of writing?
The rewriting phase, which is an essential part of the process that requires much organization and clarifying.
Last week I received my newest blogging award! :D (feels warm inside) I received the Prolific Blogger Award from Emily @ Benedictions: Live, Love, Edit. Thanks Emily! I really appreciate it. :)
“A Prolific Blogger is one who is intellectually productive… keeping up an active blog that is filled with enjoyable content.”
1. Every winner of the Prolific Blogger Award has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. Spread some love!
2. Each Prolific Blogger must link to the blog from which he/she has received the award.
Please visit Emily's Blog. She’s got some great book author interviews and writing posts; she's an author herself!
3. Every Prolific Blogger must link back to THIS POST, which explains the origins and motivation for the award.
4. Every Prolific Blogger must visit the Mr. Linky page and add his/her name, so that we all can get to know the other winners.
Ronie has been married since 1990 to a man who can easily be defined in classic terms as a hero. She has four beautiful children. Her eldest daughter is 16 this year, her second daughter will be 13, and her twin boys are 10. After having four children, she finally finished her degree in December 2006. She now has a B.S. in Psychology through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Getting her degree is a huge triumph for both her and her family--they survived!
This degree has also given her a fabulous perspective on her characters
and how to not only make them deeper, stronger, but to make them realistic and know how they'll respond to each situation. Her debut novel, Dead Reckoning released March 2010 from Abingdon Press. And her Discarded Heroes series begins in July from Barbour with the first book entitled Nightshade.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Underwater archeologist Shiloh Blake is consumed with passion for the water and inflamed at the injustices of life. When her first large-scale dig traps her in the middle of an international nuclear arms clash, she flees for her life.
When she spots a man trailing her, the questions are, Who is he? And how is he always one step ahead? Is the man trailing her an enemy or a protector sent by her CIA father?
Reece Jaxon is a former Navy SEAL and now serves his country as a spy. His life is entangled by the beguiling Shiloh Blake as he hunts down the sources to a nuclear dead drop in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, India. The only way to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is to join forces with Reece. Will Shiloh violate her vow to never become involved in her father's web of intrigue and mystery? Will she reconcile with her past and with him? Will she allow God to help her throught this ordeal of danger, mistrust and uncertainty?
A big concern of Christian women is the epidemic of shallow relationships among women. In an age when broken marriages, moral decline, and unbelievable heartache are frighteningly high, our God-given support system is lacking.
What happened? Why do we know more people than ever before, yet know very little about each other? Why do we know more about the latest celebrity break-up, yet very little about the young woman in our church going through her own divorce?
Unfortunately, we live in Hurryville. Hurry and get the kids to school. Hurry and get to work. Hurry to Bible study. Hurry to the ball field. Hurry! Girl Hurry! In this “hurry up, see you later” world we don’t take the time to invest in relationships like the generations before us did. Our busy lives leave very little time to invest in meaningful relationships.
Because of this, we are suffering. We miss wonderful opportunities to reach others for Christ and to strengthen others in the body of Christ.
How about you and I change the busyness in our circle of influence by adjusting our schedules and priorities? We can start right now to focus on the relationships in our circle of influence as the nurturing women God designed us to be.
Becoming a better friend is something believers should focus on, because it can impact the world for the Christ.
So where do we begin?
Leave Hurryville-without a forwarding address! It’s a choice and a hard one. But God is faithful and he will help you with this lifestyle change.
Pray, and read God Word.
Schedule time with friends; ask them how they are and what’s up in their life.
Engage in meaningful conversation about them and how the Lord is working in their life.
Leave the cell phone turned off during your time together.
Share good books, good tips, good information and good food.
If your friend is a single mom, widow, health issue, or has problems at home, always be sensitive to her needs or situation. You are not “the solution” but you can show her you care through your friendship. God will provide the wisdom concerning boundaries and blessings.
I left Hurryville, many years ago. Sometimes my old nature tries to pull me back. But I learned the value of meaningful friendships and Hurryville doesn’t compare. Should you decide to leave Hurryville too let me know. We can sit on the porch and enjoy chat together.
BOOK FRANKIE FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT!
About the author:
Frankie Sherman is a national speaker, comedian, and Bible teacher for conferences, retreats, and women's events. She fell in love with Jesus at Vacation Bible School and takes every opportunity to tell others about the joy of being alive in Christ. She is a former choreographer for the Georgia Peach Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl Halftime Show. Her specialty is in theater musical/productions. Her first Bible Study, Why We Need Girlfriends is based on the relationship of Mary and Elizabeth, from Luke's gospel. Two women brought together by extraordinary circumstances by an extraordinary God. Frankie is from South Carolina—loves sweet tea, BIG hair and her grand-girls. She believes there will never be another Elvis. And knows that her Jesus will return for her soon.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought I would play for fun! Just do the following:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!(make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Before she could move a shadow loomed over her. Someone's come to help. A moment later, her eyes focused on the face above her, and she knew she was going to die.
Today I'm glad to have Joy Dekok back with us. This time we are featuring one of her children's books. Raccoon Tales. Be sure to read to the end of this post because there is a giveaway included. Thanks so much for answering these questions so the readers can get to know a little more about you as an author. Would you please tell us a little bit about yourself? I’m a wife, daughter, sister, and auntie to many. My husband Jon and I live in the country with our dogs Sophie & Tucker. One of my favorite things to do is ride our John Deere Gator to the pond in our woods to watch dragonflies and birds.
I love the country life. It seems like it would be a quiet less stressful way of living. Since we're talking about country living maybe you could tell us a few fun things about yourself. Do you have any fun hobby/pastime activity(s)? I enjoy journaling and/or scrapbooking. My journals are detailed and handwritten. My scrapbooks are my craft outlet.
I love doing crafts. My favorite is cross-stitching or sewing or any crafty project. Do you read? What genre do you prefer? Do you have any favorite authors? I read all the time from several genres. If I can find a good biography I’m delighted. I recently read Joe Bonsall’s book, G. I. Joe & Lillie – the love story of his parents. It’s a wonderful book. Francine Rivers new book will be released in March and I’m very excited. Lisa Samson is another favorite. If Francine or Lisa write it, I’ll read it. I don't know how authors find time to read if they are busy writing. Do you have a favorite food? Yes – hot buttered movie theatre popcorn. It’s a rare treat and one I don’t share. I know that’s selfish and sounds awful. I try to make up for it by buying for anyone with me who wants their own.
Oh, I love popcorn too. Hate when a kernel gets stuck, but I love eating the stuff. So they say it is a healthy snack. Now, the buttered stuff I don't know about that. When did you first know you wanted to write a book? Before I could read or write I wanted to put my own words on the pages.
I had a daughter that would just fill a paper with squiggle lines. I thought for sure she'd be a writer, not so far. She's only 18 so maybe some day, who knows. How long have you been writing? Since I was a little girl – I’m 52 now, so it’s starting to feel like a long time. I wrote stories on scraps of paper and spent my allowance at the local Ben Franklin buying paper, notebooks, pencils, and pens. I edited my work back then too using a red pen. I wrote and rewrote and then I’d feel I needed to start over so I’d throw all that work away and begin again.
What a fun memory. Who has been you’re biggest inspiration in writing? My husband Jon who believed in me long before I did.
That is so wonderful to have a supportive husband. Do you have a favorite place you like to write? Yes. We have an old rickety gazebo and in the summer time I love to go out there and write. In the winter time I love being in my office.
I love gazebos. Have you written any other children’s books? Yes. It Is Good is the creation story told from a little boy’s real world. Room for Bandit is a Christmas story about an abandoned black dog and a little girl named Amanda. Can God use a stray to lead a child to Himself? Be sure to visit her web site. They are listed below. There are coloring page you can print off for kids to color. Is it hard to get into the children’s book market? It’s very difficult. After working very hard for years to get published, an editor told me that although the books were worthy of publication, if they were truly part of my purpose, I’d have to self publish them. So, I did. It was worth the financial risk – I have hundreds of kids all over who have read and enjoyed It Is Good and Room for Bandit.
Those sound like fun books. Could you tell us a little about the featured book? Raccoon Tales is the true story of 5 orphaned baby raccoons my husband and I rescued and released. God taught us a lot about Himself and His creation in the 12 months they lived with us. I chose to write the book in rhyme. I have the same illustrator for all three books. Leslie does beautiful work.
Yes, the pictures are very attractive. Why did you feel this type of book was needed? I didn’t intend to write this one. I missed them and did what I knew to do to ease the hurt – I wrote. The words felt right in rhyme so I let myself go. My Uncle was dying from cancer and wanted to read about these little guys so I printed my raw poetry with real photos and took him a copy. Seeing it put together that way and the way his grandkids loved the story helped me see the potential beyond writing it just for me. While raccoons aren’t good pets, they are also often misunderstood. After living with these critters for a year, I wished for a way to help people see their beauty.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I know all kids will love learning about raccoons through your book. What do you hope your readers will come away with? A personal knowledge of God’s love for all His creation.
I can say you definitely make God known through the writing of this book. I love the way you tied this all together. Do you have any other books in the works? If so can you tell us about what is ahead. I’m not sure if there are other children’s books in my future or not. I have some ideas, but no words or inner sense that it’s time. I’m working on a fiction series as well as some projects for writers. I’m also an author coach and want to provide excellent materials for my clients.
Well, be sure to let me know if you get another one written. I love children's books. Do you write books any other genre? If so what? I have a devotional in print titled, Under His Wings – it rereleases on March 1, 2010 and my novel, Rain Dance, released last fall. Both are published traditionally by Sheaf House Publishers.
I had the privilege of reviewing Rain Dance. That was my first book of yours that I had read. I was so excited when you contacted me to review the book. Have you written non-fiction books too? Yes. The devotional Under His Wings. When we first moved to the country, I was so alone or so I thought. Then a couple of chickadees joined me on a walk and Baltimore Oriole sang to me from a nearby branch. I’d always enjoyed birds so decided to take a closer look. When I did, God showed me more of Himself.
I love birds too. We have a tray on a post we put bread crumbs on. We don't get too many unusual birds that visit it because we live in town, but we love watching them come. We have at times even had a raccoon up on the post visiting us. It's a sturdy post but the tray is just an old rusted cookie sheet. The raccoon weights the cookie sheet down. What is your favorite part of writing? Whatever part I’m working on. Although I’m not a good self-editor, I enjoy it. I recently purchased a “reader” for my computer and it can now read my writing out loud to me. What a great investment. Sounds like a cool item. What is your least favorite part of writing? I guess that’s punctuation checking. I either don’t use enough commas or way too many of them. I write the way I talk so if the subject “sounds” fast in my brain, the commas stay out. If I feel a lot of pauses, I put them everywhere. It’s no wonder that after I get book to the point I can’t edit it anymore, I hire a professional editor.I think everyone has the comma problem. Where can someone get in touch with you? My email is: joydekok@pitel.netMy websites are: www.believe4kids.com www.joydekok.com www.gettingitwrite.net www.raindancebook.com www.underhiswingsbook.com
Wow! How do you keep up with it all? Do you have any closing words? Thank you for the opportunity to share my heart and writing with your readers Abi. It’s been a privilege.
Thanks Joy for taking the time to answer these questions. I'm sure my readers have enjoyed getting to know you better. Little more about Raccoon Tales:
Joy's Raccoon Tales is divided into four sections:
The Raccoon Rescue - God is always with you.
The Raccoon Flu - God watches over you
The Runaway Raccoon - God good and He is love
A Raccoon Release - God answers prayers
The book has a page of fun Raccoon facts. Your child will learn what it means to rescue and release animals back into the wild while reading this book. I think rhyming easy to read any child between 3-8 would love these "wash-bears" as they are refereed to by Joy in her story.
Raccoon Tales is the true-life journey in the first year of the lives of these little “wash bears.” Written in easy-to-read verse, author, Joy DeKok, tells the story with tenderness and energy. Readers will leave the story glad they came, knowing more about raccoons, and what a wild animal rescue and release looks like. Illustrator Leslie Helen Colwin’s art brings the story to life.
Joy is an author, national speaker, and author coach. From the time she was a little girl, she wanted to write for children. She has three published children’s books, a novel, and a devotional. You’re invited to visit her website at: www.believe4kids.com.
Five baby raccoons lost their mother one day,
They needed help and a safe place to stay.
They were tiny, and their eyes were shut tight,
I wondered if they would be all right.
I held them close and promised I’d try
To give each of them a chance at life.
We fed them and gave them a place to play.
Then we sat nearby and started to pray,
“Lord, please keep them in Your care,
And thank You for these little “wash-bears”!
They snuggled into their blankets that night,
And we whispered, “Sweet dreams and sleep tight.”
Baby raccoons need lots of sleep.
They would yawn and pile into a furry heap.
Later, they’d purr and churr and cry out loud,
Letting us know they wanted out!
They’d enjoy a snack of warm milk and rice,
And thought being held was especially nice.
Now for the giveaway. I'd like for you to visit Joy's site believe4kids and tell me which of the other children's books you would love to read and why? Be sure to leave your contact information. I'll draw a winner for Joy's book Raccoon Tales on Monday, March 29th. US/Canada Residents only please.
Want bonus? (first mandatory above must be accomplished)
one extra for the following:
follower
subscriber
two extra:
if you blog about Joy's book and link to this page
Leanna's sister recommended that she write, since she ‘wrote in her journal all the time.’ The idea took root and began to grow. So after five years of teaching, she quit and started writing, with no clue about the book business. Ignorance is bliss. If she’d known the odds against her, she might not have ever started writing.
For about three years, she wrote with a collaborator, but because she had so many ideas she began to write more stories on her own. She suffered numerous rejections. Deservedly so. But she was growing as a writer and learning. She went to as many conferences as she could manage. During that time, she met her future husband, fell in love and became engaged. She also began to final in contests and then actually began to win! The contests helped her get noticed by editors and agents. In March, the year Braveheart won the Best Picture Oscar, Victor/Victoria opened on Broadway, she sold her first book. It was her Cinderella year. She sold her book, got married and won RWA’s Golden Heart Award in Hawaii.
She wrote six books between her first baby’s birth and when the second baby turned one. Then she hit a wall. Not literally. But creatively. It’s not that she didn’t have any ideas, but her ideas didn’t fit the romance market. These new characters, random and weird as they were, began to take over the part of her brain that wasn’t domesticated. These stories were about all types of women, and so she began to let her writing grow in new and different ways.
Leanna Ellis sold more than 1.3 million romantic novels writing as Leanna Wilson, winning a Readers’ Choice award and the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award for her work. Elvis Takes a Back Seat is the first book published under her married name, marking a new creative direction in her writing. Like Francine Rivers before her, Leanna has left behind a successful career as an author of secular romances to write novels of faith that glorify God. A former schoolteacher, Leanna is now a homeschool mom and lives with her husband and children in Keller, Texas.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Bryn Seymour was nine years old when her mother died under mysterious circumstances on the same day Apollo 11 made its historic lunar landing. Forty years later—divorced, working as an obituary writer, and duly cynical—she meets Howard, a conspiracy theorist who knew her mom and believes a small Texas town may hold clues to what really fueled her demise. Seeking closure, Bryn goes along for this men-in-black ride. But upon meeting Howard’s son Sam, an outspoken Christian, she can’t decide whose beliefs are more pie-in-the-sky.
The gravity of life has pulled Bryn down for decades. But a perfect love could be her first step to soaring. It only happens once in a blue moon.
"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become." -C.S. Lewis
