A Chat with Author Mary L. Hamilton

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California, where spring—and pollen!—is in the air. Today I have the honor of interviewing Mary Hamilton, who is venturing from kids’ adventure books to writing mystery-suspense, where her heart is. Mary, please tell us about your book, Pendant. Haunted by her student’s disappearance from a field trip, Elaine stumbles onto a vital clue and discovers someone is desperate to keep the truth buried. When a friend persuades her to hide amongst the quirky residents of a nursing home, she wonders if he’s keeping her from danger, or the truth? Why did you write this book?…

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Love Letters from Christ

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  One summer I visited sites of the seven churches of Revelation (Rev. 1–3). A congregation at each of these sites received a message from Jesus Christ. And while two thousand years separate us, their messages from Christ are still relevant. Ephesus: The Ephesians lost their first love. Think about this. Nobody has to tell a fiancée to avoid flirting. Her actions reveal her loyalty. Do your works give evidence of your love? Smyrna:  Many think “Smyrna” is a Greek translation of the Hebrew “myrrh.” To make myrrh, one must crush a fragrant plant. In suffering, are you giving off…

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Sunday Reflection: A Great Mother

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Jesus had a great mother. She said “Yes!” to the angel when it was explained that the Spirit would overshadow her and she would conceive. (She was a very young mother) “I am the Lord’s servant…May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). She endured social ridicule because she was seen as a woman who became pregnant while still engaged. (People didn’t get the emaculate conception yet) She rode a donkey in travel the days leading up to his birth. (This would be a sacrifice even if she was not expecting) “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths…

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A Writer’s Senses

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  Gracious God, thank you for the smell of pencil shavings, the elegance of a good fountain pen, and the click-clack of ancient typewriter keys… for the intoxication of creative juices, the sweetness of a well-turned phrase… for the creak of the office chair, and the surprise of a catch in the throat and the salty track of a tear on the cheek… for the hum of a computer, for the thrum of a printer, for the agony of the blank page, the ecstasy of the last line, the terror of hitting “send” and the fragrance of fresh ink on…

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Sunday Reflection: A Heart after God

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It is all about the heart: “the LORD looks at the heart.“ (1 Sam. 16:7) David was called “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13:14) And we pray with the Psalmist,  “Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11) A few of the Psalms in my Discovering Hope in the Psalms Bible study captures the kind of heart God is looking for: God is looking for thirsty hearts. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O…

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CAN Authors Have Much to Offer!

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Your CAN authors are award winning, prolific, and sharing what’s on their hearts! Check out this weeks’ round up of good news and happenings in our writing community. Davalynn Spencer’s 2017 Western romance, An Improper Proposal, won the 2018 Christian Indie Award for Romance. An Improper Proposal is Book 1 in the Front Range Brides series. Book 2, An Unexpected Redemption, released April 26. *** New Release: No Safe Place by H. L. Wegley Releases May 21 Genre: Romantic Suspense Publisher: Trinity Press International ISBN-13:   978-0-9964937-6-5 About the book: A young man returning from the far country trying to regain his honor, and a young woman with a heart broken by…

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A Chat with Author Linda Gilden

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the privilege of chatting with prolific nonfiction writer Linda Gilden. Linda has written six books, 26 collaborative books, and hundreds of articles, as well as being a speaker and a personality trainer! Today she’s sharing with us from her wealth of experience. Linda, tell us about your most recent book, Articles, Articles, Articles! Why write articles? Articles can change lives, instruct, inform, and inspire. For writers, articles can be an exercise to hone your craft, help build your platform, and reach more people than books. Articles, Articles, Articles! will show you…

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In The New

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The Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA) recently announced the winning titles for the 2018 Christian Indie Awards. The Christian Indie Awards honor books produced by small publishers and independent authors each year for outstanding contribution to Christian life. Congratulations to our own Davalynn Spencer, who won in the romance category with , “An Improper Proposal.”

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Taking Obedience Seriously

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  The handmade collection of misshapen guitars, ukuleles, and banjos  made me wonder. Is the museum desperate for displays? About half of the instruments hanging on the walls were painted barn-red. Others had obviously been pieced together from two or three different types of wood. But the story of the man who crafted them changed my whole perspective. In the 1960s Arkansas farmer Ed Stilley had difficulty supporting his wife and five children. One day, while plowing his field behind a donkey, he thought he was having a heart attack. Lying on the ground with no one around to hear…

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Sunday Reflection : Green Pastures

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I am a Bo Peep. Yes, I grew up on a Suffolk sheep farm– so Psalm 23 is very personal to this Shepherdess’ heart. Let’s just glimpse at the first few verses: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,  he refreshes my soul. One of the common heart cries of the human race is for greener pastures- a life better, brighter, quieter or calmer. God knows this is dream is on our hearts. When I read, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside…

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