9!!! New Books Contracted for Interviewee - Kim Vogel Sawyer

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of Song of My Heart and of twenty-two other titles, including My Heart Remembers and the Sommerfeld Trilogy.

I met Kim through ACFW. She was the registration desk coordinator and as the ACFW Mid-Atlantic Zone Director I asked our zone members to volunteer (many did, as I did, also!)  

Kim, welcome to Overcoming Through Time.  Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

My biggest challenge is one that is intensely personal. Because of something I faced as a child, I carried a tremendous burden of shame well into adulthood. When one views herself as tainted, that view can skew everything else. To “rise above” the ugliness, I tried to be “perfect.” Well, as we know, that isn’t a possible goal for any of us, so continual failures broke me down and severely affected my physical health. 


It’s very difficult to share the entire story in a short format, but in 2004, God led a wonderful woman named Ruth to take me by the hand, lead to me a prayer room, and ask her daughter Brandilyn to pray for me. I intended for them to pray for my physical health--I had six chronic illnesses that left me in constant pain and dependent on a cane. Instead, God revealed to Brandilyn the source of my illnesses: an emotional burden that was literally eating me alive from the inside-out. When she asked God to drive the shame from me, not only did my feelings of worthlessness lift, but all of my physical illnesses fled, as well. Now part of my ministry is reaching out to women with similar burdens, assuring them of their great value in God’s eyes and reminding them the shame is not theirs to carry.

What is your favorite Bible verse and why? 
Phil. 4:4-8 are my “life verses”--there’s so much wisdom for living in those scripture. My favorite of these is verse 8, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.” I believe if I follow that direction, I will fill myself with the thing of which God approves and have a better opportunity to reflect Him to those around me.

Disability friendliness: 
Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio? 
All of my historical novels are available on audio, Kindle, and also large-print editions through subsidiary publishers. Many of my contemporaries are being made available through Kindle and large-print, as well. 

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why? 
With every new manuscript, I begin with the same prayer: God, reveal Yourself and Your Son through the story. My hope is so strongly imbedded in who I am to Him (His child!) and who He is to me (my Savior! my Peace and Comforter and Friend!). My most fervent wish is that my stories will not only entertain but will edify and perhaps move the reader toward a closer walk in his or her relationship to God through Christ Jesus.

 

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart? 
In Song of My Heart, the heroine has the desire to be an opera singer, so I did a lot of research on popular songs of the era and on community programs. The thing that really pleased me is how many of these events included hymns--songs meant to show God’s sovereignty and power. At community events--not church-sponsored events! At events intended to entertain! In a way it made me sad, seeing how much opinion concerning “religious tones” have changed in the past 100 years; in another, it was refreshing to know how people enjoyed hearing God’s name praised through song.


Newest Releases: SONG OF MY HEART, Bethany House; A SEEKING HEART, Hendrickson

Coming Soon: WHEN HOPE BLOSSOMS, Bethany House; A HEART SURRENDERS, Hendrickson

KIM JUST GOT A 9 BOOK CONTRACT WITH WATERBROOK MULTNOMAH!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Kim Vogel Sawyer books are available through Amazon, CBD, Barnes and Noble, and other bookstores.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of this author’s books, choice of format.

New Christian Regency Blog - Laurie Alice Eakes' Week

Laurie Alice Eakes with her dog Nick at Frontier Culture Museum

Laurie Alice Eakes is one of the new editors of the Regency Reflections group blog. This is a group blog of Christian Regency authors and is brand new!  One of the members is Sarah E. Ladd. 


I want to give a big shout out to my critique partner, Sarah E. Ladd, who just landed a three book contract with Thomas Nelson publishing company. Laurie Alice and Sarah are both represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.


With Laurie Alice and all the members of the new blog, I think Regency will be rocking the boat for some time to come!


Go over and check out the new blog!  Vanessa Riley's Christian Regency website hosts this new blog. Either use the hotlink in the first line of this post or use the hotlink for Vanessa and go over to the right upper side of the blog and click on the Regency Reflections blog.


Some of the other ladies who contribute to the blog are: Linore Rose Burhard, Ruth Axtell, Naomi Rawlings, and more (here is the link to the contributors' page.


GIVEAWAY:  The winners for this week's drawings will be posted Sunday afternoon.  Leave a comment and your email address for a chance to win a copy of one of Laurie Alice's books from OTT-WGH and another winner will receive an ebook of Laurie Alice's The Glassblower.  

Diana Flowers Reviews Heart's Safe Passage by Laurie Alice Eakes

Heart's Safe Passage 
by Laurie Alice Eakes
(Revell, 2012)

4.5 stars~
Romance On The High Seas!

In Heart's Safe Passage, Laurie Alice Eakes has weaved an exciting tale of intrigue, betrayal, vengeance, and romance on the high seas!

It is the year 1813, and our lovely heroine, Phoebe Lee wishes only to practice midwifery in Virginia, amidst the turmoil of the War of 1812. Her pregnant sister in law, Belinda, arranges for Phoebe to be kidnapped and thrust aboard a British privateer, in order to accompany her to rescue her husband from an English prison. The captain of the ship, Rafe Docherty, has agreed to do this for Belinda, in exchange for information from her husband, that he might exact revenge on the man who has destroyed his family.

Rafe has had but one thing on his mind in nine years, to find and kill the man who has perpetrated such horrific crimes on his wife, and parents. Although, not British nor American, he and his twelve year old child have sailed the wild seas in search of the elusive James Brock, the man responsible. 


Although fiercely attracted to the lovely Phoebe, Rafe will let nothing stand in the way of his quest for vengeance, but will he lose his own soul in the process? What horrendous secrets is he hiding, and can Phoebe break through the tremendous wall of bitterness he has built around himself? And what of Phoebe? What gut-wrenching secrets is she concealing, causing a canker of bitterness to grow deep within her as well, although she is a Christian? Can the two find peace with God and love again, or will their bitterness destroy them?

Laurie Alice Eakes is a brilliant author...face it, anyone that can make a story exciting with a ship as the setting throughout...has to be! Her characters are very realistic and endearing, her research and knowledge of ships is astounding, her storyline exceptional. With a strong spiritual thread of forgiveness and redemption throughout, and a satisfying conclusion, this is a must read! My reason for giving this book a 4.5 rating instead of a five is very small...I don't care for shipboard settings, but it didn't ruin the book for me. Nicely done, Ms. Eakes!

I was sent an ARC of this novel from Revell Publishing Co. and was not required to write a positive review.

Laurie Alice's books can be found on Amazon, as well as CBD, and other book stores.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Laurie Alice's books, choice of format.

Guest Review by Debbie Lynne Costello of Laurie Alice Eakes's A Necessary Deception

Review of Laurie Alice Eakes's

A Necessary Deception

(Revell, 2011)

By Debbie Lynne Costello

The year is 1812. England and France are at war. Lady Lydia Gale is a young confident widow of a military man. In order to honor her dead husband’s wishes, Lady Lydia arranges parole for a French prisoner. Believing she will never see the man again, she feels she has fulfilled her duty and heads to her family’s home to help her ailing mother with her youngest sister, Honore’s, entrée into London Society and her other sister Cassandra’s wedding.

Before she makes it to London she is interrupted walking her cat at night by a man of mystery who keeps his identity hidden other than a name. He claims she is a traitor and has freed a French Prisoner and he has proof. He blackmails her into playing a dangerous game.

As if Lydia’s troubles aren’t enough the French prisoner she helped obtain parole, Christien de Meuse, shows up in her home wanting entrance into society. Lady Lydia finds herself having to make hard decisions to keep her family safe from harm and ruin.

As Lady Lydia is pulled deeper into the intrigue of spies, her two younger sisters are forever causing her trouble. But they aren’t the only troubling things in her life, Christien de Meuse has worked his way into her heart, but the question is can she trust him?

I love Laurie Alice Eakes’ unique ability to sweep you away into another world. Every historical aspect of her stories read true to time. You can be sure she’s done all of her homework. As she takes you from Dartmoor Prison, to Society in London, to balls and masquerades you can taste a bit of England history.

 I love her characters. It doesn’t matter if it is the hero, heroine, parents, sisters or one of the much lesser characters in the story, you will always find them well thought out and developed. You won’t find a cardboard character in one of Laurie Alice books. When you finish the book you’ll feel you are saying good-bye to an old friend.

Her ability to start a story out and hook you from page one and continue to keep you glued to the pages as you flip them frantically to find out what happens next is a true art. I can’t wait to read her upcoming Regency, Flight of Fancy due out October of 2012 in which Cassandra pursues her interest in balloon flight, her fiancé gets entangled with the Luddites, and they both pay what might be too high a price for their intemperate behavior.

Laurie Alice's books can be found on Amazon, as well as on Christian Book Distributors, and other book stores.

 Bio: Debbie Lynne Costello's tagline is Southern-Kissed Historical Romance. She is a member of ACFW and  HisWriters and writes Christian historical romance. She chairs the CROWN promotional group and is a member of HEWN which promotes Christian historical fiction in European settings. Debbie Lynne lives in South Carolina with her family. Debbie Lynne is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can learn more about her at her websites www.debbielynnecostello.com and www.theswordandspirit.blogspot.com.  Debbie Lynne also is co-hostess of www.fictionaddictionfix.blogspot.com.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Laurie Alice Eakes’s books, choice of format.

Carrie Fancett Pagels' Review of Printed on My Heart by Laurie Alice Eakes

We are deviating from our normal format this week - Laurie Alice Eakes week here on Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help.  A brief interview and commentary will be up next Saturday. We begin the week with a review of Laurie Alice's contribution to a wonderful four novella compendium that recently released.

Highland Crossings

By: Laurie Alice Eakes, Pamela Griffin, Jennifer Hudson Taylor, and Gina Welborn

(Barbour Publishing, 2012)

Highland Crossing is a four-novella collection of Scottish immigrants, centered around an heirloom brooch. 

1758 - Printed on My Heart, By Laurie Alice Eakes

Stacks of paper at Colonial Williamsburg

This is the second novella in the series.

Laurie Alice Eakes and Gina Welborn

The really fun part of reading this novella was that I took Laurie Alice around Colonial Williamsburg, with Gina Welborn, last year when she interviewed the printer there. 

Laurie Alice is blind but the reader would never know that reading her work. She gives great details.

Laurie Alice Eakes interviewing printer at Colonial Williamsburg

This novella is yet another example of this author’s ability to pack a shorter book (in this case a novella) with unbelievable details without sacrificing the integrity of the story. 

Colonial Williamsburg Printers' tool

And what a lovely romance! Laurie Alice has you loving poor Fiona and her hero Owain before you can say “I do”!!! 


Laurie Alice's books can be found on Amazon, as well as CBD, and other book stores.


GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Laurie Alice Eakes' books, choice of format. 

Carlton's Healing by Teresa Mathews - Overcoming Cancer

1999 is a year forever etched in our minds. In January I noticed a lump under my right jawbone that would pop out when I would chew. I went to visit my family doctor and was immediately sent for a scan. When the results came back I was sent to a Neurologist because they thought it was cancer that could have already invaded my skull.  She made me feel better because she told me it had not invaded my skull. Then she referred me to an ENT that specialized in facial cancer.

The ENT was a wonderful Christian doctor that assured me everything would be ok. He told me he did not think it was cancer and that it should not be a very invasive surgery. But he also explained that it was possible that he might have to cut through my jawbone and replace it with a steel plate. The surgery went fine and there was no cancer and he did not have to cut through my jawbone. We were so relieved and thankful that God had spared me from cancer.

About a month later my oldest son who had just turned five, was having constant sinus infections. The ENT he had been going to for about three years thought Daniel would benefit from a two part sinus surgery. He came through both of those with flying colors and once again all was well with the Mathews family. We never dreamed what would come next.

Fast forward to Father’s Day, June 20. My husband, Carlton, was the Worship Leader at the church we attended, and I played the piano. That morning after the choir had finished, Carlton was going to sing a song dedicated to our small sons. He had only sung a few bars when he suddenly stopped singing and knelt down. The pastor thought he was overcome with emotion but that was not the case. He was in a tremendous amount of pain and could not stand.

We rushed Carlton by ambulance to the local hospital and after blood tests and an ultrasound; an Urologist was called in that told us that Carlton either had an infection or a tumor. Let me say this as polite as possible, we were told he might have the type of cancer that the bicyclist Lance Armstrong had. The doctor was very direct and to the point, he certainly had lost his bedside manner somewhere before he got to us. He told us if Carlton was not better he would be having surgery on Friday morning.

It was a long week filled with a lot of prayer and a lot of fear. Friday morning came and I waited and prayed while Carlton was in surgery believing that God would take care of him. Monday we were back in the Urologist’s office hearing the words we never thought we would hear, Carlton had cancer. We were told they would refer us to an oncologist but we might have to wait a few weeks before they could get us in.

Thank God Carlton’s brother-in-law’s sister worked for one of the top oncologists in our area. We were in his office before the end of the week and had started his treatments the following Monday. Dr. Jones was so wonderful and upbeat and told us this was beatable and Carlton would only have to undergo one week of treatments once a month for three months. He told us the cancer was caught in the very earliest stage.

I would like to say going through this was the hardest thing we have ever had to do. It was very stressful especially having to travel to North Carolina to have a PET scan, but God went before us and everything turned out fine. It very stressful the day Carlton came out of the bathroom with his hands filled with hair that had fallen out. But through it all God took care of us and made the path easy for us. When we look back it seems like it happened to some else, God’s grace was so great in our lives.

When you hear the “C” word fear comes in like a flood, but as it says in Isaiah 59:19b “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” It has been thirteen years this year since it happened and Carlton is still cancer-free. He is still a Worship Leader and he is still praising God for healing him.

By Teresa Mathews - contributor on Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help.


CONGRATULATIONS Teresa and Carlton on your upcoming 25th wedding anniversary!  And thank you Jesus, for curing Carlton!

Marian Baay Reviews The Master's Wall by Sandi Rog

The Master's Wall 
by Sandi Rog
(DeWard Publishing, 2010)


Reviewed by Marian Baay
 
4 stars ****


Sandi Rog writes an interesting and original story set in the first century. The two main characters are energetic young people who become close friends – one the master’s granddaughter, the other the master’s slave.


 Young David was sold as a slave at the age of 10. He’s the son of Hebrews who believed in Yahshua and because of their faith they were killed. In the first century Christians were awfully persecuted. David kept the faith of his parents and starts telling other slaves about his God and a church was planted between the master’s wall.


On David’s first day at the master’s villa he meets the master’s granddaughter. Alethea is 7 years old and just saw her father get killed by the hand of her grandfather, because her father was a Christian.


Alethea is a feisty little girl. She reminds David of his little sister. He decides then that he will protect her. A sweet friendships grows in the years that follow. They love to escape in the woods and have a secret place on top of the master’s wall.


David lives a hard life. He is trained to be a juggler and warrior. He learns that his master is a hard man. He gets undeserved whippings, because of the lies of the master’s family members. There are several opportunities for David to escape, but Alethea is the reason that he never runs away. She needs him to protect her from her selfish family.


At the age of 11 Alethea was betrothed to a man she didn’t love and didn’t desire to marry. She wants to marry David, but a marriage between a master’s granddaughter and a slave is impossible. She prays to David’s God for a way to marry David.
Is there a way then? Will God answer such a prayer?


The Master’s Wall is full of action and has plenty of twists and turns. I also learned a lot of historical facts. I didn’t like so much to read about the whippings and beatings, but those things really happened back then. It only added to the reliability. The more I read of this story the more I liked it. I’m looking forward to read more of Sandi’s books!


Bibliotherapy: death of parents, graphic whippings and beatings.


The Master's Wall is available through Amazon and other book stores.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Sandi’s books, choice of format.