March 6, 2013 by Karen Baney

Times of Trial: an End Times Thriller by Cliff Ball

Genre: Christian End Times

Format: eBook, Paperback

Title: Times of Trial: an End Times Thriller by Cliff Ball

Available at:

Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Smashwords iTunes

This novel is a parallel novel to Times of Trouble and can be read as a stand-alone novel.

In this Christian End Times thriller in a bleak near future, Christians suffer from persecution as the President declares himself dictator, implements the United Nations’ Agenda 21 with his own agenda attached, and begins targeting his political and spiritual enemies. Meanwhile, tensions between Israel and Iran intensifies as the apocalyptic End Times approach.

1. Welcome, Cliff. Tell us a little about yourself and what you like to do when you aren’t writing.

When I’m not writing, I like to read, mostly science fiction, but I’m currently reading a biography of Andrew Jackson and since I didn’t read them as a kid, the whole Wizard of Oz series. I’m a fan of NASCAR, I collect some sports memorabilia, I like hiking, and I’m a gamer when I’m not writing.

2. What inspired you to write this book?

What inspired me to write Times of Trial was seeing the whole world slowly edge towards the Biblical End Times, and the US, in particular, seems like it’s headed quickly towards the end itself.

3. Is there anything in your book based on real life experiences or is it purely all imagination?

There’s a chapter that’s based on a real life experience. When I was 4 and 5, my parents took in a Navajo Boy from the Window Rock Reservation in Arizona during two summers through the missions in our church, Tri-City Baptist in Tempe (now in Chandler). He didn’t get to come back after the second time because the shaman, I guess you call him, didn’t like Christians influencing him. The rest is all made up, unless there really are FEMA Camps waiting for us Christians….

4. What books have most influenced your life and why?

The Bible because I’m a Christian and I want to live my life the way God wants me to. As for writing, I’m a big history buff, and I enjoy alternate history, along with historical biographies, so I read a lot of history to get an idea of something I might possibly write that could be made into an alternate universe.

5. What are you working on now?

Currently working on a prequel to Times of Trouble, which starts in WW2 with Michael Evans’ grandfather stealing from the Nazi’s that would eventually lead to the Evans’ being the power-behind-the-scenes. Another one I’m working on is about a guy who sings in church, gets discovered by a producer of a national singing contest, the guy wins, and we follow him as he goes through his highs and lows shortly before the End Times.

6. How do you handle criticism?

By trying not to take it personal and by praying for the right attitude.

7. Do you have anything else you’d like to say to readers?

Every single one of my novels are clean reads, so I hope readers take an opportunity to try them out.

Cliff Ball was born in Arizona, but currently resides in North Texas. He was saved at five years old and is currently a member of his local Baptist church. Cliff has two Bachelor’s of Arts, along with a Technical Writing Certificate from the University of North Texas. He has been a published author since 2008 and has nine novels currently out and two short stories. The first taste Cliff had of being published was in high school through his Creative Writing class. He won third for a short story submitted through the class to a young adult magazine produced by the Methodist church. He is currently the Author Pages Manager for CrossReads.com.

Cliff’s genres include: Christian End Times and political thrillers, science fiction/time travel/alternate history, and he even has a Western short story available. All are clean reads.

Connect with Cliff:

http://www.cliffball.net
http://cliffballauthor.wordpress.com
http://twitter.com/cliff_ball
http://www.facebook.com/cliff.ball.author
cliffball@cliffball.net

February 27, 2013 by Karen Baney

Writing in InDesign by David Bergsland

Writing Journey

When and why did you begin writing?

I failed English my first year of college, but after my military experience when I went back to school at the University of Minnesota, the composition professor passed me out of the course in the middle of it. She said I knew what she was teaching—but I had no idea what that meant.

I wrote newsletters and such, but primarily I edited writing for my graphic design customers at the print shop where I was the art director. When I started to teach commercial printing there were no teaching materials or textbooks to help me.
So, I developed the coursework using handouts I wrote myself. My writing career began when Delmar Publishing asked me to convert my handouts into a book for them.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

The Lord was showing me how to teach my students. I was way over my head and needed help. When I started teaching digital publishing in 1991, the available books were only usable as bad examples. I was forced to create handouts to show my students what to do. A major textbook publisher asked me to use them as the basis of a book for them. I started writing Printing in a Digital World in 1994 and it was released in the summer of 1996.

For me it immersed was in the joy of creation when I was given the opportunity to write, format, design the fonts used, produce all the graphics, produce the book, and send the final print-ready PDFs to the publisher. I was working all-digital and no one at the publishing company was doing that yet, so they allowed me to do it all myself. The creative joy of being completely responsible for a book and everything in it is a wonderful thing for me.

Do you have a specific writing style?

Basically I started writing what I would lecture. Hopefully I’ve gotten a bit better than that. I just try to share what I have learned—clearly and concisely.

Where do you get your ideas?

They always come as a result of prayer and from asking the Lord what he wants me to write next. So, technically they are inspired by the Holy Spirit.

How many books have you written?

I have over three dozen listed in Author Central at Amazon. I’ve done seven traditionally—all training materials in digital publishing written from 1994 to 2003. Looking back, they are ghastly.

**Is there a message in your technical books that you want readers to grasp?

I want to share the immense help available from the Holy Spirit to help an author create and self publish a book. If He has called you to write, he will enable you to get your book published—excellently. You can do it—with His help.

**Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

The Lord works in our lives intimately, hour by hour. One of the ways we are made in the image of God is our creativity. He can enable us to write and publish books that will truly change the lives of our readers.

What are your current projects?

Christian Writing & Self Publishing Handbook: I’m covering the process of writing, designing, producing, publishing and marketing your new book from a Christian perspective. A Christian Self Publishing Guide to Sell Books & Ebooks Online (released Jan 21, 2013) is one of the sections from the new book.

God’s Creation: 7,000 years of glory is out for proofing. It may be broken into two books.

The Intimacy of Betrothal: Learning to Know the Soon Coming King is nearly complete.

How to Teach the Old Testament: just started.

**Can you share a little of your current work with us?

What I have always wanted to do was write a book on how Christians write, produce, and publish books. With our direct tap into the mind of Christ, we have access to a level of creativity unheard of in the world. The booklet I just released is the selling & marketing section of the book. What a joy it is to talk about how our life as Christian writers and designers differs from what’s in the world.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Get it settled about the Lord’s call on your life, and clarify the visi0n he gives you. Nothing else matters. Then write and publish. Repeat and repeat until you have a body of work. Every book will be better than the last. You will be amazed at how different and how much better your tenth book will be. Your early work will be an embarrassment ten years later.

Where are you from?

I was raised in Minnesota—Stillwater in particular. But my heart is in New Mexico. We lived there for 25 years and we loved it. Now we’re back in southern Minnesota near our daughter and the grandchildren.

Tell us your latest news?

After forty years in graphic design, typography and writing, I am finally free to share how it differs to do these things as a Christian.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Before I finally blew it, dropped out to become a flower child (not one of those disgusting hippies , and turned to drugs to deal with the pain of reality, I was primarily a scientist. The drugs liberated a part of me I never knew existed—my creative side.

After I got a degree in fine art printmaking, I quickly became involved with publishing and printing. In the 1980s I was the in-house art director for a commercial printer. In 1991, I was given (by the Lord) the opportunity to head up the Commercial Printing Department at Albuquerque TVI (a large, 25,000 student, community college).

That completely changed my life as I was forced to begin teaching desktop publishing on a Mac (PCs weren’t capable of desktop publishing until many years later). Since then the Lord led me into situations where I became a font designer, an author, and now a publisher.

What do you do when you are not writing?

I’m with my wife. She’s a pastor and much of my life over the years has been in support of her ministry. We still do whatever the Lord gives us to do, primarily Bible studies at this point. I play with landscape design for our yards, read a lot (around 200 books a year), cook, bake, full-time house husbandry (my wife has been under a massive time of testing with physical issues), and play with our dogs.

—•••†•••—

David Bergsland

Publisher: Desktop publishing using InDesign: tips, tricks, and training for ministries and church secretaries

• Writing In InDesign http://www.bergsland.org/writing-in-indesign/

The Skilled Workman: http://bergsland.org

Twitter: @davidbergsland

The Christian Authors of Radiqx Press: http://radiqx.com

Twitter: @radiqxpress

• Easily Understanding Scripture & Advanced Discipleship Bible Studies

• Christian Fiction: Daniel’s Mighty Men

• Creationist: The Earth Is Young; The Triad

FaceBook: radiqxpress

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/davidbergsland

February 20, 2013 by Karen Baney

Called To Suffer by Patricia Stuart

Genre: Christian Living

Format: hard cover, eBook

Buy: Called To Suffer: Making Sense of Abandonment, The Neglect and The Abuse That God Has Allowed

Patricia’s story of abandonment and neglect has turned into a story of wholeness, joy and a blessed life!

She tells her story of being raised by Christian grandparents and having to leave the safety and security of their home where she was exposed to abuse. “Where is God”, she wonders and “Why doesn’t he help me”?

Patricia shares her childhood, her difficulty in trusting a God she couldn’t see and the challenges and hardships that followed her decision to put her faith and trust in God.

Why would God allow an innocent child to be born into a situation without the love and nurturing of a mother and father? Why would God allow a child to suffer abandonment, abuse and rejection?

Patricia’s story will encourage you and give you a window into how God uses suffering to draw you into an intimate relationship with him.

1. Thanks for joining us today, Patricia. Can you tell us where you are from?

I was born and raised in New York City, West Harlem to be exact. During my childhood, I’ve had to move a few places due to circumstances. West Harlem was a warm, vibrant and active community. People got along with one another. A lot of well-known talent came out of West Harlem. I was privileged to have grown up there while living with Christian grandparents.

2. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Why certainly. I am a Christian who happens to be a mother of two adult children (son and daughter). I am married to a wonderful man who is an Educator. I also am a Singer/Songwriter who writes songs that are inspired by my experiences with the Lord, as well as life experiences.

I presently reside in Mount Vernon, New York. When I am not writing or singing, I enjoy knitting simple, quick projects that I can complete before a big commitment rolls around. I also cross-stitch and make hand-made scrap baskets. I can also be found, quite often, with an interesting book in my hand. I am enjoying having an empty nest, and I have 3 grandchildren whom I enjoy very much!

3. When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing as soon as I knew how to write. Writing, as a child, provided an escape for me. I use to ask my elementary school, art teacher, to give me construction paper so that I could make my own books to write in. Today, they call them journals. As time went on, I bought notebooks to keep as a diary to record the events of my life. I started taking my writing seriously when I was 28 years of age. I received the opportunity to submit poems to a small children’s magazine. My writing took off after that!

4. Do you have a specific writing style?

You know, I really don’t. I guess you can say that my style of writing is exactly the style in which I would verbally communicate with someone. I keep it real and straight to the point. I’m more interested with sharing my heart with readers. I want them to go on that journey with me and feel what I felt as much as possible. I want my readers to walk away feeling as if they have gotten to know me and God as well. I usually don’t focus much on planning my words or expressions. I just let things flow freely.

5. How many books have you written and what is your favorite?

My very first book, Called To Suffer was published on December 4th, 2012. Since it is the true story of my childhood and journey with God, it is my favorite. This book will be the spring board from which all others, God willing, will flow. I am presently working on an outline for a second book. I’m thinking more on the lines of a book addressing women and the reasons why their relationships with other women fail.

I’d like to also add that I am an Indie author. It’s a joy to have the freedom and liberty to write as you please, however, being an ‘Indie’ does have its challenges. You have to market your own book in order to get it into the hands of people. I love having my independence! Independent authors are putting out some wonderful stuff these days!

My advice to anyone who loves to write; write and write some more, get it published! Find the right publishing package that fits you!

There are so many ways to market ‘You’. At singing engagements, my CD table also houses my books. I invite people to host private readings and book discussions in their home or library or church. I use my home for book discussions and readings as well. There is also social media. My genre seems to work best in small group settings.

The only criticism I have received, so far, was that the book was too short. Outside of that, everyone said that they were moved, inspired and encouraged by my story. The cover art was done by a Christian friend and artist. I wanted the cover to leave an impression as well as tell a story. Over all, I was satisfied with the finish product of the book and I was satisfied with the publisher I had chosen.

6. How did you come up with the title for Called To Suffer?

Good question! Unfortunately, since most of my youth was wrought with pain and suffering, I figured that-that should be the title of my first book. In order for people to understand my passion they should know what my plight had been in life. Pain and suffering has been the very thing that God has used to launch me into ministry today! I wanted people to read how God could take such a life and turn it into something wonderful!

7. Is anything in your book based on realistic experiences?

Yes! Every word of it! There are some things I chose to leave out of the book, after all, I wasn’t aiming for a ‘Tell All’ book. I do address some of the questions people might have when I do book readings or signings. There is nothing like writing from personal experience. Since I’m an avid reader, the books that have impacted me the most have been books written from personal experience. One book that I will never forget reading is Left To Tell by a South African Woman.

Immaculee llibagiza tells a riveting story of her experience amidst the Rwandan Holocaust. My favorite chapter in my book is the fifth chapter where I speak about the influences others have had on my life.

8. What was the hardest part of writing your book?

No doubt, the hardest part in writing Called To Suffer was re-visiting old and painful childhood memories as well as some adult memories that were horrific. I allowed myself moments to shed tears and to feel what I needed to feel. It actually helped me to capture the emotion I needed to back the words that I was writing. It was very therapeutic as well. As I wrote my story, I was encouraged all over again to see the mighty hand of God upon my life!

9. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Most definitely! I want readers to know that God works with all types of situations and that there is nothing beyond His ability to fix! I also want readers to be helped to trust God. Many of us are born into situations beyond our ability to control or fix and my story is just one of many out there. I want to give ‘Hope’ to the reader and leave them feeling empowered!

10. Do you have anything you’d like to say to your readers?

Readers and potential readers, I want to say ‘Thank You’! I want you to know that for those of you who have read my book and have given ‘Reviews’; I am greatly encouraged! It makes me feel as if my life counts for something! To leave a part of myself with each of you, knowing that God’s word won’t return void, is truly a blessing to me! I want you to know that God has a plan tailor made just for you!

Karen, thank you so much for having me on your blog!!

patricia pix

Patricia Stuart is an author who shares her heart in an intimate way with readers. Her specialty is to encourage and inspire others right into the arms of the Lord. Patricia is also a Singer/Songwriter whose music shares pieces of her life as she reminds you of God’s word. A mother of two and a grandmother of three, her wealth of experiences in trials and triumphs fuels her passion for writing.

Patricia would love to hear from you. She can be contacted at patriciastuart@verizon.net.

Visit Patricia’s website at: http://patriciastuartnspires.com, on Facebook under ‘Called To Suffer’.

February 19, 2013 by Karen Baney

Book Blast: The Missing Piece (Inspirational Love Story) by Carol McCormick

Plus $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

Title: The Missing Piece (Inspirational Love Story)

By Carol McCormick

About the Book:

“Fresh dialogue, realistic characters, a powerful message,” The Romance Readers Connection

How does a man pick up the pieces when his world crashes around him? Misplaced priorities shattered his marriage. Problems almost crushed him. Love motivated him to mend the damage, once he found all the pieces.

After only a few months of marriage, Lorraine left Dylan on a wintry night after he’d spent one too many nights out with the guys. Unable to cope with the loss, Dylan escapes the painful feelings by drinking them away. This decision costs him a year-and-a-half of his life after he stops in a little mountain town and ends up in the local jail. When he’s released, he returns home in search of a job to get his life–and his wife back.

THE MISSING PIECE is not only a love story about a man who loves a woman, but is also a love story about a merciful God who loves mankind, even when he falls. The novel is an emotionally-charged journey of hope and redemption with a touch of spunk, a hint of humor, and a few twists along the way.

“Inspiring and encouraging. Anyone who desires a restoration to their spirit should read THE MISSING PIECE,” Myshelf.com

“A wonderful, heartwarming Christian romance. This is definitely a story that I recommend to all lovers of Christian romance,” Escape to Romance

Download on Kindle | Purchase Paperback

Carol McCormick
Carol began writing years ago after reading a ten-page story her grandmother wrote about growing up in the early 1900s. It was then that she began to write down her own stories to share with her daughters someday.

Later, she began to write as a way to draw herself and other people closer to the Lord. Carol writes for Christians to encourage them in their faith. She also writes for those who are unaware of God’s grace, to show them how to connect to Him in order to experience His love and goodness. Her writing is applicable to life with its direct, yet sensitive, and oftentimes humorous messages and lessons.

Carol has been a speaker for Christian Women’s Connection (Stonecroft Ministries International) for over fifteen years. She is also an international bestselling author who has appeared on regional and Christian television programs and has been a guest on over fifty Christian and secular radio stations.

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