It's a GIVEAWAY!!

I'm putting the final touches on Retaliation this week, and starting to work on its sequel. Okay, who am I kidding? The sequel is written; I'm editing it already.

And I woke up yesterday thinking how fun it would be to give away a few advance reader copies (ARCs in publishing language!)

So, here's the deal. Through next Tuesday, November 11, you can enter to win one of three copies of Retaliation! I'll also be giving away three copies of Emergence, so if you haven't had a chance to read that, here's your chance. The first winners will be given a choice between the two books, until I've given away all of one, then the rest will get whatever is left. You may choose to assign your gift to a friend or loved-one if you so desire. :) Please note that these are e-books only--the hard copy version is coming, but I have another book to finish up before a physical copy is ready!

You can enter as many times as you want up to the Rafflecopter limit. Already liked me on Facebook or following me on Twitter? No problem, you just have to confirm it with the robot!

I'll contact the winners on either the 12th or the 13th to see which book they prefer, so be watching your e-mail. The email will come from: AuthorLibertySpeidel [@] gmail [.] com (without the brackets or spaces) so keep an eye out! Please share the link far and wide--I really want to reach some new readers!

Also, I'll be guest blogging over at K.M. Weiland's blog, Helping Writers Become Authors on Friday, November 7 (that's tomorrow!) Stop by and say hi!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Deliver Me From Evil

Recently, I "met" on Facebook with an author who was releasing a book that ran parallel in theme to one of my current projects. While my project is set in the year 2117 and mostly in space, and hers is set in present-day San Diego, they share the same topic: human trafficking for sexual slavery.

That author is Kathi Macias, and she graciously offered me a chance to read her book, Deliver Me From Evil, sending me a book to my new place before I'd even moved in last month. I'll be giving away my copy of this book to one lucky reader. See details at the end of this post.

Now, with boxes unpacked, and three fewer distractions in the house (my husband and kids were out of town over the weekend), I was able to finally sit down and read this book.

I will say up front that this is not an easy-to-read book. The fear from the girls in this book is real.

Mara was bought--by her uncle, no less--at the age of five or six, taken across the border into San Diego where she began her "training". Now eighteen, she's known no other life, and has no real hope of ever seeing a normal life. As the eldest of the slaves her uncle has obtained through the years, she's tasked with teaching them the ropes--or suffer the consequences from her uncle.

A chance encounter with almost-graduated-from-high-school Jonathan Flannery, who is delivering pizzas at the hotel Mara is working one evening, leads to an incredible series of events that changes not only their lives, but all the lives of those around them.


Honestly, I was a little trepidatious about reading this book. I've known about human trafficking for more than a decade. The former US Senator, now governor, from Kansas was an early voice throughout the late 90s and into the 21st Century about the topic. (Keep in mind, I'm not even 30 yet, so there may be other voices out there--but given my age, he was the first I really was aware of.) So, I've been aware of the horrors for a while. Even more, my church has formed a ministry to aid those stuck in slavery to get out--not just stateside, but abroad in Thailand and India (possibly South Africa) as well.

I shouldn't have feared.

Although the book was difficult to read, there were enough breathers between the tough scenes with Jonathan Flannery and his family that I was able to read it in four sittings. Ms. Macias is an extremely skillful writer, and while you don't see the violence and horrors "on screen" so-to-speak, it's insinuated. I'm not sure which would actually be worse--if it were spelled out, or with my imagination running away with me.

Anyway.

This book is not for the faint of heart. There is some real evil, some very despicable people. Even Mara, who I found myself rooting for throughout most of the book, was plotting to kill her uncle by the end of the book--if she ever got the chance, that is. And really, who could blame her?

If you're not content to read bonnet books, and are willing to tackle some difficult topics and get your eyes opened, this is definitely a book worth reading.

For my non-Christian readers: this is a Christian book. God is on almost every page. The characters talk about God, pray, attend church, etc. However, human trafficking and sexual slavery is a problem that needs to get dealt with, and the Church is on the frontlines of this battle. When kids--not just girls, boys too--are getting kidnapped in preschool to be placed in this line of "work", there's a problem, and whether you're a Christ-follower or not, you can't ignore it.

Because I feel so passionately about this topic, and I believe Deliver Me From Evil is such an important book to read, even as a work of fiction, I am going to give away my copy to one lucky reader. All that I ask is that you read it, then pass it on to someone else who will read it, who will then give it to someone else to read, and so on. This book should not remain on your bookshelf! Only through informing others about what's going on in our cities, in our country, will we be able to put a stop to this.

If you're interested, please leave a comment below with the first name and last initial of the person you think you'd give this book to. It doesn't have to be who you eventually give it to, just show me you're thinking along those lines already. I'll draw one winner after 6 PM Central Time next Sunday, and announce the winner bright and early Monday morning.

I should also note the fact that this book is the first in a trilogy. There are a few loose threads dangling at the end, so I am eagerly awaiting Freedom Series #2, Special Delivery, in January 2012, and #3, The Deliverer, in April 2012. You can visit Kathi's website to learn about these and other books.



Until next time,

The Women in Jesus' Life

I was honored recently to receive a request to review a new Bible study: The Women in Jesus' Life by Mindy Ferguson. Mindy was gracious enough to agree to an interview in tandem with my review.

Liberty Speidel: Why did you decide to write “The Women in Jesus’ Life”?

Mindy Ferguson: I taught an evening women’s Bible class for about seven years. Most of the women worked and I noticed that they often struggled to finish their homework when we did in-depth Bible studies that required a lot of Bible reading and questions. I also noticed that the majority of the women felt like they couldn’t measure up to all of the expectations or meet the many needs of their families, employers, and friends. It was clear to me that a study with a lighter amount of homework that emphasized the depth of Jesus’ love for them was needed.  As I prayed about that need, my attention was drawn to the compassionate and loving way Jesus treated the women He encountered during His life and ministry. Inspired, I wrote The Women in Jesus’ Life for the women in my class. I found the lessons generated rich, open discussion. Women came to class each week feeling affirmed and encouraged, anxious to share how they related to the women they had studied during the week. It was a special time with a special group of women.


LS: What kind of research did you do? How did the research impact how you decided to present this study?

MF: I did my best to step into the sandals of the women we studied each week. I researched the culture, as well as the attitudes of and about the women of the time. I imagined myself in each woman’s circumstance and attempted to feel the emotions she might have felt. Then I related those circumstances to the situations women face today. I wanted the study to stir women’s minds as well as their hearts. By keeping the lessons short, I was hoping the women in my class would be able to complete their lessons. They did.  I was encouraged by what I learned and it blessed me greatly to see group feeling affirmed and excited about the material.


LS: Did anything you learned surprise you?

MF: What surprised me most is the important roles women served in Jesus’ ministry. Many of them supported Him by their own means. Jesus first spoke of Himself as the Messiah to the Woman at the Well. The first person to see the risen Christ was Mary Magdalene. Jesus always treated women with dignity and He enabled them to participate in His work while He walked this earth, just as He does today.


LS: What did writing this study teach you?

MF: I gained a greater sense of the depth of Jesus’ love and mercy.


LS: For the writers, how is writing a Bible study such as “The Women in Jesus’ Life” different from writing a different kind of book, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction.

MF: I’ve always considered myself more of a Bible student than a writer. I think it is important to allow God’s Word to teach His Word. Writing a Bible study is more like guiding a friend through Scripture and allowing her to discover the sweetness of God, the vastness of His power, and the consistency of His commands for herself.  Rather than painting all of the details, like you might do as you develop characters and create scenarios when writing fiction, a Bible study writer paints a picture with broader strokes and allows the Word of God to bring out details that convict or encourage.


LS: What do you hope women gain most from this study?

MF: I hope that their hearts will be touched by Jesus’ lavish love for them and their minds would be engaged as they learn new information and read familiar passages of Scripture in this fresh context.   


______

In reading and working through the Bible study, I've found it to be a study that not only teaches me about the women in the Gospels, but gives me a new perspective on Jesus. The passages utilized are typically ones I've never heard unpacked before, or ones I've never seen from such a point of view. But the questions asked in the study really make me as a woman dig deep into myself and further explore my own relationship with Christ. There were many points where I couldn't honestly answer a question without thinking about it for several minutes, hours, or even a day or two.

That said, this is a study I would love to do with a group of other women. It would also probably be a great study for a MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) group. I recommend this book to any woman who wants to dig deeper into the lives of the women in the New Testament.

Mindy Ferguson

In a world that urges us to live for ourselves, Mindy Ferguson encourages women to live for Christ. She founded Fruitful Word Ministries in April 2003 and is passionate about encouraging women of all denominations to develop a more intimate and fruitful relationship with Jesus Christ through the study of God's Word.


Mindy stumbled her way into the arms of Christ at the age of twenty-six. She speaks nationally at women's events and at retreats as one who understands the tug of worldly passions and the emptiness of selfish ambition. Her writings have appeared in Christianity Today's Kyria.com, the P31 Woman magazine, Just Between Us magazine, Chicken Soup for the Mother of Preschooler's Soul, and the One Year Life Verse Devotional. Mindy is the author of the in-depth Bible study, Walking with God: From Slavery to Freedom; Living the Promised Life. Mindy latest book, Hugs Bible Reflections for Women, is now available in bookstores.


Mindy lives in a suburb of Houston, Texas with her husband of twenty-two years and their daughter. Their son is currently attending college in Bryan, Texas. You can find out more about Mindy at her website and blog.


Thanks, Mindy, for letting me review this book, and offering up a copy to one of my lucky readers. 

Interested in a copy of The Women in Jesus' Life? Leave a comment in this post for a chance to win! You can also purchase a copy for $9.99 through Amazon.com. The giveaway will close midnight CDT on Labor Day (Sept. 6, 2010), and the winner will be announced sometime on Sept. 7.

Until next time,

Winner of "A Tidbit Romance"

Okay, somehow last week got away from me. I completely forgot about the giveaway!

Better late than never, eh?

Well, our winner is none other than....


Cindy R. Wilson!!!

Congratulations, Cindy! Please contact me through the "Contact Me" link in the column to the right with your mailing address. I'll make sure you get a copy of this great devotional just as quick as can be.

Thanks so much! And, look for another review of a new Bible study on August 30.

Until next time,

GIVEAWAY: A Tidbit Romance

When Erin Coss contacted me and asked me to be an advance reader for A Tidbit Romance, I was a bit mystified, but thrilled to be asked. I usually don't do reviews for devotionals, and quite honestly, I don't read them very often. However, when the ARC came in the mail, I nearly jumped up and down in anticipation.

While my reading schedule is haphazard at best, what with doing kids' reviews over at CCBR, reading works for other writer's WIPs, and reading for my own enjoyment, I made time to read Romance, sometimes 3, 4, or even 10 devotions at a time.

All of Erin's chapters are between two and three pages, enough that it makes them a quick read--I love this, especially as a busy mother of 1.9 (unless there's been a notice that #2 has made it into this world! I'm writing this at the end of June and still pregnant.)

But, what I really like most of all about this book is the conversational style. I feel like I'm having a conversation with an old friend every time I open the book. Maybe that's why I haven't read too many other devotionals: because they all feel like they're beating me over the head with my inadequacies. Erin's approach to sharing Scripture and the things that have been revealed to her through its study makes me feel like I'm with my small group at church, and she's sharing just a tidbit of her thoughts with the group.

Most of the Scripture passages are familiar (the story of the prodigal son comes to mind), but I was pleasantly surprised to find several passages used that I was unfamiliar with, or had never delved deeper into. And what was said in response to the passages was relevant to my everyday life, and further substantiated with additional Scripture in many cases. Several of the devotions I've earmarked to go back and read with my husband.

If you never read devotionals, A Tidbit Romance would be a good start. If you do read them regularly, it would be a terrific addition to your library.

Thank you, Erin, for giving me the opportunity to read A Tidbit Romance!

Erin Coss – A.K.A. The Chicken Dance Mama, is a published author and speaker.  She has published works in Revival Nation Magazine, and books, including First Conversations (Bethesda), My Surgery Journal and My Hospital Journal (k2e Books). Erin has also worked on the television series
The Directors (Encore) and the television documentary The Genocide Factor (PBS).  Her high-energy, down-to-earth style is what drives the Chicken Dance Mama persona. Erin loves having fun relishing in God’s word and shares her insights in her book, A Tidbit Romance – Falling in Love with God’s Word One Devotion at a Time. She resides outside Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Eric, and their three children.

If you'd like to win a copy of A Tidbit Romance, please either join my followers (if you're not already) and/or leave a comment below. I have a lovely copy to send to some lucky person. The winner will be announced Wednesday, July 28, 2010. By the way, this book would be a wonderful gift for some lucky person in your life!


Until next time,

And the winner is...

Louis!!!

Congratulations! I'll be getting in touch with you (since I know who you are) to get your address and get your book in the mail to you.

Louis became a follower of Word Wanderings during the time-frame of our giveaway, and as such, automatically became entered to win a copy of C. Maggie Woychik's 'I Run to the Hills'.

I had hoped to have a review up with this entry of Maggie's book, however, with preparations for NaNoWriMo (which I have started!) I've been a bit negligent in my duties. I will say this much: you need to get a copy! I am thoroughly enjoying Maggie's reflections and natural story-telling abilities very much, and the points behind her allegorical tale are poignant. (More when I get it finished, or I'll put a link up to my Amazon.com review.)


The next blog post will be next Monday, when I'll begin to get on a every-2nd-and-4th-Monday schedule here. Be sure to check back in for 'Playing God'. :)

Until next time,

Winner of 'Rocky Mountain Oasis' Giveaway!!!!

I'm pleased to announce that the winner of the giveaway of Lynnette Bonner's Rocky Mountain Oasis is........



LORNA POSTON!!!!!!!!


Congratulations! Lynnette will be in contact with you on how to redeem your prize!!!

Thank you to everyone who entered. I'm planning to have some more giveaways in the future, so be sure to stay tuned.


___________________


Be sure to come back next week when our topic will be on whether or not you should outline your novel.

Until next time,

Guest Blogger: Lynnette Bonner!

Please join me today in welcoming today's guest blogger, Lynnette Bonner! Lynnette is the author of the newly released book, Rocky Mountain Oasis. You can purchase a copy through Amazon or CBD. To get it for free, check out the guidelines for an e-copy at the end of the post! Welcome, Lynnette!

The Importance of a Good Critique Group

First I want to say thanks to Liberty for allowing me to guest post here today. What a privilege.

Jumping right into our topic…. I’d like to address the importance of good critique partners today.

Let’s face it. As writers, we are surrounded by people who often don’t get the process of writing. Many people think you write a book, send it to your editor, (who promptly writes you a 6 figure check – ha! wouldn’t THAT be nice) and then it gets published a couple weeks later. Right? When I tell people that it took me 10 years to finally get my book published, they angle me “that” look – the one that says, “Is she any good if it took her that long to get published?”

This is the first reason why it is important to surround yourself with good critique partners. As writers, we are all in the same boat and can understand and sympathize with each other. I can’t tell you the number of times that my crit partners have been an encouragement to me to keep pressing forward.

The second reason is, of course, for technical errors, grammatical errors, spelling errors, etc. – all that editing junk we need to do. My two biggest areas of weakness are spelling and grammar, but I have several critique partners who are strong in those areas. I recommend you surround yourself with people who are strong in areas where you are weak.

Also, often I get so close to the story that I miss technical details that either should be included or should be excluded. Or I can’t tell if I’ve made my point clearly enough and I rely on my critique partners to let me know if I’ve come across clearly, or if I need to say more on that particular subject. Having another person’s perspective on my story is invaluable to me.

If you aren’t in a critique group and you want to be a serious writer you need to get into one right away. Larger cities often have critique groups that meet monthly. And if yours doesn’t have one that you think would work for you, why not start one? Some of you may live in small towns where you are the only writer for miles around. For you, there are lots of online critique groups you can join. ChristianWriters is a free one that has a lot of wonderful resources. There are others like ACFW that cost some to join but have lots of helpful classes and information by email. You can find people through the blogosphere and email your critiques back and forth to each other. There really are no excuses for not having a critique partner.

Let me quickly mention my book because I’m offering a free e-copy to a lucky winner drawn from the commenters on this post. Rocky Mountain Oasis is a Christian historical romance. To read more about it and see the first few chapters you can go to lynnettebonner.com. If it sounds interesting to you, leave a comment and Liberty and I will put your name into the hat for the drawing.

So, what is your critique group like? How often do you meet? What do you do at your meetings?

Lynnette Bonner ~ Inspirational Romance Author

http://www.lynnettebonner.com

Thanks, Lynnette!

As she said, we're giving away a free copy to one lucky person. The winner will be announced on Monday, September 14th! Please leave a comment on this post to register, or if you become a follower of Word Wanderings between now and Sunday, September 13th (cutoff time 6 PM, Central Time), you will also be entered. If you leave a comment and become a follower, you'll get your name put in the drawing twice! Good luck to everyone!


Until next time,