Book Review of All My Tomorrows, Author Kathleen Sherwood

All My Tomorrows by Author Kathleen Sherwood is quite simply a wonderful book.  I started reading and was unable to put it down until I finished it.  I had to keep drying tears, which switched from happy to sad and back again. I felt as if Alex and Cole were more than characters; they really came alive to me. After I finished reading, I sat thinking how I hope I raise my son to be half the sweet, Christian man Cole is. And how I wish I was a witness half as much as Alex. I felt she kept reminding me all through the book to keep my eyes on God and I felt God speak to my heart through her. I still have the scriptures on my mind.  This book is a sweet, uplifting, Christian story about two people who truly live for God.  I highly recommend this book and look very forward to reading everything Kathleen has to offer!

Gailya Keller

Link to purchase this book on Amazon.

Review of Jake and Jesus, Author Kelly Hagen

Jake and Jesus by Kelly Hagen is a terrific story of a boy and his best friend, Jesus.  Jake honestly and clearly helps the reader to understand Jesus and why He is Jake’s best friend.  He brings to life the special relationship he has and others can have with Jesus.  I am excited to read this to my own young son and know, in it, he too will be able to understand how wonderful Jesus is.  I highly recommend this sweet book!

Gailya Keller

Author, The Secret of Smiley’s Woods

Link to purchase this book at Amazon.com for Jake and Jesus by Kelly Hagen

Review of Uncle Frank and the Search for the Alligator King, Author Kimberly Thompson

Uncle Frank and the Search for the Alligator King by Kimberly Thompson is a terrific read you just cannot put down!  I was drawn into the book with its first page and then quickly into the story told by Uncle Frank.  I felt I was also sitting by the campfire waiting expectantly for more.  Not only is the storytelling amazing, the lessons concerning faith and trust in God are interwoven throughout the book in a special way.  This is definitely a book you will want to visit again and again.  I highly recommend it!

Gailya Keller

Author, The Secret of Smiley’s Woods

Purchase at Amazon.com - Uncle Frank and the Search for the Alligator King

Review of Doctor Luke's Assistant, David A. Todd, Author

Doctor Luke’s Assistant by David A. Todd is a very thought provoking read.  I was immediately pulled into the book and traveled willingly along in the journey for information.  Although this book is fiction, I felt I was able to see a side of the life of Jesus which most of us never think about.  I felt Luke’s triumph each time as he found someone who was able to impart information aiding in his research.  I pondered as I read and often stopped to allow the visual picture painted by David’s writing flow through my mind.  I felt I was in each place along with Luke and Augustus.  I have a new appreciation as to the work and effort which went into the actual writing of the Gospels during that age.  I am very impressed with this book and recommend it highly.

Below is the link if you would like to check it out on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007OP9ZN2/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Keystrokes of Life

My workday begins at my employer's computer.  There are several tasks which must be done first thing each workday before everyone else comes in to begin their day.  This past Monday when I attempted to do the morning check of things, the mouse would not work.  It would move up and down and not allow anything to be clicked on.  Oh, no!!  What was I going to do??  I had a full day and needed to get that part done so I could address the rest of the day.  I changed the mouse with one I found in the computer room...nothing happened!  I just didn't know what to do to make it work.

I thought and thought and had to laugh at myself.  I had become so dependant on that one little piece of equipment, I was frozen without it.  Finally out of the dredges of my memory of a time so long ago when I was first learning computers...keys...yes, keys...the little things which used to be the only way to get anything done.  I kept hitting keys until I remembered the correct combination of keystrokes to open the files I needed to open, check the logs I needed to check, etc.  I was so excited at that moment!  I did it!

As this week progressed, I know, one entire day but whose counting?  I kept thinking over what I had needed to do to get the job done.  I started thinking about God and His keystrokes. 

Just as I had, years before, learned those simple combinations, God had planted in me other things I was unsure I would ever use.  Those small lessons in life we brush aside or simply don't realize are even there, God uses to prepare us for those situations we will encounter later as we walk our journey.  Sometimes we become so used to the way of things, so caught up in the world or drama, people's influance, we become frozen without it continuing to swirl around us.  But God has enabled us to reach out to Him and reach deep inside ourselves to pull up and out to better places and people and influences He sends into our lives!  How wonderful it is to be the child of One so Caring!! 

Never underestimate yourself or a situation you may have dealt with or are currently going through!  You never know how you may benefit yourself or another when you dig deep for the keystrokes God imprints in you!

Nan's Journey written by Author Elaine Littau

Join Nan as she finds escape for herself and her little brother from a horrible situation.  Nan and her brother Elmer grab your heart and take it with them.  You will want to gather them up and let them know it will be ok.  They manage to start a new, wonderful life thanks to a special couple.   They have wonderful adventures and more heartache as they attempt to heal.  Nan finds true love as she learns to trust others and to trust God.  Life comes full circle in the appearance of an unexpected person which causes her to question God and His Will.  Travel on her Journey and share all the heartaches and wonderful blessings and grow your own faith in God. 

Gailya Keller

Review by Author, The Secret of Smiley’s Woods

Light Under The House Blog Tour with Author Aaron L.

 

 

 

What inspired you to write this story?
I feel very strongly about the breakdown of the family and fatherlessness and how there is much dysfunction and despair because of it. I wanted to tell a story to shed some light on the situations that many face and hopefully bring some type of reversal to the current dynamic in whatever small way I could. I wanted to challenge men, fathers especially, to be who they were created to be ... its certainly a challenge I face myself daily. A challenge that I often fail at but keeping picking myself up to start again.

Did you model any of the characters after people you know?
I used many things to model the characters ... people I know, other literary figures, actors, biblical characters, celebrities ... the characters are a combination of all of these. I wanted them to be new and familiar at the same time, universal.

Why did you choose the Dallas/Ft Worth area as your primary setting?
First of all, the south has a certain reputation for is deep spiritual roots (bible belt and all). I patterned the book in part after GONE WITH THE WIND (another book set in the south) ... not in the sense of a love story but in the sense of "here is civilization that is about to cease to exist, come see it before its gone". In the case of my novel it is a spiritual civilization on the brink. Dallas just seemed to have everything I needed to make the story work from both a symbolic and technical standpoint.

Do you have plans to write more books?
i have an idea or two floating around ... nothing concrete yet.

What sort of research did you do for the historical portions of your book? What did you like best about the research? The least?
My co-author and I researched deeply into ancient history for some aspects of the book ... I learned a lot of things ... some things I'd rather forget but most of it was enlightening. What I liked best was that it confirmed for me mostly what I already knew, there really is nothing new under the sun.

Where can we find out about more opportunities for a free copy of this book? 
Follow @ChristianSpkrs on Twitter. You can purchase the book through Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Light-Under-the-House-ebook/dp/B0060C2O92.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services (http://www.christianspeakersservices.com/).