Meet Mary Marelli

I'm excited to share a release by a brand new Pelican author, Mary Marelli. I can't wait to read this one. Mary shares a little from her heart below. 

I live on a private lake and some of my best talks with God come from walks around the lake with my dog.  Especially early morning.  I remember one walk this past winter, the air was hushed.  Snow crunched underfoot, and there was a red fox standing in the middle of the ice, just watching us.  (My dog and myself).  That brought me to think that prayer doesn't always have to be formal.  To me, it's time spent talking to my best friend.  Sometimes I share my burdens, worries, and sorrows.  Other times it's to share a laugh, since God loves a good laugh.  He wants to share in every aspect of our life, not only when times grow dark.  I once told a friend "I'm not a Christian in a pocket that you can pull out any time you need'.  That goes the same with God.  Take him out of your pocket, and walk with Him!  God bless, Mary 

Beautiful, Mary, and congratulations on your new release. The cover is wonderful. Thanks for coming by!

Check out Moon over Montana on Amazon here.

Knees Please - Part 4 - Trick or Treat

 

As I wound down from the play that had just wrapped and turned my mind toward getting ready for surgery, my mind started playing cruel tricks on me.

"You're going to die. You're never going to wake up after they put you to sleep." 

What? It was loud and long. Well, I knew it wasn't true. It was an attack from our enemy the devil. I threw every scripture I knew at those thoughts, but they were just stubborn and persisted. Worship, praise, and scripture kept the fear at bay a bit, but it was a constant battle. I totally didn't expect it. The thoughts began to blossom into thoughts about my family after I'm gone. Come on, get over it.

It's the truth that to live is Christ, and to die is gain, (Phil. 1:21) but I really didn't think it was time yet. It was an attack to make me fear. Fear is so dibilitating. It tries to suck the joy out of everything, and makes things so much worse than they are. Instead of enjoying the afterglow of a successful play, spending quality time with my husband and family, I was fearing a bad surgery experience. I was even afraid to share how I was feeling because of the lie that it would make it happen. Finally, I did talk to a few people who prayed for me. A friend who had recently had a knee replacement was very encouraging. 

I wish I could say that it totally went away. It did, but not until the morning of the surgery. I didn't even think about it. God was all over it. It went very well. On the flip side and reflecting, I wonder if the great number of Covid deaths surrounding us had made my mind go in that direction. A few weeks ago at a Sibling Reunion with my sisters and brother, my baby sister mentioned that she thought she was going to die recently before a minor procedure! So this is the enemy's MO (mode of operation)! 

It serves us to be proactive about major events in our lives. I've written a book called H.E.A.V.E.N that's about handling the storms and crisis of life. Wish I'd remembered that when the devil was attacking me. (head slap) The very first letter stand for Have Faith. God will do what He said He will do. I'm going to remember to have faith in His Word before any planned event, but I also think that having His Word engraved on our hearts helps us through unplanned crisis and hardships. 

I'm so grateful to God for all he's brought me through. I'm writing this five days before my second kneed replacement. I'll share the recovery process as it goes along. 

Here's a link to H.E.A.V.E.N. if you're interested. https://amzn.to/3H9mqZP 

If you'd like a list of scriptures to fight fear and anxiety, please leave me a comment. God Bless You!

Knees Please Part Three - Come to Jesus Moment

What does a "come to Jesus moment" mean? In the literal sense it refers to  the time when a person places faith in Jesus by believing that He died for their sins, was buried, and rose again ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ). I'm glad to say that moment came for me at a very early age.  

In regard to my knee pain, it refers to a time when a polite ultimatum is given, generally followed by a less polite ultimatum, then a threat. Drug and alcohol "interventions" are often referred to as "Come to Jesus Meetings.

Well, my knees needed an intervention of sorts. After reporting to my doctor that the last two injections had done virtually nothing, she suggested seeing an orthopedic surgeon, which I did. X-rays showed I had not cartilage in either knee. That I could walk at all, go to work, and act in community theater at that time was miraculous to me. But after much prayer, my husband and I decided to go ahead and work toward surgery. 

My surgeon asked me to lose some weight, and I did. I guess the pain motivation kept me on track. We scheduled the surgery and began to "jump through hoops" of preparation. Turns out you have to be cleared by your primary care physician and a dentist before surgery can happen.  Also, if you have any other health issues, like heart trouble, then your specialist must also clear you. Thankfully, I didn't have to have a heart clearance. 

I loved how the hospital and surgeon's office were so clear and specific about what I needed to do and the timeline that everything was due.

The weeks up to the surgery date were quite busy as I was doing the Mother Superior part in the musical "Nunsense." I didn't have much time to really think about the surgery as I was learning lines, coordinating music for the cast, and yes, dancing! Well, at least on of my feet never left the stage, lol. Even my pastor commented, after seeing the play, that he was amazed at how I was able to move. He was used to me limping around. I can only say it was a God thing. 

The show wrapped and I had about a week and a half to get ready. I was looking forward to a little time off from work and a visit from my Abilene daughter who was coming to help out during recovery. But something happened that totally blew me away. Something I didn't expect in the least...

Knees Please Part Two - Another Effective But Temporary Fix

 I kept hearing about people getting knee injections, and what a great, positive effect it had on their day to day ability to walk without pain. Folks reported that it worked for them, but that it was temporary. Further research indicated that the shots can only be administered once every three months? Did I really want to have an ongoing expense like that? What if it didn't work?

I made an appointment with an orthopedic doctor. He recommended the shots because, after x-rays, I still had enough cartilage. He didn't want to talk about knee replacement just yet. I agreed, because I was having a really hard time with pain. 

Wonderful! The injections gave me some much needed relief, and I was able to go about my life without such dibilitating pain. This was a standard injection for me, and it went on for about 2 years until two times in a row, the shots had no effect at all.  There was really only one thing left to do. 

Anyone else out there going through this journey?

Knees Please Part One

 I remember when it started; the knee pain that is. My regular lunch date with a group of gal pals is on Tuesdays. Running a tad late, I was elated to get a parking spot right by the front door of our favorite Chinese restaurant. Got out of the car, tripped on the the step and landed on my knees, and fell over. Ouch!

I think it hurt worse that two big, strapping, grown men walked out of the restaurant, took a look at me, and walked right on by as though a woman was not lying on the ground in distress. Of course a woman (sorry guys, still kind of upset about that) came out after them, helped me up and proceeded to gather all the things that flew out of my purse when it hit the ground. I got over it, but after that, my knees started to hurt. 

Eventually, I gave up and went to the doctor, who pronounced the word 'arthritis' over me. He prescribed me a cream with the addendum, "Losing weight will help." 

Yeah, I was always on some kind of diet or another. Lifelong struggle. Well, since I started having children. I had six in a row, and never lost the weight I gained with each one. Other things were happening at this same time in my life. Dizzy spells (blood pressure) and tremendous stress which prompted my caving to stress-eating. 

I prayed and prayed. I started small. I just gave up sodas in 2013, and even that I started small. But I lost 28 pounds that year with that change alone. Take note!

One of my daughters had discovered Trim Healthy Mama, (check it out) and I gave it a try. I began losing weight in a healthy, sustainable way and really started to feel better except for my knees, which kept getting worse. That prescription helped, but not completely. I still recommend it, especially since it is no longer a prescription medicine. It is now available over-the counter. If you're interested, you can find it here.

It held me over, but it was not the ultimate solution. 

More to come.

Summer is Coming!

These last few weeks have been a flurry of last things before school is out. This week I've had back to back classroom recitals (no all-student recitals since Covid). I attended a pinning ceremonly for a new crop of Certified Nurse Assistants. Our library is gearing up for the summer reading program. Are you going anywhere for the summer? My sibling reunion that takes place the end of May is coming up. We're having an old-fashioned Christmas celebrating the Christmases of our childhood. We're really looking forward to that. We plan to have the food our mom cooked, and we've drawn names and the rule is the gift has to be hand made. In June I'll have second knee replacement so I guess I'll be "going" to the hospital. The only real vacation will be within the covers of books for most of us. 

 

 Here's one for younger set:

Find it on Amazon:)

What are you plans for the summer? I hope you take some time to relax. Love, Jody

Launch Day for a New Release!

http://ow.ly/r8et50GZJB7

 It's launch day for my new Christmas novella, Mistletoe Misses! The virus ruined all their plans, but Evan's not giving up. However, proposing at the wrong time could have it's consequences. This short Christmas read is packed with sweet romance, pandemic problems, and a meaningful message to turn on the holiday warmth with the true meaning of the season. 

The novella is on sale for launch day, just .99 until Dec. 1. I hope you check it out! 

News on the home front is that in October I had a total knee replacement (left) and I'm not fully recovered yet. Abba Father taught me so much during this experience and I will be sharing it with you in the upcoming weeks. I'm not fully pain-free yet, but I'm mobile. Praise the Lord! God Bless!

Meet Carol James!

Hello, everyone! I'm excited to host Carol James on the blog today. She comes sharing about her new release, No Longer a Captive.

Living as a Captive

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 

John  8:36

I imagine most of us have never lived in physical captivity. Those of us who have grown up in the US take for granted freedoms that many people throughout the world can only dream of. 

Yet many of us live and have lived as captives. We’re captive to a particular political ideology. Captive to images of the perfect face, body, hairstyle. Captive to other people’s opinions of us.

Captive to “keeping up with the Joneses.” I’m sure you can list many more areas to which we allow ourselves to become captives. My mother used to say, “If you ignore a bad thing long enough, it’ll go away.” That may be true sometimes, but not always. Avoidance can’t free you from captivity. 

In No Longer a Captive, Ethne O’Connor has lived most of her life in captivity. She has allowed herself  to be placed in bondage by her unwillingness to forgive her father. She ran away, thinking physical separation would bring freedom. But as we all know, running away offers only distance. 

And then she meets Daniel Spencer, a young doctor who’s learned freedom from captivity is found in only one place. Through the only One who breaks every chain. 

Blurb:

When Ethne O'Connor's brother, Sean, tells her of her father's unexpected death, he asks her to do something she promised herself she'd never do. Come back home. 

A victim of childhood abuse, Ethne left her father and the small Texas town of Crescent Bluff ten years earlier on the night of her high school graduation. She's determined to end the cycle of abuse and believes the only way to do that is remain single. If she has no husband, she'll never have children that can be abused.

Then she meets Daniel Spenser, a handsome doctor with chocolate-kiss eyes. Daniel understands her past in a way no one else does. He's lived it. 

Will Daniel be able to help Ethne break the chains of captivity around her heart? 

And will God release her from her past, to be free to trust the man she comes to love?

Bio: 

Carol James is an author of inspirational fiction. She loves creating Redemptive Romance. She lives in Lilburn, Georgia, a small town outside of Atlanta, with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell Terrier, Zoe.

Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she'd been encouraged by the works of authors of inspirational fiction.

Her debut novel, Rescuing Faith, was an Amazon number one best-seller. Visit her website to sign up for her newsletter to be the first to learn about new releases: www.carol-james.com

Just recently, Carol allowed Zoe to start an instagram page with two of her dog friends. Follow them at 3DogsandtheirAuthors to learn the behind the scenes info about being a writer. 

Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, and serving in the production department at her church. And most days, in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.

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No Longer a Captive purchase links:

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/56pdpzmy 

Pelican: https://bit.ly/3lve7NN 

B&N: https://tinyurl.com/4jnj8u7p

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/no-longer-a-captive

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/no-longer-a-captive-by-carol-james

Good reads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58857487-no-longer-a-captive

Welcome Karen Malley!

 

Hello everyone! Welcome Karen Malley as she tells us about her debut novel. Isn't that cover the most beautiful thing? Tell us all about it, Karen:)

I’m excited to tell you about my debut novel, Following the Sparrows, but first, I’ll give you a little background about me. I’m a little unique in the world of Christian romance authors in that I work full-time as a scientist. I write whenever I have time, but sometimes it’s hard to fit it in! I live in Pennsylvania with my husband and two teenaged sons. When I’m not writing (or working), I love to spend time with my family. We play lots of board games and enjoy camping and hiking. I also enjoy cooking and baking. My guys love the baking part, since there are usually good treats to be found in my kitchen.

I’ve always loved books, and always wanted to write my own, but only started getting serious about it about five years ago. Following the Sparrows was written in bits and pieces over quite a long period of time. Here’s a quick blurb about it:

Kathryn Baker is trying to escape her past...

After the tragic death of her husband, Kathryn throws herself into her scientific career. She hopes to right the wrongs of her past before they catch up to her. But when she runs into a handsome stranger, she discovers he just might hold the key to her future.

Adam Harrison is tired of running from his past ...

After losing everything he worked for in life, Adam is finally ready to follow the path God has for him. When a series of chance meetings brings him to Kathryn, he considers the possibility of loving again. But Kathryn is still on the run from God and from her past.

Can Adam convince Kathryn to stop running and trust him with her secrets, or will her fear make it impossible for them to have a future together?

Yes, my main character is a scientist. I couldn’t resist. It makes her unique in this genre, but I promise, the book isn’t full of beakers and test tubes. 😊 It’s full of flawed characters who try to seek God’s will for their lives, in spite of some difficult circumstances. If that sounds like the kind of book you’d like to read, you can find Following the Sparrows on Amazon at:

https://amzn.to/3jvQNNE

If you enjoy Following the Sparrows, you’ll be glad to know the story doesn’t end when the book does. I loved the characters in Pine Springs so much, I made the story into a three-book series. All can be read on their own, but it’s much more fun to follow the stories from book one through book three.  All the lovable characters from Following the Sparrows continue on in the following books, but we get to meet new characters as well. It's so exciting to me to have my book in the hands of readers. I love to hear from readers and welcome questions.

You can reach out to me on my website: www.KarenMalley.com

 Connect with me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenLMalley

Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20700661.Karen_Malley

Check out my blog: https://karenmalley.com/blog/

 

Thank you, Jody, for sharing your blog space with me!

Ramona K. Cecil

Welcome author Ramona K. Cecil as she tells us about her new release! So exciting, Ramona. Really looking forward to this story.

Hi! I’m Ramona K. Cecil and I live in southern Indiana. I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, and author of historical romance novels for the Christian market. My husband and I have been married for forty-seven years and are now empty-nesters. We have two grown daughters and three young-adult grandchildren. We make our home in Seymour, Indiana, the “small town” made famous in rocker John Mellencamp’s song of the same name. I’ve always loved history, especially the history of my Hoosier state. Like The Time for Healing, many of my stories are set in Indiana’s past. When not writing, my hobbies include reading, gardening, and visiting places of historical interest.

My latest book, The Time for Healing, releases August 7^th with Pelican Book Group. This award-winning story is inspired by a real life event—The Pigeon Roost Massacre—that happened in 1812 about thirty miles south of where I live. Here is a little bit about it:

Winner - Best in Fiction Indiana Faith and Writing Contest 2014

Ginny Red Fawn McLain is determined to hold fast to her adoptive Shawnee culture despite her sudden reentry into her white birth family. She rejects their Christianity, fearing the tenets of the white man’s religion will prevent her from practicing as a Shawnee medicine woman. But her heart refuses to shun her uncle’s young friend and apprentice minister, Jeremiah Dunbar.

Jeremiah Dunbar has never doubted what he would do with his life—he’d follow in his father’s footsteps as a minister of the Gospel. But a mission trip west to the Native American tribes makes him begin to question his future plans. At the discovery of his fellow missionary’s long lost niece living among the Shawnee, Jeremiah is immediately smitten. But unless Ginny Red Fawn McLain joins Christ’s fold—something she adamantly resists—Jeremiah will have to choose between the woman he loves and the work God has called him to do. 

Ginny and Jeremiah struggle to discern the will of God, the Great Spirit, for their lives, and if fitting their love into His plans is even possible. Dreams and cultures clash amid an atmosphere of contempt and distrust, threatening to make their love the last casualty of the Pigeon Roost Massacre.

 

Purchase links for The Time for Healing:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Healing-Ramona-K-Cecil/dp/1522302328/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1S3QFJVY2ZESB&dchild=1&keywords=the+time+for+healing+ramona+k.+cecil&qid=1593278046&s=books&sprefix=The+Time+for+%2Cstripbooks%2C152&sr=1-1

Barnes&Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-time-for-healing-ramona-k-cecil/1134332259?ean=9781522302322

Thrift Books: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-time-for-healing_ramona-k-cecil/24295657/#isbn=1522302328

Book Despository: https://www.bookdepository.com/author/Ramona-K-Cecil

Ramona's Contact Information: Website: www.ramonakcecil.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RamonaKCecilAuthor/

                  https://www.facebook.com/ramona.cecil1

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/RamonaCecil

Be sure and say Hi! to Ramona in the comments. She's giving away an e-book!