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  • Sowing Seeds: Writing for the Christian Children’s Market

    Posted on May 1st, 2016 jadijohnson No comments

    “Sowing Seeds: Writing for the Christian Children’s Market”

    By Kathleen M. Muldoon

     I’ll tell you one thing — this wonderful author put a lot of work into this book.  I’ve never seen so much content in one writing book before.  Just look at these chapter headings:

                 Chapter 1: Know Thy Audience

                Chapter 2: Know Thy Markets

                Chapter 3: In the Beginning

                Chapter 4: Christian Children’s Magazines — A Treasury of Opportunity

                Chapter 5: The Joy of Short Fiction

                Chapter 6: The Challenge — and Blessings — of Nonfiction

                Chapter 7: Christian Children’s Books — Storehouses of Faith Seeds

                Chapter 8: Sowing Truth Seeds through Fiction Books

                Chapter 9: Christian Children’s Nonfiction Books — Fertile Ground

                Chapter 10: Sealed With a Prayer — Sending Off Your Manuscripts

                Chapter 11: Blessed Are They Who Wait on the Lord — and on Publishers

                Chapter 12: Giving Back

     There are also three Appendixes: Reference Resources for Christian Children’s Writers and Professional and Educational Resources for Christian Writers of Children’s Literature and Recommended Reading by Age Group.

    Since I’m interested in writing for Young Adults, I was afraid there wouldn’t be much information pertaining to them.  I was pleasantly surprised to find there was plenty of content regarding this special market.  In fact, there was a lot of information for all age groups:

     

    • Preschool (approximately 2 – 5 years)
    • Primary Grade/Beginner Readers (approximately 6 – 9 years)
    • Middle Graders/Intermediate Readers/Tweens (approximately 9 – 13 years)
    • Teens/Young Adult Readers (13 – 18 years)

     I still don’t feel I have said enough about this amazing book.  It was very easy to read and interesting.  I was never left wondering what the author meant.  She was clear and concise.  She was also extremely thorough, answering every question the reader could possibly come up with.  I also enjoyed the writing exercises at the end of each chapter.    Knowledge without action is useless.  The reader is challenged to put the information into practice immediately.

     I think I’ve made it clear I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to write for Christian children (and teens!).  It is well worth your time.

    BookCrash provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

  • The Daughters of Jim Farrell

    Posted on December 1st, 2015 jadijohnson No comments

    The Daughters of Jim Farrell by Sylvia Bambola is an excellent novel.

    When Jim Farrell is hung for murder, his three daughters hire a Pinkerton agent to dig for the truth about their father’s guilt.  Posing as their cousin, Joshua Adams begins his investigation, which stirs up trouble for his clients.  The sisters were already dealing with the shame of being in a murderer’s family.  Now they must handle the danger that the investigation is bringing their way.  Add to that the young men the three girls are attracted to, and you have a recipe for romance and suspense.

    This wonderful book would appeal to readers who enjoy a mixture of love and action in their novels.  The three sisters love each other, their young men, and the father they miss terribly.  They also love truth and justice, and they’re willing to risk everything in their pursuit of both.

    The story was engaging and held my interest throughout.  It was far from predictable; I never knew what was going to happen next, and often I was afraid to find out!  It was also exciting and suspenseful.  The plot held together from start to finish.  The characters were memorable, especially Patrick O’Brien.  I was never quite sure if he was a good guy or a bad guy — until the very end, when he showed whose side he was on.

    The book showed the battle which often befalls Christians between trusting God with our problems and trying to handle a difficult situation on our own.  We also need to release our bitterness if we are to love again.

    I highly recommend this terrific novel, and look forward to reading more books by this talented author.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    BookCrash provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

  • God is Our Provider

    Posted on July 7th, 2015 jadijohnson No comments

    Genesis 27

    202) Rebekah told his son Jacob what she had overheard between Isaac and Esau: “Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.”

    203) Jacob told his father Isaac, “The Lord your God gave me success.” (Jacob recognized where good things come from — the Lord.)

    204) Isaac said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed.” (Good crops definitely come from the Lord!)

    205) Isaac said, “May God give you of heaven’s dew and of the earth’s richness — an abundance of grain and new wine.” (God gives good things.)

    Genesis 28

    206) Isaac said to Jacob, “May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers …”

    207) Isaac said, “May God give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham … the land God gave to Abraham.”

    208) In a dream, the Lord spoke to Jacob.  He said he will give to Jacob and his descendants the land on which Jacob is laying. (Jacob was on his way to see Laban, his uncle, to find a wife.)

    209) The Lord told Jacob that his descendants will be like the dust of the earth.  All people will be blessed through Jacob and his offspring. (Does this have to do with Jesus??)

    210) The Lord told Jacob, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.” (I believe we are given this same promise when we accept Christ as our personal Savior.)

    211) The Lord said, “I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (But the Lord’s Spirit will never depart from he who accepts Christ.)

    212) When Jacob awoke, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

    213) Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God.” (He looked to the Lord for protection and for his needs. So should we!)

  • God is With Us

    Posted on June 24th, 2015 jadijohnson No comments

    Genesis 25

    192) The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer regarding his barren wife, Rebekah. She became pregnant! (God does answer our prayers.)

    193) The two babies jostled inside Rebekah’s womb, sending her to inquire of the Lord.  He spoke to her!

    Genesis 26

    194) The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.” (God blesses us when we do what He requests.)

    195) The Lord told Isaac that He would give all these lands to Isaac and his descendants, thus confirming the oath He swore to Abraham.

    196) The Lord told Isaac that He would make Isaac’s descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.

    197) The Lord told Isaac that through his offspring all nations on earth would be blessed because Abraham obeyed Him and kept His requirements, His commands, His decrees, and His laws. (We would do well to do the same!)

    198)  Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.

    199) Isaac said, “Now the Lord has given us room, and we will flourish in the land.” (This occurred after Isaac moved to a place where no one quarreled with him over the well he had dug.)

    200) The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

    201) Abimelech told Isaac, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you.” Also, “And now you are blessed by the Lord.”

  • God is a Great Leader

    Posted on June 4th, 2015 jadijohnson No comments

    Genesis 24 continues in this way:

    183) The Lord had led Abraham’s servant on the journey to the house of Abraham’s relatives.  (God leads our steps!)

    184) Laban called the servant “you who are blessed by the Lord.”

    185) The Lord blessed Abraham abundantly.

    186) The Lord had given Abraham sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys.  (Our good fortune doesn’t come from luck.  It comes from God.)

    187) The Lord had given Abraham everything he owned.  (God has also given US everything we own! We should thank Him for that!)

    188) Before the journey for Isaac’s bride, Abraham told his servant, “The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success…” (What a remarkable statement!  Angels accompany us!)

    189) God led the servant on the right road to get the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother for his son Isaac. (God also leads us on the right road!)

    190) Laban and Bethuel, Rebekah’s parents, told Abraham’s servant, “This is from the Lord” (choosing Rebekah for Isaac).

    191) They gave Rebekah to the servant, “as the Lord has directed.” (They were wise not to stand in God’s way. We need to be just as wise!)

  • God is a Blessing-Bestower

    Posted on April 8th, 2015 jadijohnson No comments

     

    We’re still in Genesis 22.  Isaac’s life has just been saved by the Lord.  And Abraham has been saved years of grief over losing his beloved son.

    176) The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time on that day.  Because Abraham didn’t withhold his son, God would surely bless him and make his descendants numerous.  They would take possession of the cities of their enemies.  Through his offspring, all nations would be blessed, because Abraham obeyed Him.  (We are blessed when we obey.)

    Genesis 23, 24

    177) The Lord had blessed Abraham in every way. (bless = to bestow good of any kind upon) (Our God gives good gifts!)

    178) Abraham told his chief servant that the Lord would send His angel before the servant so that he could get a wife for Isaac.

    179) The servant prayed to the Lord, asking Him to give the servant success, and to show kindness to Abraham. (The servant knew who to ask for help!)

    180) God chose Rebekah for Isaac. (Perhaps He chooses all our mates!)

    181) The Lord made the servant’s journey successful. (Would it have been a success if the servant hadn’t prayed for God’s help?)

    182) God did not abandon His kindness and faithfulness to Abraham. (He keeps his promises!)

    183) The Lord had led the servant on the journey to the house of Abraham’s relatives.  (It’s comforting to think of God leading US through the journey of life!)

     

  • The Lord Will Provide

    Posted on November 8th, 2014 jadijohnson No comments

    Genesis 21 continues …

    168)  Abimelech told Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do.”

    (We can take great comfort in this verse.  God is with us!)

    169)  At Beersheba, Abraham called upon the name of the Lord.

    170)  Abraham called the Lord “the Eternal God.”  (He will never leave

    us.  He will always be around to help us.)

    Genesis 22

    171)  God tested Abraham.  (He tests our faith in Him.  Do we trust Him?)

    172)  God spoke to Abraham.  (He speaks to us as well!  Are you listening?)

    173)  God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering.

    (Nothing we own belongs to us.  Everything we own was given to us by God.

    We should hold nothing back from Him.)

    174)  The angel of the Lord called out to Abraham from heaven (when he

    was about to slay his son).  “Do not lay a hand on the boy.  Now I know that

    you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son.”

    175)  Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket.  He called the

    place The Lord Will Provide.  (He sacrificed the ram instead of Isaac.)

    (God provides what we need, when  we need it.)

  • Great Question!

    Posted on August 9th, 2014 jadijohnson No comments

    The women at my church are doing a Bible study from the book Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda.  Right now we’re studying Michael, Saul’s daughter and David’s wife.  On page 158, the reader is asked a question.  I don’t know how to answer it. That’s where YOU come in.  How would you answer the following question?

    What is your biggest barrier to true worship?  What could bring that barrier down so that you are a participant rather than a spectator?

    I see women like Beth Moore and I wonder, “How did she get so close to God?  How can she worship so deeply?”  I know we shouldn’t compare ourselves to other Christians, but this isn’t a jealousy thing.  I just want what she has because what she has is so good.

    Please give me your thoughts on this topic.  I’m curious to know what you think.  Thanks!

     

     

     

  • God is Caring

    Posted on August 7th, 2014 jadijohnson No comments

    Continuing in Genesis 21, we see just how caring our God is:

    163) God heard Ishmael crying (when he was in the desert with his mother, Hagar.)(God hears our cries of anguish and despair.)

    164) The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven! (She was just a simple woman.)

    165) The angel told Hagar that God had heard the boy crying.  God would make Ishmael into a great nation.  (And He did!  God keeps his promises.)

    166) God opened Hagar’s eyes so she would see a well of water.  (God takes care of our needs.  We never have to worry.)

    167) God was with Ishmael as he grew up.  (We aren’t on our own on this earth.  We have a great Protector.)

     

  • Not Just a Hearer But a Doer: Volume 2

    Posted on July 22nd, 2014 jadijohnson No comments

    Not Just a Hearer But a Doer: Volume 2 by Yolanda Shanks

    This book provides thirty-one days of hands-on training in living a better life the Christian way.  The book is geared toward those who desire to change their mind-set and actually live the lessons that the Bible teaches.

    Each lesson is broken down into sections:

    *The Lead-in

    *Bible verses

    *Background (historical period)

    *Interpretation/Application

    *Personalize Scripture Text

    This book was easy to use.  It gave the reader great content to think about.  It definitely held to its topic of altering our thoughts of Biblical principles to include them in our day-to-day lives.  It’s wonderful to read our Bibles, but we need to apply what we’ve learned.

    A lot of work went into writing this Bible study.  The author seemed to care a lot about her readers.  There were lessons on lessening your load and overcoming a burnt-out disposition, among others.  I felt these subjects worth delving into.

    On the negative side, I sometimes felt the author was condescending.  She put in definitions of simple words that most readers can understand.

    I also wish she had used the NIV of the Bible instead of the King James Version.  The NIV was created for easy reading of the Scriptures.  The meaning of the verse isn’t lost in the unfamiliar words.  I actually looked up every verse in my own Bible instead of struggling through the verses written in the book.

    Nevertheless, I would recommend this book to anyone who desires to walk the walk of Christian faith.  The book highlights the areas we need to focus on.

    The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of the book through BookCrash.