Did you make a New Year's resolution to READ MORE IN 2008? If so, this is your lucky day - or your BLESSED day, as I prefer to say. The end of my January FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY is just around the bend! The drawing will be held on Jan. 31. Please let me know which book you want to win, and ask a friend to enter, too! These free books are perfect for excellent, stimulating winter reading - and they also make great gifts for friends and family. Scroll down to read the list of giveaway titles.
Also, February is the month for my FANTASTIC LEAP OF FAITH FICTION FEST. You could win one of FIFTEEN bestselling fiction titles (mostly hardcovers). These are valuable books, folks! So don't miss out - enter today!
lunes, 28 de enero de 2008
viernes, 25 de enero de 2008
February Fiction Fest @ Leap of Faith!
Well, February is almost here. Who ordered this weather? Isn't Texas supposed to be WARM and SUNNY? But I guess it feels a lot like home to me - my illustrious hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana, only without the snow. Don't you think that, if the weather is going to be freezing, it should at least offer one redeeming quality, like snow?
Oh, well. Starbucks keeps getting my money. My friend Mike calls it "Four Bucks." Isn't that the truth! But I find that it's definitely easier to stay inside and write when it's chilly outside, so I am going to consider it a blessing!
Just for fun, I am going to be hosting a FEBRUARY FICTION FEST so you can curl up with a fabulous FREE book (those are the best kind) and read to your little heart's content. I am going to be giving away AT LEAST FIFTEEN fantastic novels, mostly hardcovers, in the month of February. I decided to offer a wide variety this month, so please sign up by posting a comment below and spread the word to your friends. Thank you!
I am going to reveal the books just a few at a time to help build suspense! Here are five of them:
The Bridges of Madison County (hardcover)
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (hardcover)
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (hardcover)
Sea Glass (paperback)
Snow Falling on Cedars (paperback)
These are all fantastic bestselling books. Enjoy!
Oh, well. Starbucks keeps getting my money. My friend Mike calls it "Four Bucks." Isn't that the truth! But I find that it's definitely easier to stay inside and write when it's chilly outside, so I am going to consider it a blessing!
Just for fun, I am going to be hosting a FEBRUARY FICTION FEST so you can curl up with a fabulous FREE book (those are the best kind) and read to your little heart's content. I am going to be giving away AT LEAST FIFTEEN fantastic novels, mostly hardcovers, in the month of February. I decided to offer a wide variety this month, so please sign up by posting a comment below and spread the word to your friends. Thank you!
I am going to reveal the books just a few at a time to help build suspense! Here are five of them:
The Bridges of Madison County (hardcover)
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (hardcover)
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (hardcover)
Sea Glass (paperback)
Snow Falling on Cedars (paperback)
These are all fantastic bestselling books. Enjoy!
lunes, 21 de enero de 2008
Enter the January FREE NEW BOOK Drawing!
Want to win a free book? If so, please e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com or post a comment below and let me know your name and the book you are interested in. You may choose any one of the five books listed below. I will put the names into a bowl and randomly draw the names on Jan. 31 and post the winners on my site! I will also personally e-mail you if your name is selected as a winner.
THIS MONTH’S NEW BOOK GIVEAWAY TITLES ARE:
-Faith Tango by Carolyn and Craig Williford (a fun-to-read, powerful Christian marriage book)
-God’s Message for Each Day by Eugene Peterson (a fantastic Christian daily devotional)
-Growing Deep in the Christian Life (classic Christian book by Chuck Swindoll)
-Middle East Meltdown (fabulous expose of the Middle East crisis by John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs)
-Sense and Sensibility (gorgeous hardcover classic novel by Jane Austen)
Please help spread the word about my book drawing. For each person you refer to the site, you will receive one (1) additional entry to the book drawing for the book of your choice.
I also will be posting my February giveaway books very soon, so please add your e-mail address to my mailing list so you can receive automatic updates! Thank you for visiting, and blessings to you from Leap of Faith!
THIS MONTH’S NEW BOOK GIVEAWAY TITLES ARE:
-Faith Tango by Carolyn and Craig Williford (a fun-to-read, powerful Christian marriage book)
-God’s Message for Each Day by Eugene Peterson (a fantastic Christian daily devotional)
-Growing Deep in the Christian Life (classic Christian book by Chuck Swindoll)
-Middle East Meltdown (fabulous expose of the Middle East crisis by John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs)
-Sense and Sensibility (gorgeous hardcover classic novel by Jane Austen)
Please help spread the word about my book drawing. For each person you refer to the site, you will receive one (1) additional entry to the book drawing for the book of your choice.
I also will be posting my February giveaway books very soon, so please add your e-mail address to my mailing list so you can receive automatic updates! Thank you for visiting, and blessings to you from Leap of Faith!
domingo, 20 de enero de 2008
Photogenic?
My friend Tammy Labuda is an extremely talented professional photographer. She has an extraordinary gift for seeing the spark of soul and personality in a person and really bringing it out. Her photos of children, especially, are AMAZING! And her photography fees are extremely reasonable, to boot. Take just a moment to check out some of her photos on her NEW website at tammylabudaphotography.com.
Tammy also is giving away a FREE VALENTINE'S DAY PHOTO SHOOT if you e-mail her at labuda@sbcglobal.net. She takes fantastic family photos, photos of individuals, children's portraits, author photos, realtor photos, and much more. For more information and pricing for Tammy's photography services, please give her a call at (214) 547-9820. Thank you and blessings!
Tammy also is giving away a FREE VALENTINE'S DAY PHOTO SHOOT if you e-mail her at labuda@sbcglobal.net. She takes fantastic family photos, photos of individuals, children's portraits, author photos, realtor photos, and much more. For more information and pricing for Tammy's photography services, please give her a call at (214) 547-9820. Thank you and blessings!
What's Your Story, Morning Glory?
I'd like to introduce you today to one of my favorite new authors - Steven James. His fantastic, transformational books Story and Sailing Between the Stars are must-reads for any artistic person of faith. He writes:
There's a Jewish saying: "God created man because he loves stories." I think that has a lot of truth to it. But not only does God love stories, he loves the people whose stories are being told moment by moment across the globe. And I'm amazed that the story of my choices, mistakes, regrets - the story of my life - actually matters to God.
I think what makes us unique isn't so much our height or shape or fingerprints or eye color but our histories, our stories. Day by day our lives are woven into a giant narrative, and every moment we become more and more the story of who we are. We are our stories. And we only connect with other people when we know their stories. The more intimate we are, the more our stories intertwine. That's one reason divorce is so painful - because it rips a single, deeply threaded story apart into two.
Sometimes I think about all the billions of stories swirling around each other on this planet, touching, deepening, unfurling, unraveling. And each one of those stories, each one of those people, mattered so much to the Author of Life that he left heaven and began the dreadful trek to the cross (see John 3:16). The original script called for unity and harmony, but our first parents chose to derail the story of humanity into a graveyard.
"Okay," said the Creator. "Then I'll tell a new story. One that includes a detour through an empty tomb." But to make that tale come true, he had to enter our story himself.
When Jesus was born, the Word of God became flesh, enmeshed in a story. THE STORYTELLER ENTERED THE TALE. The author stepped onto the page. The poet whose very words had written the cosmos became part of the text of this world.
Like the harmony and the melody living together in the same song, Jesus was divinity and humanity living together in the same heart. He was the Word of God, God's story, in the flesh.*
What story does God want to tell through YOU in 2008? Please share your thoughts by posting a comment here. Thank you!
*Steven James, Story: Recapture the Mystery, Revell, 80-81.
There's a Jewish saying: "God created man because he loves stories." I think that has a lot of truth to it. But not only does God love stories, he loves the people whose stories are being told moment by moment across the globe. And I'm amazed that the story of my choices, mistakes, regrets - the story of my life - actually matters to God.
I think what makes us unique isn't so much our height or shape or fingerprints or eye color but our histories, our stories. Day by day our lives are woven into a giant narrative, and every moment we become more and more the story of who we are. We are our stories. And we only connect with other people when we know their stories. The more intimate we are, the more our stories intertwine. That's one reason divorce is so painful - because it rips a single, deeply threaded story apart into two.
Sometimes I think about all the billions of stories swirling around each other on this planet, touching, deepening, unfurling, unraveling. And each one of those stories, each one of those people, mattered so much to the Author of Life that he left heaven and began the dreadful trek to the cross (see John 3:16). The original script called for unity and harmony, but our first parents chose to derail the story of humanity into a graveyard.
"Okay," said the Creator. "Then I'll tell a new story. One that includes a detour through an empty tomb." But to make that tale come true, he had to enter our story himself.
When Jesus was born, the Word of God became flesh, enmeshed in a story. THE STORYTELLER ENTERED THE TALE. The author stepped onto the page. The poet whose very words had written the cosmos became part of the text of this world.
Like the harmony and the melody living together in the same song, Jesus was divinity and humanity living together in the same heart. He was the Word of God, God's story, in the flesh.*
What story does God want to tell through YOU in 2008? Please share your thoughts by posting a comment here. Thank you!
*Steven James, Story: Recapture the Mystery, Revell, 80-81.
miércoles, 16 de enero de 2008
Need An Editor?
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug." -Mark Twain
Most of us writers need another set of eyes to help us determine if our writing really "sings." That's why we need EDITORS! I'd love to help you take that writing project and turn it into a truly memorable, publishable work of art.
If you have a writing project, document or book that requires editing, please let me know. My editing experience includes:
-editing books for authors
-working as an editor and writer for the Purdue Exponent newspaper
-editing papers and creative writing projects at Dallas Theological Seminary
-working as an editor and writer for Insight for Living
-editing technical documents
-editing college papers
-helping people write and edit resumes and business letters
-editing poetry, fiction and nonfiction manuscripts
-completing editing and rewriting projects for various ministries, including Insight for Living, Joni and Friends, and Living Stones Ministries
...AND MORE! My editing rates are very reasonable and usually are calculated on a per-project basis. If you have a project and would like an estimate, please contact me at (214) 497-4614 or by e-mail at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com.
Thanks so much and I look forward to working with you! Blessings!
Most of us writers need another set of eyes to help us determine if our writing really "sings." That's why we need EDITORS! I'd love to help you take that writing project and turn it into a truly memorable, publishable work of art.
If you have a writing project, document or book that requires editing, please let me know. My editing experience includes:
-editing books for authors
-working as an editor and writer for the Purdue Exponent newspaper
-editing papers and creative writing projects at Dallas Theological Seminary
-working as an editor and writer for Insight for Living
-editing technical documents
-editing college papers
-helping people write and edit resumes and business letters
-editing poetry, fiction and nonfiction manuscripts
-completing editing and rewriting projects for various ministries, including Insight for Living, Joni and Friends, and Living Stones Ministries
...AND MORE! My editing rates are very reasonable and usually are calculated on a per-project basis. If you have a project and would like an estimate, please contact me at (214) 497-4614 or by e-mail at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com.
Thanks so much and I look forward to working with you! Blessings!
sábado, 12 de enero de 2008
Words of Wisdom for the New Year
Thought I'd share an inspiring thought to encourage you in the new year!
WORDS OF SUCCESS
We spend January 1st walking through our lives,
room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done,
cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list,
we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives...
not looking for flaws, but for potential.
~Ellen Goodman
WORDS OF SUCCESS
We spend January 1st walking through our lives,
room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done,
cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list,
we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives...
not looking for flaws, but for potential.
~Ellen Goodman
domingo, 6 de enero de 2008
Generation Hex, Coming Soon!
Working on my forthcoming book Generation Hex truly has changed my life and shattered my pre-conceived notions about the followers of Wicca and other New Age religions.
Dillon Burroughs and I have partnered together to write this contemporary book about the rise of interest in Wicca, Paganism and New Age spirituality. I've learned so much and have been motivated to encourage others to be aware of these religious issues and to get informed about the impact and influence that Wicca is having on our culture.
For example, did you know that:
"The Church of Wicca" was officially recognized as a religion by a U.S. Federal Court of Appeals in 1986?
Wicca has millions of followers worldwide and is set to be the 3rd largest religion in the U.S. by 2012? (That's in four years, by the way.)
Most Wiccans do NOT worship Satan, but rather worship "the Goddess and the God" and seek to honor and protect the earth?
The rights, practices and religious holidays of Wiccans and Neopagans are now protected by U.S. law?
You and your children most likely encounter people of the Wiccan and Pagan faiths in your everyday interactions at the store, at work, in the community, on the playground, and even at church?
We're thrilled to let you know that info on Generation Hex is now available on the Harvest House website at harvesthousepublishers.com/books_nonfictionbook.cfm?productID=6924016. The book releases this fall, about a month before the Halloween season! Please help spread the word!
Dillon Burroughs and I have partnered together to write this contemporary book about the rise of interest in Wicca, Paganism and New Age spirituality. I've learned so much and have been motivated to encourage others to be aware of these religious issues and to get informed about the impact and influence that Wicca is having on our culture.
For example, did you know that:
"The Church of Wicca" was officially recognized as a religion by a U.S. Federal Court of Appeals in 1986?
Wicca has millions of followers worldwide and is set to be the 3rd largest religion in the U.S. by 2012? (That's in four years, by the way.)
Most Wiccans do NOT worship Satan, but rather worship "the Goddess and the God" and seek to honor and protect the earth?
The rights, practices and religious holidays of Wiccans and Neopagans are now protected by U.S. law?
You and your children most likely encounter people of the Wiccan and Pagan faiths in your everyday interactions at the store, at work, in the community, on the playground, and even at church?
We're thrilled to let you know that info on Generation Hex is now available on the Harvest House website at harvesthousepublishers.com/books_nonfictionbook.cfm?productID=6924016. The book releases this fall, about a month before the Halloween season! Please help spread the word!
Tax Breaks for Freelance Writers
I've always done my own taxes by hand. This year, however, I'll probably have to break out the TurboTax! I've been diligently keeping track of my freelance writing and business receipts since 2006.
I've discovered several great resources that have helped me to know which receipts to save and how to file them in order to make the process easy come tax time! Here are links to several excellent books and articles that will help you get organized and know which deductions you can take if you are a freelance writer or otherwise self employed:
-Writer's Pocket Tax Guide by Darlene Cypser (Brand new and updated for 2008!) Available at amazon.com
-ezinearticles.com/?Tax-Deductions-For-Freelance-Writers&id=441242
-associatedcontent.com/article/89298/taxes_and_freelance_writerswhat_to.html
-taxes.about.com/od/taxplanning/a/freelance.htm
If you know of other helpful tax resources for those who are self employed, please let me know. Thank you!
I've discovered several great resources that have helped me to know which receipts to save and how to file them in order to make the process easy come tax time! Here are links to several excellent books and articles that will help you get organized and know which deductions you can take if you are a freelance writer or otherwise self employed:
-Writer's Pocket Tax Guide by Darlene Cypser (Brand new and updated for 2008!) Available at amazon.com
-ezinearticles.com/?Tax-Deductions-For-Freelance-Writers&id=441242
-associatedcontent.com/article/89298/taxes_and_freelance_writerswhat_to.html
-taxes.about.com/od/taxplanning/a/freelance.htm
If you know of other helpful tax resources for those who are self employed, please let me know. Thank you!
miércoles, 2 de enero de 2008
Taking the Leap
When Catalin and I launched Leap of Faith - our intercultural marriage ministry - in October of 2005, we had no clue how much it would grow and how God would bless it! This past year, we've had the opportunity to minister to thousands of individuals and couples from Mexico to Monaco, from Brazil to Germany to Venezuela to Kenya. Our newfound friends have asked questions, told poignant and funny stories, and shared their own intercultural wisdom and experiences with us.
Our vision and our passion has always been to publish a book on the topic of intercultural marriage to serve as a resource for Christian couples. We are continuing to pray for open doors for this book! God has been so faithful in our lives, and we want to share our experiences in the hope that we can encourage others.
Intercultural marriage can be a challenge, sure. But it's also a great adventure, and it's FUN! I wouldn't trade it for the world. Yes, it calls for adjustment, but it also brings joy. It requires greater patience, but that patience creates resilience. It can mean more work in some ways, but more love in others. The excitement and romance help us to laugh off the silly misunderstandings that sometimes occur. And the stretching of our minds and hearts can only be a good thing, as we learn to have a greater passion for the Lord and for the world.
Please continue to pray that this book, so long researched and prayed over, will come to fruition soon so that it may serve as a powerful resource to help intercultural couples build their marriages on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. Thank you! We appreciate you so much.
Remember: Without faith, it's impossible to please God!
Our vision and our passion has always been to publish a book on the topic of intercultural marriage to serve as a resource for Christian couples. We are continuing to pray for open doors for this book! God has been so faithful in our lives, and we want to share our experiences in the hope that we can encourage others.
Intercultural marriage can be a challenge, sure. But it's also a great adventure, and it's FUN! I wouldn't trade it for the world. Yes, it calls for adjustment, but it also brings joy. It requires greater patience, but that patience creates resilience. It can mean more work in some ways, but more love in others. The excitement and romance help us to laugh off the silly misunderstandings that sometimes occur. And the stretching of our minds and hearts can only be a good thing, as we learn to have a greater passion for the Lord and for the world.
Please continue to pray that this book, so long researched and prayed over, will come to fruition soon so that it may serve as a powerful resource to help intercultural couples build their marriages on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. Thank you! We appreciate you so much.
Remember: Without faith, it's impossible to please God!
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