New Audio Book: The Christmas Beau



FaytheWorks Publishing
Audiobook 2015



Christmas is still a few months away, but for me it's always a pleasure to hear a sweet holiday romance. And this year God has blessed me to produce my first audiobook for the story, The Christmas Beau. So many readers have been very supportive with the eBook version over the years and I pray the same, well, even better for my new audiobook. Through the links listed here, you can get this new audiobook for free! If you are a regular audiobook listener (or even a first time listener) and want to add my book to your library for free, just click here: Amazon.com or Audible.com (an Amazon company). For Apple users the audiobook is also available for sale on iTunes.

Now, to get this audiobook for free, you will have to join Audible, but this membership is also free for thirty (30) days. The retail cost of the audiobook is $14.95 ($13.08 on Amazon), but with the Audible membership it’s free for the first month. You can cancel at any time. Sounds like a deal to me! Besides, to offer the audiobook for free helps others to find out that my work exists. There’s a sea full of authors, some good and some bad, why don’t we share the stories that actually make sense and support our Christian faith, right?

I have prayed to God for more Christian works to saturate the entertainment market. It’s sad that horror movies and shows laden with profanity get so much publicity while some Christian books, movies, and shows fade into the background. With so many professed Christians in the world we should unite and support works that reflect our faith.

Thanks in advance for supporting this new venture of mine!  I appreciate the love and support shown to me over the years and greatly appreciate the overwhelming support of my last release, Once Upon a Sunday, published Easter weekend. All I can say is that God is good!

Again, thank you for the love and support. I pray God’s best for you…

Before you say, “I do.”

Aside from Black History, the month of February is also known as the Love Month. Just walk into a store, just about any store during this time of the year, and you’ll find the shelves lined with teddy bears, balloons, and heart shaped candy boxes dressed in that telling symbolic color of red. Love is in the air, there are engagements waiting to happen, but what are some things you should do before you actually say those famous words, "I do"?

If you are contemplating an engagement, consider the following:

• Be transparent
• Listen to what they are saying, not what you want to hear
• Trust your instincts
• Talk about money
• Introduce them to your family

I don’t claim to be the guru of dating or the “go-to” person for singles. But I do remember what it was like to be single … and waiting. I know what it is like to date someone, think he is the one, only to discover some characteristic flaw that I was not willing to compromise on. Then again, why should I? Why should anyone “settle” for less than they really want from a mate? When you get married, there are enough compromises that are to be made, but the decision to be with someone for the rest of your life … the rest of your life, requires some deep thought and intense consideration. At least it did for me because when I decided to get married. The option for divorce was well … not an option. So, with that being the case I had to be wise in my decision to whom I was to marry.

So, you may already have your own ideas of what to do before you actually utter those words “I do”, committing yourself to someone legally as well as spiritually. Let me offer my two cents on the matter. I met my husband (then an unknown person to me) and we dated for four months, and then was married. It did not take five years, it did not include empty promises; it simply involved two people who were transparent enough to allow the other to see them for who they truly are. We talked for hours at a time, we went out on dates as well as stayed in and watched rented movies. We went to church together and we visited each other's families during the holidays. This is where you really get to know someone. Meet up on a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas and observe the extended family members in action. There is bound to be someone around that will share a story or two that may interest you. Hopefully, this will make a positive impact on your relationship.

Be sure to talk about what you have and don’t have. Do you have bad credit? Do you have a stable, consistent income? Do you have a savings account? Is there money in that savings account? Sometimes you have to be specific about the questions you ask. You don’t want to later find that the savings account they said they had only has $5.00 in it. Or even worse, a negative balance! This was not the case with my husband, praise the Lord. I’m just offering some due diligence advice for those pondering marriage. Don’t assume anything, especially since you will be trusting this person with everything that you have.

Other important questions: Do you have children? Please don’t assume that because you don’t see children or pictures of children in their house that they don’t have any. Do you want to have children? Don’t be misled by the fact that they turn to mush around other people’s children that they want some of their own, ask specifically.

My husband and I both agreed on having children before we got married and we stuck pretty close to the timeline in which we wanted to have them. Today we have been married eight years, now with two toddlers running around the house.

So, you see, when you are open enough to let that person know you for who you are, your strengths and weakness, during your fashionable days as well as not so chic moments, and they still see the natural beauty beneath a made-up appearance, you've got yourself a winner! Be your own champion. It does not take compromising your principles to keep him or her. It does not take your pretending to be something you’re not to please them either. It takes an honest look at who you are and what you expect from that other person. Don’t marry with the hopes of they will change. Ninety-nine percent of the time, you are dating a person at their best. So, what comes after the vows is a work in progress.

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Some of these topics are touched on in Single, Saved, & Searching (True Love Novellas, Book 2). Do you have your copy? 

This title is available on Amazon, BN, and wherever books are sold.

                                                                    

MLK: He Had a Dream, Do We?

The commemoration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. seeks to remind every individual of his staunch leadership in a pivotal point in history. Although we recognize today as Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, our attention is called to more than just his birth, but more so what he accomplished for this nation during his life. This was a man who carried the torch of freedom during the Civil Rights Movement, inciting others to do the same, the activist who marched on Washington, the leader who stood strong in the very face of fear, and the minister who spoke the Word of God in confidence. We are celebrating a leader who died so that you and I could enjoy the freedom that was already enacted in the United States Constitution by way of the 13^th Amendment.

With much adversity, Dr. King fought to abolish the Jim Crow laws of his time, a racial caste system erected where black people were separated from white people and considered inferior simply due to the color of their skin. Although the Emancipation Proclamation signed on January 1, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery where millions of slaves were freed, still one hundred years later in 1963 Dr. King had a dream. He had a dream where both white and black people alike would live in harmony; a dream where his children would be judged not based upon the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. His vision was prophetic in nature. Note the words of Dr. King on the night before he was tragically killed: “I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

In that same speech, Dr. King noted that we would have difficult days ahead, but that wasn’t reason to abandon the “promised land.” The promised land that was pledged when this nation was formed. Just as his wife, Coretta Scott King, said just days after his demise: “If you give your life to a cause in which you believe, and if it is right and just, and if your life comes to an end as a result of this, then your life could not have been spent in a more redemptive way. I think that is what my husband has done.”

The torch to continue the fight was passed through the hands of many who made countless sacrifices, even with their own lives. Today, more than forty years after that famous I Have a Dream speech we are still witnessing history being made as President Barack Obama begins his second term as the first African American President of the United States. President Obama’s presence in the White House as a biracial, black and white, American is reminiscent of the words Dr. King spoke decades prior. The leader of our nation symbolizes what took years of rallies, marches, and sit-ins to get us to where we are on today. We must continue to forge ahead, remembering how much it took for us to arrive where we are, understanding that the freedom we now enjoy really wasn’t free.

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This was a day of great reflection. In me, it prompts a motivation to do more, to share more, and to be more appreciative. Dr. King had a dream that impacted the world around him. This was a dream that could not have been achieved first without God, and secondly without those supporters around him. He had a dream for change; change for the better. The question today is do we have a dream? And if so, what are we going to do about it?

This Season

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

This year has brought on many wonderful changes as the Lord blessed me with the birth of a new son. My husband and I are forever grateful. As a result, my sickness subsided and the Lord blessed me with the strength to write another book to release as an eBook this month. Initially, I wasn't sure if I could do it when God gave me the idea a few months ago. With a young child and traveling for 2 weeks out of that time, experiencing the death a of dear family member and simply adjusting to a new way of life, I pressed on to do what God knew I could. I trusted in Him and have now released an eBook novella entitled, The Christmas Beau (The True Love Novellas ~ Book #1).

As I wrote this book, I did not know what would happen with the story, but as I wrote (through prayer) it was eventually revealed to me. Maybe it was written for you or someone you know. Maybe the contents are just a reminder for some and confirmation for others. I'm not sure, but what I do know is that I feel at peace in having written it.

 

As a special thank you to those who have purchased any of my books (and also for those who haven't, but are being introduced to my work), this eBook is only .99 (on Amazon and Barnes and Noble)! God has been very good to me (and my family) and I praise Him for His Son, Jesus Christ--my Lord and Savior, this season and all year long. With the chaotic shopping and commercialism during this time, let us not lose sight of what God has done ... He gave His Son. Let us celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

 

I pray that you all have a blessed rest of the year 2012!

Here's a snippet of what the book is about:



FaytheWorks Publishing LLC
Release Date: December 1, 2012
Format Available: eBook

Love suffers long and is kind… 1 Corinthians 13:4

“Why did I even come here for my vacation?” Charity Maxwell questions, initially regretting her trip home to Lewiston Springs for her Christmas vacation … that is until she finds out that an old flame is visiting too. With familiar emotions invading her heart, Charity desperately tries to keep her composure around a man with whom she shares a painful past.

Determined to make right his wrong, Milton Grayson passionately pursues Charity regretful that he lost her once and determined to not let it happen again. As a reminiscent whirlwind romance ensues between them, the pressure builds on a meddling family member who secretly plotted to separate the pair in the past.

Is their love true enough to withstand the evils that broke them apart the first time? Or will Charity’s anticipation of having a Christmas boyfriend suddenly be dashed to pieces?

The Christmas Beau is the first eBook in The True Love Novellas series that shares the love of God in and out of season.

 

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    Also, please consider reading a repost from a couple Decembers ago. It is still as relevant today as it was then. The title of the post is Jesus Christ ... Savior.

 

Thank you again for taking the time to read and as always, keep God first.

 

 



Faith, Hope, & Love: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love,” 1 Corinthians 13:13, NKJV.

The greatest is love. In my previous position, I worked as a research coordinator at an oncology clinic. I was able to see first hand the effects of not only breast cancer, but various types of this disease. It can be challenging, depressing, and heart wrenching for those involved, both victims and family members. What can someone say to alleviate the pain? The only thing I can think of at this moment is … God loves you. This is an effective way to not only encourage, but to minister to as well.

As tough as it has been to become friends with those patients who are no longer on Earth, I had to realize that God knows best. Some may question why God didn’t heal, but we must try to understand that His ways are not our ways and that His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). And He does not make mistakes.

This month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month (also referred to as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM)) is an annual health campaign organized to raise funds for research, including cure and prevention. The campaign’s purpose is also to remind women to be breast aware for earlier detection.

NBCAM presents an opportunity for many to participate in raising money to fund research. I’ve seen firsthand how costly studies can be, however it is important to improve treatment options for patients. The links below present a couple of easy ways you can contribute without even leaving the comfort of your own home:

http://ww5.komen.org/Donate/DonateOnline.html (Susan G Koman)

http://www.cupsofhope.com/ (Dannon Activia)

In addition to those sites, many across the nation have adopted Pink days. This is during the month of October where people raise money by coordinating a variety of activities. Pink day is when employees wear the color pink (either clothing or accessories) to work and donations are made.

This is just one way to show love, so let us make an effort. You never know, the next time you hear about breast cancer, it could be someone in your own home.

Consider some of the many survivor stories:

Diane Becker Krasnick – Breast Cancer Survivor

Diane Foresee, Two-Time Breast Cancer Survivor

Jane Gillespie - Overcomer and Breast Cancer Survivor

Debbie Stallings - Breast Cancer Survivor

Robin M. Gray RN, Breast Cancer Survivor

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