Christmas Stories Day 10: The Least of These

The Christmas before Kiera turned eighteen...

An unexpected snowstorm has Kiera's family and friends full of merriment, but the thought of homeless orphans weighs heavy on her mind. But what can she do to help them?

Christmas Stories Day 5: Red Boots

 Old Joey’s lips fell open in astonishment as he examined a pair of boots. They were bright red, standing out like a forgotten apple on an autumn tree. He whistled, long and low. “Red boots!”

A pair of shiny red boots bring unexpected Christmas joy to a shopkeeper and a little girl.

A very short story. (Approximately 8 minutes reading time.)

Homeschooled Authors Christmas stories, Day 1

Four stories.
Four book-lovers.
Four feel-good Christmas stories.

This is a limited edition novella collection.


The anthology includes:
Molly and Anna by Sarah Holman (inspired by Pollyanna)
Gingerbread Treasures by Rebekah Jones (inspired by a Sherlock Holmes mystery)
Sylvie of Amber Apartments by J. Grace Pennington (inspired by Anne of Green Gables)
Sincerely, Jem by Kate Willis (inspired by Daddy-Long-Legs)

The Treasure Hunt

Buy it Here
Description: They were silent a moment each thinking of the strange clue and even stranger signature. Anna was first to speak. "It seems like some sort of treasure hunt."
A boring summer vacation turns into an exciting adventure when Anna and her brother David discover a mysterious note. Soon they are hunting for clues, solving puzzles, and cracking codes--all on their own farm!

This story was so much fun! This is the kind of book that I wanted around when I was younger. It was a fun story about siblings on a treasure hunt that lasts a few days. What is not to love?

The style was charming. There was nothing deep in this book, although faith is mentioned. It’s one of those books that would make a delightful summer afternoon read for a kid. Although, they might start making treasure hunts themselves.

The characters were defined enough that I never mixed up siblings, which is impressive for a first book. Well done Kate Willis!

I highly recommend this for younger readers who like contemporary mysteries and stories about happy siblings.

Today you can also read Rekekah Morris' review of Wind Chimes by Victoria Minks

Enjoy the Poodle Skirt

Buy it Here
Description: Rule one: Keep your hands clean.
Rule two: Careful with the food trays.
Rule three: Visit the soda fountain as often as you like, but don’t make yourself sick.
Rule four: Enjoy the poodle skirt.
Canary is excited to spend a whole week helping her newlywed aunt and uncle run a 50’s diner along with her older siblings Rose and Michael. Even the rules for working there are fun!
But when a routine cleanup presents a mysterious, hand-drawn map, her vacation gets even more exciting than a banana split with hot fudge sauce. And that’s saying a lot!

This is an adorable short story. Its part mystery, part sibling adventure, and one-hundred present fun.

The setting of a 50’s style diner was so much fun! I wanted to visit this place! It actually made me think of a place that I had visited in Fredericksburg, Texas (though this diner sounded even more fun). Reading this will probably make you hungry for a burger and milkshake.

Canary and her siblings are great characters. I love how they work together to try to solve a mystery. It isn’t a scary mystery or a big one, but it is fun. I love how the siblings look out for each other, even in a small way.

I highly recommend this story to those who like short, contemporary stories with hints of mystery, and happy siblings.

Top 5 HA books : Part 2

Kyleigh Dunn ~ Top 5 HA Books I read this summer:

Heart of Arcrea

Forged Steel

Rose of Prophecy

A Knight on the Old North Shore

Gift from the Storm

To be honest, I started the summer only planning to read 5! But as I started reading them found that 1, I had more time to read on my phone than I thought I did (and it keeps me from wasting time on Facebook!), and 2, reading “peer” books was something I hadn’t done much before but I found that it’s a really good thing to do as well as being very enjoyable.

Nicole Sager ~ Reading & writing usually slow down for me this time of year, so I'm not sure I got 5 books total read this summer! I have, however, read some HA works this year, and you can read my reviews by clicking the titles below. Some of these are fairly new, so if you've never heard of them, do these authors a favor and check them out!

Honor, Rachel Rossano

The Making of A Man, Rachel Rossano

Waltz Into the Waves, Sarah Holman

Rainland, Sarah Allerding

Happy reading!

Kate Willis ~ My favorite HA books this summer have been...

Song of the Sword by Hope Ann
Water Princess, Fire Prince by Kendra Ardnek

A Different Kind of Courage by Sarah Holman

You'll Be Like Faye by J.C. Buchanan

Implant by J. Grace Pennington

Jenelle Schmidt ~ However... I do have favorite HA authors, whose books I own and have read. My favorites are: Kaycee Browning, author of Ember Flame and Esprit de la Rose (the first story in Five Enchanted Roses) I love this author not only because she writes exceptionally well, but also because she is a dear friend. Kendra E. Ardnek and her Bookania series - I really need to read her other books, too, because I really enjoy her style.  Anne Elisabeth Stengl - became a fan a few years back when I met her at her book signing for Dragonwitch and have enjoyed everything she's written so far. Gillian Adams - I have only read Orphan's Song so far, but I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the further adventures of Birdie and company.

And there are various others on the list whose blogs I read and love, and their books are most decidedly on my list of books to buy and read!

Just Like Me: Part 2

Aubrey Hansen ~ I think the somewhat alarming truth we authors eventually realize is that all of our characters are like us, in different ways.  Bits and pieces of ourselves get scattered across our stories as we subconsciously work through internal struggles and express our view of the world.  As such, I’ve come to realize in retrospect that all the main characters of my other novel Peter’s Angel contain facets of me—whether it’s how I perceive myself, how I perceive my weaknesses, or the kind of person I wish I was.

Sarah Brazytis ~ Well, there is just one book in particular that my sisters and I enjoy assigning characters from to each other…

I am Winnie-ther-Pooh! 

(“Don’t you know what ‘ther’ means?”)

I enjoy taking walks in the woods with my sister, Piglet.

“Supposing a tree fell down, Pooh, when we were underneath it?”

“Supposing it didn’t,” said Pooh after careful thought.

Piglet was comforted by this…

I also like listening to my other sister, Rabbit.

“I listened, but I had a small piece of fluff in my ear. Could you say it again, please, Rabbit?”

Rabbit never minded saying things again, so he asked where he should begin from…

Whenever we’re in a puzzle, we run to our mother, Christopher Robin.

“Hush!” said Rabbit, holding up his paw. “What does Christopher Robin think about it all? That’s the point.”

Because somehow Christopher Robin always knows what to say…

“I have been Foolish and Deluded,” said [Pooh], “and I am a Bear of No Brain at All.”

“You’re the Best Bear in All the World,” said Christopher Robin soothingly.

“Am I?” said Pooh hopefully. And then he brightened up suddenly.

“Anyhow,” he said, “it is nearly Luncheon Time.”

So he went home for it.

J. Grace Pennington ~ Probably the book character most like me would be Katharine from Stepping Heavenward.  I relate so much with her emotions and her struggles and her passionate personality.  Another option would be Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables.  I share her imagination, idealism, and passionate emotions.

Rebekah Morris ~ As soon as someone asks what character I’m the most like in a book, I know what answer to give. Sara, in my book “Gift from the Storm,” is me with the wrong name. Yep, her personality is me all over again. She was very fun and easy to write about, by the way. So, if you want to know what I’m like, read Gift from the Storm and pay attention to Sara.

Kate Willis ~ The older sister Kate in my book is me, so that’s an easy one. ;) I'm also a mixture of the rusty, big-hearted Tinman; book hungry Liesel Meminger; awkward but loyal Molly Hooper; and practical adventurer Polly Plummer. (Though I most identify with the Swedish Chef Muppet.)

Writing Resources: Part 2

Aubrey Hansen ~ Other books and movies!  There’s nothing more inspirational (or instructional) than a well-written story.  After reading a good book or watching an entertaining movie, I want to duplicate the experience in my own work—and I have plenty of examples to analyze what worked and what didn’t.  Other than that, Elements of Style is a must-read.  But that’s about it.

Sarah Brown ~ I don't have too many writing resources.... But, as I am also an illustrator, I will share my favorite drawing/painting resource with you: The Art of Aaron Blaise. You can find tutorials of his on YouTube, you can look up his work on online galleries, and you can sign up for newsletters with drawing courses you can take, tips, and lots of free giveaways. I LOVE Aaron Blaise's artwork (especially his animal paintings)! My goal is to become at least as good as he is some day!

Kate Willis ~ Writing is a quest no good adventurer should embark on without brave companions and proper tools. I recommend packing K.M. Weiland's roadmap Structuring Your Novel, Strunk and White's manual The Elements of Style, a complete set of observation skills, and a blank journal.

Nicole Sager ~ I usually Google anything specific (the meaning of a name, tools used by medieval blacksmiths, how long you can stay in the dark before you go blind, how many inches around is the average man's neck...... I would hate for my search history to be discovered by the wrong person.). It's also very true that what you're reading influences what you're writing, so I enjoy reading other fictional books in a similar genre because it helps to give me a "feel" for the era I'm trying to get across in my own story.

Rebekah Morris ~ One resource I always have beside me when I write is The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi. Not only has this book been helpful and lots of fun, it’s a great help in creating real characters and giving little tips about using emotion in your story. I would highly recommend every writer get a copy of this book. Even if you don’t think you have trouble with this area.

That's a Good Book: Part 3

Nicole Sager ~ Being a romantic, of course I love to find a sweet love story, but along the way I always hope for something that gives the story even a little bit of depth. I like for stories to make me think, and I always hope for a reason to laugh (witty dialogue is a major plus!).

Sarah Holman ~ I look for first and foremost a solid faith message that isn't preachy, but also cuts at the heart. I want real characters that struggle but choose what is right (at least most of the time). I like adventure stories that take me to far off places and show daring deeds. I like romance, not the fluffy-insta-love that most writers talk about, but the deep, real kind that is based on more than physical attraction.

Kate Willis ~ I want to be drawn into a storyline that encourages me in my daily walk leaving me forever changed. I’m looking for an understated, sweet romance; action--ordinary or swashbuckling; and definitely humor. ; ) I’m looking for something to write on my heart—something to quote—something to love.

Sarah Brown ~ hope to find very developed characters who are believable and real, whom I can relate to and can actually feel what they are feeling and going through. I like a little bit of God-honoring romance, but not anything passionate, gushy, or cheap. I am not big into sci-fi or action/adventure (like wars or secret agencies, etc.). I love when a book can depict everyday, normal life with new and interesting twists to it (like Chautona Havig does when she has a 22 year old girl suddenly inherit 8 children!). It's believable, it's set right here on planet earth (not on some made up planet or time period), I can relate to it because it depicts everyday life (eating, work, making meals, planning, painting the house, ...anything), but there's some new and unique twist added to the mix (like a woman who wakes up one day having completely forgotten her entire past, as in None So Blind). (Can you tell yet that I'm a big fan of Chautona's work?) It must also uphold Christian values and principles, but should also be real and tangible, not preachy and perfect. I'm pretty passionate and even a little picky about what I consider to be high-quality reading material. :-)

Top 5 Favorite Authors: Part 3

Kate Willis

At my garden party, C.S. Lewis is cracking nuts and jokes while G.K. Chesterton is arguing a finer point of theology. A.A. Milne and Eleanor Estes sip tea companionably as they laugh over Christopher Robin's latest adventure, and Elizabeth Enright wanders the gardens in the glow of Chinese lanterns and fireflies. I bask in the presence of these brilliant people, drinking in every word.

 Kendra Ardnek

C.S. Lewis. His Space Trilogy and Chronicles of Narnia are my favorite books. 

Tolkien. Because Middle Earth

L. Frank Baum. Because Oz.

Gail Carson Levine. Her Ella Enchanted helped me through a difficult part of my life, and I love the way she spins fairy tales.

Jaye L. Knight. Because Ilyon.

Sarah Holman

Elizabeth Camden ~ I think she is one of the most talented writers ever

Grace Livingstone Hill ~ She was a huge inspiration to be and I love her stories

J. Grace Pennington ~ Even though she is The Sleep Stealer

Nicole Sager ~ I always know I am going to love her books

Elisabeth Allen ~ Her stories always touch my heart

Faith Factor: Part 2

Amber Schamel ~ Because of my faith, I am very picky about the books I read. More picky than most people. In fact, I’ve been called extreme. But I’ve been called extreme in my lifestyle too. LOL.

I usually only read in the Christian genre, and since I do, I expect them to reflect a Biblical worldview. I enjoy a flawed character, but I expect that the flaws and sins are portrayed as what they are...flaws and sins. According to the Scripture, sins and flaws should be repented of, and I expect that in my Christian literature.

I’m especially picky when it comes to the Romance genre. As a single Christian, I have certain standards of modesty and chastity that I hold to, and it bothers me when Christian authors do not hold their characters to such standards. Paul said, “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” so I’m not okay with a lot of touchy-feelies before the couple is married. When I find a Romance that maintains respectful contact between the Hero and Heroine, I’ve found a keeper! Stephanie Grace Whitson’s A Stitch in Time was really good.

Kyleigh Dunn ~ One of the biggest differences I’ve found in the way my husband and I read or watch movies is that he tends to interpret worldviews and such from where the character is coming from, whereas I tend to interpret what characters say from my definitions and worldview, reading into it what I believe. I think that makes it easier for me to read and watch things that I don’t agree with all the way, but it can also lead to me not always being aware of things that are wrong, so that also means I have to be more careful than he does about consuming media that doesn’t have a Christian worldview.

Rebekah Morris ~ As a child of the King, I want to be careful what I put into my mind. This doesn’t mean I only read biographies of missionaries or overtly Christian books, but it does mean that I won’t read certain things. The Bible says to think of things that are true, so I stay away from fantasy and science fiction because they “can’t” be true. Whatsoever things are lovely means I’m going to stay away from horror, thrillers, and such genres. Whatsoever things are pure keeps me from most of the romance books out there or other graphic books that give too much information that could be defiling. My standard may not be what someone else’s is, but that is what I personally strive for. I know that what I put into my mind comes out in my behavior and my writings.

Nicole Sager ~ My faith definitely influences what I choose to read or not read. Every person has a worldview, and every author's worldview will be presented in their work whether or not they are trying to drive home a specific point. I try to steer clear of books (Christian or non-) that very obviously support issues I do not (divorce, immorality, alcohol, etc.). Reading is something I do for leisure time, and I just don't want to spend that time trying to root for a hero/heroine that I don't agree with!

Kate Willis ~ Scanning the shelves of the library, I pass over books that mock God and His people. I leave books with an emphasis on violence, strong romance, or witches to collect dust on the shelves. (Which usually leaves me with middle-grader books!) No matter what I'm reading, I discuss the worldview with my family or set the book aside if conscience dictates.

Favorite Summer Films: Part 3

Sarah Holman ~ My favorite TV series to watch in summer Zorro, a series filmed in the early late 80's and early 90's. I also get the urge to watch the Narnia movies. 

Kate Willis ~ My family and I are huge Jimmy Stewart fans. Maybe it’s his boyish charm, the adorable plots, or the fact that they are mostly family friendly. Whatever it is, we enjoy his classic movies and even lesser-known ones. We, of course, love It’s a Wonderful Life, watching it every Christmas so we almost have it memorized. You Can’t Take It With You and The Shop Around the Corner make us laugh our heads off and draw hilarious parallels between them and our own lives. I especially love the ones where he is acting opposite June Allyson, but be warned that The Stratton Story and The Glenn Miller Story are big tearjerkers. ; ) 

Claire Banschbach ~ I enjoy a lot of different movies and TV shows, but one of my all-time favorite movies is How To Train Your Dragon. I love it so much! I’ll basically watch it any time, anywhere.

Aubrey Hansen ~ We go on “movie date nights” once a week... You honestly expect me to pick one favorite summer movie?  I love the movies!  I absolutely cannot wait for Finding Dory, The Secret Life of Pets, Star Trek Beyond, Storks, Doctor Strange...

Celebrating the 4th: Part 1

Sarah Brown ~ We are going to a pool party at my uncle's house, which will be fun, because I LOVE swimming. This will be the first year that we've ever done this, since my uncle just recently moved into the house with a pool, so it's not really a tradition or anything. But one 4th of July tradition we do have is to go out to the lake after dark and watch the huge fireworks show. My dad is the photographer in the family, so I'm afraid I don't have any pictures of either activity of my own!

Kendra Ardnek ~ Our family celebrates the Fourth, not on the day itself, but on the nearest Sunday evening. Why? Because that's when our church celebrates it. One of our church members opens his home to us every year, and we start off the night with a potluck of sorts with hot dogs, hamburgers, and chips, followed by ice cream. One of our evening speakers will usually give a short message, and then as it starts to grow dark, the kids get to run around with sparklers. We conclude the evening with a magnificent fireworks display. We have a marvelous time, and I'm so blessed to have a church that values our independence so highly.

Kate Willis ~ We lived in a tiny rural community for six and half years. A small town where stories are born and never forgotten. Independence Day was one of my favorite celebrations there. Some years we’d all drive half an hour to the “big” town (Population 7,000!) where we’d watch a parade full of too many tractors and logging trucks to count. Afterward we’d stroll through the antique car show, talk with friends, or watch part of the logging show where locals could compete and show off their everyday skills. Other years we would picnic with a few friends and then bundle up in jackets to watch fireworks shoot up over the lake. One of my favorite celebrations was when our tiny church hosted its own party. People were encouraged to dress up in the time period, and several men of the church read patriotic speeches aloud. I’ll always have fond memories of living in that community, and I’m enjoying making new ones in our “big city”.

Nicole Sager ~ In Branson, every day is a celebration of America and it's heroes! This is me and my friends "The Magnificent 7" after an evening of incredible talent, fun, and entertainment, always complete with a patriotic tribute to the USA! Go Red, White, & Blue!

Rebekah Morris ~ I love watching “A More Perfect Union” on the 4th of July and playing patriotic songs on the piano.

Our Book Shelves: Part 2

Kyleigh Dunn

 Kate Willis

I actually share this bookshelf with my sister, but the bottom two shelves are exclusively mine. Like my nerd scarf?

Kendra Ardnek

 Sarah Brazytis

 

And there are at least two more less photogenic! Yes, it sometimes feels like living in a library, but to me nothing replaces the feel of a real book in my hand.

Reading Traditions Part 1

Kyleigh Dunn ~ Most often I am sitting or lying down on this corner of our futon, with the window open, and drinking water or iced herbal tea.

Sarah Brown ~ Now that it's summer, I love to sit out in the sunshine and cool or warm breezes at our picnic table or out on a blanket in the shade, especially just after the lawn has been mowed. Also, it's technically not reading, but I love to listen to audiobooks while I'm driving in the car to and from work, and also while I am doing monotonous office work, like addressing envelopes for our database mailing advertising (I help with our family-owned carpet cleaning business)

Amber Schamel ~ My favorite place to read is laying on my bed with natural sunlight streaming in my Eastern-facing window, but that ideal is not always possible, so I end up with the Booknerd Backache...You know the one. That ache you get  from reading in strange positions, even though you keep changing that position to try to be more comfortable. LOL. I love to find a soundtrack to listen to as I read as well.

Kate Willis ~ My favorite place to read right now is behind our couch. It’s not as crazy as it sounds since there’s about three feet of space between it and the windows to our dining room. I’d say it’s the perfect place for being a halfway introvert since I can monitor the conversation around me while still disappearing into my book. ; ) Other places I enjoy reading are our treehouse, my bed, and sometimes even an honest-to-goodness chair or the couch. I don’t usually like to eat anything while I’m reading, but sometimes a cup of Chai tea is just perfect to set the mood.

Claire Banschbach ~ When I read I usually just curl up in a corner of the couch, or spread out over the entire couch if I have the room. Maybe a position change every few hours. Haha! Just kidding. I don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to reading these days with grad school taking up most of my time.  But if I’m on break or have a weekend off, I’ll grab a book and set up camp on the couch.  But I don’t typically eat anything while I read because I don’t want grubby fingerprints all over the book. For that reason I don’t really read during lunch anymore. 

He Surprised Me Part 2

Homeschooled Authors asked: 

When God meet you unexpectedly in the pages of a book?

(We excluded the Bible)

Morgan Huneke ~ Caught by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I’d picked up on hints that she was probably a Christian in some of the Shadow Children books and earlier Missing books, but I wasn’t sure. And I was not expecting the big reveal at the end of Caught. Without giving too many spoilers, a very wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey discovery is made about a certain character, and you find that all these “mistakes” they’ve made, all this trouble they’ve caused with time were actually meant to happen, and one of the characters indicates that God controls it all, that all these things happened because God said they were supposed to happen. It was a “wow” moment for me. All the mistakes we make, all the things we think we messed up, God is using for His glory. He’ll work it all out. And I thought I was just reading a fun time travel adventure!

Sarah Holman ~ I was very angry about a lot of things that were going on in my life and I felt as if every time I opened my Bible, all I found was condemnation. I decided to read the most secular book I could find in the house. If you could have seen our bookshelves, you would have see how laughable this was. I decided to read the Chronicals of Narnia. Allegories were often lost on me so this seemed a safe choice. I was reading the Horse and His Boy and I came to the point where Shasta is on the mountaintop and I started crying. It was just want I needed to hear from God when I was trying to run from it.

Kate Willis ~ I was reading a hilarious fantasy series. Imagine taking The Princess Bride, The Lord of the Rings, and a bit of Hank the Cowdog and stirring it all together. That’s how you get The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. I found it interesting, epic, and very amusing. Who knew that in the last few chapters of the last book God would throw at me one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful things I had ever read? The main character was going around and around in his perfectionist, performance-based mind when he met with God and was told, “Peace, be still.” He was loved and that was all. I will always remember the moment when I sat with Janner Wingfeather in his perfectionism, jealousy, and despair and discovered the grace of God all over again.

Nicole Sager ~I experienced this when I read Colleen Coble's Safe in His Arms. Often I'll relate to one or more characters in a book, but can't usually connect with their struggles or apply the lessons they're learning to my own life. Reading Safe in His Arms I found myself relating to the heroine and her struggle, and often felt as if I was reading something written directly to me. The Inspirational side of the story truly touched my heart, and by time I read the last words in the story I felt as if I'd had a sweet reminder of God's love for me personally.

Rebekah Morris ~ Having read biographies of many missionaries, preachers, evangelists, etc, I wasn’t expecting to be as impacted by this biography of H. Grattan Guinness, the brother of Mrs. Howard Taylor, as I was. Wow! What a life. The book, titled Guinness of Honan by Mrs. Howard Taylor tells the story of a missionary to China. I wrote down several quotes from the book and am still challenged by them today.

Read to Win: Impactful Books Part 1

Homeschooled Authors asked: 

What fiction book most impacted your life?

Aubrey Hanson ~ The fiction book that most impacted my life is sadly no longer available—although the author has since published an expanded author’s edition.  I don’t even remember how I came across the original edition of Angel Fall, but it shook me to the core.  It was raw, dealt with weighty subjects, and was borderline horror—and yet it was beautiful.  I had never read anything so dark and yet so full of truth and wonder in my life.  It showed me just how shallow most religious fiction is, and how much deeper it could be, if we only dared to be honest.  Furthermore, one day I took a leap of faith and contacted the author about a possible event.  This was the first time I’d reached out a “real” professional author, and I was terrified.  But he responded right away and was so incredibly kind, going out of his way many times for me.  To this day we’re still friends on Facebook.  And that is why Angel Fall is the most impacting book I’ve ever read—it restored my faith in Christian fiction and Christian authors!

Sarah Holman ~ When I was fifteen I read Christy by Catherine Marshall for the first time. This book was not an easy read, and there were some difficult parts to the story, but it only added to it's power. I was so much like Christy at age fifteen, thinking I had it all together and was read to rock the world. This book knocked off those ideas and replaced it with something much stronger and lasting: A stronger faith and a deeper love for people. So many of the people in the stories are so broken, yet God uses them. I have reread Christy two or three time since then (this is a big deal since I normally don't reread books for about five-ten years later) every time I get something new from it.

Morgan Huneke ~A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle is one of the books that has impacted me the most. It’s a classic tale of good versus evil, of overcoming darkness with light, of family and friendship, of doing the right thing even when it’s hard, and of freedom. It’s about how important it is to be individuals and not all exactly the same. I often quote “Like and equal are not the same thing.” And the realization, now that I’m older, of just how many quotes in the book come from the Bible only makes it even better. And then there’s Camazotz. Such a horrible place. Controlled by IT, surrounded by the Black Thing, where everyone is exactly alike, where no one has to suffer weeks of runny noses…but only at the cost of everything you are. We’re all fighting the Black Thing, the darkness, IT, but God is with us and we fight for Him. That’s what A Wrinkle in Time means to me.

Kate Willis ~ When I first stepped into Narnia as a little girl of six, it changed me forever. All seven of the books, especially The Last Battle, have had a huge impact on my life. In learning to love Narnia, I learned to love my world. In learning to love Aslan, I learned to love the real Savior. And in learning to love the true Narnia, I learned to love the Far Country. When one of the greatest theologians of all time writes a children’s series you get the perfect blend of amazing stories and beautiful lessons (with some good British humor!). Definitely time to read them again. ; ) Other books that have had a noteworthy impact on my life are Evangelists in Chains by Elizabeth Wagler and The Viking Quest series by Lois Walfrid Johnson. Both of these taught me the power of forgiveness and trusting God. I’ve never been the same.

Amber Schamel ~ I was browsing in an antique store one day when I found a book called Beulah.
This book was published in the early 1900’s, and I was inspired by the Biblical teaching and worldview that was ingeniously woven throughout the story...almost unnoticeably. It was then that I decided I wanted to craft books like that. Books that uphold and encourage the morals and views taught in the Bible instead of undermining them the way so much of our literature does today. That decision changed my life.




Now it is your turn: Post your answer to the question on your blog. On Friday, you will have a chance to share the link to that post here so that readers and authors can check it out!

The official rules for the Read-to-Win Challenge can be found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway