A Chance to Be Christ's Hands & Feet

Tweet

Today over at Brandilyn Collins' blog Forensics and Faith she told us about the plight of a teen girl and her Mom (a reader of Brandilyn's novels) who've recently become homeless and are currently sleeping in their car. The teen, Katy, an aspiring artist and writer has started a blog called Anywhere But Here chronicling their predicament. At left is the picture she has of herself on the blog. We presume she drew it herself!

I'd like to call on all of you to first of all read Brandilyn's post. She explains how she knows the ladies and their current status. Says Brandilyn in part (brackets are mine):

For a number of years now I have sent Liz [the Mom] a free book every time one of mine releases. She has always graciously written back with thanks and much praise for the story. She's been a real encouragement to me. I'm hoping to now help her through my online network of blogging, Facebook and Twitter. I'd appreciate any way you can help spread the word through your own networking.

But she also shares how we can help:

As people are getting involved to help Liz and Katy, it's becoming clear they need an easier way to send money. Liz doesn't have a Paypal account. If you'd like to send funds to Liz and Katy, please send them to my account, and I'll make sure every cent goes to them. Please put in the subject line: For Liz and Katy. My account is under my email address: brandilyn@brandilyncollins.com

In this time of economic hardship, chances are most of you have a warm bed and a house/apartment to come home to. This Mom and daughter don't. Let's not sit back and watch this unfold and become an even more desperate situation. Let's do what we can to help. If you can spare a couple dollars, please do.

I trust Brandilyn on this and know she wouldn't send out a call for the family if they didn't really need it. How about it? Want to join us in helping Liz & Katy?

==========
Update: Brandilyn has updated her blog to reflect the help that's already poured in to help Katy & Liz, including news stories on two local stations. Read that post here.
==========
Update 2: Brandilyn has again updated her blog. Several news stations (including NBC & CNN) have picked up the story! Read here.

Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins

Tweet

Alright, suspense fans. This one's for you. Brandilyn Collins has just released another great "Seatbelt Suspense" title.

I recently interviewed Brandilyn, and one of the questions I asked her was: "What originally sparked the idea for Dark Pursuit and how did it develop?"

Her response:

"For over 30 years I’ve remembered a phrase from John Milton’s Paradise Lost—“hatching vain empires.” After being thrown out of heaven, Satan and his demons are bragging about how they’re going to storm heaven and regain their territory. Beelzebub says they’re just “hatching vain empires.” He has a better idea—go to earth and tempt man away from God. Since that resulting fall in the garden, mankind has been on the dark pursuit of building his own vain empires. I got to thinking—what might that underlying theme look like in a modern-day suspense novel? Who might various characters represent? How might the colors of life and death (green and black) fit into the story?"

Got your interest? :) Read the full interview here.

My friend and fellow writer Darcie Gudger had this to say in her review at TitleTrakk.com:

"Dark Pursuit’s plot moves from fast to fierce. The last few chapters will leave you white-knuckled and breathing hard. It did me, and I live for this genre. Cool relief washed over me when the resolution phase commenced." Read the full review here.

Brandilyn Collins (Advice for Novelists, Part 79)

Tweet

Here's another inspiring entry in our Advice for Novelists series. I've asked authors, agents, editors and publicists their response to the question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

Give your talent and work to God—completely. Work hard. Then watch what God does.

--Brandilyn Collins, bestselling author of Dark Pursuit, the Kanner Lake series, and much more. Visit her website and her blog, Forensics and Faith.

Zondervan First Novel Contest

Tweet

According to Brandilyn Collins, Zondervan announced at the Christy Awards last Saturday a fiction contest they're sponsoring for unpublished writers. Not all of the details have been announced, but here's the gist according to Brandilyn:

"There will be three rounds of judging for the contest. In the first round each author will submit a proposal for a novel. These will be judged and winnowed down. Those who make it through the first round will be asked to submit the complete manuscript. These will go through a second round of judging and be narrowed down to finalists. (Not sure how many--the guidelines will say.) The finalists will be judged by selected Zondervan authors to determine the winner. "

Zondervan's website will post full guidelines soon, and it looks like their blog will too. The winner will be published by Z in the future.

All very interesting. I wonder if they took the initiative from the Christian Writer's Guild's Operation First Novel contest?

Amber Morn by Brandilyn Collins

Tweet

This week the CFBA (Christian Fiction Blog Alliance) is featuring Brandilyn Collins' latest novel Amber Morn. The fourth and final book in her Kanner Lake series, this one is a little different from the others. Featuring an ensemble cast, a hostage situation, the Scenes and Beans bloggers, and Brandilyn's tradmark Seatbelt Suspense, fans are sure to be satisfied.

Read a fun interview I did with Brandilyn awhile back here.

Read my review of Book #1 in the Kanner Lake series, Violet Dawn here.

Read reviews of Coral Moon here, and Crimson Eve here by my friend and fellow writer Darcie Gudger.

FIRST Blog Tour - Coral Moon by Brandilyn Collins

Tweet

I'm sorry I'm late on this, but I wanted to be sure to help spread the word about Brandilyn Collins' latest novel Coral Moon.

Read the first chapter over at the FIRST blog tour page here.

Read a review of Coral Moon at TitleTrakk.com here.

Check out an interview I did with Brandilyn here.

Brandilyn Collins' Java Joint Blog Begins Today

Tweet

Author (and blogger) Brandilyn Collins has written a novel that comes out in August called Violet Dawn. It is part of a new series she has started called the Kanner Lake Series. She sent out Advance Reader Copies to those who requested them and asked them to choose a character that they liked. Then she asked the readers to send her a make believe post from the character for a make believe blog by the 'Kanner Lake' make believeresidents. This is going to be an actual blog full of ficticious bloggers written by real bloggers who liked Violet Dawn. It begins today! Go check it out by pressing the button for Java Joint!