The Last Sin Eater movie opens today!

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Read a review of The Last Sin Eater movie here.

Read interview with Michael Landon, Jr. here.

Read interview with Francine Rivers here.

Find a theater here.

Francine Rivers Interview & The Last Sin Eater movie review

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My interview with Francine Rivers is up at TitleTrakk.com. Francine shared how her novel The Last Sin Eater became a movie, what motivates her to write, her current writing project, and much more. Check it out here.

Every time I start a book, I'm going, "What makes me think I can write a novel?" --Francine Rivers

I have a review of The Last Sin Eater movie posted as well. Read it here.

"Enriching and uplifting ... what a Christian film should be."
--TitleTrakk.com review

Bethany House Publishers wants your input on a book cover

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Dave Long over at the Faith in Fiction blog posted a link to a survey where readers can give their input on the cover of upcoming Bethany House novel Every Secret Thing by Ann Tatlock. It's a quick survey but will enable you to see what goes on in choosing a novel's cover, plus you'll be able to let your voice be heard.

Dave is an acquisitions editor for the publishing house, by the way. Click here to get started.

FIRST Blog Tour - Abiding Darkness by John Aubrey Anderson

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It's time for the FIRST Day Blog Tour. (Join our alliance by clicking the button.) The FIRST day of every month we will feature an author and their latest book's FIRST chapter.

This month's featured author is:

John Aubrey Anderson

and his book:
Abiding Darkness

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

John was born five miles north of the setting for Abiding Darkness, a cotton country town within a rifle shot of two rivers, a bayou, a double handful of lakes, and endless acres of woods.

After graduating from Mississippi State, he flew six years in the Air Force then twenty-nine years for a major airline. And now he gets to write.

He and his wife have been married for forty some-odd years and live in Texas—about twenty miles south of the Red River. He spends the biggest part of his time writing; she’s immersed in leading a comprehensive, women’s Bible study.

They like greasy hamburgers and Dr. Peppers, most species of warm-blooded creatures (the kind that don’t normally bite), and spending July in the mountains.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Abiding Darkness is the first book in the Black and White Chronicles.

It initially anchors itself in the relationship between two children.

Junior Washington is an eleven-year-old black child. He lives in a small cabin out on Cat Lake; his parents work for the Parker family. He’s loyal, he’s compliant beyond what would normally be expected of an eleven-year-old boy, and he’s a committed Christian.

Missy Parker, who lives on the other side of the lake, is the crown princess of the Parker family. At seven years of age she’s beautiful, wealthy, willful, and tough as a tractor tire. And—in the midst of the most defined segregation in our nation’s recent history—this little white girl and Junior Washington are best friends.

Only one thing stands between these two children and a storybook childhood . . . they are destined to encounter a faithful servant of the Author of Evil.

Abiding Darkness starts almost gently. The first sentence offers doubt, but readers may not see any real trouble surface until a few sentences later, and that’s mostly kid stuff, almost cute. From there through the second chapter readers are given a little more to think about . . . an opportunity to imagine what might happen to the children . . . especially the girl.

By the end of the second chapter intuitive readers will be taking a deep breath . . . they’re going to need the oxygen.

To Read the first chapter, visit the FIRST blog.

Michael Landon, Jr. Interview at TitleTrakk.com

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As I mentioned in my previous entry, my sister Tracy and I had the great privilege of interviewing acclaimed director/writer Michael Landon, Jr. We talked about his latest project The Last Sin Eater (based on the novel by Francine Rivers), Christians and entertainment, his novel One More Sunrise coming out with Bethany House next year, and more.

"Entertainment and art have power. Our culture is molded more so by entertainment than any other influence."
--Michael Landon, Jr.

Check out the interview here.

The Last Sin Eater movie coming Feb. 9th

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If you don't have plans to go see The Last Sin Eater movie (based on the novel of the same name by Francine Rivers), make them. Check out the official website for the trailer and theater information.

I've watched the film, and it retains everything important about the book. A very touching story. I'll be writing a review of the movie soon for TitleTrakk.com, and I'm going to be interviewing Michael Landon Jr. (with my sister and fellow writer Tracy) as well as Francine Rivers.

We need to support films like this so more are made.

Following Your Heart

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A question came up recently on a Christian writers e-mail group to which I subscribe. Someone asked, "How do you know when to say 'no' to writing opportunities?"

Here's what I responded:

Since we are Christian writers, I believe we have an advantage over those in the secular market. We have the spirit of the Lord inside of us---He's inside to guide. The best way we can know when to put on the brakes is to follow our hearts. I realize that's an easy statement to make, but I totally believe it. The key is creating an environment that enables us to hear his guidance clearly. How many times have we decided to go one way even though we had this niggling thought inside that maybe we shouldn't, and we find out later it would've been a whole lot better if we'd listened to that nudging? Here are a few practical ideas to help you.

1. Follow peace. Even if what seems like the most amazing opportunity drops into your lap, do you feel a peace about doing it? If not, you would be wise to sit on things for a few days. If the opportunity is from God, it'll be there tomorrow.

2. Pray. Get in a quiet place and ask the Lord for wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault." James 1.

3. Just because a door opens doesn't mean you're to walk through it. It could mean that, but I'd suggest not living your life only walking through open doors. They're not always from God. They could be, but not always.

This is starting to sound like a sermon. But I just want to encourage you all to listen to your spirits. That little voice inside that you think is just you, often is God. He speaks to us through our spirits. That's why the voice sounds like us sometimes.

The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello

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My book review of Sibella Giorello's The Stones Cry Out is up at TitleTrakk.com. I was very impressed with this novel, and I encourage you to go out and buy a copy as soon as possible.

My review begins:

Special agent Raleigh Harmon has just been assigned a civil rights case her supervisor wants closed yesterday. A white male police detective and a black man with a shady past died when they fell off a factory roof during a “Parade for the People” rally two days prior. The city of Richmond has become divided by color before the facts are even known. The police stand by their man, the African American community by theirs. And if there were witnesses, they’re not talking. Especially to the FBI. What really happened on that factory roof? Why were the men together in the first place? Is it really an open and shut case? Raleigh isn’t sure. Despite the surmounting odds, she’s determined to dig down to the truth, because to a forensic geologist the stones do indeed cry out.

Nominated twice for a Pulitzer Prize, Sibella Giorello has already proven she’s a gifted non-fiction writer. But with the publication of The Stones Cry Out, Giorello can now add “gifted novelist” to her resume. Her skillful use of language has created a unique novel that smacks of quality. More than once I found myself awed by her vivid word pictures.

To read the rest of the review, click here.

Ted Dekker Interview and Thr3e movie review

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I had the great opportunity to interview Ted Dekker recently for TitleTrakk.com. He had some awesome information to give writers, readers, and fans. Exclusive info on his upcoming releases, an inside look at the making of the movie Thr3e (based on his novel of the same name), plus much more.

Read the interview here.

And be sure to check out my review of the movie Thr3e here.
"...a powerful storyline and a killer ending."

FIRST Blog tour - Hell in a Briefcase by Little & Whittington

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This month's featured author is:

Phil Little with Brad Whittington

and their book:

HELL IN A BRIEFCASE

(A Matt Cooper Novel)


Read a review of Hell in a Briefcase at TitleTrakk.com here.

ELEVEN BRIEFCASES AND ONE UNLIKELY HERO...CAN MATT COOPER FIND ELEVEN NUCLEAR DEVICES AND HIS FAITH BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES?

With violence in the Middle East escalating daily, Americans are glued to their televisions wondering what will happen next. Meanwhile, Matt Cooper, jet-setting star of Phil Little's debut novel Hell in a Briefcase is doing something about it. A private security executive, his adrenaline-junkie days consist of last-minute first-class overseas flights, Hollywood parties with his actress girlfriend, and direct calls from top CIA brass.
A chance meeting with Mr. Roberts, “an old broken-down millionaire” and uncommon Christian, sends Cooper on a trip to Israel that will change his life. Matt goes behind the curtain of Middle East terrorism, witnessing firsthand the untold ravages of holy war. The deeper he goes, the closer he gets to a plot involving eleven stolen briefcase nukes and a plan infinitely more sinister than 9/11.

For space restraints the first chapter can now be read in the Reading Room of TitleTrakk.com. Click here.

My Interview at Infuze

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Matt Conner at Infuze recently conducted an interview with me. We talked about TitleTrakk.com, and my novel writing. It was interesting being on the receiving end of questions for a change.

Check it out here.

Straight Talk From the Editor

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For those of you writers out there, may I recommend a great little Amazon Short by W. Terry Whalin? Terry is a successful author and editor, and you can learn a ton from his insights.

For more information on writing, check out Terry's instructional blog The Writing Life.

Interview with Nick Harrison of Harvest House

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An interesting post over at the Speculative Faith blog. Rebecca M. interviewed Harvest House editor Nick Harrison about a new fantasy trilogy by George Bryan Polivka the house will be publishing soon. Check it out here.

Jerry Jenkins Interview

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I recently had the privilege of interviewing best-selling author Jerry Jenkins. He had some great things to say! For example, when I asked him What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you first started writing?, he said:

"Interesting question. I have never liked knowing things in advance. I like to be surprised. I’m not a goal-setter but rather strive to do the best at whatever it is I have been assigned and see what happens. I write the same way: put interesting characters in difficult situations and write to find out what happens. Had I known how remote was the possibility of ever being published, I might have despaired. Instead, I just blithely went for it."

Check out the full interview over at TitleTrakk.com by clicking here.

FIRST Blog tour - Eye of the Oracle by Bryan Davis

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It is December 1st, time for the FIRST Day Blog Tour! (Join our alliance. Click the button.) The FIRST day of every month we will feature an author and their latest book's FIRST chapter!

This month's feature author is:

BRYAN DAVIS

and his latest book:

Eye of the Oracle

Bryan Davis is the author of the four book Dragons in Our Midst series, a contemporary/fantasy blend for young people. The first book, Raising Dragons, was released in July of 2004. The second book, The Candlestone, followed in October. Circles of Seven debuted in April of 2005, followed in November by Tears of a Dragon.

Bryan is the author of several other works including The Image of a Father (AMG) and Spit and Polish for Husbands (AMG), and four books in the Arch Books series: The Story of Jesus' Baptism and Temptation, The Day Jesus Died, The Story of the Empty Tomb (over 100,000 sold), and Jacob's Dream. Bryan lives in Winter Park, Florida with his wife, Susie, and their children. Bryan and Susie have homeschooled their four girls and three boys.

To read more about Bryan and his books, visit the Dragons in our Midst Website or visit Bryan's blog.

Eye of the Oracle

by Bryan Davis

Dragons in our Midst - Prequel
Oracles of Fire - Volume 1


For space restraints, you can now read the first chapter in the Reading Room at TitleTrakk.com. Click here.