Sunday, January 24, 2016

The Cokeville Miracle by T. C. Christensen

Christensen, T.C. The Cokeville Miracle 2015
I recently watched The Cokeville Miracle, directed by T.C. Christensen.

The movie was superb on many levels. The acting was magnificent, as was the pacing, the music etc. And that is to say nothing of the wonderful message and spirit of the movie. I appreciated how at the end, the movie makers did acknowledge that not every hostage situation ends in such a positive way. In this situation, every single innocent person lived, and only the perpetrators died. That is not always the case. Even so, there is a God, and it's important to note His hand in the miracles that do happen.

Showing the perspective of the officer who struggled was a great move by the movie makers as well. His journey from doubt to belief was admirable. All of us doubt, and many disbelieve at different points in our lives, and showing him, a good decent man struggling the way he did, yet finally coming to his own understanding was very hopeful.


Saturday, January 9, 2016

Foster Parenting

About a year and a half ago, I blogged about a friend and colleague of mine, Ben Pugh, and his wife Deb and their book on Foster Parenting.  They've been foster parents for several years now, and have quite a lot of experience in how to care for, and care about, kids in the foster care system.  Their book Becoming a Foster Parent was written for anyone interested in becoming a Foster Parent, or simply just interested in learning how Foster Parenting works.

Their blog, which you can find here, is full of great advice for anyone, whether they're people who are raising foster kids, their own kids, or just want to learn some awesome life skills!

Monday, January 4, 2016

Middle Grade Book Sale- Jan. 4-7



I am excited to announce this Multi Author Book Promotion including works from Andrea Pearson, David Farland, and several other authors, including me!  The books are priced at .99 or Free!

I can vouch for my own book, but make sure any book you would like to purchase is at the sale price before you download it!

The Multi-Author Middle-Grade Book Promotion starts January 4, 2016 and ends January 7, 2016.





From $5.99 to FREE
Kindle Nook  * iTunes

All Jacob wants is to make the basketball team. All the Lorkon want is to control the magical powers Jacob doesn't know he possesses.

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From $2.99 to $0.99

Kindle

Twelve-year-old Steven never wondered where the Loch Ness monster or Big Foot came from until he found a stone box with a dangerous secret--one people are willing to kill for!
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From $2.99 to $0.99
Kindle * Nook * Kobo

More than anything, Benjamin Ravenspell wants a pet, but when he buys a mouse named Amber, he gets more than he bargained for.






From $0.99 to FREE
Kindle Nook Kobo * iTunes

Cassandra's ordinary life is riddled with hilarious and sometimes heart-breaking mishaps as she guides herself through the world of pre-teens on the brink of adulthood.
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From $2.99 to FREE

Kindle Nook Kobo

Part Neanderthal, but raised as a human, Arken Freeth finds that he doesn't fit in either world as he struggles to survive.
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From $3.99 to $0.99
Kindle * Nook * Kobo

An eleven-year-old girl discovers she has the power to grant any living thing its one true wish.






From $3.99 to FREE
Kindle Nook Kobo

When a malnourished horse shows up as a rescue at the farm where she volunteers, Jacinda, a bullied girl, takes it on as a project horse, and the mare's sweet nature inspires her to spread kindness around to make a positive difference in the world.
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From $0.99 to FREE

Kindle Nook Kobo

Jenni Kershaw and her eighth grade science class take a field trip they will never forget. Dragons and goblins and spirits, oh my!
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From $2.99 to $0.99
Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunes

When Colin suddenly learns he has magic, he discovers that Atlantis is real, and that his new mermaid friend, Alleya, is in trouble.





From $2.99 to $0.99
Kindle Nook Kobo iTunes

Bed bugs, burglars, and a missing mother. For Doodle, it’s just part of a day’s work. A laugh-out-loud mystery for dog lovers of all ages.
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From $2.99 to $0.99

Kindle Nook Kobo

To save her brother, the banshee Seven must save Atlantis.
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From $1.99 to $0.99
Kindle

One girl with a nightmare to live through; one ghost with a dream to live. With so much to lose, can anything be gained?






From $3.49 to FREE
Kindle

Enter a world of myth and magic as young English boy Thomas Farrell seeks to discover the identity of his late father, and why he left him a strange glass orb containing a serpent...
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From $2.99 to $0.99

Kindle

When eating dog kibble on a dare gives 10-year-old Tawny special powers, her life nearly goes to the dogs!
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From $5.49 to $0.99
Kindle * Nook * Kobo

Twins Justin and Janine discover a mysterious egg ... can they protect the hatchling while lost in Montana's Absaroka wilderness?






$3.99 to $0.99
Kindle

Daniel doesn't think there's anything worse than spending a week at Camp Bigfoot . . . until he loses his prized possession: a pencil that brings his drawings to life.
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From $4.99 to $0.99

Nook Kobo

Laughing and Learning Little Life Lessons
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From $3.99 to FREE
Kindle

When a blast from the past shows up and makes her BFF go nutburgers, Ginnie is torn between helping her friend and getting some very important questions answered.






From $3.99 to FREE
Kindle Nook Kobo

Harry Potter and The Hobbit rolled into one captivating and humorous epic fantasy series that will have kids begging for more.
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From $0.99 to FREE

Kindle Nook Kobo

Winner of the Mom's Choice Award honoring excellence in media for children. Classic fantasy adventure - quirky, funny, sinister, and action-packed
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From $3.99 to FREE
Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunes

To save his friends from a dystopian future Earth, Nikolas leads them to a fantastic Moon in the past. But what happens when the fantastic becomes fatal?






From $3.99 to FREE
Kindle Nook Kobo

Explore the magical history of Kendra Kandlestar's world in this collection of bonus tales from the Land of Een.
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From $4.99 to FREE

Kindle Nook * iTunes

DREAMS: Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME.
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From $2.99 to $0.99
Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunes

What's worse than stumbling upon the dead body of the Cat Lady? Being accused of her murder. Sarah Cole and her friends take it upon themselves to catch the Cat Lady Killer.







From $2.99 to FREE
Kindle Nook

When Turik finds a special egg his Grandfather is kidnapped and he must balance his power for good with the strength of the evil that wishes to consume him.
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From $2.99 to $0.99

Kindle

Felicity, an ordinary sparrow learns that she can do extraordinary things!




From $2.99 to $0.99
Kindle Nook Kobo

George, the magical basset hound, is on the trail of the mysterious ghosty haunting his Packmate, Tillie.
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From $2.99 to $0.99

Kindle

The legend of the little red hen, as told by the acorn that smacked her in the head. NO ONE IS TOO SMALL TO CHANGE THE WORLD!
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From $2.99 to FREE
Kindle

Carter's life changes when an old man entrusts him with a book of magical spells, one of which grants the power to raise people from the dead.








From $3.99 to $0.99
Kindle Nook Kobo

When a group of crazed ninjas take over their school, the Smartboys fight back. And it all happens on a day when Monkey has the worst case of flatulence imaginable.

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From $0.99 to FREE
Kindle

Ever wonder what it would be like to be pulled into your computer? Sarah is about to find out.
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From $2.99 to FREE

Kindle Nook Kobo iTunes

It takes more than a school trip to change Christy's life. It takes murder.
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From $2.99 to FREE
Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunes

When a savage pirate and a corrupt businessman join forces to steal the treasure for themselves, Christopher and his crew get caught up in pirate chases, time travel, and an underground network of spies!






From $0.99 to FREE
Kindle Nook Kobo iTunes

Semi-autobiographical adventures from a 20th Century Northern California outdoorsman
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From $2.99 to $0.99
Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunes

The future looks bleak unless eighteen-year-old Lance and his young New Camelot Earth Warriors can save the planet from catastrophic climate change.
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Enjoy your new books! :-)

Friday, January 1, 2016

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a productive 2015.  It was a very lovely year for me, as an author.  During 2015 I had the opportunity to visit many schools to talk about the importance of writing your own stories, and to introduce the students and teachers to my middle grade book, Felicity~ A Sparrow's Tale.  Then when it's sequel Felicity and the Featherless Two-Foot was published in September of 2015,  I was able to introduce it to Wasatch Elementary in Ogden which I visited in November.  I made a lot of great memories at all those schools.

Thanks so much to Oscarson Elementary, Circleville Elementary, Snow Springs Elementary, Fairview Elementary, Diamond Valley Elementary, Duchesne Elementary and Wasatch Elementary in Ogden.

I'm excited to visit the schools I'll get to go to in the coming months!

I wish everyone a productive and happy 2016!