Harvest House PublishersRelease Date: 1/1/10ISBN: 978-0-7369-2429-0Retail: $10.99Hardcover: 6X6For every time you’ve wished for the right words to say… Today, I feature a new book by my friend and mentor Cec Murphey and his coauthor Liz Allison. Like most of you, I’m no stranger to loss. The first three funerals I heard my pastor husband preach were those of his father, grandfather, and our premature son. We learned that our times of grief prepared us to minister to others who hurt. In the same way, Cecil Murphey and Liz Allison have allowed God to turn their pain into a source of healing and hope. BONUS: read to the end to learn how you can enter the Grand Prize Giveaway—and a special article on ways to deal with grief. About the Book: Through great personal loss, authors Cecil Murphey and Liz Allison have gained insight to share with others who are going through uncertainty, depression, and loneliness after losing a loved one. They also offer advice for those comforting someone who is grieving. Among comforting paintings by artist Michal Sparks, brief stories, personal experiences, and prayers offer a meaningful path toward healing for readers when they: • feel alone and lost in their grief and want to reconnect with others and to life • seek to make sense of their loss alongside their sense of faith, purpose, and God • want to honor their loved one without clinging to the past in unhealthy ways Readers are given gentle permission to grapple with doubt, seek peace, and reflect on loss in their own way without judgment and with understanding and hope. A perfect gift for a loved one dealing with loss and grief. About the Authors: Liz Allison was married to NASCAR driver Davey Allison until his tragic death in 1993. Widowed at 28 with two young children to raise, Liz faced the long journey of pain, loss, and grief with great faith. Committed to encouraging others, she returned to her work in TV reporting, has published eight books, and hosts a weekly radio show. Please visit www.lizallison.com Cecil Murphey is an international speaker and bestselling author who has written more than 100 books, including New York Times bestseller 90 Minutes in Heaven (with Don Piper). No stranger himself to loss and grief, Cecil has served as a pastor and hospital chaplain for many years, and through his ministry and books he has brought hope and encouragement to countless people around the world. Please visit www.cecilmurphey.com Why We Write About Loss (personal letters to readers from the introduction to Words of Comfort for Times of Loss): On the morning of July 12, 1992, my husband, Davey, left home like any other morning—he...

I was ashamed to admit it. I kept quiet about it. I wanted it to change. And finally—it did! March 4-7, 2010 marked a personal milestone. As I noted earlier, I’ve taken a backwards (or at least sideways) approach to many aspects of my writing life. I became a published writer during my childhood but had a long hiatus until 2000 when I began writing, then editing for a homeschool magazine. In 2005, through an unusual avenue of grace, I transitioned into the world of CBA nonfiction books. My surprising little secret? In spite of a longtime interest and present career as a professional writer/editor, I’d never attended a writers’ conference. I’d attended and then hosted an Intensive Writing Seminar with my friend and mentor Cec Murphey, but I’d never participated in a larger writers’ event. Why not? I’d made more than one attempt to attend a conference, but something always stood in the way. Not long after our family moved to Florida, I was thrilled to discover a top-notch conference held at a site twenty minutes from our home. I’d planned to attend last year until a tight book deadline kept me home. This year, no matter what, I was on my way: a real writers’ conference—at last! I’ve compiled my mini-report into a list of My Top Five Blessings from the Florida Christian Writers Conference(FCWC). Cited in reverse order, these are: #5. Refreshment: I can’t describe the joy of coming apart from everyday surroundings to focus on the craft and business of writing. The FCWC takes place in the beautiful setting of Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center. A friend’s generous gift enabled me to spend the nights (I’d planned to commute), an incredible blessing. Writers speak about writing—the language of my heart. And when you hear your heart language, you can’t help but find refreshment. #4. Insights: Several amazing keynoters graced the FCWC. Cec Murphey, Jesse Florea, Jerry Jenkins, and Eva Marie Everson inspired and challenged us in unique ways. All know a great deal about the art of writing—but they also know how to hold an audience’s attention. Each one provided personal insights that spoke to the specific needs of those who write—or aspire to write—for publication. They also showed us their passion for God and for communicating truth that brings him glory. #3. Instruction: Throughout the conference, writers had the opportunity to participate in continuing classes about topics of special interest. These ranged from fiction or nonfiction mentoring to classes on screenwriting and branding. My friend Edwina and I had the privilege of learning about fiction under the tutelage of two of my longtime favorite authors, Angela Hunt and Nancy Rue, aka “Nangie.” I love...

Sometimes our deepest family secrets are the ones we refuse to acknowledge. Sixteen-year-old Tally Bachmann forces more than one issue when a sudden death and an absentee father thrust her into a new environment. Her sudden encounter with what appears to be the perfect suburban life of the Janvier family (her San Diego aunt, uncle, and cousins) exposes her own wounds. But it also brings to the surface the hidden hurts of her new family members as they struggle to relate to one another and to a girl they barely know. Powerful storytelling draws us in. Believable characters keep us reading. Layers of intrigue—including an unusual link to the Holocaust—add depth. And an underlying theme of redemption provides needed impetus to look behind our own white picket fences and seek relational transparency. Bravo to this award-winning author and White Picket Fences for another thoughtful...

It happened only yesterday. I prayed—and I saw God answer. I asked him to reveal himself in a particular situation. He turned a time of chaos into instant peace. He took frustration and transformed it to hope. And his grace flowed over the entire situation. We don’t always see such immediate answers to our prayers. So why do we pray? I’ve thought about that a lot. I believe we pray as an expression of our relationship with God. In fact, one of the things I love to teach is that prayer is more relationship than activity. Our Western culture has turned it into something we do, a box to check off on our list of daily tasks. But God (who is so much bigger than culture) intends prayer to be a lifestyle, a living expression of our lives as connected to His. That’s why he gave us Scriptures that speak of praying “always” or “without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:18). Yes, Jesus modeled the importance of coming apart for specific times of prayer, but he also lived in continual conversation with his Father. If all this is true, why don’t we pray? We don’t pray first because we don’t have a relationship with God. After all, why talk to someone you don’t know? Before I understand that God wanted first place in my life, I prayed—sometimes. My infrequent petitions were what I call 911 prayers that begged God to help me pass a test or act in a particular situation. When I didn’t experience a specific or urgent need, I saw no need to communicate. Our culture teaches us not to talk to strangers—and we’re good at following rules (sometimes). But there’s another reason we don’t pray. We may have a relationship with God. We may know and understand that Jesus paid the penalty we deserved. We may know we will see him in heaven one day. But do we really believe he can make a difference on earth? My writing partner shared some stories with me this week. He’s had some encounters in which God has worked in dramatic ways. One day, we hope to share them in book form. He’s seen God do amazing things because he begins each of his prayers at the place of faith. As a young believer, he knew nothing better than to believe that God would take care of him. When he had a houseful to feed and an empty pantry, he asked God to move. He poured out his heart in prayer. And as he rose from that moment of desperation, he found that God provided the food he needed in an incredible way. That’s only one story (it’ll read much better...

Today, I present the final portion of my interview with 2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel winner C.J. Darlington. Homeschooling parents and writers who seek publication will want to pay special attention. This comes with a shoutout to C.J. for all her helpful answers and to Homeschooling Today for permission to reprint. C.J.’S TIPS FOR YOUNG WRITERS AND THEIR TEACHERS:How homeschooling helps writers learn and grow: If it weren’t for my parents’ choice of homeschooling, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Homeschooling taught me how to teach myself. But after I graduated, my parents were still there to help me pursue my dreams. I believe the homeschool experience fosters individual thinking. That’s so important. I never want to swallow what someone tells me is truth without asking questions. How homeschooling can build creativity: Mom required us to journal every day. We could write about whatever we wanted, and she promised she would never read our entries. That was a freeing experience. I was thirteen when I started and still keep a journal. Mom also built assignments around our interests. For example, she turned the newspaper Tracy and I started into an entire journalism course. Through The Monthly Dart, we learned how to write editorials, limericks, fiction, news articles, and more because those areas intrigued us. How to achieve your writing dreams: Never give up. If God has put the desire to write in your heart, He has a way of fulfilling it. I had the dream of being a published author for more than fifteen years before my first book released. Was it worth the wait? You bet. But you’ll never reach your dreams if you give up on them. PUTTING IT IN PRINT: 1. Learn to type correctly. This is the one homeschool requirement I use every day. If you want to be a writer, it’s imperative. 2. Read great books. The best way to learn how to write fiction is to read great novels. It’s learning by osmosis. You’ll pick up concepts like how to structure a story, craft dialogue, and master point of view without realizing it. 3. Write about what you love. You’ll write best if your topic interests you. Do you love horses? Write a story about a girl and her horse. Are airplanes your passion? Create a story that features a pilot. My sister, Tracy, started writing articles about Christian musicians for youth publications because she loved Christian music.4. Be patient. Writing is an apprenticeship. It can take years to master the craft and achieve publication. Allow this to encourage you on days when the words don’t flow. Originally published in Homeschooling Today® magazine, January/February 2010, used by permission. All rights...