Interview with Dawn Paoletta

Dawn, from her Facebook Page

Today we have with us an amazing lady, Dawn Paoletta, a fellow blogger and a newly published author. She has had an amazing life.

Q. S. Hello, Dawn. It’s so good to have you with us today.  How long have you been writing? What caused you to start?

D.P.I can still remember writing in school and feeling the desire to say something sincere from the heart, yet feeling not quite clear about what it was, like a seed buried deep in the dirt waiting to root and emerge. I have journaled and been dabbling in writing all my life. Although I dabbled in writing privately, I pursued a career in fitness and only wrote in journals. When I came to a saving knowledge of the Lord, words started pouring out of me in poetic form. I still have the first poems I wrote in the Bible I had at the time. Suddenly that seed rooted from early on began to emerge, blossom and bloom wildly! It took me awhile to come forward and share my writing publicly. I felt God was leading me in that direction, but as one who had an unconventional education and dropped out of school, I had doubts about the details. I continued to write, unsure of what to do and where to go to share until on a white-water rafting trip knew I needed to share what He revealed of Himself to me with others. I literally felt that if I didn’t I would explode!

Q.S. You have a blog. Would you please share with us why you started blogging.

D.P. Yes! This feeling of I must do what God is telling me to do and trust Him with the outcome led me to start my first blog, Beneath the Surface: Breath of Faith in 2011. It was birthed when I finally realized God wanted me to share the gifts of writing He had placed within me and took the leap of faith onto the World Wide Web finally sharing that “The River, The Journey and The Guide”, after a few shorter practice posts to test the waters. I loved the way God gave me insights that blessed others while ministering to me intimately as well. My writing brought me joy and kept me close to the Lord during this season. In 2014 I shifted my blogging to a new blog on WordPress called Enthusiastically, Dawn, my real-life signature used which is loosely based on the Greek and Latin root word Enthous, reflecting one embodied and/or inspired by God. It is hard, if not impossible for me to separate my writing from the God who inspires me. (Here is the link to her blog Enthusiastically, Dawn.)

Q.S. Do you participate in a writing group? If so, how long?

D.P.I connected with a local writers group in 2013 and this has been an amazing blessing and opportunity to grow as a writer. I have also been able to participate in some great local events due to my being part of a group. It is a diverse group of writers from all backgrounds. Both published authors and newer writers participate in writing to a weekly prompt or whatever they are inspired to share. My work has been published in the last four anthologies with the group.

Q.S. You have a love for planners, I understand you make your own. How did this come about?

4.) The Planner Question! This comes from my many years working as a Personal Trainer, running a business, and pursuing athletic and educational pursuits. Planning and Journaling go hand and hand to me… God used my personal pursuits in physical fitness and business to teach me about the spiritual life I live with Him. He has always been leading me and guiding me into a deeper understanding of His grace and truth. I do love planners, but I am a terrible planner person! I tend to be very impulsive, creative and intuitive. The Lord meets me somewhere between the planning and journaling and reminds me He is my ultimate goal. He is my Happy Place, and when I keep His will at the forefront of my plans, dreams, and goals, I am a pretty happy planner and writer girl.

Q.S. 5)     Do you have any other book ideas in mind?

D.P. I have a bookshelf of books in my brain that I want to write or put together! I want to revise my current book, Journaling for Discovery and Delight, to make it larger and with room to journal within the pages. As a newly self-published author, I learned a few lessons the hard way, but I learn best by doing, so I do not regret my choices! I am working on a Poetry manuscript, and I’d like to publish a Devotional. I have a Fiction piece and a few other pieces that are in various stages of development. I believe I am meant to write a few more books, and it’s a matter of doing the work and being patient with the process.

Q.S. Please tell us about your family.

D.P.I am married to my best friend, Angelo- we’ve been friends since 1983 when we worked at a café together in the city. I have a 17-year-old daughter, Katherine- who I love with my whole being!

Q.S. My next blog post will be a review of her book. of Journaling for Discovery and Delight – Creative Prompts for Your Journey

Prayers Requested

https://trans4mind.com

            I realize I have not been forthcoming about something with you. I didn’t mean to keep a secret from all of you. I recently made reference to a book I have been writing and one of my readers commented that she didn’t know about it. Please forgive me for being so quiet about it.

        Today, I will interview myself about this new venture. That way you all will know how to pray for me.

Quiet Spirit: Tell us about your new book.

Cecelia Lester: “Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy” is a collection of 60 devotions that encompass six basic areas of concern Christians have. These concerns can occur in the hearts of long-time believers as well as those new to the faith.

Q.S.: Who did you write this book for?

C.L.: I wrote this book for men and women who have questions about where they are in their walk with God. People who are newly retired or recent empty-nesters.

Q.S.: What is your overall theme?

C.L.: My overall theme is to get close to God, talk to him. Observe our world and, again, talk to Him about what we as individuals do.

Q.S.: What does the title “Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy” mean?

C.L.: When we have times that seem to get the best of us, we have to look for the hope, even if it’s a tiny sliver. When we cling to that hope, we eventually find God places joy in our hearts.

Q.S.: How did you go about putting together this book?

C.L.: At the beginning of 2015, I felt I wasn’t quite doing what God wanted me to do. Days seemed to slip away from me. I started journaling. I wrote for six months on the themes of Time Management, Strength, Humility, Compassion and Mercy, Faith, and Peace. God, in His mysterious ways. saw to it that I had to practice humility, faith, and peace when I had an accident and suffered a severe injury to my right ankle. I was on bed rest in a rehab center for eight weeks. I was in that facility for three months.

Q.S.:  Tell us about the Illustrations at the beginning of each section.

C.L.: I needed something to show the different sections of the book. I tried taking some photos but they I didn’t have enough skill to do them attractively. I wanted each one to be distinctive. When I found them, I liked them. I believe each of the illustrations conveys a message about the theme of each devotion in its section.

Q.S.: What do you think people mean if they call your book non-typical?

C.L.: At the end of each devotional passage, I included up to three questions that relate to the message in that reading. Also, I placed lines for the reader to record his or her answer. These questions are to make a person think about what the message said and apply it to his or her life if that is possible.

Q.S.: What is the value of a book like “Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy?”

C.L.: It is easily read. It is small enough to fit in a purse or a small tote bag. The messages are short and to the point. This book can be easily incorporated into a person’s daily devotions, along with his or her Bible reading.

Q.S.: Do you have a release date for this book?

C.L.: Yet this summer. It will be in print and Kindle formats. I will have more information when it is released

Q.S.: Thank you for sharing with us. We look forward to the release of “Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy”

Book Review: Spirit of Truth

 By Marja Verschoor-Meijers

            Mrs. Verschoor-Meijers explores the meaning of the ninth commandment in this, her latest book. She begins each chapter with a Scripture verse; she ends each chapter by leaving us with three thoughts on which to meditate, along with space for the reader to journal his or her thoughts.

            I would recommend this book to anyone who desires to grow in the LORD. The length of this book-95 pages would make a very good study for a small group.

            Marja delves into the nuances of being truthful about what we share with others. She approaches the issues involved with a magnifying glass and sheds light on issues most of the people would only think about in passing. I like the concept of the series of which this book is a part; the whole series is about the Ten Commandments in the 21^st century’

 

Marja shared this with us. “In my latest book Spirit of Truth I have taken a closer look at three statements by three different people:

•           Pilate, who proclaimed three times that he could not find any fault in Jesus

•           Peter, who said three times in a row that he did not know Jesus and

•           Jesus, who announced three times the coming of the Spirit of truth

Three men, three messages. In Spirit of Truth, I am taking the reader to the courtroom where Jesus stands in front of Pilate, while Peter was outside denying his friendship with Jesus. Pilate confronted Jesus with a direct and desperate question: What is truth? It is one of the most famous questions ever asked in the history of mankind and it still lingers in our courtrooms today. Is it possible to live and speak the truth? Is it possible to stand up for biblical values and principles in a troubled world that has taken a free fall into lawlessness? The letter of the Old Testament Law says ‘do not accuse anyone falsely’, the Spirit says ‘speak truth’. The Holy Spirit will always urge us to change from the inside out. In this book we will take a closer look at Truth, yes, with a capital T, and discover its awesome power and identity.

            Because Marja lives in Europe, her publisher is also in Europe. For those of us who live in the USA and Canada, this volume is available here in E-book form. At www.amazon.com/Spirit-Truth-certainty-standing-troubled-ebook/dp/B01COACFWE?ie=UTF8&keywords=spirit%20of%20truth&qid=1463673161&ref_=sr_1_2&s=books&sr=1-2   

      

I received this book from the author in paperback form. All she asked of me was to give an unbiased opinion.

Meet Chaplain, Author Billy Zeoli

Billy Zeoli is retired from co-chairmanship with Doug DeVos of Gospel Communications

International, the developer of the Bible Gateway and trained and hosted hundreds of evangelical

ministries on the World Wide Web beginning in 1995.

Previously he was President of Gospel Films, which produced hundreds of dramas and documentaries,

including Francis Schaeffer's 10-part series, "How Should We Then Live?"

He was White House chaplain under President Gerald R. Ford and was one of three people he confided

in regarding pardoning former President Nixon.

Billy also served as chaplain and spiritual advisor to many professional athletes and teams, including

Tom Landry and Roger Staubauch during their incredible run with the Dallas Cowboys. Bobby

Richardson of the New York Yankees remains a close friend.

Unabashedly as a Christian, He met in the Middle East with such important political figures as

Menachem Begin, Yasser Arafat, and Anwar Sadat.

He is writing a book that offers his insider's view of everything from President Ford's pardon of former

US President Richard Nixon to Islamic-Jewish-Christian relations, and from the role of faith in

professional sports to the connections between American entrepreneurialism and Christianity.

On my next blog, I will review a book of his that will be republished as an e-book “God’s Got a Better Idea.” This is a collection of prayers Billy wrote and sent to President Gerald Ford. More about this later.

Picture of Billy Zeoli came throught LinkedIn.

Meet Author Lynda Lee Schab

Today, we will meet a very busy author, Lynda Lee Schab. I became acquainted with her through her blog www.on-the-write-track.blogspot.com.  She also has a website, www.LyndaSchab.com.  Let’s begin our talk.

QS: Thank you, Lynda, for stopping by and talking with us.

QS: Please tell us about yourself

LS: I got my writing start in greeting cards and have many articles and stories published in magazines and online publications. I work behind the scenes at FaithWriters.com, I regularly review books for FaithfulReader.com, but my passion has always been fiction. Her novels, MIND OVER MADI and MADILY IN LOVE, are available in print and on Kindle. I live in Michigan with my two children.

QS: How long have you been writing?

LS: As my website bio states, I think I carried a pencil with me out of the womb. I remember writing short stories in elementary school and plays for my cousins and me to perform for our family, and I spent countless hours just making up stories in my head. It goes without saying that reading was a huge part of my life as well. Books were a wonderful escape for me and only fueled my writing desire. The first thing I ever got professionally published was a greeting card for Blue Mountain Arts. From there, I went on to write and publish more greeting card copy, magazine articles, web content, short stories, and eventually two full length novels. Now I freelance for a couple of regular clients but have put my fiction on the shelf for a season, due to current life circumstances. But I definitely intend to get back to it one day.

QS: In what genre do you write?

LS: My favorite genre to read is suspense, particularly legal thrillers, but I don’t have the education, experience, or the patience for hours of research to write them myself. I have a half-written fun mystery I hope to return to at some point, and have written short stories in many different genres (including biblical fiction and historical), but my published novels, Mind over Madi and Madily in Love, are lighthearted women’s fiction. They are fun and laced with humor, with a dose of hope and grace. They are published through OakTara and available in print and on Kindle at Amazon.com.

QS: Do you have a ‘day job?’

LS: Right now I work full time in administration for a concrete company and do my freelance work in the evenings and weekends. Unfortunately, my dream of an office overlooking the water where I can write novels all day will have to wait a while. But I’m a dreamer and an optimist, so I’m holding onto the belief that it really will happen one day!

 QS: Have you written before this?

LS: As I mentioned above, I have lots of published work out there, but writing a novel has been something I wanted to do for as long as I can remember. It took many years and a lot more perseverance than I thought I had. Looking back, I can see God’s hand in everything that brought me to that point, from the people I met to the opportunities presented to me. I did write and self-publish an e-book titled, “This Little Writer Went to Market,” based on a workshop I taught at a FaithWriters conference a few years ago. It’s a simple book that offers advice and information on getting started as a freelance writer in various markets – greeting cards, magazines, anthologies, online publications, and more. This Little Writer Went to Market is available in the FaithWriters e-book store and on Amazon.

QS: Do you write a blog? Please give us the address.

LS: I maintained a blog titled On the Write Track for several years, but honestly, I haven’t updated it in a while. Again, I’ve been going through some personal issues that have prevented me from keeping up with it. Like my fiction, I hope to reignite it at some point. There is a lot of good information there, though, so if writers/readers have some time and want to browse, the address is www.on-the-write-track.blogspot.com.

QS: Tell us about your kids.

LS: Oh, I love to brag on my kids! I have a 20-year-old son who is attending community college in the fall. He’s inherited my creative genes, reads obsessively, and is an exceptionally talented writer. He has also directed several personal videos. He would love to go into film-making and it wouldn’t surprise me if he receives an Oscar one day (spoken as both a mother and a fan). My daughter is 17. She is very bright, has a compassionate heart and wonderful insight into people and life, in general. She graduates from high school next year and will go on to earn a degree in childhood education. She wants to be a kindergarten teacher, which I believe is a perfect choice for her.

 QS: Thank you, Lynda for sharing facts about your writing life with us. Readers, you will get to find out about her non-fiction book, "This Little Writer Went to Market"  on Friday.

           

Interview: Author Angela Joseph

,

Hello;

Today we will have a chance to get to know Angela Joseph. On Wednesday, we will find out about her book, A Woman for All Seasons. Shall we get started?

Please tell us about yourself.

I am a lover of Jesus Christ with a passion for spreading the gospel through the written word. I currently live in South Florida, and next to writing and reading, I enjoy photography, travel and spending time with my grandchildren.

1.)               

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing for longer than I can remember, but began writing seriously twelve years ago.

In what genre do you write?

In addition to non-fiction, I write in the women’s fiction genre.

Do you have a ‘day’ job?

I am employed as an occupational therapist in behavioral health.

What have you written before this?

I’ve also written a series of three novels, the Egypt series, which are not yet published, in the Christian women fiction genre. I have contributed to A Cup of Comfort for Mothers, and recently to Chicken Soup. I have also written several freelance articles on health, fitness and education. A few years ago, I won an honorable mention in a Writer’s Digest contest.

Do you write a blog? Please give us the address.

My blogs can be viewed at http://quildonwrites.blogspot.com and http://angelasfreelancewriting.com

 Tell us about your family.

I am a wife and mother to one daughter and three sons and grandmother of five.

It’s been nice getting to know more about you, Angela. Thanks for stopping by. 

Meet Amber Koneval

Today and tomorrow we will have Amber Koneval with us. She has a very interesting story to tell us.

Amber, it’s nice of you to come here and visit with us. Please tell us about yourself.

Well, where to start? I'm a twenty-year old Catholic-Christian, one of the middle children in a family of six siblings (three older, two younger). I'm slated to graduate from Regis University in December of 2013 with a double major in English and Religious Studies through the Honors track. I currently have a 3.8 GPA. I write poetry under my birth name, and woman's fiction under an alias. I've worked as a nanny, a retail sales clerk, an administrative assistant, a youth mentor and a Sacristan. My dream growing up was to become a youth minister, something I still hope to achieve somewhere in the midst of the whirlwind that is my writing life. My favorite animals are snakes and cats.

How long have you been writing?

I've been writing since I was in middle school, but really didn't enjoy it until my freshman year of college. I also didn't take my own writing very seriously until the spring of 2012, when I had my first poem accepted by Time of Singing, a wonderful literary journal of Christian lit. That was kind of my personal 'test' for whether or not I could really make it into nationally distributed publication. Since I passed that, I've kind of taken off- since then, I've been published in more than twenty different journals online and in print with more than sixty-some poems (not including my collection).

In what genre do you write?

Under this name, I write poetry. For the most part, as well, I write Christian poetry. Even my 'secular' poetry tends to have religious imagery, due to the fact that my faith is such a huge part of my life and I tend to understand most things through the light of my religious tradition.

Do you have a ‘day job?’

I have several, actually. On top of being a student, I am also currently the editor for my university's online newspaper, a nanny to two wonderful little girls, and a Sacristan for our university's on-campus chapel. I also write fiction, so I'm also always working on novel projects. I like being busy.

What have you written before this? (Previous to Drunk Dialing the Divine.)

'Drunk Dialing the Divine' is my first full collection, but I've had plenty poems published singularly before its debut. I also used to write articles for my parish newsletter when I was in high school.

Do you write a blog? Please give us the address.

My blog is The Amber of the Moment I mostly talk about the processes I go through to become a better poet and person, as well as keeping readers updated on my latest acquisition notices or upcoming readings. I also host a couple of guest posts from other like-minded writers (mostly Christian writers or other modern poets).

Tell us about your family. (Married or single,)

At the moment, I am still finishing up college so I've not been thinking too deeply about settling down just yet. I live about forty-five minutes away from my parents and siblings, and I'm very close to my entire family. I have five nieces and nephews already as well (from two of my older siblings) that I love to death. My family is my biggest support when it comes to my writing career. No one would know my name if it wasn't for their shameless promotion of everything I do, and it really keeps me going when I'm feeling stressed or hopeless. I know not every writer is so lucky, and I'm extremely grateful to God for their love and encouragement.

More about Susan Reinhardt and The Moses Conspiracy

We are still enjoying our time with  Susan Reinhardt, a fellow blogger. She was one of the first bloggers who chose to follow me.   Her blog site is called Christian-Reader Writer Connection.

Susan J. Reinhardt's journey to publication began as a non-fiction writer. Her appreciation for using fiction techniques inspired her to use novels as a vehicle for truth. She's been published in The Rev Writer Resource, Devotions Magazine, A Secret Place, Vista, Live, and numerous other compilations and periodicals.

A widow, stepmom, and active church member, Susan enjoys reading, couponing, gardening, and searching for small treasures in antique shops.She also does sign language.

Last month, Susan published her debut e-book, The Moses Conspiracy. What follows is a recap of the story:

The Moses Conspiracy by Susan J. Reinhardt

A trip to post-terrorized Washington, D.C. in 2025 and a buggy accident in Bird-in-Hand, PA set in motion events that expose a diabolical plan to destroy the Christian community. Ellie and John Zimmerman find themselves embroiled in a life-threatening investigation, fighting a shadowy enemy.

Convinced it's now safe to visit D.C., Ellie and her firstborn, 8-year-old Peter, travel to the nation's capital. Both mother and child make an effort to enjoy the sights, but they're unprepared for the challenges they face. Her nightmares come true when she and Peter are separated.

Back home, John witnesses a neighbor's buggy accident. The suspicious circumstances and law enforcement's refusal to take them seriously prompt him to take on the role of detective. He and a tenacious reporter band together and vow to find out what's happening in Bird-in-Hand.

Extended family squabbles erupt when John's sister, Annaliese, faces off with Ellie for blowing her D.C. experiences out of proportion. She'd rather ignore the warnings than deal with the growing danger.

John and Ellie can't decide whether her trip and his involvement with the accident were such a good idea. People are getting hurt, and their own family receives ominous warnings. Turning back the clock is not an option, but going forward could initiate more violence.

The small community is shattered when the unthinkable occurs. Will family, friends, and neighbors band together or allow fear to prevent them from taking action?

Caught between strained family relationships and a faceless enemy, the couple relies on God for wisdom and protection. Little do they know that He's working on their behalf each step of the way.

The scabs of a past tragedy get ripped open, and the truth of their second child's death is revealed. While they may expose the culprits, will they survive the heartache it brings?

Meet Susan Reinhardt- Author

Hello, today we will be talking with Susan J. Reinhardt. I am excited to have her stop here on her blog tour for her first e-book, The Moses Conspiracy. Susan hails from the Keystone state, Pennsylvania.

1. What inspired you to write The Moses Conspiracy?

My late husband and I visited Gettysburg prior to Christmas in 2004. While standing in the old town square, surrounded by history, I could "hear" the forefathers' voices. However, they were like fading echoes.

After several failed attempts to write non-fiction pieces, I put it on the back burner and prayed for direction. In August 2005, my husband and I were talking about "the Gettysburg experience," and he said, "That's it!  That's your book! And you'll write it in 4 months and call it Ghosts of the Past."

I thought he was crazy, but caught the vision. The name changed to Echoes of the Past and later to The Moses Conspiracy. When I sat down at the computer, I had no clue what I was going to write. By Christmas 2005, I had 55,000 words.

2. How long did it take you to write the book? Was it an easy journey?

The first draft took 4 months, but then I had to learn how to write fiction. I cut my writing teeth on this book. There were multiple re-writes while I shopped it around. It took 8 years to write, get a contract, and an agent.

The journey was far from easy. From 2006-2007, I wrote very little due to my husband's battle with leukemia, death, and subsequent challenges. When I came through the grief process, I knew I had to finish the book both in his memory and because I felt the Lord had directed me to write it.

3. What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

There are several messages, including the faithfulness of God during difficult times, the importance of protecting our freedoms, and building strong family relationships.

4. What genre is your book?

I loosely define The Moses Conspiracy as Christian Speculative Fiction because it takes place in 2025. Although it takes place in the near future, I've avoided a lot of techno-babble. One take-away I wanted for the reader was the possibility this or something similar could happen.

5 Tell us a little about your writing background.

I've written for many years, but only started my publishing journey 10 years ago. Non-fiction is my first love, and I'd still like to produce a devotional or other non-fiction book down the road. I digress. I've had numerous devotions, short pieces, and a few compilation stories published along the way.

Fiction has always interested me, but I never pursued it until a visit to Gettysburg in 2004 stuck in my mind.