Meet and Greet: Thomas Smith

Book Giveaway Drawing!!!
Read the details later in this post.


Thomas is an award winning writer, newspaper reporter, TV news producer, playwright and essayist. He writes The Writing Life column for The Christian Communicator magazine. He was named the American Christian Writers Association Writer of the Year in 2004, 2005, and again in 2006. He is a regular faculty member at American Christian Writers Association conferences and also teaches at other writers’ conferences. He was on the writing team responsible for Zondervan's New Men's Devotional Bible. He has written jokes for Joan Rivers, his comedy material has been used on The Tonight Show, and he was a comedy writer for the award-winning Steve & Kathy Show.

An ordained United Methodist Minister, Thomas is a contemporary worship leader/musician, and worship consultant. For 15 years he served churches in North Carolina and North Georgia. While in Georgia he taught a special section of Sermon Preparation and Delivery and co-taught Communication for Ministers at Emory University.

Welcome, Thomas! What brings you to Book Readers Central?

I am drawn to any place that begins with the words book readers.

What type of books do you write?

I have written academic study guides, a coffee table book on the city of Aiken, SC, A women’s Bible study (I’m not allowed to name the publisher because I’m the only male who has ever written for their Women’s Ministry Division), and have contributed to more fiction and non-fiction collections than I can remember. But I am currently writing Christian horror and loving it.

Why do you write?

I write because (1) I love the process of writing and (2) I want to. And please understand, with that second point I’m not being facetious or flippant. Often you’ll hear writers being overly dramatic and making grandiose statements like, “If I don’t write, I’ll explode.” “I need to write or I’ll die.” Fooey. I need to eat. I need to breathe. I need shelter, love, water and sanitary living conditions. Those are necessary for our survival. But I don’t need to write.

However … if I don’t write, I feel like a part of me is not functioning properly. I get a nagging feeling that all is not right, sort of like the feeling you get when you leave for a vacation and are sure you forgot something. Why? Because the desire to write, whether it is an article on my trip through the jungle searching for Mayan ruins, a dry press release for a PR company, or my current novel, is strong.

I also love the physical act of writing. I love the research, the thinking process, the market research and the hours sitting behind a keyboard. It is a part of what I am. It’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was in the third grade. And I am indeed blessed because God has given me the opportunity to do something I love.

Well put! How would you describe your newest release?

Something Stirs is a Christian horror novel. And as far as I have seen, it is the first haunted house novel for the Christian market. Granted, Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti wrote HOUSE, but that house magnified the sins of those trapped within it, and the action is driven by an outside force. And other Christian authors have written about houses or other buildings in which strange things happen. But in Something Stirs, there is something in the house itself. Something trapped within the very stone and wood of the house. An evil entity that wants the family dead and has the ability to manipulate the house to get what it wants.

What do you hope the reader takes away after reading it?

Two things actually. One, sometimes a “Sunday School” faith is not enough. Faith is often refined and strengthened in the fires of adversity. And two, the love of Christ can heal the broken places in any life if He is allowed to do so.

Which is your favorite character from your book?

Stacy Chalmers. She is Ben and Rachel Chalmers’ five year old daughter and that little girl is a hoot. She is funny without being disrespectful and she has an absolute zest for life. Plus, she has some of the funniest lines in the book.

Do you have a funny or touching story that relates to your book?

The publisher had six different people read the manuscript before they made an offer. At one point the office manager said she had read part of it while she was making copies and was getting hooked. So, they told her to make another copy and let them know what she thought.

About two-thirds of the way through she said she couldn’t finish it because she was an animal lover and I killed a dog in the story (it is an integral part of the plot … sorry). When the editor e-mailed that bit of information to me, I responded, “If it is any consolation, I am a dog lover and while I was writing that scene, my two Springer Spaniels were looking at me as if to say, ‘You could have killed a canary you know.’”

When the editor told the office manager about the email, the editor finally had to forward a copy of it to her to convince her that “someone who writes something scary really does have a sense of humor.”

Tell us about your writing process.

I get up, go to the gym, come home, put on a pot of coffee, and park myself behind my desk until anywhere between noon and 2:00 in the afternoon. Then after lunch I’m back at my desk until at least 5:00. I start by editing whatever I did the day before. Then, I work on whatever projects are on deadline. Then I spend an hour or so sending out query letters and proposals. After that I work on my novel. I usually update my social networking sites and write blog entries while I’m working on my first cup of coffee 2-3 days a week.

That sounds like a productive day. What will you write next?

I am working on a book titled, Stranger. And while I can’t say much about the plot without giving away some really important information, think about this question. What would you do if you suddenly realized the stranger sitting next to you was Satan?

Which books do you recommend to readers?

A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz. Deception by Randy Alcorn. A Disciple’s Profile of Jesus by William R. Cannon. The Doc Savage novels by Kenneth Robeson (actually ghostwritten by Lester Dent and a couple of other folks). Admission by Travis Thrasher. Boy’s Life and any of the Matthew Corbett series books by Robert McCammon. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  Letting Go by Michelle Sutton. Any book by Charles L. Grant or Mike Dellosso. The Travis McGee novels by John D. McDonald.

That's quite a list. Thanks. Where can readers find you online?

My website:  www.thomassmithonline.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tsmithwriting
Facebook: http://profile.to/thomassmithwriting
Scribd: http://www.scribd.com/thomass_41

Posted by Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

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Book Giveaway Drawing: 

Thomas Smith will give away a free copy of Something Stirs, available upon release. To enter, leave a comment to this post. If you are a follower of Book Readers Central and tell me so in a separate comment, I'll give you an extra chance to win. 

Please include a valid email address in an anti-spam format (example: youremailhandle[at]gmail[dot]com]) or your entry will become invalid. Entries will be accepted until this coming Sunday at midnight (Pacific Time/US).

I'll announce the winner on Book Readers Central next Monday. The winner must respond within two weeks of notification. Detailed rules of giveaways on Book Reader's Central are located in the footer of this blog.


Note: Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Meet and Greet Monday: PA Baines

Book Giveaway Drawing!

Read the details at the end of this post.

P.A.Baines is the author of Alpha Redemption, a Christian speculative fiction novel that asks the question: “If a man-made artificial intelligence became self-aware and developed a belief in God, would God recognize it as having a soul?”

Educated in Africa, he works as an analyst/programmer and is studying towards a degree in Creative Writing through the Open College of the Arts in England. He currently lives in a small corner of the Netherlands with his wife and two children and various wildlife.

BRC: How would you describe your book?

"Robinson Crusoe" meets "2001: A Space Odyssey", with soul.

I like to think of it as science fiction that can be read by people who don't normally read science fiction. Half the book takes place on a trip to Alpha Centauri, but the other half deals with Brett's life prior to the mission and with the events that made him the bitter loner he is at the start of the story. Brett makes a mistake and spends the rest of his life trying to come to terms with that mistake. It is only with Jay's help that he is able to deal with the tragic events of his life and, ultimately, find his way back to God.

BRC: What message do you hope it conveys?

That God is always in control of our lives no matter where we are, and that He will be there for us if we will just call out to Him, even if we run half way across the galaxy to get away from Him.

BRC: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I loved writing my two main characters, Brett and Jay, because they both struggle with issues of life and love and faith, and with what it means to be alive. I had terrific fun with the interactions between the two of them on the space ship. The astronaut (Brett) starts the journey as a grumpy loner being constantly pestered by the computer (Jay) who just wants to learn. Over time, Brett and Jay become buddies and go through the usual ups and downs of friendship. In the end, Jay is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for Brett.

I also enjoyed the challenge of writing half the story in reverse. I wanted to emphasise the time-dilation effects of near light-speed travel and so wrote the two threads in opposite directions.

BRC: What did you dislike most about writing this book?

I knew exactly where the plot was heading at each chapter, and so I had very limited freedom with regard to where the story could go. Normally I like to give the plot some freedom, but I did not do that so much with Alpha Redemption.

BRC: What inspired you to become a writer?

I have always loved reading and the whole process of story-telling. When I became a Christian, I asked God for a ministry. Not long after that I discovered a story rattling around in my head and I set about writing it down. From that moment I was hooked and have been unable to stop since. I feel a definite calling to write and my aim now is to improve my abilities so that I can be as effective as possible.

BRC: Tell us about your writing process.

I commute by bicycle for about forty-five minutes each way and I use this time to listen to audiobooks. I find that the act of reading usually triggers my creative processes, and so I get many of my ideas during this time. Once I have an idea for a story, I think about it until I have a very broad outline in my head. In fact I only start to write once the story feels to me like a memory of an enjoyable movie. The details are hazy at this point, but my story has a rough shape. I then start writing.

I don't dump my ideas onto the page, as I have heard many people do. I tend to write more slowly and correct things as I go. By the time the story is down I am roughly at third of fourth draft level. I seldom have to perform a rewrite, but can concentrate on tweaking and polishing. I prefer writing this way because it allows me to find and correct a lot of problems as I go, thereby removing them as potential future distractions.

BRC: What are you working on now?

A humorous science-fiction epic called "Hanzet, the Universe, and Everything." It is about a group of people searching for a book containing the meaning of life. Along the way, it pokes gentle fun at "new atheists" and scientists who refuse to even consider the possibility that the universe may have been created. I started it about six years ago but never made it beyond the third chapter. I am now just past the halfway point.

BRC: What books do you enjoy reading?

I discovered love for reading through Stephen King, but I tend to read very little of his work these days. I love the Discworld series by Sir Terry Pratchett. I am currently reading Alastair Reynolds. Recent authors that I have enjoyed include Michael Palmer, Jonathan Safran Foer, Philip K. Dick, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Audrey Niffenegger, and Cormac McCarthy.

BRC: Where can readers buy your book?

Amazon  

Barnes and Noble

Book Depository

Splashdown Books  

Note: Janalyn Voigt is
an Amazon Associate
and benefits when books
are purchased on Amazon.com
through links from
Book Readers Central.

BRC: Where can readers find you online?

http://www.pabaines.com/ (personal site)

http://newauthors.wordpress.com/  (joint blog with other aspiring authors)

Book Giveaway Drawing: To enter, leave a comment to this post and include your contact information. Entries without contact information will become ineligible. Entries will be accepted until this Thursday at midnight (Pacific Time/US). The winner will be announced on this blog on Friday. Detailed rules of giveaways on this blog are located in the footer.

Meet and Greet Monday: Caprice Hokstad

Book Giveaway Drawing!!!

Details Below...

Caprice Hokstad was born in San Diego, California and has lived in southern California for most of her life. She attended Baylor University in Texas. Caprice is married with four children ranging in age from 7 to 23. She shares a mobile home with her family of five people, a dog, a cat, two big pet rats, a tankful of fish, and a leopard gecko.

BRC: How would you describe your book?

It's sword opera fantasy. It's set in a place where our societal rules don't apply, but most of our physical laws do. I didn't use magic and sorcery very much, nor did I employ one of the genre's favorite tropes, the quest. The heroine is a peasant girl, the hero, a duke. It's adventure and mystery with a dash of romance.

BRC: What message do you hope it conveys?

I just hope it is entertaining. Any "messages" should be inferred by the readers, not imposed by the author.

BRC: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I enjoyed escaping to another world, conjuring all the details I needed to see even if I didn't include them in the plot.

BRC: What did you dislike most about writing this book?

The conflicting messages I got from critiquers. One would say to change something one way and the next person would say the exact opposite. It took me a very long time to trust my own voice and my own vision.

BRC: What inspired you to become a writer?

Hmm. Did I actually *become* a writer? I guess so, but I didn't set out to become something. I set out to DO something and that was to tell a story. I've told a few more since finishing The Duke's Handmaid and I hope I'll get more ideas for new stories when those are finished.

BRC: Tell us about your writing process.

I plan a lot in my head, but I don't outline much on paper. I edit as I go. I love the polishing stage more than the "get it out" stage, which is mostly a necessary evil, only done in order to get to the good part.

BRC: What are you working on now?

I had an idea for an undersea science fiction novel, and I started it during NaNo of 2008, but my characters are simply not working for me. I still am very much drawn to that setting but I recognize that I cannot move forward until I solve the character problem.

In the meantime, I am indulging my obsession with underwater settings by reading widely in the genre (everything from The Abyss to Hunt for Red October) and studying a lot of related non-fiction (oceanography, submarines, marine biology, ocean mammals). And I am indulging my muse by writing SeaQuest fanfiction. I have written two full seaQuest novels in the last year. They can't be published, of course, but they are getting very high marks with the readers and giving me a LOT of satisfaction. They are available free at UnderseaAdventure.net .

BRC: What books do you enjoy reading?

This is really hard to answer in a generic way. I'm rather picky about what I like and there's no good blanket statement that covers it. I like adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy. I like escape. I need to admire or identify with the main character or several minor characters. I get frustrated if they constantly do dumb things or act in a way that makes me want to slap them. I can put up with a little of that, assuming that the character is going to change, but if it continues, I usually set the book aside and never pick it up again.

I loved the Harry Potter series. Spent the two months before book seven came out re-reading Books 1-6 OUT LOUD to my kids, then read Deathly Hallows out loud in under three days. Talk about the Summer of No Voice. But I do read those books over and over.

BRC: Where can readers buy your book?

http://latoph.com/buy.html has a list of retailers selling my book

BRC: Where can readers find you online?

http://www.latoph.com/

http://www.facebook.com/capricehokstad

Free eBook: http://www.lulu.com/product/book-download/the-dukes-handmaid---ebook/11594327

Kindle "Special" 99 cents: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00102936Y?ie=UTF8&tag=welctolato-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00102936Y



Book Giveaway Drawing: Leave a comment to this post to be entered in the drawing for a free copy of THE DUKE'S HANDMAID. Please include a way to reach you online or your entry will be ineligible. Entries will be accepted until this Wednesday at midnight (Pacific Coast time/United States). The winner will be posted Friday. A link to detailed giveaway rules is located in this blog's footer.

Meet and Greet: James L Rubart

 Author James L. Rubart lives in the Pacific Northwest and describes himself as a water skier, guitar player, dirt biker, cliff jumper, husband to his amazing wife for almost 24 years, and dad to two awesome sons, 17 and 14. His day job is helping authors and businesses market themselves through his company Barefoot Marketing. His debut novel, Rooms, just released with B&H Publishers and has already reached the top position in  the Amazon sales list.

BRC: How would you describe your book?
A story with all the boring parts taken out. Smile. Rooms is the story of a young Seattle software tycoon who inherits a home on the Oregon coast that turns out to be a physical manifestation of his soul. If you’re saying, “Ooooooo,” then I think you’ll like it. If you’re saying, “Huh?” then the jury is out. J If you took It’s a Wonderful Life, Disney’s the Kid, The Shack, The Screwtape Letters, Field of Dreams, Wild at Heart, some romance and mixed them all together you’d have Rooms. The headline on the back of my cover conveys the story pretty well: “What would you find if you walked into the rooms of your soul? One man is about to find out.”

BRC: What message do you hope it conveys?
That there is incredible freedom and healing in Jesus. And people can step into their destiny, even if they feel like they've missed it their whole lives.

BRC: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
As I say in my dear reader letter, I needed this book for my own healing and freedom. It was a story I wanted to read, so I loved watching the ideas flow from the imaginings God gave me onto paper and into my heart.

BRC: What did you dislike most about writing this book?
I think the book will set some people free. It’s the theme I keep hearing from people who have already read it. And freedom is vehemently opposed by the enemy of this world. So there were definitely times I had to push through that were tough. Times I was tempted to give up where my amazing wife pushed me to press on through the oppression coming at me.

BRC: What inspired you to become a writer?
Christmas ’72. My mom gave my sister and me The Chronicles of Narina. At nine years old I was sucked into that world and never wanted to leave. Through C.S. Lewis’ brilliance the bug bit hard and never let go. Ever since I’ve wanted to try to do for others what Clive Staples did for me.

BRC: Tell us about your writing process
These days—with as crazy-busy as I am—I tend to write in batches. I'll take a weekend and write eight hours a day for two and half days, then might not write again till three days later.

BRC: What are you working on now?
Book of Days which will release in January 2011. It’s the story of a man who goes on a quest to find God’s Book of Days—described in Psalm 139—that has recorded the past, present, and future of every soul on earth. Also, I’m working on The Chair which will release in the fall of 2011. And in the land of surreal, a number of film production companies are interested in both Rooms and Book of Days, so we’re starting to explore possibilities there.

BRC: What books do you enjoy reading?
Everything. Bios, fiction, non-fiction, magazines … I always have five or six books going at the same time.

BRC: Where can readers buy your book?
Amazon, as well as Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Amazon, Family Christian Stores, LifeWay, CBD, etc.

BRC: Where can readers find you online?

• http://www.jimrubart.com/ 
• http://www.barefootmarketing.com/Home/
• Facebook: James L. Rubart
• Twitter: @jimrubart
• e-mail: jim@jimrubart.com

Book Giveaway Contest: Leave a comment on this interview to enter. Entrants are limited to those with mailing addresses in the United States and will be accepted until midnight on Wednesday (Pacific Time). The winner will be announced on this blog on Friday. For complete contest rules, click the link in the right sidebar.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue

Chuck Black delivers an allegorical adventure in Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue, book four of The Knights of Arrethrae. This epic fantasy tells a cautionary tale of the effects of the mysterious and habit-forming "Waters of Moorue." The story unfolds as Lady Carliss, a young Knight of the Prince, is beset by troubles. First her friend, Salina, enlists Carliss's aid when her family falls into the hands of marauders. Then Dalton, who stirs feelings of love in Carliss despite his commitment to the Lady Brynn, lies near death after he suffers the bite of a strange lizard. Only a beautiful lily located in the deadly Swamp of Despon can save him, if Carliss can find it in time. The plot thickens as the secret order of the followers of the Prince, son of the great King, meet with treachery. Carliss discovers her call to bring deliverance to those imprisoned by the "Waters of Moorue". To obey this call may cost Carliss -- and Dalton - their lives. But if she turns from it, many will die.

Lady Carliss's focus on honor and morality, is suitable -- even desirable reading for teens caught up in our pleasure-seeking escapist culture. With many twists and turns and surprises, this book will satisfy young adult and older readers.

Reader questions and a brief summary by the author bring home an inspired message of deliverance and a challenge for the reader to join the forces of the great King. I highly recommend this book for teenagers and adults who suffer from addictions.

Chuck Black, a former F-16 fighter pilot and tactical communications engineer, is the author of nine novels, including the popular Kingdom series. He has received praise from parents across the country for his unique approach to telling biblical truths. His passion in life is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to love his wife, Andrea, and their six children. He lives with his family in North Dakota.

 Purchase information for Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421272

* This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Lost Mission

In a passion-filled tale, Athol Dickson explores questions of faith while exposing raw truths. Lupe, a simple Mexican shop keeper, is called by her beloved "Senor" to preach to her northern neighbors, the lost Americanos. With her she brings an ancient artifact cloaked in mystery. Lupe meets and touches many people in her quest, but none of them are just what they seem. Even Lupe hides secrets. Finally, an evil lying dormant for two hundred years arises to threaten the very people Lupe has come to save.

Working back and forth between the eighteenth century and modern times, Lost Mission interweaves its mysteries into a complex fabric pieced together by an Indian man with shining hair. Although the author moves through time with ease, I had a little trouble at first following him, since it required I disengage from one time frame to enter another. I can't imagine this book written any other way, however, and I did become accustomed to the pattern. While the story and characters involve the reader, this is not a warm, fuzzy book that leaves you sighing in pleasure. Lost Mission, instead, will challenge you to examine your own faith and the truths upon which you rely. It will cause you to embark on a quest all your own.

Meet and Greet Monday: Lisa Grace

Today's guest, Lisa Grace, author of Angel in the Shadows, offers a fascinating alternative to the Twilight series.

 

Lisa Grace: Thank you Janalyn for having me on your site. I appreciate the chance to talk to anyone who loves reading and writing as much as I do. For those who would like to know who I am, I've been married to my husband Todd for over twenty years and I have a six-year-old daughter whom I home school. I live along the Gulf Coast of  Florida and also spend part of the year in Tennessee and the North woods of Wisconsin.

BRC: How would you describe your book?

Angel in the Shadows - Book 1 is a young adult supernatural thriller. What sets Angel apart is the supernatural creatures that appear, in Book 1, Angel in the Shadows, only do things we know they can from the Bible. I had my Pastor, Larry Vasseur (he has his Doctorate in Theology) of Fellowship Baptist in New Port Richey, FL, read my manuscript to make sure it is scripturally sound in its message. For fun, there are over a 120 footnotes for the teens who want to check what the characters say in their Bible.

BRC: What message do you hope it conveys?

 I hope teenagers come away with the knowledge that spiritual warfare for their souls is real. The characters in the book show the reader we all make mistakes, but you can be strong with God's help.

BRC: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I enjoyed seeing the characters come alive and when I finished, the sense of accomplishment you feel knowing something has been created out of your imagination. I felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this book as I was upset by the message in theTwilight series, that it's okay to try to commit suicide (the main character jumps off a cliff when her vampire boyfriend breaks up with her.) My novel is an alternative as it has a strong female character who perseveres by relying on God and knowing that God has given her everything she needs, even when dealing with supernatural creatures who are smarter and stronger than her.

BRC: What did you dislike most about writing this book?

The constant editing process is not much fun. I edited it about seven times before I sent it out. Then the Publishing house and I did about four more revisions. Even though the book is 60,000 words, which should make it 175 pages, the text block manager cut it down to 144 to make it look more uniform. At least I'm saving some trees!

BRC: What inspired you to become a writer?

I have always written, from the age of five on. That year I wanted a typewriter for Christmas so I could write Star Trek scripts. In fourth grade at a new school, I wrote a book report and received an "F" on it because the teacher was sure I had plagiarized the front flap. What he didn't realize is I was already reading on a college level and going through at least a book a day at that point. Actually, I was flattered that he thought it was that good. My Mother brought in the book to show him the front flap and he adjusted my grade to an "A." I always thought of myself as a writer as I have a whole drawer full of stories, poems, songs and ideas. I realized I better try and get something published soon. I wasn't getting any younger.

BRC: Tell us about your writing process.

I write a page, spell check, grammar check, and then I read it out loud. I start with a very rough outline, broken into about 10 to 20 parts. I set a goal of 2,000 words a day no matter what is going on in my life. I only write my official outline and synopsis after the book is written because too much of the plot and even characters change during the process. 

BRC: What are you working on now?

I have two works in progress. Angel in the Storm  - Book 2  and The 15th Star, ( which I'm working on for National Novel Writing Month) an adult mystery thriller that can be described as 1776 meets National Treasure.

BRC: What books do you enjoy reading?

I enjoy real-life adventure, some of my favorites lately are Fire and The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger, The Ice Master and Ada Black Jack by Jennifer Niven, The White Cascade by Gary Krist, Voyage of the Manteno by John Haslett, and I'm currently reading Malcolm Gladwell's books Blink and Outliers. I frequently reread On Writing by Stephen King, C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity and the Screw Tape Letters and of course the Bible.

 

BRC: Where can readers buy your book?

Angel in the Shadows,  ISBN #978-1-60911-001-7, is slated for release in December/January at Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com. It will be distributed by Ingram and available at fine bookstores everywhere.

The difference between vampires and angels? 

Angels are real.  

BRC: Where can readers find you online?

Readers can reach me personally at www.lisagracebooks.com and I return emails sent to lisagracebooks@yahoo.com I love to answer questions and hope to hear from your readers. Thanks again Janalyn for inviting me here today.

BRC: Thanks, Lisa, for a fun and informative interview.

Whistlestop Wednesday: "I Know Why the Angels Dance" by Bryan Davis

Bryan Davis gives us a rare glimpse of heaven through a child's eyes in this moving story of death and life.

Young Tabitha experiences a series of visions and prophetic dreams that confuse the adults around her. Tabitha’s dreams predict deaths, and they contain details she would not know on her own. When they begin to come true Tabitha and her pastor father, John, bear a grave responsibility, for they must work to bring lost souls to the saving knowledge of Christ before time runs out. Tabitha’s childlike faith cuts through disbelief and unbelief. John struggles to overcome his glib sermonizing and truly engage the heart of his hearers.

John and Tabitha labor under the conviction that to grieve the death of a Christian who has gone to heaven can only be a selfish act. And yet, the Bible tells Christians to weep with those who weep. As the book unfolds, this basic conflict resolves in a moving and sensitive finale.

I highly recommend I Know Why the Angels Dance for its passionate and beautiful prose and timeless story. Such a book can change the lives of those who embrace its message. It can make the angels dance.


*My thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for purposes of review.
**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when books are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.