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Monthly Archives: November 2016
St. Gertrude’s Prayer for the Holy Souls
The Virgin of Mercy with Souls (Mattia Preti), Wikimedia Commons
St. Gertrude’s Prayer for the Holy Souls
November is the month of the Holy Souls. St. Gertrude’s Prayer for the Holy Souls is an ideal prayer to recite during this month, but it is also a powerful prayer said daily.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, for those in my own home and in my family. Amen.
A Subtle Grace Only .99 on Kindle!
For the next five days, the stand alone sequel to my second book, In Name Only, A Subtle Grace is on sale for only .99!!
Of A Subtle Grace, Trisha Niermeyer Potter of Prints of Grace Blog said, “This is one of my favorite contemporary works of Catholic fiction. The storytelling is masterful, the characters fascinating, and the writing is of high literary quality. People are imperfect—past, present, and future—but each is given the opportunity to grow, change, learn, and be redeemed. In this story it’s shown how the greatest mistake of our lives can be turned into one of the most amazing blessings and even be a source of hope for others. Life’s messy. People are complex. We’ve all got some skeletons in our closets, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t also fit some trophies and triumphs in there as well. A Subtle Grace has all of the elements that good Catholic fiction should.”
In her review, Jean Heimann, Catholic author and blogger, wrote that “In A Subtle Grace, Gable shows us through her characters, what happens when an individual lives his/her life based on principles rather than on passions. She clearly conveys the differences between love as a feeling vs. love as a choice, illustrating the consequences of each. Themes of redemption, forgiveness, discerning one’s vocation, healing, hope, and joy, all contribute to make this a story that tugs at the heart. A sequel to In Name Only, A Subtle Grace works well as an independent, stand-alone novel. You will definitely want to read both. A Subtle Grace is excellent read for historical romance fans. Those who enjoy Christian romance and suspense novels will find this story particularly enjoyable. This is a winner!”
Therese Heckenkamp, award-winning author of Frozen Footprints says, “A Subtle Grace is the sequel to the lovely book In Name Only, yet A Subtle Grace can be enjoyed independently. Of course, readers of the first book won’t want to miss this one! The story kept me so interested that I hardly realized this was, in fact, a lengthy book. A Subtle Grace is a novel to stir your heart, your emotions, and your soul. I highly recommend it!”
Click here to read an excerpt and more reviews.
To download the book for only .99, click here.
Ornamental Graces Blog Tour
Today, I’m hosting Carolyn Astfalk, author of Ornamental Graces!
Summary:
After his duplicitous girlfriend left, Dan Malone spent six months in a tailspin of despair and destruction: emotional, physical, and spiritual. Just when his life seems to be back on track, he meets Emily Kowalski, younger sister of his new best friend.
Emily’s the kind of girl he’d always dreamed of—sweet, smart, and sincere. But he’s made a mess of his life and ruined his chances for earning the love and trust of a woman like her.
Could Dan be the man Emily’s been waiting for? How could he be when every time they get close he pulls away? And will he ever be free from his shady past and the ex-girlfriend who refuses to stay there?
An inspirational Christmas romance that spans every season.
My review: I enjoyed this novel very much. It’s a beautiful and touching story with well-developed, believable characters. I highly recommend this inspirational romance that is a great read any time of year.
Amazon Link
Short Link
Goodreads Link
Book Trailer Link
Link to the Excerpt
Extras: Pinterest board, questions for book clubs, playlist, recipes
Book page on Carolyn’s website
Carolyn Astfalk lives with her husband and four children in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where the wind carries either the scent of chocolate or cow manure. She is a CatholicMom.com contributor and author of the contemporary inspirational romances Stay With Me (Full Quiver Publishing) and Ornamental Graces.
Veterans Day/Remembrance Day 2016
Today is Remembrance Day/Veterans Day. I’d like to remember in a special way my father, father-in-law and stepfather (all now deceased). Each served their country in war: my father-in-law was in the United States Air Force during World War II and was ‘Missing in Action’ for months, my father and stepfather (my father’s first cousin) both served in Korea. This is also my father’s birthday. He died in 1978 at the age of 49.
Remembering Tony An article about my father-in-law, who was a gunner for the USAF in WW II. He was shot down over Yugoslavia, near his father’s birthplace.
Remembering Dad A tribute to my own father, who served in both the USMC and the United States Army, and who died when I was 18.
This last post is a special way to remember, with fondness, the three father figures in my life: Remembrance Day/Veterans Day 2009
Lest We Forget…
Dying for Revenge by Dr. Barbara Golder FREE Today!!
Dying for Revenge by Dr. Barbara Golder, published by Full Quiver Publishing, is FREE today and tomorrow on Kindle!
“Barbara Golder joins the ranks of Chesterton’s bloodthirsty heirs as she spins a tale that will delight mystery fans. With Dying for Revenge in hand, your beach experience is now complete!” Mark P. Shea, Author of Mercy Works
Someone is killing the rich and famous residents of Telluride, Colorado, and the medical investigator, Dr. Jane Wallace, is on a collision course with the murderer. Compelled by profound loss and injustice, Jane will risk her own life to protect others from vengeful death, even as she exacts a high price from those who have destroyed her world. DYING FOR REVENGE is a story of love, obsession and forgiveness, seen through the eyes of a passionate, beautiful woman trying to live her life — imperfectly but vibrantly — even if she won’t survive.
To view the book trailer, click below:
Other Social Media Links for author Dr. Barbara Golder:
Novel Page: http://ladydocmurders.com (Full Quiver Publishing)
Author’s website: http://ladydocmurders.weebly.com/
Book Series Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Lady-Doc-Murders-1171887676163049
Instagram: @ladydocmurders
Twitter: @ladydocmurders
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Barbara-Golder-Author-1764757320425828
Email: ladydocmurders@gmail.com
To read an excerpt, click on the novel page.
New Anthology, Image and Likeness, Puts Life Into the Theology of the Body
My latest from Catholic Mom:
If St. John Paul II ever summarized his Theology of the Body, it may have been when he said, “Man cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.” But how does this sincere gift look when lived out by human beings with all their failings? What happens to our humanity when we withhold that sincere gift? What does life require of us when we give most deeply?
Full Quiver Publishing brings you this moving collection of poetry and prose, featuring some of today’s brightest Catholic literary voices, including award-winning authors Dena Hunt, Arthur Powers, Michelle Buckman, Leslie Lynch, Theresa Linden, and many more. By turns edgy and sweet, gritty and deft, but always courageous and honest, the works contained in Image and Likeness explore countless facets of human love—and human failure. Readers of Image and Likeness will experience in a variety of ways how humanity, in flesh as well as spirit, lives out the image and likeness of a God who created human intimacy to bring forth both our future and to illustrate our ultimate meaning as human persons.
When asked where the idea for the book came from, editor and publisher Ellen Gable said, “I got the idea a few years back after I read a short story from another member of the Catholic Writers Guild. When I sent out an initial request to other members of the Guild, I only received five stories but one of the authors, Erin McCole Cupp, said she had some ideas for a few Theology of the Body-themed short stories.”
Editor and contributor Erin McCole Cupp, says: “I had two separate ideas I’d been batting around for a while, and I knew they were short story ideas and not novels, but I couldn’t imagine what to do with them. Ellen’s request gave me the kick in the pants to write both “Good for Her” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Sunday Brunch.” Once I had them written, I offered — okay, I begged — Ellen to let me do some of the legwork on this. I loved the idea of an anthology, a space where authors and readers could come together to see both the dark and the light side of living TOB in a fallen world.
Ellen Gable continues, “When Erin asked me last year if we could release the book on St. John Paul II’s feast day of October 22, I thought that was a perfect date. However, I had no idea that that would also be the day my son and his fiancée would choose for their wedding day. So while we were in the midst of last-minute wedding preparations, I was also trying to get this book ready for publication.”
To find additional contributors, Erin and Ellen took two approaches. Erin clarifies, “We put a call for submissions on the Image and Likeness Anthology page, but we also asked some authors in our networks if they would be interested in contributing either something already written or something written specifically for this project.”
Damon Owens, International Theology of the Body expert, wrote the foreword. “I am indebted to the authors and poets of Image and Likeness for their gifted storytelling of real life “ugly.” This book isn’t afraid to hold our gaze into the darkness of sin, doubt, and brokenness before the resolution of redemption. Some of these stories are heartbreaking to read precisely because I know this is true. Some of them I will never forget because of their unexpected turn to redemption. Through and through, this is an artistic instruction in TOB that shows us the wounds needing the balm, the balm applied, and the health and wholeness of men and women healed. And, like every well-told story, its penetrating TOB truths will influence even the most reluctant reader.”
When asked who should be reading Theology of the Body fiction, Erin answered, “Since TOB is just the truth, and all fiction is supposed to be aimed at truth, I think all readers should be reading TOB fiction. On the flip side of that coin, when it comes down to it, I believe pretty strongly that all fiction should be TOB fiction. Art, if it is to be any good, must serve truth. If it’s just a wad of lies in a tasty package, then it’s not art; it’s propaganda. What drives me most to write and share TOB fiction is that it ought to be nothing more than a candle in the darkness, a light down the dark hall of living in this culture that is so bound up with lies we can’t even tell the difference between love and hate anymore. TOB draws a clear line between the two, and that line is truth. As I always tell my kids, ‘You can believe what you want, but that doesn’t make it reality.’ TOB fiction is a window into reality. As the contributors show so successfully, I think, in Image and Likeness, reality is harsh. Reality is full of tough choices. Reality is full of consequences. But reality is true, so we do ourselves no favors if we believe something other than reality. The fiction we read is a school for reality. If we school our hearts and souls in lies, then we are not preparing ourselves to live in truth.”
Readers should be aware that the anthology includes mature themes, content and language.
For more information and for interviews and bios of the contributors, check out the Image and Likeness page on WordPress.
It’s available on Kindle at this link and in paperback at this link.
Special thanks to Erin McCole Cupp for writing the synopsis for the anthology!
An Open Book – November #openbook
I’m joining with Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading this month:
In the Footsteps of St. Therese by Terri Ong
Full disclosure: I helped to edit this book by fellow CWG member Terri Ong. It’s a wonderful story! It’s available here on Amazon in paperback only.
One of Ours by Willa Cather
This is one of my favorite Willa Cather novels and I usually reread it every year around Veterans’ Day. She captures well the innocence of young adulthood and the ravages of war. From the Amazon blurb: One of Ours tells the story of a Nebraska farm boy who struggles to find meaning in his life. It is the story of a young man born after the American frontier has vanished, yet whose quintessentially American restlessness seeks redemption on a frontier far bloodier and more distant than that which his forefathers had already tamed. Before the war, Claude comes close to finding value in the world when his parents allow him to attend the University of Nebraska. Living in Lincoln he befriends the Ehrlich family, who expose him to a life of art, ideas, and culture. Later, when forced to return to his father’s farm, Claude seeks to find meaning in the form of human companionship. His attempt to find individual affirmation in the form of marriage fails, however, and the loneliness Claude encounters from his unaffectionate wife Enid compels him to volunteer in the overseas conflict. Claude’s violent death on the battlefield – portrayed as sacrificial and glorious by Cather in the mind of Claude’s mother – appealed to millions of Americans and probably played a role in the decision to award Cather the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours a year after it was published in 1922. One of Ours is available on Amazon.
A Place Called Saturday by Mary Astor (actress)
From Goodreads: In 1968, when abortion was still a matter of controversy, Mary Astor wrote this heartwarming story of Cora, who was brutally raped by a young, unknown assailant and becomes pregnant. Cora faces the obstacles that will affect her life, her husband’s, and that of her unborn child.
I was surprised to find out that legendary screen actress Mary Astor was also a novelist. As well, she converted to Catholicism. I’ve only just started reading this, but it looks like it will be an excellent read. It’s available on Amazon.
Image and Likeness: Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body
Edited by Erin McCole Cupp and Ellen Gable
Last, but certainly not least, Full Quiver Publishing’s latest book has been released!
If St. John Paul II ever summarized his Theology of the Body, it may have been when he said, “Man cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.” But how does this sincere gift look when lived out by human beings with all their failings? What happens to our humanity when we withhold that sincere gift? What does life require of us when we give most deeply?
Full Quiver Publishing brings you this moving collection of poetry and prose, featuring some of today’s brightest Catholic literary voices, including award-winning authors Dena Hunt, Arthur Powers, Michelle Buckman, Leslie Lynch, Theresa Linden, and many more. By turns edgy and sweet, gritty and deft, but always courageous and honest, the works contained in Image and Likeness explore countless facets of human love—and human failure. Readers of Image and Likeness will experience in a variety of ways how humanity, in flesh as well as spirit, lives out the image and likeness of a God who created human intimacy to bring forth both our future and to illustrate our ultimate meaning as human persons.
With a Foreword by international Theology of the Body voice Damon Owens, Image and Likeness puts life and breath into St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body in ways that readers won’t soon forget.
Warning: mature themes, content and language.
That’s it for this month! Check out the other participants’ posts here.
Plot Line and Sinker (Ellen Gable, Author) 