Friday, October 30, 2009

Shadow Government by Grant Jeffrey and Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur

Years ago I watched Grant Jeffrey interviewed on various TV shows. I thought he had some far-fetched ideas back then. Afterall, no one ever wants to believe they can't trust their own government. Unfortunately, we can't. Much of what Jeffrey has written is true. Oh, it still sounds far-fetched, conspiracy theory in BIG BLACK CAPS, but look at where we've been and where we are now. Hindsight is wonderful, isn't it? But not when it's really too late to do anything about it.

If we didn't believe Psalm 46:1, that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, we'd be hopeless, wouldn't we?

If you enjoy reading about the final events in the history of our world, the end of mankind, then SHADOW GOVERNMENT is a book you'll enjoy.

Shadow Government
Author: Grant Jeffrey

Summary:
Security cameras, surveillance of private financial transactions, radio frequency spy chips hidden in consumer products, eavesdropping on e-mail correspondence and phone calls, and Internet tracking. No one is protected, and privacy is a thing of the past.
An ultra-secret global elite, functioning as a very real shadow government, controls technology, finance, international law, world trade, political power, and vast military capabilities. These unnamed, unrivaled leaders answer to no earthly authority, and they won’t stop until they control the world.
In Shadow Government, prophecy expert Grant Jeffrey removes the screen that, up to now, has hidden the work of these diabolical agents. Jeffrey reveals the biblical description of Satan’s global conquest and identifies the tools of technology that the Antichrist will use to rule the world.
Readers will have their eyes opened to the real power that is working behind the scenes to destroy America and merge it into the coming global government. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be equipped to face spiritual darkness with the light of prophetic truth.

Author Bio:
Grant R. Jeffrey is the internationally known prophecy researcher, Mideast expert, and author of Countdown to the Apocalypse, The New Temple and the Second Coming, The Next World War, and twenty other best-selling books. He is also the editor of the Prophecy Study Bible. His popular television program, Bible Prophecy Revealed, airs weekly on TBN. Jeffrey earned his master’s and PhD degrees from Louisiana Baptist University. He and his wife, Kaye, live in Toronto.

I'm reading Wisdom Hunter now. The writing is excellent and the story, even better.The very first sentence yanked me in and wouldn't let me go. Ahhhhh, fiction, but there's truth in this fiction.


Book: Wisdom Hunter
Author: Randall Arthur


Summary:
Pastor Jason Faircloth knows what he believes. His clear faith, in fact, is why he is one of the most prominent pastors in Atlanta. He relies on it to discipline his daughter, his wife, his church. He prays daily that others would come to see God’s ways as he does.
And it is about to cost him everything.
Groping for answers in the face of tragedy, Jason begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that will take him straight into the depths of his soul. He is determined not to fail again.
A fast-paced suspense novel rich in spiritual depth, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death.

Author Bio:
Randall Arthur is the bestselling author of Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. He and his wife have served as missionaries to Europe for over thirty years. From 1976 till 1998, he lived in Norway and Germany as a church planter. Since 2000, he has taken numerous missions teams from the United States on trips all over Europe. Arthur is also the founder of the AOK (Acts of Kindness) Bikers’ Fellowship, a group of men who enjoy the sport of motorcycling. He and his family live in Atlanta, Georgia.


These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Golden Triangle Writers Guild Conference - Recap

I had so much fun at the GTWG conference this past weekend. One major goal in my life has been achieved--being a GTWG conference speaker. There's something about being a part of this particular conference that makes one feel they aren't a fake, they can truly call themselves a writer. I'm very honored to have been part of this writers' reunion.

The Golden Triangle Writers Guild conference was a great success. In a conference this size--with four and five simultaneous speakers, there are always a few glitches, but over all, I have absolutely no complaints. I saw my best pals, Kent Conwell and Rogayle Franklin. Kent has written over 50 books--westerns and mysteries, and Rogayle is a freelancer, novelist and travel writer. She just signed a contract for yet another coffee table book. When I lived in Beaumont, we three (and another friend) met weekly to critique each other. I miss those days.












This is my friend, DJ Resnick. DJ has been over the GTWG since the beginning. He loves it, lives it, breathes it. He's battled hurricanes to keep GTWG alive; this conference proves to many that he's winning.






Here we have the infamous Robert Vaughan.I believe I've been coming to GTWG conferences for as long as Mr. Vaughan has but I've never actually met him. I find him just a tad intimidating. If you get a chance to hear this man speak, grab it. He's brilliant! Check THIS.


Here are speakers from my favorite seminars: Linda George spoke on Strong Writing and Plotting. These two sessions alone were worth the conference fee. Linda is an excellent speaker and her knowledge of good writing surpasses many who have best sellers on the NYT list. Publisher/editor Phillip Martin of Crickhollow Books was another worthwhile session. I heard one multipublished author say his session was the best at the conference. Phil's poetic delivery and soft voice had us holding our breath so we wouldn't miss one word he uttered. Check him out HERE and while you're there, take time to order Linda George's book on plotting. If you're looking for good speakers for your conference, consider Linda and/or Phil. I guarantee them both. Your attendees won't be disappointed.

I came home to company, dirty clothes, writing assignments. No time for post-conference syndrome--that time when I want to--no, NEED to decompress and think about all I learned. One can't come away from a conference without new ideas and goals.

More tomorrow.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Update - Golden Triangle Writers Conference

I'm sitting in Rao's Bakery in Beaumont, TX -- surfing and eating Jimmy Dean kolaches. Yum!
I'm in Beaumont for the Golden Triangle Writers Conference--one of my favorites from long ago. As far as conferences, this one is 'home' for me. When I discovered GTWG, and began entering their contests, visiting meetings when I could, and attending their conference each year, my ultimate goals were: to get published and reach a point where I would be invited to speak at a GTWG conference. Well, that day has come. I speak today on nonfiction writing. I'll give an update later. As always, I've met some great people and reunited with old friends. It has been fun to see how far we've all come--and to see that we've grown old together: no one has been left behind. :)

Thursday, October 15, 2009

REJECTED! (hint, hint)

Today I received my Hint Fiction rejection. I wasn’t surprised. Searching out and studying many ‘hint fiction’ examples, I realized mine was probably too . . . wrong. I noticed hint fiction has a vagueness that I couldn’t capture. The only way to describe it might be this way: my submission could be compared to a ‘romance novel’ vs. ‘literary fiction.’ It was fun writing--or trying to write--hint fiction. If you can't grasp the hint fiction concept then visit Robert Swartwood’s site HERE. You can read a few examples. You might want to try your own hint fiction contest within your writers' club. I don’t know when Robert's anthology will be out but reading an entire book of Hint Fiction will be fun--sort of like standing at the greeting card rack in a Hallmark store.

Here are my two submissions to the Hint Fiction contest. Maybe you can give me a hint as to why they don't work.

Mr. Fix-it and The Kindergarten Teacher

She didn't have a headboard in her bedroom. Didn't matter. In high school he'd been elected 'Most Creative Guy.' He grinned. He liked this challenge.


I liked my Mr. Fix-It story. The idea came to me while I watched HGTV. You guessed it, they were creating a headboard. Couple that with Looking for Mr. Goodbar and what kind of story do you get?


View from a Bridge
The cherry Popsicle dripped down her arm and onto the sleeve of her white blouse. He sucked in his breath, pulled the camera closer. Gotcha.


I can't remember where this idea came from but I like the image it brings to my mind. In my mind's eye, I saw a young woman in a park. Weeks later when I reread this submission, I saw that the girl could be mistaken for a child. Made for a creepy read.

I think we could get a number of stories out of these two "hints" and I like the game a lot. Thanks Robert! I hope your anthology is a bestseller!

hint fiction (n) : a story of 25 words or less that suggests a larger, more complex story