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In 2023, I had the pleasure of working with authors on editing, proofreading, and interior design and layout of both print books and eBooks. These included a book of posthumous poetry to honor a family member, a study of doubt and its application to one's faith life, a reflection on ministry during the time of the Jesus revolution, three new books in two different children's picture book series, and a retelling of an Eastern European folk character's funny antics.
Join me in congratulating the authors on their published works below, and while you're at it, click on the links to support these independent authors!
Modern Work Desk By A Window by Jacob Lund Photography from NounProject.com
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Pastor Tim Jones, director of Campus Thirst Ministry and Experiencing Listening Prayer, is releasing his new book, The Anatomy of Doubt: A Lighthouse for Dark Times. It was an honor to work with Tim again on the editing and, this time, the interior of his second book. Be sure to check out his previous book, Extreme Sheep: Experiencing Listening Prayer.
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A light of hope for the darkest of doubts
Our faith lives take hits from time to time: prayers seem unanswered, promises are left unfulfilled, and people we’d looked up to fail us. We might be left to wonder, “God, do you see me? Do you hear me?” Sometimes quietly, sometimes like a storm, doubt enters and the steadfast anchor we’d held to seems to begin to slip away.
The culture we live in encourages questioning everything. We’re led to doubt the media, doctors, academia, and the church: it seems no source is sacred anymore. So is any belief safe? Can anything be trusted? In this chaotic atmosphere, we might wonder: is all lost? Is there a safe place to explore our questions? Can we ever feel secure again?
When we’ve been wired to doubt everything,
we need to be rewired to believe.
we need to be rewired to believe.
In The Anatomy of Doubt, Pastor Tim Jones explores questions like these head-on. Instead of fearing or suppressing doubt, he encourages readers to lean in and explore it. So, no matter how dark it seems, what if faith is just around the corner? For in the midst of even the darkest of doubts, the light of hope still shines. And if you search for it, you will find it.
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I've been honored to work with Rosemary Hyslop on two previous books she's authored and published, as editor and formatter. This time, Rosemary is producing a book of her late sister's poetry. It's a beautiful tribute to her memory, and readers will appreciate the meditative nature of Eastman's poetry and her spiritual and natural observations.
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Early in the life of Jacob, the patriarch, he had a dream of angels ascending and descending a ladder between heaven and earth. He realized then that earth has a special connection with heaven, that earth is none other than the house of God and the gate of heaven (Genesis 28:17).
Many years later, as a mature man with a big family and much property, facing the prospect of his brother Esau’s wrath, Jacob again sees the angels of God. This time, he meets them!
Jacob called that place Mahanaim, meaning two armies or two companies. Our lives are like a dance between two camps, our earthly one and God’s.
My sister, Elsie Lewis Eastman, had special encounters with God toward the end of her life—no visions or supernatural experiences, but glimpses of the heart of God. Her verses reflect those experiences.
I decided to share her written legacy with her friends, relatives, and anyone who favors poetic expression. I think she would approve.
~Rosemary Hyslop
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It was my pleasure to work with Dave Lutes on formatting the interior and cover of this book. There's a planned part 2, so be sure to watch for that to come out next year!
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During the early 1970s, a wave of the Gospel message of Jesus hit generations old and new in radical ways—spanning communities, countries and continents. Both churched and unchurched faced massive change on social and cultural fronts where conservative, orthodox and institutional church life met with new expressions of spiritual life and experiences.
In Guidance, Goofs, and Grace, Dave Lutes shares a rollicking memoir of the early part of his journey through the Jesus Movement. Through Lutes and the voices of ministers, lay preachers and youth leaders - and hippies on the streets - who worked to spread the Gospel in South Africa, we encounter the countercultural spiritual awakening of individuals to God. Through the Spirit, lives were transformed, miracles happened, and healings and deliverance came. The message began in the early church, and it rings as true today as ever.
In Guidance, Goofs, and Grace, Dave Lutes shares a rollicking memoir of the early part of his journey through the Jesus Movement. Through Lutes and the voices of ministers, lay preachers and youth leaders - and hippies on the streets - who worked to spread the Gospel in South Africa, we encounter the countercultural spiritual awakening of individuals to God. Through the Spirit, lives were transformed, miracles happened, and healings and deliverance came. The message began in the early church, and it rings as true today as ever.
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I love the opportunity to work with authors multiple times. This is the second book I've edited and done the interior formatting and eBook design for Ion Grumeza.
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Humor helped the Romanian people survive communism under dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu.
They found temporary escape from the hardships of the brutal regime through laughter. Their jokester-in-chief was (and still is) the famous, imaginary character Bulă. Conveniently, he could critique the government and yet never be arrested by the Secret Service. Moreover, the charming, free-spirited wanderer can still delight any crowd and lighten the mood with his unique combination of wisdom, one-liners, and wry observations.
“How am I doing financially? I have enough money to last me till the end of my life—provided I die by 11:00 PM today.”
While author Ion Grumeza has lived in the USA since 1973, he has never forgotten his native-born Romanian sense of humor. Despite advice not to lower his credibility as a scholar by publishing political satire, outrageous advice, and unexpected comments, Grumeza has gathered Bulă’s wit in this volume, for he firmly believes that comic relief helps heal complaints and frustrations.
“In communism, we had money and empty stores. In capitalism in Romania, the stores are packed, but there is no money to buy what you wish.”
Grumeza translates Bulă’s jokes, which, along with the simple, silly fun they provide, also supply insights into truth and philosophy. So, for a touch of Romanian history, culture and humor, read this book with a light heart and let it add joy to your day.
“Jokes and a bottle of wine are cheaper than a psychiatrist.”
Find it at major online book retailers in hardcover and eBook formats.
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What a thrill to work with the inimitable Lord Fritz III on his fourth book of the Rupert's Adventures series. Be sure to check out the whole series - kids and adults alike will love the positive messages that come from the antics of Rupert and his relationship with the Man with the Bow Tie and his family.
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Soar to New Heights With Rupert!
Rupert, the ever-curious and adventurous squirrel, sneaks into the zoo when the family goes there for a fun Saturday activity. The Man with the Bow Tie is not very happy! But it is too late to take him home. Rupert makes a special connection with a golden eagle named Jack. Together, they solve a problem in a way no one else could. Rupert Meets an Eagle is book four of the Rupert’s Adventures series.
Rupert, the ever-curious and adventurous squirrel, sneaks into the zoo when the family goes there for a fun Saturday activity. The Man with the Bow Tie is not very happy! But it is too late to take him home. Rupert makes a special connection with a golden eagle named Jack. Together, they solve a problem in a way no one else could. Rupert Meets an Eagle is book four of the Rupert’s Adventures series.
Find it on Amazon!
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Tavares D. Robinson is the author of four previous books. His latest, Hostility Within: A Prophetic Perspective of the Church During the Pandemic, is a deep-dive into how the story of Jehoshaphat and Ahab in the book of Second Chronicles elucidates how the church and individual Christians can examine their response to the tumultuous times COVID-19 brought. I was honored to work with Tavares on editing his manuscript, the interior design and layout for the softcover edition and eBook formatting for this book. Available soon at most major online book retailers. You can find out more and watch for release announcements at TavaresRobinson.org.
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Jenayssi Padgett will release two new books to follow up on the beautifully illustrated Perfect Penny (2021 - see multiple 5-star reviews on Amazon!). So, follow the adorable, relatable Penny this year in Penny's Gift and Penny's Magical Mind. You and a child you know are certain to love these new adventures, and you're both sure to gain confidence in yourself and embrace all that is possible! It has been so fun to work with Jenayssi on various aspects of her books, including editing and formatting for print.
Penny's Gift is available on Amazon now!
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Rosemary Hyslop has followed up on her 2022 book, God's Humanity: The Shocking Wonder of the Incarnation, with a further study of Christ. It's always an honor to work with an author more than once, and I was so pleased to be asked to edit, design, and format for print and eBook Rosemary's new work. This short but insightful study, The Atonement: Punishment or Person?, helps the reader understand some of the major atonement theories and ultimately leads them to what is most important: faith in the person of Jesus. Find it on Amazon and on most major online book retailers!
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Father Abraam Sleman will soon release Yahweh, The Heavenly Father, in which he takes the reader through biblical and historic justifications for using the name of God, Yahweh. He explores the use of the name in Hebrew, Greek, and Arabic, the meanings of the name, and more. With copious scriptural references and a very reader-friendly approach, readers will grow greatly in their appreciation for the holy name of God. Slemans' previous books include The God of Daniel and Revealing the Father through the Book of Revelation (pictured).
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Pam Brady will soon release Receive Forgiveness: Live Free From Shame, Guilt, Regret and Condemnation. The book explores personal reflections, scripture, music, and the author's own art. Through each of these, readers have the opportunity to reflect on their own lives and put together the puzzle pieces of their own experiences to recreate, refresh and make new their personal journeys to living in freedom in the will of God.
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Oh, no. David’s in time-out again! All David wanted to do was surprise his mom. Butterscotch needed a bath, so he found a good way to do it—or so he thought. But wait a minute… the next day, his mom’s in time-out. What could a parent ever do to be put in a time-out? Was David’s mom bad? It turns out Momma wanted to be in time-out! Why would she want that? Listen in as David’s mom and dad teach him a helpful lesson. Maybe you’ll want to be in time-out, too.
W.L. Everage and U.D. Goines-Audrey bring you Shhh! Momma's in Time-Out, their first book in a planned series which makes faith-based teaching fun for parents and children alike. Available soon.
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Hariata Sally Waetford
I had the privilege of working with a truly amazing New Zealand Maori woman, Hariata Sally Waetford, for over a year on her memoir. If you love history, learning new cultures, and stories of overcoming and triumph, you won't want to miss Pani: The True Story of Who I Am. It's currently available from the author in New Zealand, and will soon be available in the future on Amazon from Revelation Partners Publishing.
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