by Jason Joyner | Aug 31, 2007 | Blog, CFBA, fiction
I’ve posted some teasers about this book previously (Join the Shadows…). I goofed when it came time to request this book for this blog tour, so I haven’t read it yet. This is a “Must Read” on my list, and I encourage you to check it out if you like suspense or Dean Koontz type of books. When I read it I’ll post my personal review. Now for the CFBA promo:
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing THE DEAD WHISPER ON (Bethany House July 1, 2007) by T. L. Hines
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tony is the author of the acclaimed Waking Lazarus. He has been an advertising agency owner/principal, a trade amgazine editor, and now a novelist.
He has been a professional writer for more than 15 years with articles appearing in publications as varied as Log Homes, Conservative Theological Journal, and Travel & Leisure. He is also Creative Director at Montana’s largest advertising agency.
His long list of past odd jobs includes trimming Christmas trees, sorting seed potatoes, working the graveyard shift at a convenience store, and cleaning cadaver storage rooms.
As a teen he was undefeated in air guitar competitions in which he performed songs by ZZ Top.
He lives in Montana with his wife and daughter,
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Would You Run Into A Burning Building?
Candace “Canada Mac” MacHugh lives a ghost of her former life.
Once a proud Butte, Montana, miner who daily risked her life setting explosives, she’s now a garbage collector in her dying hometown.
Her beloves father is dead and she doesn’t speak to her mom. More than anything, Candace Mac misses her father. He promised to contact her from the “other side” if he could…but it’s been eleven long years. And now even her beloved city of Butte, Montana, seems to be dying off.
Candace Mac is alone. Longing for the past. Dreaming of making a difference.
Until one night when her father’s voice speaks to her from the shadows. Bud MacHugh’s trademark growl. The dead, it seems, have messages they hunger to share with the world…warnings of impending disasters and grave danger. Of cities doomed to burn.
But they need Canada’s help.
T.L. Hines’ first novel, Waking Lazarus was named one of the Library Journal’s Top 25 Genre novels of 2006. Now he’s back with a gripping suspense that brings to light our fears and asks us if we still have the courage to fight for those around us. if we have the guts to be one of those who run into burning buildings.
“Chilling!” Publishers Weekly
“…a well-paced suspense populated by dynamic characters.” Kirkus Discoveries
by Jason Joyner | Aug 31, 2007 | Blog, CFBA, fiction
I’ve posted some teasers about this book previously (Join the Shadows…). I goofed when it came time to request this book for this blog tour, so I haven’t read it yet. This is a “Must Read” on my list, and I encourage you to check it out if you like suspense or Dean Koontz type of books. When I read it I’ll post my personal review. Now for the CFBA promo:
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing THE DEAD WHISPER ON (Bethany House July 1, 2007) by T. L. Hines
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tony is the author of the acclaimed Waking Lazarus. He has been an advertising agency owner/principal, a trade amgazine editor, and now a novelist.
He has been a professional writer for more than 15 years with articles appearing in publications as varied as Log Homes, Conservative Theological Journal, and Travel & Leisure. He is also Creative Director at Montana’s largest advertising agency.
His long list of past odd jobs includes trimming Christmas trees, sorting seed potatoes, working the graveyard shift at a convenience store, and cleaning cadaver storage rooms.
As a teen he was undefeated in air guitar competitions in which he performed songs by ZZ Top.
He lives in Montana with his wife and daughter,
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Would You Run Into A Burning Building?
Candace “Canada Mac” MacHugh lives a ghost of her former life.
Once a proud Butte, Montana, miner who daily risked her life setting explosives, she’s now a garbage collector in her dying hometown.
Her beloves father is dead and she doesn’t speak to her mom. More than anything, Candace Mac misses her father. He promised to contact her from the “other side” if he could…but it’s been eleven long years. And now even her beloved city of Butte, Montana, seems to be dying off.
Candace Mac is alone. Longing for the past. Dreaming of making a difference.
Until one night when her father’s voice speaks to her from the shadows. Bud MacHugh’s trademark growl. The dead, it seems, have messages they hunger to share with the world…warnings of impending disasters and grave danger. Of cities doomed to burn.
But they need Canada’s help.
T.L. Hines’ first novel, Waking Lazarus was named one of the Library Journal’s Top 25 Genre novels of 2006. Now he’s back with a gripping suspense that brings to light our fears and asks us if we still have the courage to fight for those around us. if we have the guts to be one of those who run into burning buildings.
“Chilling!” Publishers Weekly
“…a well-paced suspense populated by dynamic characters.” Kirkus Discoveries
by Jason Joyner | Aug 29, 2007 | Biblical worldview, Blog, fantasy football, fiction, heroes, ministry, writing craft
Gah. Sometimes I am not inspired with a brilliant thought for this here place. Like…oh say the last two days. Like Dory from Finding Nemo‘s trailer – “Nope, nothin’ in my noggin'”. Bleh. Yet here I am, attempting to say something intelligent (this would be a perfect place to link to something regarding Miss Teen South Carolina’s now famous “map answer” and drive traffic to my site…yeah, I’m shameless – here’s a link to the YouTube posting).
Now for something completely different:
Becky Miller is again having an interesting discussion regarding what should make up a Christian hero. It is related to last week’s blog tour over The Legend of the Firefish. Bryan Polivka blogged about the repeated comments that viewed Packer as a potentially weak hero. Several times in the book he steps back and lets things happen according to God’s will, whether it ends up in his death, disaster for all around him, or deliverance. Bryan has a great point to make, and Becky gives her take on it. Make sure to check the comments of Becky’s post for more of the discussion.
My thoughts: I didn’t have a problem with what Packer did, because it is truly a great Christian response – one that I would have a problem duplicating in real life. I would suggest that perhaps the way it was written is more of the contention (which I admitted in my post last week was a minor contention).
The discussion made me think of the book Germ, which is quite a different book than Firefish. In it, the Christian character has regret for past violence, and sacrifices himself in the end to allow others to survive – a very Christian act and imagery for the book. The points being made in Becky’s discussion are very valid, but I think that examples like this are in other places in CBA fiction right now as well.
There’s a lot that could be said, and I don’t have the inspiration to work it out at the moment. I’ve got a heaping plate ahead of me for the next 6 weeks. Mainly my wife and I are in charge of bringing in and promoting Noel Richards for a worship seminar and concert at our church on September 22. Then I have to take a major recertification test for my physican assistant license on October 5, so I have to be studying through this time. Of course, it doesn’t help that I sign up for things like fantasy football.
Don’t worry, I’ll be around. Hopefully I’ll have more to offer in a day or two.
by Jason Joyner | Aug 29, 2007 | Biblical worldview, Blog, fantasy football, fiction, heroes, ministry, writing craft
Gah. Sometimes I am not inspired with a brilliant thought for this here place. Like…oh say the last two days. Like Dory from Finding Nemo‘s trailer – “Nope, nothin’ in my noggin'”. Bleh. Yet here I am, attempting to say something intelligent (this would be a perfect place to link to something regarding Miss Teen South Carolina’s now famous “map answer” and drive traffic to my site…yeah, I’m shameless – here’s a link to the YouTube posting).
Now for something completely different:
Becky Miller is again having an interesting discussion regarding what should make up a Christian hero. It is related to last week’s blog tour over The Legend of the Firefish. Bryan Polivka blogged about the repeated comments that viewed Packer as a potentially weak hero. Several times in the book he steps back and lets things happen according to God’s will, whether it ends up in his death, disaster for all around him, or deliverance. Bryan has a great point to make, and Becky gives her take on it. Make sure to check the comments of Becky’s post for more of the discussion.
My thoughts: I didn’t have a problem with what Packer did, because it is truly a great Christian response – one that I would have a problem duplicating in real life. I would suggest that perhaps the way it was written is more of the contention (which I admitted in my post last week was a minor contention).
The discussion made me think of the book Germ, which is quite a different book than Firefish. In it, the Christian character has regret for past violence, and sacrifices himself in the end to allow others to survive – a very Christian act and imagery for the book. The points being made in Becky’s discussion are very valid, but I think that examples like this are in other places in CBA fiction right now as well.
There’s a lot that could be said, and I don’t have the inspiration to work it out at the moment. I’ve got a heaping plate ahead of me for the next 6 weeks. Mainly my wife and I are in charge of bringing in and promoting Noel Richards for a worship seminar and concert at our church on September 22. Then I have to take a major recertification test for my physican assistant license on October 5, so I have to be studying through this time. Of course, it doesn’t help that I sign up for things like fantasy football.
Don’t worry, I’ll be around. Hopefully I’ll have more to offer in a day or two.
by Jason Joyner | Aug 27, 2007 | Blog, ministry, missions
Phew. I’m back in the saddle after a couple of days on the couch. Being in the medical field, I could always see that back pain/spasms weren’t fun. Now I can testify to the fact. Thanks to all those who said a prayer on my behalf – it is working!
In other news, my little church did something a little different yesterday. We had been talking for a while, wondering what would happen if instead of going to church we tried to get out and be the church. We’ve got a good core group that tries to shine light in our every day lives, but what if we did something different and a little bit radical as a body?
So, instead of having a church service, we went out to the local park next to the lake. Despite a “rather blustery day” as Pooh might call it, we set up in the central gazebo. After doing some prayer walking around different parts of the park, we put up signs advertising “Free BBQ” and started cooking for any who would come.
The day turned out really well. We had a steady trickle of folks from 12-4. Nothing overwhelming at one time, but we ran out of food at the end! We had cops, bike riders, families, a guy w/the cardboard sign looking for work, and skaters all stop by for a burger, hot dog, or glass of lemonade. We got to visit with several people. At least two families said they wanted to check out our church after this.
It seemed like a simple thing – go bless people. I have to believe it was more profound than that, both in our hearts and the people who witnessed it. We’ll see what comes of it, but the main thing to us was the idea that “obedience is better than sacrifice.” God is good, and we didn’t get blown north.
Anyone else have stories like this? How did it go?
Would You Run Into A Burning Building?