As the Owner/Director of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Bonnie has helped use the 220+ blogs of the Alliance to promote many titles on the Christian bestseller list. She also owns and publishes the Christian Fiction Online magazine which is devoted to readers and writers of Christian fiction. She is the Northeast Zone Director for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). At ACFW she was named the ‘Mentor of the Year,’ for 2011, and she is the current President of (CAN) Christian Authors Network. Bonnie is also the Appointment Coordinator for both the Colorado Christian Writers Conference and the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference.
In her spare time she is an avid social media junkie, and teaches Facebook, Twitter, Blogging and HTML as recreational occupations. She also has a novel coming out in the Abingdon Quilts of Love series. Her novel Pieces of the Heart will publish August of 2013.
Bonnie and her husband Bob live in a log cabin on 15 acres in upstate area of Binghamton, New York with a dog and cat who consider the humans as wait-staff.
ABOUT THE BOOK
After her mother dies from a heart attack, Sloane Templeton goes from Cyber Crimes Unit to bookstore owner before she can blink. She also "inherits" a half-batty store manager; a strange bunch of little old people from the neighborhood who meet at the store once a week, but never read books, called the Granny Oakleys Book Club; and Aunt Verline, who fancies herself an Iron Chef when in reality you need a cast iron stomach to partake of her culinary disasters. And with a group like this you should never ask, “What else can go wrong?”
A lot! Sloane begins to receive cyber threats. While Sloane uses her computer forensic skills to uncover the source of the threats, it is discovered someone is out to kill her. Can her life get more crazy?
Sloane
Templeton finds herself book-ended by problems. Her mother passed away
leaving a bookstore, a grieving daughter, a cast of quirky characters,
and a rare book behind.
If that wasn't enough, Sloane also has a recent divorce under her belt
and an ex-boyfriend who didn’t mind giving her a good belt when she
needed it. Sloane is attempting to heal and figure out life. But
circumstances keep her on her toes, and her emotions on eggshells. The
new man in her life seems oh so perfect, too perfect? An offer exists
for the bookstore property, and the sales force seems a little too eager
to slide that sale through. Sloane’s Aunt Verdene holds the interest of
the law enforcement and fire professionals in her neighborhood…and an
occasional hoodlum.
This
novel has sass and lots of it. Quirky supporting characters show up in
every chapter. Sloane grows from insecure to a new awareness of steps
she needs to take to ease the chaos in her life. Verdene does not blow
up a section of her block. Sloane discovers the true meaning of the word
neighbor. And, the book ends on such a note that there better be a
follow up or two.
Readers
who go for quippy, sassy Chick-lit style reads will want to check into
sassy Sloane. Folks who like both heavy topics and t humor in the same
novel might find Calhoun’s handling of some serious issues cathartic.
Mystery lovers who want t’s crossed and I’s dotted might feel frustrated
with the open-endedness of the final few pages. Not for the clean-cut,
feel-good inspirational fans, the subjecmatter got a little tense in a
few spots.
Fun happenings over the weekend. &, one of her buddies, and I went to the farm. Yay! We planted about 350 tomato plants in one of the high tunnels. I'm telling you. You want a good core workout, three and a half hours of squatting, crawling, twisting, digging and pressing is a good one.
We probably won't be going weekly quite yet, but it's just around the corner. It felt so good to get dirty and sweaty planting those little babies.
And there are baby buds everywhere in our yard, our apple tree, blueberry bushes are raring to go. & started some baby vegetables which have begun to grow, too.
The weather has been so beautiful it's hard to believe we are just in April. High 80s and low 90s is just crazy. Our farmer says we are exactly five weeks ahead of schedule.
It's been so nice & has been riding her cute bike to work. Sunday she even rode to church. Isn't she cute. She arrived a hot, sweaty, quirky mess. Ha. Ha.
Mix all three liquids together in a small to medium crock pot. Break the cauliflower up into small pieces and toss them into the sauce and stir until all are coated. Cook on low for 3 hours or so. This is SPICY.
Hostage negotiation and becoming a police officer.
Our
fourth night learning all about law enforcement in our fair city was as
fascinating as the rest of them have been. The Lt of the hostage
negotiating team explained how to talk people down from some
pretty horrifying thought processes.
There are apparently two major
schools of thought on negotiating. The NY style (as in New York) is the
talk until the situation is resolved style. Talk. Talk. Talk. The LA style (bet you can figure that one out) is
shock and awe. He mentioned a large SWAT truck with a smiley face on the
front driving through walls and taking care of the problem. Our city
prefers the NY gentle version of handling conflict. I’m thinking talking
to a crazed person might be as scary as a monster truck making a drive
thru window out of a wall. The LA style might be cheaper, though,
some talk-a-thons take HOURS. Sometimes there are fails, no matter how they try. They lost a negotiating phone to gunshot wound when
the would-be suicide decided to go ahead and follow through. The truck
route wouldn’t have likely stopped that outcome, either.
Becoming
a police officer. Starts out pretty benign. A physical test that
borders on ridiculously simple. Our instructor assured every one in the
room, including the sixty-year-olds, would be able to pass it.
The written test with it’s thirteen pages certainly separates the men
from the boys and the girls from the women. Pass that and the wannabe
gets to run the city’s pet and ramped up version of the physical test.
Pass that and
it’s on to the oral interview. Survive? Moving into the psych evaluation
and the lie detector test. When that’s all said and done and the
wannabe is still one of the few standing, they get a conditional “offer”
then a physical.
After 14 weeks at the Iowa law enforcement academy
they return to do two more weeks of intensive training to be one of our
city’s finest. Finally a cop? Sure, after 17 more weeks of Field
Training…and a year of probation. No wonder a hundred applications nets
two to three keepers.
I’m
thinking if most law enforcement agencies require half of what ours
does, our police officers really want to make a difference and are well
equipped to make our streets safe.
I love biographies and meaty accounts of
lesson-filled journeys. I am also fascinated with cultural differences
and physical challenge accounts.
That said, the journey taken by the Pex’s is a
fascinating idea, miles and miles of hiking through the heart and
sometimes, soul, of Israel. The trek through all sorts of obstacles
that made
them physically stronger makes for a rich source of information and
ideas. And Pex shared some fascinating bits of history and cultural
richness throughout her account. There was spiritual application and
ideas to contemplate as well.
However, I may have misunderstood
Pex’s sense of humor or personality. She’d begin to share details about
the rugged terrain and the physical challenges, but then lapse into
sharing about her physical discomfort, or frustration
about her husband’s more laid back style of hiking. Encounters with
others on the trail were snippets of random conversations as they very
likely happened. Her lessons jotted in her journal that she shared
within her chapters were very basic, symplistic lessons that she learned
on the trail, about life, about herself.
I think this book might be valuable to someone who
is considering taking on a journey along these lines. There wasn’t a
blow by blow of what they did to prepare completely, but many details
are covered as are details about the trail itself.
Those who love insider’s insights about different countries and a taste
of culture may enjoy this book as well. Literary biography lovers would
find themselves frustrated. Those looking for heavy Biblical truths may
also be disappointed. However, this could
be a nice companion piece/reference if studying ancient Israel, the
life of David, Moses or the Life of Christ, Paul or Peter and their
missionary journeys.
NOTE: If you have a Kindle you can get a free down load through April 2nd.
Book Description:
Come with John and Judy Pex as they hike the 600-mile Israel National Trail from the Egyptian to the Lebanese borders. During 42 days of trekking through spectacular scenery, Arab towns and villages, past Jewish, Muslim, Druze, and Christian holy sites, they discover: + Sights seldom seen by tourists + Physical challenges and spiritual tests + Cultural encounters and historical insights + Lessons about peace, faith, and endurance. This book will appeal to: 1) Students of the Bible 2) Middle-agers who want vigorous role models and new challenges 3) Christian believers seeking creative ways to test and share their faith 4) Young adults pursuing the great hiking trails of the world 5) Readers interested in Israel. Illustrated with (color) photos of scenes and people from the Trail.
Ordering Info :
176 pages
Price: $14.99
Available through Amazon.com and other online retailers, or through bookstores anywhere.
The Amazon Kindle version is FREE March 29 - April 2 here .
"I wholeheartedly recommend this book for its glimpses of the people, history, and beauty of the land, and for the author's spiritual insights." - Jeremiah Greenberg, The Messianic Times, Jan/Feb 2008
"For thirty years I have had the incredible experience of traveling the land given to Israel by God -- from Dan to Beersheba to Eilat. However, 'walking the land' with my friends Judy and John [by reading this book] has brought a whole new dimension and depth to my understanding of Israel and its people. I know you'll be enriched spiritually through Judy's story of the insights given her by her God on this journey of a lifetime." - Kay Arthur, Precept Ministries International
About the Author:
In their fifties, Judith and John Pex, who run a hostel in Israel, felt the need for renewal and decided to walk the 600-mile Israel National Trail. In WALK THE LAND, Judith shares what they discovered about God, themselves, and the history and people of Israel, and how their love for the land opened doors to share their faith in Yeshuah (Jesus).
Author Photo:
Author Video:
Interview with Judith Galblum Pex:
You have traveled much of the world. What are your favorite cities/places to visit?
Usually the latest place I've been becomes my favorite, though I prefer the more remote locations over large cities. One incredible experience was going with Galit, who is like an adopted daughter for us, back to the village in Gondar, Ethiopia where she was born. She had left there with her mother twenty years previously as a young girl and walked to Sudan from where they were air-lifted to Israel with Operation Moses.
For people who have not yet read your book: What drew you to Israel?
I was traveling around the world, searching for a purpose in life. After hitchhiking alone through Europe for a year, my goal was to reach India, where I thought I would find a guru. I decided to stop in Israel on the way. I'm Jewish and have relatives here, so I thought it would be a comfortable place to rest before the big trip East. I never dreamed that Israel would become my home.
What were the biggest challenges and rewards in raising four children in Israel?
Our oldest son was born our first year in this country, and I had no family and no fellowship of believers in Eilat. I think that raising children in a different culture than the one you grew up in is always a challenge. But, on the other hand, raising children anywhere isn't easy. All four of our children served in the Israeli Defense Forces which also presented challenges. I am thankful to have raised them in an international, multi-cultural environment. They feel very Israeli, but have three passports and are citizens of the world. The best part is seeing them develop into independent adults whom I enjoy being with.
How did you and John get started running a hostel?
There are several reasons. Both of us had traveled a lot and felt that we understood what kind of place backpackers were looking for. At the time, no such hostel existed in Eilat. When we started the Shelter we had three children and couldn't travel as we used to, so a hostel enabled us to keep meeting people without leaving home. Furthermore, we have always opened up our home to guests and we really needed a hostel just to accomodate all the folks who were staying with us!
Did you know you wanted to write a book about your journey on the Israel Trail before you hiked it, or was it a decision you made afterward?
Before we walked the Israel Trail I had started a book about our experience in running the Shelter Hostel. So writing a book was on my mind. I thought that our journey on the Trail would be a good subject for a book, so I kept a diary of our walk for that purpose.
You find many parallels between your walk on the Shvil Israel (the Israel Trail) and your spiritual walk.
I love maps and when I'm hiking I enjoy checking the map often. That way, even if I get off the path, I can't stray too far. I make sure I read my Bible every day also to keep me on the right path for my life. Another lesson I thought of is that sometimes on a hike we come to a crossroads and have to make a decision about which way to go. Once we've chosen a particular trail, I try to be satisfied and appreciate it. Even if it isn't what I'd thought, I can always enjoy and learn something from it.
Which languages do you speak?
Besides English, I speak Hebrew and Dutch (John is from Holland), fluently, and some French, which I studied in school.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse?
I have many favorites, but there's one special chapter -- Isaiah 53. In verse 6 is the key: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." It is amazing how clearly Isaiah speaks about the Messiah here, 700 years before Yeshua, Jesus, was born. Many Israelis, when they read this chapter for the first time, think they are reading a portion of the New Testament.
What would readers be surprised to know about you?
When people meet me today they are often surprised to hear I was a hippy/traveler and that I lived for three years in Alaska in an Eskimo village above the Arctic Circle.
2/3 cup liquid (I juiced one orange, one lime and saved 1 TBSP of this for the frosting...then I added non-dairy milk to make the liquid level reach 2/3 cup. Use all fruit juice if you want. If you add the juice to the non-dairy milk it will curdle...so don't be alarmed.)
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 flax eggs (2 TBSP ground flax and 6 TBSP water, set aside a few minutes until it gels)
Mix 2 cups of the flour, sugar, salt and yeast in mixing bowl and set aside.
Heat milk and coconut oil in microwave, in a warm oven or over double boiler until mixture is warm and the coconut oil is melted. Add vanilla.
Pour wet mixture over the dry ingredients and mix until moistened.
Add flax eggs and stir.
Add the rest of the flour about a 1/2 cup at a time, kneading dough until well mixed. This takes only a few minutes, the dough will still be slightly sticky. If you find it too sticky just add a bit more flour, a tablespoon at a time until you can handle the dough easily. (I generally knead right in the bowl and use the same bowl for rising.)
When kneaded cover and let rise until double, approx 1 hour.
Meanwhile prepare the lemon sugar mixture:
1/2 cup sugar
Grated zest from 1 orange, 1 lime or lemon or combo.
1/4 cup coconut oil (melted)
Mix together.
Once dough is risen roll out to a 12 x 20" ish piece. Spread the citrus sugar coconut oil on the rectangle.
Cut the dough crosswise into 5 strips. Layer the strips on top of each other carefully and cut into 6 squares.
Place these squares sideways into a greased 5 1/2 by 9 1/2" bread pan. Or you could use 2 smaller loaf pans.
Let rise until almost doubled, approx 25 minutes.
Bake in 350º for 35 minutes until golden in color. (I crammed my dough into one pan and if you do that I'd recommend that you place foil on the bottom of your oven or a cookie sheet under the bread pan. My batch oozed the oil/sugar/citrus a bit.)
Good without the citrus glaze, but the glaze is yummy, so slather it on.
Citrus glaze:
1/4 cup Vegan cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon citrus juice ( the set aside 1 TBSP of orange/lime juice mix from the bread recipe)
Powdered sugar to reach the consistency you want. 1/3 to 2/3 cup.
Mix until smooth.
Drizzle glaze over top of loaf and, as desired, on each piece.
Yesterday's Costco run was overdue hence an expensive grocery trip. Fabulous asparagus fresh from the garden helped with that.
I have to confess to a rotten new addiction. #3 has been telling me I needed to watch Modern Family...that it's so up my alley, that I'll laugh...a lot.
So I watched a few episodes on Hulu. And, unfortunately, she's right. It's kind of hilarious.
Our local library had Seasons One and Two available on DVD. Therefore, my cooking and cleaning moments over the last weeks have included an ongoing Modern Family marathon.
(As do my Pinterest and blogging sessions.) (Yep. As in right now.) Phil is going to get nailed by a remote control plane any second. Suspense building...here it comes. Yes! That was hilarious. While Phil lies bleeding, Mitchell discovers Costco.
I am telling myself that the timing and comedic delivery of the show will somehow make me a better writer. That as long as I'm multi-tasking it is not a colossal waste of time.
(Speaking of writing, Michelle did get her promised Fabio scene.) (Speaking of on-line social fun...a friend overshared something of a delicate nature on their Facebook page...#3 took a break from Pinterest (and we were between Modern Family discs) to read it out loud. Awkward pin drop moment and really, not as Pinteresting as the oversharer might think.) Note to self, note to all, sometimes the details are best left hidden. Just sayin.
Fun farm fact. The farm is ramping up to start the season.
One of the farmers dropped into &'s coffee shop yesterday. She cordially requests our presence to help plant tomato plants in the high tunnel this week. Uh yeah!
And to, I don't know, make the invitation more enticing, she brought in a bag of first fruits.
Yep.
In March, they have been able to harvest some of the baby asparagus we planted last year.
Yum. Yum. Dinner tonight will include our first green treasure.
Oh, and on a creepy side note...I was able to harvest our first tick of the season, too. Off of poor &'s thigh. Ugh.
