THE END OF ONE ROAD BEGINS A NEW ONE

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC

THE END OF ONE ROAD BEGINS A NEW ONE

Thank you for sharing the Holidays with me! It was fun looking at holiday related writers, book reviews, and songs. What a great year 2009 has been, and you were a big part of that!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Stay tuned in 2010 for more book reviews, previews of works by KM Wilsher, up and coming brilliant writers, and as always, glorification of Jesus Christ our Lord!

TWILIGHT

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES





To end the HOLIDAY SERIES, FALL ON YOUR KNEES, I would like to share with you one of the most brilliant devotions I have seen this year. It is over at DRY GROUND a fresh blog written by writer Lori Lundquist. When you get there, look on the right side of the page and click on How Reading a Vampire Book Brought Me Closer to Jesus

TWILIGHT is a phenomenon and for the longest time I couldn't figure out why, but this devotion brings it home - spurs me to FALL ON MY KNEES.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO DRY GROUND and read this brilliant devotion.

Isn't there anyone who can tell me what Christmas is all about? Charlie Brown

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES



Merry Christmas!

CHRISTMAS STORIES

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

What is your favorite story regarding Christmas?

Of course the most popular Christmas book is probably
A Christmas Carol

But remember this one:
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree. What an adorable tale about a Christmas tree that is too tall. Adelaide cuts the top off. She throws it away and it starts a chain of bears, owls and eventually mice finding Christmas trees from that one tree top.



Did you know Tolkien wrote a Christmas story?
Letters from Father Christmas by Tolkien
Have you read it?



And we can’t forget The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe – Narnia, the land where it is always winter and never Christmas. But Christmas does come!












Of course the birth of the our Savior Jesus - that is the real story. That story will be up next!

MOVIE MONDAY

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

We were talking about Christmas specials last week.

Remember this guy?

The Abominable Snowman, a monster that hates Christmas and feeds on reindeer, tries to chase them. The friends lose sight of the monster, and on their way they meet a prospector named Yukon Cornelius who is obsessed with finding silver and gold. The trio manages to flee to the Island of Misfit Toys, ruled by a flying lion named King Moonracer. Because they are misfits but not toys, King Moonracer allows them to spend one night on his island. The friends do, but Rudolph knows that his nose is a danger to his friends, so he leaves the island.
Later in the story they tame the abominable snowman and teach him to walk.
Remember when the group of misfit toys and Rudolph sang this song with him?


Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

You never will get where you’re going
If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing
A fast walking man is hard to beat

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door



I still sing this song sometimes when I think I can't go on anymore.
How about you? Got any silly ways to encourage yourself?

JOY TO THE WORLD

Here is another of my top Christmas songs!
One of my favorite things about this song is the harmony. (The video is hard to watch because of the white, bobbing ball above the head of the girl in the back LOL)
I thought these girls did well. What about you? A little over zealous maybe, but they made me smile.

BY DARKNESS HID by JILL WILLIAMSON

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

A BOOK REVIEW
BY DARKNESS HID by JILL WILLIAMSON
My Synopsis
Achan Cham is a stray. In the feudal caste system of Er’Rets a stray is the bottom rung of society. Without family, he is forced to work in the kitchens and serve an abusive master.

An offer from a charismatic knight to train for the King’s Guard lifts Achan’s spirits. And yet, as Achan grows more capable with the blade and confident in himself, he hears voices in his head. Despite his new found courage gained from his sword training, he fears he has gone mad.

Meanwhile, Vrell Sparrow, a girl dressed as a male stray hiding from an arranged marriage that will unite her to the most horrific of lords, works in the household of a friend of the family. And a powerful man, who covets her strong blood voicing powers which enable to hear other’s thoughts, sends men to fetch her. Though Vrell is admired by a few of her captors, it looks as if she is on her way to the dungeon.

Both Achan and Vrell meet as they get caught up in the whirlpool battle for the highest seat in the land. As century old lies crumble and cruel secrets melt, shocking secrets are revealed about their families, their identities, and the world as they know it. In the end Vrell and Achan are required to run for their lives into the land which is by darkness hid.

My Review
I have to admit, as a writer this book sent me into a long depression – or writer’s block -- whatever title you want to slap onto it. As I read the last page of BY DARKNESS HID and closed the book, I said aloud, “That’s it. It’s been written. The perfect fantasy tale has been written and it is called BY DARKNESS HID.”

Oh yeah, and I went on to wallow about it. Why write? The perfect fantasy tale had been written.

Okay, rest assured that three weeks later I have emerged from my self-pity and am writing again, and after you’ve assuredly rested go and buy this book.

These characters are alive, loveable and as real as any I have seen. Without endless narrative, you feel like you are in middle of the medieval fantasy world. All that is medieval and fantasy is painted and portrayed in entertaining brilliance.

The action is fast paced without being choppy; the conflict is flashy without being violent. It is my favorite book to date. Aye, my fellow fantasy fan, I said it: This is my favorite book to date!

What more to say? We can look back in admiration at Tolkien and Lewis as they forged the road. We can honor Jordan, Whedon, Lucas, as they constructed their footsteps. But I say, Jill Williamson will be the hero of our time.

You decide. Pick up the book.

MOVIE MONDAY

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

When you were a kid, weren't you on the edge of your chair the day after Thanksgiving waiting for the Christmas Specials? I loved them.

Rembember the The Little Drummer Boy?














A very sweet tale around the story that is Christmas, the birth of our savior.
What is your favorite?
Come back next Movie Monday and hear about a Christmas Special that still encourages me today!

O HOLY NIGHT

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

MY NUMBER ONE FAVORITE SONG ABOUT OUR SAVIORS BIRTH.

EACH TIME I HEAR "FALL ON YOUR KNEES" TEARS BURN MY EYES!!!!



WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE FAVORITE SONG ABOUT OUR SAVIORS BIRTH?

FIRST EDITION

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

Keeping with the theme: FALL ON YOUR KNEES, here is an article of mine from the our church newsletter called FIRST EDITION.

It is partly my testimony, so I thought it went well in the December chapter of THE HOLIDAY SERIES. It is quite long, but here it is in entirety.

by KM WILSHER
It is not the easiest thing for me, being transparent, especially to brothers and sisters. Despite what I know, that Christians are not perfect people but forgiven children, I have a past. I would love to leave my past where it is, behind me; but there are others out there struggling with the same horrors I struggled with, and I feel a call to reach out to them. So I must be transparent every chance I get.

15 years ago, homeless, on my knees, and at the bottom of a rope I admitted to an addiction to crystal meth. My journey did not end there. I am among what they call cross addicted, so years later, I then came to admit I was an alcoholic. And today I can claim sobriety only one day at a time.

Nature vs. Nurture? I am not a theologian, a psychologist, or scientist, but I know that in the past I have had a strong tendency to search for relief and escape in substance.

In times of trouble I have ran to alcohol, drugs, and nicotine, but these are just the darkest of substances to which I have run. I have also turned to food, television, and work to fill a need.

In this great nation of ours there are many ways to escape the stress and trouble of life. And the sheer number of ways to avoid the pain, along with the ease and accessibility of them is overwhelming.

Many people had traumatic childhoods, but not all of these turned out to be drug addicts or drunks. Many human tragedies happen daily, just the unfair day to day events are enough to cripple us, why did I turn to drugs and alcohol? I have no idea. Was it because I was born with a predisposition? I don’t know. I do know that I thank the Lord for his deliverance before those substances drove me to an early grave or worse. I think hurting someone else in a drunken stupor would have been worse than death.

12 step programs were a catalyst for me. I did grow up in the Church, but after many years of the inability to follow some rules man had given me to follow in order to meet God on judgment day, I’d thrown religion out the window. The 12 steps led me back to Jesus Christ. Those steps were a bridge back to the loving arms of the lover of my soul who had waited and longed for me to see Him through my broken world. Those steps were also an enlightening process that God used to show me a way back home – to Him.

And now I have a passion to share this story, to hold up road signs to others, road signs pointing to a bridge that leads to Jesus. Many suffer from addiction. Addiction in many forms, relationships, working too much, gambling, etc. I even know women that cannot put romance novels down, reading until all hours of the morning, missing sleep and important dates all to read another book.

This is why groups like, Celebrate for Recovery, and FCC’s own His Path to Recovery are so important to me. The need out there is disturbing, the need not only to reach out to those who drink too much, but also the need to reach out to those in other dark cells of escapism.

There is hope. Jesus is the answer, but sometimes it takes someone who’s been there to deliver the message. Sometimes it takes someone who shares your same character defects to realize you are not alone in yours.

We all have been labeled in this life: Most likely to succeed, Class Clown, Most likely to screw it all up. The good news is we as Christians have the best label: Saved. I know that most secular 12 step groups are ever trying to squeeze God out, but God is the motivation behind those steps, and Jesus reached me through them.

So if you know someone still suffering from addiction, remember that there are Christians praying for them today. Praying for them to see the road signs, the steps, or maybe an ex-addict to help them find their way back to Jesus, their way back home.

Have you written your testimony?

MOVIE MONDAY

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

For Movie Monday in the month of December, a chapter entitled: FALL ON YOUR KNEES. I am looking at great bible story movies. And of course, during the month we celebrate Jesus' birth, THE NATIVITY STORY came to mind first.

THE NATIVITY STORY
However, there are other great movies that give us a veiw into the life of Jesus:
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
JESUS





"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
AND didn't want to forget the following movies, that really gave me a contemporary look at these TRUE bible stories.

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT

ESTHER

Can you think of more? Did you see the movies I've listed? Did you enjoy them?

I KNOW THE END OF THE STORY

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

"Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go." John 21:18

My family has always been very involved in missions local and abroad, planting Churches, serving Jesus. As a child, on my way to the Indian Reservation with my family to spread the Word and give food and clothes, I would picture myself as an adult on the mission field in some role. However, to my shame, my teens and early twenties did not glorify Jesus. And in my mid-twenties, I went on a journey to study every religion I could find of to locate the Truth: Science of the mind, New ageism, Indian mysticism, Buddism, Hinduism and others, and thank the Lord Jesus Christ the search for the Truth led me home. The Truth was in my life all along – Jesus was always who He claimed to be: The Son of God – and I could finally see!

In my late twenties I began to serve Jesus with all my heart, and looking at the mission field again. At Metro Church in Denver, Colorado I became a fan of some missionaries to Russia and Portugal. But, I was sincerely touched by a woman who came to visit Lakewood Church of Christ who ran a Christian elementary school in India. It was small and poor, but attendance was coveted by the community due to the love of Christ Jesus.

I thought I had found my calling. In fact, I had to do a persuasive speech in my communications class at a secular college and I spoke about the Indian Christian School and my desire to go and teach/witness there. It was a secular school, but at the end of my presentation the students gave me money! I collected $30 to put toward what I would need to get to India. The professor said he’d never seen anything like it. The Spirit was moving beautifully and my life was good. Alas, that $30 still sits --as do I – stateside.

Funny how things work. . .I’ve heard it said, “We make plans and God laughs.” I don’t know about that, but I do know in my life I’ve made plans and He says, “Wait.” Not just mission plans, but ministry plans, family plans, writing, education and career plans too. And, He says, “Wait.” “Wait” is not the easiest thing to do.

I’ve said to my Lord for many years, “I’ll go anywhere you want me to go.” But I think I always meant “anywhere but here.” And, as I’ve stayed “here”, I have remained extremely faithful and in love with the Son of God. I will not leave Him ever again.

Like Peter said in John 6:68
“Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Yes, eternal life and ironically, the Truth for which I left Him to search for in my twenties.

I wondered if I was the only one who felt this way. Was I the only one God asked to stay put -- to “Wait.”

Sarah came to mind. God asked her to wait for His promises to be revealed and fulfilled. Wait well into her elder years. I have a very strong bond with Abraham’s wife. I know we are very different. She was very beautiful; she was a wife, and the mother of many nations. I am pretty frumpy, single, and the mother of none, and yet I feel we are united.

That bond developed while I was reading the book: SARAH: Book One of the Canaan Trilogy by Marek Halter. It’s a good book. I read it a couple of years ago. And page after page I found myself saying, “Hang on Sarah. Don’t fret. Don’t give up hope. I know the end of the story.” I found myself wanting to step into her story and tell her what I know. A few months later as I was in despair, losing hope and laughing at the prospect that God had plans for me to prosper; I heard a distant voice saying, “Hang on, child. Don’t fret. Don’t give up hope. I know the end of the story.” Love, Sarah.

From my viewpoint it seems like all those around me have “go orders”. I have great respect for you all and admiration beyond belief. I feel so lucky God has placed you in my life. But, my question is; Has God asked you to wait?

FALL ON YOUR KNEES, THE HOLIDAY SERIES, DECEMBER CHAPTER

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

Why the title FALL ON YOUR KNEES? This month is the deepest darkest part of the year, literally. The days are shorter and the inky night is longer than ever. Is this why we celebrate the birth of our Savior? I would like to think so. His birth, a bright light shined into the dark sin engulfing mankind. The star, a shimmering reminder that in the dark days of your life, Jesus shines through.
I love the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and this month I will fall on my knees in adoration of Him and his grand love for us.

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my
love. John 15:9

No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have
believed that I came from God. John 16:27

Jesus loves you this intensely!

Come back in December for many "gifts", book reviews, and praise for Jesus!

Are you ready for Christmas? It’s December 1, Christmas is around the corner.

When do you send out your Christmas cards?

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

Off to the Rockies to watch the Huskies' last playoff game! They haven't lost at all this season. This game decides what teams play for the state trophy. How fun is that!? Have a great weekend all! See you the middle of next week.

I am grateful today for my nephew, my family, air travel, football, and COLORADO!
How about you? On Black Friday what are you grateful for?

Author Bios KAT HECKENBACH

The Holiday Series
November a month of gratefulness

Author Bio Study
As I was submitting my short stories around the net, it surprised me that many places asked for an Author Bio. I mean I was just submitting short stories. Author Bio’s were for Dekker and Peretti, right? So, on the fly, I had to come up with an Author Bio. Whew?!

So this study is to get you thinking. Do you have one? What kind of things make a flashy author bio? Or should it be flashy at all?

While we study, get to know some of my favorite writers:
One major thing I am grateful for is the many talented writers in the Lord has brought into my life. I am lucky to have found the some of The King’s most faithful daughters and can now claim them as friends. So in this series I not only want to study Author Bio’s, but also showcase them.


And now, Kat Heckenbach: CLICK HERE FOR HER BLOG
Kat Heckenbach is a freelance writer, homeschool mom, and magna cum laude graduate of the University of Tampa (Biology). Her short fiction ranges from light-hearted fantasy to dark and disturbing. You can enter her world and learn about her novels and other writing at www.findingangel.com and www.kat-findingangel.blogspot.com.

CLICK HERE FOR KAT HECKENBACH'S WEBSITE
I grew up in the small town of Riverview, Florida, where I spent most of my time either drawing or sitting in my "reading tree" with my nose buried in a fantasy novel...except for the hours pretending my back yard was an enchanted forest that could only be reached through the secret passage in my closet...

I never could give up on the idea that maybe I really was magic, mistakenly placed in a world not my own...but as the years passed, and no elves or fairies carted me away...I realized I was just going to have to create the life of my fantasies.

Now I share that life with my husband and two kids. Ok, maybe "share" isn't the right word--more like live that life in my writing and try my best to be normal the rest of the time.


I graduated from the University of Tampa--Magna Cum Laude, B.S. in Biology (yep, I'm a science geek, too).

I spent several years teaching, but never in a traditional classroom--everything from Art to Algebra II (yep, I'm a math geek, too)--and now I homeschool my two kids.

My writing spans the gamut from inspirational personal essays to dark and disturbing fantasy and horror. (You didn't honestly expect me to say "romance" did you?)

____**THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF KAT'S PUBLISHED STORIES!

"The Gift"--short story in Digital Dragon
"The Artist"--short story in Mindflights
"Sparrows"--short story in Einstein's Pocket Watch
"Willing Blood"--Editor's Choice Award in The Absent Willow Review
"Eyes on the Hilltop"--short story in CFOM
"FINDING ANGEL" -- CHAPTER ONE of MY FIRST NOVEL

**CLICK HERE TO FIND THE LINKS TO KAT'S PUBLISHED STORIES (LOOK ON THE RIGHT SIDE UNDER "FIND MY WRITINGS!)
___________________________________________________
What does your Author Bio sound like? Funny? Serious?

Author Bios

The Holiday Series
November a month of gratefulness

Author Bio Study
As I was submitting my short stories around the net, it surprised me that many places asked for an Author Bio. I mean I was just submitting short stories. Author Bio’s were for Dekker and Peretti, right? So, on the fly, I had to come up with an Author Bio. Whew?!

So this study is to get you thinking. Do you have one? What kind of things make a flashy author bio? Or should it be flashy at all.

While we study, get to know some of my favorite writers:
One major thing I am grateful for is the many talented writers in the Lord has brought into my life. I am lucky to have found the some of The King’s most faithful daughters and can now claim them as friends. So in this series I not only want to study Author Bio’s, but also showcase them.


First up, Lori Lundquist. Lori used to live in Arizona. I am hoping she will again someday. This girl has a great love for Christ and it shows in her life as well as in her writing. Lori has been a great inspiration to me both spiritually and artfully. I am so excited about the things she is sharing over at DRY GROUND. You have to check out her Vampire devotional series!

And now: Lori Lundquist
Lori Lundquist writes diverse, redemptive novels in several genres including historical romance and fantasy. She’s also the author of Dry Ground (lorilundquist.blogspot.com), a blog site featuring original articles highlighting spiritual lessons garnered from popular literature and movies such as How Reading a Vampire Book Brought Me Closer to Jesus. She is a wife, a hiker, a reader, a photographer and an amateur nomad/explorer. For now, she lives in Knoxville, TN (for the second time), but don’t worry, that will change. Maybe one day she’ll live close to you.

Check out her Vampire devotional series!
HOW READING A VAMPIRE BOOK BROUGHT ME CLOSER TO JESUS.

My fellow writers, do you have an Author Bio?

Veteran's Day

The Holiday Series
November a month of gratefulness

Today I am grateful to all our Veterans!

MOVIE MONDAY

10th Kingdom and Dune
THE HOLIDAY SERIES
November, a month of gratefulness

Today I am grateful for my opinion - and yours! Why?

See, I like funny fantasy. For instance, THE PRINCESS BRIDE. I have watched it a handful of times and would love to meet Inigo Montoya. Who doesn't love to hear him say: My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.


I don't watch PRINCESS BRIDE very often, but I do revisit A KNIGHT'S TALE over and over and OVER again. Chaucer? I think we are long lost soul mates. (UG, I always fall for the bad “unavailable” guys. Not the main hero ready to fall in love. Okay. That is a whole different post for a whole different day LOL)

Here are some of his best moments:


Or the KING'S GUARD. You have to see this one. KING'S GUARD is a sort of marriage of A KNIGHT'S TALE and THE PRINCESS BRIDE.

However, after many years of finding 10TH KINGDOM and DUNE highly ranked on lists like: “Top Fantasy Movies of all time”. I finally rented them. Neither one played in my DVD player longer than 10 minutes. Hokey at best. . .

Should I be ashamed? As a Fantasy/Sci Fi/Allegory/Paranormal/Speculative FREEK, why could I barely get through the first scenes of these movies?
Is it only that they are old movies? Would I like the books? Have you seen them?
Advice please, fellow fantasy lovers.

SUBMISSIONS

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
November, a month of gratefulness

So I finally submitted to THE CROSS AND THE COSMOS. That is what I am grateful for today. The guts and time to submit!

Have you heard about this online magazine? Fantasy. Science Fiction. You should visit just to see the art! All glorifying Jesus Christ.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE CROSS AND THE COSMOS:

THE CROSS AND THE COSMOS is a brand new source for Christian Speculative Fiction. I can't figure out just how, but it is connected to Jeff Gerke/Marcher Lord. I mean I think someone else runs it, but he is involved. (If you know, let me know!)

Anyway, check it out.

Where have you submitted your Christian Sci-Fi and/or Fantasy lately?

THE INTERVIEW

THE HOLIDAY SERIES by KM Wilsher
NOVEMBER a month of gratefulness
THE INTERVIEW


We have four weeks to count our blessings. Share what we are thankful for.

I did not plan it this way, but my friend, author Michelle Gregory, is interviewing me on her website today. No really, me!
Look here. CLICK HERE TO READ MICHELLE'S INTERVIEW OF ME!
So. . .
The first thing I will mention that I am thankful for is, all the friends and stars I have met through CHRISTIAN WRITERS OF THE WEST. That is where I met Michelle Gregory.
Michelle and I both share a great love for Christ and for writing FANTASY. I am grateful God brought her into my life.

Tell me what you think of the interview. I will be "grateful"!
What are you grateful for today?