Book Review: THE EDEN OPTION, by Allen Arnold

 Allen Arnold is something of a guru for creatives who want to work hand-in-hand with God.

In fact, his first book is called The Story of With, and it's part Bible study, part parable. I highly recommend reading at least once a year just to refresh your brain on the principles and try to do a better job this time around ...

THE EDEN OPTION investigates and explores the concept of two different story worlds that we can live in. Story 1 is the story life and story world God intended for all of us, and Story 2 is the one we settle for, thanks to rebellion and basic selfish stupidity.

The subtitle on the cover offers hope: THE WORLD IS UNRAVELING, BUT THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE YOUR REALITY.

From the back cover: "Story 1 is the original, true story we were made for. A way of life that revolves around God where we are fully seen, known, and loved. Story 2 is the counterfeit narrative we're born into. A way of life that revolves around us. We make ourselves the hero of the story; then wonder why God seems distant.

"The Eden Option is a beacon that calls us back to God-reality. It reveals his original design for our lives, how we lost it, and why it matters more than we imagine."

Read it. Apply it. Break free. Go home!

More Book Fairs Soon -- Will I See You There?

 Coming up in TWO WEEKS!! TWO festivals, one after another. Hope to see you at one of them!

 

Skunk Fest

10am to 4pm, Saturday, September 14

South Central Park, 7565 Avon Belden Rd.

North Ridgeville, OH  44039

**ALERT**

I'm working on a short middle-grade fantasy fiction piece written especially for Skunk Fest.

It's an Enchanted Castle Archives tie-in story, featuring the adventures of 'Na when she was a little girl, with her pet dragon, Smedley. Come find me and pick up your copy at a discount over online prices.

(At least, I'm planning on the book being ready. At this point, a lot depends on the printer doing their job!) 

 

Indie Author Book Expo

1-5pm, Sunday, September 15

Emerald Event Center at Residence Inn at Mariott

Avon, OH

 

 

Hocking Hills Book Fairs:

2 dates!

 

11am-3pm, October 5

Nelsonville Elks Lodge, Nelsonville, OH

 

11am to 4 pm, December 14

The Dairy Barn, Athens, OH

 

Book Review: FABLEHAVEN, by Brandon Mull

 

Audiobook, narrated by E.B. Stevens

Ever wondered where all the magical creatures of legend and lore have vanished to? According to this series, they live in sheltered sanctuaries, hidden from the cruel, modern world. And a bunch of nasties who want to tear them apart to control their magic.

Kendra and her brother Seth go to stay a couple weeks with their grandparents while their parents are on a cruise. Their grandparents are somewhat reluctant for the kids to come stay with them.

Incredible things happen when the children find out why.

Their grandparents are caretakers of Fablehaven, and all that magic doesn't exactly result in a safe place for anyone to stay, much less children who don't know how to obey the very simple rules their grandparents give them. What happens when broken rules lead from uncomfortable transformations to the possible shattering of the barriers that protect them from all that wild magic?

Heroes are born through crisis, and sometimes the magic and wonder that result have a bittersweet taste.

New Tabor Heights Release: THE FAMILY WAY

 Now available from Mt. Zion Ridge Press, in paper, ebook, and audio:

Everything is going right for Lisa. Her comic strip about a pastor's family has gone national, and she has a contract for a series of books. Even better, she is pregnant. Finally, her critical father-in-law will stop mocking her for wasting time with her "scribbles" and "pretensions of being an artist," and admit she is a good wife.

Then her husband, Todd, comes home from another business trip in a foul mood and destroys her happy announcement with: "Is it mine?"

He tries to make things right, but he has never learned to simply apologize. Even more important, he has never learned that if he is truly sorry, he needs to change. As communication disintegrates and suspicions and pain increase, their marriage disintegrates, until his own sisters urge Lisa to leave him, to protect her heart, her mind, her baby, and even her life.

Family secrets, and patterns of suspicion and accusations and abuse slowly come to light. Can Lisa and Todd regain their first love and forgive each other, and break free of a family tradition that could destroy them both?

 

www.MtZionRidgePress.com

Sneak Peek! Cover Reveal!

 

COMING OCTOBER 1

The next Young Defenders adventure

Who are the Young Defenders?

Behind every legendary ship are the little people who make the incredible discoveries possible.

In the case of the AFV Defender, they really are little: the children of the crew, growing up below decks, learning lessons on faith, honor, loyalty, and what it really means to be a hero. No matter what it costs.

Cadets long before they go to the Fleet Academy for official training, they are preparing for the day the fate of the Alliance, and maybe the Human race, lies in their hands.

 

SOFT-WIRED

Book 3, Elli’s Story

Elli arrives on the Defender with her older brother, Dom, an engineer. Their parents died several years ago, and Dom has been taking care of her ever since.

Elli is worried that she won't be able to make friends. Her colony world was hit with an epidemic, and everyone has been living in isolation. Even worse, Elli is afraid to admit that she was exposed to the Rewire Fever.

Something seems to be wrong with her brain. She can smell people's emotions, and she hears sounds that tell her what people are feeling. Elli wants to hide all these strange, new things she can do. Then she meets Tress Lore, who has just learned she can hear what people are thinking. They both become students of Master Maenta, who teaches them that Enlo gives special gifts for specific reasons, and even when something goes wrong, good things, better things can come from it.

Books in the Barn -- Come and check us out. It's gonna be GREAT!!

 Books in the Barn has a terrific lineup this year! The barn is full and vendors will also be outside under the porch. Over 50 vendors who are talented in more than one area. Here is the breakdown of what will be offered at the booths and a few specialty items.

• 25 - Arts & Crafts vendors
• 24 - Local Authors (Christian and/or family-friendly)
• 6 - Direct Sales vendors
• 1 - Toy tractor collection sale
• Kid's Corner will be selling homemade zucchini bread and cookies
• Light breakfast and lunch offered by Old Stone Presbyterian Church.
• Scioto Paint Parties will teach you how to paint the canvas "Shine" at 12:30. 
• Don't miss Sharla Patterson Photography outside under the porch. She is offering a mini 10-minute photo shoot for $25 and you will get the digital photos.

 

To learn more about vendors, check the Facebook event page. Link below. Bring your friends, neighbors, and church family to this great event! I will see you next Saturday at...

 

Books in the Barn

Saturday, August 10th from 10 AM - 3 PM

5530 Radnor Rd, Radnor

  

Website: https://maryrodman.com/books-and-crafts-in-the-barn-vendor-list/

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/816417293653232/

 LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7213138845498818560/

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C81oSwoOKvo/

 Alignable: https://www.alignable.com/delaware-oh/mary-rodman-christian-author-speaker/books-in-the-barn-aug-2024?_faid=16503

Book Fair TODAY in Xenia!

 

Everything you need to know is right here!

Hope to see you there.

Would be great to meet you face-to-face!

Oh, and by the way, we've got LOTS of books!!!

#bookfair

#booksigning

#booksale

#XeniaEvents

Release Day! Check out WHITE WOLF at Ye Olde Dragon Books

 

It's release day!

WHITE WOLF

Book 2 of the Steward's World fantasy series, sequel to PLANTWISE, officially releases TODAY.

You can get the ebook and audiobook and save $$ today by buying directly from YeOldeDragonBooks.com.

You can also buy the previous book in the series, PLANTWISE, and save.

Looking ahead ...

The next book in the series is tentatively titled VIOLET AND LILY, and features the two little girls introduced in Books 1 and 2. Princess Violet is the niece and heir to the king of Westerland, and daughter of Princess Arden, Gifted with plantwise magic. Lily is an orphaned child gifted with unusually strong magic, whom the evil enchanter Durmad wants to enslave, to use her potential to take over the world. Our heroes in WHITE WOLF, Taran and Bard, were sent to find her and rescue her, and take her to safety.

In VIOLET AND LILY, the two little girls grow up together, facing challenges and learning hard lessons, and exploring all the wonders and dangers of magic at their fingertips.