It’s a Wonderful Christmas: Classics Reimagined

Posted on November 15, 2021 by Jill English Johnston

A beautiful Christmas gift—for others and for yourself. It’s a Wonderful Christmas, an anthology of novellas retelling well-loved Christmas classics. A perfect read for the holiday season. It’s a Wonderful Christmas includes stories by authors Julie Cantrell, Lynne Gentry, Kelli Stuart, Janyre Tromp, and best of all my friend/critique buddy, Allison Pittman.

Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

“To celebrate, five bestselling authors have joined together to create this enchanting set of holiday novellas. Nothing jump-starts Christmas nostalgia quite like the movies. With stirring images of snow-covered hills, crackling fireplaces, and happy families gathered around the decorated tree, these silver-screen tales capture all the magic and wonder of the season. Inspired by some of their favorite holiday films, each of these novelists has paid homage to the classic stories we all love, crafting an eclectic collection that delivers something for everyone.” (As described on Amazon.)

I asked Allison to answer a couple of questions about her involvement in It’s a Wonderful Christmas because inquiring minds want to know.

How did you get involved in this Anthology?

I joined up with several other authors to host a facebook page called Her Novel Collective, which is a place to reach out and find new readers for ourselves by keeping an on-going book chat on the page. And then…one of us (not me) had the idea that if we put ourselves together in an anthology, we would reach each other’s audiences. So after a million messages back and forth, we came up with a theme that would work for everyone! We all have a favorite Christmas movie, so writing novellas in tribute to them seemed the perfect fit.

What’s been the best part about being included in this Anthology?

The best part has been how much I’ve learned about independent publishing. Some things are like: wow! This is super easy! I would totally do this again. Other parts…not so much. But, really, being able to link in to the specific super powers of Lynne Gentry, Julie Cantrell, Janyre Tromp and Kelli Stuart — there’s just such a WEALTH of experience and knowledge there. We all have strengths and weaknesses, but when you’re working together for a common goal, those strengths can sometimes wipe the weaknesses away. I’ve also found so many new followers on all of my social media platforms, particularly Book Bub which, in this industry, is such a huge factor in finding success.

What would you like readers to know about this Anthology?

Readers are going to find such a variety of stories and writing in this! Kelli’s story is a straight-up fairy tale. Mine is a romantic comedy. Lynne’s is all Christmassy and warm, Julie’s and Janyre’s get a little deeper. There’s a story for every mood and whim, because we all followed our hearts. The book is a collection not only of stories, but of reading experiences.

It’s a Wonderful Christmas is available on Amazon, in Kindle and paperback.

And if you’re looking for more:

Last Christmas, Allison released Keeping Christmas: 25 Advent Reflections on A Christmas Carol. Another great holiday, curl up next to the fire with a cup of steaming cocoa, read. Especially if your a Dickens fan.

Keeping Christmas is also available on Amazon in Kindle, hardback, and audio.

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Be Still Series – Upcoming Artisan Faire (Saturday, November 20th)

Posted on November 10, 2021 by Jill English Johnston

If you’re in the local area, please come by Journey Fellowship (I35 S in Selma) on Saturday, November 20th from 9am-2pm for our annual Artisan Faire. We have lots of amazingly talented local artists and artisans. Perfect for all your Christmas shopping needs.

Jon and I will be there again this year. I may have a few items left of my Dad’s woodwork to sell. I no longer receive any new inventory from him, since he passed away in early 2019. My heart smiles when I imagine him using his woodworking gift for the glory of God in the eternal Kingdom.

Jon may have some his photos available. Either way, we will definitely have our photo devotional books in the Be Still series for sale. I absolutely love the look of these covers. They display just a hint of God’s creation as captured by my husband. And it’s been so much fun creating these books. I’ve learned a lot along the way and I’m already thinking about next year’s book. Please be sure to stop by my table. I’d love to talk to you.

Details for each book can be found on my Be Still blog page. Details and ordering are available on my Amazon author page for those not in the local area and/or can’t make the Artisan Faire.

Grace and Peace.

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What if Jesus was Serious about Prayer by Skye Jethani

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Jill English Johnston

I can’t remember how I discovered this book. I’m not sure if I had heard about it on one of the podcasts I listen to (which has been my tendency lately) or if it popped up on Amazon when I was looking at other books to order and its cover and title intrigued me. Either way, the book was on prayer, and prayer has been one of two areas that I always want to grow in (the other is writing).

I didn’t start the book right away; it sat on my desk for a few months, along with a couple of other prayer books in my “to read” stack. When packing for our summer trip, I picked it up and tossed it in with a few other books for our time in the camper.

I didn’t have any expectations, but when I finally opened Jethani’s book, I realized it was different than, well, than what I expected. The book is divided into six parts and each part has approximately eight segments. The segments are short devotionals with a couple accompanying scriptures for further reflection. They’re easy to read in the morning when getting ready for the day, but have deep, insightful truths.

The segments total fifty-three conclusions Jethani makes about if Jesus was serious about prayer. He includes a comical, yet deep truth, “doodle” with each segment. He also provides plenty of places for the reader to jot notes, thoughts, reflections, or even their own doodles on each of the prayer conclusions and the scriptures.

Don’t let the simplicity and the doodles fool you though. Jethani challenges the reader to take another, harder look at what Jesus thought about prayer and therefore what we should think, do, and be about prayer.

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Masked Bandits

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Jill English Johnston

I have all kinds of succulents and cacti growing on the steps and on our patio. But recently I dropped seeds into some extra little pots that I have—tomato currant, chili pequin, and sweet pepper.

The tiny plants had just started breaking through the dirt when we had another visit by some frequent, albeit not always welcome, guests.

Three young raccoons make a monthly visit, usually when the moon is full. They have a party on our patio. They look for the food they know we have—deer corn and protein and bird seed. They poke around my plants where water is pooled around the pots. And they just seem to hang out because they like it on the patio in the wee hours of the morning.

I know this because we have a ring camera and I’ve seen their dark forms lumbering about, the occasional beady eyes glinting in the camera.

I usually don’t mind. I’m just a bit more cautious about letting our small dog out into the back yard in the evening without first checking for these guests. They not only outnumber him, but outweigh him by at least 10 pounds. We’ve had to replace the deer feed storage bin with another bin having (supposedly) raccoon proof closures. The two five pound weights we placed on the top of the original bin didn’t deter the raccoons in the least. Provided a bit of challenge I suppose. In all their efforts, they eventually cracked the bin’s lid, hence the need for replacement.

Like I said, I usually don’t mind their visits. They’re kind of cute.

Until they’re not.

The little bandits knocked over my small pots, spilling dirt and damaging my tiny plants. After my tender efforts to grow them, I’m not sure if the plants will survive. I gently repotted each one and placed them on a tray in a less-raccoon-accessible location.

Isn’t that how life can be, though? We see God plant tiny seeds of faith and bring growth to the tender gardens of our human hearts. He tends our faith with love and grace and soon our hearts produce new fruit of trust, joy, peace.

Then in the night, the masked bandits come. Night thieves. Careless looters. They poke around, sniff around, and create turmoil and trouble where seeds of faith are growing. Maybe intentional, maybe not. But the damage is the same. A mess made, hearts breaking and spilling over with tears, maybe even faith damaged.

The bandits may come as the death of a loved one, illness, the loss of a job, a move, a friend’s betrayal, an accident, divorce, anything that rocks our world.

But God is there, scooping up the mess, comforting us in our grief and tears, and restoring our tender faith.

A few promises from Scripture to turn to when the bandits come:

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

John 16:22

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Ephesians 3:16

Grace and Peace

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What Darkness Fears

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Jill English Johnston

Just in time for Halloween. What Darkness Fears, an anthology of stories and poems portraying light in the darkness. A perfect read for the spooky season. What Darkness Fears includes stories by authors Anne J. Hill, Lara E. Madden, and my friend/critique buddy, Lauren Thornhill, among others.

I asked Lauren to answer a couple of questions about her book because inquiring minds want to know.

How did you get involved in the anthology, What Darkness Fears?

I became involved in the anthology almost entirely through Instagram. I found Anne J. Hill on Instagram because she was a fellow writer and editor. In fact, she edited my current WIP for the King and Prophet Chronicles. We became friends, and I met her in person at the Realm Makers Conference (RM) this year. About a week after RM, Anne sent me a chat about the anthology and asked if I would be interested in submitting some stories. Of course I jumped at the chance. I love spooky stories, and I loved her theme of light in darkness, and keeping it clean fiction. I sent in a short story and two poems for consideration. The story and one poem was accepted.

What’s been the best part about being included in the anthology, What Darkness Fears?

Easily the best part of the anthology was the community. Anne created a group chat in Instagram for the anthology authors and anyone who wanted to help promote it. For two months I enjoyed the chats, the group thinking, and everyone’s enthusiasm for the project. It was intoxicating. Writing is so often done alone. This was a community, and we were having fun, even if it was just over chat.

What would you like readers to know about the anthology, What Darkness Fears?

This anthology was written by authors who love the spooky, but love the light more. Anne and Lara (Lara E. Madden) led us through this project. They kept focusing on the positive, making sure scripture was put in the book, and that the message of light conquering dark prevailed. We all learned a lot, and you can see the love in what we’ve put together—love for our Savior and love for our craft.

What Darkness Fears is available on Amazon, in Kindle and paperback.

Thank you, Lauren Thornhill, pen name, L.A. Thornhill.

Lauren has also published her own novella, The Lost Descendants, for the King and Prophets Chronicles. The Lost Descendants is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback and, coming soon, will also available as an audio book.

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