First, a huge THANK YOU to everybody who showed up for our Book Bananza! It was a BIG success because of YOU! What a FUN evening! (A BIG thanks to our friends at Potpourri! ❤️) Results are in and our first Book Bananza was a big success!
Of course, many dear friends stayed home due to Covid. We missed YOU. In your honor today, I’m making sure you don’t miss out on our local authors’ great books! (For Anna’s thoughts on how to inspire a love of reading in your small children, click here.)
Plus, fellow author and new friend, Lisa Pulliam created this hilarious look at the pre-show (below). Who knew she was filming immediately before the doors opened?! You’ll love her interviews with many of our local authors.
While you enjoy Lisa’s fun interviews above or by clicking here, you can fill the last of your stockings below. Naturally, I made it easy for you with a quick synopsis and link to all books.
Brian Brandt
Blind Spots. If you’ve ever been left out of an opportunity where you thought you could really add value, missed out on a promotion you believed you were perfect for, or seen a relationship deteriorate for no apparent reason, you likely have blind spots. This book is about identifying and dealing with the behaviors, attitudes, and habits you’re not even aware of that keep you from being and doing your best. We’ll show you the hidden issues that are stalling your potential and teach you 11 proven strategies to overcome your blind spots.
April Coker
The Keeper & Keeper II: The Storm. That’s the question zookeeper Jolie Sowell seeks to answer as she works the night shift at the Timber City Zoo. The world-class zoo in this small East Texas town never fails to excite and entertain, in part because the night shift provides heavy-duty cleaning, caring for sick and injured animals, and providing security after hours. It’s a dream job until some animals start acting weird and threatening keepers….
BJ Garret
Unwanted No More. I can still feel the emptiness in my heart. So many memories of ugly…. As a preteen shattered by a sexually abusive father and an absent mother, B. J. Garrett is left unprotected, unloved, and unwanted by the people who should have loved her most. Instead, BJ finds herself wanted by the wrong people for the worst reasons….
Olivia Hardin/C.H. Sessums
The J.D. Pierson Series. C.H. Sessums is a pen name for USA Today Bestselling Author Olivia Hardin. While Olivia writes all manner of romance, C.H. scribbles out cozy mysteries set in her beloved state of Texas. Whether exploring urban legends from all over the lone star state or solving capers set in far off times, mystery meets history in all of her stories. In real life, C.H. lives in gorgeous East Texas with her hubby and their two rescue dogs. Every weekend all four of them pile up into their bunkhouse to watch classic movies and listen to old-time radio. (Don’t miss this offering by our friend, The Faith Book.)
(Note from Cathy: David cracks me up. I thought C.H. gave us a set of her books. But it turns out this is what David put under the tree for himself. Probably because her books are catchy, short, and very Texas. Boy, am I happy with his choice. I’ll read them before he gets through the first one. Win-win!)
Martha Hook
The Springdale Series. Glory Be! Sakes Alive! and Have Mercy! The continuing love story of Dr. Adam and his wife, Clarissa. The Norcutt family now encounters the joys and difficulties of family life, community struggles, and surprising events. Everyone must rely on God and one another in new ways. Forgiveness energizes all three stories. Past secrets, difficult tragedies, new relationships and deepening love turn this novel into a must-read for fans of this beloved couple. Adam and Clarissa will not disappoint readers!
(Note from Cathy: I put this series under the Christmas tree for me! I can’t wait to read the other two books. Martha signed Glory Be! for me ages ago. Find me in a cozy chair between Christmas and New Year finishing the series!)
Tony Johnson
Me and My Boys: My Mentoring Experience. When you encounter school kids with disciplinary problems, you know that behind their actions, there’s usually something more than a desire to just cause trouble. They may have desires for a two-parent family, or maybe they’re mourning the recent loss of a family member, or maybe they’re coping with an abusive situation at home. This is certainly true for the four boys that Tony Johnson began mentoring….
Linda Lesniewski
Women at the Cross: Experiencing the Wonder and Mystery of Christ’s Love. Who were the women present at Christ’s crucifixion? Why did they come, and why did they stay? What did they see? What did they hear? How do their actions speak to people today? In searching for answers to these and other questions, author Linda Lesniewski discovered that she shared a spiritual kinship with the women who stood there as well as those who have been changed by the cross throughout the years….
Lisa Pulliam
Toes in the Sand: My Journey from Domestic Engineer to Entrepreneur. Do you ever find yourself asking questions like: “How come my life feels mundane when my days are completely crazy busy from the time I smell the first brew of coffee until my worn-out body finally falls into bed at night?” Do you ever pray, scream, or cry out, “Lord there’s got to be more to life than what I am living right now…”
Candace and Simeon Hudson
Harry and His Big Nose. Harry and His Big Nose was written to encourage our children and to teach them that they are wonderfully made despite other’s interpretation of their flaws. Teasing another can be very traumatic and can tear down others’ spirit, which could have long-term effects. The purpose of this book is to build self-esteem and give encouragement, hope, love, and inspiration to any child that has suffered at the hands of another….
(For poetry lovers, Candace writes beautiful poetry books, too. If you’re a song-writer and looking for content, please contact me and I’ll connect you with this dear lady! I think her poetry should be lyrics.)
Angie Ruark
Spiritual Warrior Women: Pray. Whether you are working hard to raise your children, care for your husband, facing a devastating diagnosis, dealing with incredible grief, pain, or just simply trying to make it through another day, you are not alone in your fight. These stories of real women from the past and present will inspire and encourage you that in Jesus, our victory is assured….
Danny Sessums
A Force To Be Reckoned With. “To my mind the chances are a hundred to one against us, I would speak falsely to say that I feel indifferent or unconcerned, but I am resolved to take the chances, & fight them to the end for I had rather die than be whipped.” From the panhandle across the state to the Gulf Coast, men of Texas mustered units and enlisted to fight for the South. What began as a number of mediocre military organizations, through a costly series of trials, ultimately was transformed to become a premier brigade in perhaps the finest division of the Army of Tennessee. Somewhere close to ten and one thousand men from Texas enlisted in units that formed the bulk of Granbury’s Infantry Brigade, yet by war’s end, somewhat less than five hundred would survive to be surrendered….
Holli Tennison
PinNFrame Calendar: a calendar that touches eternity. Christmas gift for Grandparents, Parents, Aunts, Uncles, and All who Pray for the Next Generation. Holli created the perfect gift for praying family and friends. With a place to put your child’s picture on the front, this is a gift that is sure to please the prayer warriors on your Christmas list. Each day, Holli’s choice of verses and inspiration will set your heart and mind on spiritual truth and encourage your heart.
Gina Butler
What About Her?: A Study of Biblical Women. In biblical times, culture was all about patriarchs. A person’s ancestors were identified by the fathers, marriages were arranged when girls were twelve years old, and when they became women, they were rarely seen. They only had worth if they were married and a mother. In this study, you will learn how the stories of biblical women relate to us today. The author highlights prostitutes, a ditched daughter-in-law, widows, a few adulteresses, a set of sisters, and even an unwed pregnant teenage girl. All of the women have one thing in common: Jesus….
Cathy Krafve
The Well: The Art of Drawing Out Authentic Conversations. Does your spouse refuse to hear? Do your children stare without comprehending? Does your parent or boss habitually raise objections to your good ideas? Oh, the frustration! Conversations often break down instead of breaking through. She changed from a woman alone to a woman of influence. Her faith transformed a whole community. How did she do that? In The Well, Cathy Krafve points out 40 strategies Jesus used to prompt authentic conversation—by analyzing just one conversation with the woman at the well….
Finally, the MOST Important Person
YOU! You play a crucial part in spreading positive messages in a culture gasping for fresh air! We are so grateful for YOU! When it comes to spreading good messages, readers are even more important than writers. In fact, most of the above authors were book-loving readers FIRST!
Without readers, there would be NO ONE to spread the word. You remind me of one of my favorite verses: “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14 NKJV)
We are a great team TOGETHER!
May we pray together?
Dear good Father, Thank You for giving us Your son. We praise Jesus now. Thank You for Your spoken and written word. Let us be faithful to say and write the things that please You. Help us point people to the truth about YOU! As families gather or find ways to connect, we ask You to guard our hearts and mouths. Let us honor You with loving hearts. May those we love be drawn to Your Son. We praise You, O King of Glory! Thank You for the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Your beloved Son. In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen.
We LOVE to hear from YOU!
Which genre do you love the most and why? Who are your favorite authors and why? Do you know local authors we should invite for our next Book Bananza?
Cathy Krafve, Speaker, Blogger, Podcaster, and author of The Well: The Art of Drawing Out Authentic Conversations , invites your stories, ideas, and questions at CathyKrafve.com. Truth with a Texas Twang.
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