Why This Cover Photo

Now that you’ve seen my cover a couple of times, I thought you’d like to know why we chose this image.

A well-crafted cover carries the mark of the publisher as well as the author. The illustration on the front clarifies the message or the subject matter.

We considered many different photos such as an artist’s palette and brushes; a woman dancing in a field with arm extended, paintbrush in hand as though she were painting the sky; and just blotches of paint across the cover. But I feared most readers would look at the cover and think it was designed for visual artists only.

Reflections of the Creator in Us uses art procedures to convey God’s work in each of us. Therefore, it’s audience is much broader than just those who paint pictures. Besides, I use examples from the performing arts as well as those from the visual arts.

I wanted something that reflected the deeper nature of the contents.

When I found the illustration of the artist holding the world in one hand and paintbrush in the other, I knew I’d found what I’d been looking for. The designer at Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas agreed and did an excellent job of creating this beautiful cover.

I think the image combined with the title piques the curiosity of my readers and invites them to pick it up and investigate the messages. What do you think?

See you in a twinkling,

Brenda K. Hendricks

New Book Release Date

I’m so excited about my new release. Don’t you just love the cover? It pretty much says it all. We are a work in progress in our Creator’s hands. He moves within us, designing a Christlike image in us as we surrender to His perfect work.

The release date is September 25, 2017, published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Did I mention I’m excited about this?

Nothing Can Stop Our God

Impressive Biblical Figures

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)

The first half of 2016, health issues have targeted my heart. I was diagnosed with melanoma. Gene’s prostate cancer came back. A few other concerns trouble me, which I’m not at liberty to disclose at the moment.

Thus, far the prognosis and treatment has been effective for my melanoma. Gene begins the first of 38-consecutive, radiation treatments next week. His prognosis, also, is very favorable. Praise the Lord. Even so, please keep him in your prayers. The other matters have just become known, and may or may not be serious. Time will tell. God knows about them and prepares the path for all of us. We just need to follow and trust His judgment, right?

Oh but it’s so very hard to hold God’s hand and simply trust. My mind wonders into the “what-if zone” and the “why-is-this-happening-now district.”

Recently when I pray about all the struggles different members of my family are facing, the Lord reminds me of several people in the Bible whom he loved, had plans for, and took through deep trials to accomplish those plans.

I’m learning, through biblical examples to trust God’s plan. Whether the difficulties we face turn out the way we’d like them to or end up in the worse possible way, God’s promises hold true. He never goes back on His word. He has not promised any of us a life without trials. In fact, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). He didn’t leave us hanging, however. He concluded His discourse with, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

If we’re trusting in His promises, we can face our trial with confidence. Our hope, our vision is not of this world, but of His kingdom. Therefore, we can become faithful just like the people mentioned in the Bible.

What impresses me with many people mentioned in the Bible is their determination to hold on to their visions—their God-given purpose—against all odds.

Here are a few examples:

God revealed to Joseph in a dream that he’d rule over his brothers someday. That vision calmed Joseph in the pit. That vision kept him from temptation. That vision delivered him from prison. That vision enabled him to forgive his brothers.

Ruth, a foreigner, caught the vision of a loving God from her mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth’s vision compelled her to leave her own family and follow Naomi back to Bethlehem. Ruth’s vision led her to Boaz’s fields to glean the leftover grain as provisions for Naomi and her. Ruth’s vision motivated her to seek a kinsman-redeemer in Boaz.

David’s vision, involving his knowledge and relationship with God, defeated bears, lions, and a giant. David’s vision gifted him with music to sooth the disturbed king’s soul and eventually, delivered him from the king’s wrath. David’s vision won wars, set him on the throne, and brought the arc of the covenant back to Jerusalem. His vision opened the path of humility and brought him back to God.

How about you? How is your vision actively working in your life?

See you in a twinkling,

Brenda K. Hendricks

P.S. If you thought last week’s mystery sketch was a zebra, you were absolutely correct.

 

 

 

Blog Hop

 I’d like to thank Kathie Mitchell for inviting me to this blog hop. You can visit her blog at www.countrygrandmother.wordpress.com  

 

I’d also like to apologize to her for forgetting about the hop until so late in the day. I was sick all last week, which has put me behind in all things.

 

I also have a tendency to change my mind after thinking through these things. I told Kathie I’d be talking about my adult supernatural fiction Before Dawn Breaks, but have decided since I have no clue when that will be published to talk about my tween novel Trouble at Camp Turnabout Creek. So here goes:

1. 

   Trouble at Turnabout Creek

    What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or historic? My main character is a fifteen-year-old, skateboard-champion, wanna-be. Ray Nuestrong is fictional. 

2. When and where is the story set? The story us set in a modern day church camp.
3.  What should we know about him/her? Ray Nuestrong is the son of the camp director and is a first-time junior counselor.
4. What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life? Ray’s new responsibilities leave him little time to practice skateboarding. A pair of tornadoes in little girl suits constantly get him in trouble. And to “add grease to the golden skateboard,” his best friend, Carl aka Frog, won’t rest until Ray joins him in a few practical jokes for old times’ sake. Ray learns the hard way to listen to the “Voice of Truth.”
5. What is the personal goal of the character? All Ray really wants to do is win the skateboard championship one last time.
6. Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it? This is a published book. You may view it on Amazon at
7. When can we expect the book to be published? It was released February 2014.

 

Next Tuesday:

Hop on over to Dave Fessenden’s blog fromconcepttocontract.com to learn about his novel “The Case of the Exploding Speakeasy.” Then hop over Carrie Padgett’s blog Live Vi-Carrie-ous to learn about her book, “Short, Sweet & Sassy.” And if you’d like to investigate a good early-reader, historical-fiction, hop, skip, and jump over to Lisa Lickel’s blog  http://livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com  and learn about “Matthew LaCraft, The Yankee Boy.”

See you in a twinkling,

Brenda K. Hendricks

 

 

Trouble at Camp Turnabout Creek

Trouble at Turnabout Creek

Just released!! My new preteen novel, Trouble at Camp Turnabout Creek is about:

Fifteen-year-old Ray Nuestrong volunteers as a junior camp counselor at Camp Turnabout Creek just so he can defend his skateboard championship title one last time. He figures between helping kids with crafts, nature walks, and talent show practices, he’ll have plenty of time at the skate park.  However, from the moment Kelsey and Kayla Brenner, tornados in twin little-girl suits, arrive accidents happen. But they aren’t the only distractions Ray faces. Pretty Amy Baxter, Ray’s toughest skateboard competitor, blurs Ray’s focus.  Meanwhile Carl Wertz, aka Frog, attempts to convince Ray that Amy and the twins are conspiring against him to keep him from practicing his skateboard routine. With a rubber chicken, a fake tarantula, and a jar of honey, will Frog lure Ray back to playing the prankster he had been as a camper?

Available in Paperback and E-book Format  at Trouble at Camp Turnabout Creek.

See you in a twinkling,

Brenda K. Hendricks