The Road to Christmas: Sheila Roberts Interview

I am so very happy to welcome Sheila Roberts today. I'm sure that you don't need an introduction, as you all know her either by her books and/or by the movies that have been based on her books. I am humbled, as well as excited because she's taken the time out of her busy day for an interview!!!

USA Today and Publishers Weekly best-selling author Sheila Roberts has written over fifty books under various names, ranging from romance to self-improvement. Over three million books have been sold to date. Her humor and heart have won her a legion of fans and her novels have been turned into movies for both the Lifetime and Hallmark channels. When she’s not out dancing with her husband or hanging out with her girlfriends, she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends and chocolate.

Her latest book is the women’s fiction/romance The Road to Christmas (Harlequin/Mira, September ’22)

Visit her website at http://www.sheilasplace.com. Connect with her at Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The Interview

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I have been writing for a loooong time and I love what I do. It’ so much fun to sit around and make up stuff. When I’m not writing I’m playing tennis, going line dancing, watching movies with my husband, hanging out with girlfriends or throwing a party. And, of course, there’s reading. So many books, so little time!

In one sentence, describe "The Road to Christmas".

This is a road trip story involving three branches of a family tree, everyone on their way to their holiday destination – three different adventures and one big happy ending.

What inspired you to write it?

That is a good question. Often I am inspired by something that happens in my life or something I read about or see. This time it just came to me that it would be fun to write about a road trip. Road trips are always interesting and often things happen that you didn’t even remotely plan for. So a road trip story offers lots of potential for drama, laughter and falling in love. I hope I’ve given readers all of that in this book.

Do you have a favourite character? Why is s/he your favourite?

One of the first characters I adored was Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. A determined woman, who never let the opinions of others (including a snobby Mr. Darcy) shake her sense of worth. IMHO, we all should get in touch with our inner Elizabeth Bennet.

I know some authors have strange rituals when they write. Some have to have a certain food, lock themselves in a room, only work at night, etc. What's yours?

Alas, I’m boring in that respect. I have no ritual. Much as I enjoy writing, it is still a job. So every day I sit down with my laptop, enter my fictional world, and get busy creating.

Can you give us a hint on what  your next project is? 

We writers are always working ahead. Right now I’m halfway through next year’s Christmas book and enjoying it immensely. (Christmas is my favorite season!) Soon I will be hearing from my editor and polishing my spring release, Mermaid Beach, part of my Moonlight Harbor series. I’m excited about that one and hope readers will enjoy this next installment in the series.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Why are things like reviews and pre-orders such a big deal to you writers?

I know it’s not an esoteric or exciting question, but a bit of business it would be good for readers to know. That first week of sales is important, therefore pre-orders are important. A first week of good sales can land a writer on a best-seller list, and our publishers love it when that happens. And we love it when our publisher is happy. Also, it’s a validation for a writer’s work. The same is true of reviews, because those reviews help boost our visibility on sites such as Amazon, and introduce us to new readers. We writers so need our readers. If nobody knew of us, who would we have to tell our stories to? As you can see, reader support is really important. And let me tell you, it’s really appreciated!

Is there anything else you'd like to tell your readers?

Only that I appreciate you all so much. I love hearing from readers and I really enjoy interacting with them on social media. So come find me on Facebook (funwithsheila), Instagram (sheilarobertswriter) and now, TikTok sheilarobertswriter, funwithsheila)

Thank you so much Sheila! It was such a pleasure getting to know you!

Thank you so much for having me. I enjoyed chatting with with you!

 

Title: The Road to Christmas

Author: Sheila Roberts

Publisher: Harlequin (MIRA)

Pages: 320

Genre: Women’s Fiction/Romance

 

BOOK BLURB:

Michelle and Max are not planning on a happy holiday. Their marriage is in shambles and the  D word has entered their vocabulary. But now their youngest daughter, Julia, wants everyone to come to her new house in Idaho for Christmas, and she's got the guest room all ready for Mom and Dad. Oh, joy. 

Their other daughters, Audrey and Shyla, are driving up from California and hoping to meet a sexy rancher for Audrey along the way. What they don't plan on is getting stranded on a ranch when the car breaks down. 

The ones with the shortest drive are Grandma and Grandpa--also known as Hazel and Warren. It's still a bit of a trek, and Hazel doesn't like the idea of driving all that way in snow, but Warren knows they'll have no problem. They have a reliable car--and snow tires and chains if they need them. They'll be fine.

 

Surprises lie in store for all three sets of intrepid travelers as they set out on three very different adventures, all leading to one memorable family Christmas.

 

Book Information

Release Date: January 21, 2021

Publisher:  Harlequin (MIRA)

Soft Cover: ISBN:978-0778386568; 320 pages; $15.29; eBook $11.99

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BOS5yL 

Walmart: https://bit.ly/3UAwIZs 

Interview with C. W. Gortner #QueensVowVirtualTour

I am so very pleased to have been able to have the chance to interview one of my favorite authors, C. W. Gortner. Mr. Gortner has written some of the most captivating and realistic novels about amazing women like Catherine de Medici and Isabella of Castile. Writing from a first person point of view, he not only brings these women to life but has the ability to make the reader believe that they are not reading fiction, but truly inside the head of these great and powerful women!!

Mr. Gortner, it is such a pleasure to have this chance to learn a little more about the man behind these amazing novels. I won't lie - I'm gushing all over the place as you are one of my favorite authors. Your work is completely mesmerizing and impossible to put down!


Enough gushing...

Thank you so much. I’m very honored. And flattered. And blushing . . .

Please tell us about yourself.

In a nutshell: I was born in the US and raised in Spain (my mom is from Spain); I have always been an avid reader but didn’t always think I’d be a writer. I love animals and do as much rescue work as I can, especially pledging money to help get dogs out of high-kill shelters. Oh, and I’m addicted to shoes.

Could you give us an overview of "The Queen's Vow?"

The Queen’s Vow is the dramatic but rarely told story of young Isabella of Castile’s tumultuous struggle to win her throne, from her childhood as a forgotten princess to her dangerous adolescence when she was branded a traitor to her transformation as the famed warrior-queen who irrevocably changed Spain and the world. Here, Isabella tells us her story, starting with the death of her father and culminating in the most triumphant year of her reign: 1492.

What inspired you to want to write about Isabella?

My first novel, The Last Queen, covers the final twelve years of Isabella’s life as seen through the eyes of her daughter, Juana. I didn’t want to repeat that story; however, Isabella’s youth is relatively unknown to most readers, a fascinating story about an obscure princess who was ill-prepared to rule yet somehow found the strength to do it anyway. Though Isabella is one of history's most famous figures, responsible for sending Columbus to America, revered by some as a devout leader who transformed Spain into a world power and reviled by others as a fanatic who ushered in an era of persecution, very few of us know her as a neglected child contending with a mentally ill mother, as a passionate woman willing to risk her life to marry her true love; as a Renaissance leader, patron of the arts, and scholar, whom no one believed was destined for greatness. Growing up in Spain, Isabella was a tangible part of my life: I lived near a castle she once owned and visited Granada, where she is entombed. Also, many readers of The Last Queen wrote to me to say how fascinating they’d found Isabella as a character; when the time came to present a new proposal to my editor, following my second novel The Confessions of Catherine de Medici, I thought Isabella would be a great choice. Not only did I want to return to her world but I had a unique story to tell, about a woman who is very different from my previous ladies.

I have read all your Queens novels and I am amazed with how realistic every woman is. You seem to climb right inside their heads and know exactly how they would feel in their situations. Being male, do you find it difficult at times to give them such a real voice?

I don’t really find it difficult, perhaps because I was raised in a family of strong women; I grew up hearing their stories, their secrets, the ways women communicate. I was the little boy under the table when my aunts sat down for cigarettes and coffee; I absorbed their language in the same way that children absorb any language. So, it doesn’t feel strange to me to write in a woman’s voice. In addition, our emotional makeup isn’t defined by gender: men and women, we feel the same emotions, but we’re taught by society how we should or should not express them. The challenge is to not inject my personal bias or opinions onto these women. While I often don’t agree with what they think or do, it’s who they are that matters, not who I think they should be. In a way, I must restrain my own personality in order to inhabit the character I’m writing. The reader shouldn’t see me; they should see Juana, or Catherine, or Isabella. Another challenge is to build an emotional portrait that is true to what we know about these women and expand on often few facts in a realistic manner, so that the women become to you, the reader, complex and plausible, with their particular strengths and flaws. I also never want characters to be carbon copies of each other: they must each have their own voice, because these are distinct women, with different personalities. I work hard to ensure that they can stand on their own.

How long does it take to research each woman before you are comfortable enough to start writing about them?

I’m always researching, even when I’m writing. It’s hard to say exactly how long it takes because I’ve been studying my subject matter since I was a boy, long before I thought I’d publish a novel. History enthralls me: I read history for fun. So, in a way, my research has been going on for many years, and when a subject comes up, it’s a matter of refreshing and deepening my focus. When I’m starting to work on a project, I do spend at least two months developing a psychological and emotional blueprint for my character, after the bulk of the main research is done. I’m also the kind of writer who researches as I go; I cram enough in to start, and when I hit a block or obstacle, I return to my sources for inspiration. But I do have to know enough about the character’s inner life first: I have to know who she is when she starts her story and who she’ll be when it ends. Facts are easy enough: she was born on X date, she went here on X date, this happened, then that happened, etc. How she felt is a different matter.

Who or what was your biggest influence in your decision to become a writer?

I’d have to say my father. I’ve always written; my mom remembers me making up stories in my childhood and writing them down in spiral notebooks, and illustrating the covers, too. But I never took it seriously, in the sense that I wrote for myself, never thinking I might actually make a living at it. However, in my mid-twenties, after writing a few contemporary novellas and trying my hand at a fantasy epic, I decided to write my first historical novel. My father wanted to read it and so I eventually gave him the manuscript. He called me up after he read it to say he thought I had talent and I should consider finding an agent so I could publish my book. My father wasn’t given to idle flattery, so I took his suggestion seriously. I didn’t know the first thing about publishing or agents, but because of his encouragement I set out to learn. Nearly fourteen years would pass until, after much trial and error, two of my historical novels were sold at auction to Random House. I often think that if my dad hadn’t said, “Hey, why don’t you try to get published?” I might never have had the courage to do it, or to keep at it even when it seemed as if it would never happen.

I know some authors have strange or unusual rituals they must follow when they write. What's yours?

Nothing exotic: I need quiet; I can’t even listen to music. I also drink lots of strong, sweet tea. I used to smoke, but since I quit, tea has become my new vice. I also like writing in a familiar place, such as my study at home, with my research at hand, and my dog at my feet. I am disciplined: I write every day, and I fret if I’m not writing or feel as though I’m not doing a good enough job. The first draft of a book is always a mess, so the real fun doesn’t happen until I get that first draft done. For me, the joy of writing is re-writing; I love deepening a story, cutting what doesn’t work, conjuring what does, polishing and refining and finding cadence in the words. Writing is very tough because you can feel that a book is never finished, never fully realized. There’s always another layer, another path not taken, choices you must make; but it’s also the exciting part for me. Every book is its own monster, which you wrestle to the ground and mold into the story you hope to tell.

What things do you enjoy doing when you aren't working?

I love to read; I still manage to read at least 20 novels a year, in addition to my research books. I also love to walk with my dog, yak on the phone with my friends, go out to eat with my partner, travel, and, of course, shop! Though my lifestyle doesn’t have much call for fashion these days, I still love it.

If you could spend one day with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

My father; I would love to see him again. He passed away when I was twenty-nine. Now that I’m in my forties, I miss him more than ever. I’m nearing the age he was when he died and I often wonder how our relationship might have evolved, how much more we might have found to talk about and share.

Would you share one thing most people don't know about you?

I never drink alcohol, except for the very rare glass of wine. I don’t like the taste.

Please tell us about your next project.

I’m currently writing the story of Lucrezia Borgia, covering her so-called Vatican years, from her indulged youth as the illegitimate child of an ambitious Spanish churchman to her thrust into notoriety as the pope’s daughter and dangerous struggle to survive her family’s lethal ambitions. Once again, I’ve found myself drawn to a woman who’s been vilified by history. The book will be published by Ballantine, Random House, in 2014.

I’m also preparing the outline for the third book in my Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles; the second book (after The Tudor Secret) is titled The Tudor Conspiracy and is scheduled for publication by St Martin’s Press in the US, and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK, in 2013.

Thank you, Mr Gortner, for taking time out of your busy schedule. It has been a real pleasure getting to know you!

Thank you for having me. I hope your readers enjoy The Queen’s Vow. To learn more about my books, please visit my website: www.cwgortner.com

#TheCrownVirtualBookTour Nancy Bilyeau Interview with #Giveaway

Welcome, Nancy! It is such a pleasure to have you with us today. Could you start us off by telling us a little about yourself?
Thank you. I’m a magazine editor and writer--I’ve been on the staffs of InStyle and Ladies’ Home Journal and Rolling Stone—and I’m a wife and mom to two children. I was born in Chicago and grew up in Michigan but moved to New York City because that’s where the magazine business is based.
 
In one sentence, how would you describe "The Crown"?
It’s the story of a young novice who must find an object of great mystical importance to save the life of her father as well as the future of the monasteries in Tudor England.
 
What inspired you to write this novel?
I wanted to write a historical thriller set in an interesting time in history, and from the point of view of a character not often depicted in commercial fiction: a Dominican novice.

Are there any characters that you identify with?
Oh, I identify with my main character, Sister Joanna Stafford. She is determined and tries to do the right thing but she makes mistakes. Sometimes she speaks before she thinks. In some other ways she is not like me at all but I gave her one of my own flaws: no sense of direction.



How much research went into this novel before you decide to write it?
I’ve been interested in English history since I was 11 years old, particularly the Tudor age. So I had a home library of about thirty books. When I started the book I did a lot of research at the same time. It took me five years to research and write it.
 
Who or what was your biggest influence in your decision to become a writer?
When I was eight years old, a teacher told me I was a good writer. That had an impact. My high school creative writing teacher in Livonia, Michigan, also encouraged and influenced me. I took English literature classes at the University of Michigan and ended up on the college newspaper. It was something I liked to do and was reasonably good at, so I just kept gravitating toward writing, and away from things I was not good at, like math, specifically geometry!
 
If you could have a dinner party with 5 people, living or dead, who would they be and why?
I would like to put these five women at the same table and see what happens:
Queen Zenobia of Third Century Syria, who tried to conquer Rome
Eleanor of Aquitane
Queen Elizabeth I of England
Mary Wollstonecraft, the 18th century revolutionary and feminist
Hillary Clinton
 
I know some authors have unusual rituals when they write: a certain food, lock themselves in a room, only work at night, etc. What's yours?
I listen to music, either on my shuffle or on youtube, to get me in the mood. It might be Thomas Tallis, or Beethoven. Or it might be rock ‘n’ roll from the 70s or 80s—that gets the juices flowing. I also love the music of Trevor Morris, who wrote amazing pieces for The Tudors, The Pillars of the Earth, and before that, The Last of the Mohicans.

How does writing work with family/personal life?
To be honest, it is a challenge when you have children.  I am focusing on my books right now. I am not in a magazine office so I have more flexibility for class trips, doctor appointments, playdates. But while the kids are proud of me they are also envious of the time I spend writing and promoting my work. I try to get them interested in historical fiction, with some limited success. LOL.
 
What things do you enjoy doing during your "free time"?
I love going to the movies. I’m always happy when the lights dim and the screen lights up. I also love walking on the beach or hiking peaceful trails, though neither exist in New York City, unfortunately.

Would you share one thing most people don't about you? 
I snuck into a Bob Seger concert when I was 18 years old.

Please tell us about your next project.
I’ve finished my second book, The Chalice, which is the second in the series. In it Joanna Stafford undertakes a more frightening quest. I bring back most of the main characters of The Crown, and I add some fun new ones.


Thank you, Nancy, for taking the time and allowing a small peek into your life. It has been such a pleasure hosting you for this tour. 



The Crown
Author: Nancy Bilyeau
Publisher: Touchstone, January 2012
ISBN: 9781451626858
Genre: fiction, historical fiction

About the Book:

An aristocratic young nun must find a legendary crown in order to save her father—and preserve the Catholic faith from Cromwell’s ruthless terror. The year is 1537. . .

Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the sacred rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin’s side. Arrested for interfering with the king’s justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London.

The ruthless Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, takes terrifying steps to force Joanna to agree to spy for him: to save her father’s life she must find an ancient relic—a crown so powerful, it may hold the ability to end the Reformation. Accompanied by two monks, Joanna returns home to Dartford Priory and searches in secret for this long-lost piece of history worn by the Saxon King Athelstan in 937 during the historic battle that first united Britain.

But Dartford Priory has become a dangerous place, and when more than one dead body is uncovered, Joanna departs with a sensitive young monk, Brother Edmund, to search elsewhere for the legendary crown. From royal castles with tapestry-filled rooms to Stonehenge to Malmesbury Abbey, the final resting place of King Athelstan, Joanna and Brother Edmund must hurry to find the crown if they want to keep Joanna’s father alive. At Malmesbury, secrets of the crown are revealed that bring to light the fates of the Black Prince, Richard the Lionhearted, and Katherine of Aragon’s first husband, Arthur. The crown’s intensity and strength are beyond the earthly realm and it must not fall into the wrong hands.

With Cromwell’s troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must now decide who she can trust with the secret of the crown so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England’s past.

About Nancy:

Nancy Bilyeau is a writer and magazine editor who has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Good Housekeeping. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Visit her website www.nancybilyeau.com, friend/like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Make sure to visit the other blogs on The Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tour to see what others have to say about "The Crown"




Giveaway

Nancy is giving away one copy of "The Crown" to one lucky reader. Entering is simple....

- Giveaway is open to US ONLY.
- To enter, please leave a comment below and include your email address (only comments with email addresses will be entered in the giveaway).
- For +5 additional entries, be a GFC follower of Just One More Paragraph. Tell me if you are a new or old follower.
- For +3 additional entries, join the Just One More Paragraph's Facebook Page.
- Giveaway ends March 1, 2012

Interview with Bill Giovannetti

Bill Giovannetti serves on the faculty of A.W. Tozer Seminary and is the Senior Pastor of Neighborhood Church of Redding. Four Letter Words is his second book. He has written numerous articles and is a popular speaker. Bill hates legalism, loves grace, and teaches that God is infinitely more committed to us than we will ever be to him. He is a graduate of Trinity Seminary and earned his doctorate at Fuller Theological Seminary.

What's Four Letter Words about, and where did you get the title?

Four Letter Words is about defending your faith in Christ. If you've ever felt tongue-tied standing up for Jesus, this book can help.

Even though our culture claims tolerance as a virtue, that tolerance stops at Christianity's front door: witness the hostility directed toward a sincere Christ-follower like Tim Tebow. Judging by reactions to him, you'd think he just cussed out his grandma when all he did was say a word for Christ. Speaking God's truth and living your faith is quickly becoming today's profanity. Tougher days are coming; we need to get ready.

There has never been a truth-system more satisfying, consistent, logical and beautiful than Christianity. I wanted to help God's people rise up and say so.

What four letter words do you write about?

True: who says your truth has to be my truth too? Know: how do you know God is real? Pain, Evil, and Ouch: why doesn't God stop the bad stuff? Damn: how can a loving God send people to hell? Word: What makes the Bible so special? Wait: isn't it unreasonable to expect today's people to live by biblical standards of sexuality? Hope: what good has Christianity done in the world?

The book has ten chapters, discussion questions (in the book and downloadable from the website), and 208 pages.

Did you ever struggle with your faith? How did you work through that?

Even though I've been a pastor for a long time, I struggle with my faith a lot. My earliest struggles – back in high school days – centered on scientific stuff, like evolution. In the book I tell the story of how I made peace with faith in a Creator God and how I fit together science, logic, and the gospel in my own heart.

Now that I'm a bit older, my struggles come more out of pain and suffering. Why does God let people hurt? I cover those topics too.

Struggles are normal – we just can't let them overwhelm our faith or uproot our joy. It's super-important for us to know every question raised against Christianity has an answer. I try to provide some of those answers along with simple talking points for everyday conversations.

Who is this book for?

This book is for anyone who either struggles with faith or who wants to help friends who struggle with faith. I wrote to strengthen faith and equip believers to share faith. Our church has used this book with high school students, young adults, and senior citizens—it's been really well received across all age groups. Other churches are using it in small groups and youth groups.

I would love to see this book in the hands of every high school graduate and new college student: they need to be inoculated from the anti-Christian venom they're going to experience.

Toward the end, Four Letter Words invites readers to faith in Christ so it can be resource for evangelism too.

Discussion questions are included.

What's with the QR codes?

Part of my geek credentials, I suppose. As far as I know, Four Letter Words is the first QR-enabled book for the general market. QR codes are those postage-stamp sized boxes with indecipherable patterns inside – Quick Response codes. I wanted to make the book an interactive experience: just scan the codes with any smartphone and you'll go straight to relevant videos, audio .mp3's, and websites. Each chapter has a lot more resources on the website (www.fourletterwords.org) which you can reach either through the QR code or just by visiting the site. The geek-tech stuff in no way overwhelms the written word; it just supplements it. I hope readers like it. What did you think?

If I read this book, what will get out of it?

I wrote Four Letter Words with three simple goals in mind:  

1. Clarity: Know what you believe.

2. Confidence: Know why you believe.

3. Courage: Know what to say when you don't know what to say.

So what do you do when you're not writing?

I'm the husband of one incredible wife and dad to two amazing kids. My main calling is as a pastor to the Neighborhood Church of Redding, a small-town church of over 2,000 set amid the snow-capped peaks and pristine lakes of northern California. I love preaching and teaching—spreading out a rich feast of God and his grace and digging deep into God's Word. I also serve on the faculties of A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary and Simpson University. I like watching mindless action movies, reading, hanging with friends, bass fishing, woodworking, good coffee, and Chicago sports teams. Go Bears!

Italian food is my love language.

Do you have any other books around?

My earlier book helps readers get a grip on their inner mess. If you read it, you'll meet your Inner Thug, Inner Brat, Inner Legalist, and the rest of the motley crew lurking in your soul. It's called How to Keep Your Inner Mess from Trashing Your Outer World (Monarch/Kregel, 2009). I have a couple more books in the pipeline, including a fiction book on the global political scene.

What's your spiritual background? How did you get started with Jesus?

I was reared in a tiny Chicago gospel church. I was loved. I was cared for. I was taught the Bible. That church was my second family. They introduced me to Jesus. I received him when I was young and devoted my life to him. But it wasn't until young adulthood that I began to appreciate how much Jesus was devoted to me. That discovery rocked my world. I shifted from rules to relationship and from guilt to grace. I dedicated my life to encourage instead of tear down. I strive to free others from guilt, shame, and legalism, and to help people discover life and love through God's amazing grace.

How did you pick the four letter words for each chapter?

I had a great team working with me to pick the topics. The young adult leadership team from my church hung out with me for a few coffee-shop meetings. We brainstormed ideas. We asked what questions kept surfacing in their relationships with seekers and what issues kept tripping up their conversations about Christ. The topics came from them. Each chapter grew out of the real-life struggles of real people in my church. I think this is why the book has connected in some pretty deep ways with readers.

Would you say that Christians are persecuted?

Not so much in the U.S., but persecution is definitely coming. It's not that Christians are changing; it's that culture is running from God so fast that yesterday's normal is becoming today's weird. Christians will be increasingly marginalized. Tell a typical college student he needs to be celibate till marriage and he'll look at you like you're Amish. Why don't you hop in your buggy and trot along. A generation ago, our culture would have supported that value. Today, culture attacks it. It's going to get tougher to stay strong for Jesus.

We need a new breed of Christ-follower: alert to the beliefs that tick people off, and ready to fire the weapons of truth and grace with courage, compassion, humor, and love.

There are so many books on the gospel message, do we really need another one?

Thank God for a lot of excellent books out there to defend your faith. Four Letter Words stands out because it is written for the everyday Christian. You won't need advanced degrees to understand its message. I wanted to go deep, but keep it really clear. I also made sure to include "Talking Points" after each chapter.  That's where I pull the chapter's themes into a handful of memorable and repeatable truths. These take-aways can help you engage your friends in solid conversations about Christ. While many other apologetics books focus on a single topic, Four Letter Words deals with common topics that often make the average Christian feel tongue-tied. Consider it your one-stop shop for equipping in apologetics.

FUN QUESTIONS

If aliens landed in front of you and, in exchange for anything you desire, offered you any position on their planet, what would you want?

Definitely the Minister of Space Exploration. I dig science fiction and it's my secret dream to pilot an alien spacecraft through a wormhole into another dimension. I want to boldly go where no one has gone before. Plus it would be cool to see first hand how Jesus gets glorified on the far side of Jupiter and to hit a baseball on Pluto and see how far it goes. As Minister of Technology, I'd restore Pluto's status to that of planet instead of asteroid; I feel sorry for the little guy.

If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

There's this guy on the TV show Alphas named Gary Bell who can literally see the entire electromagnetic spectrum: radio waves, phone texts, television signals, digital transmissions, and the Internet. He sees it in the air around him. I want that. Is that enough to renew my geek-card?

Name one movie you consider wildly under-appreciated.

That's easy: Tremors. Yes, the one with Kevin Bacon fighting giant worms that eat people. Creepy comedic genius. My wife loves it so much she rolls her eyes and leaves the room every time I turn it on.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/tF3L3M
Direct from the Author (signed copies) http://maxgrace.1freecart.com
Website:  http://www.fourletterwords.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BillGiovannetti
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/billgiovannetti
Blog: http://www.maxgrace.com

BILL IS HAVING A GIVEAWAY!!!

Bill is celebrating the new Kindle edition of Four Letter Words (for only $4.99)! He’ll be traveling coast to coast over the next few weeks on this virtual book tour and he's celebrating by hosting a great giveaway!

Click here to find out how you can win two gift certificates to Amazon (in the amount of $50 and $25) and free downloads of his yet-to-be-released title, Recession-Proof: Living a God-Blessed Life in a Messed Up World.

Get "The whole scoop" here: http://fourletterwords.org/2012/01/contest-giveaway/ 

Make sure to visit others on the Blog Tour to see what they have to say about Four Letter Words.