Book Review - zo by Murray Pura

A brand new 5 star review came in for Murray Pura's semi-autobiographical, award-winning novel. The Amazon reviewer is petting a tiger in his profile picture, so it seems like a good idea to listen to what he says. That is amazing!

Review: Zo is one of the many inspiring historical fiction works by Canadian author Murray Pura.
The two poems: “My destiny” by Taras Shevchenko and “The Moon” by poet Andrii Chornavka set the tone for the entire book.

The story is set in the year 1911. The protagonist, Andrew Chornavka, is a monk. Interestingly, the author first introduces him as “Zoya’s brother.” Although the book is entirely written through Andrew Chornavka’s point of view, the book is about his sister Zoya.

The book starts off in the United States of America as Andrew Chornavka is being questioned in a monastery by an officer. The animosity that Andrew Chornavka feels, during that enquiry, is unmistakable. The officer asks Andrew Chornavka a number of questions about his sister Zoya and the readers are taken on an adventure down memory lane. This book is unlike any usual historical fiction. With descriptive scenes and strong characters, it successfully holds the reader’s attention until the end.

The book moves at a fast pace and every chapter leaves the reader wanting more. Strong characters and interesting plots leave the reader wanting more. The characters also show interesting contradictions. A good example is Andrew Chornavka’s character. Despite being a monk, he is described as someone who is “easily provoked to violence, sarcastic and spiteful.” Zoya’s character sketch is also equally captivating. Every chapter, without fail, excites and piques the curiosity and attention of the readers.

What I loved most about this book was author Murray Pura’s writing style. It is very elegant and expressive, almost poetic. His words linger with you even after you have turned the page. Murray Pura tastefully and gracefully describes a tumultuous time not only in Zoya and Andrew Chornavka’s life but also for the rest of the world. With eloquent linguistics, the author accurately sets the tone and articulately recounts events and emotion.

Most of the time, a good book comes down to three significant components - 1) a gripping plot, 2) Strong characters and 3) meaningful relationships between the characters. ‘Zo’ has an abundance of all these three components. This is one of those books that you won’t want to put down until you finish it. It is a book that makes you feel, and the feeling stays with you even after you finish reading it. You feel love when there is love and loss where there is loss and this feeling is guaranteed to resonate within you.

If you love historical fiction and stories about the Second World War period, this one story that you will get swept up into. ‘Zo’ by Murray Pura is the book for you. The relationships and plots are compelling; the storytelling is smooth and enlightening. ‘Zo’ will make you want to stay up late or stay in on a Saturday night just to read “one more chapter”. After reading ‘Zo’, I am definitely intrigued and interested to read other works by Murray Pura. ‘Zo’ is truly a great read and I promise you won’t regret it!

zo is available on all major eBook platforms and your favorite paperback sellers. You can see the review on Amazon here:

MWBooks.me/zopaper

Cover Reveal - Murray Pura's "All My Beautiful Tomorrows"

You've been waiting almost three years and now he's back!

Murray Pura returns to Amish Romance with his latest release. Today, we reveal the cover for...

All My Beautiful Tomorrows

Murray is a talented writer in any genre, but we at MillerWords are excited to see him back amongst the plain folk. This is a touching story about making choices and finding where you are supposed to be in this world.

About the book: She wanted to be Amish more than anything else. Kirsten found herself in a unique position. She stood on the precipice of another world. She watched that world of peace and simplicity from the edge of her hectic life. Kirsten worked at Zook’s Amish Diner in the day and she helped the Schrock family with their wheelchair-bound son Malachi each evening. In her mind, she was Amish. The Bishop did not agree and he questioned her intentions, as well as her past. Kirsten was once engaged to a soldier who died on deployment. She came from a military family and she was currently seeing another soldier named Brandon. The Bishop could not allow her in their church. Things become more complicated when Kirsten meets Joshua, the Amish blacksmith. Does choosing between Brandon and Joshua mean giving up her dreams of becoming Amish? What does tomorrow hold for Kirsten?

All My Beautiful Tomorrows will be available soon 

from MillerWords in eBook and paperback!

Follow us on Facebook to stay informed!

MillerWords, LLC

5 Questions - Joy Ross Davis

The 5 Questions today are for Joy Ross Davis. Her story The Beggar's Miracle is available exclusively on Amazon Kindle from MillerWords. Click here to get it: https://goo.gl/jSnkyf

MW: The Beggar's Miracle tells the story of an orphan named Bitty Brown. Often, an author identifies with or connects with their main character. What does Bitty Brown mean to you?

JRD: Ah, Bitty Brown. I am a student of Irish history. During one of my rounds of study, I came across an article about a trial in Ireland (2013) in which the proprietors of a state-run orphanage were charged with abuse. I delved into the subject and discovered many accounts orphans who were sold to Americans. From there, I did more research into the daily activities of the "Laundries" as they became known (owing to the laundry they took in from citizens, most of which contained piles of bills to pay for getting a child). Because many families wanted infants, many of the children sold to Americans were the products of sexual abuse of the young women (16 and older) who remained in the Laundries. Bitty Brown represents all of the children who were mistreated and abused at the Laundries. The study of the laundries touched my heart so deeply that I knew I had to write about it. The name Bitty Brown came to me while I showered, and I knew at that moment that she would be the girl who would tell the story of the Laundries.

MW: So, it is quite a personal story. With the story set in Ireland, your connection goes a little deeper. Your writing shows that you've been to the Emerald Isle, you must love it. How many times have you been?

JRD: I've been to Ireland four times. During my first trip there, I worked as a travel writer for Tourism Ireland for six months. I traveled across the country finding exciting places and writing about them. Along the way, I forged friendships with many people in Ireland. That was in 2003. I've been back three times, and I'm sure I'll go again. Ireland calls to me, and I feel as if my heart's home is there. I have a dream of living there one of these days.

MW: That could be a real possibility! Writers tend to live on dreams, so we wish you the best in fulfilling yours. Now to switch gears from dreams to nightmares, it seems that the "laundries" had truly horrible conditions. Does anything like that still exist in Ireland today?

JRD: The Laundries still operate today in Ireland. However, they are called Children's Homes, and only the oldest of the orphans can be assigned work duties. Strict governmental guidelines and regular inspections keep the homes running according to the law, but somehow, I believe that the practice of selling infants to foreign couples still flourishes, though I have no proof or evidence to support the belief.

MW: That sounds like the subject of a new book. I can already see Liam Neeson in the movie adaptation. He does have a particular set of skills. While you may not have Mr. Neeson in your book, you do have an element of the paranormal. How important is the paranormal in a Christian-themed story?

JRD: Virtually everything I write contains an aspect of the paranormal. Perhaps it is my attempt to have readers think beyond the worldly. With Bitty Brown, the beggar Jude and his dog are both paranormal entities without whom Bitty might not have survived her life on the streets. I've always had a strong belief in angels and spirits. An event from my childhood began this belief and has lasted my lifetime. I don't expect people to change their beliefs when they read one of my stories. I simply expect them to form a bond with the angel characters, to expand their imaginations and entertain possibilities. Without some form of paranormal aspect, my stories couldn't be told because at the heart of each one is the thought that angels exist. My hashtag on Twitter is #angelwriter. And that's what I want to be. I want to stir people with my quirky view of angels and their interactions with human beings.

MW: We have angels and orphans. That feels like an emotional story that could touch readers. As the author, why do you want people to read this story?

JRD: The greatest appeal of the story, to me, is that it offers hope to all who feel oppressed. It is a heart-warming story that affirms the idea that any one of us can become victims of circumstance, but we can all be rescued from those circumstances and given a new start. Bitty represents everyone who faces struggles and hardship. When two strangers approach her, she shies away at first. But those strangers offer her nothing but love. They provide a safe place for her, they give her a family, and they show her how to love in return. Hope, redemption, and the possibility of greatness come to Bitty Brown just as they can come to her readers.

MW: In the end, it is about hope. We can always use more of that. Thank you, Joy, for visiting with us today! The Beggar's Miracle is available now for ONLY $1.99.

Buy it HERE

or search for "MillerWords" on Kindle

Beggar's Miracle First Chapter

The Beggar's Miracle by Joy Ross Davis is available now, exclusively on Amazon Kindle for ONLY $1.99

Read the beginning of the story here:

Bitty Brown hid behind a stone pillar across the way from several large trash bins on High Street in Dungarran, bare feet tucked under a tattered dress she’d been given by the Sisters of Mercy Orphanage. She covered her head from the misting rain with a piece of canvas she’d taken from the orphanage’s laundry room.  One small rough hand gripped a worn bag she’d pilfered from one of the other girls. Inside this bag, she kept a treasure, a secret treasure she’d had since she was only four years old.

As darkness descended upon the small town, Bitty stood and looked down High Street to the right, then to the left. The shop keepers had turned off the lights, locked the doors, and left for home, and just as she’d hoped, the streets were now deserted as they were every Wednesday evening at six when people gathered for services at the Dungarran Church of Ireland.

Bitty had visited the church only two nights ago when Ireland’s cold winds cut through her like daggers. She’d thought she might freeze to death outside under her cardboard, and not wanting at that moment to die, she sought refuge in the church. Fearing that she would be thrown out, she hid behind the last row of pews. She sighed as she sat down, treasure in hand, on the thick rug. It felt so much better on her bare feet than the icy streets. She’d been warm there.

She decided that night to become a proper Christian someday.  

But then, the pastor came ‘round, a tall, good-looking young man wearing a black robe.

Bitty closed her eyes, curled herself into a tight ball, and waited for him to walk past. She heard his footsteps coming nearer, an odd sound, as if one foot fell a little lighter than the other.

Her heart pounded.

Then the footsteps stopped briefly.

Bitty did not open her eyes for fear the pastor would be standing beside her. He’d then toss her out, back on the streets.

She sighed quietly as she heard him walk past and into the small rectory office. When she heard the door close, she opened her blue eyes.  

Draped over the pew in front of her was a woman’s shawl. She hadn’t seen it when she’d first come in, but now, the thick fringed wool, unattended, proved too much to resist. Bitty picked it up carefully and wrapped it around her shoulders. She was small for her age, terribly undersized, even now at nineteen, so the shawl covered her from her shoulders to her feet. She rubbed her cold hands along the soft wool, hugged the shawl tightly over her and let her head fall back. She closed her eyes and tried to remember when she’d ever been this warm. Nothing came to mind, so she made a sign of the cross in thanks, slid under the pew, and fell fast asleep.

Keep reading on Kindle

Or search for "MillerWords" to view all our Kindle titles

Thanks for reading!

Cover Reveal - Joy Ross Davis

MillerWords is pleased to announce their newest title:

The Beggar's Miracle

by Joy Ross Davis

Ms. Davis brings this previously released story to MillerWords in a brand new format with a touching new cover design.

About the book: Ice seemed to cover everything in Ireland from Dublin to Dungarran. It was a bad time to be homeless and a worse time to be an orphan.

Bitty Brown was both.

Bitty left the warmth of the Sisters of Mercy, deciding a life on the streets would be better than working seven days a week in the laundry, getting spots out of the clergy’s robes. Now she spent her nights huddled under a cardboard box, hoping to find her next meal in the nearby garbage cans. The kindness of Pastor Percy afforded her an old shawl to cover her shoulders.

She felt lost and alone with barely a memory of the comfort of her mother’s arms. Then she met Mr. Jones, a scruffy dog accompanied by an unusual beggar. Bitty sensed something strange about the beggar, something that could change her life.

Every night, she prayed for miracles. Could this be the miracle that would save Bitty Brown’s life?

About the author: Joy Ross Davis is a student of the lore and magic of the hills of Tennessee. She writes imaginative fiction featuring unusual angels as main characters. Her novel, Countenance, won a Silver Medal in an international readers’ contest. She has lived and worked in Alabama for most of her life.

The Beggar's Miracle will be available exclusively on Amazon Kindle this Friday, February 3rd.

See all of our titles in paperback and ebook by searching "MillerWords" on Amazon.

FREE eBook

I like getting reviews (what author doesn't?), so I'm going to celebrate.

Promise of Tomorrow, a speculative Christian-themed sci-fi story received a 5-star review from the good folks over at Reader's Favorite.

Here's a snippet of what they had to say:

"... an insightful and emotional tale...gives an interesting insight into the Amish faith and the increasing challenges its followers face in this era of continued modernisation and technological advancement. Promise of Tomorrow is a great lesson in accepting change and reconciling the old ways with the new. It is also a lesson in unwavering faith and contentment in all the gifts and trials...you will find this a worthy and thrilling read." - Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

Please read the full review at their site - https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/promise-of-tomorrow

How I'm going to celebrate? By giving it away FREE on Amazon Kindle, of course!

Starting today, for the next 5 days (one for each star), Promise of Tomorrow is FREE on Kindle. 

Get it here - https://goo.gl/GuxicG

If you do grab it, please leave a review. 

3rd Annual Christmas Spectacular

Authors in the Park, the long-running showcase for local authors, is coming back to downtown Mount Dora with the 3rd Annual Christmas Spectacular set for December 20th.

This year’s event will feature Steve Boone of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band The Lovin’ Spoonful. Boone will be on hand to promote his memoir, Hotter Than a Match Head.

Authors in the Park is an author event series which supports local authors and community literacy. The event is sponsored by MillerWords.com and Arts for the Community, Inc. (a local non-profit).

“It is great to have Steve at this year’s event. Not only is he a rock legend, but also a Florida author,” Mark Miller, founder of Authors in the Park, said.

In addition to Boone and Miller, other local authors will be on hand including: Sharon Coady, Illustrator Victor Donahue, De Miller, Olivia Miller, Theresa Oliver, D.G. Stern, C. Kevin Thompson and Colleen Wait.

“Another great thing about these authors is their commitment to their community,” Miller said. “This year’s line-up features educators, inspirational speakers and more.”

The Christmas Spectacular will take place Saturday, December 20th from 5p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Donnelly Building at Fifth Avenue and Donnelly Street in the center of festive downtown Mount Dora. It is free to attend and the authors will be available for photos and autographs. The city will be showing off its holiday light display and local shops will be open.

Guest Post - Amber Schamel Interview

Today we're interviewing historical author Amber Schamel.

Bestselling author Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest". A homeschool graduate from a family of 12 children, Amber found her calling early in life. First published at age 21, she has continued to hone her craft. Between ministry, family and working in their family businesses, Amber loves to connect with readers. Find her on the Stitches Thru Time blog, or on any of the major social media sites. 

Amber, can you tell us about your new release, The Messiah's Sign?

Sure! Thanks so much for having me on the blog today. This book released just yesterday, so I'm so EXCITED to share it with readers.

The Messiah's Sign is the second book in the Days of Messiah series. It follows the storyline of Book One, but from the husband's point of view. Here's what it's about:

Dreams…they shouldn’t bother him, but when Tyrus’ worst nightmare is vindicated, he has no choice but to face reality. His wife has been unfaithful, and God has punished her with the most feared disease in the land: leprosy. Banishing her to the leper colony, Tyrus struggles to raise their son alone and protect him from a merciless outlaw. But when Malon begins following the teacher from Nazareth, what remains of their business and reputation is at stake. Can Tyrus save his son from the beguiling lies of a false Messiah before he loses the only thing he has left?

The Messiah's Sign is now available for purchase! http://shop.myhelpinghandspress.com/Days-of-Messiah-Volume-2-The-Messiahs-Sign-9788576.htm

What sparked this story?

Book one started as a short story, but a lot of people told me I should expand it. I picked up the story and began thinking about what the entire story would be like, and that's when the Lord drew back the curtain to show me not only Aaliyah's story at the leper colony, but also the story of her husband and son. Tyrus—as the heartless husband that banishes Aaliyah to the leper colony—is the villain of book one, so I wanted to show readers his side of the story.

What do you want readers to take away from The Messiah's Sign?

As hard as you try, you will never be sufficient on your own. It takes Christ working in you.
For those that have read volume one, I want them to realize that you cannot hate someone until you de-humanize them. The villain of book one becomes the hero of book two, and we see the motivations behind his 'heartless' acts. In truth, Tyrus was doing the best he could. If we can empathize with people in our lives, it will go a LONG way in keeping the roots of bitterness at bay.

What are you working on next?

I am finishing up a really fun series with three other historical authors on the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

I'm also setting to work on a Christmas story set during the Civil War entitled The Christmas Pardon.

In the aftermath of the Civil War, a young lawyer battles with the U.S. Supreme court. In what seemed to be a Christmas miracle, he had secured a pardon for his friend from Lincoln himself. The army executed the boy anyway. On the fifteenth anniversary of his death, will the lawyer finally clear his friends name and bring justice to his memory?

 I'm running a giveaway for a fan to pick the name of my two main characters! You can enter the giveaway here: http://www.amberschamel.com/contests.html

Thank you for joining us today, Amber.

Thank you for hosting me! It's been a pleasure. I'd like to invite each of you to join me in celebrating my new release on my Facebook Launch party tonight! We'll have trivia, giveaways, behind the scenes tidbits and TONS of fun. Join us tonight at 6pm mountain time! https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberSchamel

5th Blogiversary Celebration

Five years. That's right, I'm celebrating five years of my blog. Looking back at this year's posts, I see there aren't too many, but there's good reason for that. I'll get to that in a moment. There are lots of things to cover.

First, I want to say that Robin Williams made my day. Please don't take this the wrong way. I am not trying to make light of a tragic situation. I know both depression and addiction are powerful diseases. My point in saying he made my day is that it emphasizes no matter how successful or financially well off you are, you are still not immune. It reminds me that chasing every last dollar and stressing over bills is not the answer. We live in a beautiful world and need to focus on the truly important things.

Now, as soon as I can put my soap box away, let's get on with the party...

A little bit further down this post, you can find details on the blogiversary prizes. Some of you may have noticed that I have been a bit absent from the "writing world" coming close to a year now. At least, I hope you noticed. Well, there's good reason for that. I've actually been living a childhood dream.

I'm currently a Walt Disney World Monorail Pilot! Ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to drive one of those things. Last November, an opportunity arose and I took it. Let me tell you, the actual drive training is one of the most challenging things I've done in a long time. Every minute has been worth it! I am having a blast and spend my days with some absolutely amazing cast members.

As for my writing, I have some plans and things are coming together. 

My friends at Helping Hands Press (www.myhelpinghandspress.com) are helping me celebrate this blogiversary for the next 25 days. I have two projects that I am working on for them. Quite a while ago, I started co-authoring a story called Amish Wonder. When finished, it will be a novella about a young Amish boy thrust out into the secular world. For fans of the Defective Amish Detective, I will be re-editing those stories into a complete novel with a nice surprise on the end.

I am also working with Dinosaur George Media on two different series. Ask DG is a question and answer picture book for young readers. Book 2 will feature illustrations from the very talented Victor Donahue. Both Ask DG and Dinosaur George and the Paleonauts book 2 are expected to be available by Christmas. You can find these books and more here: store.dinosaurgeorge.com

And the one that started it all - The Empyrical Tales. Book Four of the Empyrical Tales will continue the story of Zandria and Olena by telling the tale of The First Queen. The whole series will be revamped and re-introduced soon. Until then, I will keep those details under wraps. Please visit my official website for more details and the series and my other books - www.MillerWords.com. 

While you are there, please check out my new online store, where you can get autographed copies of all of my paperbacks at a special price with free shipping.

In five years of writing, blogging and social media, I have met some fantastic writers and been blessed with some great fans. I've received humbling reviews and inspiring emails. I've tried my hand (not always successfully) in many different genres and have something for most every type of reader. To celebrate, I am giving away the gifts. Here are the links to five of my paperbacks available through Goodreads.com:

Daniel's Lot - https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/105710-daniel-s-lot

One: a Spiritual Anthology - https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/105708-one-a-spiritual-anthology

Promise of Tomorrow - https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/105707-promise-of-tomorrow---complete-series

Sons of the King (co-written with Olivia Miller) - https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/105706-sons-of-the-king

Dinosaur George and the Paleonauts #1 - https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/105705-raptor-island---dinosaur-george-and-the-paleonauts

In addition to the paperbacks, Helping Hands Press has put together a prize pack of selected eBooks (mine and some of my author-friends). Lazarus Filmworks, for whom I wrote the adaptation of Daniel's Lot, is also including some prizes. Please be sure to visit both of my sponsors. This part of the giveaway will be done through Rafflecopter exclusively on my blog. You can earn an unlimited amount of entries by using social media once a day for the next 25 days.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In closing, I want to express my gratitude. That is one thing of which I have an abundance and can afford. I am full of thanks for all of my experiences over the past five years. I am thankful for the people, both real and virtual, that I have met. I am thankful for the opportunities I've had. In this time, I have also watched my family grow and change and I thank God for that gift. Please feel free to share this post and all of the prize links. And, as always, I appreciate any comments on my blog.

Thank you for the past five years,

and I look forward to the next five!

Mark

Helping Hands Press Bonus

A WORD FROM HELPING HANDS PRESS, THE PUBLISHERS OF Amazon Top 100 AUTHORS SARAH PRICE AND WHOOPIE PIE PAM JARRELL’S #1 BEST-SELLING STORY- The Divine Sisterhood of the Whoopie Pie Sisters Trilogy.

Hi,

We would like to thank all of the wonderful readers that have purchased, read and reviewed Book I and Book II of the #1 Best–Selling Trilogy The Divine Sisterhood of The Whoopee Pie Sisters by Amazon Top 100 authors Sarah Price and Whoopie Pie Pam Jarrell.

Good news about the Trilogy!

The price of Book II was originally $1.99 but has just been lowered to $.99.

Here is the Amazon Kindle link: http://amzn.to/16YxGT2

Anyone that has purchased Book II at the $1.99 price is welcome to come to the Helping Hands Press Facebook page, message us there, and we will be happy to send you some amazing stories to compensate you for the price reduction.

The Helping Hands Press Facebook Page link is : https://www.facebook.com/HelpingHandsPress

Remember: there is only one dynamic author duo named Sarah Price and Whoopie Pie Pam Jarrell and there is only one original series named The Divine Sisterhood of The Whoopie Pie Sisters. 

Accept no imitations!

Promise Fulfilled

When I started Promise of Tomorrow, I was not quite sure where the story would take me. As I finished Volume 6: Deliverance, it surprised me how far it went.

From the beginning, I asked "How far would you go to keep your faith?"

I feel like that question had several levels. For the protagonist, Luke Umble, it is answered in two ways. The story developed into something more than "Amish in Space". To me, it is about keeping faith no matter what life hands you. Set 50 years in the future, the Umble family is escaping a dying Earth. However, many of the problems and joys that they find on their adventure are similar to what we face on a daily basis. How do you keep your children safe from bullying? How do you feed your family when things are tight? How does a grown man relate to his father? How does a father relate to his rebellious teen son? Any of this sound familiar?

I wish I could say my little story dispenses wisdom by the bucketful. At least I can say this is my take on it. I believe man (or woman) can only go so far on wits and self-reliance. It is faith that carries us over that last gap. I don't think God is sitting up there on a cloud looking down at the Earth. I believe His power and love crosses the limitless universe. The only time we are away from Him is when we choose to be, when we lose faith. Part of the message of Promise of Tomorrow is that we cannot do it on our own. We need faith especially when we feel like we are in a hopeless situation.

What is waiting for us out there in space? Another Eden, perhaps?

(from the movie Knowing)

Enough pontificating. Besides being inspirational, it is a good sci-fi story, but nothing too heavy. I did my research and hopefully it shows. Underneath it all, however, I am still a fantasy writer, so please don't knock me too hard when my sprockets don't line up with the flux capacitor. Ultimately, this is a story about people which happens to be set on a spaceship.

I would appreciate it if you pick up volume 6 for only 99 cents on Kindle, Nook or Kobo.

Here is the Kindle link:

http://amzn.to/16iYXBy

Also, it would be great to hear from you. Please share your answers to any of the questions above or your thoughts on the story in the comments or on my Facebook page:

www.FB.com/MarkMillerAuthor

Revealing

Plenty of my posts have to do with my new releases, so let's get that out of the way upfront...

Promise of Tomorrow

Volume Four

Revelation

Click here to get it on Amazon Kindle: 

http://amzn.to/16mKOR5

Look for it on BN Nook and Kobo too!

Now, if you are still reading and haven't clicked off to Amazon to get an incredible story for a great price (each volume is only $0.99), I have a serious question.

How far would you go to keep your faith?

This is the tagline for the series, but it is also a serious question. I have four children and it is sometimes a question on my mind. The answer seems obvious. What would you do to protect your children? Isn't that a lot about faith? You have faith that your actions will benefit your children. You also try to teach them your own spiritual faith for them to pass on to others.

In my story, the Umble family is faced with the possibility of losing their faith entirely. They are cast into the unknown and everything is a challenge. In Volume Four, it is revealed that things are likely becoming worse. Can they keep their faith when it seems their faith has left them?

I would appreciate a few comments below about your faith - when you were challenged and how you came through it. Sometimes, I feel like my faith is tested on a daily basis. With four kids, I know my patience is!

Thanks for reading!

Contest Time!

The official word from my publisher, Helping Hands Press:

Are you ready for a contest? 

We hope that you are ready for a contest; we would like you to have fun with it.

How do you participate and what are the prizes?

Here are a few things you can do:

-Go to the Helping Hands Press website and sign up for our mailing list. CLICK HERE

We will start using the mailing list March 1st, and send out the newsletters each month on the 1st and 15th.Each newsletter will be filled with inside information for you on our authors, new author signings, new release dates, inside information on new series…basically you will hear of it first in this newsletter.

-If you haven’t “liked” our Facebook page, please do so, we like to have as much fun here as possible. CLICK HERE

-Pinterest, if you are a member, please follow us; we will follow you too. We love to know what our friends are doing on Pinterest; it is a great place to have fun. CLICK HERE

All of this information will be listed on the Helping Hands Press Facebook Page. Please look for the Rafflecopter; we will be using that to help choose the Grand Prize winner. 

To enter the contest CLICK HERE  

Prizes, did someone mention Prizes? 

I believe we did.

If you go to the Helping Hands Press website and sign up for the newsletter, we are going to email you a simple question: We have a list of stories; which one do you want to read for free? Also do you mind if we send the audio book sample for the following three releases as they are done: Karen Anna Vogel’s “Amish Knit Lit Circle- Volume 1 – Pride & Prejudice”; Murray Pura’s “The Rose of Lancaster County – Volume 1 – The Rose Garden” and “The Defective Amish Detective – Volume 1 – The Whoopie Pie Affair”. Each of them is narrated by our own Big Daddy Abel.

Now for the Grand Prize:

The Grand Prize winner will get all the Helping Hands Press paper books! Right now we have eight:

Karen Anna Vogel’s: “Amish Knitting Circle Complete”,” Knit Together”,” Amish Doll”

George Michael Loughmueller’s- “An Amish Journey – Set Free Complete”

Mark Miller’s- “Sons of The King Complete” and “Daniel’s Lot”

Marsha Hubler’s – “Bachelor’s Choice”

David Stearman’s-“Hummingbird” 

This is the End

It took more than a year, but finally we have. Olivia and I started this project when she was 8 years old. Next week, she turns 10. What a wonderful journey! I have loved sharing every minute of it with her. Who knows what comes next?

For now, we have this and you can get it here:

http://goo.gl/du6l6

Sons of the King

Episode Eight

The Last Day

Mark Miller (One, Small World Global Protection Agency) teams with his daughter and first time author Olivia Miller.

In Sons of the King, they have created a Christian-influenced fantasy world with a touch of science fiction. In the land of Mysstira on the planet Kaskaya, a great King has three sons. When a mysterious visitor falls from the sky, their world is changed forever. The sons of the King will soon face their destiny.

Episode Eight. The last day has come. The Domos were defeated at the very gates which they used to defend. Ekron and his friends are captured at the betrayal of his brother. Esephis has called for a public execution naming Ekron as the King’s assassin.

Ekron has nothing left. Nothing, except faith.

What brought them to this point. The Creator works in ways that we cannot imagine or understand. On this last day, the sons of the King will discover their destiny.

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eBook Giveaway

Recently, I started a new series with my friend, Giovanni. It was a relatively new experience diving into the world of Amish fiction. I did not quite know what to expect, but we ended up with something totally unique and outrageous.

The Defective Amish Detective

Volume 1

The Whoopie Pie Affair

The story is something of a cozy mystery, but also a self-deprecating comedy. We hold the Amish in high regard and treat their portrayal with kindness. But when it comes to the Defective Detective, it's no holds barred. The main character has poor eyesight, poor hearing and dresses like he raided Don Ho's wardrobe in 1983.

We are presently at work on Volume 2 - The Intercourse Boondoggle. Now before you ask if we are crossing any taboos, please know that Intercourse is the name of a town in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; the heart of Amish country.

To celebrate the upcoming release, we are doing two things. First, there will be a live interview on the G-Zone BlogTalkRadio show. Special guest host Murray Pura (best-selling author of historical & Amish fiction) has been preparing some hard-hitting questions. To hear the show live on Saturday, Nov 17th at Noon Eastern (or to listen to the archive afterward), save this link:

http://goo.gl/w7OTW

The second big event is the giveaway that is happening for the next 20 days, ending on December 1st. You can use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for your chance to win one or both of the first two volumes of The Defective Amish Detective.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Me and the G-Man

I have known Giovanni Gelati for quite some time. He's interviewed me more than once on The G-Zone BlogTalkRadio Show. We've written together (A Prince in Trenton, Seriously?). Our latest collaboration is The Defective Amish Detective - Volume 1 - The Whoopie Pie Affair. It is a humorous story, that one might call a cozy mystery. Both of us had the goal of telling a fun story, while holding the Amish with utmost respect. With the "defects" of our main character, it ended up being a story with a lot of heart.

Now for the first time, it is my turn to interview Giovanni. Some of the questions pertain to the story, so if you haven't read it, you can get it here: http://goo.gl/UuI5v

If you haven't, don't worry, there's no spoilers.

MM: How many Hawaiian shirts do you own?

GG: I have yet to buy one, I get them as gifts. As a for instance, we were cleaning up prior to the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, I found 6 bags of unopened socks. In layman terms that is 60 pairs of unused socks. One may take pause now and consider that. Basically I reach in the closet, grab one and put it on. I am not sure if I have 60 of them, but I have more than I think.

MM: You have an affinity for the Amish, do you think you may join them sometime in the future? 

GG: I will reference Hurricane Sandy again. We didn’t get the devastating flooding, but we got the wind and rain, our town lost power. We were dark from Monday night to Saturday. I am not going out on a limb here when I say that I enjoy electricity. Ice cream does not taste good without it. I marveled at drinking a cold beverage again, and having the use of light when I went to use the bathroom. It is hard to read in the dark. So for now, me being Amish is not in the cards. Besides that when ones Hawaiian shirt is the brightest thing in the room, it kind of stinks.

MM: What is your favorite flavor of whoopie pie? 

GG: They have me hooked on the chocolate chip outer cookie with the chocolate cream filling. Throw in a sausage log and some deep fried or rotisserie chicken and I am set.

MM: What is your best experience with a farm animal? 

GG: None really, they smell and leave large deposits behind. I am not into the smell, feel or look of muck. I would much prefer a muckless Farm, but I doubt that is in the cards. I much more enjoy them from a distance in the SUV going the speed limit pointing them out to the kids. It is much safer that way all around.

MM: What is in store for the Defective Amish Detective in the upcoming volumes? 

GG: Volume two will be out the week of November 14th , the title is “The Intercourse Boondogle”, and it will involve grifters. Intercourse is a quaint little town in Lancaster with plenty of neat shops. The other 8 stories in the series will involve a series of mysteries that G and Eli try to solve together in various locations in and around Lancaster. 

Giovanni and I will be at the mercy of best-selling Canadian Amish author Murray Pura as he interviews both of us live on November 17th at Noon Eastern - http://www.facebook.com/events/376125555805108/

Also, to stay up-to-date, please visit and like my Author Page - http://www.facebook.com/MarkMillerAuthor