Posts Tagged ‘non-fiction’

5 Things About Author Melanie Wright Zeeb

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Learn more about your favorite Ambassador authors with our “Five Things” series. Author Melanie Wright Zeeb wrote the recently released book Beauty From Ashes: An Eyewitness Account of Haiti’s Tragic Earthquake, available now. Here are Melanie’s “five things”:

Some would call me a disaster magnet. When I was 7 years old, my family’s home burned down in a house fire the day after Christmas. My town was hit with tornados when I was in high school and college, and I experienced several hurricanes and tropical storms during my time in Haiti. Of course, the worst disaster I have lived through was the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. After I moved back to the U.S., my apartment was flooded by an overflowing creek 2 weeks before my husband and I were scheduled to move out. I am currently avoiding all volcanos and anywhere tsunamis are likely to hit!

Beauty from AshesThere is a part of me that has always been fascinated with disasters, perhaps because of my own early experience with tragedy. I knew that disasters happened to real people, and knowing as much as I could about a disaster and those it affected was one way I processed the tragedy. After Hurricane Katrina, I was in a position to help with relief efforts, making several trips to the Gulf Coast and working to rebuild houses there. In spite of my exposure to the disaster zone, living through the Haiti earthquake was an entirely different experience. I was no longer the fascinated observer; now I was the one struggling to survive. As a child I had trusted that my parents would provide for me after our house fire; now I felt the weight of responsibility for more than 150 children at the orphanage. Since the earthquake, I no longer view disasters with the eyes of a child, believing that someone else will make everything all right. Instead, I sympathize with the victims who bear the responsibility of creating a new life out of whatever remains.

I believe that hope is one of the most powerful forces at work in the world. Even in the midst of terrible tragedy, if we have hope, we have an invaluable resource. Hope does not allow us to give up or give in, knowing that we will make it through, that someday things will be better. In Christ we have the hope that even if things never get better on earth, the world to come will have no suffering. We live in a flawed and often scary world, but there is hope, and that hope is just as important in the stories we tell as in the lives we live.

Haiti, and other “dangerous” places, are often worth the risks. When I told people I was moving to Haiti, one of the most common responses was, “Is it safe?” News reports and government travel advisories paint a picture of poverty and violence that are by no means the whole picture. The same violence is in our own cities and neighborhoods, just not in so foreign a form. The Haiti I know and love is a beautiful island nation filled with a people who daily face the task of survival. They are strong and courageous and filled with a joy that is incomprehensible to those of us who associate happiness with things working out the way we want them to. If I had listened to those who advised me against going to Haiti, I would never have met some of the most inspiring people I know. If we only ever stay where it’s “safe,” we miss out on some of life’s most rewarding experiences.

I never intended to write Beauty from Ashes. During the time of the earthquake, I sent frequent updates to my family and friends. Several people told me they thought I should write a book about my experiences, and my initial response was an adamant no! Although I have always wanted to write a book, non-fiction was never something I was interested in or considered pursuing. God had other plans. Once the idea had been planted in my head, it grew until I knew that the story needed to be told and I needed to tell it. I hope that anyone who reads Beauty from Ashes will benefit from this account of God’s faithfulness.

 

99¢ Sale: One Day Only!

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For 24 hours we’re offering one of our hot non-fiction titles for just 99¢! Pick up Naomi Fata’s new book Beyond Head Knowledge: Knowing Christ Who Satisfies Our Hearts for less than a buck for the Kindle during our one-day sale event. After Thursday the price will go up to $2.99 through the weekend and then it will return to regular price.

Beyond Head knowledgeSynopsis: Do you desire close fellowship with God but don’t sense His presence? Have you ever questioned the reality of the Christian faith, wondering why you don’t have the joy and peace promised in Scripture? As the daughter of a pastor and saved since age four, Naomi longs to follow God, but He seems distant and far away. Though she practices the disciplines of the Christian faith—Bible reading, prayer, and Scripture memory—these do not satisfy her thirst to know God. Beyond Head Knowledge is the true story of a young woman grasping the promise of Jeremiah 29:13–14, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” and the discoveries of her heart she made along the way. To seek. To find. To know God.

 

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Declutter Every Area of Your Life in Just 8 Weeks

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Declutter Now! Study Guide Provides Step-By-Step Action Plan

For immediate release: In just eight weeks you can clear clutter in all areas of life– from closets to careers, finances to feelings. Filled with thought and discussion provoking questions, Scripture and practical application, the Declutter Now! Study Guide: 8 Weeks to Uncovering the Hidden Joy and Freedom in Your Life (Ambassador International; May 2014; $12.99, paperback) encourages readers into action.

Certified Christian Life Coaches and founders of Action Plan Ministries, Lindon and Sherry Gareis have a proven track record for helping people declutter their hearts, minds, bodies, souls and homes. The Declutter Now! Study Guide offers much the same valuable information they provide clients, using a comprehensive, practical, step-by-step approach focused on decluttering eight key areas:

 

  • Physical Space
  • Relationships
  • Finances
  • Career
  • Mental Health
  • Children
  • Spiritual Life
  • Body & Physical Health

 

Declutter Now Study GuidePerfect for individuals, small groups and Bible studies, the new Declutter Now! Study Guide is the perfect complement to the Declutter Now! book, released in 2012. The study guide also includes a section just for small group leaders. “It’s everything leaders will need to facilitate a group study,” explains Sherry. “We’ve provided useful tools and creative ideas to get conversation flowing and encourage every person that participates.”

About the Authors:Lindon and Sherry Gareis, certified Christian Life Coaches from Glendale, Arizona, are the founders of Action Plan Ministries.  Lindon and Sherry love being outdoors, love being together, and are committed to a lifelong honeymoon.

For interview requests please contact publicist Alison Storm at [email protected].

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99¢ Sale: One Day Only!

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For 24 hours we’re offering one of our hot non-fiction titles for just 99¢! Pick up Holly Mthethwa’s new book Hot Chocolate in June: A True Story of Loss, Love and Restoration for less than a buck for the Kindle during our one-day sale event. After Thursday the price will go up to $2.99 through the weekend and then it will return to regular price.

Hot Chocolate in JuneSynopsis: Under-qualified and overly-ambitious, Holly left her family and friends behind in Nebraska to search for that radical life, that all-for-Jesus-or-nothing-at-all life. Escaping the depression that chased her following her father’s untimely and agonizing death, this young accountant-turned-adventurer trekked to remote mountain villages and through city streets smelling of human excrement: all in search of a Father’s love. Thousands of miles from the only home she’d ever known, Holly discovered a deeper passion for her God while sharing the gospel in India and soothing abandoned babies in South Africa.

God made sure that Holly also encountered Oscar. This handsome South African rugby player seemed to have everything Holly had been praying for in a husband—except for the small detail that he didn’t look like any of the other guys she’d dated before. Oscar, as the son of parents who had lived through racial segregation and apartheid, was not supposed to bring home a woman whose skin matched the color of the people his parents had served. And this small town, Midwestern girl wasn’t supposed to fall in love with a black man, either.
Hot Chocolate in June is the true story of God’s undeniable ability to mend emotional wounds, overcome racial and cultural differences, and write amazing adventure stories. Join Holly on her adventure as she navigates her way through deep grief and loss, only to discover the amazing sweetness of love and restoration.

We’re giving away TWO Hot Chocolate in June prize packs!

1. Buy the Hot Chocolate in June ebook from any retailer, at any price. Forward your receipt to [email protected] by May 28 to enter.

2. Visit Ambassador-International.com/HotChocolateGiveaway to enter.Prize packs include a paperback copy of the book, hot chocolate mix and chocolates from Nebraska-based Bakers Candies, and handmade hot chocolate candles from Good Neighbors Candle Co or Candelit Desserts.

Giveaway: Hot Chocolate in June Prize Pack

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Under-qualified and overly-ambitious, Holly left her family and friends behind in Nebraska to search for that radical life, that all-for-Jesus-or-nothing-at-all life. In Hot Chocolate in June Holly Mthethwa explains how her desire to escape depression after the untimely death of her father took her to remote mountain villages and chaotic city streets in India and South Africa. We’re celebrating the launch of this true story of loss, love and restoration with a sweet giveaHot Chocolate giveaway featured imageway! One lucky winner will receive:

    • A copy of Hot Chocolate in June
  • An assortment of gourmet chocolates from Baker’s Candies

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

About Hot Chocolate in June: Using humor and honesty, Holly recounts adventure after adventure including the thrill of falling in love. During an extended stay at a Johannesburg orphanage, Holly met Oscar, a handsome South African rugby player that seemed to have everything she was looking for in a husband– except that he didn’t look like anyone she’d ever dated before. This small town, Midwestern girl wasn’t supposed to fall in love with a black man.

Despite the pair’s instant connection, Holly returned to normal life in America. “I wanted to board a plane and head back to South Africa to hold abandoned babies, to hold the hand of my precious man,” writes Holly. “Instead, I boarded into my black suit, held my computer bag in one hand, clenched my coffee mug in the other, and headed down the career path of an audit associate.” Thankfully Holly’s story doesn’t end there. Hot Chocolate in June is the true story of God’s undeniable ability to mend emotional wounds, overcome racial and culture differences, and write amazing adventures.

99¢ Sale: One Day Only!

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For 24 hours we’re offering one of our hot non-fiction titles for just 99¢! Pick up Jim Turner’s new book So-Called Christian: Healing the Spiritual Wounds Left By the Church for less than a buck for the Kindle during our one-day sale event. After Thursday the price will go up to $2.99 through the weekend and then it will return to regular price.

So-Called ChristianSynopsis: Have you ever been hurt by a fellow believer? Have you ever felt judged, belittled, or resigned to a second class Christian status by another believer? Do you feel distant from another believer over his insistence that you agree with his standard, or her particular brand of Christianity? These accusations cut deep and often leave us questioning our acceptance before
God.

Or have you ever been on the other side of the equation–as the attacker? Perhaps you had good motives and sincere convictions, but things turned ugly and you found yourself in an argument that really didn’t glorify Christ.

Either way, you have been part of one of the most destructive influences in the Church. You may feel maimed, defaced, ashamed, unqualified, and unloved. In short, you’ve been labeled a “so-called” Christian because you didn’t meet up to an artificial standard.

Learn how to remain in the will of God, showing love and grace to your fellow Christian while maintaining your convictions. So-Called Christian explains how the Bible anticipates these situations and instructs us to respond.

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New Book Aims to End “Civil War” Among Christians

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Pastor Urges Christian Unity Among Believers

 

For immediate release: Nearly 4 in 10 non-churchgoing Americans state the reason they do not attend church is due to negative past experiences with churches or church people. According to The Barna Group, the estimate of un-churched people in America is 100,000,000 which means 37,000,000 people claim to have been hurt by professing Christians. In a number that rivals the casualties of World War II, author Jim Turner is offering insight on how Christians can repair the fractured state of the church in his new book So Called Christian: Healing the Spiritual Wounds Left By the Church (Ambassador International; May 2014; $11.99, paperback). 

So-Called ChristianTurner, a former youth director and pastor with more than 25 years of experience, believes that the civil war among Christians has diminished God’s glory. He established Churchone, a non-profit aimed at spreading the word about God’s heart for Christian unity. “We see this as a command of God – not a pretty notion the Apostle Paul thought he’d entertain in a first century world,” explains Turner. “It’s a cry the Church has long lacked the ears to hear.”

So-Called Christian was written for those who have found themselves on either side of the problem: those who have felt judged, belittled or hurt by a fellow believer or those whose good motives and sincere convictions turned ugly. Digging deep into his own personal experiences of dysfunction within church settings, Turner issues a plan for resolution. Turner uses Biblical lessons to explain the best practices for dealing with differences within the Body. He also gives readers practical insight for maintaining personal peace and conviction when confronted with differing opinions and doctrinal disputes. “My ultimate goal is to help create a community of believers that strive to love one another,” says Turner, “regardless of our differing opinions.”

About the Author: Jim Turner is a husband and father of four. Mr. Turner has been in youth or pastoral ministry for over 25 years and has personally experienced the hurt and frustration that disagreement can cause. He has also counseled and mediated on numerous occasions where disagreement threatened to split churches and undo relationships that were years in the building. His experience includes churches from 10 to 1,000 members.

To connect with the author or to request a review copy of So-Called Christian please contact publicist Alison Storm at [email protected].

 

 

99¢ Sale: One Day Only!

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For 24 hours we’re offering one of our hot non-fiction titles for just 99¢! Pick up Lindon and Sherry Gareis’ book Declutter Now: Uncovering the Hidden Joy and Freedom in Your Life for less than a buck for the Kindle during our one-day sale event. After Thursday the price will go up to $2.99 through the weekend and then it will return to regular price. If you need motivation to rid your life of harmful clutter- this is it!

Declutter NowSynopsis: We all have too much STUFF!  Not just tangible things, but also the harmful clutter we allow to take up residence in our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls. Every area of your life must be decluttered for you to live with the joy and freedom God desires!

  • We’ll clean out closets, relationships, and finances.
  • We’ll share ideas on decluttering your children’s lives from the get-go, and how to instill tools they’ll need to keep them that way.
  • We’ll navigate through challenges at work and critical career decisions.
  • Are you burdened by emotional ties that bind or physical problems which keep you in bondage?
  • We’ll tackle those too! Does your spiritual life feel empty or stalled?

We desire to help! Declutter what you don’t need to make room for what really matters. Less can truly be more!

  • Do you long for more peace and harmony in your life?
  • Do you desire more quality time with family?
  • Are you seeking relief from financial burdens?
  • Are you ready to release the grip of guilt and obligation?
  • Do you yearn for an increased ability to serve God?

Need more help decluttering your life? Check out the Gareis’ brand new companion study guide!

BUY DECLUTTER NOW for the Kindle!

 

Accountant-Turned-Adventurer Finds Faith and Love in South Africa

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Hot Chocolate in June is a true story of how God mends wounds and writes adventures in the life of a Nebraska native

For immediate release: Under-qualified and overly-ambitious, Holly left her family and friends behind in Nebraska to search for that radical life, that all-for-Jesus-or-nothing-at-all life. In Hot Chocolate in June (Ambassador International; May 2014; $14.99, paperback) Holly Mthethwa explains how her desire to escape depression after the untimely death of her father took her to remote mountain villages and chaotic city streets in India and South Africa.

Hot Chocolate in JuneUsing humor and honesty, Holly recounts adventure after adventure including the thrill of falling in love. During an extended stay at a Johannesburg orphanage, Holly met Oscar, a handsome South African rugby player that seemed to have everything she was looking for in a husband– except that he didn’t look like anyone she’d ever dated before. This small town, Midwestern girl wasn’t supposed to fall in love with a black man.

Despite the pair’s instant connection, Holly returned to normal life in America. “I wanted to board a plane and head back to South Africa to hold abandoned babies, to hold the hand of my precious man,” writes Holly. “Instead, I boarded into my black suit, held my computer bag in one hand, clenched my coffee mug in the other, and headed down the career path of an audit associate.” Thankfully Holly’s story doesn’t end there. Hot Chocolate in June is the true story of God’s undeniable ability to mend emotional wounds, overcome racial and culture differences, and write amazing adventures.

About the Author: Holly Mthethwa relocated from Johannesburg, South Africa to Washington DV, where she lives with her husband, Oscar. She writes regularly at ruggedandredeemed.com about the moments that hooked her heart– experiences living in a developing country and most importantly, Christ.

To receive a review copy of Hot Chocolate in June or to connect with the author please contact publicist Alison Storm by email at [email protected].