Important New Resource - I Believe In Healing

My 5 author / contributor copies have arrived of the new book,
I Believe In Healing, compiled by Cecil Murphey & Twila Belk, published by Regal Books. Not only is the book beautifully produced on the outside, it's what's inside that will excite readers. My story is about an encounter with Polio when I was only three years old, "He'll Never Walk Again."

The publisher says of I Believe In Healing:
"When a loved one is injured or ill, what do Christians do? They pray, expecting God to intervene with a miracle of healing. They pray not only because the Bible says to do so, but also because God has shown Himself faithful to heal throughout history and even today. I Believe in Healing is a one-of-a-kind collection of true stories that demonstrate God’s healing power. Readers will find dozens of biblical, historical and present-day accounts of physical and emotional healings, written in Cecil Murphey’s heart-warming, uplifting style that made 90 Minutes in Heaven a New York Times bestseller. Anyone who needs a touch from God for themselves or a loved one will find encouragement and inspiration in these pages. Cecil Murphey has collaborated on a number of bestselling books, including 90 Minutes in Heaven and Heaven Is Real with Don Piper, Touchdown Alexander with Shaun Alexander and Rebel with a Cause with Franklin Graham. He is a recipient of the Gold Medallion Award, two-time recipient of the Silver Angel Award for Excellence in Media, and the inaugural recipient in 2007 of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. Murphey is the author of I Choose to Stay, The Immortality of Influence and When God Turned Off the Lights. He writes a weekly devotional for Crosswalk.com. Twila Belk works full time with veteran author Cecil Murphey as his manager, personal assistant, PR person and event coordinator. She coauthored (with Murphey) Because You Care: Spiritual Encouragement for Caregivers and Heavenly Company: Entertaining Angels Unaware."

Ask for I Believe In Healing at your local bookstore, or order it online.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830765530/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0EXMZX7Z0B43PA8T9JJ5&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1389517282&pf_rd_i=507846

Ever thought of traveling to India? Here's your chance...for FREE!

Ever thought of traveling to India? Here's your chance...for FREE!

Visit - Pens on World Map http://www.pensonaworldmap.com/

New Book Coming Soon!

The Great Cave Caper is in the final stages of production and will be released soon. I've gone through the galleys and the cover artwork is nearing completion. So Keep your eyes out for
The Great Cave Caper
A new adventure, from Comfort Publishing, for middle grade readers 8 - 13
by
Max Elliot Anderson.

How Can We Help Kids Understand Terrorism?

This book may help kids understand these troubling times and how we all need to be aware -When The Lights Go Out - for readers 8 and up.

 

Order From Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/When-The-Lights-Go-Out/dp/1936695472%3FSubscriptionId%3D1QZMGW0RRJC2PX87HDR2%26tag%3Dsalranexp-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D1936695472

Video Trailer

Synopsis

Peyton Aldrich's father is an Army colonel, who specializes in Army intelligence. His work is always top secret, which means he can't even discuss it with his own son. Nevertheless, Peyton idolized his father, who believes that after what happened on 9/11, somebody had to help keep the country safe.

Now, Peyton, along with his family, find themselves stationed at a new army base, in the middle of nowhere. After his arrival, Peyton finds two friends, Gill and Dave. Together they decide to train like Rangers, and search for some kind of mission to accomplish on their own. Little did they know that a mission was about to put the boys right in the crosshairs of a dangerous terrorist plot, when a secret weapon would be delivered to the base on its way across the country. Will the terrorists find out who is trying to expose their evil plan? Will the boys be able to stop them? And what will happen to Peyton's father when the general finds out what the boys did? When the Lights Go Out is a story for kids, and their parents, so we never forget 9/11.

What guy wouldn't love smashing a TV with a bowling ball?

What guy wouldn't love smashing a TV, using a bowling ball, with fire everywhere?

 

VIDEO - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgzkiTCeTEU

 

 

How Gross Must We Be To Attract Boy Readers?

I have a new article available about the condition of recent books for boys at http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/middle_anderson.html

He'll Never Walk Again

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to submit a true story for consideration in this new book, “I Believe in Healing: Real Stories from the Bible and Today.” My parents were told I would never walk again.

 Photos courtesy of Immunization Action Coalition

"He'll Never Walk Again" - Page 124 - is included in the book, and concerns events surrounding my third birthday when I contracted the dreaded disease of Polio. Of course, this was a traumatic chapter in my young life. Evangelist Billy Graham played a key role in my story and that of a brother and sister who had Polio at the same time. Today, none of us has any lasting effects. You can read our story in this new book.

About the Authors

 

Cecil Murphey | Atlanta, GA

Cecil Murphey has collaborated on a number of bestselling books, including 90 Minutes in Heaven and Heaven Is Real with Don Piper, Touchdown Alexander with Shaun Alexander and Rebel with a Cause with Franklin Graham. He is a recipient of the Gold Medallion Award, two-time recipient of the Silver Angel Award for Excellence in Media, and the inaugural recipient in 2007 of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. Murphey is the author of I Choose to Stay, The Immortality of Influence and When God Turned Off the Lights. He writes a weekly devotional for Crosswalk.com.

 Twila Belk | Davenport, IA

Twila Belk works full time with veteran author Cecil Murphey as his manager, personal assistant, PR person and event coordinator. She coauthored (with Murphey) Because You Care: Spiritual Encouragement for Caregivers and Heavenly Company: Entertaining Angels Unaware.

About This New Book , Published by Regal

"I Believe in Healing: Real Stories from the Bible and Today"

When a loved one is injured or ill, what do Christians do? They pray, expecting God to intervene with a miracle of healing. They pray not only because the Bible says to do so, but also because God has shown Himself faithful to heal throughout history and even today. I Believe in Healing is a one-of-a-kind collection of true stories that demonstrate God’s healing power. Readers will find dozens of biblical, historical and present-day accounts of physical and emotional healings, written in Cecil Murphey’s heart-warming, uplifting style that made 90 Minutes in Heaven a New York Times bestseller. Anyone who needs a touch from God for themselves or a loved one will find encouragement and inspiration in these pages.

Released March 3, 2013.

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Believe-Healing-Stories-Bible-Today/dp/0830765530/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364828717&sr=1-1&keywords=i+believe+in+healing

What’s Going On In Middle Grade Fiction?

 By Max Elliot Anderson

            Eleven years ago, I set out to write action adventure & mystery books for readers 8 to 12. At the time, I didn’t know the term middle grade fiction, but came to understand this was the age that had been targeted. The age group was chosen because of many previous years spent in dramatic film productions for the same ages. That experience made it more comfortable to begin writing books for a familiar audience.

            In the beginning, middle grade had its distinctives over material written for even younger readers, and the books written for high school ages known as young adult, or YA. Today, according to research and statistics, middle grade fiction books have become the largest, most popular category in children’s books.

            At the time I began writing; middle grade fiction followed certain guidelines. Interests for this age group center around family and friends. A part of them wants to stay a little kid while the other strains to grow up. It’s extremely important for these children to fit in while, at the same time, discovering who they are as individuals. And most of them have their eyes on the goal of simply surviving to high school.

            When I began writing for kids, the lines were more clearly drawn. But now, certain elements of YA have begun to creep in. The middle grade ages were clearly 8 – 12 or even 13. As a rule, they like to read and will enjoy adventures, mysteries, historical, action, fantasy, humor, and sci-fi. These readers like to read up, so the ages of main characters tend to be in the upper range, too. The characters need to face the same hopes and and fears of the readers.

            It’s also important, in middle grade fiction, to get the adults into the background, and let the plot, problem solving, and solutions come from the kids. The main character will also grow and change during the story. Strong language, or profanity, should not be used. Parents and teachers are still protective of their young readers at this age.

            Middle grade lengths will range from 20,000 to 40,000 words. In some cases, publishers are requesting substantially longer manuscripts based on some of the previously popular books with much higher word counts. My middle grade adventures and mysteries range from about 23,000 to 43,000 words. Longer middle grade books came about as a result of titles including Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Percy Jackson, Eragon, and others. But shorter books tend to be the norm for most middle grade fiction. Vocabulary can be a little deeper for these readers. However, graphic novels have also crept into the mix. These books incorporate more comic-type images, or pictures, and depend on fewer words.

            It used to be that the edgy, darker, and horror material was reserved for YA and adult books. However, I receive several books throughout the year which publishers send to me for possible review on my blog. A couple of recent batches were disturbing. I checked the accompanying paperwork to make sure these were actually intended for middle grade readers. They were. Subjects included stronger boy-girl relationships, zombies, vampires, witches, and the list goes on. Several of the books were quite dark and the humor was gutter. Some have even lamented that middle grade fiction today went, almost overnight, from PG to PG-13 and even R.

It is evident, from these new books, that those of us who write for middle grade readers need to continue producing material that is uplifting. Middle grade readers are impressionable, sensitive, and still forming who they’re going to be as adults. And even though they may feel invincible, they still fear things like death, strangers, accidents, a house burning down, or some other personal tragedy.

Middle grade is such a pivotal time for readers. These readers are still focused inward and what they look for in books will reflect that. Themes can range from friendships, to school, to relationships and responsibilities within the family, circle of friends, and their neighborhoods. This is the age when they will decide to become a reader or not. Shouldn’t we be doing all we can to fill the void with uplifting material for them to read?