Ann Tatlock, featured author, plus Monthly Book Give-Away

Ann Tatlock www.anntatlock.com

It's my pleasure to introduce award-winning author, Ann Tatlock, as our guest writer today.  Recently I read the devotions which she had written on Christian Devotions website. I was so intriqued by her inspiring messages, I read every one of hers on the site. Then, I ordered her book I'll Watch the Moon.  Set in St. Paul, Minnesota, during the 1948 polio epidemic, this is a beautifully written story with an inspiring message of trust in God.  I've asked Ann to tell us about herself and her writing.

	Every morning I write a Bible verse in a notebook and leave it on my daughter’s bed for her to read when she comes home from school. Today the verse is 1 John 4:19: “We love him, because he first loved us” (AKJV).           I never cease to be amazed by the “I’ll-make-the-first-move” love of God. That love has wrapped itself around me from the day I was born and, no matter what I’ve done through the years, it has always been true to the words of one of my favorite hymns: “O Love that will not let me go.”      At the age of six I wrote my first poem in very large letters on a very large piece of ruled writing paper. In it I named all the things I loved—Mom and Dad, the singing birds, my teachers—and I concluded with this line: “But most of all I love God.”           That says more about God than about me. To think He revealed himself to a little child—how great a gift! In return, I’ve always wanted to serve Him and to tell about what He has done for us through Jesus Christ.           When I went to college, I thought the best way for me to serve God would be to take care of the sick, but I dropped out of the nursing program when the Lord made it clear to me that my calling was to write.           Deciding to write true testimonies as to what God was doing in the world, I eventually got a master’s degree in journalism. That led to a job with Billy Graham’s "Decision" magazine, where I spent five years as staff writer and assistant editor.            But the Lord impressed upon me the power of story as a vehicle for truth. After all, Jesus used fictional stories to teach while he was here on earth. We know those stories today as the parables.             So I switched gears and started writing novels in the hopes of revealing through them something of the character of God. My novels are both contemporary and historical; I have a particular interest in 20th-century America as it was a time of incredible advancement, unthinkable tragedies, glorious victories and boundless faith on the part of believers.            My new friend Rose Chandler Johnson recently read I’ll Watch the Moon and asked what inspired me to write it. Since I like to choose a particular era or event to serve as backdrop for my stories, I’ll Watch the Moon arose from my curiosity about the 1948 polio epidemic. As I researched the epidemic, I realized I’d be writing a story about hope. When people face trials like war and disease (the Second World War also figures into the story), they so often discover what the narrator of the story discovers, that “even a grain of hope can manage to eclipse a whole world of despair.”      Let me share too the historical time frame and the theme of some of my other novels: A Room of My Own  The Great Depression, 1932   Servanthood A Place Called Morning   1980s                 Forgiveness All the Way Home   WWII and 1960s Civil Rights Era   Redemption The Returning     Contemporary                      Grace Promises to Keep   1967-68                           Discernment Travelers Rest     Contemporary                     Restoration Sweet Mercy        Prohibition Era, 1931             Mercy            I share this with you only because the desire of my heart is to reveal God’s character and announce his truths. Because He loves us, our lives are filled with his grace and mercy, hope and forgiveness, redemption and restoration. I hope my readers will enjoy my stories and--even more important--come away feeling comforted, encouraged and a little bit more certain of God’s unfailing love. Ann Tatlock * * *   Now, for an opportunity to receive a copy of Ann's book of your choice. At least ten readers must comment and share in order for there to be a book give-away. So come on everyone.  Join in.  Follow these easy steps to qualify for the random drawing. 1. Leave a comment on this blog which includes your name and email address. (I will use your address to contact you if you win.) I love to read your comments. 2. Share this blog post on Facebook or mention it on your own blog. If you do not have a facebook, or a blog, become a follower of this site. Complete these steps by 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 10th. A winner will be announced on November 12th. Thank you for supporting my writing by reading and commenting on this blog. I will write for you again on Thursday, November 8th, so please come back. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6. May God be with you.