It's that time of the month!. . . No, not THAT time.

It's time for Laura Kurk to join us and award the newest recipient of the LOLA Award! Join us to find out who's doing it right in Hollywood!

"But, there are so many musicians who know who they are. Who are unchanging in their value systems and their beliefs. There are Christian artists to admire. But, there are also mainstream artists who feel deeply, know themselves well, and show us, the fans, the same face that they show their friends and family in private. They’re just good people."

Hmm...? Wonder who she's talking about! Tune in to find out!  

After Laura and I chat about Hollywood, I'll be spending the rest of the show introducing Choose HER to you. What is it? Why do you want to Choose HER? Who is "HER" anyway? Then, I have a stack of questions that I'm going to tackle in a mini Q&A segment.

And, just for fun, I'm giving one of these away:

Friends, you're going to want to tune in to Teen Talk Radio on Friday, May 11th at 11am EST for the encore presentation of this show.

Both Jim and Mary have a special place in my heart because of the way they feel about YOU! They love their readers and that care is evident in every word they write.

James L. Rubart is a professional marketer, speaker, and writer. He serves on the board of the Northwest Christian Writers Association and lives with his wife and sons in Seattle, Washington.

If someone gave you a chair and said it was made by Jesus Christ, would you believe them? When an elderly lady shows up in Corin Roscoe's antiques store and gives him a chair she claims was crafted by Jesus, he scoffs. But when a young boy is miraculously healed two days after sitting in the chair, he stops laughing and starts wondering . . . could this chair heal the person whose life Corin destroyed twelve years ago?

As word spreads of the boy's healing, a mega-church pastor is determined to manipulate Corin into turning over the chair. And that mysterious woman who gave him the piece flits in and out of his life like a shadow, insinuating it's Corin’s destiny to guard the chair above everything else. But why? Desperate, he turns to the one person he can trust, a college history professor who knows more about the legend of the chair than he'll reveal. Corin's life shatters as he searches for the truth about the artifact and the unexplained phenomena surrounding it. What’s more, he's not the only one willing do almost anything to possess the power seemingly connected to the chair.

We'll be chatting about Jim's latest book, The Chair, as well as his other books,Rooms and Book of Days. We'll also talk about what it's like to parent two teenage boys these days and Jim will share from his heart with you about how he feels about teenagers.     

Mary DeMuth...oh, I love me some Mary DeMuth! She's such a joy to me--one of those rare people who wears her heart on her sleeves and loves big. Mary has a unique ability to make herself vulnerable in her writing while drawing the reader in and making it about YOU.

I love Jesus, my family, and my life. Jesus has helped me live uncaged, and for that I'm eternally grateful. In that place of thanks, I write books and blogs and whatnot.

Among other things, Mary and I will talk about her latest fiction release, The Muir House.

Willa Muir can’t say yes to the love of her life … until she explores her past and solves the mystery of a haunting dream. But when Willa’s desperate search unearths unthinkable secrets, her heart collapses. Can Willa shake her past to embrace a love that could finally lead her home?

“You’ll find home one day. Sure as sweet tea on a hot afternoon.” Words from Willa Muir’s sketchy childhood haunt her dreams and color her days with longing, regret, and fear. What do the words mean? Willa is far from sure. When Hale Landon places a ring on her finger, Willa panics, feeling she can’t possibly say yes when so much in her past is a mystery.

Bent on sorting out her history, Willa returns to Rockwall, Texas, to the Muir House Bed & Breakfast, a former funeral home. But the old place holds her empty memory close to itself. Willa’s mother utters unintelligible clues from her deathbed, and the caretaker of the house keeps coveted answers carefully protected. Throw in an old flame, and Willa careens farther away from ever knowing the truth. Set in a growing suburb of Texas, The Muir House explores trauma, healing, love new and old, and the life-changingchoices people make to keep their reputations intact.

Join us as we chat about all sort of things...including your questions. I've already received several for Jim and Mary, but feel free to send in more. Are you subscribed to Teen Talk Radio on iTunes? It's totally free, and you'll never miss an episode!

Be sure to tune in, Friday, May 4th, at 11am EST to Teen Talk!!

Next up, Valerie Comer, Annalisa Daughety, (me) Nicole O’Dell and Cara Putman, the authors of the novella anthology, Rainbow’s End. We're here to tell you there really is something of value where X marks the spot. Join a geocaching adventure in the spectacular Lake of the Ozarks wilderness, with Lyssa, the reluctant volunteer whose former nemesis is now her chief sponsor; Madison, a city girl paired with an outdoorsy guy who gets on her very last nerve; cautious Reagan, who meets an equally cautious guy; and Hadley, who doesn't know enough about guys to realize she's met a womanizer.

Will they find the treasure they're looking for ... or something else entirely?

Curious about what geocaching is? Or maybe you already do it and want to call in to share your experiences with us! We'd love to hear from you at 866-404-6519!

If you're unfamiliar with geocaching, this will bring you to speed:

Tune in to Teen Talk Radio, immediately  following Parent Talk at 11 am EST.  

Laura Kurk, author of the On Hollywood column here at Choose NOW Ministries, joins us on Teen Talk Radio to chat about Hollywood marriages and this month's LOLA Award, and to present a call to action! Check out this month's ON HOLLYWOOD column (goes live on Friday morning), then tune in at 11 am EST on 4/20/12. Who is Laura Kurk? She says:

I’m Laura and I like to write. Just not about myself. Here’s what I’m supposed to tell you in my real bio: I live in College Station, Texas with my husband and two beautiful kids. I’ve been a writer since finishing a graduate degree in English, although before Glass Girl I mostly wrote academic brochures and marketing and public relations copy. I grew up in a little town in Oklahoma and that’s one of the best things about me. No, really. There's much more to her bio; you can check it out here.

 Next up: Kelly Irvin

It’s been four years since Carl left. Four years since he left the safety of the small Amish community for the Englisch world. And in four years, Emma’s heart has only begun to heal.  Now, with the unexpected death of her parents, Emma is plunged back into a world of despair and confusion. It’s a confusion only compounded by Carl’s return. She’s supposed to be in love with him…so why can’t she keep her mind off Thomas, the strong, quiet widower who always seems to be underfoot? Could the man she knew only as a friend be the one to help her to heal? 

In a world that seems to be changing no matter how tightly she clings to the past, one woman must see beyond her pain, find strength in God, and open her heart to trust once again.   Kelly Irvin is the author of two romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine, published in 2010 and 2011.

She is contracted with Harvest House for two Amish romances, To Love and To Cherish, which released on Feb. 12, 2012, and A Heart Made New, to hit bookstores Sept. 1, 2012.

Get out the vote! Let's get SUSIE magazine on the shelves of Walmart!  . .

SUSIE Magazine beat 4,000 other products in Walmart’s Get On the Shelf contest. They're now in the top ten with two more weeks of voting to go! 

YOU can help shape eternity by voting twice a day every day and bugging all your friends and family to:

1. Vote for SUSIE online

2. Text 4959 to 383838.

Thank you for your votes and prayers! Let’s do this! And join me on Friday as I talk with author, speaker and editor of  SUSIE magazine, Susie Shellenberger herself! She'll share all about this awesome resource for girls and about this amazing contest and opportunity. Don't miss it! 11 am est on Teen Talk!

Following my chat with Susie, I'll welcome Mark Gilroy to chat about his new release:

Detective Kristen Conner goes undercover to find a serialkiller who selects his victims - all successful young professional women - in the most unlikely of places - only to find herself as his new favorite target.

The Killer ... Chicago has a new resident; a heartless killer on a decade-long crime spree.  When a successful young woman is found dead in her fashionable town home, a red flag goes up in Washington, D.C. The FBI knows an elusive "organized killer" is at work again.  The problem is the Feds have only one tenuous lead to assist local police in the manhunt ... a most unlikely place the killer likes to find his victims.

The Detective ... Conner, turning thirty, single, light as a feather but tougher than nails—growing up in a cop’s home and taking every hand-to-hand combat course that the Chicago Police Department offers does that—and the coach of her niece’s 7-year-old soccer team, the Snowflakes, becomes a lead detective in her first major homicide case. She’s a good girl—loves her mom, goes to church, only yells when she’s really mad—who just can’t stop fighting with her partner, police department brass, and most of all, her TV news anchor sister, Klarissa, who can turn a single bite of chicken into a 30-minute ordeal of starting, stopping, and starting again. Her mom, sisters, and various suitors all think she’s wonderful—except for her anger and bonding issues.

The Climax ... From the opening chase scene that leads to a back alley where a Punk with a knife awaits, to the climactic scene where Kristen goes one-on-one with a man who is killing innocent women in her town and now has her in his sights, Cuts Like a Knife, the debut novel from Mark Gilroy, is loaded with action, humor, and wry introspection through the voice of its irrepressible lead character.

Join us, starting with SUSIE at 11 am est on Teen Talk!

Cara Putman, y'all know her well, will join me for just a few minutes to share her new book, A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island. She'll be coming from the Parent Talk hour, so tune in early if you want to catch Cara on that program, too.

A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island (April 2012)  

Can the truth set Alanna Stone free?  Attorney Alanna Stone has never forgotten Jonathon Covington--or the pain of his betrayal. In fact, he's why she's avoided returning to Mackinac Island. But an exhausting, high profile case and an urgent plea from her parents bring her home. She immediately finds herself thrust into controversy as an unsolved murder once again turns public opinion against her family. Jonathon has been waiting for her return, but the woman he sees now has little in common with the one who left. Will they be able to lay aside the past and let God heal their hearts, or will reconciliation come too late?

My family loves escaping to Mackinac Island, so it was a treat to get to write a romance set on the island. Especially when that romance includes mystery and a taste of suspense! Publisher: Barbour

Order now!

Read an excerpt here.  

Following my chat with Cara, we'll be switching gears completely. We'll hear from Lisa Grace, the author of "the Christian's alternative to the Twilight series." The firstin her series has been optioned for a movie. Join us to hear all about that process. 

Fifteen-year-old Megan Laughlin has a gift; or what seems like a curse at times. She can see angels and demons. Megan knows her destiny is to protect her friends against dark angels who try to sway them into situations that can destroy their souls, their lives and their eternity. At school, she recognizes Judas an Uber popular boy, as a demon, hell-bent on destroying her and everyone she loves.As Judas spreads horrible rumors and overdoses two of her classmates at a rave, Megan realizes the enormity of Judas' power.

While classmates die, Megan, with the help of an angel, Johnny, and a team of friends will face the fight of their lives as they battle Judas. Megan thinks God hasn't given her any "special" powers, but she finds she has what she needs as she confronts Judas and his virtually unconquerable power. Books 2 and 3 in the series, also available.

Join me with Lisa Grace on Teen Talk Radio at 11:00 am EST, on 4/6 to hear all about this awesome series and about going from eBook to movie! We'll be spending much of the interview on the subject of angels and demons, answering questions like:

• What does the Bible say about the spiritual realm?
• How do we know for sure it's real?
• What's the difference between angels and demons, and other spirits like ghosts?
• Is it wrong to pray to angels or otherwise contact them?
• Is it wrong to read about vampires or ghosts?
• and more!

  About Lisa:

I am married to my husband Todd and we have a wonderful seven-year- old daughter. I had a full- sized Virginian Opossum as a pet for four years until he passed away. They can be paper-trained. We currently have an albino Dwarf Netherlands Bunny as a pet and a turtle. I love hiking, fishing, boating, and watching nature. I volunteer at my church working with the teens. They will be my beta readers for Angel in the Ice, Book 3 release date set for November 1, 2011 . I use the BIC (butt in chair) method to write two thousand words a day.  I love to talk to people who have read my book/books and return all emails personally. My mission is to reach unsaved teens with my young adult novels. For my adult readers, The 15th Star, out in late 2011, is an exciting fun read along the lines of National Treasure meets 1776.

The first guest on this week's Teen Talk Radio show, is Rachel Hauck who writes the column On Teen Worship and Warfare here at Choose NOW Ministries.

We'll talk about worship and warfare, as well as her upcoming book, The Wedding Dress, which received 4.5 stars from Romantic Times. Warfare is about your authority in Christ; worship is about your surrender to Him. The two work in perfect harmony to bring you into a full relationship with Jesus, walking and working in His power, yet surrendering yourself at His feet.

It’s a beautiful thing.

How can you see both at work in your life at the same time? What roles do warfare and worship have in the life of a teenager? How can YOU move in God’s power? What does that even mean? Tune in to find out! 11 am EST at www.choicesradio.com.   

Following Rachel Hauck, I'll be welcoming Gina Conroy, an author of the novella anthology, Highland Crossings, to talk about dreams.

Sometimes our biggest dream killers are our inner voices that tell us our dreams are too impractical or unrealistic. That's why they're called dreams! While some seasons of dreaming might have to be practical like focusing on school or family, I believe inside everyone is a dream that connects with our soul that if left to sleep too long with eventually die, killing your spirit as well! Allow yourself to wake the dream!    

In the final portion of the show, Tanya Eavenson and Becky Dean and  will tell us all about the new online resource for teens called Proof: See the Evidence. 

We host a variety of guests from bands, authors (fiction and non), youth, those working in youth ministry, all to help youth live their lives for Christ and live out their faith. This is aimed mostly toward Christian teens but also we pray it will reach those who do not know Christ. Topical  discussions, devos, interviews, reviews, as well as a mission emphasis.

  We hope you'll join us! You can tune in live at 11am EST on Friday, March 30th, or grab the podcast after the show airs. You can also subscribe on iTunes!

What a JAM-packed show this is going to be. I can't wait to bring you these three fabulous guests! First Jennifer Maggio and I will chat about teen pregnancy and life as a single mom. She visited Parent Talk in the previous hour, but now has something special to share with you.

Jennifer Maggio is a nationally-recognized author and speaker, Jennifer Maggio, has a passion to see all women living the life God intended. Her personal journey through teen pregnancy, severe abuse, and homelessness is leaving audiences riveted. She has allowed God to transform her “mess” into her “message”.

She is founder of The Life of a Single Mom Ministries and Overwhelmed: The Single Moms Magazine. She has been featured on more than 100 radio and television programs and her work has been endorsed by some of the nation’s leading ministries, including The 700 Club, Focus on the Family, Moody Institute and more.    

Next, Rachel Hendrix will Join me. She plays Hannah in October Baby. OCTOBER BABY follows the dramatic, humorous, romantic story of 19-year-old Hannah, who goes on a road trip to find answers after learning she is adopted and the survivor of an attempted abortion.

Offering a life-affirming, uplifting take on an often polarizing topic, OCTOBER BABY is distributed by Provident Films—known for its leadership in the faith film arena with films such as FACING THE GIANTS, COURAGEOUS and FIREPROOF—and Samuel Goldwyn Films, the distributor of FIREPROOF, AMAZING GRACE and FACING THE GIANTS.

You saw me before I was born." Psalm 139:16 (NLT) As the curtain rises, Hannah hesitantly steps onto the stage for her theatrical debut in college. Yet before she can utter her first lines, Hannah—unscripted—collapses in front of the stunned audience. After countless medical tests, all signs point to one underlying factor: Hannah's difficult birth. This revelation is nothing compared to what she then learns from her parents: she was actually adopted … after a failed abortion attempt. Bewildered, angered, and confused, Hannah turns for support to Jason, her oldest friend. Encouraged by his adventurous spirit, Hannah joins his group of friends on a Spring Break road trip, embarking on a journey to discover her hidden past … and find hope for her unknown future. In the midst of her incredible journey, Hannah finds that life can be so much more than what you have planned.

OCTOBER BABY shines a light on a real but little-known topic, the survivors of attempted abortions.  A statistic few track, survivors themselves say there are thousands of individuals who survived attempted abortions. Many of these survivors have grown up to speak out on life-related issues. The film stars newcomer Rachel Hendrix as Hannah and features John Schneider (Smallville, The Dukes of Hazzard) and Jasmine Guy (A Different World) along with Jason Burkey and American Idol finalist Chris Sligh in his feature film debut. The film earned the Grand Jury Prize as the Best Fiction Feature at the 2011 Red Rock Film Festival, with Hendrix claiming the Special Achievement Award for Acting.  

To wrap up the show, I'll be talking with author, Margaret Daley about human trafficking. Tough subject, but one every teenager needs to hear about. Often.

When a teenager goes missing from the Beacon of Hope School, Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan and school director Kate Winslow are forced into a dangerous struggle against a human trafficking organization. But the battle brings dire consequences as Wyatt's daughter is terrorized and Kate is kidnapped.

Now it's personal, and Wyatt finds both his faith and investigative skills challenged as he fights to discover the mastermind behind the ring before evil destroys everyone he loves.

"Through crisp writing, Daley paints life-like characters engaged in a believable struggle that kept me turning pages to the satisfying ending." — Richard L. Mabry, MD, Author of Lethal Remedy and the Prescription For Trouble series “Fan favorite Margaret Daley wows readers with Saving Hope, her new release in the Men of the Texas Rangers series. Intense, gritty, exciting, and with a compelling love story...this book has everything a romantic suspense reader could want!” Marta Perry, Vanish in Plain Sight, HQN Books

"Saving Hope is a story straight from the headlines. Missing teens, a Texas Ranger Dad, and a woman who just wants to make a difference in the lives of the girls she loves, all come together in an explosive story that will make you turn the pages as fast as possible to get to the end--which has a nice twist that you won't see coming. Just make sure you have plenty of time to read because you WON'T want to put this one down. A fabulous romantic suspense." -- Lynette Eason, best-selling, award-winning author of the Women of Justice Series.

"Margaret Daley's Saving Hope is a beautifully told story of second chances with very real characters who stayed with me long after I finished the book. I'll be looking for more Texas Rangers stories from her!"~Robin Caroll, author of the Evil series and the Justice Seekers series

Join us on Teen Talk Radio at 11am EST, Friday, March 23rd. 

Well, here we are, the very first episode of the new Teen Talk show brought to you by Choose NOW Radio!  Are you excited??? I sure am! What I love most is that I’ll be able to bring you double the content, double the great guests, and double the fun. I've always been sad when Teen Talk Radio ended after an hour--I was just getting started! So now I get to talk for two full hours!! :)

Do you have topics you hope we’ll cover on Parent Talk or Teen Talk? Please contact me here to make your requests and suggestions. This week, my guests are Stefne Miller and Cierra Ramirez! Read on to find out more...

Stefne Miller was born an “Army Brat” and lived in many states growing up including: Oklahoma, Hawaii, Georgia, Virginia and Pennsylvania. In 2008, while visiting a friend out of state, Stefne had a dream in which the Lord asked her to join him on a new journey. Upon waking, she wrote down the dream and Salvaged was born. Stefne currently lives in Edmond, Oklahoma and has been married to Shaun, a realtor, since 1994. Shaun and Stefne have three sons – Jacob (15), Caleb (13) and Yohannes (12).

Seven minutes inside a hotel room with a complete stranger. A friendly greeting where we pretend to know each other well and are genuinely happy to see each other; then straight to business. None of it meaningful. None of it real. All of it rehearsed, choreographed, and expected. My life isn’t my own anymore. I pretty much go wherever I’m told and put on the show. It’s my life and whether I chose it or not, it’s the life I’ve got. It’s the world I live in. And, I’m searching. Always searching… I just don’t know what for.

Intrigued?? Join me and Stefne at 11 am EST on Friday, March 9th to find out more!  

Following my chat with Stefne, I'll welcome Cierra Ramirez, who play the attention-seekingdaughter of Grace, played by Eva Mendes.

Born in March 1995, Cierra Ramirez is best known for her recurring role of Jasmine on The Disney Channels The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. She played the lead role, Stella, in the Nickelodeon TV Movie Star and Stella Save the World. She has also appeared in such TV Series as Desperate Housewives, Zoey 101, and CSI: Miami. She made her feature film debut in ALL IN starring Dominique Swain and Michael Madsen.

Besides a burgeoning acting career, Cierra is an accomplished singer signed to Temper Music Group.Since the age of 7, Cierra has been in front of crowds with her voice. At 10, she appeared as herself on the series, Showtime at the Apollo. She has also shared the stage as an opening act for the likes of Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago and American Idols Ruben Studdard, Kimberly Coldwell and Ace Young.

PANTELION FILMS presents the heart-warming, coming of age family drama Girl in Progress, starring Eva Mendes (The Other Guys, Hitch, Training Day), Cierra Ramirez, Matthew Modine (The Dark Knight Rises), Patricia Arquette (A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III; Medium) and Eugenio Derbez (Under the Same Moon, Rob!). This inspiring film releases in theaters nationwide on April 27, 2012 and reminds us to enjoy life in the moment, cherish our families, love our neighbors, respect ourselves and not take for granted what is right in front of you.

Directed by Patricia Riggen (Under the Same Moon) and adapted from a screenplay written by Hiram Martinez, Girl in Progress tells the story of Grace (Eva Mendes), a single mom who is too busy juggling work, bills and relationships, to give her daughter, Ansiedad (Cierra Ramirez) the attention she desperately needs. When Ansiedad's English teacher, Ms. Armstrong (Patricia Arquette), introduces her students to classic coming-of-age stories, Ansiedad is inspired to skip adolescence and jump-start her life without mom. While Grace becomes preoccupied with the increasing affections of her co-worker (Eugenio Derbez), Ansiedad enlists the help of her loyal friend, Tavita (Disney star Raini Rodriguez), to plot her shortcut to "adulthood.” But as her misguided plan unravels, Ansiedad and Grace must learn that sometimes growing-up means acting your age.

Just before Teen Talk Radio, Parent Talk will launch with two very special guests! Visit here to find out who!

Then you won't be disappointed when you tune in to Teen Talk Radio tonight! I have a big announcement to make. I should hold it for the end of the program so you have to listen to the whole thing, but I won't do that to you. Tune in at 10pm EST at www.choicesradio.com and I'll spill it right away!

Following the big announcement, tonight's Teen Talk Radio guests include Renee Fisher, author of "Not Another Dating Book; Bonnie Sharon, Cellular Chloe, on the subject of Dating violence; and Courtney Walsh, author of Sweethaven Summer. We'll chat about her book, memory making, and the importance of family and strong friendships.

Author, Renee Fisher

Renee Fisher had a love/hate relationship with Valentine’s Day for nearly a decade as a single woman in her twenties, and after trying and tiring of dating formulas and Christian clichés, Fisher turned to Scripture to rediscover God’s purpose for relationships. Instead of zeroing in on relationship status, Not Another Dating Book widens the lens to see the whole picture of the most important relationship as revealed in Scripture that will shape all others.

Fisher’s “devotional guide to ALL your relationships” offers an interactive format with daily Scripture readings, reflections, prayer, and journaling space to aid readers in exploring their honest questions.

Cellular Chloe, Bonnie Sharon Bonnie Sharon, Wireless Zone’s tech expert “Cellular Chloe”, will discuss Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and how cell phones and social media can aggravate the issue. As most teens today have cell phones and social media accounts, they may not understand how these seemingly harmless outlets can be used in abusive situations. Teens may misuse their mobile devices in their relationships, whether they are the aggressor or the victim, with examples such as “sexting”, spying on text messages and emails, or cyber-bullying.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness month. Dating violence (or relationship abuse) is a pattern of over-controlling behavior that someone uses against a girlfriend or boyfriend. Dating violence can take many forms, including mental/emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. It can occur in both casual dating situations and serious, long-tem relationships. This cause strikes a chord with us in the wireless industry because much of teen dating violence happens via wireless device and is referred to as electronic victimization. This can take on a several forms:

• the abusive partner calls or texts multiple times a day in order to control the victim
• the abusive partner checks the victims phone, facebook page to see who he/she is communicating with via calls, posts or texts.
• If the victim is looking into gaining more information about or ways to report abuse, the abuser may find that on their phone or computer.
• Today digital stalking is an everyday occurrence without the victim's knowledge.

To learn more about electronic victimization click here: http://www.athinline.org/facts and If you need help call 888-774-2900 or loveisrespect.org.   

Author, Courtney Walsh Campbell Carter has come to Sweethaven in search of answers about her mother's history. Just before losing a battle with cancer, Suzanne Carter sent letters to childhood friends from her hometown of Sweethaven, Michigan. Suzanne's three friends -- Lila, Jane, and Meghan -- haven't spoken in years, yet each has pieces of a scrapbook they made together as girls. Suzanne's letters have lured them all back to the idyllic lakeside town, where they meet Campbell and begin to remember what was so special about their long Sweethaven summers.

As the scrapbook reveals secrets from the past, old wounds are mended, lives are changed, and friendships are restored -- just as Suzanne intended.

Join Courtney and me as we chat about her book, memory making, and the importance of family and strong friendships.

Courtney Walsh is a freelance writer and author of two craft books, Scrapbooking Your Faith and The Busy Scrapper. She was a contributing editor for Memory Makers magazine and lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her husband and three children.

Haley Patterson is having a great year hanging out with her friends and making a name for herself as the only freshman reporter for her high school newspaper, The Raider Review. But when she reveals one too many details in a gossip column, superdiva Camilla Quinn turns Haley’s life upside down.

Completely ostracized and abandoned by even her closest friends, Haley finds herself alone and miserable. A summer job at a mountain resort brings Haley a new set of friends, romance with two cute guys, and an unexpected confrontation with Camilla that forces her to choose whether to back down, or find the courage to stand her ground.

“ Skillfully captures the painful reality of teen bullying while also telling Haley’s humorous and sincere story of growing up.”Kirkus Reviews

“The love story is sweet, and readers will root for Haley to admit what’s been going on and finally give herself a chance to be happy.” Booklist

On why she wrote Defying the Diva, Dorothy said:

Join me tonight on Teen Talk Radio at 10pm EST as I talk with Dorothy Anne Love about the signs of bullying, how to react to it, and what to do about it. 

So excited!!! Not only has Girl Talk released, but Natalie and Emily are going to be my guests on Teen Talk Radio tonight!

We're going to be fielding some reader's questions on the spot! I have a small stack set aside already, but you can also call in with your questions. You'll want to call between 10-10:45pm EST at 877-864-4869.

Some samples of tonight's questions are:

"My BFF is after my boyfriend. . ."

"I don't like the church my parents drag me to. . ."

"I think I might be anorexic. . ."

I hope you'll tune in to at 10pm Est on Teen Talk Radio at www.choicesradio.com. The podcast will be available tomorrow. I'll update this page with a link at that time, Or you can subscribe to Teen Talk Radio on iTunes, and never miss a show!

Tonight on Teen Talk Radio, two special guests and a BIG giveaway!

Will Bakke Award-winning director of BEWARE OF CHRISTIANS and ONE NATION UNDER GOD, Will Bakke found his niche as filmmaker while in college at Baylor University, when he developed the short comedy sketch series Bearly There Productions. For that work, MTV named Bakke one of the Top 25 Filmmakers on Campus. His focus since is on feature films; he’ll direct the third film from Riot Studios with the working title BELIEVE ME.

Alex Carroll A 2010 graduate of Georgetown University, Alex Carroll co-produced both BEWARE OF CHRISTIANS and ONE NATION UNDER GOD. He also was a featured performer in BEWARE OF CHRISTIANS. In 2009, Alex founded Scot Productions, a sports media website for his high school alma mater in Dallas, and Campus Corner Connection, a successful advertising and social networking site. While at Georgetown, Carroll helped initiate a campus ministry known as The Gathering.

CHURCH AND THE NEXT GENERATION

BewareofChristians.com

In the film BEWARE OF CHRISTIANS, four recent college graduates, all Christians, trek across Europe, cameras in hand and questions in mind. From London to Barcelona to Rome, Paris and beyond, they engage with young locals and fellow travelers to find out how Christians are perceived and examine the relevance of their own faith in today’s world. This honest film from these young believers, part documentary, part “road picture,” dares to broach the hard questions about faith and the next generation. Meanwhile, a recent study from the Barna Group, a leading research firm in matters of faith, points to interesting trends among young people and the church drain.

As young Christians transition from high school to young adulthood:

• Only about three in 10 that identify as Christians and are active in church in high school are active in church by young adulthood.
• Two of 10 feel alienated from the “comfortable” church and faith of their parents; they feel unable to reconcile their faith with the culture and society around them.
• Four out of 10 continue to be interested in their faith but are less active in church.
• One of 10 leave their faith behind.

Why do young adult believers grow dissatisfied with the church? Leading reasons include:

• Cultural ignorance. While they want to interact with the culture, young Christians feel the church resists and fears that.
• Irrelevance. More than half say church is either uninteresting or irrelevant.
• Arrogance.  A third feel the church is too sure of its answers and a quarter think the church is against science.
• Society and morality. Young people struggle to reconcile the hyper-sexualized culture around them with the church’s moral teaching.
• Walls.  While a quarter of young believers express doubts about their faith, more than a third say they don’t feel free in church to ask questions about what is most significant to them.

SOURCE: You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving the Church and Rethinking Faith, by David Kinnaman, 2011, Baker Books.

Teen Talk Radio, Choose NOW Ministries, has THREE copies of the BEWARE OF CHRISTIANS DVD! Simply leave a comment here, or tweet this line to enter: Beware of Christians! @Nicole_ODell and #chooseNOWministries with an awesome #giveaway #teentalkradio.

Need help with your home life?

Is your relationship with your parents rocky lately?

Is your BFF driving you crazy?

Tune in to Teen Talk Radio on 1/5/12, or download the show in the right sidebar or on iTunes, to find out the 10 ways you can make your life better this year than it was last year. 

These are practical tips you can implement right away. 

“Dickerson manages a heartfelt romance that will stick with readers.”—Booklist

 “A virtuous romance.”—Kirkus

“The message will resonate with readers of all ages: Beauty is within all of us.” —Romantic Times

“This riff on Beauty and the Beast makes the story as comfortable as a pair of old shoes, but the shoes fit well.”—Publishers Weekly

Melanie Dickerson, the Award-Winning author of “The Healer’s Apprentice,” returns with another inspiring retelling of a classic fairy tale

Following the success of her multiple award-winning debut novel, The Healer’s Apprentice, Melanie Dickerson revisits the alluring fairy tale world with an eagerly anticipated follow-up, THE MERCHANT’S DAUGHTER (Zondervan; December 2011; $9.99).

Inspired by “The Beauty and the Beast,” THE MERCHANT’S DAUGHTER follows Annabel Chapman, the daughter of a once-wealthy merchant, whose fate changes when her family goes into debt and she is forced into the role of servant for the beastly Lord Ranulf le Wyse.

In her new home, Annabel is burdened with a host of household duties, including harvesting barley stalks and preparing dinner for the other servants. Worse, she is horrified by her family’s insistence she marry the despicable Bailiff Tom in order to save the Chapman home and keep her brothers from having to work.

After Tom corners her alone several times, Annabel comes to believe a life within a convent may be her only hope of true escape. . But as she settles into life inside Lord le Wyse’s home , Annabel begins to see past the lord’s harsh exterior to the kind and wonderful man who hides behind the physical and emotional scars. A man who wants only to help her, even if it means sending her away. Will Annabel follow her heart’s desire before it’s too late?

Dickerson’s long-awaited second book blends the romance of The Healer’s Apprentice with the fantasy of the classic “Beauty and the Beast” tale. THE MERCHANT’S DAUGHTER is a must-read for teens and young adults interested in fascinating love stories and historical fiction.

Watch the enchanting new trailer for THE MERCHANT’S DAUGHTER here: http://youtu.be/fNZgGoGwF_w

To schedule an interview with Melanie Dickerson, to receive a review copy, or for more information on MERCHANT’S DAUGHTER, please contact Candice Frederick at DJC Communications at 212-971-9707 or candice@djccommunications.com.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melanie Dickerson is the author of 2010’s The Healer’s Apprentice, her debut novel which won Best First Book at the National Readers’ Choice Awards and came in fourth at the Family Fiction Awards. The novel was also a Christy Award, Maggie Award, Carol Award and Golden Quill finalist, and earned the HOLT Medallion Award of Merit. She lives in Huntsville, Alabama, with her husband and two daughters. www.melaniedickerson.com Zondervan, a HarperCollins company, is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a world leader in Christian communications, and is the leading Christian publishing brand.

Following my chat with Melanie we'll have fun talking about some Christmas stuff. We'll share some ways teens can get involved in Holiday gift giving without spending a lot of money. 

1. Judy Christie, Wreath.

What do you do when you're too young to be on your own but have no one to turn to? Sixteen-year-old Wreath Willis makes a list: Find a place to live. Buy cheap food. Finish high school. Get a job. Go to college. Now she?s finishing high school by day and squatting in a junkyard by night, flying below the authorities? radar while she makes a few awkward friends and searches for an illusory ?good life.? But when a school counselor grows too suspicious, Wreath is afraid she?ll have to move on before she graduates. Could it be this was a good life?  

2. Anne Mateer, Wings of a Dream.

Okay, this one isn't exactly YA, but it's a great read and a good story to immerse teens in a bit of historical reality and some great lessons about love and faithfulness. 

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of a life far beyond her family's farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promised adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he's the man she's meant to marry. While she waits for the Great War to end and Arthur to return to her so they can pursue all their plans, her mother's sister falls ill. Rebekah seizes the opportunity to travel to Texas to care for Aunt Adabelle, seeing this chance to be closer to Arthur's training camp as God's approval of her plans.

But the Spanish flu epidemic changes everything. Faced with her aunt's death, Arthur's indecisiveness, and four children who have no one else to care for them, Rebekah is torn between the desire to escape the type of life she's always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart. 

Anne Mateer has been penning stories and poems for almost as long as she can remember. After studying history in college, she began to seriously pursue publication in the year 2000. Ten years and four completed novels later, she received her first publishing contract. Anne loves weaving together history and story in a way that shines eternal truth. Anne and her husband live in Texas and are the parents of three young adult children.

3. Amanda Davis,  Precisely Terminated. 

Amanda is the daughter of best-selling novelist Bryan Davis and she just published her first novel,That is quite an accomplishment for a young lady with dyslexia! Her parents discovered her dyslexia while home schooling her and got her the help she needed. It was then they discovered she had a talent for writing. Her novelist father encouraged her and incorporated creative writing in her home school curriculum. She is only 20-years-old. She says her book is a Christian version of The Hunger Games.  

With microchips implanted in their skulls at birth, the slaves of Cantral and Cillineese have labored under the tyrannical rule of the nobles and their computers for centuries.

Monica, a noble who avoided the implanting and escaped a death sentence at the age of four, is now sixteen and is in hiding. She lives with the slaves inside the walls of the Cantral palace, pretending to be one of them while the slave council plots a way to use her chip-less state to destroy the all-powerful computers that strike down any hint of rebellion. The fate of millions rides on Monica's shoulders. As the only chip-less person in the world, she must find a way to destroy the computers and free Cillineese from the nobles' iron fist before they strike with the ultimate punishment--death for everyone inside the city walls.    

Join us right here at 10pm EST, 12/8! After that date, grab the podcast from the list to right or at Teen Talk Radio on iTunes!

After great success as a child model and actress, Nicole Weider moved to Hollywood at the age of 16 and plunged headfirst into the task of becoming an “it” girl.

"Although I was still in high school, I partied with well-known actors, had an all-access pass to the hottest clubs, and mingled with the see-and-be-seen celebrities. But because I was young and naïve, I neglected the most basic things that actually would help me achieve my goal of fame: getting a headshot and a resume, taking advanced  acting classes, making sure I got enough sleep at night.

The glamour, glitz and the lights had a dark side that terrified me. Although I was running around with the cool kids and living the life of a starlet, I was still a small town girl in my heart. Not only that, but something never felt quite right when it came time to actually audition. Each time a camera was focused on me, I didn’t feel prepared enough, pretty enough, or completely ready to be scrutinized by the people who make it all “happen”.

Nicole Weider and I will be talking about how Christianity needs to be redefined for young girls. There is a certain stereotype of how a Christian girl should look, dress and act. I want to show young women that you can be a good Christian and still embrace many parts of the popular culture. Join us!

_______________

The second half of the show, Christy-Award winning, Jill Williamson, author of the Blood of Kings Triology, will join us to talk about her latest book, Replication, Zondervan. We'll be talking about cloning! Creeeeeepy! :)

Here's the trailer:

A surprising new study finds that 73 percent of American teens are experimenting with the occult. Three out of every 10 teenagers have played the Ouija board, and another third have had their palms read according to a study conducted by the Barna Group called "Teens and the Supernatural". Some are even more serious about the occult: 1 in 10 has taken part in a real séance and 1 in 12 has actually cast spells or made magical potions.

Author Melody Carlson knows teens are experimenting with the occult, not from a survey or study, but from teens telling her their stories. The best-selling young-adult novelist receives emails from thousands of teens who tell her things they don’t tell their parents. Carlson writes about the issues teens are really facing, including a growing interest in the occult, a topic she explored in Moon White and The Secret Life of Samantha McGregor.

Teens are curious. Many will experiment. They will learn about the occult from somewhere. Carlson’s books give parents a safe way to bring up the subject and teach consequences. Committed to helping teens navigate the minefield of adolescence, Carlson learns about all the issues they face and delivers life lessons in a package they can understand without being “preachy”.

Melody Carlson published her first book in 1995 and she has been writing prolifically ever since. To date, Melody has published over 200 books, making her one of the top 20 most prolific authors of all time. With total sales of over 5 million her award-winning books include: Homeward, Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon; Limelight; the Diary of a Teenage Girl series; the True Colors series; and the Carter House Girls series.

Following Melody, we're talking devotionals--with some giveaways!

Dare to Let the Truth Change a Girl’s Life

Ann-Margret Hovsepian writes devotions specifically designed for pre-teen girls.

Are you ready for more—more excitement, more adventure, more joy? Then dare to discover the secret to a life that sparkles for God.  It can be easy for young girls to neglect their Bible reading. Perhaps you feel Scripture doesn’t directly relate to you. Ann-Margret Hovsepian’s newest book, Truth and Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls, is designed for girls 9 to 12 and filled with powerful wisdom on everything from godly friendships to worshipping God.

Truth and Dare encourages tween girls to discover how exciting God’s Word can be. You'll see it make a difference in their everyday life and experience the blessings that come from doing it and not just hearing it. Daily challenges (dares) based on Scripture (truth) will provide opportunities for you to make their faith come alive as they learn to build character, serve others, and make a difference.

Scripture will be transformed from something learned to something lived. Girls will delight in discovering how God’s Word can become real in whole new ways as they learn to apply it with each day’s dare. It ideally suits anyone looking to inspire a young girl to boldly live out her faith. It’s  time to shine as a girl who knows what it means to live a fierce and fearless life of faith.About the Author: Ann-Margret Hovsepian is a published author, freelance writer and editor, and amateur artist. She has published more than 210 articles for dozens of Canadian and U.S. print periodicals and has become a sought-after author of pre-teen girls’ devotional books. She has published Blossom: The Complete New Testament for Girls (Thomas Nelson, 2006) and The One Year Designer Genes Devo (Tyndale, 2007). She speaks at conferences and events and is actively involved on the board of Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario andQuebec. Hovsepian resides in Montreal, Canada.

Faith-Filled Devotions for Action-Loving Boys

Jeremy V. Jones has put together power-packed devotions designed just for boys. 

Boys want action. They don’t want to sit around and talk—that’s for grown-ups and girls. They engage life and relationships by doing something: skateboarding, playing games or re-creating favorite movie scenes. So why should faith be any different? That’s why Jeremy V. Jones created Triple Dog Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Boys—to provide the action boys need in order to grow their faith.

The Bible is full of action. Remember how David slew Goliath, Daniel faced those lions, Paul survived a shipwreck and Jesus stood up for a woman about to be killed? God made boys to take His truth and do something with it, to man up and change the world. These action-packed devotions for boys ages 9 to 12 are filled with godly truth and bold spiritual challenges that transform time with God into the adventure of the day.

About the Author: Jeremy V. Jones is an award-winning journalist who has served as senior associate editor of Breakawaymagazine. He has authored several books, including Toward the Goal: The Kaka Story and Walking on Water: The Spirituality of the World’s Top Surfers. He also writes for magazines such as Clubhouse and Christianity Today. He resides with his wife and two children in Colorado.

B Haley, the energetic and inspiring drummer for Toby Mac and DiverseCity, also has a band called SUPERHEROSE – the album will release next year, and 1 song from the band is scheduled to be the radio single for the Toby Mac and DIverseCity Christmas album this year. He has the top selling t-shirt line for C28 clothing and NOTW shirts which is called B IT – and it promotes exactly that – you need to B Love, B Pure, B Hope – we need to promote with our lives what we want to see! B grew up in East Saint Louis with a single mom and a speech issue.  He’s a walking testimony of trusting in God to follow the passions He gives...I know you would love him!!!

You have GOT to check out this show either live tonight at 10pm EST at www.choicesradio.com, or later via podcast. B sure (get it?) to do it within the week though, there will be giveaways you don't want to miss including shirts and music! In this giveaway, everyone's a winner!

Following my chat with B Haley, I'll be talking about one of my favorite subjects with Ed Welch, author of the book, What do you Think of me, and Why do I Care? Peer pressure, codependency, shame, low self-esteem—these are just some of the words used to identify how young people can be controlled by the perceived opinions of others. Stand out in the right way to the right people, and you’re on top of the world. But experience failure in front of those same people and prepare for a sinking sensation in your stomach and a night of tossing and turning. Why do you care? Why do we all care? These are questions that can’t be answered without listening to God, the One who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves. In What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? Welch takes the big questions of life and shows that freedom from what people think of us comes as we learn who God is and who we are in relationship to Him. Only then will we be able to let go of our masks, stop trying to fill our leaky love cups and begin to live for something bigger than ourselves. An interactive book, What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? includes questions throughout the text for individual or group study and is especially aimed at teenagers and young adults. A corresponding website rich with controversy and dialogue, My-Big-Life-Question.com, will also offer readers a place to discuss personal needs as well as to find other resources for life’s journey and places to go for help. Join me as I chat with author Edward Welch while we attempt to answer some of these tough questions.

• 10pm EST tonight with B Haley
• 10:30pm EST tonight with Edward Welch
• Everyone's a winner!!!

What does a transformed life actually look like? In his follow-up to the critically acclaimed Imaginary Jesus, Matt Mikalatos tackles this question in an entertaining and thought-provoking way—with MONSTERS!!! While Christians claim to experience Christ’s resurrection power, we sometimes act like werewolves who can’t control our base desires. Or zombies, experiencing a resurrection that is 90 percent shambling death and 10 percent life.Or vampires, satiating ourselves at the expense of others. But through it all we long to stop being monsters and become truly human—the way Christ intended. We just can’t seem to figure out how.

Night of the Living Dead Christian is the story of Luther, a werewolf on the run, whose inner beast has driven him dangerously close to losing everything that matters. Desperate to conquer his dark side, Luther joins forces with Matt to find someone who can help. Yet their time is running out. A powerful and mysterious man is on their trail, determined to kill the wolf at all costs . . . By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Night of the Living Dead Christian is a spiritual allegory that boldly explores the monstrous underpinnings of our nature and tackles head-on the question of how we can ever hope to become truly transformed.

Join me and Matt Mikalatos at 10 pm EST tonight on Teen Talk Radio as we discuss his book and the subjects surrounding Halloween. Then, following Matt's on-air chat, I'll be welcoming a favorite guest, Melody Carlson.

A surprising new study finds that 73 percent of American teens are experimenting with the occult. Three out of every 10 teenagers have played the Ouija board, and another third have had their palms read according to a study conducted by the Barna Group called "Teens and the Supernatural". Some are even more serious about the occult: 1 in 10 has taken part in a real séance and 1 in 12 has actually cast spells or made magical potions.

Author Melody Carlson knows teens are experimenting with the occult, not from a survey or study, but from teens telling her their stories. The best-selling young-adult novelist receives emails from thousands of teens who tell her things they don’t tell their parents. Carlson writes about the issues teens are really facing, including a growing interest in the occult, a topic she explored in Moon White and The Secret Life of Samantha McGregor. Halloween is approaching. Teens are curious. Many will experiment. They will learn about the occult from somewhere.  

Carlson’s books give parents a safe way to bring up the subject and teach consequences. Committed to helping teens navigate the minefield of adolescence, Carlson learns about all the issues they face and delivers life lessons in a package they can understand without being “preachy”. Join us as we chat about all sort of things…including your questions. I’ve already received several for my guests, but feel free to send in more.

Are you subscribed to Teen Talk Radio on iTunes? It’s totally free, and you’ll never miss an episode!

Friends, you're going to want to tune in to Teen Talk Radio on Thursday, Oct 20th, at 10pm EST, for this show. Both Jim and Mary have a special place in my heart because of the way they feel about YOU! They love their readers and that care is evident in every word they write.

James L. Rubart is a professional marketer, speaker, and writer. He serves on the board of the Northwest Christian Writers Association and lives with his wife and sons in Seattle, Washington.

If someone gave you a chair and said it was made by Jesus Christ, would you believe them? When an elderly lady shows up in Corin Roscoe's antiques store and gives him a chair she claims was crafted by Jesus, he scoffs. But when a young boy is miraculously healed two days after sitting in the chair, he stops laughing and starts wondering . . . could this chair heal the person whose life Corin destroyed twelve years ago?

As word spreads of the boy's healing, a mega-church pastor is determined to manipulate Corin into turning over the chair. And that mysterious woman who gave him the piece flits in and out of his life like a shadow, insinuating it's Corin’s destiny to guard the chair above everything else. But why? Desperate, he turns to the one person he can trust, a college history professor who knows more about the legend of the chair than he'll reveal. Corin's life shatters as he searches for the truth about the artifact and the unexplained phenomena surrounding it. What’s more, he's not the only one willing do almost anything to possess the power seemingly connected to the chair.

We'll be chatting about Jim's latest book, The Chair, as well as his other books, Rooms and Book of Days. We'll also talk about what it's like to parent two teenage boys these days and Jim will share from his heart with you about how he feels about teenagers.     

Mary DeMuth...oh, I love me some Mary DeMuth! She's such a joy to me--one of those rare people who wears her heart on her sleeves and loves big. Mary has a unique ability to make herself vulnerable in her writing while drawing the reader in and making it about YOU.

I love Jesus, my family, and my life. Jesus has helped me live uncaged, and for that I'm eternally grateful. In that place of thanks, I write books and blogs and whatnot.

Among other things, Mary and I will talk about her latest fiction release, The Muir House.

Willa Muir can’t say yes to the love of her life … until she explores her past and solves the mystery of a haunting dream. But when Willa’s desperate search unearths unthinkable secrets, her heart collapses. Can Willa shake her past to embrace a love that could finally lead her home?

“You’ll find home one day. Sure as sweet tea on a hot afternoon.” Words from Willa Muir’s sketchy childhood haunt her dreams and color her days with longing, regret, and fear. What do the words mean? Willa is far from sure. When Hale Landon places a ring on her finger, Willa panics, feeling she can’t possibly say yes when so much in her past is a mystery.

Bent on sorting out her history, Willa returns to Rockwall, Texas, to the Muir House Bed & Breakfast, a former funeral home. But the old place holds her empty memory close to itself. Willa’s mother utters unintelligible clues from her deathbed, and the caretaker of the house keeps coveted answers carefully protected. Throw in an old flame, and Willa careens farther away from ever knowing the truth. Set in a growing suburb of Texas, The Muir House explores trauma, healing, love new and old, and the life-changingchoices people make to keep their reputations intact.

Join us as we chat about all sort of things...including your questions. I've already received several for Jim and Mary, but feel free to send in more. Are you subscribed to Teen Talk Radio on iTunes? It's totally free, and you'll never miss an episode!

You guys are going to love my first guest on Teen Talk Radio, this week. Steve Russo is a prolific author, internationally known communicator, radio/TV host, and professional drummer. He has been  interviewed on ABC, CBS, and NBC news broadcasts as well as The O’Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel. Steve is a graduate of Biola University, Talbot School of Theology, and the Arrow Leadership Program. Learn more about Steve Russo by visiting www.steverusso.com. We'll be talking, among other things, about his two most recent projects:

In Random Thoughts, teens are encouraged to get real with God, others, and themselves with this unique daily devotional. Random Thoughts delivers 365 random but relevant readings featuring easy-to-understand Bible versions. With dozens of selections written by popular youth ministry leader and speaker Steve Russo; author and creator of Susie Mag, Susie Shellenberger; evangelist Rusty Wright;pro skateboarder Brian Sumner; and professional drummer Zoro, parents and teens will know this is content they can trust. And with themes including living outside the box, practicing justice in an unfair world, loving your enemies, and making the world a better place, this is one devotional teens will want to read! (PS, yours truly contributed somewhere around 20 entries to this book.)   

God’s Answers 4 UR Life: Searching for real answers about life—helpful answers that you can trust? Teens will encounter guidance and find meaningful answers to their questions—all in the truth of God’s Word. With relevant topics that include body modification, consequences, depression, eating disorders, music, purpose, and more, you’ll find just the answers you’re seeking as well as useful life application sections. God’s Answers 4 UR Life is a great tool for youth ministry leaders and small groups and a practical guide that teens can share as they discover their life purpose. Don't miss your opportunity to hear from Steve on Thursday at 10pm EST at www.choicesradio.com. Or, as always, you can subscribe on iTunes for free to make sure you never miss an episode of Teen Talk Radio.

Following Steve Russo, I'll be talking with Holly Starr. She's an amazing up-and-coming singer/sogwriter/musician. You're going to love her! We'll hopefully have time to hear some of Holly's music! Be sure to tune in live at 10pm EST at Teen Talk Radio or subscribe on iTunes so you don't miss out!

You ready for a super fun Teen Talk Radio show this week? I have the amazingly talented and super funny author of There You'll Find Me, Jenny B. Jones, joining me to talk about her latest book which is actually the YA sequel to the adult fiction title, Save the Date. We'll cover some issues like eating disorders, the foster care system, Ireland, writing about overseas locations, teaching high school...and whatever else comes up. Grief brought Finley to Ireland. LOVE WILL LEAD HER HOME.

Finley Sinclair is not your typical eighteen-year-old. She's witty, tough, and driven. With an upcoming interview at the Manhattan music conservatory, Finley needs to compose her audition piece. But her creativity disappeared with the death of her older brother, Will.

She decides to study abroad in Ireland so she can follow Will's travel journal. It's the place he felt closest to God, and she's hopeful being there will help her make peace over losing him. So she agrees to an exchange program and boards the plane.

Beckett Rush, teen heartthrob and Hollywood bad boy, is flying to Ireland to finish filming his latest vampire movie. On the flight, he meets Finley. She's the one girl who seems immune to his charm. Undeterred, Beckett convinces her to be his assistant in exchange for his help as a tour guide.

Once in Ireland, Finley starts to break down. The loss of her brother and the pressure of school, her audition, and whatever it is that is happening between her and Beckett, leads her to a new and dangerous vice. When is God going to show up for her in this emerald paradise?

Then she experiences something that radically changes her perspective on life. Could it be

 God convincing her that everything she's been looking for has been with her all along?

If you have any questions you'd like me to ask her, just go ahead and contact me here or on Twitter--she'll be happy to answer just about anything. Jenny will also be sharing a segment of her book in a very special way with us--hint...see the title of this post. You don't want to miss that!

You can find Jenny at her awesome blog: www.Jennybjones.com And, just for giggles, there's a picture of Jenny signing copies of this book at the ACFW conference. BTW, the books sold out in a matter of days!  

Since it's the first week of the month, we'll also have the privilege of hearing from another fun guest!

Somewhere in the middle of the program, Jeff Copeland, Christian illusionist, will join us to do his monthly trick on the air. Have you caught those before? If you, you should check them out Here and Here. He actually pulls off a "magic" trick on the air. Don't miss it!

I'm also hoping to play a short interview I did with Holly Starr at ICRS. She's an amazing up-and-coming singer/sogwriter/musician. You're going to love her! If I can't get her in this week, she'll be up next week and Holly will be on as a live guest in the near future! Be sure to tune in live at 10pm EST at Teen Talk Radio or subscribe on iTunes so you don't miss out!

This week on Teen Talk Radio, I have a special treat for you! Jim McBride, one of the writers and executive producers of Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and the new film, Courageous, talks with me about his experiences with the movies. Courageous tackles the tough subject of fatherhood and Jim McBride has some incredible parenting practices that inspired me and will be sure to motivate you, too! Here's a short clip you can listen to, then be sure to tune in Thursday at 10pm EST at www.choicesradio.com to hear the interview in its entirety.  

JIm McBride clip

As for the movie itself, I was privileged to screen this film a couple of weeks ago, and it's amazing. It's another winner from the makers of one of my all time favorites, Facing the Giants. Courageous looks at the subject of fatherhood under several different lenses and calls men to action in their families. It takes a courageous man to stand up and be a Godly husband and father. Are you a courageous man? Are you a woman or a teen who supports the Godly motives of your husband or father? Be sure to see this movie, in theaters this weekend! Courageous trailer:

OOOH, I've been waiting to bring you this amazing duo! I had SUCH a blast interviewing them at ICRS about their book, Forbidden. Tosca Lee and I were already friends, but it was cool to see her operating in a setting like that. She is so elegant and gracious...and smart. You'll see. :) And Ted Dekker...um...that dude is intense. But did you expect anything different from him? 'Course not.

Take a look at this teaser video to see what you're in for on Teen Talk Radio, this Thursday at 10pm EST:

More info about FORBIDDEN: Many years have passed since civilization's brush with apocalypse. The world's greatest threats have all been silenced. There is no anger, no hatred, no war. There is only perfect peace... and fear. But a terrible secret has been closely guarded for centuries: Every single soul walking the earth, though in appearance totally normal, is actually dead, long ago genetically stripped of true humanity. Fleeing pursuit, with only moments to live, a young man named Rom stumbles into possession of a vial of blood and a piece of cryptic writing. When consumed, the blood will bring him back to life. When decoded, the message will lead him on a perilous journey that will require him to abandon everything he has ever known and awaken humanity to the transforming power of true life and love. But the blood will also resurrect hatred, ambition, and greed. Set in a terrifying, medieval future, where grim pageantry masks death, this tale of dark desires and staggering stakes peels back the layers of the heart for all who dare to take the ride.  

Following three segments with Ted and Tosca, I get to introduce someone special to you. This young musician is being embraced and mentored by Jeremy Camp! Adam Cappa was a joy to interview--his passion for God and his heart for worship was evident in everything he said and in his live performance. Enjoy this brief clip, but be sure to tune in Thursday at 10pm EST on www.choicesradio.com.

Early this summer, I attended the International Christian Retail Show and was privileged to interview two of my favorite authors, my friend, Tricia Goyer, and the award-winning, Beverly Lewis. Tricia just released her Amish story, Beside Still Waters, and Beverly's book, The Shunning, has been released as a DVD.

Take a look at these teaser clips of the interviews, they're lots of fun. Beverly's even contains a blooper that I edited out of the interview that will air on Teen Talk Radio tonight at 10pm.

Tune in tonight at 10pm EST or subscribe FREE on iTunes.

I hope I'm not too late to invite to a FUN show tonight. I'm under some serious deadline, and have barely lifted my face above water the past two weeks. Here's today's blog post to give you a general idea of what things are like in my house right now. :)

But, that aside, I can't wait to announce that I'm lauching a new monthly feature. On the first Thursday of every month, in the first segment of the show, Jeff Copeland, illusionist extraordinaire will dazzle us with some onair illusions which you- can play along with at home! How fun is that!!

Check out Jeff's website right here, and then join us at 10pm EST tonight!

Following Jeff's visit, tonight's show will re-air my interview with Matt Redman. 

Can't wait!

This week's Teen Talk Radio Show is one for the record books! I can't wait for you to hear the interview I did with Josh McDowell at ICRS. What a riot! Check out this post to see a teaser video of the interview--Josh on the Misuse of Sex--and to hear all about meeting him.

Following my interview with Josh McDowell on Thursday night, I'll be talking with Randy Frazee about Zondervan's bestselling The Story Church-Wide Experience.Randy is senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. He is the author of The Connecting Church, Making Room for Life, The Christian Life Profile Assessment and Renovation of the Heart Student Edition.

Josh McDowell and I will be talking about the misuse of sex and his book and DVD set The Bare Facts: The Truth about Sex, Love, and Relationships which delivers frank and intimate answers to top questions students ask about sex, love and relationships. Josh believes that no question is off limits and that knowledge, not ignorance, is the key to youthful purity and a fulfilling marriage and family.

Here's a video clip of the interview that will air in it's entirety almost entirety on August 18th at 10pm EST on Teen Talk Radio. Following it's air date, it will be podcasted and available on iTunes or right here on this site.

 Following that interview, you'll hear from Randy Frazee:

Creator of The Story Church-wide Experience, Author and Senior Minister of Oak Hills Church

In June 2008, Randy Frazee became the senior minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio the fifty-second largest church in America, where he teaches and leads in partnership with pastor and author Max Lucado.  Faced with the task of joining "America's Pastor", Frazee saw the challenge as an opportunity to take the congregation to another level.

For his first sermon series at Oak Hills, Frazee introduced The Story Church-wide Experience, a 31-week journey through an abridged, chronological version of the Bible as presented in The Story (Zondervan, TheStory.com). 

Frazee first preached the series at Willow Creek Community Church in 2008, which was enthusiastically received by the congregation, and had hopeful expectations for Oak Hills. The impact far exceeded Frazee's expectations. As a result of The Story Church-wide Experience, Oak Hills Church experienced 23 percent congregational growth, increased spiritual depth and a buzz of excitement in the congregation and community.

Frazee's new book, The Heart of the Story is set to hit shelves in August 2011. What is The Story Church-wide Experience?

• Zondervan's best-selling The Story is a concise, 31-chapter abridged chronology of the Bible, presented as one continuous story from beginning to end.

• With versions geared toward children, teens and adults, The Story shares the greatest story ever told in a manner that is easily consumable by all ages, and inspires them into a deeper study of God's Word.

• The Story Church-wide Experience includes sermon guides, age-based curriculum and other resourc es that equip church leaders, teachers, staff and volunteers with a turnkey Bible-engagement campaign for use in sermons, small groups, Sunday school and more.These include:

• • up to 31 weeks of curriculum for children, teen and adult Sunday school, as well as adult small groups and Bible study classes
  • up to 31 weeks of sermon outlines, illustrations, videos and other sermon preparation resources
  • Additional support resources including promotional and stage graphics, leader training resources, themed worship song lists for up to 31 weeks, an Easter musical and more.
  • The church kit (only $99.00 for a limited time) includes copies of The Story, The Story-Teen Edition and The Story for Kids, as well as a resource DVD and an all-access pass to the online resource library where curriculum is provided and cases of each book may be purchased at a 50 percent discount

As always, if you're unable to catch the live show, you can download the podcast or subscribe for free on iTunes. Did you catch the interview with Matt Redman? You can find it on iTunes or right here.

Tonight, I'm shaking things up a bit and hosting three different guests, with three very different things to share with you!

First, Suzanne Rentz with Daughters of Heaven Ministries will join us at 10:00pm EST. At around 10:20pm EST, Yancy, singer/songwriter/worship leader will be sharing some of her music and some big news with us. At 10:40pm EST, Mary DeMuth is going to tell us all about her new book The Muir House!

Suzanne Rentz is the President and Founder of Daughters of Heaven Ministries and the author of Daughters of Heaven, Lessons in Life, published by Harrison House.  She has been the keynote speaker for the Daughters of Heaven Conferences as well as other Conferences and Women’s Meetings. She has spoken to the youth at Summer Blitz at Kenneth Hagin’s Campmeeting, conducted sessions at Assemblies of God Church Camps, taught Bible Studies, and instructed leaders at the Northern California Assemblies of God Leadership Summit.

Suzanne’s true passion is to help young women discover God’s love and acceptance, understand that they are created in His image, and uncover His incredible plan for their lives. Suzanne communicates a message from her heart that is crucial for today’s generation. Her message is ’strong and clear’; if young women truly know their value and incredible worth to their Heavenly Father, they can live a life devoted to purity and dedicated to His purpose in an ungodly world. With God’s keeping and restoring power, regardless of their situation, any young woman can become a woman of virtue and integrity. Offering them hope, she explains, “it is never too late to discover a new, fresh level of intimacy with God.

***

With a decade under her belt in creative circles, Yancy’s fingerprints have found their way onto a variety of projects that suggests she has an insatiable appetite to explore, while serving as an ingenious study in contrasts along the way. As her ultra-fabulous new album title Stars, Guitars and Megaphone Dreams implies, there are plenty of reach for the sky empowerment anthems, but also several reflective, praise-centered moments that perfectly juxtapose the blueprints for the switch hitter’s career thus far.

“We’re all here for a purpose and I’m here to encourage people to keeping pushing as they realize what things they are drawn to, whether that be creative or industrial, and know that they’re here for a purpose,” relates Yancy. “We all have different talents and abilities that God wants to use, and I make it a point to remind people to go after their dreams with all they’ve got.”

YANCY HAS SHARED THE STAGE WITH: Nichole Nordeman, Mute Math, Newsboys, Sonicflood, 4Him, The Waiting, Plumb and many others.

***

Willa Muir can’t say yes to the love of her life … until she explores her past and solves the mystery of a haunting dream. But when Willa’s desperate search unearths unthinkable secrets, her heart collapses. Can Willa shake her past to embrace a love that could finally lead her home?

“You’ll find home one day. Sure as sweet tea on a hot afternoon.” Words from Willa Muir’s sketchy childhood haunt her dreams and color her days with longing, regret, and fear. What do the words mean? Willa is far from sure. When Hale Landon places a ring on her finger, Willa panics, feeling she can’t possibly say yes when so much in her past is a mystery.

Bent on sorting out her history, Willa returns to Rockwall, Texas, to the Muir House Bed & Breakfast, a former funeral home. But the old place holds her empty memory close to itself. Willa’s mother utters unintelligible clues from her deathbed, and the caretaker of the house keeps coveted answers carefully protected. Throw in an old flame, and Willa careens farther away from ever knowing the truth. Set in a growing suburb of Texas, The Muir House explores trauma, healing, love new and old, and the life-changing choices people make to keep their reputations intact.

You can read about author Mary DeMuth right here.

As always, if you're unable to catch the live show, you can download the podcast or subscribe for free on iTunes. Did you catch last week's interview with Matt Redman? You can find it on iTunes or right here.

Songwriter/Worship Leader, Matt Redman will be on Teen Talk Radio this week!

Matt  Redman has been leading worship full-time since the age of 20 and this journey has taken him to countries such as South Africa, Japan, India, Australia, Germany, Uganda, Croatia and the Czech Republic. His early compositions include The Heart of Worship, Better is One Day and Once Again. More recent songs have included Blessed Be Your Name and You Never Let Go.

Redman will join me on Teen Talk Radio on Thursday, August 4^th, at 10 p.m. EST at www.choicesradio.com. With a heart for worship, Matt Redman will share about His music, his books and his upcoming projects.

Redman’s July 1^st release, MIRROR BALL, reminds us that even when we feel insufficient to reflect God’s glory, God can show through us as light radiates through a prism.  Living in this truth will transform how we view our words, our relationships and our daily lives. Through story, scripture, and personal inspiration, MIRROR BALL invites readers to live a life that reflects God’s radiance.

David C Cook/August 2011/ISBN: 978-0-7814-0578-2/192 pages/paperback/$12.99

As always, if you're unable to catch the live show, you can download the podcast or subscribe for free on iTunes.

Regularly scheduled at 10pm EST on Thursdays, Teen Talk Radio is doing a doubleheader tonight starting at 9pm EST.

1) 9:00pm EST: Maryanne Abbate

2) 9:30pm EST: Mike Mason

3) 10:00pm EST: Lynn Cowell

4) 10:30pm EST: Jennifer Maggio

At 9pm I'll be airing the live interview I did with Maryanne Abbate at ICRS a couple of weeks ago. To read more about the Abbate's story, visit this post. The Abbate's lost their son Luke in a rekless driving incident when he accepted a ride from a classmate. The move The 5th Quarter, starring Aidan Quinn and Andie McDowell, was made to tell their story. Listen to this poignant interview with a mom who has done the unthinkable and suffered the unimaginable.

9:30 welcomes Mike Mason to the program. In The Violet Flash, Mason combines fascinating characters and unforgettable plots with tales of love, friendship, faith, and family, resulting in a story that is truly wonder-full. As an added bonus, Mason has cleverly included several outtakes in the book’s “Afterwords” section, plus a glossary. The Violet Flash will capture the hearts, minds, and spirits of young readers, not to mention those slightly older readers who pick it up.

At 10pm EST, Lynn Cowell and I will be talking about teens being fake on Facebook. As a speaker and author with Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lynn Cowell  has been mentoring teen girls for over ten years.  She is the author of the new book, His Revolutionary Love, as well as a columnist forFocus on the Family's Thriving Family, Susie Mag, and Enrichment Journal.

Finally, at 10:30pm EST, Jennifer Maggio, one of the nations foremost experts on single-parent issues and teen pregnancy, will highlight her own journey thru severe abuse, multiple teen pregnancies, homelessness and how she found hope and freedom through Christ. I hope you'll join us for some or all of tonight's offerings. As always, you can subscribe for free on iTunes and receive the mp3s of Teen Talk Radio.

Hey! I'm out of here again! I can't believe another trip has snuck up on me. It's "conference season" which is bittersweet for me. I love getting out among other writers and speakers, seeing some of my dearest friends whom I rarely get to see in person, and just soaking up the wisdom and experience of the wonderful people who have walked this road longer than I. I'm very grateful to God that I am able to attend these great conferences and that I have a family that makes it possible!

Anyway, all that to say that I'll still be broadcasting Teen Talk Radio, even while I'm off in North Carolina for the Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference The first half will be an interview with Maryanne Abbate, the mother of Luke Abbate who was killed in a reckless driving incident. The movie, The 5th Quarter, starring Aidan Quinn and Andie McDowell, tells the Abbate's story. Luke's mom and dad, Steve and Maryanne, were on TTR a while back. You can read about that HERE or listen to that podcast HERE.

Following my discussion with Maryanne Abbate, I'll be welcoming Mike Mason.

Mostly known for his non-fiction, Mason has been applauded for his way with kids’ fiction. In The Violet Flash, Mason combines fascinating characters and unforgettable plots with tales of love, friendship, faith, and family, resulting in a story that is truly wonder-full. Superseding all other kids’ offerings this summer, The Violet Flash is an engaging read sure to keep kids reading even if school’s out. As an added bonus, Mason has cleverly included several outtakes in the book’s “Afterwords” section, plus a glossary.

The Violet Flash will capture the hearts, minds, and spirits of young readers, not to mention those slightly older readers who pick it up. Mike Mason is the best-selling, award-winning author of The Mystery of Marriage and many other books. The Violet Flash is the sequel to his acclaimed juvenile fiction title, The Blue Umbrella. Mason lives in Langley, British Columbia, with his wife Karen, a physician. They have one daughter. Learn more about Mason at www.mikemasonbook.com.

Join us at 10pm EST at www.choicesradio.com, Thursday, July 21!

Tonight on Teen Talk Radio: 10-10:30 PM EST: Carl Blunt, CEO of Lifebook

Carl Blunt visited Teen Talk Radio back in October. I promised I'd bring him back for an update about the awesome work he's doing with youth. Blunt is the author of The Life Book, a unique presentation of Scripture designed to engage high school students with the truth of God’s Word as they are introduced to Jesus Christ. Using an interactive format with engaging student comments and real-life questions in the margins, readers are drawn into the only story that can change their lives forever. Blunt completed his graduate work through Harvard, Gordon-Conwell, and Ashland. He currently lives in the Nashville area with his wife and three children.

From 10:30-11 PM EST: Lisa T. Bergren, author of CASCADE and WATERFALL, of the River of Time Series, with a giveaway!

Be sure to join us this Thursday at 10pm EST at www.choicesradio.com!

At 10 pm EST, tonight, Thursday, June 30, Aaron Chambers will be joining me to discuss the topic of evangelism--the way Jesus did it. We'll discuss the principles in his book, Eats with Sinners: Eats with Sinners introduces a biblical model for evangelism—building relationships like Jesus did, one meal (or cup of coffee) at a time. Questions are included at the end of each chapter. Sidebars feature great recipes for sharing with others, meal traditions from Jesus’ day, and case studies. Teens are discovering it and finding its principles of evangelism are electrifying their youth groups.

Chambers has gotten attention with his practical and fun emphasis on reaching out like Jesus did by offering hospitality

and friendship to non-Christians in his book Eats with Sinners. Now Arron takes the concept a step further, and has introduced the Party Program, a church-wide emphasis on friendship and hospitality evangelism. More than 100 churches have already successfully reached others through this non-threatening, fun outreach program that provides step-by-step tools for churches. Author of four books, Chambers is on-air host of a prime-time TV program and a pastor, in addition to blogging, editing, adjunct teaching – and competing in triathlons.

At 10:30, Beth Guckenberg will join me to talk about her book, RELENTLESS HOPE in which she has compiled over 50 compelling real–life stories—interwoven with the wisdom of Scripture—that will resonate with anyone seeking to find purpose in the midst of pain. Despite the circumstances, despite feeling confused, lost, hurt, or abandoned, God is writing the story of our lives and the story's not over yet. This story–driven book:

• delivers honest testimonies from unique voices whose stories are living and real—they don't all have the "happy endings," but they all carry truth and hope
• speaks into all types of suffering: parents agonizing over prodigal children, addicts, people enduring physical, mental, or spiritual suffering, and people of all types who have lost something—parents, spouses, family, jobs, innocence, a chance . . . their way
• offers useful and meaningful messages for the individual reader, pastors, families, church leaders, and small groups

"…and if you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become my spokesman…and I will redeem you." (Jeremiah 15, NASB) Beth and her husband, Todd, founded Back2Back Ministries, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Currently, their ministry has operations on three different continents (Mexico, India, and Nigeria). They have lived in Monterrey, Mexico since 1997 and since that time have hosted thousands of guests on their ministry campus. Beth is a regular speaker for church services and retreats, and enjoys communicating how God is moving in her life. She is the author ofReckless Faith (Zondervan, 2008). Beth and her husband, Todd, are parents of four children and long-term foster parents of five Mexican teenage girls.

Author Kalyn Cherry To Discuss Warning Signs of Child Abuse on Teen Talk Radio

I'll be interviewing Kalyn Cherry, co-author of Kalyn’s Secret: Every Parent’s Battle to Save Their Children, on June 23 at 10:00 p.m. EST. With current statistics showing that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18, Cherry will candidly discuss her own extreme teen crisis with child abuse and how parents can be prepared.

A compelling story of overcoming victory, Kalyn’s Secret chronicles the story of Kalyn Cherry, a pastor’s kid and straight-A student who also was the victim of child abuse. The oldest daughter in the robust Cherry tribe of twelve, Kalyn was very loving to her parents and siblings, seemingly the perfect child, until overnight she turned into a rebellious, suicidal, angry teen. At the age of 14, Kalyn became involved with a man in their church three times her age. An $800 cell phone bill was the tip of the iceberg as the Cherry’s research for truth brought them face to face with a nightmare that had grown, even under their watchful eyes. 

In Kalyn’s Secret: Every Parent’s Battle to Save Their Children, the Cherry’s transparently reveal both sides of the nightmare as readers get to look into the parental “dark night of the soul” as well as the confused heart of the teen/not-yet-adult mindset and  subsequent irrational behavior. In search of professional help, counselors misdiagnosed the problem for the first two years. Finally, the Cherry’s found a miraculous ray of hope that set them on a course of healing. In Kalyn’s Secret they share:

·      The warning signs they missed

·      What they should have done differently from the very beginning

·      Why parents cannot reason with their teen as a rational adult

·      The disturbing similarities between drug and alcohol addictions, eating disorders, sexual predators and perversion stalking today’s kids

·      The vital keys every parent needs to avoid the camouflaged pitfalls our children face each day

Parents will benefit from the Cherry’s extensive research revealing tools and insights for those who find themselves already in the battle and those desperately working to avoid it. The Cherry’s five-year battle for restoration of their daughter’s mind and heart will encourage every parent who finds themselves in “every parent’s battle to save their children.”

Join Teen Talk Radio host, Nicole O’Dell, on Thursday, June 23, at 10:00 p.m. EST for her candid interview with author Kalyn Cherry to find out how Kalyn found herself in a relationship with a man three times her age, how she learned to cope with her situation, how parents can help teens in an abusive relationship, and much more.

This week on Teen Talk Radio: Travis Thrasher, author of SOLITARY and GRAVESTONE, visits on 6/16 from 10-10:30pm EST--post about Travis to follow soon. Then, Tricia Goyer joins us from 10:30-11PM EST with an amazing giveaway from Dayspring.

Dayspring has released its first Recordable Storybook Collection available to Christian retailers. The first title in the line,Bedtime Prayers and Promises, features voice-save technology, enabling the reader’s voice to be recorded into the book. As the young reader - or pre-reader - turns each page, the recorded voice "reads" the text of the story. The recorded story can be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come through the use of replaceable batteries.

Tricia Goyer, spokeswoman for Daysprings Recordable Storybooks is a parent of four and an aunt of eighteen. She plans to utilize DaySpring's Recordable Storybook Collection to connect with young loved ones no matter where they are living. She also plans to utilize the books to help her adopted daughter maintain a connection with the child’s biological mother. "My daughter’s biological mother can record her voice into one of these books," said Goyer.

"When our daughter is old enough to understand, imagine how special it will be to know that both of her mothers care about her tremendously." Using Tricia's own experiences as a teen mother and author, her vision is to be a voice of hope for teenage girls, pregnant teens, mothers and wives through her educational and inspirational speaking, workshops and books. Her intention is to serve ordinary women by encouraging extraordinary things with God's help.

Goyer is the author of 25 books, 17 of which are novels, and has published more than 300 articles for national publications. She also hosts the weekly radio show Living Inspired. She lives in Arkansas with her husband and four k

Dayspring has generously offered an amazing giveaway to show listeners! First of all, here's what you can win:

All of that, including the recordable storybook, BEdtime Prayers and Promises, will go to one reader/listener! Here's how you can win:

• Tune in Thursday, 6/16 at 10:30pm EST: www.choicesradio.com, then post here that you heard the interview
• Call in or tweet me during the interview: 877-864-4869, Nicole_Odell
• Download Tricia's interview anytime until 6/23 at 9PM EST, then leave a comment letting me know you did.
• Tweet or FB about this giveaway with a link to this post or directly to the podcast which will be available after it airs.

Whatever you do to enter, be sure to let me know here or on Twitter so I can record your entries. I'll announce the winner on the air on 6/23 and will post here following that show.

Remember, Travis Thrasher is on first--10-10:30 pm and then Tricia Goyer joins me at 10:30pm on 6/16 at www.chiocesradio.com! Join us!

Three-time Dove-award winner, Nan Corbitt Allen, will be joining me on Teen Talk Radio tonight, June 9th, to talk about her new fiction release, Watercolor Summer. Join us at 10pm EST, and call in with your questions to 877-864-4869 or tweet me at Nicole_ODell. The show will be available for download on iTunes following it's airing.

If Kathleen could relive any moment, it would be the one in 1969. Not because of its sweet memories, but because it changed her life forever...

Just thirteen, Kathleen feels isolated and alienated by her family. A victim of her parents' lack of connection to each other and to her, she is dragged by her mother to another artist colony for the summer. There she meets the annoying Malcolm, a sixteen-year-old, mentally-challenged boy living with his caregiver Jeanette.

Malcolm tries to befriend Kat, but his very presence annoys her to her core. Kat overhears Jeanette recounting the circumstances surrounding Malcolm’s arrival and abandonment at the colony, and Kat lets the coolness inside her melt just a little. As her heart figuratively begins to melt, Malcolm’s real congenital heart problems become a concern and finally lead to tragedy. In

Watercolor Summer, Nan Allen tells the story of the difficult summer when Kathleen learned how Malcolm and his colorful guardian were the examples of true and selfless love. She paints a story on the canvas of Kathleen's life which was transformed by the Master Artist-a life once stained by pain and trial, that became a thing of beauty.

A beach-loving child of the 60’s, Nan Corbitt Allen has written Watercolor Summer for people of all ages, but especially those who were children, teenagers, or young adults during that great decade. The reader will almost be able to smell the salt air, feel sand between his toes, and hear the sounds of Sly and the Family Stone playing in the background as the flashback story unfolds.

__________________________

"Nan Allen is well known in Christian music circles (having garnered multiple Dove Award nominations and awards). Now, she is quickly making a name for herself in the fiction market. It's easy to see why. Her books are beautifully written with a creative rhythm that can only come from Nan."

-Martha Bolton, Emmy- and Dove-nominated writer Author of 84 books of humor and inspiration, including The Whole World's Changing and I'm Too Hot to Care (Guideposts, 2011).

Lynn Cowell will be joining me for the first half of the program at 10pm EST.

Is there really a perfect love for imperfect me?

Author and Speaker Lynn Cowell answers the question: “Am I ok? Am I worth being loved?”

Those are the silent questions girls ask. And so they search. Sex. Pot. Social Media. More sex. More drugs. More searching. “The answer is “yes”. Not only are you loved, but Jesus’ revolutionary love can fill every desire and ache you have. ”

In her new book, His Revolutionary Love; Jesus’ Radical Pursuit of You, Lynn speaks truth to the girl looking for the answer.

Then, John Claeys will join me for the second half to talk about his book, Apocalyse 2012 and his thoughts on end times prophecy.

Could recently fulfilled Biblical prophecy and significant recent events indicate that the countdown to Revelation has begun? Author John Claeys (Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary), a long-time student of Bible prophecy, has keenly watched developments in the Middle East line up to usher in God’s "day of the Lord," a special seven-year era immediately preceding Jesus’ return to establish God’s kingdom on the earth.

As a result, Claeys felt compelled to present a clear, chronological presentation of near-future events described in the Bible in order to help people prepare for Christ’s return. In the epilogue, the author answers the question regarding how soon this seven-year period may come upon the world. With solid reasoning and facts, Claeys begins by answering the objection that we cannot know when this era will appear. Then, as an attorney arguing his case, Claeys lays out the evidence which indicates this period may dawn sooner than we think.

Be sure to tune in! Call with questions at 877-864-4869 or tweet me during the show at Nicole_Odell. Talk to you then!!

Are you compassionate and caring?

Are you a good listener?

Do you want to share the message of hope with others?

Groundwire needs you!

Teens today can be overwhelmed searching for meaning amidst depressing hopelessness, negative self-image, and the pressure to be perfect. Groundwire, a current and innovative outreach, has become a ministry where teens find comfort, guidance, and answers delivered through multi-media communication. Groundwire leverages media and technology to meet teens exactly where they are — viewing, listening, texting, or chatting — and to invite them to voice their questions and struggles so they can find answers in the message of the Gospel.

The ministry builds its impact through broadcasting that strategically places television and radio spots on secular stations. Teens listening to popular radio broadcasts or viewing favorite shows on networks like MTV, VH1, Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming, and Comedy Central are interrupted by direct spots. These spots catch their attention, resonating with where they are today. Teens responding to the broadcast messages are invited to visit Groundwire’s website where they can chat with a live spiritual coach available day and night, as well as find a collection of resources such as podcasts by Groundwire’s founder and executive director, SeanDunn, and daily devotionals.

To meet the needs of hurting teenagers across the country, Groundwire is looking for additional online coaches. Are you interested?

Sean Dunn will be my guest this Thursday night at 10:30pm EST right here I hope you'll listen in. I think this is a GREAT resource for teens and an incredible opportunity for people to get involved in ministry right from home!

At 10:00, to get the show off to a GREAT start, I'll be chatting with two amazing teens who won a Prudential Spirit of Community Awards:

Carrie Ingerman, 16, of Baton Rouge, La., a sophomore at Episcopal High School, founded a nonprofit organization that donates laptop computers to hospitals so that young cancer patients can stay in touch with family and friends while they are undergoing treatment. Five years ago, Carrie’s grandmother was hospitalized while being treated for breast cancer, and even though she was 2,000 miles away, Carrie was able to see and talk to her almost every day by using a computer with a webcam. “We were able to support her during her sickest, most difficult times as well as be reassured by seeing her,” said Carrie. Soon after, Carrie became the captain of an American Cancer Society Relay for Life team (at age 11) and, once in middle school, she became increasingly involved in using technology to communicate with others. These experiences helped Carrie realize that “children who are hospitalized for cancer treatments may have no way of communicating with their friends, families, and teachers,” said Carrie.

With help from family, friends, and teachers, Carrie put together a plan to raise money to purchase laptop computers for pediatric cancer wards. She formed a nonprofit organization called "Cliks4Kidz" and began soliciting donations through e-mail messages, a Facebook page, a website at www.cliks4kidz.org, a blog, and tweets on Twitter. In addition, Carrie started collecting and recycling cell phones, ink cartridges, and aluminum tabs to raise additional funds. So far, she has raised approximately $10,000 and donated 17 laptops equipped with Wi-Fi and webcams to Children’s Hospital of New Orleans and Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. Carrie is now working to expand her efforts to involve additional hospitals.

Luke Drabyn, 18, of Grafton, Vt., a senior at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, helped create a service organization at his school that raised money to purchase 500 mosquito nets to protect villagers in Sierra Leone from malaria. Luke was seeking a way to satisfy a community service graduation requirement at his school, and asked a teacher for advice. She took him and a couple of friends to Cambridge, Mass., to meet a Sierra Leone native who had co-founded an organization called Global Minimum (GMin), which distributes insecticide-treated mosquito nets in vulnerable areas. Excited about the prospect of helping, Luke and his friends decided to start a chapter at their school, with the idea of helping students meet their graduation service requirement and at the same time do something good for others. “I was awestruck by what this guy from Sierra Leone had done,” said Luke. “I knew when I went back to Burr and Burton, I’d continue to be proactive and see where it led me.” After recruiting other students, Luke and his friends researched the devastating economic and life-threatening effects of malaria. They then delivered PowerPoint presentations to students and faculty members at local schools to create awareness of the malaria problem in Africa and to raise money.

With additional fund-raising activities, including the sale of silicon bracelets and a student dance, they ended up generating more than $2,000 to purchase mosquito nets from the Against Malaria Foundation. Luke traveled with GMin leaders to Sierra Leone last summer to deliver the nets, which are now protecting 1,150 men, women and children from mosquito-borne illness. “You can raise money for any organization, but when you honestly see where the money goes, and talk to the people it’s impacting directly, it’s life-changing,” Luke said.

Call us with questions: 877-864-4869, or tweet me at Nicole_Odell. 

Dreaming of Mr. Right?

Do More Than Dream.

Pray!

Can praying for your future husband really make a difference? Well-loved authors and good friends Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer say YES! In Praying for Your Future Husband (Multnomah Books, May 3, 2011) Robin and Tricia invite young women to faithfully pray for their future spouses, while also asking God to prepare their own hearts.

Both authors share their journeys on the path to meeting and marrying their husbands. Robin's story encompasses writing letters to her future husband, finding “The One” only to have her heart broken, and finally trusting God. Tricia's story is one of second chances. She prayed for her future mate as a 17-year-old pregnant teen. Each chapter includes helpful Bible verses, space for reflection, prayers, and discussion questions. Also highlighted are true stories of other women who've seen God answer their prayers for a husband in remarkable ways.

As Robin and Tricia take readers on a journey to pray boldly about the future, young women will be reminded that what they do now can truly make a difference in not only their own lives, but also in the lives of their future husbands—even if they’ve never met!

 “When the day comes that your love story is celebrated by your closest friends and family, you’ll know that every prayer was worth it. Every whispered word from a tender heart is precious to God. No request is ignored. No moment spent with your Heavenly Father is wasted,” write the authors. “You might even wish you had prayed more. Why? Because your prayers are the first gifts you will give to your future husband. Gifts in which heaven participates.”

About the Authors

Robin Jones Gunn has written more than 70 books, including the best-selling Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen series for teens. More than 4 million copies of her books have sold worldwide. Robin and her husband live in Hawai’i. They have been married for 34 years and have two grown children.

Tricia Goyer is the author of 400 articles for national periodicals, as well as 16 novels, 2 children's books, and 7 nonfiction books, including Life Interrupted. She and her husband have been married for 21 years and have 4 children.

Join me Thursday, May 12th, at 10pm EST, as I chat with co-author of Praying for your Future Husband, Tricia Goyer, and her daughter-in-law who did! Questions? You can call in to the show at 877-864-4869 or tweet me at Nicole_Odell.

At thirteen, Kayla Woodhouse isn't like most teenagers, overly consumed with themselves and their social lives. Despite a rare medical disorder, Kayla has become one of the youngest full-length series novelists, releasing with her mother, Kimberley Woodhouse, the first of a three-part series, No Safe Haven (B & H Books).

As a child, Kayla was diagnosed with Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy, a disorder that prevents Kayla's body from feeling pain with the same intensity as other people, while her cooling function (sweating) doesn't kick in until her body reaches a lethal high temperature. As a result, Kayla needs protective cooling gear just to go outside and must always stay in a cool environment (not over 65° F). Kayla also endured brain surgery when the doctors discovered her brain was growing into her spinal column.

Due to overwhelming medical bills, the Woodhouse’s were forced to sell their home. They continued to hold strong to their faith, and through the campaigning of their friends and local media, the Woodhouse's were given a home and featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Kimberley Woodhouse is a popular speaker who has learned to face difficult circumstances with a positive outlook. “Through every trial or tough time I’ve found myself in, God’s joy has been there in the midst. I can always look back and see how He pruned me, helped me grow, and made His undeniable joy available to me through it all,” says Kimberley. Additional information is available at www.kimberleywoodhouse.com and www.kaylawoodhouse.com

About No Safe Haven: Jenna and Andie Tikaani-Gray are hoping for a fresh start. Though twelve year-old Andie has long struggled with a rare medical disorder, she and her mother have finally received good news from out-of-town specialists. Its news they desperately needed, especially after the recent death of Jenna's husband (Andie's dad) from a car accident, a man who invented a top- secret item for the US military.

But as they are flying home to Alaska, ready to begin again, the unthinkable happens. The pilot sabotages their small plane and crashes into Sultana, one of the most remote and dangerous mountains in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Even worse, a winter storm is headed their way along with someone who doesn't want to save them, but to kill them.

Only one man can keep them alive: Cole Maddox, the mysterious last-minute passenger who joined them on their flight. But trust doe sn't come easy to Jenna or Andie, and they both sense Cole is hiding something.

Hardened by the loss in his life, Cole knows the best path is one he walks alone. No one to care for, or about. That way he is able to focus on what matters: getting a secret technology safely into the hands of the US Military.

But when the plane he's on with Jenna and Andie crashes, it will take all his skill and strength to get them out alive - and all his determination to stay in his self-imposed solitary confinement. No Safe Haven is a relentless tale of survival, romance and suspense involving military technology designed by Jenna's late husband that some would do anything to possess.

About No Safe Haven: No Safe Haven: A Novel by Kimberley & Kayla Woodhouse. Published by B&H Publishers. March 15, 2011. Trade Paper, 352 pages. $14.99. ISBN: 978-14336-71166.

About the Authors

Kayla Woodhouse is a thirteen-year old whose zest for writing comes not only from her natural ability, but also from her love of the written word as witnessed by her voracious reading appetite. One of only a few dozen cases in the world, Kayla was born with HSAN, Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy, an extremely rare nerve disorder. Unable to sweat, or feel pain, she’s also been through brain surgery. Kayla also suffers from severe allergies. She can only go outside to play after sundown, which means she is forced to stay inside their home most of the time. But even through a life of extreme hardships, her ever-present smile encourages others to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles. In addition to being

homeschooled and writing with her mom, she’s an amazing swimmer, and spends up to thirty hours a week in training. She has appeared on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Mystery ER, and numerous other national programs. Kayla is the youngest author to have a full-length novel published by a royalty paying publisher. www.KaylaWoodhouse.com

Kimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, writer, and musician. Her previous book, Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy, chronicles her daughter’s extremely rare health issues and how the Woodhouse family received an amazing gift through the ABC television program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Kim and her husband have two children and live in Colorado. www.KimberleyWoodhouse.com

In 1999, doctors discovered that Kayla was one of the 25 diagnosed people in the

world to suffer from Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy. The Woodhouse family relocated to frigid Alaska in the hopes to decrease any reoccurrences that Kayla might face. The Woodhouses were later forced to leave Alaska to seek

In 2005, after the Woodhouses had finally settled in Colorado Springs, CO, the family's financial situation took a turn for the worse due to their medical bills. With thousands of people petitioning and the local media nominating the family for help, the Woodhouse family was featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and given an industrial strength, well air conditioned home.

Thursday, May 5th, 10pm EST RIGHT HERE!

Meet Teen Sensation, Double Vision: To be on TTR Thursday at 10pm EST

Don't let their small stature fool you. When Micah and Mason Marrs of Double Vision sing, grown men are brought to tears, or to their feet in hallelujah, depending on the song. They've performed at state fairs, cafes and youth groups, but on Sunday morning you'll find them surrounded by a large group of toddlers, guitar in hand.

Check out this video! In the meantime, head on over to their website to listen to a few of their videos, check their upcoming schedule or book them for an event. You can also catch them on Youtube.

Visit HERE to read a guest post by Jennifer Slattery in which she interviews Double Vision.

Be sure to tune in to Teen Talk Radio on Thursday, 4/28, at 10pm EST. Mason and Micah ill be on for the first half of the show, sharing about their experiences in the biz.

Following their interview, I'll be talking with Leah Fox, 13, of Fort Collins, Colo., an eighth-grader at Boltz Middle School and winner of the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, created her own jewelry business and started a school penny drive to help purchase insulin pumps for young diabetics who cannot afford them. 

Tonight is a special show with live music, recordings, an award-winning author, and more!

Visit Tyler Layne's website to check him out!

And here's access to Jill Williamson's site. 

Jill Williamson is a novelist, dreamer, and believer. She writes stories that combine danger, suspense, and adventure for readers of all ages. Her first book released in April 2009 from Marcher Lord Press. Christy Award-winning, By Darkness Hid (Blood of Kings, Book 1) is a medieval fantasy. Jill has served alongside her youth pastor husband for the past ten years and loves working with teenagers, especially to encourage young writers. She gives writing workshops at churches and schools. You can learn more about Jill on her Web site at www.jillwilliamson.com.

10pm Est, right here on Toginet!!

BASED ON THE INSPIRATIONAL TRUE STORY

Starring Aidan Quinn, Andie MacDowell and Ryan Merriman Written and directed by Rick Bieber The True Story of Luke Abbate... In February 2006, young Luke Abbate accepted a ride home from a fellow student following his high-school team practice.  In a severe case of irresponsible and reckless teen-age driving, and over the objections of Luke and the other young passengers, the driver lost control of the car at nearly 90 miles-per-hour, spinning off a narrow road and landing in an embankment some seventy feet below. Luke suffered irreparable brain damage, and died in the hospital two days later – just four days before his sixteenth birthday.

While in the hospital, the Abbate family made the difficult decision to permit the doctors to utilize Luke’s organs in a nationwide organ transplant program.  Five recipients were almost immediately identified, including a young mother who was suffering with serious heart disease. Sharing an uncommon blood type, Luke’s heart was flown to the young woman’s hospital location across the country, resulting in a successful heart transplant, and saving her life.

Following his brother’s death, Jon considered giving up his football career – but knew that doing so would not properly honor the younger brother who loved and idolized him. Upon his return to Wake Forest, Jon was given the approval of head coach Jim Grobe to change his number from his long-standing 40, to his brother’s number 5. And, in so doing, dedicated the new season to the memory of his brother. 

The Abbate family founded The Luke Abbate 5th Quarter Foundation for the purposes of educating young people nationwide to the dangers and life-altering consequences of irresponsible driving. Coming March 25th, The Fifth Quarter

It’s a story that would be unbelievable if it weren’t true. A family loses a beloved child in a senseless accident. Their intense grief first drives them apart, then brings them back together and eventually inspires an entire community. “I knew the bones of the story were very dramatic and tragic, as well as extremely inspirational,” says Rick Bieber, who wrote, directed and produced The 5th Quarter.

“This family, the team, the school and the community all came together in response to the death of a 15-year-old boy. That ended up driving them to exceed their own expectations and turn a tragic loss into a triumphant football season.” Bieber was introduced to the Abbate family of Marietta, Georgia, at the end of Wake Forest University’s 2006 Cinderella football season, spending several days with them in Miami right before the team’s Orange Bowl appearance.

At that first meeting, Bieber and the Abbates discussed what it would be like to expose so intimate and tragic a story in a feature film that millions of people would have an opportunity to see. The close-knit Abbate family, parents Steven and Maryanne, sons Jon and Adam, and daughter Rachel, considered Bieber’s idea of making their story into a feature film the way they do everything—as a family. They were unanimous in their conviction that Luke’s story was one that needed to be told.

Join me on Teen Talk Radio this Thursday, April 14th,  at 10pm EST at www.choicesradio.com. I'll be talking with Steven and Maryanne Abbate, parent's of Luke Abbate who lost his young life in a needless accident. They'll share from their heart about their loss and what their doing now to see that other families are saved from similar tragedies.

Find out what makes your parents do the things they do, tonight on Teen Talk Radio! The show is going to be jam packed with fun stuff!

First, from 10:00-10:30 EST, I'll be visiting with Milan and Kay Yerkovich, authors of How we Love our Kids. Have you ever wanted to see into your parent's minds to figure out why they do and say the things they do? Do you ever wonder if they have regrets?  Tune in to learn how to:

• understand the ways your parents communicate
• figure out what makes parenting a challenge
• learn how to avoid conflict
• discover how to connect as a family
• find out what your role is

Then, at 10:30 EST, I'll be welcoming the hilarious Kimberly Stuart. 

 COLORADO SPRINGS—Much-loved author Kimberly Stuart is back with a hearty dose of humor and a whole lot of heart in her latest book, Operation Bonnet. Current Stuart fans and new readers alike will love Stuart’s fresh take on all things Amish in this new book.

Nellie Monroe has bright future ahead of her. She has a perfect college GPA and a restless brilliance that makes her feel oh so out of place. Life in a small Ohio town still has almost killed her dreams of becoming a private investigator. That is until she meets her first client, Amos Shelter, who is from the local Amish community and is a refugee with a problem.

So Nellie straps on her bonnet, goes undercover, and Operation Bonnet begins. Will she be able to find out what is going on with Amos’ girl? Does she really have what it takes to be a private investigator? Will she ever be able to master the perfect pie crust?

Stuart fills the pages of Operation Bonnet with a fresh, unexpected burst of love, humor, and romance. Nellie’s thoughts will thrill readers whose curiosity about Amish life remains unsatisfied, all the while enjoying Stuart’s unique and humorous take, which is definitely not your grandmother’s Amish fiction.

The author of four well-received novels, Kimberly Stuart lives, plays, parents, does a lot of laundry, and writes at home in Des Moines, Iowa. She thanks you for buying this book, her fifth and would love for you to visit her—probably not in Des Moines but definitely at www.KimberlyStuart.com.

Teen Talk Radio, Thursday at 10pm EST!

March 31st, Teen Talk Radio will be pleased to welcome Susanne Lakin and jim Ware as guests.

For someone who's not a big reader of fantasy, it seems that I really do like to review it! The more I do, the more I wonder why I don't read more of it. Susanne Lakin's The Map Across Time is my newest fantasy love.  Here's what Publisher's Weekly had to say about it:

In this second book in the Gates of Heaven series, Lakin (Someone to Blame) spins a tale of twins, a prince and a princess, who must travel through time to undo the curse that threatens their father's kingdom. On its surface a Christian work, using Old Testament quotes and Hebrew words spontaneously uttered in dialogue and exploring themes of healing, sacred places, and the struggle between good and evil, the novel owes more to classic fairy tales than to religious allegory. As in many fairy tales, the characters are flat, existing mostly as types—the beautiful princess, the wise nursemaid, the friendly talking animal—rather than complex human beings. The writing similarly lacks nuance at times; though Lakin is an effective storyteller, her prose often veers into cliché when tackling the story's ambitious themes. Despite flaws, the novel is fast-paced and tightly plotted, which means that the reader will quickly be drawn into the complex twists and turns of the story and, in fairy tale tradition, led toward a surprising yet satisfying conclusion. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

So, The Map Across is described by C.S. Lakin as a collection of fairy tales for adult readers--it's not classified as YA. But I thought it was a perfect book to share with teens. You guys like an eclectic conglomeration of books--you pride themselves on being smart and open-minded. I've shared some YA fantasy, some romance, some general fiction, some dark tales--why not some fairy tales, too? This is a perfect fairy tale. Readers will be transported into a world where evil somehow prevailed over the Gates of HEaven--at least for a time. Scripture truths and quotes are sprinkled and woven through the prose in an authentic way that manages to convey Biblical words without sounding preachy or driven by agenda. This book reminded me, in many ways, of the impact of The Chronicles of Narnia.

And my second guest tonight is Jim Ware, a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary and is now a writer living in Colorado Springs, Colo. He is the author of several books, including the best-selling Finding God in the Lord of the Rings (with Kurt Bruner), as well as numerous books for children.

A Mysterious Stone & Half Forgotten Legends Will Captivate Young Readers in New Youth Fiction from Best-Selling Author Jim Ware

COLORADO SPRINGS—Morgan Izzak hates middle school almost as much as he hates baseball. He does have a deep-seated love, a love that is unshared by most of his peers, of studying old alchemy books. In best-selling author Jim Ware’s new book, The Stone of Destiny, young readers who might find themselves in a difficult situation will discover a fantasy fiction read to please the imagination and stimulate the need for adventure. In The Stone of Destiny, Morgan is different, and he knows it. He especially likes reading his father’s ancient books about the Philosopher’s Stone. When his mother becomes sick with cancer, he is desperate to find a cure. A little magic couldn’t hurt could it?

But then his best friend Eny tells him about another magic stone, The Irish Stone of Destiny that may be hidden right under their noses in their very own home town. He is determined to find it, but he soon finds out he is not alone. By the time he realizes something evil is happening, he has betrayed his friendship and he might have even lost the stone forever. Is his friendship irreparably torn? Will he ever find the answer that can help his mom? The Stone of Destiny is the first book in a two-volume set, so readers can look forward to learning more about Morgan’s adventures.

THE ASCENSION CONVENTION

April 21-23, 2011 Hyatt Regency O’Hare

AC 2011 Guests: David Perkins, KJ52, Ray McElroy, Before Morning

Ever at a loss for words? I rarely am (lol) . . . but when it comes to the Ascension Convention, I just don’t know how to convey the whole picture, and I don’t know where to start with the details. 

This is a convention that I first attended when I was in Jr. HIgh and it’s had THAT many years to perfect itself. Christian Life College puts on the greatest youth conference ever! The guests are always stellar and teens leave with changed lives. Truly.

Would you believe that I remember the guest speakers and events that went on when I first attended over 20 years ago? And I also remember the years in between when I’ve attended as a teen, a chaperone, a youth director, and a speaker. I’ve run the AC gamut and I just can’t get enough.

I’m so excited to be returning to the Acension Convention this year to talk to teens about dating and relationships, and also to share my books. But a new addition to the excitement comes this Thursday at 10pm EST when staff from the AC and from Christian Life College join my on Teen Talk Radio to chat about the exciting upcoming ocnference and about the opportunity for teens to attend a Bible college. We’ll fill you in about all the AC guests and what you can expect at the conference and also chat about Bible college in general, Christian Life College in specific. Hope you tune in and call in with your questions! 877-864-4869, 10-11PM EST at www.choicesradio.com.

Robyn can’t help but notice the handsome new guy at her school. She ignores, however, the arrival of another being at Brookfield Central High School—a demon assigned to destroy her… Robyn loves her friends, enjoys her youth group, and looks forward to meeting cute Caleb Montague. But when a caustic news reporter challenges her school’s prayer team, Robyn must choose: defend their right to meet on campus and pray for whomever they wish or back down at the principal’s request. Now she must learn what God wants her to do. And she had better learn fast, because there’s a supernatural enemy in town whose sole mission is to stop her—no matter the cost.

Join me tonight on Teen Talk Radio as I talk with Shellie Neumeier from 10:30-11:00Pm EST (Eddie Jones is on the show right before Shellie). We'll be talking about teens, books and everything in between. I'm anxious to find out what drove Shellie to write Driven. Get? Drove...Driven? No? Never mind. Catch us at www.choicesradio.com starting at 10pm EST. You can call in with questions to 877-864-4869,

The first half of this week's Teen Talk Radio show will feature Eddie Jones and his Buy a Boy a Book Campaign.

Eddie Jones

Eddie Jones is a full time freelance writer and author of five non-fiction books, one young adult novel, and an adult romantic comedy. He has written over one hundred articles that have appeared in 20 different publications. He serves as Acquisition Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and is a contributing writer for CBN.com, Christian Devotions Ministries, Living Aboard Magazine, The Ocracoke Observer, and Carolina Currents.

He has taught writing classes from Pennsylvania and the Carolinas to Colorado. As a book consultant, he has helped clients place completed projects with literary agents, book publishers, and magazine editors. Eddie has a keen eye for evaluating manuscripts and can advise clients on the marketability of their work. Telling Tidal Tales I'm a boat swab at heart, and a thief and liar when honest work proves unprofitable.

This is why when my boys were little (and by this I mean we could still feed them without maxing-out our credit cards at the grocery store or causing a world-wide food shortage) I’d tell them pirate stories on our sailboat. I no longer have a sailboat. What I have instead are two boys in college. This is way better than a boat because unlike owning a boat, college tuition payments end—if not upon graduation then when the free frat parties stop. Boat alimony, on the other hand, goes on forever. I’m sure in some way, Noah is still paying on the Ark. B.O.A.T., by the way, means: “Break Out Another Thousand.” But if you’ve ever owned a boat you know this.

Anyway, at night, before I’d tuck my small boys into their bunks (a storage locker where we kept the anchor), we’d sit on the bow of our sailboat and I’d make up stuff. Today I do this as a writer but editors have shorter attention spans than my tiny tots. At least that’s what my agent says. So I’d tell these tidal tales and the hero of the story was this guy named Captain Stinky Foot. Captain Stinky Foot was named after my youngest son. If you’ve ever spent any time on a boat in August with a crew of unwashed young males then this needs no further explanation.

Telling pirate stories came naturally to me. I've always been fascinated by the stories of boys snatched away from London and Bristol and forced to serve before the mast. Seems to me life at sea was more fun than peeling potatoes. And more dangerous.

I’d use whatever props I could spy from the bow—a channel marker, boat fender, or crab pot—and I’d work it into the story. A few times every year my boy’s school would invite me in to tell pirate stories. My talks followed a predictable pattern. The teacher would ask everyone to sit quietly and listen, but know how it is with kids. There’s always some smart aleck who insists on cutting up. The teacher would interrupt, scowl and eventually nod for me to continue. Almost immediately, she’d have to stop me again: this time raising her voice. By the third time I knew she meant business. I also knew I’d get sent to the principle's office if I didn’t straighten up.

Now, when I’m asked to describe The Curse of Captain LaFoote, I explain that it’s a pirate tale awash in buried treasure, romance and dead men's bones. The truth is, this book and the ones that follow in the Caribbean Chronicle series are love stories. Ricky Bradshaw, the hero of the book, the story is a quest to find his soul mate and manhood. There are a lot of other deep and important themes explored in the book too.

There are a lot of other deep and important themes explored in The Curse of Captain LaFoote. Things like what the poop deck is and why cruise ships no longer use them, the secrets inside Davy Jones' locker, and why you shouldn't walk downwind of a pirate who's just eaten turtle soup.

Seriously, my main goals in writing this book was to spur the imagination of young readers. Boys especially.

According to KidSay Market Researchers, teen and tween online video and virtual gaming increased from 65% in 2007 to 91% in 2010. I'm a writer, not a math whiz, so I have no idea what those numbers mean but they sound really scary. So part of my goal is to give boys a compelling story they can fall into. I want to create within them a desire to read and set sail for a life of adventure, wherever that journey may take them. Even now I can see Ricky standing on the sugar-white sands of that island just south of Hispaniola. I am that boy. And so are a lot of other boys.

As part of our Buy A Boy A Book! Campaign we are encouraging parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, Oprah and the President of the United States to buy a book and give it to a boy. That's right. We want you to give a book as a gift. We've test marketed this concept and our research shows most boys, given the choice between reading a book and visiting the dentist, will run away from home. But as a responsible adult you know dental hygiene is key to a happy mouth. Think of this book as dental floss for the mind. Reading is key to learning. Learning increases a young boy’s chances of gaining admission to college, earning a degree, landing a job and pursuing the American Dream.

Please, won’t you give a boy a chance to dream? Boy A Boy A Book!

Print Edition $9.95

Kindle eBook $2.99

Tomorrow, I'll let you know who will be with us on TTR for the second half. Can't wait!

I'm sick. :( I was sick last week, too, but was still able to do the show because I pretty much had a voice. This week--not so much. I sound like a cross between Barry White and a duck. It's not pretty.

We're going to postpone the show with the Abbate's and 5th Quarter to early April, and do something completely different tonight! Award-winning author and good friend of mine, Kit Wilkinson, will be guest hosting for me tonight. She's going to be talking to two teenage girls about what it's like to be sisters, girls, Christians, and teens--all in the same house. Instead of driving home a big heavy topic, they're going to talk about real life. . .your life in many ways, I'm sure. So tune in tonight at 10pm EST at www.choicesradio.com and join the party!

BASED ON THE INSPIRATIONAL TRUE STORY

COMING MARCH 25 2011

Starring Aidan Quinn, Andie MacDowell and Ryan Merriman Written and directed by Rick Bieber

The True Story of Luke Abbate...

In February 2006, young Luke Abbate accepted a ride home from a fellow student following his high-school team practice.  In a severe case of irresponsible and reckless teen-age driving, and over the objections of Luke and the other young passengers, the driver lost control of the car at nearly 90 miles-per-hour, spinning off a narrow road and landing in an embankment some seventy feet below. Luke suffered irreparable brain damage, and died in the hospital two days later – just four days before his sixteenth birthday. While in the hospital, the Abbate family made the difficult decision to permit the doctors to utilize Luke’s organs in a nationwide organ transplant program.  Five recipients were almost immediately identified, including a young mother who was suffering with serious heart disease. Sharing an uncommon blood type, Luke’s heart was flown to the young woman’s hospital location across the country, resulting in a successful heart transplant, and saving her life.

Following his brother’s death, Jon considered giving up his football career – but knew that doing so would not properly honor the younger brother who loved and idolized him. Upon his return to Wake Forest, Jon was given the approval of head coach Jim Grobe to change his number from his long-standing 40, to his brother’s number 5. And, in so doing, dedicated the new season to the memory of his brother.  The Abbate family founded The Luke Abbate 5th Quarter Foundation for the purposes of educating young people nationwide to the dangers and life-altering consequences of irresponsible driving.

Coming March 25th, The Fifth Quarter

It’s a story that would be unbelievable if it weren’t true. A family loses a beloved child in a senseless accident. Their intense grief first drives them apart, then brings them back together and eventually inspires an entire community. “I knew the bones of the story were very dramatic and tragic, as well as extremely inspirational,” says Rick Bieber, who wrote, directed and produced The 5th Quarter. “This family, the team, the school and the community all came together in response to the death of a 15-year-old boy. That ended up driving them to exceed their own expectations and turn a tragic loss into a triumphant football season.”

Bieber was introduced to the Abbate family of Marietta, Georgia, at the end of Wake Forest University’s 2006 Cinderella football season, spending several days with them in Miami right before the team’s Orange Bowl appearance. At that first meeting, Bieber and the Abbates discussed what it would be like to expose so intimate and tragic a story in a feature film that millions of people would have an opportunity to see. The close-knit Abbate family, parents Steven and Maryanne, sons Jon and Adam, and daughter Rachel, considered Bieber’s idea of making their story into a feature film the way they do everything—as a family. They were unanimous in their conviction that Luke’s story was one that needed to be told.

Join me here on Teen Talk Radio this Thursday, March 10th,  at 10pm EST. I'll be talking with Steven and Maryanne Abbate, parent's of Luke Abbate who lost his young life in a needless accident. They'll share from their heart about their loss and what their doing now to see that other families are saved from similar tragedies.

Ever see someone doing something special and become inspired by her heart, her passion, her creativity? I see it around me all the time. Teen Talk Radio is where I get the opportunity to talk to people like that every single week. They keep me going; they remind me what it's all about. I feel privileged to be able to bring their stories to you each and every week. And this week is no exception! I have two very special guests coming on the show this Thursday night: Lex of Bright Light Parade and Author, Terri Blackstock.

Right Now (sample audio)

This week on Teen Talk Radio, I'll be interviewing Lex of Bright Light Parade! You've got to hear what this young lady has to say. She sings, writes music, plays guitar, and haas even written a book! We'll share all this info and more fun stuff with you this Thursday at 10pm EST at www.choicesradio.com. At 10:30, I have the awesome privilege of welcoming Terri Blackstock to Teen Talk Radio! We're going to be discussing her new book, Vicious Cycle, which was inspired by her daughter's drug addiction. You've got to hear this in Terri's own words: 

Terri Blackstock hasn’t always written for the Lord. Just over a decade ago she was an award-winning secular novelist writing for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin, and Silhouette. With thirty-two titles published and 3.5 million books in print, she found that she was miserable. The compromises she had made in her career had taken their toll on her spiritual life, and she yearned to renew her relationship with Christ. After much soul-searching and wrestling with God, she finally told the Lord that she would never write another thing that didn’t glorify Him. Thinking she might never be published again, she began planning ways to supplement her income, while she worked on her first idea for a Christian novel.

I hope you'll tune in to hear from these inspiring and talented ladies! The show airs live at 10pm EST on Thursday, but if you miss it, you can download the podcast from here or on iTunes.

Who inspires you to keep going, work harder, do better?

JAKE’S CHOICE, THE SECOND NOVEL BASED ON THE #1 FAITH-BASED MOVIE OF 2010—TO SAVE A LIFE

Early in 2010, the film To Save A Life released in theaters across the country. The characters, story line, and true-to-life circumstances resonated with audiences as over 600,000 teens, youth workers, coaches, pastors and parents viewed the film. The movie achieved a #1 rating on Fandango, and over 169,000 users so far have joined the film’s Facebook community.  What might be most telling, however, is that nearly a thousand teens have written into the movie’s website, sharing their personal stories and struggles.The To Save A Life novel, based on the screenplay of the movie, was also a success, becoming a finalist in the Retailer’s Choice Awards and winning a Silver Moonbeam Book Award.

Now, Outreach Publishing is proud to announce the release of the second novel in the series, Jake’s Choice, releasing October 2010. 

Also written by Jim and Rachel Britts, Jake’s Choice picks up where To Save A Life left off, with Jake Taylor leaving California to pursue his dream of playing basketball for the University of Louisville. His longtime girlfriend Amy, as well as the supportive community of his youth pastor and friends, remains behind.

Separated by thousands of miles, Jake and Amy find their lives moving in very different directions. Befriending a young girl with a traumatic history leads Amy back to the father who abandoned her. Jake’s position on the Louisville basketball team lands him in the midst of parties, beautiful women…and one choice that will shake him to the core.  When everything he believes is challenged, Jake begins slipping away from his faith and sliding into the old life he thought he left behind. Will Jake’s struggle cost him his relationship with Amy? Will he go with the flow, or will he stand alone for what is right? One choice will change everything. 

“As a youth pastor, I know that going from high school to college or a career is one of the toughest transitions in a person’s life. Recent studies have shown that as many as 70% of teenagers who are active in a church become spiritually disengaged within a year of their graduation. That’s a sobering statistic. With Jake’s Choice, we hope to forewarn teens of the challenges they will face and help them remain strong in their faith.”

Like in the original To Save A Life story, Jake’s Choice asks readers the question, “What do I want my life to be about?” but now, the stakes are even higher. Many of the issues and situations covered in Jake’s Choice will look familiar to college students, and the message of the book will encourage readers to make a determined choice to place God first in their lives, and then reach out to others in His name.

Join me, along with Jim and Rachel Britts, this Thursday night at 10pm EST!! It's sure to be an interesting and compelling program. The Britts have a lot of share, so don't miss it!! Visit www.choicesradio.com to listen live. You can call in with your questions to 877-864-4869. Or, you can check out the podcast here or on iTunes following the show.

BRITT NICOLE, JENNA LUCADO BISHOP, and CHAD EASTHAM will be joining me to talk about the REVOLVE TOUR, their books, and other fun things! And. . .I have giveaways!

As an offshoot of the popular Women of Faith tours that have reached millions of women, the Revolve Tour seeks to impact teen girls in much the same way by generating an excitement to follow Christ and offering them empowerment for their journey.

Join us! This is going to be a great show. I plan to say as little as possible to give them as much time to share with you as possible. And if you have a question for any of the guests, you can call us at 877-864-4869.

I have several giveaways I'll be offering following the show. Check it out at 1opm EST or download the podcast anytime after. You can also subscribe to Teen Talk Radio for free on iTunes!

Do you have an questions for Britt, Jenna, or Chad??

Thursday, February 3rd, 10pm EST:

Author Lisa T. Bergren

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 30 books, with more than 1.5 million copies sold. She just finished writing a Colorado historical trilogy (the first book, Breathe, Sing and Claim), and has begun a teen series called River of Time (Waterfall, book 1, comes out in February 2011). The River of Time Series: a teen time travel series in which two girls go from modern times to medieval Italy. Adventure, romance, suspense, and a hefty dose of conflict will hopefully make this series page-turners for young women…that’s my goal, anyway! I concepted the series after reading theTwilight series with my teen.

Author Ginnny Yttrup

Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words? They can always heal me.

A child whose silence holds the truth captive...

An artist whose work speaks the agony of her past...

Will they let the Word set them free?

Kaylee's mother is gone. And it seems she took Kaylee's voice with her. Now, ten-year old Kaylee must fend for herself with her mother's abusive boyfriend. Seeking protection, Kaylee becomes "invisible" hiding behind a shroud of silence. Her days are spent collecting words she may never speak as she reads the only memento left by her mother--a tattered dictionary. Sierra Dawn is thirty-four, an artist, and alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes and chooses to bury the pain by her effort to control her circumstances. But on the twelfth anniversary of her daughter's death, Sierra's control begins to crumble as the God of her childhood woos her back to Himself. yle="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">

Brought together by Divine design, the silence that roars in Kaylee's and Sierra's lives will soon meet the soothing hand and healing mercy of the Word--Jesus Christ. Words will be released by B&H Publishing Group in spring of 2011.

Join me, along with Lisa Bergren and Ginny Yttrup, this coming Thursday at 10pm EST at www.choicesradio.com!

I'm late in posting information about this week's Teen Talk Radio show because it kind of fell into place at the last minute--thank you, Lord. I had a cancellation and wondered what I'd be talking about all by myself tonight. Thankfully (for me and for YOU!) I was able to move some exciting guests into the spots and we're sure to have a riveting show.

First, I'll be chatting with author and missionary, Lisa Harris, about her extraordinary life, her award-winning books, and whatever else she'd like to share with us.

LISA HARRIS is an award-winning author who has over twenty novels and novella collections in print. She and her husband, Scott, along with their three children, live near the Indian Ocean in Mozambique as missionaries. As a homeschooling mom, life can get hectic, but she sees her writing as an extension of her ministry which also includes running a non-profit organization.

The ECHO Project works in southern Africa promoting Education, Compassion, Health, and Opportunity and is a way for her to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” (Proverbs 31:8)

When she’s not working she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, and heading into the African bush on safari.

The second half of the show will feature Jon Hirst of NOVO Ink. I'm taking the folowing description of NOVO Ink right from their website:

NOVO Ink means "new ink." We are living through a revolution in publishing. For centuries books were created by using ink on paper. Today, however, readers like you are rapidly moving from the traditional world of ink and paper into an era of instant publication delivery through the internet and reading eBooks, eMagazines, and other epublications of all kinds on a variety of eBook readers and devices, none of which use ink or paper. Thus our name.

Digital is the new ink of our time, and eBooks are the new way to read. Our goal at NOVO Ink is to bring you a remarkable selection of life-enhancing eBooks and eZines. We hope you'll enjoy a wide variety of choices that will help grow your faith and strengthen your values, as well as enrich everyday life and business.

Tune in tonight (Thrusday, January 27th) at 10pm EST at www.choicesradio.com. Or, like always, you can download this or any Teen Talk Radio show at that link or on iTunes.

This week we're going to be covering a topic that has grown dear to my heart. You know, I'll admit, I've not been the most aware or socially savvy person when it comes to this subject. It took reading the birth experience of an online friend of mine for me to really consider what went on. I watched from the very distant sidelines as Lisa Morguess and her family welcomed their sixth precious child into their arms. Just a few days later, they found out Finn had Down Syndrome.

I watched and waited. I had no idea what to think or expect--and I wasn't even the one going through it. But it's the closest I've come to understanding the inner-workings of this condition and how it affects the family. I only know what I know about the Morguess family from what Lisa has chosen to share on her blog and on facebook, but I can tell you,.this family has touched me.

From this family, I've learned:

Children with specific needs are not "Special needs kids".

The "R" word is offensive in every case. EVERY case.

Children with Down Syndrome are not "Downs kids".

The "R" word is offensive in every case. EVERY case.

Children with Down Syndrome do not "suffer with Downs".

The "R" word is offensive in every case. EVERY case.

Every child has individual abilities--even children with Down Syndrome--that doesn't make them "disabled". You disable a screaming smoke detector after you burn the bacon. You disable a malfunctioning toy by taking out the batteries. You disable machinery before messing around with parts and electricity.  A child is not disabled.

In fact, freedictionary.com says: disable vb (tr)

Nic Crumley, will also be joining us to educate us on their experiences in a family where one has Down Syndrome. Kevin and Nic will talk about what makes them feel defensive, what they worry about for their younger siblings, how their families have been changed, how they speak out and what they want you to know about themselves, their families and their brothers. This is a show you won't want to miss--one you shouldn't miss.

In the meantime, I recommend you check out this article in The Huffington Post in which another teen tackles the potency of the "R" word.

Do you know differently abled students from school? Do you avoid them because you're confused? Join us Thursday at 10PM EST, here at www.choicesradio.com, to find out everything you need to know. You can call in with your questions for Kevin or Nic to 877-864-4869, and the show will be available for download at that address or on iTunes by Friday morning.

Wow! It's been three weeks since I did a live Teen Talk Radio show. The holiday break was nice, but my family is tired of me walking around saying, "Welcome back to Teen Talk Radio..." in my sleep. . This week, I'm hosting a discussion with Emily from Lily Girls Magazine. To get the new year off to a big start, we're going to blitz through several hot-button issues. Check out the issues and the Lily Girl article that speaks to that subject. We'll dig even deeper on the air this Thursday night at 10 EST.

Segment 1: - Eating disorders and TRUE beauty http://lilygirlsmag.com/2010/06/the-good-sin/ "As women of God we live to honor Him first. The truth is that we waste our lives working for something we simply can not keep. Proverbs 31 reminds us that beauty is fleeting! Girls, one day, you will lose your looks! It happens to everyone! Satan would have no more than to keep you spending your time and life trying to be the perfect size. At the end of your life it will not matter. Proverbs 31 goes on to say, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised! Do you want something that will outlast your life? Love of Christ and a life lived in service to Him is forever." Segment 2: -The Split Life http://lilygirlsmag.com/2010/02/the-split-life/ "What is satisfying about having friends and family that don't really know anything about you because you are constantly lying and ‘leaving things out' because you don't want them to know about the other part of your life? Living my life this way left me feeling worthless, used, confused, lonely, lost, and loveless. All I wanted was to feel loved and accepted for who I am as a person, not who I am when I'm wearing a certain ‘mask.'" In James 1:22-25, it says, "do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." Segment 3: - Mentorship & Accountability http://lilygirlsmag.com/2010/04/older-and-wiser-a-titus-2-examination/ "A great start would be to make a list of older godly women in your community who would be willing to wisely mentor you. Then, seek one of them out and specifically talk with her about meeting together and learning how to live a holy life. My guess is that she would be honored to mentor you. A second application would be to examine your own lifestyle, make your heart right before the Lord, and then seek someone younger than you to mentor." Segment 4: - Purity http://lilygirlsmag.com/2010/09/mud-just-happens-the-pursuit-of-a-pure-mind/ "We sometimes wonder why our lives aren't much different than those of our lost friends. Maybe we go to church and to camp and on mission trips and weekend retreats and even do really good things in our community, but at our lockers and in our bedrooms, we aren't any different. God doesn't want us to be good deed doers; He wants our worship which starts with a pure mind, focused on and filled with Him. Out of that will flow a life centered on the gospel your friends, your team and your school need to see." Please join us! Thursday at 10PM EST! The shows are also available for download  right here or on iTunes.

PAX is a nonpolitical nonprofit organization working with all Americans to bring an end to gun violence against children and families.

PAX's two innovative programs -- SPEAK UP and ASK (Asking Saves Kids) -- offer practical solutions for protecting children from gun violence.

Dan Gross joins me on Teen Talk Radio this Thursday night to discuss the issue of gun violence. His organization, PAX, offers real solutions for parents through the ASK program and excellent, life-saving resources for teens through the SPEAK UP campaign. PAX doesn't take a stand against gun ownership in anyway. It cannot be denied, however, that even with constitution rights, laws, and permits aside, the lives of children and teens are at risk every single day by exposure to guns. PAX is hard at work to spread awareness, offer safety measures, and to provide a way for teens to get help. The SPEAK UP hotline is something I wish every teen knew about--and I'm going to do my part to spread the word. Call 1-866-SPEAK-UP to report a weapon threat at school.

• If you know about a student carrying a weapon at school, or talking about bringing a weapon to school...
• If you hear someone threatening violence with a weapon...
• If you know about someone's plans to hurt anyone at school...

Call 1-866-SPEAK-UP. That's 1-866-773-2587.

• Don't ignore it. Don't assume it's a joke. No threat is a joke.
• Don't try to solve the problem yourself.
• Call 1-866-SPEAK-UP to anonymously report the threat.
• The call is toll-free. Your tip will be transcribed and forwarded to the proper local authorities so the threat can be resolved safely. In case of an immediate emergency, please call 911.

You have the power to prevent school violence by just reporting weapons or threats of violence at school.Use your voice. Call 1-866-SPEAK-UP. It's anonymous and free.

On Teen Talk Radio, Thursday, December 9th, at 10pm EST, Dan Gross and I go into great detail about all that PAX has to offer and why it's set up the way it is. I hope you'll tune in. The podcast is already available for download here or on iTunes.

In the New Book, Mary’s Son, Author Darryl Nyznyk Presents A Modern Tale of How the Fears and Passions of Youth are Overcome by the Wonder of the Real Christmas Story…

How a growing family-holiday tradition of storytelling, became an inspirational YA novel about the true meaning of Christmas… and why the author believes we need to hear that message now more than ever…

Join me and Darryl tonight, December 2nd, at 10pm EST, as we explore the true meaning of Christmas and what that can mean to teens today.

Darryl, who, with his wife, Loretta, raised four now-grown daughters in a close-knit Christian home, took a hard look at the world around him...one of extreme political and social divisiveness, apathy and hopelessness. It seemed like a pretty good time to share the message with the world that he had been telling in his own home all these years.... a message of hope, love and faith. A message found in the birth of Jesus Christ so long ago.

In the new book, Mary’s Son: A Tale of Christmas (Cross Dove Publishing, LLC, 2010, $15.95), author Darryl Nyznyk reminds us that in spite of the temptations and fears of twenty-first century life, the spirit of Christmas can be alive in the hearts of our children.

Eleven-year-old Sarah Stone is lonely in a mansion, where she lives amid butlers, nannies, housekeepers, and a father who is too busy for her. She is bright, beautiful, and angry at the world. On the other side of town, in a slum called the “Sink,” teen street-tough, Jared Roberts and his gang barely survive broken families and a hardscrabble existence. Jared, too, is angry at an unfair world, and he intends to do something about it. Into this mix comes a mysterious little man named Nicholas, who intrigues Sarah and Jared but scares those responsible for them. Against incredible doubt and cynicism, Nicholas tries to guide Sarah and Jared away from their anger and the destruction that will follow—only to realize he cannot move them by desire alone.  Finally, fed up, he whisks the two young people to another time and place where a Christmas long ago teaches them the true meaning of life in a way they never imagined.

While the message of ‘Mary’s Son’, has grown over the years, but always the lessons were clear about keeping Christ in Christmas and learning to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Mary’s Son is a heartrending story of youthful fears, passion, and tears that will give readers of all ages hope for a better world. Like the iconic Christmas image of Santa Claus kneeling before the manger, this story will move readers of multiple generations, as it allows parents to demonstrate the true meaning of Christmas, while still allowing the young people to identify with the more secularized traditions of the Season.

If you'd love a chance to win a copy of this book, leave a comment here before December 9th! I'm also giving away another copy on my blog, and one at www.shereads.org later this month. 

In a rescheduled interview, popular award-winning author, Robin Jones Gunn will join me on Teen Talk Radio this Thursday, November 18^th at 10 p.m. EST at www.choicesradio.com.

Read to the bottom . . . there's a giveaway!!! Robin Jones Gunn and her husband, Ross, spent the first two decades of their marriage working together in youth ministry. When their children were young, Robin began writing her Christy Miller series, often reading her written pages to the girls in her youth group for their advice. Robin now has 25 years of writing for publication, with 70 books published and 4 million copies of her books sold worldwide. Robin's writing awards include three Christy awards for excellence in fiction, a Gold Medallion finalist, Mt. Hermon Pacesetter and Writer of the Year. Robin is a frequent key-note speaker at various events and serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and Jerry Jenkin’s Christian Writer’s Guild.

From Robin's FAQ section:

Q: What inspired you to write? RJG:   When I first started writing my inspiration came in two parts. First, I was writing children's books when my kids were babies. That was probably to satisfy my storytelling instinct. Then I became motivated to write novels when I was spending a lot of time with teenagers.We were on a camping trip, when I found these 13-year-old girls sitting in their tent reading books rather than going out to the beach and hanging around with everybody else. I asked if I could read three of their books -- their favorites -- and they showed me a stack of probably 20 books they'd brought from the library. When I read their three favorite books, it concerned me because the content wasn't really appropriate for thirteen year-olds. I encouraged them to read something else, and they challenged me and said, "Why don't you write a book for us?" "Oh no," I told them. "I just write picture books." They kept at me and said, "You can write a novel! How hard could it be? As a matter of fact, we'll tell you what to write! We want a love story with teenagers at the beach." And they told me what to write.It took two years and they brutally critiqued every word. That first novel for teens wasSummer Promise, book one in the Christy Miller series, and it came out 1988. After the Christy Miller series I wrote the Sierra Jensen series, then Christy & Todd the College Years followed by the Katie Weldon series.  Who knows what will be next? These Forever Friends just seem to keep on going!

The latest from Christy Miller: Readers of the bestselling Christy Miller Series want to know more about their favorite Forever Friends and now they can. What was Christy thinking and feeling during high school, college and even the night before her wedding? You'll find out here on the pages of Christy Miller's Diary. The first part of this book was originally released in 1999 in a book entitled, "From the Secret Place in My Heart". Since Robin received so many requests for that out of print book, she has expanded this work of fiction and added diary entries up to when the last Katie Weldon book ended. You'll love having an inside view into what has been happening in Christy's heart over the years.

Want to hear more from Ms. Jones? Tune in live to the show on November 18^th at 10pm EST, or listen to the podcast by November 25^th to enter to win a copy of the new Christy Miller Diary!! You can listen live or download from this page or iTunes and then post a comment right here or on my blog with a description of  an embarrassing or funny moment Ms. Gunn shares with us on the air.

Great show this Thursday! I hope you can tune in at 10pm EST to hear it live. But, if not, be sure to download the podcast! Oh? Didn't know you could do that? Oh yeah! It's super easy! Just take a look in the right sidebar of this page and scroll through the list. You can have them all! OR, you can go HERE to subscribe on iTunes!

Did you know you can leave comments about the show right here on this page? Feel free to ask questions or make comments to me or the guests. You can also call in at 877-864-4869

This week's show will come to you in two parts. First, Traci Campbell will be joining me to talk about several things she's involved in. 

Taken from her website: www.thechampinyou.com

C.H.A.M.P. was designed to enrich the lives of children: pre-teens, tweens and teens from single-parent homes.

What is a “C.H.A.M.P.”? In addition to being an acronym that stands for Children Having a Missing Parent, it also represents five key traits that we should allow every child to cultivate:

• Character
• Happiness
• Attitude
• Mentality
• Purpose 

We know that many of you are from single-parent or blended homes. We'll be talking about how to thrive in whatever situation you're in. God will give YOU all the strength you need...you can find it in your blessings and what you DO have, rather than suffer from what you don't have. 

Traci and I will also be talking about her Heroes at Home Radio and Podcast programs. You can check that out here: www.heroesathomeradio.com

At around 10:30, I'll be welcome Jon Hirst to the show to share about his "Generous Mind" ministry and philosophy. From www.generousmind.com: 

Generous Mind Mission

We exist to foster generosity among everyone who has a thought to share.

The Vision
We desire to see a day when people have the understanding, the capacity and the tools to share their ideas with the world.

Meet the Founders

Jon and Mindy Hirst serve with “.W,” a next generation Christian marketing and development agency that equips ministries to transform their fundraising efforts into biblical discipleship practices. Jon holds the role of Partner Manager and Mindy works as a freelance writer.

Jon and Mindy are also co-founders of Generous Mind, a think tank devoted to helping people be generous with their ideas. Jon graduated from Judson University with a major in Communications and a minor in Sociology. Mindy also graduated from Judson University with a major in Communications.

Through over 10 years in ministry, Jon and Mindy have traveled extensively working to launch new media solutions to expand the Kingdom and have come alongside dozens of ministries looking for innovative solutions to their organization’s challenges.

As authors Jon is the co-editor of “Innovation in Mission” and the couple co-authored “Through the River: Understanding your Assumptions about Truth.” Besides their ministry endeavors, they have the exciting role of raising three children.

Jon and Mindy have worked with a wide variety of ministries including the Baptist General Conference, the Bible League, Link Care Center, Billy Graham Center, Tyndale House Publishers, Global Publishing Alliance (part of ECPA), SIL International, the Forum of Bible Agencies, the Seed Company, TEAM, World Bible Translation Center, and many others.

This week, I have two exciting guests joining me on Teen Talk Radio! First, from 10-10:30 pm EST (approximately), Sandra Byrd will be joining me to talk about her new book series for girls called London Confidential.

Bestselling author Sandra Byrd has a new fiction series for teen and tween girls out called London Confidential. This is a four book series that follows 15-year-old Savannah Smith around as her family moves to London from the United States, showing how “Savvy” deals with the pressures of trying to fit in, make friends, and live out her faith. Within the books, some of the issues Sandra tackles include guy/girl relationships, believing in fortunes/luck vs. trusting in God, and judging others based on their outward appearance. For more information on all four books in this series, you can visit these pages:   Asking for Trouble, Through Thick & Thin, Don’t Kiss Him Goodbye, Flirting with Disaster

 ___________________________________________________________________________________________

At 10:30 PM, I'll be welcoming Angie Turner, author of U R my BFF!,  and owner of popular underground design company Hype Strype, designed to fulfill a need for high end gift items at low cost.  She is also an expert on texting,

lingo and electronic communication. We'll be discussing the way those formats impact the lives of teens and even how teenagers today can be mindful of the example they set for younger siblings and friends. They're watching! :)

Tune in at 10pm on Thursday, or look in the right sidebar for the podcast to download. We're also on iTunes!

Join Teen Talk Radio with Carl Blunt, Author of The Life Book on Thursday, 10/28 at 10pm EST.

For more than 20 years, Carl Blunt’s mission has been to saturate lives and the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. He has led international and national ministries and has served in pastoral leadership roles for local churches. As the creator of an international school prayer network, leadership and personal development systems, and student ministry and biblical discipleship programs, his models and strategies have been used by thousands of churches and individuals in more than 80 countries. 

By God’s grace, Blunt has also had the privilege of speaking to thousands of adults and teenagers throughout the U.S. and Canada. As an engaging and passionate thinker and presenter, Blunt’s straightforward approach has been welcomed on radio and television programs in the U.S. and around the world.

Blunt currently serves as the president and CEO of Saturate: The Life Book Movement, a national ministry created to “saturate” high schools with God’s Word. Working through local churches, The Life Book Movement places free copies of The Life Book in the hands of Christian students to pass out in their public high schools. The goal is to ensure that every student in every high school in the United States has an opportunity to receive the gift of The Life Book. Because it is perfectly legal for students to distribute religious literature in school, this approach presents a phenomenal opportunity to impact a generation with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Blunt is the author of The Life Book, a unique presentation of Scripture designed to engage high school students with the truth of God’s Word as they are introduced to Jesus Christ. Using an interactive format with engaging student comments and real-life questions in the margins, readers are drawn into the only story that can change their lives forever. Blunt completed his graduate work through Harvard, Gordon-Conwell, and Ashland. He currently lives in the Nashville area with his wife and three children.

__________________________________

Right before Mr. Blunt comes on the show, I'll be chatting briefly with Shannon McNamara, last year's National Honoree for Encourage Volunteerism Today.

Here are some words from Shannon, herself:

I founded a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization, SHARE, (SHannon’s After-school Reading Exchange), to empower girls in Africa through education,www.shareinafrica.org.  I have spent the last 3 summers in Tanzania doing field work for SHARE.  I help transform dilapidated school rooms into libraries, equipping them with donated books from the US.  I then open “girls only” reading programs to teach English.  Our motto: “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader”. 
 
I have seen with my own eyes how girls struggle to become literate because they are expected to perform household chores, such as fetching water, collecting firewood, and planting beans, instead of pursuing their studies.  This is not the case with the boys!  Each summer I see girls walking to school in bare feet, with empty stomachs, and sitting four to a desk in dirty classrooms.  This really disturbs me.  That's why I founded SHARE, and I am dedicated to addressing this problem of gender inequality by helping to empower school girls in Africa through literacy. 
 
SHARE has created 4 school libraries with +23,000 books and thousands of school supplies.  The libraries are used by over 3,200 African students and 45 teachers.  Many SHARE girls are now passing the exams to enter secondary school.  SHARE’s “Light for Learning” campaign raised $34,000 enabling us to bring electricity to 3 schools!  We also implemented a thriving Pen Pal Program with 72 African and American teenage girls.  Slowly but surely the SHARE girls will achieve equality and become leaders in their villages, using their education to improve their own lives, their families and their communities. 
 
In the USA I spend 15-20 solid hours a week working on SHARE during the school year and during the summer SHARE is like a full time job!  I work 40-50 hours a week during the summer, and I have worked for a total of 6 weeks in Africa, full time, during the past 3 summers. I guess you could say I’m married to SHARE!!  But all the hard work has paid off, the girls in Africa are now dreaming about the future, and I have received some amazing recognition for my efforts.  One highlight is winning the National Prudential Spirit of Community Award, which is the most amazing honor there is!

Over the past 15 years, Prudential Spirit of Community Awards have been given to more than 90,000 middle and high school students across the country for helping the less fortunate, promoting health and safety, protecting the environment, and serving their communities through many other volunteer activities.  This year’s deadline is coming up fast – so if you’re a volunteer and want to get involved, you can apply online athttp://spirit.prudential.com or at www.principals.org/spirit by November 1, 2010!

Claire's biological mom became pregnant with her at the age of 13. Her mother took her to an abortion clinic where she had a surgical abortion. A few weeks later she realized she was still pregnant so she found an out-of-state late-term abortion clinic to do a second abortion. At the clinic they told her she had been pregnant with twins one was aborted; one survived...

Tune in to Teen Talk Radio tonight at 10pm  EST to hear Claire's amazing story. We'll have a couple of teens joining us to give their reactions to BloodMoney and to hear their reaction to Claire's journey. You can listen at www.choicesradio.com starting at 10pm EST. If you have a question for Claire, or for the teen panel, call 877-464-4869. Or you can email me, leave a comment here, or join the chat room during the show. Podcast downloads available by Friday.

There's been a last-minute change to the Teen Talk Radio schedule. As you know, Robin Jones Gunn was originally scheduled to join me this Thursday evening, but she's now unable to make it. I'm thrilled to be able to announce that Melody Carlson will be my guest instead (WOW! right?), and Robin Jones Gunn will be joining me on November 18th.

But if I know my readers/listeners, I know that Melody Carlson is an exciting guest! You all love her and her books. How do I know? Because one of the top questions I get asked at events is if I know her personally. :) Well, after Thursday night, you can know her personally, too! Join us as we chat about her heart for teens. We'll talk about her books, her inspiration, and her upcoming projects.

A recent project is the On the Runway series. The first book in that series is pictured here, but there are four available now.

A recipe for success or a design for disaster? Although they're sisters, Paige and Erin Forrester are like oil and water, night and day, denim and silk. Paige is an outgoing fashionista who loves to be the center of attention, while Erin is more comfortable sporting vintage garb and recording the action around her. When a near disaster turns into the opportunity of a lifetime, these two very-different sisters are given the chance to star in their own fashion-TV show. A guest spot on a hot teen-reality series and their first big red-carpet assignment give this unlikely partnership plenty of room for success-and even more for failure.

The Secret Series is another project Melody has been working on.

Struggling 17-year-old high school senior Adele has a secret . . . she's homeless. Adele enjoys being with the "nice kids" in the church youth group, but she has more in common with the young people who live on the streets. Which group of friends will she choose? And what's God's role in her life?

Book one, pictured here, is available now. Book two in The Secrets Series, Shattered, will release in 2011.

We'll talk about all of that, plus her popular True Colors series, too. Be sure to tune in on Thursday at 10PM EST right here!  As always, you can get the show via podcast after it airs or on iTunes. If you have a question for Melody Carlson, you can call the show at 866-464-4869 or visit the chat room at the top of this page.

Thanks for tuning in and supporting Teen Talk Radio!

Don't forget, next week is the teen panel to discuss the Blood Money documentary/expose' on the abortion industry. Don't miss that one!

CAN AN AMISH GIRL REALLY LEAVE THE SIMPLE LIFE BEHIND?

Hillary Manton Lodge Releases Simply Sara, Second Book in PLAIN & SIMPLE Series.

EUGENE, Ore.-Leaving a familiar life is never easy, but Sara Burkholder makes a bold decision to do just that. In Hillary Manton Lodge's new release, Simply Sara, second book in the PLAIN & SIMPLE series, Sara wants to leave her Amish world behind and live with Jayne-whom many readers will happily remember from the first book in the Lodge series, Plain Jayne-hoping that some day she can have a future in fashion.

Written in Lodge's fresh, fun, and compelling style, Simply Sara centers on Sara and the friends who are a part of her new life. Each day is a world of new experiences. As Sara buys Englisher clothes, leans how to wear makeup, and finds a job at a bookstore, she starts a journey to becoming the person she might have been had she not been born into an Amish family. But then, when Sara faces an unexpected challenge, she wonders if her faith can carry her through.

Can a Plain girl really fit into an Englisher world? With her refreshing writing style, Lodge has made Simply Sara more than just the latest "Amish read." Her journalism background, endearing characters, and stellar research combine to give readers an inside perspective of both the struggle and the humor inherent in a life-altering decision. Current Lodge fans and new readers alike will fall in love with Lodge's expertly crafted cast of characters who join Sara for the biggest and most trying trek of her life. 

Hillary Manton Lodge is a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and is the author of Plain Jayne and Simply Sara. When not working on her next novel, Hillary enjoys photography, art films, and discovering new restaurants. She and her husband, Danny, live in the Pacific Northwest. Discover more at www.hillarymantonlodge.com.

Join us on Teen Talk Radio Thursday, October 7th. We'll talk abotu Hillary's books and lots of other fun stuff! 

Upcoming guests:

October 14th: Robin Jones Gunn

October 21st: BloodMoney Teen Panel 

Fran Pitre is the mother of Twins x 3 and the author of the book by the same name. Join us this week as Fran and I discuss the joys of raising multiples. Interested? Boring! Huh?

Well, how about if I bring Fran's teenage twin daughters, Lauren and Kathryn, on the show to talk about what it's like to be a twin. And, even more, what it's like to be a twin in a house with THREE sets!

Plus, as I've been promising for a few weeks, I'm going to have Kyann on for a few minutes at the start of the show. She's the editor of the new Bloom! magazine. She'll tell you all about it, so be sure to tune in!

You can download the first issue of Bloom! Magazine HERE.

Future shows you don't want to miss:

October 7th: Tricia Goyer

October 14th: Robin Jones Gunn

October 21st: BloodMoney Teen Panel 

BloodMoney is a documentary film that exposes the truth behind the Abortion Industry from the Pro Life perspective. This film will examine the history of abortion in America, from the inception of Planned Parenthood and the profitability of abortion clinics, to Roe v. Wade, to the denial of when life begins, to the fight to save the lives of innocent babies, and the devastating effects it has had on the women that have had them.

You HAVE to see this:

This Thursday, 9/23, at 10pm EST, I will have David Kyle, producer and director of Blood Money, as my guest on Teen Talk Radio! We'll talk about the film itself, how it came about, why David Kyle is passionate abotu this issue and we'll talk about the issues themselves. You really don't want to miss this show--we'll be taking callers and emails during the show. But, if you do miss the live version, the show will be available by podcast at the TTR link or on iTunes.

THEN...

A few weeks from now, on October 21st, I'll be hosting a teen panel who will be talking about their reactions to the Blood Money Documentary. I'm telling you, these two shows will be compelling! I hope you'll tune in with us and, even better, tell all of your friends!

In fact, I'm so excited about these shows, I'm going to hold a special giveaway for a set of my Scenarios books to be selected from anyone who promotes either of these shows. Leave a comment on my blog to tell me how you did it: Facebook, twitter, blog, emails, anything you can think of to get the word out.

Thanks for partnering with me to spread the word about such an important cause.

Future shows you won't want to miss:

September 30rd: Fran Pitre and her two daughter...being one of multiple multiples. Also, special guest, Kyann C./Bloom Magazine

October 7th: Tricia Goyer

October 14th: Robin Jones Gunn

October 21st: BloodMoney Teen Panel 

You can download the first issue of Bloom! Magazine HERE.