Choose NOW Radio airs Fridays LIVE from 9-10 CST at www.toginet.com!

Or you can come back here for the podcast, or subscribe on iTunes for FREE to Parent Talk or Teen Talk.

Opening Teen Talk is our very own Stefne Miller.

Stefne writes about authenticity...but that's not what we're going to be talking about! She has some of the coolest things going on! Her book, Collision, is being made into a movie and her books Salvaged and Rise are being made into a mini-series. This is happening right now as Stefne is fresh off the plane from LA. Don't you want to know all about it? I know I do! We'll find out what the experience has been like and how it's felt to see her stories and characters come to life. Join us!      

Next up, Shannon Deitz joins us to chat about healing after abuse.

Shannon Deitz is a woman in love with God and excited about her faith. But it wasn’t always that way. She was only 3 years old when the abuse began by a family member. While still a teen, her boyfriend was tragically killed in an auto accident, and she began to question a God who would claim a young man with so much life yet to be lived. At the fragile age of seventeen, she was raped and she began to distrust a God who would allow such a thing. Again, as a freshman in college, she was raped a second time, and she began to earnestly put as much distance between herself and God as she possibly could.

It has been said that the best thing about hitting bottom is that, when we do, we have no place else to go but up. Such was the case with Deitz. Growing up with such evil it is no wonder she struggled with low self-esteem.  At the age of 27, having run from God as far as she could go, she found herself at the bottom of a life that was no longer tolerable. Having no place to go but up, she looked to Heaven. And there was God, surrounding her with His peace. It was the beginning of a love story that has grown more beautiful with each passing day.

Shortly after her love affair with God began in earnest, Deitz felt a distinct calling to begin teaching the teens at her local church. Not only did this give her an opportunity to share her own struggles as a teen and tell others how God changed her personal tragedy into triumph, but it also allowed her to look beyond the traditions to more deeply explore the intricacies of her faith.

Deitz purpose in founding Hopeful Hearts was to help give a voice to those who can’t speak out, to help and encourage survivors of abuse. “My experience in helping survivors of abuse, along with what I find to be true for myself, is no matter the age or the type of abuse you don’t feel like you have a voice.  You are either shamed into being quiet or made to feel guilty so you don’t tell, or belittled enough that you begin to believe you deserve what is being done or said.  You don’t matter.  I think it’s time for survivors to recognize that they do matter and they are not alone.  It is my goal (or desire) to be a voice for them and hopefully encourage survivors of all ages, genders and races to speak out and begin to talk about the abuse.  

This week on Teen Talk: Bethany Jett and Ginger Garrett

Getting us started on Parent Talk this week is Bethany Jett! Bethany Jett write the On Friendship and the On Dating columns for Choose NOW Ministries. So who better to talk abou this issue? She has some great insight into BFF and Boyfriends. Boyfriends will come and go, but a bff will do life with you! Join us to hear Bethany's story and her advice to you as you navigate these important relationships.

With five years of "youth sponsor interning" under her belt by the age of 21,Bethany Jett knew God’s purpose involved working with young adults. She taught abstinence education (RESPECT) in high school, and began youth sponsoring at 17. Five months after winning the Florida Christian Writers Conference 2012 Writer of the Year award, Bethany Jett signed contracts with the MacGregor Literary Agency and Regal Publishing. Her debut book, The Cinderella Rule, hits bookstores in April of 2013. She is her husband’s greatest asset in their youth ministry, mentoring teens and young adults. Bethany is a writer and speaker, as well as Sunday School teacher, Bible study leader, cheerleading coach, and mother of three adorable little boys.   

Next up, Ginger Garrett

From the moment her marriage to prince Ahab thrusts her into the intrigues of palace life, Jezebel’s exotic beauty opens doors and her will breaks down walls. Torn from her homeland and wed to power in a strange country, Jezebel vows to create a legacy and power all her own. Some might call her a manipulative schemer, bent on having her way. But they don’t know the whole story, and she was much, much worse

As she moves through the halls of power, her heart struggles between devotion to the gods she worships, the prince who loves her, and her thirst for revenge. She sparks a battle between her strangely powerless gods and the God of palace administrator Obadiah—a God who confronts her with surprising might. She will fight, though victory may cost her everythin

Ginger Garrett is the author of the Chronicles of the Scribes series (In the Shadow of Lions, In the Arms of Immortals, In the Eyes of Eternity), Dark Hour, and Beauty Secrets of the Bible. Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther was recognized as one of the top five novels of 2006 by the ECPA.

Choose NOW Radio airs Fridays LIVE from 10-11 EST at www.toginet.com!

Or you can come back here for the podcast, or subscribe on iTunes for FREE to Parent Talk or Teen Talk.

This week on Teen Talk, Tricia Goyer and Nicole O'Dell on Teen Pregnancy

Tricia Goyer has written more than thirty-five books, including both novels that delight and entertain readers and non- fiction titles that offer encouragement and hope. She has also published more than 500 articles in national publications such as Guideposts,Thriving Family, Proverbs 31, and HomeLife Magazine. And, Tricia writes the On Teen Pregnancy column for Choose NOW Ministries!

This week on Teen Talk, Tricia and I will be chatting about the good choices teen moms and teen moms-to-be can and do make. It's important that you recognize the good and let it empower you to continue in those good choices.  

Then, Erynn Mangum with Paige Torn

About the Author

Erynn Mangum is the author of the popular Lauren Holbrook (Miss Match, ReMatch, and Match Point) and Maya Davis (Cool Beans, Latte Daze, and Double Shot) series of books and the recent novel Sketchy Behavior. Her writing can also be found on her personal blog and on Scribble Chicks, a blog for young writers. To find out more about Erynn, go to www.erynnmangum.com.

Choose NOW Radio

Fridays LIVE from 9-10 CST at www.toginet.com!

Or you can come back here for the podcast,

or subscribe on iTunes for FREE to Parent Talk or Teen Talk.

On Teen Talk, we're opening with Bethany Jett!

Bethany Jett, Choose NOW Ministries columnist for the On Dating and a On Friendships columns, has just released her new book, The Cinderella Rule! If you're of dating age (or you're parenting someone who is) you need this book!!

Discover the rewards in store for those who patiently wait on the Lord for His purpose and plan.

Our world glorifies teen pregnancy, premarital sex and the role of domineering females. Girls are sexting, experimenting and initiating relationships. For young women this world is not only perilous, but deeply frustrating and disappointing.  

The Cinderella Rule encourages young women to understand that God created them to be His crowning achievement and teaches them to insist that the guys in their life treat them as such. While it is fun to be pursued, readers will take an in-depth look at how young women should act when the guy worth pursuing them shows up.

When young women understand who God created them to be, they understand more fully the confidence they need to set higher standards for themselves as well as the wonderful rewards in store for those who patiently wait on the Lord for His purpose and plan.  

   

And closing out the Teen Talk show, I'll welcome Nikki Arana who just won the 2013 ECPA Christian Book Award for fiction!

Author and speaker Nikki Arana bravely deals with one of the most relevant issues facing believers today— sharing their Christian faith both with and in spite of the quickly growing Muslim population in America. Through her ministry, A Voice for the Persecuted, Arana has been reaching out to people persecuted for their faith for many years.

In her first suspense novel, Arana looks at some of the most difficult security issues Americans face, from full-blown terrorism to the dangers of a Christian sharing his or her faith with the wrong person.

In The Next Target, Austia has a busy outreach to American Muslims, teaching them to speak English, assisting with job placement, and helping them navigate American culture. As least that’s how it looks. Underneath this politically correct structure, Austia has another, more important mission. She works diligently to win Muslims to Christ.

When her friend and student is murdered, Austia finds her mission threatened. Radical Muslim extremists are targeting her ministry, the women she serves, and even her very life. As the number of those in whom she can confide dwindles, Austia begins to wonder if there is anyone she can trust. Will she be able to elude those who are dead set on eliminating their next target?

Author and speaker Nikki Arana has received numerous awards for her writing, including the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year award and Christianbook.com Top 20 Novel of the Year for The Winds of Sonoma. And just this past week, the 2013 ECPA award for fiction. Through her ministry, A Voice for the Persecuted, she inspires hearts toward evangelizing the Muslim community. Learn more about at her outreach at avoiceforthepersecuted.com and discover more about Arana at nikkiarana.com.  

Choose NOW Radio airs Fridays LIVE from 10-11 EST at www.toginet.com!

Or you can ome back here for the podcast, or subscribe on iTunes for FREE to Parent Talk or Teen Talk.

This week on Parent Talk (10:00), Cara Putman and Nicole O'Dell on Being Supermom

Cara Putman is the Choose NOW Ministries columnist on the issue of Doing it All. Why do we do this to ourselves as parents? Whose standards are we trying to live up to? Will we ever feel like we've met the expectations society has for us? Is there a better way? Hear from the Do-It-All Mom herself, Cara Putman. Cara is an attorney, author, professor, work-at-home-mom, homeschooler, laundress, cook, shopper, etc. She definitely does…it…all! Cara and I will look at those things and more as we dive into this issue headfirst. You ready? I know I am! (Spoken like a true supermom!)

And, Nicole O'Dell on dealing with Tragedy

In the second segment of Parent Talk this week, I'll be looking at what we need to do as parents to help our teens and tweens deal with tragedy and the fear it can cause. Events like the Newtown shootings, the Boston Marathon bombings, the attacks on the World Trade Center...they are real, and increasingly common events, and without the right context, they can elicit feelings of fear and unrest. We have comfort in the Gospel, and we know how the story ends. But it's hard to convey that to a confused teenager. Tune in as Nicole O'Dell offers five specific things you can do to help your kids with this issue.  

This week on Teen Talk (10:30), Gina Conroy and Nicole O'Dell on Dreaming Big

What are your wildest dreams? Does a dream equate to a calling from God? How can you tell the difference, and how can you make it happen? What is a dream detour and how can we cope with them?

Gina Conroy focuses on dreaming big and she’ll help you chase hard after those deep, heart desires that burn within you. And for those of you who haven’t quite figured out what your passions are just yet, Gina will help you do just that. Is okay to dream big–but it’s even better to put one foot in front of the other in hot pursuit of those dreams!

Then, Nicole O'Dell on dealing with Tragedy

In the second segment, I'm going to talk about tragedy. What you, as teens, can do about those tough things that happen in life. Death. Destruction. Terrorism. Loss. So many things that cause heartache and confusion. But there are answers! Tune in to find out what they are!

Choose NOW Radio airs Fridays LIVE from 10-11 EST at www.toginet.com!

Or you ccan ome back here for the podcast, or subscribe on iTunes for FREE to Parent Talk or Teen Talk.

This week on Parent Talk, John Robinson, the last days

John Robinson is going to tell us when Jesus is coming back for the church! Okay, not quite. But maybe he'll get close. Tune in to find out. This would be a great opportunity to get ready for the tough questions your kids are going to ask you about this subject! It may just change the way you look at the world, and the final seconds we're in.

The Bible makes it clear no one knows the day or the hour of Christ's return. But it doesn't say we won't know the month. Or the week. When every Christian simultaneously receives a message that Christ will return sometime in the next seven days, the world is thrown into stark panic. Two old friends, hardened combat veterans from the closing days of the Vietnam War, set out on a suspenseful quest to redeem that time. What they can't know is they and their entire church have been targeted for satanic annihilation.

Bestselling author Robert Liparulo, author of the Dreamhouse Kings Series, said, "Forget everything you think you know about apocalyptic thrillers. This one will enthrall you and force you to rethink what it means to be brave, to BELIEVE."

Award winning author Nancy Mehl, author of the Ivy Towers Mystery Series, said, "Robinson delivers one of the most powerful 'end of days' novels ever written. Highly recommended!" And Eric Wiggin, author of Blood Moon Rising, said, "Heading Home is the flip side of Left Behind--on steroids."  

And on Teen Talk, Laura L. Smith, on True Beauty

Laura L. Smith, author of the On True Beauty column here at Choose NOW Ministries is my guest. We'll be talking about true beauty, positive self-talk, and what it means to have a beauty playlist. Laura's got some great insights into learning how to see yourself as your heavenly Father sees you...and why that's enough.

She'll share info with you about her new releases from PlaylistFiction.com and, as a special thank you just for you lovelies here at Choose NOW Ministries, if you click the image below and use the promo code YV95F by April 26th to get book one, It's Complicated, for $3.99, on any e-reader device. Then, be sure to pick up new release, It's Over!

                   .

Choose NOW Radio airs Fridays LIVE from 10-11 EST at www.toginet.com!

Or you ccan ome back here for the podcast, or subscribe on iTunes for FREE to Parent Talk or Teen Talk.

Choose NOW Radio airs Fridays LIVE from 10-11 EST at www.toginet.com!

Or you ccan ome back here for the podcast, or subscribe on iTunes for FREE to Parent Talk or Teen Talk.

This week on Parent Talk, John Robinson, the last days

John Robinson is going to tell us when Jesus is coming back for the church! Okay, not quite. But maybe he'll get close. Tune in to find out. This would be a great opportunity to get ready for the tough questions your kids are going to ask you about this subject! It may just change the way you look at the world, and the final seconds we're in.

The Bible makes it clear no one knows the day or the hour of Christ's return. But it doesn't say we won't know the month. Or the week. When every Christian simultaneously receives a message that Christ will return sometime in the next seven days, the world is thrown into stark panic. Two old friends, hardened combat veterans from the closing days of the Vietnam War, set out on a suspenseful quest to redeem that time. What they can't know is they and their entire church have been targeted for satanic annihilation.

Bestselling author Robert Liparulo, author of the Dreamhouse Kings Series, said, "Forget everything you think you know about apocalyptic thrillers. This one will enthrall you and force you to rethink what it means to be brave, to BELIEVE."

Award winning author Nancy Mehl, author of the Ivy Towers Mystery Series, said, "Robinson delivers one of the most powerful 'end of days' novels ever written. Highly recommended!" And Eric Wiggin, author of Blood Moon Rising, said, "Heading Home is the flip side of Left Behind--on steroids."  

And on Teen Talk, Laura L. Smith, on True Beauty

Laura L. Smith, author of the On True Beauty column here at Choose NOW Ministries is my guest. We'll be talking about true beauty, positive self-talk, and what it means to have a beauty playlist. Laura's got some great insights into learning how to see yourself as your heavenly Father sees you...and why that's enough.

She'll share info with you about her new releases from PlaylistFiction.com and, as a special thank you just for you lovelies here at Choose NOW Ministries, if you click the image below and use the promo code YV95F by April 26th to get book one, It's Complicated, for $3.99, on any e-reader device. Then, be sure to pick up new release, It's Over!

                   .

Choose NOW Radio airs Fridays LIVE from 10-11 EST at www.toginet.com!

Or you ccan ome back here for the podcast, or subscribe on iTunes for FREE to Parent Talk or Teen Talk.

First on Teen Talk, Heather Burch:

Halflings scribe Heather Burch pits her 17-year-old heroine Nikki Youngblood up against her most ominous opponents to date, a demonic seeker and a fully powered Damon Vessler, in the eagerly awaited third book in the supernatural series, AVENGER (Zondervan; $14.99; April 2013).

In the exciting new sequel, fans (aka "Fanlings") will reunite with the tomboy who, after wounding Damon in last year's Guardian, must find the courage to defeat him once and for all. Nikki is adjusting to life as a Halfling when she finds herself on the run from the deadly seeker Damon sent after her. With her life and those of the other Halflings (including boyfriend, Mace, and admirer, Raven) threatened, she is forced to become the hero they all know her to be.

Put to the test, Nikki determines quickly that her karate sword is not the answer to conquering her adversaries, but it is her faith that is her best weapon. From the start, Burch captures readers and places them at the center of the action. They will anxiously follow along as Nikki faces off against several dark forces, leading to a nail-biting battle with Damon. It is this escalating tension that fans have come to anticipate from Burch. The fight sequences are only part of what will keep readers glued to each page.

Those still wondering about the romantic cliffhanger in Guardian will discover in AVENGER that although Nikki may be settled into her relationship with Mace, Raven still waits in the wings. In fact, Raven may be the only one who can keep Nikki safe. While she's sure Mace is the one for her, Nikki can't help feeling respect and even a glimmer of adoration for Raven. At a time when both their fates are in her hands, she struggles to make sense of it all.

Burch scores again with a brooding new tale in the Halflings series that clenches readers with a fascinating portrayal of young woman torn between her heart and her destiny. The author's perfectly crafted high-intensity scenes are countered with delicate romantic and faith-based elements that create a well-balanced, nuanced story. Fanlings new and old will not be disappointed with AVENGER. By the end of the book, they will be clamoring to find out what happens next in this hypnotic saga.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Heather Burch grew up in Branson, Missouri, where she first discovered her love of fiction. A former esthetician and now an ordained minister and motivational speaker, Burch writes full time. Her YA series debuted in 2012 with Halflings, followed later that year by its sequel, Guardian. She lives in Venice, Florida, with her husband and two sons. halflings.ning.com

Next up on Teen Talk, Penny Whipps:

It takes just one act of destructive behavior.

It takes just one time of keeping it secret.

Good kids are living dangerously and friends are afraid to talk.

It takes just one time to lose a life.

My name is Penny Whipps. On September 6, 2008, my son Kyle died of an accidental heroin overdose while he was away for the weekend attending a series of concerts with friends. Two days before he died, Kyle called and told me about his plans and whom he was going with. When Kyle mentioned one friend in particular, it gave me cause for concern because this friend had not been a good influence on Kyle in the past. I voiced my uneasiness but he assured me that everything would be fine. That was my last conversation with Kyle and two days later he was dead.

As the week after Kyle’s death unfolded, I met with the young men that were with him the night he died. Each of his friends provided an account for what happened prior to Kyle’s death and how his body was discovered. A most painful realization dawned on me as I listened to their stories. Each friend acknowledged knowing Kyle was engaging in the dangerous activity but also admitted to saying nothing to him or anyone else who could provide him help.

One friend who attended that weekend told me he knew Kyle was acting a little differently and possible had taken something that was dangerous, because he hadn’t seen Kyle acting that way in a long time. This friend wanted to say something but he didn’t want Kyle to get mad at him and decided to give him some time and then talk to him in the morning. When they went to wake him, Kyle was dead. Later, he told me he would regret that decision for the rest of his life. That’s how Just1x began. We believe so strongly that students can help save lives by allowing the story of Kyle’s death to encourage and challenge them to break the code of silence and possibly become a lifesaver for their friends.

Join un on Friday morning at 11:00 EST to find out more! 

First up on Teen Talk, Erin Bishop, founder of The Whatever Girls

The Whatever Girls are intentional moms and intentional daughters. We exist to empower girls to choose God’s best for their lives by exemplifying the pillars of Philippians 4:8: “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

As one who stumbled through middle and high school making a series of poor decisions, my hearts desire is for teen girls to know their true value and identity comes from Jesus.  Stability, acceptance and unconditional love are critical for shaping our daughters character. Kids are engaging in sexual activities and experimenting with drugs and alcohol at an astounding rate and age.  From bullying to girl drama to dating and pressures to perform and fit in, today’s kids have it rougher than ever.  I knew if I didn’t do something radical and intentional to prepare my daughter for middle school and beyond, she could easily become another statistic.

I have God sized dreams for my daughter and other teen girls.  I want to equip them to swim upstream against the currents of pressures in these coming years and to be surrounded with like-minded friends who can be used by God as bright lights in a dark time.

What do the Whatever Girls do?

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”  There’s strength in numbers.  We are a group of like-minded mothers and daughters who are intentionally involved in supporting and holding each other accountable throughout the teen years and beyond. Our small group meets twice a month to discuss the issues today’s teen girl faces such as: boys, sex, dating, our faith, friends, school, drugs and alcohol, peer pressure and more. We also have fun! We like chick flicks, crafty stuff, spa nights, ice cream sundae and cookie bars and some of our girls are big fans of bacon. We also put on faith based community events that we would love to see you at.  Be sure to check our events page often! Erin Bishop is the Founder and Director of the Whatever Girls Ministry. The Whatever Girls mission is to empower teen girls to choose God's best for their lives by exemplifying the pillars of Philippians 4:8 and their motto is “intentional moms and intentional daughters”. Erin lives in Washington State with her husband and their two children. The Whatever Girls are hosting a conference for mothers and daughters in April 2014. Visit the Whatever Girls at: www.thewhatevergirls.com  

Next up: Dr. Tara Fairfield on Forgiving your enemies

As Christians we are taught to be forgiving, but how do we handle the people who really hurt us, who persecute us, gossip about us, betray us?

Luke 6:27 says to Love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you. How is that even possible?? Forgiveness is about the state of your heart and your relationship with God. Unforgiveness is bondage to the situation or person and it provides an opportunity for the enemy to destroy you, your relationships, etc. He seeks to steal, kill, and destroy you and bitterness is a great way to do that because it can lead to actual, physical ailments. Tune in to Teen Talk as Nicole O'Dell and Dr. Tara Fairfield, author of Makai Queen, answer questions like:

• What are the Scriptural benefits to forgiving someone?
•  If I forgive someone, does that mean I have to stay friends with them?

• Do I have to be nice to girls who are mean?
• What if someone won’t forgive me?

Have questions on this subject? You can post them here or tweet me at @Nicole_Odell or @ChooseNOWradio. I'd love to hear from you!

Jackson Thatcher

released his first acoustic guitar solo album, The Path, on Tuesday, February 19 at Puckett’s Nashville. The 14-year-old guitarist has been featured as a solo artist with the Cool Springs Youth Orchestra, on stage at B.B. Kings in Memphis, and several venues around the greater Nashville area including Tin Roof Nashville, The Factory at Franklin, The Red House, Mellow Mushroom, Franklin Mercantile, and Trevecca Nazarene University.

Jackson plays electric guitar for Cumberland Blue, winner of the Nashville Blues Society competition. Earlier this month, Cumberland Blue represented Nashville at the International Blues Challenge for a showcase on Beale Street in Memphis. Cumberland Blue has played at 3rd & Lindsey, Mercy Lounge on the Billy Block Show, Hard Rock Cafe Nashville and other venues.

Beside his solo and band gigs, Jackson is also an Assistant Teacher at Nolensville Guitar Academy, where he’s been studying guitar since he was eight years old. Thatcher’s acoustic guitar influences are Andy McKee, Sungha Jung, Tommy Emmanuel and his mentor Pete Huttlinger.

On acoustic guitar, Thatcher incorporates the fingerpicking style of Huttlinger with the percussive style of McKee. His electric guitar influences are Pat Metheny, Joe Satriani and his mentor Mike Bauer. For those interested in booking Jackson Thatcher for public venues or private parties, contact Jill Thatcher at (615) 776-3232. Find out more about Jackson Thatcher by visiting JacksonThatcher.com; Facebook.com/Jack and tune in to Teen Talk!  

  Next up on Teen Talk: Stephanie Morrill with a FREE book for you!

Welcome to the world of Skylar Hoyt, a high school senior whose exotic Hawaiian looks have propelled her to the height of the "in" crowd, but who's no longer sure that's where she really fits. New friends, old friends, a reluctant romance, and a family crisis swirl around Skylar as she tries to keep it together and figure out who she really wants to be. Debut novelist Stephanie Morrill opens her first young adult series with a compelling story about characters every teen will recognize and relate to. Morrill addresses real teen issues, like popularity, friendship, sexuality, and more, with grace and style.

Skylar Hoyt is a girl who seems to have it all--she's pretty, popular, and has a great-looking boyfriend. Her senior year should be the best one yet. But a horrible experience at a summer party has changed everything. Now she's vowing to make better choices, including going back to church.

But as Skylar tries to gain new perspective on life, the world as she knows it begins to fall apart. Her parents are constantly fighting. Her younger sister has a big secret that Skylar is forced to keep. The guy she's dating is annoyingly jealous. And the new guy down the street is just plain annoying. In the midst of the chaos, Skylar starts to wonder who her real friends are and, even more importantly, who she is.

Stephanie Morrill is a twenty-something living in Overland Park, Kansas with her husband and two kids. Her only talents are reading, writing, and drinking coffee, so career options were somewhat limited. Fortunately she discovered a passion for young adult novels and has been writing them ever since.

Stephanie is the author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series and is currently working on other young adult projects. She enjoys encouraging and teaching teen writers on her blog, www.GoTeenWriters.com. To connect with Stephanie and read samples of her books, check out www.StephanieMorrill.com

Brain Tumor, Baby, New Album?

This week, the independently-produced Wellspring in the Wilderness has released from Victoria Griffith, a new artist from Alabama who, while recording the 10-song CD, learned she was pregnant with her first child, followed soon after with news of a brain tumor requiring immediate removal. Navigating this circuitous life path, Griffith has emerged successfully on the other side with a riveting testimony and a CD filled with songs that exude hope and grace, and perfectly showcase the singer's stunning, country-inflected vocals.

While working on the project, the singer began to get requests for her testimony. "My story seemed kind of boring," says Griffith, who had grown up in a godly family and asked Jesus to be her savior as a young child. "I teased my husband that I wished I had a testimony as good as his!" Griffith's husband, Ryan, had been diagnosed with and cured of a brain tumor before the couple married. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.

"My parents and my husband were in the room when I received my diagnosis, and they were obviously distraught," Griffith recalls. "And for a few seconds I was scared, but I can honestly say that I had a real sense of peace that everything was going to be okay." Thankfully, the surgeons were able to remove the entire tumor, which proved to be benign, and the baby came through the anesthesia just fine. Molly was born right on schedule, weighing in at 9 lbs. 4 oz. and completely healthy.

Because Griffith had finished laying down her vocal tracks prior to her surgery, Dove Award-winning songwriter and producer Michael Puryear, who also wrote eight of the CD's 10 songs, was able to keep progress on the project continuing as Griffith recovered. Griffith and Puryear joined forces with some of Nashville's finest musicians to create a collection of music that covers a vast expanse of spiritual and emotional territory. She celebrates Christ's victory over death in the rollicking country rocker, "The Way of the Cross," and explores the exquisite and inexplicable joy that results from praising God through the dark times in the gentle worship ballad, "Offer My Praise." She's not afraid to acknowledge the reality of living in a world filled with heartbreak on the compelling track, "Don't Waste the Heartache."

Musically, the songs range from radio-ready, up-tempo anthems like "Burden of Love" and "Let It Be For Love" to peace-evoking Gospel-tinged hymns such as the project's title cut, "Wellspring in the Wilderness." Griffith's rich southern vocals shine bright when it comes time to cut loose, as on the encouraging country anthem, "Heaven Awaits." "Especially after what I had just been through, I really wanted this project to offer hope in Christ," Griffith says "That was the filter every song had to pass through. I wanted songs that real people going through life's everyday problems could relate to."

Griffith now knows what it feels like to have a "real testimony." After all, she's had a brain tumor and lived to tell about it. But she also realizes that she had a testimony all along. "I had lived a really blessed life and God was in my heart, but somehow I didn't think that was enough," she says. "That kind of thinking is such an error. Of course, it is enough. Whatever you are going through, whether big or small, His grace is sufficient. There is hope in knowing that. It is like finding a wellspring in the wilderness."

Next on Teen Talk, Jill Williamson and Stephanie Morrill will be joining us to share their new book for aspiring teen writers. 

Go Teen Writers

The question we hear most from new writers is, “How do I get published?” And the answer is: Respect your dream.

Every writer’s journey is different, yet as we’ve reflected on our experiences and those of the writers around us, we've seen time and time again that those who are successful are the ones who had the patience and endurance to stick with this writing thing. They didn't look for shortcuts (at least, not for long), nor did they quit after five, ten, or one hundred rejections. We can’t make the process easy for you, but it’s our hope that this book will be a tool you can turn to time and time again when you’re thinking, “Okay … what’s next?” Includes tips for:

• Getting published
• Finding the right agent
• Book surgery
• Thicker plots
• Deeper characters
• Richer settings
• Weaving in theme
• Dealing with people who don't get your writing

Stephanie Morrill and Jill Williamson have written a combined two dozen speculative and contemporary novels for teens. They also blog obsessively at www.goteenwriters.com. When not writing or blogging, they can be found at the teen table at writer's conferences or wherever chocolate is being given away. Come hang out with Stephanie at www.stephaniemorrill.com and Jill at www.jillwilliamson.com.

Thoughts That Fell From a Taco Shell is a captivating journey of humorous discovery in practical Christian living. What began as a journal scratched onto four Taco Bell® napkins grew to a full-fledged account of one man’s desire to impress God. Is it even possible to impress God? Does he regret creating us with free will? Do nuns enjoy roller coasters? These are the types of burning questions Ouellette wrestles with, pokes at, and somewhat tackles.

It’s a wildly sarcastic, yet wonderfully sincere book written in the style of bestselling author Donald Miller, in which you journey into the mind of Matthew Ouellette. Ouellette captured first place in the Non-Fiction category of the Deep River Books’ 2012 Writer’s Contest with this fresh blend of humor, truth . . . and tacos. Ouellette employs the power of story and its ability to clarify difficult concepts in the desperate hope of bringing value to lessons he learned the hard way.  

About Matt: Matt Ouellette finds it extremely awkward to write in the third person, but understands the professional nature it can portray. He is the youth pastor of Faith EFC in Waterville, Maine, located just a half mile from his local Taco Bell. He has been faithful to both for over three years. His witty and contemplative writings (compared to that of Donald Miller) won him a grand prize publishing contract for his newly-released book, Thoughts That Fell From A Taco Shell (Carmichael Publishing, January 3, 2013). Matt absolutely adores his wife and two daughters and thoroughly enjoys their adventures together. He has found himself to be severely lacking in nearly every area of life and clings to grace with all that he has. Online you can find Matt tweeting on Twitter or writing at his website. He is also a contributor for YouthMinistry.com as well as StartMarriageRight.com.   

Next up on Teen Talk:

RayLynn Records’ lead artist Kyle Sherman recently released his ultimate love song “The Greatest Tear,” which is  featured on Sherman’s full-length debut album Hear Me (available now).

Written by co-founder of RayLynn Records and co-owner of the Texas Rangers Bob Simpson and country singer-songwriter Mark Collie (Tim McGraw, Martina McBride and Garth Brooks) they tell the story of eternal love and how God felt the day His son Jesus was crucified on the cross. This was a tedious process for the team as it took months of prayer and emotional/mental work. Bob and Mark wanted the song to be just right as to put the listener in God’s shoes, and explain the love God has for His son and His Children that He would give His Son’s life so that others can live. It is the ultimate love story.

And, announcing: Kyle Sherman is slated to open for GRAMMY ® nominated artist and Dove Award winner Francesca Battistelli on her new spring tour titled “Hundred More Years.”  Sherman will be accompanied by pop-rock group The Afters and The Outcome.

The tour will kick off in Amarillo, Texas on March 21 and carry through to May 5, wrapping the spring leg in Bellefontaine, Ohio.  The musical acts will entertain audiences across the country including those in Ft. Wayne, Ind., Montgomery, N.Y. and Madison, Wis. (See tour dates below). “I have been a fan of Francesca Battistelli and The Afters for years now,” says Sherman. “I have so much respect for both of them.

I am completely stoked to be on tour with these amazing artists! Sherman will perform selections from his debut album Hear Me, which includes his latest single “The Greatest Tear;” a song that he calls his “ultimate love song.” Written by Bob Simpson, co-founder of RayLynn Records and country singer-songwriter Mark Collie (Tim McGraw, Martina McBride and Garth Brooks)

“The Greatest Tear” tells the story of eternal love and how God felt the day His son Jesus was crucified. Since the Ft. Worth Texas-based singer/songwriter made his album debut, he has toured with some of his personal favorites including Phil Wickham and Shane & Shane, and has appeared on Daystar’s “Celebration,” on gmc online, New Release Tuesday, AllAccess.com, Baptist Standard and more. For additional information on Kyle Sherman and the “Hundred More Years Tour,” please visit www.kyleshermanmusic.com.  

Join me, Nicole O'Dell, with Crescendo producer, Jason Jones. Movie to Movement™ (www.cpcmovie.com) has officially launched The Love & Beauty Fund in honor of its new short film Crescendo, which will make its worldwide debut on February 28.

In efforts to raise $10 million in 2013 for pregnancy centers around the world, The Love & Beauty Fund offers churches the opportunity to screen the film in their communities for a flat fee of $1,000. Fifty percent of the proceeds will be donated and the remaining will go towards Movie to Movement, enabling them to make more powerful films like Crescendo. With nearly 70 centers already on board for the premiere, Movie to Movement will continue host special film screenings for audiences throughout the year. “With The Love & Beauty Fund, our hope is for people to not just be consumers in this life, but producers…we want to people to help produce films that can impact the world,” says President/Founder of Movie to Movement, Jason Jones. “We created this film to tell a beautiful true story about one of the most incredible musical geniuses of all-time. Through this story, if we can encourage a woman to know they have a place to turn, we have done our job.”

Based on a true story, Crescendo is set in the 18^th century Holy Roman Empire where a series of events turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary experience for a woman whose life will never be the same. Written and directed by Alonso Alvarez, the film stars Ali Landry, Montserrat Espalde, Patrick Nuo, Jennifer Cadena.  With Eduardo Verastigui serving as executive producer, the film was shot entirely on the Universal Studios back lot and has already seen success in the film festival circuit having received the Crystal Heart award at the 2011 Heartland Film festival and won top short film honors at the Hollywood Film Festival.

 Next up: I talk with Billy Unger about his role in The Lost Medallion! 

A brand new adventurous family-film called, The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone, starring Alex Kendrick (Courageous, Fireproof and Facing the Giants) and Mark Dacascos (Iron Chef, Hawaii Five-O). The Lost Medallion is brought to audiences by bestselling author and owner of MeThinx Entertainment, Bill Muir (The Crossing, Invisible Enemies) and aims to teach kids the value of friendship, teamwork and the truth of their tremendous value.

The journey of The Lost Medallion begins as Daniel Anderson (Kendrick) visits a foster home to drop off a donation and is quickly roped into telling the kids a story. Daniel tells the tale of Billy Stone (Billy Unger – Lab Ratson Disney XD,American Treasure, You Again) and Allie (Sammi Hanratty- American Girl, A Christmas Carol), two 13-year old friends who uncover a long-lost medallion and accidentally wish themselves back in time. In order for Billy to save Allie’s life, he must give up the lost medallion to Cobra (Dacascos), who rules the island and its people.

In order to retrieve the medallion and save the island people from slavery, Billie and Allie must work together with a young arrogant king (Jansen Panettiere- The Perfect Game), the king’s best friend (William Corkery), and a wise old man (James Hong- Kung Fu Panda, Chinatown, Blade Runner), who guides their way. The Lost Medallion will hit theaters nationwide on March 1, 2013.

On Hollywood Romance, with @laurakurk

Don't forget to subscribe on iTunes for FREE!

Jason Lovins and a few college buddies began playing music for fun. Today, the group is one of the most active and successful independent touring bands in the field of worship music. Jason, along with Jose Mendoza, Rodney Mora, and Chasen Little, has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the business—including Michael W. Smith, MercyMe, Kari Jobe, and Big Daddy Weave. The band has also performed at Billy Graham events, and wrote the song Journey for a BGEA television special.

Jason Lovin's mother was raped at 15 years old and her Christian mother (Jason’s grandmother) said abortion was not an option. Since it was a rape, Jason doesn’t know his father and his earliest childhood memory was his 3rd birthday and it was his mom’s high school graduation.  Jason’s family made it very clear to him that he doesn’t have an earthly father, but that he has a heavenly father who loves him more than he'll ever know. Fast forward to present day, and Jason is a very successful worship artist who shares his powerful story from the stage but has never really told his story publicly through the press. 

He started playing music in college and now is the head of the Jason Lovins Band that plays 40 weeks out of the year and has shared the stage with such high-profile artists as Michael W. Smith, MercyMe, Kari Jobe, Big Daddy Weave among many others.  The band has performed at several Billy Graham events and has played in almost every state east of the Mississippi.

Join us on Teen Talk Radio to hear Jason Lovin's story.    

Next up: Lynn Cowell, author of the Choose NOW column: On Being You, is going to talk with us about what it means to be whole. In her recent column, Lynn said: 

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. —Matthew 5:48

But wait; what does he mean by “be perfect”? I checked it out in my Greek dictionary. This word for perfect is teleios meaning “perfect, mature, complete, finished.”Jesus sounds pretty harsh in this verse.

Be perfect! When it comes to our hair, body and all that outside stuff, it is exhausting trying to be just right. You mean Jesus wants us to be that way on the inside too? It just about makes me want to give up! Let’s plug that word in: “Be complete and mature just as your heavenly Father is complete and mature.” Sounds like something we want!

We want to be complete; not lacking anything. We want to be whole; not broken. Jesus wants that for us too! My friend Lisa Whittle poses this question: whole or hole? When you look at your heart, do you see one that has been made whole, despite what you might have already been through in your short life? Or do you see a hole, one created by your situations or choices, that desperately needs to be filled?

Join us to hear Lynn Cowell's answers to those questions!!

Award-Winning Author Melanie Dickerson Enchants Young Readers with an Exciting Twist on the Classic Snow White Tale

And a giveaway!

Christy Award finalist Melanie Dickerson (The Merchant’s Daughter) ventures back to the world of make-believe with another enchanting take on a fairy tale classic in The Fairest Beauty, Zondervan. Inspired by the story of Snow White, Dickerson introduces readers to Sophie, a belabored seventeen-year-old trapped in the clutches of the evil Duchess Ermengard. Doomed to spend all of eternity locked away in the Hohendorf castle cooking and cleaning, Sophie is unexpectedly swept off her feet by Gabehart, a mysterious noble who intends to rescue her. But when Sophie learns that Gabehart is already betrothed to someone else, her heart sinks. In yet another twist, Gabehart informs Sophie that she is actually the daughter of Duke Baldewin and is also betrothed—to Gabehart's brother. With barely a moment to digest all the new information, Sophie finds herself on the run with Gabehart, narrowly escaping the duchess and her crafty guards. The two seek refuge at the Cottage of the Seven (the home of seven hospitable dwarfs) where their romance continues. Once Duke Baldewin and Sophie's “intended” arrive, the duo’s love is put to the ultimate test. Should Sophie defy her destiny and marry Gabehart, hurting those to whom they’re engaged? Or should she open up her heart to a complete stranger for the sake of tradition? Dickerson caps off another alluring spin on a classic that matches the romantic flare and elegance of her previous books, The Merchant’s Daughter and The Healer’s Apprentice. She transports her captive readers back to the medieval era with distinct language and scene design with appeal that spans the centuries. And, keeping in step with the current big screen adaptations, Dickerson modernizes the popular heroine as a courageous, warm-spirited young woman who is not a simple damsel in distress. Filled with adventure, romance and suspense, The Fairest Beauty grips readers until its dramatic ending, leaving them anticipating the next Dickerson reincarnation.   We're giving away a copy of The Fairest Beauty! You can enter here by leaving a comment for one week from the live airing of the show. So, February 8th at 11:00 am, time's up! Just leave a comment here to enter. if you want a second entry, listen to the interview and leave the keyword in a comment.  Have fun! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melanie Dickerson’s 2010 debut novel, The Healer’s Apprentice, was named the Best First Book by the National Readers’ Choice Awards and was both a Christy and Carol Award finalist. The book also earned the HOLT Medallion Award of Merit and was a Maggie Award finalist. Dickerson’s follow-up book, 2011’s The Merchant’s Daughter, was also a Christy Award finalist. She lives in Huntsville, Alabama, with her husband and two daughters. www.melaniedickerson.com

Wouldn’t life be a whole lot easier if every decision you had to make was as clearly spelled out as the Ten Commandments? Seriously, we don’t stay up nights wondering whether it’s okay to put a hit out on somebody or rip off the local Mini-Mart. We’d get a lot more sleep if Moses had brought down another tablet that included: “Thou shalt not date until age 16.” Think of the parental arguments you’d be spared from.

Of course, if he had, I wouldn’t be writing this post for you. Matter of fact, I’d be out of a job . . . Join me with Author, Nancy Rue, as we tackle a question that usually starts niggling at the edges of a girl’s mind somewhere in her teens, if not slightly before. 

If we were all hanging out in a coffee shop together having mochas and lattes (how cool would that be . . .  for me at least), I could get a sense of where everybody is on the question of dating. If I knew who was under strict parental or church edicts on the subject – and who’s allowed to date and maybe already is – and who’s decided not to date for now  -- I’d know how to approach this topic. Since we’re not sipping together and passing the biscotti, (and again, I’m just thinking that would be awesome) and I don’t know who’s where on the dating map, I’m definitely not going to give you rules for when you should date and whether you should have a steady boyfriend. I’ll just take the next couple of posts to explore some of the questions girls ask me about the whole dating thing and offer you suggestions to consider. As I’ve said in so many of these chats with you, the ultimate decision about what you eventually want from a relationship, even way down the road, is yours.

Even if you think no guy is ever going to ask you out, it’s wise to be prepared. Let’s start with where God really is on the topic of guys...

To read more, visit Nancy's On Boys column and tune in to Teen Talk Radio at 11am EST. Or come back here for the podcast later. 

As we approach the 40th anniversary of Roe V. Wade, the decision that changed the face of American on the subject of abortion. The decision that divided people into camps that cried "LIFE" and "RIGHTS". The decision that allowed women to acquire an abortion up until the time of viability--meaning until a baby could live outside the womb, a woman could end the pregnancy. Kill the baby.

First guest, Claire Culwell, found out she was affected by abortion about 3 years ago. Her birth mother was 13 years old at the time she became pregnant. Her mother took her straight to an abortion clinic where she had a surgical abortion. After thinking she had “fixed the problem,” a few weeks later she realized her belly was still growing. Her mother took her back to the abortion clinic where she learned that she had been pregnant with twins… One was aborted; One survived. Claire's life is a miracle and she believes she would be selfish to keep this GIFT of life to herself.

My life is a testimony that there are wonderful alternatives to abortion (such as adoption in my case) and an accident/unwanted child still deserves life…even a child with disabilities. I was born 2 1/2 months early, weighed 3 lbs 2 oz, had dislocated hips and club feet. I had to wear casts on my feet, a harness and eventually a body cast. The abortion still affects me today. All that to say, LIFE IS STILL WORTH IT.If my life can touch just one person who has had an abortion or considering an abortion or adoption, then I am fulfilling my purpose in the pro-life movement.

Claire refuses to be silent because each mother and child are in the same place her biological mother, twin and she were in 22 years ago and she is here to say THERE IS HOPE and there are options! Join us to hear Claire's story and her thoughts about abortion during this landmark week of looking back. FYI, Claire was a guest on Teen Talk radio almost two years ago: I Survived Abortion.  Next up is a favorite regular guest @Laurakurk who writes the On Hollywood column here at Choose NOW Ministries. This week, we're talking about materialism and celebrities. Be sure to visit today's On Hollywood post to see who won the Lola Award this month and for a sneak peek at what we'll be chatting about live.

...

“The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.”  {Elise Boulding}

Happy 2013!!!

As a nation, we all breathed a collective sigh of relief when we put 2012 in the books. That was a hard year, guys. Especially the last half of the year when we stared evil in the eyes more than once and lost precious lives. I happen to be an optimist, though, especially when it comes to people and their intentions and dreams. And I’m feeling a groundswell of sorts that I hope takes hold.

I think, with the tragedies of late, that we WANT to take life more seriously, behave more responsibly, recognize that relationships matter. Call it wishful thinking, but if you follow trends on social media sites, you’ll see what I’m seeing.

We’re finally sort of disgusted with ourselves.

I laughed when I saw this come across my Facebook feed a few days ago—

"That awkward moment when you realize Kim Kardashian's failed marriage could've paid your college tuition for 2,960 YEARS!!! /:( seriously!!"

...

To read more of this On Hollywood post by Laura Kurk, go HERE. To hear Laura and me talk live about the topic of materialism, the lola award, and today's celebs, join us at 11:30am EST at www.toginet.com (but be sure to come at 11 to hear Claire, too--see above.) Finally, if you miss the live show and want to catch it, come back here for the podcast! 

Join me on Teen Talk this week for a great show! One of your favorite guests and authors is joining me for the first half of the show, Travis Thrasher!

Hurt

The fourth and final book in the ground-breaking Solitary Tales. (Solitary, Gravestone, Temptation, and now Hurt) HIS REBELLION WILL SOON TURN TO HOPE When Chris Buckley first encountered the mysteries of creepy Solitary, North Carolina, he had little idea how far he would fall into the town’s shadows. After losing the love of his life, Chris tried to do things his way. He hunted answers. Then he gave up trying to find them. But now Chris comes back to Solitary knowing there’s a purpose for his being there. As he watches his place in a twisted and evil bloodline become clear, Chris waits for the last battle—and wonders who will be left when he finally makes his stand. The fourth and final book in the Solitary Tales shines light into deep darkness as Chris’s journey to Solitary comes to a dramatic close. And we're giving away a copy of Hurt. Be sure to leave a comment here to enter to win!! 

Few authors have shown such diversity as Travis Thrasher. From starting his career with sweet and moving love stories, Travis has navigated through various genres including suspense, adventure, and most recently supernatural thrillers. At the core of each of his stories lie flawed characters in search of redemption. He loves surprising his readers, not only with a different style of writing in each book but also with amazing twists in each story. The author of eighteen critically-acclaimed works of fiction, Travis lives with his wife and three daughters in a suburb of Chicago.     Following Travis Trasher, I'll be chatting with Juliette Brindak, founder of Miss O & Friends Who am I? Where do I fit in?“No matter how popular – or not – a young girl may seem, she’s still vulnerable to feeling badly about herself,” says Juliette Brindak, creator of the Miss O & Friends website, a safe environment in which 8- to 16-year-old girls can socialize and play games. “I started my website so they would know they’re not alone, and that it’s okay for a girl to be different. It’s okay not to have a boyfriend. It’s okay to be whoever they want to be.” Brindak is also the syndicated columnist of Miss O’s KidsCounsel (a “Dear Abby” for young girls), which appears in over 700 papers worldwide. 

Juliette Brindak has a B.A. degree from Washington University in St. Louis. In 2005 she started the website MissOandFriends.com, based on characters she drew when she was younger. She also penned a Miss O and Friends book, which sold over 120,000 copies. After Proctor and Gamble invested in the company in 2008, when Brindak was just 19 years old, it was valued at $15 million. She was selected as one of "America's Coolest College Start-Ups," Inc. Mag., Feb., 2011 as well as "Top 50 Women Who Inspire Us," Self-Made Magazine, Nov., 2010. She is also the syndicated columnist of Miss O's "KidsCounsel," distributed via McClatchy/Tribune to over 700 papers worldwide.  

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Shadowed Onyx

by Nicole O'Dell

Giveaway ends February 07, 2013. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win  

Welcome to the first Teen Talk show of 2013! I have a great show for you this week!

First up is Laura Lynn Smith, columnist of the popular Choose Now Ministries column, On True Beauty and the author of a bunch of books available all over, including right here in the Choose NOW Store. Check out Angry, Hot, and Skinny!

Laura and I will start the year off talking about how you can find your true beauty, embrace it, and share it with others.

It's from Jesus, you know.

Be sure to check out Laura's columns and dive right in to the conversation. Let her know how you're doing--what are your struggles when it comes to your body image or self-esteem. She's here to help!   

I'm also excited to talk with Brenda Zitzman, an amazing singer, songwriter, and all-around fabulous musician.

Take a lok at the You Tube video below to learn about Breanda's newest project and be sure to tune in Friday morning at 11am EST to hear about the Polar Plunge! BRRR!!!!

After ten years of non-stop touring, Brenda has decided to move on to new adventures. Her fans will be thrilled to learn of the talented singer’s latest project: Box 43 Collection. Box 43 Collection is a series of youtube videos featuring Brenda singing songs that influenced her growing up. “Crazy Arms,” the legendary Ray Price tune, kicks off the series. Brenda considers the youtube videos as just one more way to give to her fans.

Brenda has partnered with a really cool mentoring organization for girls: Girls on the Run.

Girls on the Run believes that every girl can embrace who she is, can define who she wants to be, can rise to any challenge, can change the world. Can.

Girls on the Run® is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. Meeting twice a week in small teams of 8-15 girls, we teach life skills through dynamic, conversation-based lessons and running games.

The 24-lesson curriculum is taught by certified Girls on the Run coaches and includes three parts: understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large. Running is used to inspire and motivate girls, encourage lifelong health and fitness, and build confidence through accomplishment. At each season's conclusion, the girls and their running buddies, complete a 5k running event. Completing a 5k gives the girls a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals.

The result—making the seemingly impossible, possible and teaching girls that they can.

Join us Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk,

And be sure to follow us on twitter @ChooseNOWRadio!

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk:  Tamara Amos, Gift of a Servant; Nicole O'Dell closes out the year

Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk: Laura Kurk, On Hollywood, a Military Christmas; Jill Williamson, Chokepoint...to bring Sydney home

  First up to wrap up Teen Talk, 2012, is Laura Kurk, On Hollywood Here's an excerpt from Laura's December On Hollywood column. It's a taste of what we're going to be talking about on the air this week: I’ve been thinking . . . This column is devoted to celebrities (not just from Hollywood) who make us look twice. We’ve covered everyone from musicians to artists to athletes to TV and movie stars and directors. How about we veer a little more toward the REAL heroes of America? You’ll indulge me this one Christmas gift, right? I promise to bring it around at the end to a band we all know and love... Tune in to Teen Talk, 12/14 at 11:00am EST to catch the entire chat.  Next up, Christy-Award winning author of the Blood of Kings trilogy, Jill Williamson, brings us her latest release. Chokepoint is an ebook written and released entirely to raise money to help Jill's friends with their adoption. All proceeds from Chokepoint are going to help bring Sydney home. Ever since I returned from Moscow, life is a full court press. Mission League field agents are everywhere. All the time. Watching. Waiting for me to fulfill a sixty-year-old prophecy. When some baddies try to guy-nap me, the field agents threaten to move me and Grandma Alice to some random hick town, to give us new fake identities until the prophecy is fulfilled.  Not going to happen. I've got one chance to stay in Pilot Point. I have to prove to the agents that I can stay safe. Have to make this work. For basketball. For Kip. For Beth. So, bring it, baddies. It’s game on. And this is the last show of 2012! Can you believe that? I sure can't!  We'll be back in January with some super cool content.  Merry Christmas!!

At age seventeen, Joy Christianson is the life of the party. That is, until her best friend commits suicide. Joy’s already wavering faith slips completely out of her reach. Afraid of letting the depression and evil take root, she decides to seek help in the haven of Diamond Estates—and try to reclaim the Joy she once knew.

Cara Putman, author of the Choose NOW column, Being a Do-It-All Mom, is coming back to interview me, Nicole O'Dell, about this new release, The Shadowed Onyx, book three in the Diamond Estates series. Find out why this series is near and dear to my heart and why I'm sad it's over. Booo hooo!

Next up, Lynn Cowell joins me to help you prepare for an awesome 2013.

Have a damaged reputation that needs repair? Make some decisions you wish you could undo? 2013 is a new year, a fresh start. You can be intentional about putting in the time to get off to the right start in the new year.

Let's face it, most teens make a bad choice at some point. But when you're a Christian teen, your peers are watching to see if you mess us. There are steps you can take to repair the damage done to your Christian witness, and a holiday break is a good time for a reboot.

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk:  Valerie Comer, I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas; Courtney Walsh, A Sweethaven Christmas; Melody Carlson, A Christmas wish to you

Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk:  John Murray, Real Faith, what Christians Believe and Why; Jennifer AlLee, A Wild Goose Chase Christmas

  First up on Teen Talk is John Murray, author of  Real Faith. In the last 20 years the number of people reading the Bible regularly has dropped to just two in five who read Scripture each week (even fewer among teens!), according to Barna Group research. Relying on popular culture and not the Word of God for life guidance is a major problem within the Church today, according to author John Murray. Real Faith:What’s at the Heart of the Gospel? (Ambassador International; September 2012; $13.99, paperback) is a new guidebook for Christian believers. “Real Faith covers the main issues of the Christian faith,” ex- plains Murray.“The book discusses what we believe, why we believe it and what is expected of us because we believe it.” Real Faith guides Christians into a deeper understanding of their faith, helping them create a clearer picture of what being a Christian re- ally means, which Murray believes—and research shows—is desperately needed. Another Barna study found:

• More than 60% of Americans can’t name either the four Gospels of the New Testament or half of the Ten Commandments.
• Many professing Christians don’t believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit actually exist.
• Roughly one-third of those polled believe that a good person can earn their salvation.

With clarity and accessibility for all levels of believers, Real Faith is Christianity 101 for students of all ages. Born and educated in the UK, author John Murray studied at the Birming- ham Bible Institute and Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, Canada. He worked for Christianity Today in London and served as Associate Editor at The Evangelical Christian magazine. Murray also spent more than 20 years as the Executive Director of Eurovangelism Canada, a mission working in Eastern Europe. Real Faith is Murray’s second book. We're giving away a copy of Real Faith! Be sure to leave a comment HERE and don't forget to listen to the podcast so you can comment with the secret word for double entries!  

And, joining us next is Jennifer AlLee, author of A WIld Goose Chase Christmas. Don't you just LOVE this cover? The colors make me sooo happy. :) An heirloom quilt, secret messages, a hyper dog, and a possible treasure make for an unforgettable Christmas. Upon her grandmother's death, Izzy Fontaine finds herself in possession of a Wild Goose Chase quilt that supposedly leads to a great treasure. Of course, once the rest of the family finds out about it, they're determined to have a go at the treasure themselves. And, if that weren't enough, local museum curator Max Logan claims that Grandma Isabella promised the quilt to him.

Michael Card Turns Gospels Upside Down in New Series Dove Award–winning singer-songwriter and Gold Medallion–winning author Michael Card has a thirty-year history of artfully opening up theScriptures in songs, books and seminars.

And he’s at it again.

What Card did in such a compelling manner through the Old Testament trilogy of recordings known as The Ancient Faith and the New Testament trilogy The Life he’s now doing in a four-volume collection of books and recordings focused on the Gospels, all under the banner of the Biblical Imagination Series, published by InterVarsity Press (IVP).

In addition to IVP publishing the series of books, which launches with Luke: The Gospel of Amazement (February 2011), IVP associate publisher Jeff Crosby and Ron Davis of Covenant Artists, Michael Card’s management firm, have announced that InterVarsity Press will serve as the worldwide trade distribution partner for the companion recordings on compact disc. “With the series of books and musical recordings under the umbrella of the Biblical Imagination, Michael Card has taken a huge step forward in equipping both readers and listeners who wish to integrate the life of the mind and the affections of the heart,” Crosby said. “We are privileged to be serving not only as Mike’s publisher, but also as the trade distribution partner for this important series of recordings.” 

Luke: The Gospel of Amazement will be followed in subsequent years by volumes on the Gospels of John, Matthew and finally Mark, with one book being published per year. According to Davis, Covenant Artists plans to release a companion CD with original music by Card for each of the three additional volumes.

Luke: A World Turned Upside Down, a collection of twelve Card originals inspired by his reading of and writing on that Gospel, is the first companion CD in the series. The recording will ship to IVP’s domestic and international trade stores and distribution partners in tandem with the series’ first book. All eight components of the Biblical Imagination Series are focused on building a bridge between our hearts and our minds, informed by the Gospel narratives. Card explains: “As a result of the Fall, we are fragmented in every area of our lives, and one of the big disconnects is between our heart and our mind. But the intention of the Scriptures is to fully engage our hearts and our minds. How does that happen? There’s a bridge between your heart and your mind, and it’s your imagination. It’s what integrates us.”

Next up is Laura Kurk with On Hollywood. On Hollywood is a column at Choose NOW Ministries and a regular segment of Teen Talk.

Check out Laura's recent On Hollywood post to read more about what we'll be talk about on Teen Talk this week and to see who won the Lola Award!

Be sure to visit the Parent Talk page to see this week's giveaways!

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk: Steve Repak, CFP, Dollars & Uncommon Sense; Nancy Rue, Reluctant Prophet Series; Marta Perry, Naomi's Christmas

Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk:  Sol Rexius, Rock-Solid Faith Study Bible; Tricia Goyer,  The Memory Jar 

  First up on Teen Talk this week, Sol Rexius with the Rock-Solid Faith Study Bible just for you! Rock Solid Faith Study Bible For Teens Helps Build Confidence in God’s Word “In this ever-changing world, you can trust God’s never-changing Word.” -Sol Rexius, spokesman for Rock Solid Bible, and creator of Unshakable Truths Teens recently surveyed, who were considered “cream of the crop” youth group members, doubt the Bible. The alarm bells are ringing. Youth Pastors and parents are concerned.

• A recent survey reported in Biola Magazine revealed that “70 percent of teens surveyed expressed persistent, measurable doubts that what the Bible says about Jesus is true.”
• Youth expert, Mike Nappa, in his extensive survey confirms that 67 percent of teens say they seldom read their Bibles.

Now, the task of parents, youth pastors, and Bible teachers is to help teens grow in their confidence that the Scriptures are trustworthy and give teens solid truths on which to build their faith and confidence in God’s Word. To address these vital spiritual issues for teens, support adults working with youth and to provide a stable foundation for teens’ beliefs, Zondervan has created theRock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens.  This innovative edition of the New International Version helps teens face their lack of confidence in Scripture squarely and build a steadfast basis for their faith in God and Jesus. With the Rock Solid Faith Study Bible,teens can discover constant and concrete truths rooted in the unchanging love, guidance, and promises of God. Sol comments “This Bible will prove to be a timely and timeless resource for teens. It would definitely be on my ‘what I wish I’d had when I was a teen’ list. It offers trustworthy translation, artistic design, simple layout, practical features and rock solid truth!” This all-new Bible features the complete NIV text, as well as other insightful and informative inserts:

• Rock Solid Truths that examine Christian beliefs and explorations of other religions;
• Rock Solid Principles that apply the Bible to relationships, sex, money, and more;
• Rock Solid Promises that call out what is (and is not) promised in the Scriptures;
• Rock Solid Plans that explore God’s plan for daily life;
• Unshaken People that provide scriptural examples of overcoming challenges; and
• Unshaken God that points out God’s amazing and unyielding attributes.

And, if you'd like to win a copy of the Rock-Solid Faith Study Bible, just leave a comment here to enter. If you'd like a second entry, listen to the live show or the podcast and leave a comment HERE with the secret word. :)   Next up on Teen Talk, Tricia Goyer, author of The Memory Jar talks about making your own memory jar, celebrating life's experiences, and embracing change. Taken from a recent article in USA Today:

The idea for The Memory Jar started with a conversation with a friend. She listened as I chatted about the young, Amish woman in West Kootenai, Mont., who would finally be given the chance to discover true love. As with every novel, I ask what has my heroine experienced in her youth ... and what challenges will that bring to her having Happy-Ever-After love?

Most characters have an inner scrapbook of life experiences, but Sarah carries her memories in a jar. Caring, talented Sarah is a faithful friend and daughter, but after losing her best friend, Patty, she has a hard time letting anyone — even handsome bachelor Jathan — into her heart. Like the items in her jar, Sarah has hidden away memories and emotions, risking her chance at true love and romance.

Sarah reminds me of myself. Or at least the person I was years ago. When I met my husband, John, I had a pile of hurts from past relationships tucked in my heart and a scrapbook of stashed-away memories that I carried into my marriage. Even though I loved John, I had a hard time letting him into the inner recesses of my soul. Pain does that. It builds invisible walls where blooming arches should be. Yet when I finally opened up and shared the ups and downs of my past, I ushered John into a special place. As he got to know me better ... and still loved me ... I took the risk and opened my heart more. And I'm so glad I did. We've been married 22 years. A true accomplishment!

Already I've heard from readers who relate to Sarah's struggle. Who hasn't been hurt by a loss in their past? Who hasn't shut the door on a good relationship for fears of loss? Thankfully, through the course of the book Sarah discovers that the lessons Patty taught her — lessons of believing in your God-given talent and enjoying baking fancy cupcakes — are the very things she needs to connect her with Jathan and the community he lives in.

There's a special significance to the items we collect. And, like Sarah, we often don't realize how the past has changed us until we step into the future like brave souls, willing to risk our hearts for the chance at love. Our memories give evidence of the people we're becoming. True love is found when one accepts us — memory jar and all — and joins us on our journey.

Find out more on Teen Talk, and make a memory jar of your own!

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk: Dawn Scott Jones, When a Woman You Love Was Abused; Annie Wald, Walk with Me

Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk:  Charles Humbard, President and CEO of GMC TV; Lisa Raftery & Barbara Precourt, Mr. Right

  First up, Charles Humbard, President and CEO of GMC TV!

WHAT HAPPENED TO WHOLESOME FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT? 

What happened to wholesome family entertainment? These days, most hit shows are consumed with violence, sex and profanity, and targeted to a specific demographic. While there are some family-friendly television shows on primetime television (Extreme Makeover Home Edition, American Idol and others) many are reality-based and aren’t consistent on one network. This is what sets gmc apart from the others. The 24/7 family-friendly channel has proven to be America’s favorite television channel for uplifting music and family entertainment. The Parents Television Council has awarded gmc its Entertainment Seal of Approval twice for being “an authentic family-friendly cable network”and is the ONLY network brand to receive such an honor. Their ratings continue to increase as this year serves as their 15^th consecutive quarter of year-to-year growthmaking them the second fastest-growing ad supported cable network among key demos W25-54 and W18-49. The world premiere of Heart of Christmas, starring Candace Cameron Bure, attracted over 3.6 million viewerslast Christmas, and this past Easter the premiere of Jesus, which starred Jeremy Sisto broke records as it became the highest rated telecast in households for the network. To continue their tradition, they will proceed to host a spectacular program line-up that includes great original movies and specials and new series. It is the exclusive home to the coveted GMA Dove Awards (where major celebrities have appeared such asWhitney Houston, David & Tamela Mann, Sherri Shepherd, Tim Tebow and more) and Stellar Awards (Gospel & Christian Music’s Biggest Nights) and is the top 10 network for overall viewer satisfaction. gmc has also attracted the attention of all-star athlete Magic Johnson. Johnson recently partnered with gmc to produce and help launch his new network, ASPIRE. gmc can be seen in more than 51 million homes on various cable systems around the country, as well as DISH Network on channel 188, DIRECTV on channel 338 and Verizon FiOS on channel 224. Next up, Lisa Raftery and Barbara Precourt, co-authors of the Mr. Right series.

Hi, I'm Julia, the main character in the Mr. Right Series novels. If you are a young woman reading this, I understand what you're facing right now in today's culture. Dealing with all the pressures and temptations thrown our way can be overwhelming!

While I was Waiting for Mr. Right, Meeting Mr. Right, and Marrying Mr. Right, I gained some valuable insights (that could be used no matter what dreams are in your heart). Here are a few things I learned through my journey through the novels:

1)    Each one of us is beautiful and valuable---whether or not a certain boy thinks so!

2)    There are Mr. Wrongs out there, so it's important to know more about a guy than just that he's good-looking and fun. Wish I'd known this before dating my first boyfriend!

3)    Honesty is important. When I hid what I was doing from my parents in novel 1, I found myself in some dangerous situations (ones my parents could have helped me to avoid). Plus, I was left alone to deal with all the hurt and anxiety I was feeling.

4)    Friends matter. As you'll see in the novels, some friends led me off course, and others brought out the best in me.

...and more!

There's LOTS more to the Mr. Right Series novels (issues like premarital sex, date rape, unplanned pregnancy, eating disorders, sexual harassment, and healthy vs. unhealthy dating dynamics). So tune in to Teen Talk!

First up on Teen Talk Radio:

The Whole Guy Thing: What Every Girl Needs to Know about Crushes, Friendship, Relating, and Dating

It's time to deal with all those guy questions in your life. Guys can make life complex. Sometimes they're nice, sometimes they're not, and when they're cute they sometimes leave our brains in a jumble. On top of seeing them every day, we have to figure out how to interact with the male gender, and exactly what to do with any romantic feelings. It's no wonder girls have so many questions about guys! Well, here are answers to many of the issues and wonderings real girls like you have. The Whole Guy Thing explores how you can deal with boys now and in the future, as well as create self-respect that is rooted in God's love. Featuring relationship topics, real feedback from guys, and even advice on how to talk to your parents about dating rules and guy-girl interactions, this may be the book you've been waiting for. Nancy Rue is a successful, best-selling author of books for ‘tweens and adults. Over her career she’s written more than 100 books. Nancy travels the country speaking and teaching at schools, churches, home school groups, and for groups of ‘tween girls and their moms. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Jim. Their daughter, Marijean, son-in-law, Brian, and baby granddaughter Maeryn, live in nearby Nashville. Nancy also writes the Choose NOW Ministries column, On Boys. Check it out!  

Next up on Teen Talk Radio is another Choose NOW Ministries columnist, Laura Kurk.

Laura Kurk is a regular guest on Teen Talk and writes the On Hollywood column where she highlights Hollywood stories and celebrities who are doing it right and choose one each month as the recipient of the Lola Award. If you're a lover of all things 80's and a Brat Pack fan, you might want to tune in this week! In fact, you can get a sneak peek at this week's Teen Talk topics by checking out Laura's September and October columns. Don't worry, there won't be a quiz!   Be sure to tune in Friday, 10/12, at 11am EST. If you miss the live show, you can come back here for the podcast. 

Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk:  The Fat Anchorwoman; Courtney Hilbert, The Wooing of Jane Grey

Next up on Teen Talk: Courtney Hilbert, author of The Wooing of Jane Grey, and I talk about contentment and making wise choices. What does being content actually mean and how does it affect the way we approach our decisions?

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk:  Sandy Ralya, On Beautiful Womanhood and healing from Sexual Abuse; Krista Phillips, Sandwich with a Side of Romance

Richard Paul Evans brings us his young adult series, Michael Vey: The Rise of the Elgen. Since its release on August 14^th, Michael Vey Rise of the Elgen, made its way to the no.2 spot on the New York Times Bestseller list, no. 1 spot on Publisher’s Weekly, and No. 2 spot on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list. Three weeks after its release, it continues to hold the no. 3 on the New York Times Bestseller list and the no. 10 spot on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list.

In spite of Evans’ 17 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, the first Michael Vey book had trouble finding a publisher–but the first week out Michael Vey hit #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list and by the second day was in its sixth printing.  The success of the book shows that there is a hunger in the world for solid values.

Michael Vey 2: Rise of the Elgen not only contains the same traditional, Christian-based values as book 1, but biblical symbolism as well, and a look at Tourette's syndrome. Rise of the Elgen tells the story of Michael Vey who suffers from Tourette’s syndrome but was also born with special electrical powers—and he’s not the only one. His friend Taylor has them too and so do other kids around the world.

With Michael’s friend Ostin, a techno-genius, they form the Electroclan, an alliance meant to protect them from a powerful group, the growing Order of Elgen, who are out to destroy them. The leader of the Elgen, Dr. Hatch, has kidnapped Michael’s mother, and time is running out.  Powerful foes and faces their greatest challenge yet as Michael learns the extent of the Elgen’s rise in power—and the truth of their plan to “restructure” the world.  

Next up is Annie Downs:

Author Annie F. Downs is passionate about today’s young women. So much so that she has channeled her enthusiasm in her thought-provoking debut book, PERFECTLY UNIQUE: Praising God from Head to Foot, Zondervan, which aims to help young women ages 13 to 18 build their self-esteem, value their individuality, and worship their Creator with the qualities He gave them.

Citing examples from her own life and drawing from the experiences of friends and other loved ones, Downs injects empathy and candor into her writing, establishing a connection to her audience by using a unique mix of engaging personal anecdote and honest discussions about life, resulting in a book that feels like a conversation with a best friend.

A former elementary school teacher, Downs delivers her message to readers in the casual setting of an imagined coffee shop, where she invites the audience to join her for some java. Her blog echoes the same fun, self-effacing tone that makes the content of PERFECTLY UNIQUE so relatable for young women. 

Online visitors will instantly catch this vibe as they read charming quips from her blog like, “Have I ever told y’all that people say my speaking demeanor reminds them of Emma Stone?” In today’s busy world, Downs says there isn’t any one particular way for young women to love themselves, but there are choices they can make to learn to truly embody self-respect.

PERFECTLY UNIQUE is a must-read for teens and young women seeking to become equipped with the confidence, faith and moxie they will need to face the upcoming years.

Annie F. Downs is a freelance writer in Nashville, Tennessee. She received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia, preparing her for a career as an elementary school teacher. Now an author, Downs uses those same skills from the classroom to engage, entertain and educate her readers. With several Bible studies and articles under her literary belt, Downs writes books for teen girls and young women braving college and the years after. She is passionate about helping young women find true value in God and His love for them. By weaving together personal stories, humor and Scripture, she invites the reader to experience a fulfilled life with a living God who loves deeply.

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk:  Melody Carlson, Healing Waters; Lisa Troyer, Circle of Friends; Jeff Petherick, Grace Like Rain

Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk: Papa Joe Bradford, Unconditional (the movie); Lisa and Kalyn (Waller) Cherry, Predators; Mike Edwards, Yellow Roses

Come back for the podcast after the show airs!

Unconditional Trailer from Harbinger Media Partners on Vimeo.

UNCONDITIONAL - INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS

Debuting in theaters nationwide September 21, 2012, Unconditional Joins Forces with Ministries Serving At-Risk Children & Youth Through Its ACT Campaign Unconditional, starring Lynn Collins (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 50 First Dates, and The Lake House) and Michael Ealy (Think Like a Man, Seven Pounds, 2 Fast 2 Furious, and Barbershop) releases in theaters September 21, and encourages viewers to make a difference in their own communities through its ACT campaign. Written and directed by Brent McCorkle, the film tells the story of Samantha Crawford (Lynn Collins), an acclaimed storybook artist, who seemingly had it all until she lost the love she cherished the most. When Sam's storybook marriage is ripped away from her, she loses her faith and her will to live. Now fighting with despair, Samantha is obsessed with tracking down the murderer of her husband. However, a death-defying encounter with two children leads to a reunion with her oldest friend, Joe Bradford (Michael Ealy)... and begins Sam's journey back toward God's Unconditional love. Slowly dying of kidney disease, "Papa" Joe spends his last days serving fatherless children in the under- resourced community where he lives. Observing "Papa" Joe's tireless love for "his" kids, Sam begins to find new purpose...until she comes face to face with her biggest fear. While she's drawn to the innocence and hope of a child she's befriended, the opportunity for revenge is strong. Modeled after the real-life of "Papa" Joe, Unconditional serves not only to entertain but also inspire moviegoers to serve in areas of need just like Joe Bradford. Currently, Joe Bradford serves seven at-risk communities in and around Nashville through his ministry Elijah's Heart. It is through this ministry that he champions a citywide multi-racial choir and coordinates walks of love where food and clothing are provided to those in need. "My dream is that Unconditional inspires cities to unite in love to rescue one of our most precious commodities: thousands of at-risk and fatherless children torn by poverty and oppression," says Bradford.

Join me and Papa Joe Bradford this Friday as we talk about Unconditional...

both the movie and the state of mind. 

  Next up: Lisa Cherry and Kalyn Waller Cherry... join us again. Kalyn visited Teen Talk about two years ago, and she and her mom, Lisa, were on Parent Talk a few weeks ago. But they have a special message just for you! Tune in to hear more about Kalyn's experience with a predator and her family's story of redemption and grace...plus some great advice! Lisa Cherry and her daughter Kalyn Cherry Waller have navigated the storm of extreme family crisis and spiritual warfare emerging as a victorious voice for others. Their ministry has placed them on the front lines speaking to tens of thousands of parents and teens each year. Their message acts as a beacon of light and hope to aid parents and teens with practical communication tools to avoid crisis such as child predators. Championing the cause of better family communication and spiritual growth, Lisa and her husband Doug are founders of Frontline Family Ministries which is dedicated to providing communication tools and practical resources for growing spiritual and healthy families. Lisa and Doug are the proud parents of ten children and four grandchildren. Kalyn and her husband, Adam, are mom and dad to Kyla Grace Waller. The Cherry family founded Victory Dream Center and live in Carbondale, IL. Finally, we have guest, Mike Edwards with his emmy-award-winning documentary and curriculum, Yellow Roses. It’s time to speak up about what young women face today: cyberbullying, abuse, peer pressure, unattainable expectations of beauty and success. These things are more painful and prevalent than ever before. But, in the same way that roses grow out of thorns in beauty and new life, there is hope.This Emmy award–winning documentary explores all these issues and more. Real young women from diverse backgrounds talk candidly about their experiences through eye-opening interviews that not only reveal the intense pressures they endure but also foster heartfelt, open discussion. Here, amidst the honesty, is safety and love. It’s a conversation that inspires hope, healing, and faith.

First up on Teen Talk:

At age 19, American gymnast Shawn Johnson is a four-time Olympic gold and silver medalist; a national- and world-champion athlete. Already a popular role model to all ages, in 2009 she captured the national spotlight again when she won the widely popular Dancing with the Stars.

Finishing up the second half of the program is A favorite guest and Choose NOW columnists, Lynn Cowell, answering the question: Why Wait?

Why is is difficult to wait until marriage to have sex?
Why is it important?
What can we do to help you wait?
What can you do to make sure you’re prepared for the pressure?

And Lynn has a story about chocolate! Which is really funny because one of my favorite analogies when teaching about sexual purity involves chocolate, too. So…tune in to hear Lynn’s!

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk: Lynn Cowell, Filling in the Truth Gaps ; Cathy Gohlke, sex trafficking and human slavery, Band of Sisters

Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk: David and Diane Munson, Night Flight; Kristine McGuire, Escaping the Cauldron by an ex-witch and ghost hunter

Tune in live at showtime at Toginet.com!

   When a millionaire drug-dealer wrote a memoir that became a movie staring Johnny Depp, Diane Munson decided the good guys wearing white hats should be the ones to write memoirs. A former Federal prosecutor, she knew the back story. She asked David, a former undercover DEA Special Agent, to join her in writing about David’s arrest of Johnny Depp’s character in Chicago and other criminals in what the Munsons call factional novels. Now, this husband and wife weave the thrills of back alley deals and major courtroom drama into international suspense novels.

Diane Munson is an attorney of more than twenty-five years who transitioned from writing briefs for judges to writing inspiring fiction for readers. David Munson was a Special Agent with the NCIS and with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). As an undercover agent, he infiltrated international drug smuggling organizations. Diane and David have co-authored together six suspense thrillers: Facing Justice, Confirming Justice, The Camelot Conspiracy, Hero’s Ransom, Redeeming Liberty, and The Joshua Covenant. “Night Flight,” their newest thriller for young adults, releases September, 2012. “Night Flight,” releases on September 4, 2012, and is the Munson’s first novel in the Young Adult genre, after six adult thrillers based on their exciting careers. The Dove Foundation reviewed “Night Flight” and awarded it their prestigious five dove rating, calling the conclusion “powerful.” This uplifting adventure novel brings all the elements of a heartwarming family movie: courageous teens, a caring grandpa, a heroic dog, and a battle between good and evil. Glenna and Gregg Rider, teenagers of CIA agent Bo Rider (the hero in the Munsons’ companion thrillers) seek refuge with their grandparents after stumbling upon counterfeiters. They are in for a surprise when they discover Blaze is a retired law enforcement search dog. The clock is ticking and the teens race to fund their best friend’s cancer treatment. Will they help Mason in time? Besides learning what it means to love their neighbor, Glenna and Gregg’s lives are filled with excitement and intrigue as they turn to Grandpa Buck in putting Blaze to work detecting crime. The powerful ending brings hope in the midst of crisis.  

Next up on Teen Talk Radio...

Kristine McGuire was a witch. And medium. And ghost hunter.

Interested in the occult since childhood, this Christian woman and praise team member left the church to pursue the occult.

The full story of that journey--and what drove her back to Christ--is told in her new book, Escaping the Cauldron. Join me and Kristine and I uncover the lure and the dangers of the occult through her personal experiences and eyewitness accounts.

If you have any questions for Kristine, please leave them here or send them through the contact form.

Don't miss this one! 

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk: Liz Curtis Higgs, The Girl's Still Got It; Kim Alexis, Beauty to Die For Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk: Kim Alexis, Beauty to Die For; Nicole Weider, Project Inspired

Tune in live at showtime at Toginet.com or come back here to grab the podcast!

   Supermodel, Kim Alexis brings us Beauty to Die For, co-authored with Mindy Starns Clark and shares with us about the modeling industry from the perspective of a SUPERMODEL!

Juliette Taylor walked away from her career as a supermodel twenty-five years ago. Now approaching fifty – an emotionally complex milestone -- she co-owns a beauty supply company that makes skincare products for salons and spas. Her niche is pampering Christian women who usually spend more time caring for others than for themselves under the slogan: Isn’t it time someone took care of  YOU for a change?

When Juliette arrives at the Palm Grotto Spa to host a spiritual retreat, she runs into an old modeling colleague, Raven, who had always been disliked in the industry for many reasons. She isn’t there for the retreat; in fact, her presence at the spa is somewhat mysterious.Not long after Raven makes a cryptic threat to Juliette, the unsympathetic back-then beauty is found dead, poisoned by something in the green clay of a chai soy wrap. The following morning, a banner for the retreat has been unceremoniously altered:It’s your turn to be nurtured, to be restored . . . to be murdered. Suspicion is directed at Juliette who has history with Raven and certainly knows how to use beauty products. But for murder?! Now she must find the real killer before the police really take care of her.

"Supermodel Kim Alexis has taken her experiences and her heart for healthy living and woven them beautifully in this cozy mystery. Beauty to Die For will leave you cheering for Juliette and Marcus as they work to solve their feelings and the murder." Cheryl Tiegs

 About Kim Alexis:

• Most people know Kim Alexis for her captivating physical beauty. But there's more to her story than meets the eye.
• She started modeling at the age of 18 and amassed over 500 magazine covers but quickly launched into TV as a spokesperson, actress, host and commentator.
• She grew up an athlete. She loves to try new sports and encourage other women in all levels of fitness and natural health.
• She has written books about the modeling industry both fiction and non fiction. Her goal in life is: to encourage other women to be their best in all areas of life.

    Next up, Nicole Weider , model, actress, and founder of Project Inspired. On what she learned from Hollywood and the pursuit of fame, Nicole says:

I now see the kind of hold that Hollywood’s harmful message had on me since the time I was a young girl. This influence led me to make decisions in my late teens that I now regret. I now see that the body truly is a temple and young girls and women for instance shouldn’t have sex so easily. Girls often look to sex to feel loved but in the hands of the wrong guy it can destroy self-esteem.

It was Hollywood that made me want to be an actress. I was so infatuated with the fame game – it all looked so glamorous – but in the end it was quite the opposite. I’m not saying everyone in Hollywood is bad. In fact, the Hollywood experience helped me to look at what I really wanted for myself. My mistakes were part of my journey and my value system has completely changed as a result of it. I found Christianity and it turned my life around.

My bigger purpose is this: I want to help other young women avoid some of the same mistakes I’ve made.

Using my experience as a platform, I’d like to be a voice that’s out there to help others – especially young women – be their best selves. By questioning cultural norms, exposing the truth of media exploitation and finding and sharing inspiration from scripture and my own life, I can show those who seek it what it means to be a person of value and confidence.

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.

God listened to my prayers. His power helped deliver me through the depression I was in, financially and spiritually. Every single thing I am now blessed with – material and emotional – is because God knew that once I received these great blessings, I would give myself over to Him and in turn show others the power of God to make anything happen. I just hope through my story – and through God’s will – that I can inspire you to lead a more meaningful life.

Join us to learn all about Project Inspired and Nicole's Anti-Cosmo Campaign!

This is a Teen Talk show you aren't going to want to miss! Tune in at 10am EST at www.toginet.com or come back here for the podcast after the live show. You can check also out the Teen Talk interview I did with Nicole back in 2011. 

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk: Lynn Cowell, Helping teens move beyond Facebook friends; Dr. Gary Chapman, Five Love Languages

Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk: Christa Black, God Loves Ugly; Juliette Turner, Our Constitution Rocks!

Tune in live at showtime at Toginet.com or come back here to grab the podcast!

Do you ever look in the mirror and hate what you see? Your eyes can lie. Rejection, shame, and self-hatred can poison perceptions and hinder us from seeing and believing what’s actually true. In God Loves Ugly Christa Black shares her personal victory against powerful adversaries – her own thoughts, feelings, and reflection.

From world-touring stadium performer to rehab-bound bulimic binge eater, Christa’s unashamed transparency will win your heart, hold your attention, and give you practical tools to overcome the monsters that can consume our lives. She invites the reader into her own painful struggles and spiritual journey, providing solutions to life’s problems in a highly entertaining and vulnerable, yet empowering way.

You were made to live free. Whether you are struggling with an eating disorder, depression, addiction, or just feeling a little insecure, God Loves Ugly will shift the way you think, motivate permanent change, and inspire your heart to find peace.

Next up is fourteen-year-old Juliette Turner, the National Youth Director of Constituting America and daughter of actress and Conservative Talk Radio Host Janine Turner is encouraging her peers to understand the importance of the Constitution and gain a deeper understanding of the document that makes America the greatest nation on earth in her debut release Our Constitution Rocks!, releasing nationwide September 2012.

Written for kids by a kid, Juliette invites readers on a unique journey through the Constitution and discover the historical document in a whole new way. Through fun facts, quotes, cartoons, actual debates, great graphics, and more, Juliette breaks down the Constitution, clause by clause, and makes it real and relevant for a new generation.

Endorsed by: Barbara and Laura Bush, Jack Quinn, the Former White House Counsel under President Bill Clinton and more.

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk: Jocelyn Green, Wedded to War; Beth Guckenberger, Tales of the Not Forgotten; Kim & Kayla Woodhouse

Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk: Danny Cahill, The Biggest Loser; Laura Kurk, the Lola Award; Laura L. Smith, eating disorders

Tune in live at showtime at Toginet.com or come back here after the show to grab the podcast!

First up is the live interview I did with Danny Cahill at ICRS about a week ago. Danny is the biggest loser ever!! (How often do you get to say that about someone and not get punched?) You're going to love hearing from him!!

Losing 239 pounds, Danny Cahill was crowned "The Biggest Loser...EVER!!!" He lost an amazing 55.58% of his body weight during the show and can now happily say he is "less than half the man he used to be!"            

Next up, Laura Kurk will join us to discuss this month's On Hollywood column. It's already posted if you want to check it out for a sneak peek at this month's Lola Award winner!    

Tying in all of this show's guest with a Hot Button topic for today's teens is Laura L. Smith, author of Skinny.

Check out Laura's guest blog post that set the stage for our discussion about eating disorders. Do you struggle with an eating disorder or know someone who does? Have any questions or comments for the show? You can leave them right here in the comments, or contact us through the contact button.

Laura's book HOT is free this week on Kindle – check it out!

Join us Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk!

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk: Valerie Comer, Joanne Ellison Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk: Shawn Johnson, Larry the Cucumber

Tune in to listen live HERE!

At age 19, American gymnast Shawn Johnson is a four-time Olympic gold and silver medalist; a national- and world-champion athlete. Already a popular role model to all ages, in 2009 she captured the national spotlight again when she won the widely popular Dancing with the Stars. Yet Shawn is no stranger to hard work and adversity. Her loss of the major gymnastics prize everyone expected her to win in Beijing, the all-around Olympic gold medal, was the loss of a dream she'd worked for since childhood. And later, she suffered a potentially career-ending injury in a skiing accident that forced her life to a halt and made her rethink what was really important. She wasn't sure who she was anymore. She wasn't sure what her goals were. And she wasn't sure she was satisfied with where she was with her faith and God.

Join us Friday at 11am EST for Teen Talk when Olympic gold medalist and author of Winning Balance, Shawn Johnson, will be joining me followed by Larry the Cucumber! Tune in starting at 10am EST for Parent Talk on Choose NOW Radio. If you miss it, you'll be able to get the podcast.

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk: Angela Hunt  Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk: Janet Tombow, Ronie Kendig

Tune in to listen live HERE!

There’s been an accident..... You have cancer..... I have bad news..... Life can be full of pain and suffering. If you have ever walked through the valleys of life, you understand how easy it can be to question God’s fairness, doubt His power or even lose your own faith. But it is in those moments that we learn to trust God and look for His guidance. Andif we look closely, we can all see His divine intervention.

In Watch Out for Miracles (September 2012, Carpenter’s Son Publishing, author Janet Tombow has collected true stories of hope and encouragement that will inspire us all to believe in miracles. These courageous individuals are sharing their personal stories of sadness, loss, hope and victory in order to demonstrate that we are not alone and we are never forsaken. . “Someone may need to know there is hope for the future if they let go of the past, or need the assurance that pain can eventually be overcome and gradual healing is possible,” explains author, Janet Tombow. “They may never forget what happened in those desperate times. Bravely going forward may be the next step, but many need convincing to just get going again. For these reasons, this book has been written.” . Kidnapped at the age of 5, abused and tormented her entire childhood and beyond, Janet understands first-hand the struggle to trust God, move beyond doubt and begin to accept His guidance and healing. However, experiencing her own personal miracle after being reunited with her mother over 45 years later, Janet has a clear message she wants to relay. Watch out for miracles.  . Janet Tombow spent most of her working career in management and operations for several nationally known companies specializing in the payroll tax industry.  Now retired, she wrote her first book,Stolen But Not Lost, sharing her dramatic life story. Her second book, Watch Out for Miracles, tells the inspiring stories of others. She also enjoys inspirational speaking, reading, traveling, and especially serving the Lord in her local church. . . . Next up on Teen Talk: As promised for some of the month of July, we're going to be talking military. Christy Award finalist, Ronie Kendig, author o the Discarded Heroes series, brings us a compelling story of man and beast—ripped right from the headlines. Scheduled to release in September 2012 from Barbour Publishing, Trinity: Military War Dog tells the story of a former Green Beret and his military war dog as they struggle to rescue an undercover intelligence officer on a deadly mission. . These Heroes Have Seen Combat. So Have Their Handlers. . An ambush in the Afghan mountains left Green Beret Heath Daniels reeling from the effects of traumatic brain injury and forced him and his special ops military war dog, Trinity, to leave the job they loved. Now a motivational speaker, Heath seeks new purpose training other handlers and their canines for the rigorous duty. Military intelligence officer Darci Kintz uses her cover in a geological survey team to gain vital information on the Taliban. A startling discovery in the Hindu Kush leaves her team dead and Darci captured. Can Heath and Trinity rescue Darci on the greatest—and possibly the last—mission of their lives?   . .   . Ronie Kendig grew up an Army brat, married a veteran, and they now have four children and a Golden Retriever. She has a BS in Psychology, speaks to various groups, volunteers with the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and mentors new writers. Join us, Friday at 11am EST! 

Friday at 10am EST on Parent Talk: Lynn Cowell on The Social Ladder of Bullying; Dineen Miller on Adult Relationships Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk: Dineen Miller turns the focus to missionary dating; Heather Burch, Halflings

Tune in to listen live HERE!

  First up on Teen Talk is Dineen Miller, the author of Soul Saver:

Meet Lexie Baltimore, who is in the supernatural battle of her life. In obedience to God’s calling, Lexie uses her art and dreams to help others. But will she have enough courage to help herself when she becomes torn between her atheist husband and a godly man? A widower and a father, Pastor Nate Winslow is drowning in darkness. Will he resist his treacherous assignment to win Lexie’s heart or give in to the attraction between them? As events unfold, Lexie becomes entangled in a twisted plot. Will she overcome the evil assailing her or yield to the dark side?   Fiction is a great vehicle to learn about reality. Dineen and I will be chatting about teen dating and relationships, especially missionary dating. We'll also talk about planning for the future. So tune in tomorrow or visit this post again to grab the download.

Dineen has won several prestigious awards for her fiction, and her devotional writing has been featured in Our Journey and Christian Women Online Magazine. She’s also a C.L.A.S.S. Communicator and has been featured on the Moody Radio Network, Family Life, and several other Christian radio stations. Married for 24 years to a guy who keeps her young, she lives in the Bay Area with her husband, two precious daughters, and their dogs Shasta and River, who no doubt are angels in disguise.

The next guest is the popular author of Halflings, Heather Burch. What would it be like to be caught between two worlds?

Be sure to join us for Teen Talk! If you miss the live show, you can grab the podcast right here after it airs. 

First up on Teen Talk Radio this week, Takiela Bynum will talk us through the depths of pain and leads us to hope on the other side.

The Lord has wrought miracles through the life of Takiela Bynum. Life’s circumstances ignited a blaze, and reduced her broken spirit to ashes. She has been restored from cremation and beautified with salvation.

Takiela wrote at her leisure as a tween and it proved that she would walk the path of a godly literary composer. God had a purpose for her pleasure...to minister. One must first be hurt in order to be healed, held captive in order to be freed, and cast down to be exalted, that is the basis of her prose.

The Lord exchanged the ashes of her life for His beauty, indeed. Her passion is youth. Living through unimaginable abuse, growing up in a single parent home, and becoming a teen mother has all given her the experience necessary to connect with youth on a deeper level. On leading young women to hope, Takiela says, "I cannot not offer perfection; only Jesus can, but I can offer one image of what hope resembles if you stay with God.”

Deal with depression, abuse, alcoholism, poverty, divorce? Takiela will help you find the light of hope in Christ through those dark times.   

Next up is  Dr. Tara Fairfield, Ed.D. Like the first guest, Tara’s desire is to reach out to youth who face harsh realities such as divorce, loss, addictions, and abuse. Tara achieves this primarily through fictional characters who serve as role models.

Today, we're going to turn the focus on to broken homes and teens who feel caught between two parents. Tara is going to walk you through the steps you should take and the methods you need to use to broker those tough moments when you feel pulled between two parents you love. Whether it's a divorce situation, a custody battle you're aware of, or even married parents who disagree. Find out exactly what you need to do about it.

In the meantime, check out Dr. Fairfield's upcoming book, Makai Queen:

She didn't normally approach strange men, but he appeared to be drowning when Tessa found him on the beach of Lanai. It was no coincidence. Moho had been expecting her. His eyes locked onto hers for a moment—intense, piercing. His gaze was difficult to break. She felt drawn toward him, as if he had some sort of power over her.

Something was definitely not right. Alarm bells went off in Tessa’s head, and she found herself being pulled deep into the tropical waters, away from her island home. Far beneath the earth's surface, Tessa discovers the key to her royal destiny in the land of Moku-ola.  As a whole new and astonishing world opens up to her, the real question becomes can she survive it?

Be sure to tune in! .

First up on Teen Talk is Sean Michael Afable. He was on the program last month to talk about his most recently released project, Hardflip:

HARDFLIP stars John Schneider (October Baby, Smallville, The Dukes of Hazzard) and Randy Wayne (To Save a Life and Honey 2,and ABC Family’s The Lying Game), along with Sean Michael Afable (To Save a Life and Akeelah and the Bee) and Rosanna Arquette (Desperately Seeking Susan and The Whole Nine Yards).

Co-written by Daniel Backman, HARDFLIP follows the story of Caleb, a young skater whose ill mother (Arquette) and absent father leave him reaching for the only hope he has—becoming a sponsored skater. After finding a stack of old love letters, he sets out to find the father he never knew and inadvertently begins a journey he never could have expected. This story explores

Sean Michael Afable also starred in To Save A Life and Akeelah and the Bee. At the young age of 6, Sean's parents, Robert and Gigi, noticed his outgoing spirit and started him in acting classes. It didn't take long for Sean to land his first role in Burger King and Chuck E Cheese commercials. He has since appeared in several Disney and Nickelodeon television shows, but most impressive is his list of roles in feature films.

Sean has studied under many of Hollywood's top acting coaches and has more recently been studying with Steven G. Lowe at The Actors Room for the past several years. His passion extends to film, television, voice-over, theater, singing, and dance. As a Christian he is an active member of his church. Sean also dedicates countless hours to local charities involving causes close to his heart that better the lives of abused, neglected and at-risk youth, the prevention of hunger, and world disease.

We'll chat about his projects and what he has going on, but the main focus will be on some of his charitable passions and what drives him to live as a Christian while working in Hollywood.       

Next up, Chris Burkhart, founder of HeavenUp.com, a new faith-based social networking website, joins us. HeavenUp is gaining early support from numerous national and international organizations, churches and influential ministries, in addition to music labels and artists such as MercyMe, The Afters, Phillips, Craig & Dean and more.  The unique site has also already received endorsements by The Dove Foundation and support from LeSea Broadcasting and iTickets.com.  Through this social network, like-minded men and women over the age of 13 can engage in open conversation about their faith, be encouraged, uplifted and grow in their relationship with each other and God.

The website provides never before connected elements of a social media network including video sharing, streaming music and a HeavenUp store.  In addition to having personal pages and uploading photos, HeavenUp.com is a “virtual fellowship” where users can connect and build relationships with Christian groups, friends, bands, churches, charities, radio stations, TV stations and more. Users can create profiles, share thoughts, insights, music, videos, photos, status updates, blogs and bulletins. A unique addition to the site is the Prayfit Daily Devotional provided by Jimmy Peña, best-selling author, exercise physiologist and founder of Prayfit.com.   

Unlike other sites, HeavenUp.com provides a safe environment for Christian users, while also being a comfortable place for anyone seeking faith. “To enhance the user’s experience, we have created HeavenUp.com to be the most comprehensive, feature-rich social site possible, using the latest technology platform,” says HeavenUp.com Founder and CEO Chris Burkhart.   “But beyond the top level technical features, we have dedicated the site to God and we are committed to providing Christians the best social site that exists. The purpose of HeavenUp.com is to not just unite Christians, but to also live out the Gospel message by giving to others and showing compassion to those around us all.”

Join us on Friday at 11am EST on Teen Talk Radio. If you miss the show, the podcast link will find its way here by Saturday. Question for either of these guests??

Friday, June 15th, at 11am EST, on Teen Talk, we have two great guests lined up for you!  First up is the legendary Melody Carlson talking about several new releases and their related topics.

The Best Friend Lishia Vance is totally baffled. One day she has friends. The next day everyone has turned against her. No explanation. Just complete social isolation. Even her best friend Janelle isn't giving her the time of day. Now she has one goal for her junior year at Kingston High: make a new best friend.When Lishia makes a connection with Riley Atkins, a popular cheerleader, things start looking up. But is Riley really as good a friend as she seems? Or is Lishia better off without her?
Trapped As straight-A student GraceAnn enters her senior year, the stakes feel higher, the stress is mounting, and after bad breakup with her boyfriend, her grades begin to slip. And grades that are less than perfect just aren’t acceptable. She knows that other kids cheat. After all, their cheating has made her life harder. But wasn’t it her turn to get a break? If she could get away with it—and no one got hurt—could she break the rules, just this one time? As GraceAnn's world slips sideways, she finds herself caught in a twisted trap. Will her one bad choice cost her everything?
JERK MAGNET When Chelsea Martin's future stepmother helps her transform from gawky and geeky into the hottest girl at her new school, Chelsea is pretty sure it's the best thing that ever happened to her. But her hot new look has a downside. She's attracting lots of guys who all have one thing in common: they're jerks. Oh, and stealing the attention of all the guys in school doesn't exactly make her BFF material for the girls. Finally a great guy catches her eye. But he's the only one around who doesn't give her a second glance. Can Chelsea come up with a plan to get his attention? Or will her new image ruin everything? Check out the new trailer.

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Then Laura Kurk will share the news about this month's LOLA award! Don't miss that!! You can take a peek at this month's On Hollywood post if you want to know NOW! :)

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Next up, Homer Hickam, New York Times bestselling author of the classic American memoir Rocket Boys (made into the movie October Sky), launches into Young Adult Fiction with Crater—the adventures of Crater Trueblood, a teenager who lives and works on the Moon mining Helium-3, a real energy source being developed in our times. In this futuristic coming-of-age thriller, Crater finds danger, courage, and a whole lot more—and Hickam has written a story from his boyhood imagination.

It’s the 22nd Century and there is a desperate need to produce a new energy source for the war-weary people of Earth. The best fuel is Helium-3—a precious element mined on the moon. Colonies of miners must live on the moon year-round to secure this hidden resource. Crater Trueblood is one of the miners, a teen doing his best to meet the Helium-3 quota set by the Colonel, the man in charge of Moontown. After winning recognition for an act of extreme bravery, Crater is tapped by the Colonel for a special mission. But it means he has to leave Moontown, the only home he’s ever known. He finds himself on an uncharted journey across the Moon to retrieve an object of immense value—yet shrouded in complete secrecy. Nobody mentioned the wide variety of creatures—human, sub-human, and unknown—that would try to stop him along the way, but with the help of his foster brother, Petro, and the Colonel’s beautiful but wily granddaughter, Maria, Crater is determined not just to complete his assignment—but to unlock the secret of the object that could save Moontown.

“Long-haul trucking on the Moon…with raiders, romance and a secret mission. … High adventure on the space frontier. The horse is a nice touch.” –Kirkus Review “Crater’s unwavering honesty sometimes obscures his fierce intelligence; both qualities serve him well. Written in tight prose with evocative descriptions of life on the moon, the story… concludes with enough resolution to satisfy readers and enough foreshadowing to make them eager for more.” –Publishers Weekly  

See the Crater promo and other moon videos at http://www.Helium3Novels.com/videos.html

Join us Friday morning at 10am EST for Parent Talk followed by Teen Talk at 11. Tune in at www.toginet.com or visit here for the podcast following the show.

First up on Teen Talk, Friday 6/8:

Shuree Rivera! 

Shuree Rivera is ONE GIRL WHO IS CHANGING THE WORLD through her music! Shuree is a pop/rock/soul artist whose vocals and energy stir people to positive re-action. She is currently working on her third highly anticipated album, featuring her hit single “One Girl Can Change the World”. Shuree is a Worship Leader at her home church The Compass Naperville.

I can't wait to introduce her to you all! She's scheduled to appear in concert at the first-ever Choose HER Conference in May, 2013. You're going to want to be there for that! Also, she's a new columnist here at Choose NOW Ministries, writing On Passion, Purpose, and Power. Her first column will appear on the 4th Wednesday of this month.

And, this video is a MUST see:

Tune in to hear from Shuree Rivera and to listen to her single: One Girl.  

Next up is  Executive Producer and star of The Genesis Code, Reverend Jerry Zandstra.

The Genesis Code is an independent faith-based film which highlights the intersection of science and faith as well as other issues facing Christians today. The film stars Logan Bartholomew and Kelsey Sanders as college students whose chance meeting leads to a burgeoning relationship and a journey of spiritual discovery.

The supporting cast includes Oscar-winners Louise Fletcher and Ernest Borgnine, former presidential candidate Fred Thompson, and Reverend Jerry Zandstra, who also served as the executive producer.

Exploring three major issues facing Christians today, The Genesis Code tackles the alleged conflict between religious and scientific explanations for the beginning of the universe.  The film also explores the often ignored story of discrimination against Christians on college campuses, while dealing with end-of-life issues portrayed through Logan Bartholomew’s character as he fights to prolong the life of his comatose mother when his grandparents attempt to remove her from life support against his wishes and despite the possibility of recovery.

Join us on Friday, 6/8, at 11am EST for Teen Talk! If you can't catch the live show, be sure to grab the podcast or subscribe on iTunes so you don't miss an episode!

In MADE TO CRAVE FOR YOUNG WOMEN (Zondervan), based on the New York Times bestsellerMade to Crave, bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst teams with social researcher Shaunti Feldhahn to show every teenage girl how to do just that – and give every mom the opportunity to discuss having true confidence in three vitally important areas.  

MADE TO CRAVE FOR YOUNG WOMEN addresses the many “cravings” young women experience. TerKeurst and Feldhahn have divided these cravings into three types—physical, material, and emotional—and highlight how these cravings manifest themselves in the need to diet, shop, and gain acceptance from others, especially boys.  This book equips teen girls (and their moms) with the tools necessary to avoid these destructive worldly cravings and move the focus to craving God. 

Feldhahn and TerKeurst tell their own very personal stories of growing up with the typical heartbreaking moments that most teen girls experience. They bring in research that Feldhahn conducted with 1,000 teenage girls, and the results of focus groups conducted for this book, to show each reader that she is not alone, and that no matter how “good” others look, they deal with the same cravings. 

Through their firsthand accounts, research, and a series of “action plans” and “reality checks” they help girls navigate these difficult years, by encouraging them to avoid succumbing to the countless influences around them—the pull of excessive Facebook time,  the desire to either eat for comfort or starve themselves to look thin, and the temptation to seek affirmation from popular girls and guys at school. Among the reality checks are:

• It is impossible to look like the images of the beautiful women in the magazines, because those images are often fake.
• That “perfection” you think you need is not what guys want anyway.
• Since we are living in an imperfect, fallen world, there is nothing of the world that will ever make you feel new or special “enough.”

Lysa TerKeurst is a New York Times bestselling author and speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has led thousands to make their walk with God an invigorating journey.  

Shaunti Feldhahn began her career as an analyst on Wall Street and today is a bestselling author, speaker, and nationally-syndicated newspaper columnist.  Her recent bestsellers have sold more than two  million copies and have been translated into 20 different languages.

Join us at 11am EST, 6/1, for a great discussion that will help you learn how to focus your cravings on the things that God has for you.  

Linda Windsor is up next!

With Merlin dead, the succession undecided, and the Celtic church on the defensive from Rome, intrigue sweeps the court of the High King Arthur. But it’s battlefield news that consumes Queen Gwenhyfar’s young scribe, Kella O’Toole: her fiancé is dead and her father gone missing. Determined to find him at all costs, Kella defies the queen’s orders and sets out for Pictish territory. Her foster brother Alyn, a disillusioned priest who questions his calling, agrees to help her.

The journey itself is perilous. But it’s their secrets that land Kella and Alyn in a viper’s nest of treachery that threatens both their lives and the future of Albion. Can they summon the love and faith they need to find their way not only out of danger, but into happiness? Brilliantly researched, vividly imagined, and movingly written—a memorable climax to the Brides of Alba series.  

Linda Windsor is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than thirty novels, with more than a million books in print. Her most recent work includes Healer and Thief, the first two volumes in the Brides of Alba series, and the early Irish Celtic Fires of Gleannmara trilogy.

WOW. What a line up. Yep...it's all on one show. One hour of exquisite awesomeness! Not that I'm excited or anything!

So, first up we have Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee, co-authors of the NY Times bestselling *The Books of Mortals* series.

Centuries 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. A terrible secret was 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.

Nine years have gone by since an unlikely hero named Rom Sebastian first discovered a secret and consumed an ancient potion of blood to bring himself back to life in Forbidden. Surviving against impossible odds, Rom has gathered a secret faction of followers who have also taken the blood-the first Mortals in a world that is dead. But The Order has raised an elite army to hunt and crush the living. Division and betrayal threaten to destroy the Mortals from within.

The final surviving hope for humanity teeters on the brink of annihilation and no one knows the path to survival. On the heels of Forbidden comes MORTAL, the second novel in The Books of Mortals saga penned by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee. 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 take the journey.

TED DEKKER is a New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels with a total of more than 5 million books in print. He is known for thrillers that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between good and evil.

TOSCA LEE is a New York Times bestselling author whose works include Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker. She is best known for her strong prose and humanizing portraits of maligned characters.    

Find out more about the story, the characters, the motivation, and the process by tuning in to Teen Talk on Friday, 5/25 at 11m EST! 

Next up is Sean Michael Afable joining us briefly to introduce the new movie Hardflip:

HARDFLIP stars John Schneider (October Baby, Smallville, The Dukes of Hazzard) and Randy Wayne (To Save a Life and Honey 2,and ABC Family’s The Lying Game), along with Sean Michael Afable (To Save a Life and Akeelah and the Bee) and Rosanna Arquette (Desperately Seeking Susan and The Whole Nine Yards).

Co-written by Daniel Backman, HARDFLIP follows the story of Caleb, a young skater whose ill mother (Arquette) and absent father leave him reaching for the only hope he has—becoming a sponsored skater. After finding a stack of old love letters, he sets out to find the father he never knew and inadvertently begins a journey he never could have expected.

I'll be interviewing Sean Michael Afable who most recently starred in To Save A Life and Akeelah and the Bee.

At the young age of 6, Sean's parents, Robert and Gigi, noticed his outgoing spirit and started him in acting classes. It didn't take long for Sean to land his first role in Burger King and Chuck E Cheese commercials. He has since appeared in several Disney and Nickelodeon television shows, but most impressive is his list of roles in feature films. Sean has studied under many of Hollywood's top acting coaches and has more recently been studying with Steven G. Lowe at The Actors Room for the past several years.

His passion extends to film, television, voice-over, theater, singing, and dance. As a Christian he is an active member of his church. Sean also dedicates countless hours to local charities involving causes close to his heart that better the lives of abused, neglected and at-risk youth, the prevention of hunger, and world disease.  

And finally, on the show, is bestselling author, Robert Liparulo, with his latest, The 13th Tribe.

“Liparulo (Comes a Horseman) opens the Immortal Files series with a bang … Not everyone will get or care about the scriptural framework, though it will resonate for the biblically literate, but every reader is in for roller-coaster action, competently done, with a late-breaking major plot curve that leaves the door open for more.” –Publishers Weekly

Robert Liparulo is the bestselling author and Hollywood screenwriter of both Adult and Young Adult thrillers, including Comes a Horseman, Germ, Deadfall, Deadlock, and the Dreamhouse Kings YA adventures in schools across America. Now for The 13th Tribe, Liparulo’s premier book in the Immortal Files series acclaimed by trade publications and bestselling authors alike.

Liparulo says, “The 13th Tribe, with its roots in a Bible story, resonates with readers like Raiders of the Lost Ark: an enjoyable, fun romp, but at its heart, Raiders is based on a Bible story. Take away the spiritual/God aspect—His power is contained in the Arc of the Covenant and Hitler wanting to use it—and you don’t have a story. Same goes for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade because it deals with the Holy Grail – the cup, the chalice - that Jesus used at the Last Supper.”

Ted Dekker, bestselling author of Forbidden and the Circle series calls The 13th Tribe, “a tale that is both skin-tinglingly supernatural and thought-provokingly real. Packed with high-tech-gadgetry, action and heart . . . Read this novel!”  

  Be sure to tune in at 11am EST for this entire show. You're not going to want to miss it! Visit TEEN TALK to find out more, or subscribe on iTunes to make sure you get your hands on this show.

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, Cherry Blossom Capers, 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.

****

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

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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.

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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!