Inspirational Journeys: Stories that Matter

I love to celebrate new book launches and champion the Celebrate Lit Publishing authors who’s work I’ve edited. Today’s episode is no exception! Join my special guest and me as we talk about her writing journey and celebrate her brand new novella. Marguerite Martin Gray is the author of the Revolutionary Faith series, Gardens in Time series, and Room for Love in the Suamalie Islands series. She enjoys researching and studying history. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish. She currently lives in North Louisiana with her husband and rescue pets. Her two adult children and two grandsons keep her up to date and young. Promise Me Christmas is a Christmas novella, companion to Revolutionary Faith Series, 1784 Charleston, SC Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBD4524R?crid=13Z6KSZ1AHDWG&keywords=promise+me+christmas&qid=1688802633&sprefix=promise+me+christma,aps,1631&sr=8-9&linkCode=sl1&tag=celelit-20&linkId=d1389c405b2ed09385eacf7f2deed398&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl Connect with Marguerite at the following links: Newsletter: https://eepurl.com/gF-3I1 Website/Blog: https://www.margueritemartingray.com BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marguerite-martin-gray Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1408197086342364 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margueritemgray Visit www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site. Subscribe to the 540 Writers Community for free, if you need some writing accountability, and you want to participate inwriting workshops. Visit: https://540writerscommunity.com/ to sign up for the newsletter and search for 540 writers community on Facebook. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inspirational-journeys/message

In today’s episode, my special guest and I talk about his writing and publishing journey. College media instructor Karl W. Beckstrand is the best-selling author/illustrator of twenty-seven multicultural/multilingual books (65 e-books—reviews by Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, The Horn Book, and School Library Journal). Raised in San Jose, California, he has lived abroad, earned a B.A. in journalism, an M.A. in conflict resolution, and a broadcast & film certificate. His western novel, To Swallow the Earth, won a 2016 International Book Award. Beckstrand loves volleyball and singing (in rock bands or choirs). His Y.A. stories, e-book mysteries, biographies, Spanish/bilingual books, wordless and STEM books feature diverse characters—and usually end with a twist. See: Amazon, Apple/iBooks, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Follett, Ingram, Target, Walmart, and PremioBooks.com Connect with Karl at the following links: https://premiobooks.com/book-author-visits https://www.facebook.com/KarlBeckstrand.AuthorSpeaker https://www.instagram.com/karlbeckstrand/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlbeckstrand/ https://www.pinterest.com/karlbx/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnBDasodvKjUEC_0X4yLpFg https://twitter.com/PremioBooks Visit www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site. Subscribe to the 540 Writers Community for free, if you need some writing accountability, and you want to participate inwriting workshops. Visit: https://540writerscommunity.com/ to sign up for the newsletter and search for 540 writers community on Facebook. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inspirational-journeys/message

Today’s episode is a special one for two reasons. My special guest is not only a children’s book author, she’s a teen author with a birthday coming up in two weeks. Shanti Hershenson’s first two novellas were published when she was in the sixth grade, although her writing journey started long before then. Ever since she could hold a pencil, marker, or crayon, she was creating stories. They started from pictures, mere scribbles, and eventually, turned into captivating tales. She lives in California with her parents, sister, and furry friends. Besides writing, she enjoys skateboarding, Beyblading, free-running, falconry, and of course, reading. She writes in a variety of genres, including Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction, although she mostly sticks to Sci-Fi. She advocates for anti-bullying, and you may find her at open mic-nights, performing her spoken word poem Needles & Thorns, which is about the struggle of bullying in middle schools. Shanti’s featured book is entitled: Helipads in Heaven. World-renowned author Dillon Hershkop has everything she wants in life, but getting there hasn’t been easy. Now thirty years old, she has achieved almost everything she dreamed of as a young girl: A dazzling career, a devoted fan base, and a picture-perfect family—but despite all of this, she is also painstakingly bored.That is why, when Dillon receives the opportunity to become the test subject for a time-traveling experiment hosted by JPL’s brand new Center for Experimental Science, she seizes the opportunity to explore La Cañada—and the places she grew up around—without any immediate reservations. In exchange, she can write a brand new memoir both about time travel and the nearly forgotten experiences that shaped her into the talented woman she is today. That is, if she returns.Dillon is soon thrown head-first as an adult spectator into the complicated world of her ten-year-old self—fondly nicknamed Goose—from her love of helicopters, writing, and all things Elton John, to her unreceptive fourth-grade teacher, Ms. Vincent, her sourly judgemental classmates, and the missed opportunities of a fourth-grade writer with a smothered voice.As she observes the childhood she does not entirely remember, she begins to realize that there are reasons for the holes in her memories—things she must not remember, because if she does, it may become impossible to stand back and watch the oil of her bottled-up trauma be poured into a fire from a distance. And if she goes against the direct orders of the laboratory, the effects of tampering with a nearly unknown science may permanently disrupt the fabrics of time, space, and Dillon’s existence.From the teenage author of You Won’t Know Her Name,Helipads in Heavenis a deep and heartwarming adventure of time travel, childhood ambitions, and at the core, a love letter to unique children and those who dare to dream. Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Helipads-Heaven-Shanti-Hershenson-ebook/dp/B0C97X49B6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2E564HUJXFRRD&keywords=Helipads+in+Heaven+by+Shanti+Hershenson&qid=1696259960&sprefix=helipads+in+heaven+by+shanti+hershenson%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1 Connect with Shanti at the following links: https://www.shantihershenson.com/ https://www.instagram.com/shantihershenson/?hl=en https://www.pinterest.com/shantihershenson/ https://www.tiktok.com/@shantiwhowrites https://twitter.com/ShantiHersh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inspirational-journeys/message

My special guest and I have a fun and exciting conversation about our love of writing children’s books. Even though today’s episode is audio only for the most part, I get so excited to show off a new toy I made, that I forget that I don’t have my camera on, and turn it on for a brief second.so if you’re listening on YouTube, please disregard my split second video shot. For those of you listening, I’ll share the picture of the crocheted ice cream I talked about as part of the show notes blogpost on my site. TONYA DUNCAN ELLISis author of the award-winning, 13-book, SOPHIE WASHINGTON children’s chapter series and THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM (HarperCollins, Balzer + Bray, 2024). She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation-sponsored Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort. Tonya has spoken and taught at writing conferences at the Highlights Foundation and for SCBWI in New York City and for SCBWI Houston and Austin, TX chapters. A former journalist and freelance magazine writer, she holds a BA degree in French from Centre College of Kentucky and an MBA degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Tonya is represented by Sara Megibow ofkt Literary. She lives in Houston, Texas and is married with three children. There are 13 books in theSOPHIE WASHINGTONchapter series geared toward kids ages 8 to 12. African American preteen Sophie Washington and her friends deal with common tween issues like fighting off bullies, squabbling with siblings, managing social media and video games, getting schoolwork done, fitting in, and puppy love, with a Texas-twist. Sophie lives in the suburbs of Houston, Texas and sees alligators on neighborhood bike rides, goes muttin’ bustin’ at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and experiences flooding and hurricanes, which makes for all kinds of exciting adventures. Books in the Sophie Washington series includeSophie Washington: Queen of the Bee, Sophie Washington: The Snitch, Sophie Washington: Things You Didn’t Know About Sophie, Sophie Washington: The Gamer,SophieWashington:Hurricane,Sophie Washington: Mission: Costa Rica, Sophie Washington: Secret Santa,Sophie Washington: Code One,Sophie Washington: Mismatch,Sophie Washington: My BFF,Sophie Washington: Class Retreat, Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day,andSophie Washington: Treasure Beach. Connect with Tonya at the following links: Website:www.tonyaduncanellis.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyaellisbooks/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyaellisbooks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyaellisbooks Visit www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site. Subscribe to the 540 Writers Community for free, if you need some writing accountability, and you want to participate inwriting workshops. Visit: https://540writerscommunity.com/ to sign up for the newsletter and search for 540 writers community on Facebook. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inspirational-journeys/message

The only way to move forward in God’s calling for your life is by faith. That’s what Austin moore and I talk about in this week’s episode, as we celebrate his debut novel. Austin Moore is a lead pastor who lives with his wife and four children in Southeast Georgia. He has spent most of his life in full-time church ministry while writing worship music. His ministry experience and a newfound passion have led him to creative writing to tell the story of God’s life-changing power in a new way. Austin’s debut novel is entitled Forward by Fire. All is lost as James’ car hurtles upside down through the air… …until he invokes the name of God. He wakes up in a bizarre new world, but is it a dream? A delusion? The afterlife? His estranged daughter Mary appears in the haze of the forest, but she’s apprehended by a strange dark force and taken away. James feels just as powerless to reach her as always. Whether this world is real or not, he’s got to try to find her, and his only hope is a map with mind-bending supernatural power. Can a man who’s never believed in the unseen step into the unknown? Would he relive the pain of the past and face a mysterious evil to save Mary and fix what’s broken between them? “What kind of father wouldn’t try?” James is no man of faith, but faith is the only way forward… …and souls are on the line. Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Forward-Fire-Austin-Moore-ebook/dp/B0C6H4VF1C?ref_=ast_author_mpb&_encoding=UTF8&tag=revaustinmoor-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=c03b8f56fb9b44fd7fae49bec8944ce3&camp=1789&creative=9325 Connect with Austin at the following links: https://austinmoore.net/ https://www.facebook.com/austinmoorebooks https://www.instagram.com/rev.austinmoore Visit www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site. Subscribe to the 540 Writers Community for free, if you need some writing accountability, and you want to participate inwriting workshops. Visit: https://540writerscommunity.com/ to sign up for the newsletter and search for 540 writers community on Facebook. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inspirational-journeys/message

What types of books do you write? Does your author platform align with your writing? That’s what I’ll be talking about in this weeks episode. I also share some changes coming to the podcast and my YouTube channel and give you some encouragement and prayers to help you move forward with streamlining your platform and becoming an expert in the gifts God has given you in your calling to write. Visit www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site. Subscribe to the 540 Writers Community for free, if you need some writing accountability, and you want to participate inwriting workshops. Visit: https://540writerscommunity.com/ to sign up for the newsletter and search for 540 writers community on Facebook. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inspirational-journeys/message

What would you do if you crossed paths with a service dog handler? In today’s episode, Joan Patterson and I discuss the different between a service dog and a guide dog. We discuss her latest book and her writing. Sit back and enjoy our inspiring and informative conversation. Career educator, author, and speaker Joan Patterson received a Bachelor of Science in education and business and an associate degree in Bible from Liberty University. More than three decades of multiple sclerosis (MS) have confined Joan to a wheelchair, from which she communicates passionately the life lessons God has taught her through service dog companions Faith and Giles. Joan has spoken to churches, women’s groups, children’s groups, civic groups, schools, nursing homes and professional groups. Joan’s memoire is entitled: A Matter of Faith, Surviving Life’s Crises with Four Wheels, Four Paws, and a Loving God. In this unique memoir, Joan Patterson chronicles her experiences as the human half of an extraordinary homosapien -canine partnership. Adventures ranging from quirky, hilarious, poignant, challenging, but never dull offer fresh perspective on how to survive life’s relentless crises and develop a closer relationship with God. Joan’s hope and prayer in introducing readers to her delightful, devoted canine partner is that each will walk away from these pages with renewed faith and a deeper understanding of a loving heavenly Father who is always there to help his children in time of need. Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=a+matter+of+faith+joan+patterson&crid=TSNQ5LALAV5K&sprefix=a+matter+of+faith%2Caps%2C97&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_17 Visit Joan’s website at: https://joanpatterson.org/ Listen to Joan’s interview with Patti Shene on her radio show called Step Into the Light by clicking the following link and clicking the play button on the first episode: https://pattishene.com/stepintothelightradioshow Visit www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site. Subscribe to the 540 Writers Community for free, if you need some writing accountability, and you want to participate inwriting workshops. Visit: https://beckyantkowiak.com/join-the-540-writers-community/ to sign up for the newsletter and search for 540 writers community on Facebook. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inspirational-journeys/message

Here’s a sneak peek at the fourth annual WWJ writing conference which was streamed live on YouTube on Saturday August 19, 2023. My presentation is entitled Connect your Craft with your Writing. If you enjoy this presentation, click the play list link below to see the rest of the conference. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsc18KIWy0rvL_3AU23UVJcNiYT4JGKNS Visit www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site. Subscribe to the 540 Writers Community for free, if you need some writing accountability, and you want to participate inwriting workshops. Visit: https://beckyantkowiak.com/join-the-540-writers-community/ to sign up for the newsletter and search for 540 writers community on Facebook. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inspirational-journeys/message

Seeking first the kingdom of God is important if we want to align with God and follow His plan for our lives., I encourage you to surround yourself with a team of prayer warriors. The passages of scripture I reference throughout today’s episode include: John 15:4–5; Matthew 6:33; and Matthew 6:5–12. I read these verses from the King James Version of the Bible. My challenge to you is this: Seak first the Kingdom of God, invite your family, friends, church members, email subscribers and people in your writing community to be a member of your prayer team, according to God’s will, and pray for one another. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Visit www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site. Subscribe to the 540 Writers Community for free, if you need some writing accountability, and you want to participate inwriting workshops. Visit: https://beckyantkowiak.com/join-the-540-writers-community/ to sign up for the newsletter and search for 540 writers community on Facebook. If you missed the Writing Warriors for Jesus 4th annual writing conference, you can watch the replays here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsc18KIWy0rvL_3AU23UVJcNiYT4JGKNS --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inspirational-journeys/message

In this return episode from my short hiatus, I share my takeaways and some exciting updates that I received while attending the write His answer virtual writing conference. Stick around to the end, because I encourage you, dear listeners and viewers, to attend a conference either by paying for it yourself, or applying for Cecil Murphy scholarships whenever possible. Visit www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site. Subscribe to the 540 Writers Community for free, if you need some writing accountability, and you want to participate inwriting workshops. Visit: https://beckyantkowiak.com/join-the-540-writers-community/ to sign up for the newsletter and search for 540 writers community on Facebook. The Write His Answer virtual writers conference kicks off tomorrow August 9th, and runs through Saturday August 12. There’s still time to register if you wish to attend live, and scholarships are available. To learn more and register for this fabulous lineup of workshops, continuing sessions, learning labs, roundtable discussions, breakouts and more, visit the Write His Answer conference website at: https://colorado.writehisanswer.com Mark your calendars for August 19 from 9 a.m. to5 p.m. for the 2023 WWJ writing conference, which will be live streamed on YouTube. If you can’t watch the conference live, you can go back and watch the videos in the playlist any time after the live event by visiting: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsc18KIWy0rvL_3AU23UVJcNiYT4JGKNS --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inspirational-journeys/message