Winners!!

It's always so much fun to give away great books!! Congratulations to this week's lucky winners:

Jess Ferguson - A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck

Jess, please use the button in the upper right side of this page to email me with your mailing address so I can forward your information to the author. Then, sit back and wait for your book to arrive.

Thank you all so much for stopping by The Borrowed Book and thank you, Kristin Billerbeck (via publicist), for your generosity in providing a book!

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Weekly Drawing

Entering our weekly drawing is easy:

1. Leave a comment on Fridays or...

2. Sign up to follow The Borrowed Book. Followers will automatically be entered for a chance to win that week's drawing!

This week, The Borrowed Book is giving away:

A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck ~ There are a billion reasons Kate should marry her current boyfriend.

Will she trade them all to be madly in love?

Katie McKenna leads a perfect life. Or so she thinks. She has a fulfilling job, a cute apartment, and a wedding to plan with her soon-to-be fiance, Dexter.

She can think of a billion reasons why she should marry Dexter…but nowhere on that list is love.

And then in walks Luc DeForges, her bold, breathtaking ex-boyfriend. Only now he's a millionaire. And he wants her to go home to New Orleans to sing for her childhood friend's wedding. As his date.

But Katie made up her mind about Luc eight years ago, when she fled their hometown after a very public breakup. Yet there's a magnetism between them she can't deny.

Katie thought her predictable relationship with Dexter would be the bedrock of a lasting, Christian marriage. But what if there's more? What if God's desire for her is a heart full of life? And what if that's what Luc has offered all along?

Winners will be announced on Saturday, 01/15/11.

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Should Huck Finn be "Sanitized?"

Mark Twain once described a classic as “a book which people praise and don't read.” That has been true for years of Twain’s classics about the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. That may be about to change.

By now I’m sure that most people have heard that NewSouth Books plans a February release of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in one volume, as Twain had intended. What you also may have heard is that NewSouth engaged the services of Twain scholar Allan Gribben to replace two “hurtful epithets” (the “n” word and Injun) that appear hundreds of times in the two works. As with any bold move, there are arguments to support opposing views on the subject.

Throughout his years in education, Dr. Gribben says he was approached by many teachers who lamented how they couldn’t use Huckleberry Finn in their classrooms because it wasn’t acceptable any more. He became determined to find a solution that would allow school children as well as other readers to enjoy all that the novel had to offer. His solution was to substitute the word “slave” for the “n” word. "This is not an effort to render Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn colorblind," he said. “Race matters in these books. It's a matter of how you express that in the 21st century."

“I'm hoping that people will welcome this new option, but I suspect that textual purists will be horrified," Gribben said, and he was right. Many who find the books racially offensive welcome the work that Dr. Gribben and NewSouth have produced. Others disagree.

A New York Times editorial on January, 5, 2011, stated, “We are horrified, and we think most readers, textual purists or not, will be horrified, too. The trouble isn’t merely adulterating Twain’s text. It’s also adulterating social, economic and linguistic history. Substituting the word “slave” makes it sound as though all the offense lies in the “n-word” and has nothing to do with the institution of slavery. Worse, it suggests that understanding the truth of the past corrupts modern readers, when, in fact, this new edition is busy corrupting the past.”

James Duban, a professor of English at the University of North Texas, disagrees. He thinks the most important thing is to get children reading. He says, "In today's wasteland of 'gaming' and other electronic distractions, I applaud any effort to perpetuate the reading and enjoyment of great fiction."

A Los Angeles Times editorial argues that Twain’s novel is a moving work of the pre-Civil War South and that the language is very much a part of the story and the history. It goes on to say, “Trying to protect students from the full ugliness of racism by softening that language does a disservice to them, and it's all too easy to imagine the crimes against literature that would result if this kind of thing caught on."

As the debate escalates, NewSouth announced last week that they were increasing their first print run from 7,500 to 10,000 books. NewSouth publisher Suzanne La Rosa was quoted in Publishers Weekly as saying that they had anticipated the controversy but not the volume of it. “I hope this is good for Twain, and it probably isn’t bad for NewSouth,” she said.

What is your opinion of this controversy? Do you approve of the changes in Mark Twain’s works and think this new book will be more appropriate for readers in the 21st century? Do you agree with those who say that there’s no need to change words that can be explained to young readers? Or do you think that no matter how the words are changed in the two novels, they will forever be a reminder of a past that is still painful for many Americans? Leave a comment. I’m eager to see what you think.

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Book Spotlight ~ A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck

Can God’s best include passion and security?

Katie McKenna had resolved to live a quiet life, marry a practical Christian man, and leave all her “worldly” desires behind. Since moving to California, she’d made it her goal to live life logically and for the Lord. She has the perfect life—a fulfilling job, a cute apartment, and a wedding to plan with her soon-to-be fiancé, Dexter.

But then in walks Luc DeForges, the handsome ex-boyfriend who’d broken her heart. After graduating college and rejecting Katie, Luc cornered the organic food market and became one of the most eligible multi-millionaire bachelors. But now he’s back and asking her to go home to New Orleans to sing at his brother’s wedding. She hasn’t fallen victim to her emotions since leaving New Orleans, and she’s invested too much to give into them now.

When Luc was in his element, there was nothing like it. His excitement was contagious and spread like a classroom virus, infecting those around him with a false sense of security. Katie inhales deeply and reminds herself that the man sold inspiration by the pound. His power over her was universal. It did not make her special.

Katie’s boyfriend, Dexter, is a practical man. As Katie’s roommate Eileen offers, “Katie, no matter how many entries you put in that book, Dexter is not going to be a romantic. I mean, fine, you’re going to marry him. He’s a good man. I just don’t want you to be disappointed. No matter how many junior high school hearts you draw next to his name, Dexter is going to order you what the Internet says is the proper gift for each anniversary. He’ll probably have a program created that does it for him.” But Dexter is safe. He’ll be a good dad. He’s very intellectual. He’s punctual. He’s everything she needs in a husband.

And Dexter will propose as soon as she gets her grandmother’s ring from her mom. And Luc will provide her with a free trip home for just that purpose. Plus, she needs to go home to New Orleans. It’s her last chance to find out why Luc tossed her from his life like a banana peel off the back of her father’s pickup. Love is a decision. A choice. All the leading experts said so, and she’d decided she would love Dexter in a way that honored and respected him. The way she’d loved Luc left her worn out and depleted, like an empty air mattress. Then what use was she? She’d get her ring and closure as well. Then nothing would stand in the way of her life with Dexter.

But what if God has more in store for her? What if God’s desire for her is a heart full of life? Can the passions she had as a young woman, which led to many of her past mistakes, still have a place in her life?

Kristin Billerbeck is a successful novelist from northern California. She has authored more than 30 novels, including the Ashley Stockingdale series and the Spa Girls series. She is a leader in the Chick Lit movement, a Christy Award finalist, and a two-time winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award. She has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times.

A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck
Thomas Nelson/February 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59554-791-0
320 pages/softcover/$14.99
www.thomasnelson.com ~ www.kristinbillerbeck.com

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The Pajama Trap

Believe it or not there are some writers who have the luxury of writing full time. From home. Which means there are days when they might not feel like getting dressed. Or brushing their teeth. Or flossing. Most writers who work a job outside the home, in addition to writing, are green with envy at the idea of staying home all day and pecking at their keyboards.

But let’s not be fooled. A full time writer at home has their share of hurdles to overcome.

Let’s take, for instance, those who would drop by unannounced. “Well, I knew you were here so I thought I’d come for a visit.” Okay, but when I’m trying to pound out five thousand words I don’t have time to chat.

Solution: Set boundaries for yourself (and others!) by establishing office hours.

Then there are the household chores that beckon to SAHW (stay-at-home-writer). It’s much too easy to fall prey to guilt so that writing time becomes cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, babysitting, child-rearing, laundry, bill-paying, cooking time. Can you say the words “No. Word. Count?”

Solution: Again, you have to establish business hours and treat the job of writing as if you were truly doing a 9-to-5.

And let’s not forget the pajama trap. To stay in your pajamas while working can result in too lax an attitude toward your writing. You’ll find yourself becoming unfocused and unproductive.

Solution: To motivate yourself, it would probably be better for you to get dressed as if you were going to work.

What about phone calls? Would you answer the phone and talk for hours on company time? Your writing time is just as important.

Solution: Treat calls as you would if you were an employee outside of the home. Turn off the ringer or let the answering machine pickup. Make use of caller ID.

You see, no one will have respect for your ability to work from home if you don’t lay guidelines for yourself. Set your work hours and stick with the schedule. When you treat the business of writing full-time from home *as* a business, friends and family will follow your lead.

What is your most difficult writing-from-home challenge?

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Award Winning Author, Sandra Robbins, joins The Borrowed Book Team

I am so excited to introduce the newest member of our team here at The Borrowed Book.

Sandra Robbins, and her husband live in the small college town where she grew up. Until a few years ago she was working as an elementary school principal, but God opened the door for her to become a full-time writer. Her first book Pedigreed Bloodlines, published by Barbour, was a finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Contest for excellence in mystery. She has three books released by Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense—Final Warning, Mountain Peril, and Yuletide Defender. Final Warning was a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, a merit award recipient of the Holt Medallion, and a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award. Her historical romance trilogy Alabama Brides from Barbour includes The Columns of Cottonwood, Dinner at the St. JamesBlues and Along the River which releases later in 2011. Her romantic suspense Dangerous Reunion releases from Love Inspired Suspense in July 2011 as the first in a three book series set on Ocracoke Island.

Sandra writes romantic suspense and historical romance, but her knowledge of the industry extends far beyond these genres. Beginning next Thursday, she will post articles dealing specifically with industry news. In addition to writing about things that are happening in the publishing world, she will interview authors, agents, or editors from time to time and get their insight into what’s going on in the world of publishing.

Sandra enjoys hearing from her readers. To find out more about Sandra and her books go to http://sandrarobbins.net or send her an email at sandra@sandrarobbins.net.

Please help me welcome her to The Borrowed Book. We look forward to working with her for many years to come.

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Sunday Devotional

A stranger appeared on our doorstep the other day. It had been raining for several days and our driveway was a mess. This guy had taken a wrong turn and ended up getting stuck.

“Excuse me, ma’am, is your husband home?”

How did I answer that? Nowadays, admitting that a woman is home alone is not exactly a bright idea. “Um, he’s at work, but my son is here. Can I help you with something?”

The guy pointed down the driveway. “I’m stuck, and wondered if you could pull me out.”

I tossed a nervous glance at my husband’s four wheel drive pickup parked next to the house. “Uh, yeah, I guess so. Can you hold on a second? I’ll get my son.”

At that moment, Max came tearing around the corner, barking and growling.

“Whoa,” the guy said, backing up a step. “Does he bite?”

“Yes,” I said. “Don’t reach down to him. Max, come here.”

Max obeyed, but he kept his gaze firmly fixed on the stranger, the hair on his back standing on end.

The guy took a step forward. “Do you have a tow strap--?”

That was as far as he got. Max jumped between him and me and started growling and barking like crazy.

“You’d better wait right there,” I said, picking Max up. “I’ll get my son.”

“Okay.” The guy smiled. “That’s a good dog, right there. He’s pretty protective, huh?”

I laughed. “You could say that.”

Well, we got the guy unstuck and he went on his way without incident, but the whole time I thought about how Max had protected me. Out of sheer love, he was willing to sacrifice himself in order to keep me safe. I guess that’s what God meant when He said love never fails. And I guess that’s what He meant when He commanded us to love one another.

1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version)

1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

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