This book has it all! Good friendships, mysteries, suspense, romance, travel, bookstores, exotic locations. I loved getting to chat with author Laura Thomas about writing, writing as a dream and stepping into reality, and more. Listen along and then go check out her book! 

A published Christian author, Laura writes heartwarming encouragement for your soul—especially in her romantic suspense, teen fiction, marriage, and children’s books. Laura is a chocoholic mom of three, married to her high school sweetheart. Originally from the UK, they live in Kelowna, B.C. as audacious empty-nesters.   

The Orphan Beach details at: https://laurathomasauthor.com/project/the-orphan-beach/

Follow Laura on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lauracthomas/

As a girl, PHINA knew love and affection. For generations, the great spirit bestowed healing powers on her dwindling race. Then, torn by tragedy, PHINA flees her cottage and finds herself, a young woman, serving as a minstrel in the governor's palace. Her hair and eyes mark her as a healer and catch her master's attention. Her differences and abilities attract his heart. Pulled between her beloved cottage and the palace, can love bridge the gap? Will she choose the palace's security or reconcile her calling?

In today's interview, I chat with author Kelda Poynot about this book, about life, and about writing! 

You can find Kelda at: 

Website: keldalaingpoynot.com

Facebook: facebook.com/keldapoynotauthor

YouTube: Hey, Miss Kelda

Instagram: keldap

LinkedIn: keldapoynot

In Not Without Yesterday, we follow Claire from high school to marriage and career, to big changes and surprises. Today I chat with the author, Rachel Trusty, about how this book allowed her to process life events, how she writes full-time, and the power of her title.

Creating characters that reflect actual human thoughts and emotions is Rachel's favorite part of writing. Rachel wrote very little until her senior year of high school when she realized that she could fill a sheet of paper with her own words. When that discovery was made, the pretend and imaginary that lived inside her head could finally come out. Her first book was published in June 2017 when Rachel was only 18 years old. Since then, she has written contemporary and historical young adult fiction. Exploring the world around her, learning about cultures and places, people watching, and taking long drives brings new inspiration to her every day.

Find her on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byracheltrusty/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ByRachelTrusty/

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHLjn84eIPlihPqxva4__2w

In this episode, I chat with author Penny Noyes about her book Seeing Value. It's a beautiful book about how powerful our own perspectives, thoughts, and words can be. She shares about the intrinsic value cycle, blessings, and life. 

Author Penny Noyes, M.Ed. just released her fourth book Seeing Value A Biblical Perspective on Intrinsic Value on Amazon. Seeing Value is a journey that will lead you out of the desert of self-criticism and negativity into life in abundance.

Penny's previously published books include two books about Hezekiah (because one wasn’t enough) and an in-depth Bible Study on the names of God through the lens of women of the Bible called Embracing Change Learning to Trust God through the Women of the Bible.   She also writes for Christianity.com, GracefullyTruthful.com and her blog.

Penny is a former compulsive reader who loves sharing truth and wisdom from the Bible in a practical and engaging way.  She is a wife, mom, step-mom and a Mimi to the cutest grandkids ever.

Find her on:

Instagram @pennynoyes

Blog www.pennynoyes.com

Facebook @PennyNoyesAuthor

Loneliness has reached epidemic proportions. We have lost the art of connection and relationship, and it’s killing us. Dr. Mark Mayfield uses his years as a counselor, his personal experience, and facts to help us better understand loneliness. From understanding, we can start to move forward. In this episode, we talk about the problem of loneliness and how we can all start to move toward connection.

Find more bookish content at patreon.com/bethsbookcast 

Dr. Mark Mayfield's painful personal experiences have now become accepted and integral parts of his life story. His years of guiding hundreds of people into mental, emotional, and spiritual health have equipped him. His personal life and professional life have set him on a mission to help you accept yourself as you are, then face, understand, and become the best version of yourself.

Find Dr. Mayfield at his website: https://drmayfield.com/

Order The Path Out of Loneliness: Amazon

Follow him on Instagram: @thedrmayfield

Today, we are chatting about the book, Teacher Dropout. It's a book that is brutally honest about the realities that students and teachers face in some schools. Lack of money, resources, time. The hardships of poverty, abuse, abandonment.

This book made me laugh, cry, and feel so many things. In today's conversation, we chatted about school systems, identity, and the power of grace.

Ann C. Averill is a retired teacher and the author of Teacher Dropout: Finding Grace in an Unjust School.  She lives in the hills of western Massachusetts with her husband of many years, her cat, and a flock of silly chickens. She enjoys tap dancing, kayaking, ebiking, and long walks with friends. And she adores babysitting for her grandchildren.

Blog: anncaverill.com

Amazon link for Teacher Dropout: https://www.amazon.com/Teacher-Dropout-Finding-Unjust-School/dp/B08F6X4NCZ/ref 

Twitter: AnnCAverill1

Facebook: Ann C. Averill Writer

Instagram: anncaverill

Join us in this episode as we talk all about ministry, life, and writing. Rachael was such fun to talk to and her book was such a delight to read! 

Rachael Groll is a missionary, pastor, and author.  Her latest book, She Hears: Learning to Listen to Jesus comes out June 29 and is available wherever books are sold.  Rachael has a heart for pointing others to Jesus and serves across the globe in the areas of evangelism and discipleship.  You can connect with her at her website, Shehears.org

Website: Shehears.org

Apple Podcast: She Hears Podcast

Instagram: she_hears

Facebook: She Hears

Email: [email protected]

Download a free sample of She Hears: Learning to Listen to Jesus: Free Sample of She Hears (20% OFF until June 22)

Purchase on Amazon: Purchase She Hears on Amazon

Children of the Nations: Website

Today, I wanted to share one of my favorite books with you. Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith & Art by Madeleine L'Engle. It talks about time, the beauty of life, creating, and becoming who you are meant to be. This book is about the idea of what does it mean to be an artist? Any kind of artist: writer, musician, painter, illustrator. I think it goes even beyond that into what does it mean to be a human? Let's walk through these ideas together. I can't wait to share it with you!

If you want more bookish content, join me over on my Patreon patreon.com/bethsbookcast

We live in a broken and difficult world. So how do we approach this pain without giving up? How do we understand goodness and beauty amidst brokeness? 

These are the questions that Sarah Clarkson has been asking and wrestling with for most of her life. She shares her findings with us in her book, This Beautiful Truth. Which is out today! This book approaches our pain, brokenness, and humanity with kindness and compassion. It also asks us to open our minds and hearts to beauty and goodness. It's such an amazing book that has deeply impacted me. I am so glad to share this interview with you!

Sarah is a kindred spirit and a beautiful soul. Listen along as we talk about motherhood, writing, and the books we love. 

Don't forget to go buy Sarah's book, This Beautiful Truth, TODAY! It's available wherever you love to buy books. 

You can find Sarah at her website: sarahclarkson.com

Or on Instagram: @sarahwanders

If you love books, join me on my patreon for more bookish goodness: patreon.com/bethsbookcast

There has always been something special about The Chronicles of Narnia. It's captured the imaginations of generations and inspired joy for many of us. But what if there was even more to the story than meets the eye? That's what we are talking about in this episode! I am joined by Dr. Michael Ward, author of The Narnia Code, Senior Research Fellow at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, and Professor of Apologetics at Houston Baptist University, Texas. We talk about the secret atmosphere and clues that Lewis left in Narnia, and how it can help show us more of who God is. 

This was such a fun episode to record! Michael knows so much about Lewis, as he studied his writing for his PhD. He even spent a few years living in Lewis' house, the Kilns. His PhD was published as Planet Narnia, and it became a BBC documentary, The Narnia Code. 

To find about more about Michael, visit his website and you can find his new book, After Humanity, here.

To support this podcast and to join the community, head to our patreon.