Inspirational Journeys: Stories that Matter

Inspirational Journeys: Stories that Matter

By Ann HarrisonArtsBooks
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Inspirational Journeys: Stories that Matter episodes

  • Powerful Whispers from the Holy Spirit with Christa Speath
    The Holy Spirit speaks to us through powerful whispers. That’s
    what my special guest Christa Speath and I discuss, along with her writing
    process in today’s episode. Be sure to have your journal ready, because there
    are some golden nuggets you’ll want to walk away from this conversation with.
    Christa Joy Spaeth is the founder of Christa Joy Ministries.
    It was founded in 2022 when Minnesota-based author Christa received a
    compelling
    message from God. In a prayer cabin called “Whisper,” He
    prompted her to write a seven-week devotional titled “Powerful Whispers”.
    Since then, Christa’s eyes, heart, and ears were opened to
    more whispers, so that she may start fulfilling her new purpose of helping the
    hurting and share
    the love of Christ. This blessed wife, mother of two, and
    businesswoman is passionate about living up to God’s plans for her every day.
    So much so that
    in 2022, she stepped down from her decades-long career as a
    Registered Dietitian at a large food manufacturing company to pursue the
    promptings of the
    Lord and encourage others in Christ.
    Today, Christa owns and operates Christa Joy Ministries
    where she publishes her own books, writes encouragements and God whispers on
    her social media accounts. In addition, she does guest blog posts for various
    social media accounts.
    Connect with Christa at the following links:
    https://www.christajoyministries.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/ChristaJoyMinistries/
    https://www.instagram.com/christajoyministries
    Visit
    www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get
    10% off any product on the site.
    26 min
  • Connect with the Holy Spirit as you Write with Kyllie Martin

    Do you connect with the Holy Spirit as you write? Do you

    find joy in your writing? These are some of the topics my special guest and I
    discuss in today’s episode

    Kyllie currently resides in Redding California with her

    husband and two children. A New Zealand speaker and author passionate to see
    the Kingdom

    of God fully expressed here on earth. After years of moving

    from one trial to the next she found joy to new levels and received the oil of
    gladness for

    her mourning. When she's not spending time with her friends

    and family you'll find her working on her next project and planning their
    return to New Zealand.

    Kyllie Martin thought she’d navigated two decades of

    suffering well, joyfully even, until God placed her in an environment where she
    encountered

    authentic, attractive, overflowing joy. After witnessing

    first-hand the strength that joy imparts, she wanted it for herself. So, she
    asked the Lord to

    teach her about His joy. Thus began a two-year journey of

    study and exploration. In her debut book, Unlimited Joy, Kyllie shares what the
    Lord taught her

    as she traced the theme of joy throughout the Bible and

    allowed the Holy Spirit to fill her again and again with the joy of the Lord.

    As you read, you will discover there’s more to be had than

    simply getting through life’s challenges with your faith intact. You’ll learn
    how to:

    Overcome despondency and encounter heaven’s joy

    Practically activate joy in your life

    Facilitate a joy-outbreak in your community, church, and

    nation!

    Jesus wants you to have more than just a little bit of joy.

    He wants you to experience the fullness of it! Receive it, release it, and be
    transformed by

    the power of supernatural joy.

    Purchase link:

    https://www.kylliemartin.com/unlimited-joy

    Connect with Kyllie at the following links:

    https://www.kylliemartin.com/

    https://www.facebook.com/kylliemartinauthor

    https://www.instagram.com/kylliemartinauthor

    Visit

    www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get
    10% off any product on the site.

     

    33 min
  • Kingdom Connections Through Fiction with Wendy Jo Cerna
    A Kingdom connection is always orchestrated by the Holy
    Spirit, especially when the connection is between two like-minded fiction
    authors. This is what happened when Wendy Jo Cerna appeared as my first guest
    in my brand new Kingdom Connections interview series. Come join us as God shows
    us how he can provide the inspiration needed to write life changing fiction
    that meets people where they are so they can hear the message He has laid on
    our hearts to advance His kingdom.
    Born into a family of educators in Minnesota, Wendy Jo
    Cerna’s love of books and education was inevitable, eventually leading her into
    the
    world of theater in college, where she earned a BA in Drama
    from the University of Washington and later an MS in Psychology from Walden
    University.
    After an inspirational nudge, Wendy Jo authored, The
    Baby-Catcher Gate in 2017, followed by her second fictional work, The
    Agreements, in 2020. Her most
    recent novel, Solbakken: A Tale of Generations, is an
    intriguing story of mystery and generational bonds.
     
    Tora, a 65-year-old woman, is wading through an identity
    malaise on the tail end of the covid era. She is at odds with her daughter and
    unsure
    of the impact of her life on a broader scope. A break-in at
    her grandparents' homestead in far northern Minnesota gives her a cleanup
    project to sink her
    teeth into. As she sorts through the mess, she uncovers
    family secrets that lead her to lines of inquiry with her extended family and
    further examination
    of her family tree. All the details begin to fall into place
    by means of surprising discoveries, vivid dreams, and a strange new neighbor
    whose history
    is shrouded in its own layer of mystery.
    Purchase link:
    https://www.amazon.com/Solbakken-Generations-Wendy-Jo-Cerna/dp/1957293160/
    Connect with Wendy at the following links:
    https://www.facebook.com/wendyjocerna
    https://www.instagram.com/wendyjocerna/
    https://www.wendyjocerna.com/
    Visit
    www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get
    10% off any product on the site.
    35 min
  • 5 tips for creating character rules for Fantasy and its Subgenres
    When writing in
    the fantasy genre or any of its subgenres such as contemporary fantasy, Urban
    Fantasy, and Magical Realism, I’ve found that the best to make sure your
    characters drive your story in a way that satisfies the reader is to create
    some rules. These rules include rules for ghosts, angels and other spiritual
    supernatural characters; rules for any team or group of characters who work together
    for the greater good of your world; rules for unusual characters including magical
    toys, inanimate objects with special abilities etc.; rules for magic systems;
    and rules for supernatural or mythical  villains.
    Special shouts
    go to Caitlin Alexander, author of She’s Still Here:
    https://www.amazon.com/Shes-Still-Here-Paranormal-Investigator/dp/1957656077/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2XMKM8P7UTDA4&keywords=She%27s+Still+Here+by+Caitlin+Alexander&qid=1685716716&sprefix=she%27s+still+here+by+caitlin+alexander%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1
    published by
    Monarch Educational Services:
    https://monarcheducationalservices.com/
    Caitlin gave
    me the idea for creating rules for the characters and elements of fantasy
    listed above.
    If you’d like
    to learn more about Magical Realism, visit:
    https://kimventrella.com/2019/02/14/magical-realism-in-middle-grade/
    Visit www.everyday-excellence.com
    and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the
    site.
    16 min
  • Scott DeLuzio shares his story of survival, after losing his brother (reprised)
    In honor of memorial day, I’m re-airing an episode from back in October of last year. This week, my special guest shares the story of surviving the loss of his brother, who was killed in action while they both served in Afghanistan and overcoming grief, survivors guilt and PTSD, in order to share his compelling story with the world. He also started a podcast to share the stories of others who’ve served in the military and suffered with some, if not all, of the same struggles he went through after coming home from his tour of duty in Afghanistan. Grab a cup of your  favorite beverage and join the conversation. After you’ve heard this compelling story, be sure to share it with your friends and loved ones, and say a prayer for the men and women who serve your country, wherever you are, as you listen or watch this week’s episode.
    Scott DeLuzio is an Army veteran, having served six years with the Army National Guard, including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2010. Scott’s brother, Steven, was also deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. Unfortunately, Steven was killed in action on August 22, 2010. After returning home, Scott struggled with coping with the stresses of combat, the loss of his younger brother, and adjusting back to civilian life. In the years following Scott’s deployment, he noticed other veterans dealing with their struggles in unhealthy ways. Scott started his podcast, Drive On Podcast, to connect with current and prior service members. He interviews veterans and civilians to discuss personal triumphs, life experiences, and emotional hardships to give hope and strength to the military community.
    Scott lives in Surprise, Arizona, with his wife, Vicki DeLuzio, and their three children.
    Connect with Scott at the following links:
    https://driveonpodcast.com/
    https://twitter.com/scottdeluzio
    https://twitter.com/driveonpodcast
    https://www.facebook.com/driveonpodcast
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdeluzio/
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/drive-on-podcast
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkO9JA_H1z2A8zbvadyhglQ
    https://www.instagram.com/scottdeluzio/
    https://instagram.com/driveonpodcast
    If you’re looking
    36 min
  • Stories of Faith, Courage, and Grit with Susan K Beatty
    Do you
    love stories about faith, courage, and grit? Do you love stories where the protagonist
    learns to trust in God to give her the faith and courage to face life’s
    challenges in order to complete the tasks He sets before her? If so, you’ve
    come to the right place. Today, my special guest and I talk about her women’s
    fiction with Faith, Courage, Grit, a hint of Romance, and in her latest book,
    suspense. Grab a snack and a cup of whatever beverage suits your fancy and join
    the conversation. Be sure to have your journal handy, because you may find a
    valuable nugget or two along the way.
    Susan K.
    Beatty is in her third career—from journalist to homeschool tech writer to her
    life-long dream to be a novelist. She is proof you can start a new writing
    career late in life. Susan released her first published fiction in September
    2019 and is now an award-winning author. Novel number eight released May 16 and
    number nine releases May 30, 2023. She is passionate about finding courage
    through faith and grit. Susan is the author of the
    California
    Homeschool Manual (in her second career), was the assistant
    director of the SoCal Christian Writers’
    Conference, and is
    the president of her local ACFW-OC Chapter.
    Susan’s latest
    book is entitled Relinquished.
    No one takes her kid and gets away with it.
    When Teagan Parsons discovers that the Amber Alert on a celebrity couple’s
    child is actually her daughter, she’s determined to rescue the daughter she
    relinquished years ago. If she’d only realized the emotions her mission would
    rekindle…
    Having a cousin in the FBI gets her closer to the case than she could have
    dreamed, but instead of listening to the lead FBI agent’s warnings to “leave
    the job to the professionals,” Teagan begins following everyone she suspects.
    That old saying, “Don’t quit your day job,” has never been truer, but she’ll do
    whatever it takes to bring her daughter home safe.
    Mitch McCartney has enough trouble on his hands without dealing with a
    guilt-ridden, biological mother bent on making up for past sins. Teagan seems
    to have developed a talent for getting things wrong and putting herself in
    danger. Oh… and she’s adding theft to her rap sheet—theft of his heart, anyway.
    Then Teagan goes missing.
    Learning you can’t undo the past is a tough enough lesson without adding on
    more mistakes, but with Mitch’s help, Teagan may, with the Lord’s Guidance,
    forge a brighter future this time.
    Purchase link: https://amzn.to/40mxRGO
    Connect with
    Susan at the following links:
    https://www.susankbeatty.com/   (Website)
    Subscription link: https://bit.ly/3H6TWl4
    https://madmimi.com/signups/27766cdc2adc4e8fb10cf446d3b32711/join
    https://www.facebook.com/SusanKBeattyAuthor/
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/1169775503218317/
    https://www.amazon.com/author/susankbeatty https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19509173.Susan_K_Beatty
    https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan-k-beatty
    https://www.instagram.com/susankbeattyauthor/
    https://www.pinterest.com/SusanKBeattyAuthor/
    https://twitter.com/sk_beattyauthor/
    28 min
  • How I Took my Open Air Poem to the Next Level
    In this episode,
    I explain how my tech assistant, Jack and I recorded my poem entitled Open Air,
    set to music with some outdoorsy stuff in the background. You can watch me
    dance to this accidental music track here:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWfqRfKNm4c&t=13s
    You can also
    read the poem and listen to the before and after versions of the recording
    here:
    https://www.annwritesinspiration.com/2023/04/25/original-poetry-open-air-poem/
    13 min
  • Disconnected Book Launch Celebration with Riley Cross
    In today’s
    episode, Riley Cross joins me to talk about her writing process
    and her debut novel entitled Disconnected. As Riley and I talked about her
    writing process, we coined a new term for writers who plot a little and pants a
    little. NaNoWriMo calls us plantsers, but we coined the term plotser to
    describe us. Come join in the fun filled conversation, where you’ll find a few
    nuggets for writers and readers in the mix.
    Riley Cross is a SciFi Author who loves merging the elements of
    fantasy, science, and reality together. Her debut novel, Disconnected, is being
    released on May 10th! Whenever possible, she enjoys brewing chocolate coffee
    and writing to pirate-themed music. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok
    with @WritingbyRiley to continue the conversation!
    When her parents and grandfather are
    killed in a series of mysterious accidents, the teen is plagued by disturbing
    fragments of memory that suggest the deaths were no accident. Only Kaynine, her
    loyal robot dog, knows for sure what happened, and Chiara must find its
    corrupted memory files. She is desperate for the truth even if the cost is
    abandoning Silas, her long-time friend and unsanctioned crush.
    She is on the verge of losing it
    all: honors-class ranking, best friend, and her dream of becoming an inventor.
    The virtual realm and reality
    collide as Chiara's coding skills enable her to search for answers in the
    Forbidden Library. And when her journey takes her past Unity's city limits and
    face-to-face with other social outcasts, Chiara realizes that one girl with a
    book just might be dangerous enough to crash the entire system of lies.
    Fans of
    dystopian science fiction will love the novel's deadly plot twists as it
    explores the darker nature of chasing perfection.
    Purchase Disconnected at the following links:
     https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/disconnected-riley-cross/1142839644
      https://www.amazon.com/dp/195765614X?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_KKK3MBXVM7TM6N2AK568
    Connect with Riley at the following links:
    Twitter : https://twitter.com/WritingbyRiley
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riley.cross.102
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writingbyriley/
    Website: https://writingbyriley.wixsite.com/writepi
    23 min
  • Reflections on my 3 day Coffee Fast
    In this
    episode, I share my reflections of my 3 day coffee fast, and how the Lore
    showed up in a bog way. I also have a song recommendation. The song is entitled
    Job Suite by Michael Card. You can listen to it on YouTube here:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7XVS1VIzHc
    Visit
    www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get
    10% off any product on the site.
    Support this
    podcast with a monthly donation by visiting:
    https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys/support
     or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal
    at:
    https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US
    17 min
  • I'm Asking You to Bathe my New Book in Prayer
    I am taking a
    big leap of faith, guided by the Holy Spirit. I want to ask you to bath my new middle
    grade magical realism book entitled Shadows On the Wall: Spirit Writer Society
    book 1 in prayer, because I believe with all my heart, that God can use entertainment
    and the genres that children love to draw middle school kids closer to Him. I
    pray that he touches the lives of parents and encourages them to buy the books
    for their children. Please pray for a successful book launch, beginning with
    the beta reading process, all the way through the launch of the book. Thank you
    in advance, and I will do the same for you.
    7 min

About Inspirational Journeys: Stories that Matter

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Inspirational Journeys, stories that matter ! Listen as I speak with K-12 authors about their writing process, how they found illustrators if needed, and speak with K-12 editors, agents, and publishers as they share tips for up and coming K-12 authors. Listen as I share editing tips and strategies, and platform building advice I learn throughout my author and editing journey, champion authors whose work I've edited, and give authors with disabilities a platform to share their writing journeys.