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ission of Bridging The Gap Magazine:
*The Mission of Bridging The Gap Magazine,
Inside This Issue:
is to showcase Christian Authors who are writing to glorify the Kingdom of God, while calling Others out from the secular realm and into the
Spiritual realm to use their gifts and talents that they Have been equipped to use by God. *The Theme of Bridging The Gap Magazine, is Recognizing the elements of truth that leads to GOD through literature.
Page 2- Mission of BTG & MORE!!!!!!!!!! Page 3- Publishers Page Page 4– Deborah Dunson’s Top 10 Summer Reads Page 6– Meeting the Author Melinda Michelle
*Bridging The Gap Magazine’s Foundation scripture is based from Jeremiah chapter 30, verse two, which says: “Thus says the Lord, God of Israel: Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.” (Amplified Version). *Connect with us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/GODSAUTHORSPROSPER2/
*Email us at:
bridgingthegapmag2016@gmail.com
Page 13-The 8 Prayer Watches Page 17– Genevieve Woods Page 20-Suzanne D. Williams Page 28-Author on the Cover: Michelle Sutton Page 34– Crazy Faith
*Paypal link to send donations or to subscribe for 12
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Publisher’s Page: A Word from BTG Magazine Publisher Deborah Dunson: Hello Bridging The GAP readers! This issue’s topic is based on books and relationships. Have you ever had a love affair with books? I have and it’s a wonderful thing! Books have a way of taking you places that you have never been before and introducing you to people that you would probably never meet. They can make you laugh, cry, and reveal something to you about your own character that you never knew. The books you read, can tell people who you are, what you may be thinking, or what you may be going through. Books are full of possible transformation., therefore, this is one love affair that I won’t ever give up.
A Word from BTG Magazine Publisher Clarissa Rhinehart: Blessings unto each and every reader of BTG Magazine… When I think about my relationship with books, I think about a quote I once read in a book that said, “a room without books is like a body without a soul!” I must literally admit, not only do I have a relationship with books, but my husband does as well and that was another component that attracted me to him because it spoke volumes to my heart in a way that God answered my prayers in regards to being with someone who loved books just as much as I did and being able to bring topics to the table to discuss at any given time ! The connection of a person who loves to read, is often displayed within their desire to always wanting to obtain knowledge to explore a world of the unknown through pages of books! My very first book that I fell head-over heels for, was the Holy Bible and to my surprise, it is still one of my most favorite books ever to read because there are so many life changing nuggets that are contained within one book; to me, the Holy Bible is the greatest anthology that was ever written! I would like to encourage each of you to continue to dive into that book that you have not read or to connect with a group that may be open to your suggestions of books that they may need to read… Whatever you do, just remember that your relationship with books can be just as important as your relationship with people, because there is always some good awaiting to be discovered and some truths awaiting to be revealed so that more understanding of the heart of humanity may be seen from different perspectives.
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Deborah Dunson’s Top 10 Summer Reads for 2017
1. Color Me Blind by Melinda Michelle 2. Saturday Showdown by Melinda Michelle 3. It Won’t Prosper by Genevieve Woods 4. Broken Like Glass by EJ McCay 5. The Opportunity for Temptation by Cynthia Middlebrook Harris 6. Shelley by Cynthia P. Willow 7. Annabelle by Chana Keefer 8. Child of Dust by Shoba Sadler 9. My Mother The Man-Eater by Tracy Krauss 10. Love Me Until I Love Myself by B. Love
BOOKS CAN BE LIFE-CHANGING… PICK UP ONE AND BE CHANGED!
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Meeting the Author Melinda Michelle: By– Deborah Dunson
It is a joy to meet your favorite author and realize that it feels like you are having a family reunion. My sister and I love Melinda Michelle's books; they are edifying, uplifting, entertaining, and inspiring. Melinda also embodies these same qualities. She kept us laughing and made us feel like we were family. She is the real deal and I love it. I can't wait to hang out with her again. We had a blast! Readers, if you have not read any of her books, you are missing out on a treat. They will bless your life. Melinda Michelle is a jewel to behold and her presence was a blessing to be within. I am forever grateful for one, to be able to develop relationships with every book I read, but it is really an honor to meet and to develop a relationship with the Author who birth these amazing masterpieces for us to read. Bridging The Gap Magazince and myself, wish nothing but the best on every endeavor that Melinda Michelle sets out to accomplish within her literary career and beyond.
May God forever bless the work of your hands!
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BOOKS: B– is for BELIEVE O– is for OPENLY O– is for ON K– is for KEENNESS… Allow BOOKS to SHARPEN YOU!!
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Authors Travel Too!!! Book your next event NOW!
LaKeisha & Chavis Greenard-314.873.2431
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The 8 Prayer Watches: Unleashed The Power of Prayer, by Clarissa Rhinehart, is a Strategic manual that is a MUST HAVE if you desire to take your PRAYER LIFE to a whole NEW LEVEL with GOD! Here is valuable information for your PRAYERS to cause Heaven to Invade Earth. If you ever wondered why you were getting up at certain hours through the night, 12AM, 1:30 AM, 3:33AM and so forth, this book contains the answer to your WHY and strategies of TIME and TARGETS of your prayers!!! Clarissa is on a mission to BIRTH OUT a ministry and revolution of PRAYER! Join her as she reveals the strategies to EQUIP you and to INFORM you on the POWER that you can UNLEASH within the Spirit realm. This book is currently available as an e-book. Visit the link to order: https://squareup.com/store/back2edennewsmag/item/the-prayerwatches-unleash-the-power-of-prayer
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A GDWOODSBOOKS PUBLICATION Love Again by Genevieve D. Woods First Edition: February 2017 Copyright © 2017 Genevieve D. Woods All Rights Reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the authorization of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the authors’ rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously. Some places are real but they are not actual event unless cited. Otherwise, any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
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The Love Again Excerpt By– Genevieve D. Woods Episode Seven The time Titus took off, the months of bereavement after losing his wife Pearl to breast cancer, was now over. He stood in his office putting on his robe and about to return to the sanctuary for the first time as a widower. Titus looked at the man in the mirror and recognized the weight he had lost while grieving. His robe hung looser than the last time he had worn it. Losing weight shouldn’t have been an option with the amount of food the church mothers prepared and sent for him. Not to mention all the single women of various ages that dropped by his home in the name of checking on him. He was not interested in any of their subtle or obvious advances. He had lost his Pearl and was going to take the necessary time to mourn. That is what he did, but today was a new day. He had to get back to living; Pearl would want that, this he knew for sure. As he walked into his in-office restroom, his mind went back to a conversation he had with Pearl on one of her last days. “Babe, I want you to live a full life after I’ve left this life. I mean it; I want you to marry someone and have children with her.” Titus looked at his wife as if she had grown a second head and took her hands in his and kissed the back of them. “Sweetie, we are not talking about this. I’m still expecting a miracle for you to be healed. I have long since gotten over not being able to have children.” “Titus, you can have kids, I couldn’t. Now I see why that was not in the will of God for me. Children would have made me having this disease that much worse if a child were losing me as a mother.” Pearl, using the little strength she had, took her hands from Titus and pushed herself into a sitting position. “Titus Timothy Smith, you listen to me good. You will go on after this. You will marry and have children. You will be the man God has called you to be in the natural and spirit.” With that, Pearl leaned her head back on her hospital bed pillows and rested her eyes. She was done with the matter and had accepted her time was near to be with the Lord. It was well with her soul. “Excuse me, Pastor, are you ready to go into the service?” Titus knew the voice calling out to him was his assistant, Deacon Dewayne Douglas. He finished washing his hands free of his hair products, dried them, and exited the restroom. “Good Morning, Deacon Dewayne. I am ready.” “Great, we are happy to have you back, Pastor. I have your tablet, necklace, and prayer cloth.” “Then I guess we are ready.” The two men made their way out of the pastoral office and started their walk down the hallway that led to the sanctuary. To order this book go to: www.gdwoodsbooks.com 19
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BAPTIZED By Suzanne D. Williams www.feelgoodromance.com Available at Amazon - http://amzn.to/2dHQ91q From the back cover: Penn Saunders hit rock bottom two years ago when a nameless girl he’d partied with died in his bed. He changed that night. He returned home to live with his parents, get clean, and embrace God again. As a pastor’s son, renewing his faith also reaffirms his call into the ministry. But he has a long way to go before he gets there, and his first step is living on his own. Morgan Gant thought she left her old life behind by moving hundreds of miles away. She’s starting over, building a successful online cosmetics business, and renting her own apartment. No one here will know what she did for a living, but most of all, she’ll never have to see the man who attacked her again. Meeting Penn, the neighbor across the hall, seems like another positive step. She needs to make friends and who better than the guy next door? Yet, when their feelings for each other grow, what they haven’t said, who he is as a Christian, clashes with the secret of what she’s survived, threaten threatening, once more, to tear their lives apart. *ExcerptDabbing her lips with a paper napkin, Morgan leaned back against the sun-warmed wall, her gaze forward at the sky, but her peripheral vision focused on Penn’s face. He’d figured out something was wrong with her, but been nice enough to not ask what. Taking that even further, he’d gone out of his way to make her feel comfortable. This made her curious. “So what do you do?” she asked. He turned his head. He’d grown more attractive in the last hour, and she was unsure if that was because of his kind mannerism or her insecurity about herself. Moving here hadn’t ever been in her plans for her life. But then, her plans hadn’t consisted of much until recently. A series of bad decisions at a young age found her dancing at night club minus her top. She’d wanted to get out of the business for a long time, but that’d proven hard to do. A series of lucky circumstances had changed her fortunes and given her hope it was possible. She’d told herself she’d work nights for a little while longer, then quit and dedicate herself to her new interest full 21
time. The two a.m. attack by a drunken customer had sped up her plans. Nursing a boatload of fear, she’d packed up and moved out, almost overnight. “I work for my dad,” Penn replied, breaking into her thoughts. “Pointless, mundane paperwork, but it helps him and pays my bills. You?” She worked up a smile. “I work from home. I sell organic beauty products online.” “Really?” He seemed impressed. “That’s great. Though, I bet you look great just as yourself.” Her smile wavered, but she tried to play it off. “You haven’t seen me in the mornings.”
He looked away, and the feeling returned, the one that said he had his own struggles. In an odd way, she’d picked up on that walking through his apartment. It was sparsely furnished, to the point of being empty. That could be a guy thing, or his personality, but she doubted it. Instead, it appeared he’d not been there long and was unwilling to give himself too much leeway. His comment about not drinking was another clue. She’d only ever been a social drinker, could take it or leave it most times, but for him, it must be an issue. In which case, she understood him being hard on himself. It was difficult to look yourself in the eye, knowing you’d messed up, and she’d done plenty of that recently. “Actually, I think a woman’s at her prettiest when she has nothing to hide.” Morgan winced, her fingers curling involuntarily into her palms.
Penn noticed. “Not that you have anything to hide. I only meant when she’s comfortable being herself.” Of course, he did, but his faux pas had broken the moment between them. The ring of his cell phone split it further. “Yeah, I’m coming,” he said to the caller. “I got sidetracked. Sorry, Dad. I’ll be there in a half hour.” Penn hung up and exhaled. “Hi ho. Hi ho. Off to work I go.” “You work nights?” He pushed to his feet. “Every Wednesday for a few hours, but I get Mondays off.” Morgan crouched and, one hand on the balcony rail, pulled herself upright.
“I enjoyed dinner,” he said. His eyes wrote an apology on his face. He was genuinely sorry for what he’d said, and for that mat matter, so was she. “Thanks for repairing the sink.” Thanks were the least she could offer. He’d been friendly, helped while away a couple hours, and as she’d said to herself earlier, it was good to know the neighbor. He dipped his chin. “No problem. Anything else you need, feel free to ask.” He shifted from one foot to the other, then made his way to her apartment door. There, he paused. “Hope I’ll be seeing you around.” “Probably,” she replied.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Best-selling author, Suzanne D. Williams, is a native of Floridia, wife, mother, and photographer. She is the author of both nonfiction and fiction books. She writes devotionals and instructional articles for various blogs. She also does graphic design for self-publishing authors. She is co-founder of THE EDGE. To learn more about what she’s doing and check out her extensive catalog of stories, visit http://www.feelgoodromance.com or link with her on Facebook at : http://www.facebook.com/suzannedwilliamsauthor or on Twitter at https:// twitter.com/SDWAuthor.
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Author Michelle Sutton:
The “EDGY” Christian
Fiction Author 28
Michelle Sutton is the author of 23 novels and will have new titles releasing over the next few years. She has been writing edgy, inspirational fiction since 2004 and has been featured in Romantic Times magazine. Michelle has mentored many authors and served on the board of American Christian Fiction Writers from 2006-2008. Michelle has pioneered the "edgy" Christian fiction genre and has developed several social media mentoring groups for
unconventional Christian authors. Michelle lives with her family in Arizona. ______________________________________________________________________________________
Q & A Session: Michelle Sutton & BTG Magazine 1. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer? I first knew I wanted to write inspirational fiction after talking to an author I admired. She told me when her kids went to college she took a writing class at the local community college and just started writing. I thought, "I can do that." However, unlike the author I'd emailed, I never took a writing class at a community college. I just participated in workshops at conferences and I learned a lot by reading books and participating in critique groups. 2. What is the first thing you wrote? The first novel I wrote was "First Impressions" (my Tombstone series) but it was actually the fifth or sixth book I contracted with a publisher. 3. How is kingdom writing different from secular writing? Kingdom writing has a purpose, which is to help the reader identify with the characters and their struggles, and to learn spiritual lessons through the characters that the readers can apply to their own lives. Kingdom writing is not for mere entertainment, but to speak truth into the hearts of the readers. If the author can make the reader feel something for the characters and think about their own lives, then the author has accomplished something with their writing. If entertainment were the only purpose, I wouldn't waste my time. Secular writing can teach lessons, but typically the story is written merely for entertainment.
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4. Is there one of your books that you would love to be made into a movie? If so which one and why? That's a tough question because I can see many of them as movies. I see the Tombstone series as classic romance. The It's Not About Me, Him or Her YA series would make for a great mini-series. And of course, my Sacred Vows series would make great drama as well. I can also see Letting Go as a movie. I can see a blond Charlize Theron or Jennifer Lawrence playing the role of Diane with Zac Efron or Ryan Gosling as Dave. 5. Who are some of your favorite authors? Too many to count. Seriously. But I'd have to say my favorite genre is historical fiction so anyone who writes in that genre gets major points from me, such as Philippa Gregory, Susan May Warren, Siri Mitchell, Elizabeth Chadwick, Nancy Bilyeau, Sarah Sundin, Michelle Moran, Maggie Brendan, Melanie Dobson, Jodi Hedlund, Tosca Lee, Julie Lessman, Laura Frantz, Jennifer Niven, Jill Eileen Smith, Robin Lee Hatcher, Francine Rivers, Tessa Afsha, Serena B. Miller, Marylu Tyndall, Tracy Groot, Alexa Schnee, and Mesu Andrews... to name a few. I like a lot of contemporary fiction as well, but my preference to read and review is historical fiction. 6. What genre of Christian fiction do you write? Contemporary romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction and young/new adult. All have edgy elements to them. 7. What is your current WIP? I am working on several projects right now. The one I am closest to finishing right now is Journeys (Somebody Love Me, Help Me, Want Me, and Need Me) which is four novellas in one book. I am one fifth of the way through Somebody Need Me. So that will probably come out next. Then I have the sequel to The Finish Line, which recently released under me and as Indie press. 8. Give us a brief synopsis of your current WIP? Well, the Journeys book is basically "my life" in four parts. Some is fiction and some is based on real life experience. It's set between 1982 and 1995 and includes major life lessons, a few failed marriages, and a whole lotta heartache. At the same time there are a lot of spiritual lessons learned. The main character is Missy Houghton who just wants to be loved. She goes about it in some very self-destructive ways, yet at the same time, God is always by her side. Sometimes she forget that and takes things into her own hands, which always ends in disaster. When she gives her life decisions back over to God, He starts the healing process again.
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9. What advice would you give writers who want to write Christian fiction? Write the story of your heart and don't worry about what the world says. If God has given you a story to tell, then tell it. Have fun and take chances. Read a lot of books. It makes you a better writer when you do. Don't be too nice to your characters... that's boring to read. Improve your writing skills by practicing and learn the craft, but ultimately know that you won't get rich through your writing. Last, if it's not a ministry for you, write in a different genre. 10. If there is one thing you can change about the publishing industry what would it be?
No pressure and no marketing. 11. When you hear Bridging The GAP Magazine what do you think of? Something that will educate or minister to the reader. Something that will equip the reader to help them bridge the gap between the world, and faith in Christ, so they will become more effective wit witnesses. 12. What do you think it is going to take for different nationalities to come together in Christian literature? I'm not sure how to answer this question except to say that brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of ethnicity and country of origin, are part of the family of Christ and therefore we should help each other, support each other's work, and not make the focus about differences, but about the spiritual heritage that we all have in common. 13. Name an author you would love to write something with. Another tough question.... Maybe team up with Tosca Lee or Michelle Moran. These are two ladies I love and admire... plus their writing skills are stellar. 14. Give us three words that describe you as a person? Generous, patient, and a bit cray-cray in the artistic sense.
15. What does it mean to you to bloom in the dark? How does it tie in with your current WIP? Blooming in the dark would be like thriving in a world filled with more darkness than light. But if Jesus is what's shining on you, you can still make a different regardless of how small the flicker or reflection of light may be. 16.How do you write through the pain of your struggles? I have about five journals filled with my thoughts when I was going through tough times. I reread them on occasion to remind myself that things have gotten better in the past year or so. I plan to turn the journals into a book at some point. For me, writing is an escape. If I am feeling hurt, it may come out in a scene or what I do to the characters at the time I'm writing a particular story. I write scenes so I can work through what is upsetting me. For example, I wasn't able to be there when my mom or dad died, so I do have a few stories with scenes where the character was present and it was 31
healing for me to write how I wished things could have gone for me if I had gotten there in time. But I had to travel cross country and that usually takes a few days to arrange. 17. What do you want to leave behind as a legacy? Well, I already have books that will forever be in the Library of Congress, which is cool, but the most important legacy would be all of the people whose lives have changed for the better because some story I wrote spoke to their heart and made them want to change in some way (like recommit their lives to the Lord, or to discover a relationship with Him in the first place.)
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Avalon has been a nurse for 34years. She has lived in Newark, NJ most of her life. A devoted church goer and one who believes that God wants her to serve Him with all of her heart, mind, and soul. She faced many oppositions during her nursing career but never gave up. Her book is meant to show and give strength and encouragement to people on their jobs and how to deal with the issues that may arise on a daily basis on the job. Check out her website:
asbnurse.com
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Crazy faith By– Clarissa Rhinehart
Nicole Bradley, who writes under the pen name of (Jahzara Bradley), is a woman who understands what Crazy Faith is all about! Bradley released her Crazy Faith Anthology on June 21, 2017; this project took about a decade to release, but Bradley NEVER lost her CRAZY FAITH in God! Bradley is an Entrepreneur to the core of her existence and one who is determined, laid-back, and at times, she can be goofy, but always knowing how to balance life under every circumstance that may arise. Her Crazy Faith Anthology is a book of empowerment and one that she felt was necessary to birth out because she didn’t want to miss her opportunity from God for Him to give it to someone else! Bradley said that this project which consist of 11 Co-Authors, (including myself as a Co-Author, Clarissa Rhinehart), was produced with NO MONEY UPFRONT! She literally stepped out ON HER CRAZY FAITH and trusted every promise and Word of God that if He gave her the vision, He would also give her the provision As the Crazy Faith Anthology was being birthed, Bradley admitted that her hardest part was trying to figure out what the cover was going to be… She said that God showed it to her and that she had to contain it in her head until she could communicate it to a Graphic Designer to bring it into manifestation! “You must be able to JUST BELIEVE WHEN YOU CAN NOT SEE,” Bradley said.
Nicole BradleyWearing her own personal
designed T-Shirt from her product line: CRAZY FAITH
When Bradley was asked what Bible character that she could relate to, she said King David because he was someone who defeated his giants with confidence and trust and CRAZY FAITH in the Lord; to Bradley, she said that he was like a Gospel Gangsta!
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Bradley is planning on leaving a legacy behind for her two beautiful daughters so that they can know that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE once you put your mind to accomplish whatever is within your heart to complete! This amazing Woman of God is raising her princesses NOT TO LIVE IN FEAR because she strives everyday on cultivating and raising them in CRAZY FAITH! Bridging The Gap Magazine would also like to take this time and to say
CONGRATULATIONS to the other 10 amazing Co-Authors who help bring this collection into existence‌ Norma Mc Elroy, Fran Briggs, Annette Bridges, Elaine Calmese-Bradley, Nashanta Robinson, Amy Brinkley, Roger Hayward, Erica Gilbert, Quintus A. Mc Donald and Clarissa Rhinehart-
(CONTIUNE TO OPERATE IN
CRAZY FAITH!)
To order your copy: Please visit: http://chaoticblissfragrance.blogspot.com/?m=1 Or Call: 219-487-8472 and state that you saw this Ad here in
Bridging The Gap Magazine. 35
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