Never Say Hopeless

 

I was stunned to see that it had been almost a year since I last wrote a blog post. Really???

Then I reflected on the past year and realized that if I had not been forced to stay home and be productive, this book probably would not yet be released. No one has ever experienced a year quite like 2020, and I hope and pray that 2021 is not more of the same. The most difficult part has been not being able to travel to see family and friends, but it also made me thankful for the dear friends who have been part of our limited circle during these pandemic months.

Never Say Hopeless was in the works for several years, put on indefinite hold by having the privilege of spending quality time with my mom before her passing in 2018. When she went to heaven, I had difficulty generating enthusiasm for returning to this project. She was my biggest cheerleader, and losing her was huge. I spent time traveling, thinking that would fill the void, but then I was stuck staying home I began digging back into the manuscript. And, finally, here it is! Available on Amazon in paperback and in e-book on Kindle. It will also be available on Nook soon, I hope. The Barnes and Noble website was hacked recently, and they are rather backlogged in processing the new Nook e-books.

The setting is predominantly the coastal town of Pawleys Island, South Carolina. It happens to be just up the road from where I live. This area is a hidden gem, but I believe that it has been discovered by those of us who exited the Northeast in search of snowless winters and lovely beach walks. The story incorporates a few of the local restaurants and locations that we enjoy, so it is a fun read for residents who like to have some familiarity with the setting.

The story began with my first book, Eyelash, which I call my experiment in writing. I then took the time and effort to truly study how to write fiction and penned Never Say Perfect. The story ends with Never Say Hopeless, and while I originally thought there might be a fourth book in the series, I wrapped up the story in this final release. I tried to write each book as a stand alone novel, but reading them all in order is probably somewhat advantageous. 

In Never Say Hopeless, Laina's friend, Connor Blake (whom we met in Never Say Perfect) is a Private Investigator and asks Laina to go to Pawleys Island to spy on a client's husband. Her assignment was to live in a rented beach house next to the subject and report back on his activities. It sounds fairly simple, but what she uncovers is far more than a case of infidelity. I don't want to say too much more at this time and spoil the suspense and shock of what she finds.

I write to entertain and inspire, so there is always the theme of how our faith can get us through whatever we have to face in life. This year is a great example. I keep calling 2020 The Lost Year. I can hardly wait to pack some luggage and go visit family, but it takes faith that this will all be possible sooner than later. 

So, dear friends, I trust that you will enjoy Never Say Hopeless. I thank you for your patience in waiting for this book's publication to become a reality! I always love to hear from readers at the following email address: info@awriterspresence.com. Please visit https://www.awriterspresence.com for more information.

May God bless you all and keep you safe!

Much love,

Mary Anne Benedetto

Where Fitness Meets Faith...and More!

I don’t ordinarily struggle with faith, but fitness is another story! That statement is not meant to appear arrogant, but it is flooded with sincerity. Each year requires additional effort for me to keep the pounds from creeping onto my body and clinging like a silk dress to pantyhose.

Back in my younger days, my weight was never an issue. I could eat chocolate cream pie any time I had the urge. I recall that I marched out of the hospital after delivering my son, and I was gloating about wearing the same tight jeans that I wore pre-pregnancy. Okay, I’ll admit that I was only 20 years old at the time, but it was still remarkable.

Accelerate the calendar to a few decades later, and I find that I have to incorporate exercise into my daily routine or my middle becomes…well, I can only describe it as doughy. It’s sort of like a Crescent roll that was taken out of the oven prematurely.

So my friend, Donna, told me about the Fitbit, and I’m in love with it. Although it’s just a fancy pedometer, it syncs with my computer and cell phone so I can always check to see how many steps I’ve taken for the day. On those frequent occasions when I have spent far too many hours at my desk, engaged in writing or researching tasks, I may fall far short of my intended 10,000 step daily goal. That prompts me to set up my jogging trampoline in the living room or jog in place for a while to make up for a sedentary work day.

I also try to practice the inclusion of more fruits and veggies in my diet and exercise portion control--except when I am at a movie theatre and there is a bag of yummy, warm popcorn within my grasp. Because exercising my body and faith are both extremely important to me, I was especially interested in reading Kimberley J. Payne’s book, Where Fitness Meets Faith.

Filled with her thoughts on fitness and sprinkled with Scripture verses to ponder, this book made me mindful of combining walking for fitness with using that alone time for prayer, praise, thanksgiving and just communicating with God.

Our days and evenings are often so hectic, it is easy to skip carving out daily prayer time. Talking silently to God as we appreciate nature and the great outdoors during an exercise routine is the best idea on the planet!

Kimberley is a former fitness trainer, so she knows how anatomy works. I, on the other hand, know very little beyond the basics about the human body; however, one important factor in my experience is that exercise makes me FEEL better. It not only rewards me psychologically because I know I have done something good for me, but I find the more active I am, I strongly crave nutritionally better foods. It’s a simple fact for me. Perhaps it is the idea that I’ve worked so hard during the exercise, I don’t want to waste it and turn around to grab a glazed doughnut.

If you spend long periods of time sitting at the computer, you will appreciate that Kimberley and her daughter produced an "exercise at your desk" video. Great advice for stretching and working out the neck and shoulder knots when tied to the computer! Check it out at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN5IG4tuLSM

This book is about so much more than exercise though. It is about having a goal and making progress, whether it be in our fitness lives or our spiritual walks with God.

Kimberley Payne also writes books for children, and her tag line is “raising the next generation in the faith.” Her most recent release, Adam’s Animals - Fun Facts About God’s Creation, is an activity book in Payne’s Science & Faith Matters series--geared to 6 to 9 year olds.

About the Author

Kimberley is a motivational speaker and an award-winning author and a member of The Word Guild and Inscribe Christian Writer’s Fellowship. Her writing relates raising a family, pursuing a healthy lifestyle and everyday experiences to building a relationship with God. Kimberley, who lives near Peterborough, Ontario, offers practical, guilt-free tips on improving spiritual and physical health.

 

Kimberley Payne

Visit http://www.kimberleypayne.com for more information and to sign up for Kimberley’s newsletter!

Also see http://www.scienceandfaithmatters.wordpress.com for more about her children’s book series.

***

Blessings until next time,

Mary Anne Benedetto

Author of Eyelash, 7 Easy Steps to Memoir Writing: Build a Priceless Legacy One Story at a Time!, Never Say Perfect, From Italy with Love & Limoncello and Write Your Pet's Life Story in 7 Easy Steps!

Visit http://www.awriterspresence.com

Introducing A Brother's Vow by Naty Matos

Today we are featuring Naty Matos and her new book, A Brother's Vow. According to Naty, we all experience turning points in life:

"If we look at life as a journey, we will see that along the path we encounter many crossroads. Depending on the side we decide to walk when we encounter those forks on the road will determine how our journey will continue. 

Making the right decision at those times can be quite challenging. We may feel external or internal pressures to pursue either side of the path. We have to always remember that at the end of the day, it is us and only us who will either suffer the consequences or reap the benefits of our final decision.

I know that at the same time sometimes we sit at that fork, thinking that no decision is better than the wrong one. This cannot be further from the truth. Staying stagnant will always make us more miserable that any pain that we can encounter. 

 

I once heard Joyce Meyer say, “You have to make the best decision with the information you have at the moment. Even if it’s the incorrect one God will give you Grace because he knew you were trying to do the best with what you knew.”  Those words have stayed with me for a long time, and when I know that I need to make a decision that may constitute a risk, I remember these words. Obviously I research, seek counsel because I need that portion of the best information possible to assess the elements of my decision, but at the end of the day I have decisions to make to further my growth and to fulfill my purpose.

 

In my new book, A Brother’s Vow, Randall has made a promise that he never thought he would need to fulfill. Then he’s faced with having to make a life-changing decision in order to fulfill it. Join my journey and find out if he did and, if so, how it turned out."

Interview with Naty Matos

What inspired you to write this book?

I am always inspired by the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and that’s part of what inspired this story. There were times where decisions are clouded by condemnation or rebellion; so I decided to write a story from that standpoint.

How did you come up with the title?

To be honest, my first title was My Promise to Keep because the story centers around a promise that Randall, the main character, makes to his twin brother Brian and the events that follow him trying to fulfill that promise. I found that there were too many books with that title already, so I changed it to A Brother’s Vow, as it is a more fitting theme in the book.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

That no matter how far gone or deep in trouble we think we are, God always welcomes us with open arms and there’s always the chance for new beginnings.

How much of the book is realistic?

Nothing, this is a pure work of fiction.

What book are you reading now?

I just finished “Waking up Married” by Mira Lynn Kelly a few weeks ago which I truly enjoyed. I’m about to start “Until Forever” by Darlene Shortridge

What are your current projects?

I have a powerful book on the subject of domestic violence titled, Breaking Free that is at the second draft revision and a Christmas romance novella, Lost Love on Christmas Day, which is also at the second draft revision level. I’m hoping to be able to release those next year.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Never give up, and keep on writing. Be open to correction and feedback.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Open yourselves to the opportunity of supporting indie authors. You will find that some traditionally published books are great and some are not; the same is true for the indie books. I have recently been watching some indie movies and found some great ones. It is time to open our minds to the concept that quality doesn’t always come behind a corporate label. Happy reading!

What is the main story line of A Brother’s Vow?

Randall Benson didn't think life could be any better. His job with the family business allowed him to travel and meet new people. His relationship with his girlfriend, the model, gave his access to all the red carpet events and parties, yet there was no requirement for him to be faithful. Although his family doesn't approve of his careless lifestyle, they love him and do whatever they can to keep him from self-destructing. Yet Randall’s only concern is Randall.

Randall’s world begins to come undone after a series of unexpected events. As Randall tries to settle down and become more dependable , his twin brother Brian seems to be headed down a path that Randall finds way too familiar. Brian makes an unusual request that, nonchalantly, he agrees to keep. He never thought that he would have to keep his word, but he does. As Randall struggles to fulfill his promise to his brother, he is confronted with challenges from his past. Will he succumb to his past and risk losing everything he’s worked so hard to accomplish?

This e-book is being launched on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. Print copies will be available within the next few weeks.

About Naty Matos

Naty Matos was born in the city of New York. She grew up in the beautiful Island of Puerto Rico and now lives in the city of Atlanta.

Naty Matos

She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Clinical Psychology with a Minor in Mass Media Communications and a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling.

 
Naty writes Christian fiction and non-fiction and maintains a blog on Christian Living Topics at www.therisingmuse.com.

Website www.therisingmuse.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naty-Matos/172298772847562?ref=hl

Twitter https://twitter.com/NatyCMatos 

Stop back soon for more!

All the best,

Mary Anne Benedetto

Author of Eyelash, 7 Easy Steps to Memoir Writing: Build a Priceless Legacy One Story at a Time!, Never Say Perfect and From Italy with Love & Limoncello.

Visit http://www.awriterspresence.com