You won’t want to miss the exciting features this week on Allison’s Book Bag. Just this past weekend, I announced my first giveaway. This week, I will also post my first review of a Christian novel.
You can win a signed copy of two picture books by Newfoundland author Eva Keefe. Just post a comment to Review of Eva Keefe’s books or to an Interview with Eva Keefe to have your name entered into a draw for her two books. Be sure to include an email address with your comment, so that I can contact you. Your email address will not be published, but will simply be used to contact you.
I will also post teasers for the newest book I will review: If Only You Knew by Mags Storey. My family recommended it to me. I just recently finished reading my sister’s copy and will share reactions this weekend. Save the Date: July 24!
Awards: If Only You Knew by Mags Storey garnered three awards at the 2010 Canadian Christian Writing Awards! Of the hundreds of entries received, it was selected as the winner in both the “Novel – Romance” and “Book – Young Adult” categories. Mags Storey also received the new Grace Irwin Award. It celebrates the best book published in 2009 by an author from the Canadian Christian community. Check back on Sunday for my review!
Inspiration: According to Mags Story, a mix of inspirations came together to form her young adult Christian novel. The initial inspiration for the story (the “pier scene”) came to her in a dream. Each of the characters were based on four or five people including herself. Lots of bits from ex-boyfriends were also interwoven. Some of the conversations were based on real ones she had with people and questions friends have asked her that she had also struggled with. Many of what she considers the funniest and saddest parts came from real incidents in her past. Other parts she just invented.
Spiritual Misfit Defined: On Facebook, Mags Storey calls herself a spiritual misfit. She coined the term on the spur of the moment, when she realized that no matter how hard she tried to define herself, and her faith in God, there would always be someone who thought she didn’t quite ‘fit’ into their definition of what a Christian, or a person, or even a writer should be! At Interviews and Reviews, Mags Storey said that the concept of spiritual misfit is summed up in the contradiction found in Mark 9:24: “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!”
Spiritual Misfit Examples: Several spiritual misfits appear in If Only You Knew by Mags Story, including the main character Jo who is insecure and looking for someone to believe in her. The people she encounters, even the Christians whom she thinks have their act together, are also spiritual misfits in their own way. There is a Christian leader who struggles with anger and betrayal, a Christian musician who seems on the outside but hides inner brokenness, along with the Sunday Christian who wrestles with temptations during the week. I will review her book about misfits in just two days!
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