Loren Fenton, Author

Here’s a new Pinterest pin I created with Book Brush:

It’s Live on Amazon.com!!

Here is the final version of the cover for “My Seven Essential Daily Prayers.” This is a revised and updated second edition of the original “SEDP” book. This is always an exciting moment!

Please check it out at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735136506…

Also, I would be greatly blessed if some of you would just say a little prayer for this project. Reports have come back to me how much people have been encouraged and inspired by the first edition. Certainly, God is in charge of how far it goes, but my greatest desire for this book is for it to touch many lives for the Master. Many TIA! God bless.

Well, it took me about three full days, but all the updating, revisions, and corrections are done. I’ve ordered a proof-copy from Amazon. That should be here in about a week. As soon as I’ve gone over the proof-copy and determined it is ready to go, I’ll hit the button to publish it on Amazon.

One thing I’ve done differently this time is buy my own ISBN number. In fact, I bought a set of ten numbers to use as I may need to for future publications. Every version of every book, whether hardback, paperback, digital, or audio needs a separate ISBN to identify it for library, bookstore, or other reference needs.

Previously, for both Whimsi and the Big Election, and Seven Essential Daily Prayers, I used the free ISBN numbers supplied by Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon’s publishing service for indie authors and self-publishers. However, with this new publication of MSEDP, I learned how to purchase (from the Bowker agency) ISBN numbers which I can then assign to any publication we produce. Furthermore, by using the free ISBN from KDP, a publisher is limited to selling only through Amazon. With the ISBN numbers we own, we are then free to market the book(s) through other sources, i.e. Barnes and Noble, etc.

The ISBN is the number used with bar-coding, and this specific book, version, edition, etc. can be quickly located. You can see the barcode and related number in the lower right-hand corner of the back cover.

A reader recently provided me with a very valuable observation about my SEDP book. He commented that he really enjoyed the book, and felt it was well-written. However, he pointed out that the content was somewhat out of sync with the expectations of the cover because much of the writing is the story of my prayer journey, rather than a more focused exploration of the seven prayers.

I believe he is right. I took his feedback to heart. So, thinking about how to re-package the book, I’ve come up with this cover. I would really like your thoughts about it. The text of the book will have very few changes, but with the new title, new cover, etc., it will be published as a “revised and updated” version, with a new ISBN and publishing date. Every chapter will also have a study guide and journal pages at the end.

Feel free to PM me, or reply in the comments below. Either way is fine. I’ll look forward to hearing from you, and I can assure you I’ll take each comment or suggestion seriously.

TIA, friends! God bless.

Valentine’s Day = Thoughts of Love

Yes, I love my wife. We are approaching our 53rd anniversary this coming June. I can honestly say – without reservation – that being on the receiving end of this woman’s love is the best thing that has ever happened to me in this life. I am supremely blessed, indeed!

But what really is love, anyway? Love is revealed by loving actions. Those actions are not love itself, however, only the tangible, visible fruit of love. Love is an emotion, but it is more than that. Love is a principle, a standard for behavior. Love is the law of life.

In fact, love cannot exist without law. Love is all about relationships, and every law in existence is also about relationships.

Love, or the lack of it, determines the health of every relationship. For living beings with total freedom of moral choice, choosing to act in loving ways creates hope, trust, respect, faith, and joy. Choosing to act in self-serving, unloving ways creates pain, disappointment, sadness, and ultimately death. Good laws serve to govern relationships for health and happiness. Bad laws seek to control others for the benefit of an exclusive few or a privileged class.

The Bible says that “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

The idea of “God” is often derided by unbelievers as a figment of imagination in the minds of weak, illogical, and uneducated people. The Bible is only a collection of myths and restrictive rules put together by superstitious people who invented “God” to allay their own fears and control the masses. God’s laws are without reason or real purpose . . . or so some would have us believe.

But is that really true? Let’s examine just one of God’s ten rules (laws) that seems appropriate on Valentine’s Day. Exodus 20:14 says, “You shall not commit adultery” (The seventh commandment). A couple in a faithful, monogamous marriage knows a depth of love unattainable to others. Breaking trust by indulging in affairs outside of marriage erodes respect, destroys love, and creates heartache. Everyone touched by the action eventually suffers – spouse, lover, children, extended family, and friends. And in turn, the ripple effect spreads to wider and wider circles negatively affecting many more than just the individual(s) guilty of breaking the commandment.

Conversely, the influence of faithfulness also spreads to regions far beyond the walls of a home where love reigns. Thus we can see that true love is found in willing, joyful obedience to God’s precept, and the fruit is health, happiness, hope, and honor. Seriously, what’s not to love about that?!?

In my writing endeavors I subscribe to a blog HelpingWritersBecomeAuthors.com, where author K.M. Weiland shares periodic inspiration and resource information for the craft. Her most recent post was truly excellent. It is valuable insight not just for writers, but for anyone who needs to stoke the creative fires.

Here is a link if you would like to read her thoughts on firing up your creativity for the New Year.

3 Life-Changing Rules for Finding More Writing Inspiration This Year

Enjoy! And may you have a truly blessed 2020!

This ad will run until the end of the year.

For those of you who pray for my writing ministry (whom I TRULY appreciate!), I thought you may be interested in my list of long-term projects. Here are a few things I’m working on, projecting through a rough-out schedule of the next 5½ years (when I turn 80 in June 2025).

This list is pretty random. Certainly not in any logical prioritized order. Just a list. 🙂

1. My current work-in-progress is not really something for publication, but is important to me to get it done. Many years ago when our children were young, my wife Ruth and I created a Pathfinder Club version of 4-H. The members were recognized both as Pathfinders and 4-Hers. I was asked a couple of years ago to write a history of this idea. We called it the “Pathfinder GEM” program. “GEM” was an acronym for “Growth–Excellence–Ministry.” I’ve made a good start on this writing project. Now to get it finished and out of the way!

2. “Border Children” tells how my siblings and I learned to relate positively to a wide variety of other people from significantly different cultures. “BC” is a family history, but focuses on life-lessons of coping, adjusting, and moving forward with grace in the face of sometimes difficult challenges.

3. “The Daisy Gate” is a 50k word novella, along the genre lines of Ken Blanchard’s business stories. I’ve been working on this book off and on for more years than I want to remember. It’s time to get this one finished soon!

4. “Tarida Springs” follows the adventures of four boys in their early teens after they make a fantastical discovery in a forest clearing near their small country hometown. I still don’t know how this one ends!

5. “Discipleship: A Christian’s Journey” is targeted to be a small booklet with 5 chapters. Based on a sermon series.

6. I’ve also got another “Whimsi” book under my hat. Would be good to get that one out without too much delay. 🙂

7. Interspersed with these large and semi-large projects, I also have a few serious articles, children’s stories, and other smaller pieces waiting in the wings for their turn on my computer screen.
About three years ago I realized I was not going to get ANY of my projects finished if I kept dabbling with them all, all the time. So, I did what I realized must be done. I set them all aside, and began to focus on one task at a time. Since then, I have finished/published three books and several stories. I am really serious about this writing ministry. I believe it is the major focus of what God wants me to do during these years of retirement from active pastoral work. I enjoy the work, and I am excited every time I see progress happening.

Thank you for your prayers. As I said at the very top of this note, they are very much appreciated, indeed.

This morning I listed the SEDP Study Guide and Journal in the online store on this website. Click on “Store” in the menu above.