For Such a Time as This
Remember Queen Esther? She was just an ordinary (albeit
beautiful) woman placed in a difficult time in history. I'm sure she never
thought, growing up, that she would play a pivotal role in keeping her people
from annihilation. Yet the book of Esther 4:14 quotes her uncle as saying,
"Who knows but that you have come to your royal
position for such a time as this?” And her actions following his
question prove his analysis to be correct. God had put her in the right place
at the right time with the right tools to keep His people safe.
For such a time as this.
Powerful words. I don't think Esther is the only person
in history whom God has called to meet a specific need.
I hesitate to put myself on such a playing field. Though
I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has put me here and now, with the
skills and passion for the task He's called me to, I know I'm not the only one.
It's not all on my shoulders. (Not that it was all on Esther's, for the God who
called her guided her through Mordecai.)
What unique purpose has God called me to? To write
fiction that entertains, definitely, but also that challenges believers to
consider their food choices. Many people consider that a strange statement.
What does faith have to do with food?
A lot! Or at least it should. I have a series on my blog
called Where Food Meets Faith that explains the
relationships, not only from my perspective, but from that of other Christians
in guest posts. (Click on the category label at the above link to see more.)
Food production around the planet is in trouble and will
affect every one of us if it doesn't already. From slavery (google cocoa +
slavery) to starvation (google famine + politics) to GMOs (google genetically
modified organisms) to the declining bee population, our global population and
global environment are in crisis.
Do people want to read a sermon on the topic? Some do,
and they're spreading the news via nonfiction. Others prefer fiction, which
enables people to examine various angles in a nonthreatening story. In my new
Farm Fresh Romance series, I've written "Farm Lit" http://farmlit.com with sweet simplicity and a bit
of zing.
The first book, Raspberries and Vinegar, released August
first. This
novel finds Josephine Shaw and her friends renovating a dilapidated farm with
their sights set on more than just their own property. Transforming the town
with their sustainable lifestyle and focus on local foods is met with more
resistance than they expected, especially by temporary neighbor,
Zachary Nemesek. Jo needs to learn that a little sweet makes the tart
more tasty.
You can find out more about this novel (and download the
first chapter) at my publisher's website: Choose NOW Publishing.
Sound interesting? You're in luck! From August 6-9,
anyone who orders a paperback copy of Raspberries and Vinegar can receive the
digital versions as a thank you gift. We're also offering a bunch of other fun
downloads: digital art, a podcast with interviews about the intersection of
food and faith, a video of me making Raspberry Vinegar, and more.
My question for you today is this: Why did God place you
on Earth right now? What has He called you to do? And. . .are you doing it?
Bio
Valerie Comer’s life on a
small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary
inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow
much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as
their creation-care-centric church. She only hopes her characters enjoy their
happily ever afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult
kids, and adorable granddaughters.
Valerie writes Farm Lit with
the voice of experience laced with humor. Raspberries and Vinegar, first in her
series A Farm Fresh Romance, released August 1, 2013. Visit her at
http://valeriecomer.com.
A Farm Fresh
Romance Series:
A Farm Fresh Romance.
This unique farm lit series follows the adventures, romantic and otherwise, of
three college graduates who move onto a reclaimed farm where they plan to take
the rural area by storm with their sustainable lifestyle and focus on local
foods.
Raspberries and
Vinegar: A Farm Fresh Romance (1) by Valerie Comer
Short Blurb:
Sweet and tart
Josephine Shaw is on a mission to rid the world of junk food and chemicals by
promoting local foods and sustainability.
Back Cover Copy
Josephine Shaw: complex, yet
singleminded. A tiny woman with big ideas and, some would say, a mouth to
match. But what does she really know about sustainable living as it relates to
the real world? After all, she and her two friends are new to farming.
Zachary
Nemesek is back only until his dad recovers enough to work his own land again. When
Zach discovers three helpless females have taken up residence at the old farm
next door, he expects trouble. But a mouse invasion proves Jo has everything under
control. Is there anything she can't handle? And surely there's something sweet
beneath all that tart.
Release Copy:
Breaking ground with the Farm Fresh Romance series, RASPBERRIES AND VINEGAR finds Josephine Shaw
and her friends renovating a dilapidated farm with their sights set on more
than just their own property. Transforming the town with their sustainable
lifestyle and focus on local foods is met with more resistance than they expected, especially
by temporary neighbor, Zachary Nemesek. Jo needs to learn that a
little sweet makes the tart more tasty.
Buy Raspberries and Vinegar: (includes links to various stores/versions)
http://valeriecomer.com/bookshelf/fiction-2/raspberries-vinegar-farm-fresh-romance/
Buy through Choose NOW Publishing: http://www.choosenowpublishing.com/posts/books/raspberries-and-vinegar-farm-fresh-romance/
(includes various links)
Connect at:
·
Website:
http://valeriecomer.com
·
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/valeriecomer.author
·
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/valeriecomer http://twitter.com/towritestory
·
Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/valeriecomer
·
Blog:
http://valeriecomer.com/blog
·
Writing Blog
& Free eCourse: http://towriteastory.com
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