Cover Reveals & Giveaway: Stacey Rourke's Gryphon Series Reissue

Well friends, we some more exciting news! The award winning Gryphon Series from best selling author Stacey Rourke has made some exciting changes. Each book will have all new covers and AMAZING illustrations. But that's not all, today you are getting a sneak peek at the next thrilling book in the series, Ascension!



 

ABOUT ASCENSION

From best selling and award winning author Stacey Rourke comes the heart-pounding continuation of the acclaimed Gryphon Series.

The turning point of the Gryphon saga is at hand …

Battle looms. Three unstoppable forces prepare to clash in a colossal explosion that could wipe Gainesboro off the map. Fate and sacred calling have landed nineteen year old Celeste Garrett in the middle with nowhere to run.

Her trust wavers as she uncovers dark secrets of the Council, powerful enough to test her loyalty and turn her against those she swore to protect. Playing to the longing of her heart, a malevolent enemy uses her weakness against her to form an alliance.

With the trumpets of war about to sound, which side will the Conduit choose, and who will be left standing?

ABOUT ILLUSTRATIONS AND ARTISTS

Illustrator Crystal Ord will be bringing some of your favorite Gryphon Series characters to life!

Crystal Smalls Ord is a freelance illustrator and writer who resides in the rainy Pacific Northwest. Her art and stories have appeared in the macabre children's lit magazine, Underneath the Juniper Tree. Last year she illustrated her first children's book, Ethan's Story; My Life with Autism which can be found on Amazon.com. Her art has also appeared in hitRECord.com's musical short, Madamoiselle Noir.

In her free time Crystal plays with her kids, cleans house, teaches music in Sunday School, and lingers in the geekery corner of Pinterest.

Contact her at:

Website: wix.com/fynn47/author-website.com

Facebook: facebook.com/smallsord

The demonic and fantasy elements of the Conduit’s journey will jump off the page thanks to Robert Immings;

In 2000 Robert Immings graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta with a BFA in graphic design. Since then he’s done work in package design, web development and designed training applications and software interfaces. These days he’s a mild mannered operations technician with an electronic trading firm in Alpharetta Georgia. Earlier this.year he had a chance to enter Sony's "Treasures of Middle Earth" design contest which was a promotion for the hobbit movie. He came in as a runner up. More recently he had the opportunity to do some sketches and collaborate on the cover for Emily Fogel's wonderful fantasy novel Dragon Wars and created the cover for her soon to be released book "Chasing Flames". Right now he’s excited to be working on a collection of illustrations for Stacey Rourke's Gryphon Series.

He’s always interested in illustration and graphic design projects and can be contacted at robertimmings@hotmail.com.

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ABOUT STACEY ROURKE

Author of the Laugh-out Loud Gryphon Series and the nonfiction book I'm Not Crazy I'm on Lupron; a Journey Through Infertility. Learn more about Stacey's books at www.staceyrourke.com or diaryofasemi-crazyauthor.blogspot.com. If you are a blogger or reviewer interested in reviewing any of Mrs. Rourke's work please contact Sara O'Connor at Gliterary Girl Media. Thank you for visiting this page!

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Flaming DARTS?!

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”

 ~Ephesians 6:16

Recently, our church had Kevin Ezell, President of the North American Mission Board, as a guest speaker on Sunday morning. He read the above verse from Ephesians and pointed out that our shield of faith is not to defend ourselves against arrows or swords, but flaming darts. Tiny, flaming darts. 

I don’t know about you, but I had never really thought about that before. We have all probably seen some kind of knight movie where they use shields to defend themselves in battle. Battles against flying arrows, flaming arrows, and swords of other knights. But DARTS?! All I kept thinking about were the darts that my dad had when I was growing up so he could participate in the lunch-time tournaments at work. 

But, to be honest, the more I have thought about this since Mr. Ezell spoke, the more it hits home with me. Darts - tiny - just enough for a pinhole - that is really all it takes for Satan to weasel his way into our minds, hearts, and spirits. I know for me, he LOVES to make me doubt my self worth. Just a tiny dart is all it takes to send me into a downward spiral of depression and darkness. Satan also likes to attack my mind by making me question my friendships and other relationships. He wants me to feel alone - and not only doubt people, but God’s love for me.

God does NOT want that for me - He has equipped me with a shield of faith! Even if some days all I do is use that shield to duck and cover, it is better to USE the shield than to let the darts of Satan hit me like a million tiny missiles. We are given the shield to enter into the daily battle - protecting us from the darts of Satan so we can fill our hearts and minds with the Truth of God’s Word. 

And what is even better?! God says that shield of faith with EXTINGUISH those flaming darts - not make them bounce off and the fire can ignite the ground and still get to me. The shield will make the doubts that Satan tries to get into my mind go up in smoke! I don’t know about you, but that sounds like Victory in Jesus to me!!

I don’t always remember this amazing truth, but I am learning every day that I have to be very observant, guard my heart and mind, and use the tools that God has equipped me with to defend against the daily darts that come against me!

Book Blast & Giveaway: Sidekick Chronicles Vol II: A Pirate's Tale by Stacey Rourke

Who needs a little more Rowan?

Stacey Rourke presents a Gryphon series novella

The call of the sea.

The promise of adventure.

For Rowan Wade, the need to return to his swashbuckling ways is enough to betray the only woman he’s cared for in over three hundred years.

With vengeance in his heart, he’s determined to exact his revenge on those that mutinied against his father. 

The arrival of an unlikely ally challenges Rowan’s plans. Her goal isn’t to stop him, but to lead him on a journey of self-discovery to unravel the mysteries of the twisted path that led him to the Dark Army.

Will it be enough to make the pirate shift course? Or will he be lost forever in a rum-induced haze? Hoist ye colors and prepare to set sail with the Gryphon Series’ favorite pirate!

My Review:

Stacey Rourke has done it again! This novella gives a glimpse into the past of the Gryphon Series’ dark, hunky pirate. Rowan Wade has an interesting history that shaped and haunted him some three centuries. He yearned to return to the sea and exact revenge against those that changed his life forever, but a visit from a counsel member might change his heart. In this tale, secrets of Rowan’s dark past are revealed that changed how I felt about the sarcastic, hard-hearted pirate and his betrayal of Celeste in previous books. However, in the classic cliff-hanger style that is Stacey Rourke, I was left craving the next edition of The Gryphon Series to find out what happens to Rowan and The Conduit on their next quest.

Buy A Pirate's Tale at Amazon 

Chat with Stacey Rourke

Friday, July 19 at 2 pm

Twitter #PiratesTale

Giveaway!! 
July 19-August 4

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Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012.

2012 InD'tale Rone Awards Finalist for Young Adult Teen Romance

Stacey Rourke is the author of the Gryphon Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of this series as well as other literary projects.

Keep up to date with these links

Amazon- 

http://www.amazon.com/Stacey-Rourke/e/B0062KO148/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

GoodReads

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5309409.Stacey_Rourke

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/staceyrourkeauthor

Website

http://www.staceyrourke.com/Home_Page.html

Twitter

@Rourkewrites

A GWR Publicity event paid for by Anchor Group Publishing. Giveaway is sponsored by the author who is responsible for the delivery of prize. PAGES OF MAYHEM received no compensation for this post.

Review & Giveaway: Virtue Training Bible

“Patience is a Virtue”...I cannot tell you how many times in my life that I have heard, or said, this phrase. Whether from my parents or other family and friends, this phrase seems to be ingrained in my head; so much so that now I repeat it to my son! I know that this phrase is biblically based, but, normally, a Bible verse does not accompany this “slogan”....until now!! I am SO excited to be armed with the Virtue Training Bible (VTB) in my journey of raising a child. Each of the 43 topics included in the VTB has multiple scripture references that can be used in training up a child, and personal Bible study, in the ways of living a virtuous life in Christ. I love the fact that every virtue, or other quality that aids in a virtuous life, has a passage included where a character in the Bible displays the virtue in their life. These examples from real people can help my son learn how to apply the other verses in his life, too. I look forward to using the VTB in my personal Bible study, as well. My son may only be one, but I know that he is like a sponge - absorbing everything he sees. With the help of the VTB, I can help ensure that he is absorbing biblical virtues and characteristics! I know that I am not perfect and will not display every virtue all the time, but God is still working on me - and He can use the VTB to remind me of what I should be doing!

You can learn more about the topics included in the VTB, and how to equip your household with this vital tool by visiting the website: http://www.virtuetrainingbible.com

NOW, the exciting part........a GIVEAWAY!!

Mindy Dunn, the creator of the VTB, has graciously agreed to sponsor a giveaway of a VTB Chart Set to my readers!! Enter below via Rafflecopter! Winner will be contacted via e-mail.

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Book Blast: I'm Not Crazy, I'm on Lupron by Stacey Rourke

According to CDC, infertility effects 11% of women in the US. Author Stacey Rourke shares her own journey in her new book:

Basal body temperatures. Hormone injections. Invasive procedures - that leave no room for modesty. Tips on “effective positions” from well-meaning grandparents. 

When the natural way fails to work these are all added to the so called “fun” process of making a baby. Walk this rocky path to motherhood with author Stacey Rourke as she openly and honestly shares every good, bad, and awkward step of her three-year long journey. Using humor to break through the perils of infertility, she gives the lowdown on all the strange, embarrassing, and heartbreaking aspects. Stacey guides us through an unforgettable path that ends with a kid on each hip and hope for all those suffering with infertility. 

BONUS MATERIAL: “Morsels of Hope”

Success Stories from Infertility Survivors

Buy I'm Not Crazy, I'm on Lupron: A Journey Through Infertility at Amazon and B&N

If you are facing your own struggles, Stacey wants you to know you aren't alone.

Chat with Stacey Rourke

Wednesday, July 3 at 11:00 am eastern

Twitter: #Infertility

Enter the giveaway

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For more information about infertility visit these sites:

Resolve: The National Infertility Association - www.resolve.org

International Council on Infertility Information – www.inciid.org

American Fertility Assoc. -  www.theafa.org

Disclosure: A GWR Publicity event paid for by Anchor Group Publishing. Giveaway is sponsored by the author who is responsible for the delivery of prizes. PAGES OF MAYHEM received no compensation for this post.

if you want to make God laugh...

....say/sing it with me "tell Him your plans"....


One of my life passages is Jeremiah 29:11-14, which says: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

I think one of the biggest things that people stress about is plans: plans for future, for children, for day to day activities, etc. In Jeremiah, God declares that He knows the plans He has for us. I have never really thought about the saying "If you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans" in relation to Jeremiah 29:11. He already has plans for our life - so why do we allow ourselves to stress about making those plans for ourselves? God says clearly, that when we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him! So, God laughs when we try to take the planning of our lives into our own hands because He has the Master Plan.

I cannot say that I have an "easy" time not planning - those that know me know how schedule, planning, and to-do list oriented I am. And I cannot say that I am stressed about it all the time - but I do know that I need to get better about not taking so much time to plan every little detail of my life out, and spend more time at the feet of Jesus and in His word.

{kind of a side note: While I was still a member of the work force, I worked in a small office with about 8 people. We had an open floor plan and there were only 2 men. So, you can imagine that, even on a good day, we sometimes would be annoyed with each other, or have a hard time concentrating in general on our tasks. I found myself stressing out daily because I couldn't concentrate on my tasks and my to-do list for the day because I could hear every keyboard clicking away at each of the desks and hear every detail of every phone conversation. For those of you who don't know me well, I graduated college with a degree in American Sign Language interpreting - so, part of my training was to hear everything going on around me so I could accurately interpret for the person I was serving. Therefore, noises easily distract me and make my head spin to the point of being overwhelming at times. I have the ability sometimes to shut this "extra sensitive" hearing off, but more often than not, while I was working, I would be overwhelmed. So - I came up with an acronym to help me during those "flipping out" moments.}

"When face with STRESS remember to breathe!!"
Satan Tries to Ruin Eternal-minded Security & Sanity
Believe that the Redeemer Endured All, so Trust Him for Endurance


Satan tries to distract us from our true focus by making us think we have to plan our life down to the minute details. However, our true focus needs to be serving Jesus by loving and serving others around us. This journey can be TOUGH - we stress out and become frazzled, and, therefore, less effective in the roles that Jesus has called us to. Again, I cannot say that I am and expert at this by any stretch of the imagination, but I had an epiphany, so I thought I would share. Maybe you have thought about all of this before, so it is a reminder to you. Maybe this is a new perspective for you on something that has been on your mind or that you have been stressing out about. Either way, I hope that it will make a difference to someone.

Until next time - remember to breathe!

sippy cup woes

I am beginning to think that I may lose my mind before my little man decides he will take his milk out of a sippy cup! I have to remind myself that, along with trying to transition to a sippy cup, his tummy is trying to adjust to whole milk and table food. He will take his milk out of a sippy cup if he is eating in his high chair, but only if we offer it to him after he has had several bites of food. However, when he is finished with his meal, and we move to the couch (the transition we would make after every meal of baby food for him to take his bottle), he refuses to finish his milk out of a sippy cup. He cries and cries and cries! If I put the milk in a bottle, it disappears like he has been thirsty for hours! But even then, he would prefer warmed milk to cold milk. He will drink water and juice from a sippy cup while playing in the living room without issues. My little man may just drive me to the crazy house. 
On the flip side - I have to remember that each and every day he is changing, growing, and learning new things. I also have to remember that I have trouble with change, so, why wouldn't my little man have trouble with change. In his little mind, transition from high chair to couch means he will get a warm bottle of formula - not a cold sippy cup of whole milk. Objection to change without warning begins EARLY! With repetition,  and patience on my part, he will eventually take his cold milk out of a sippy cup. In the mean time, I need to slow down, breathe, and enjoy my snuggle time!