Help a homeless Brandilyn Collins reader

Today over at Brandilyn Collins' blog Forensics and Faith she told us about the plight of a teen girl and her Mom (a reader of Brandilyn's novels) who've recently become homeless and are currently sleeping in their car. The teen, Katy, an aspiring artist and writer has started a blog called Anywhere But Here chronicling their predicament. At left is the picture she has of herself on the blog. We presume she drew it herself!

We'd like to call on all of you to first of all read Brandilyn's post. She explains how she knows the ladies and their current status. Says Brandilyn in part (brackets are mine):

For a number of years now I have sent Liz [the Mom] a free book every time one of mine releases. She has always graciously written back with thanks and much praise for the story. She's been a real encouragement to me. I'm hoping to now help her through my online network of blogging, Facebook and Twitter. I'd appreciate any way you can help spread the word through your own networking.

But she also shares how we can help:

As people are getting involved to help Liz and Katy, it's becoming clear they need an easier way to send money. Liz doesn't have a Paypal account. If you'd like to send funds to Liz and Katy, please send them to my account, and I'll make sure every cent goes to them. Please put in the subject line: For Liz and Katy. My account is under my email address: brandilyn@brandilyncollins.com

In this time of economic hardship, chances are most of you have a warm bed and a house/apartment to come home to. This Mom and daughter don't. Let's not sit back and watch this unfold and become an even more desperate situation. Let's do what we can to help. If you can spare a couple dollars, please do.

We trust Brandilyn on this and know she wouldn't send out a call for the family if they didn't really need it. How about it? Want to join us in helping Liz & Katy?

Veiled Freedom by J.M. Windle

Coming in June 2009 (Tyndale) from Jeanette (J.M.) Windle is Veiled Freedom.

Summary:

When a disillusioned Special Forces veteran, a relief worker with stars still stubbornly in her eyes, and an Afghan medical school dropout intersect on the streets of Kabul in Veiled Freedom, they can’t predict an explosion of events that will test the hypocrisy of Western leadership and Afghanistan’s new democracy and face each of them with the true meaning and only Source of freedom.
Read our interview with Jeanette.

New cover for Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker

This is the second cover we've seen of Ted Dekker's upcoming mainstream release Boneman's Daughters. What do you think?

Summary:

Military intelligence officer Ryan Evans is hot on the trail of Boneman, a Texas serial killer who murders his victims by breaking their bones. Evans witnessed this torture technique when he was serving in Fallujah. Now he's a suspect and his daughter is Boneman's latest target! Can he clear himself and save his daughter?

Read our latest interview with Ted here.

Angel of Wrath by Bill Myers

Coming in April from Faithwords is the sequel to Myers' popular novel The Voice.

Summary:

Thirteen-year-old Jazmin, her ex-Special Ops uncle Charlie, and former FBI agent Lisa are reunited in the second of the Voice of God series to stop a an assassin driven to murder members of a megachurch led by Lisa's brother. This assassin has drawn in a coven of teens toying with satanic practices to support his efforts. The naive youth engage in ceremonies that appear to usher in the death of each of his victims. When their rituals open a portal into the spiritual realm, a terrifying and mysterious entity crosses over to our world.

The battle culminates with the capture of Lisa's father as the next target and a Black Mass requiring both their deaths as a sacrifice. The team will, once again, have to rely on all their wits, strength, and faith to survive in this action-packed, unearthly warfare.

Read our interview with Bill.
Read our review of The Voice.

The Night Watchman by Mark Mynheir

Coming in May 2009 from Multnomah is Mark Mynheir's The Night Watchman.

Summary:

Eleven months ago, Ray Quinn was a tough, quick-witted Orlando homicide detective at the top of his game–until a barrage of bullets ended his career…and his partner’s life.

Now medically retired with a painful handicap, Ray battles the haunting guilt for his partner’s death. Numbing the pain with alcohol and attitude, Ray takes a job as a night watchman at a swanky Orlando condo.

But when a pastor and an exotic dancer are found dead in one of the condos in an apparent murder-suicide, Ray can no longer linger in the shadows. The pastor’s sister is convinced her brother was framed and begs Ray to take on an impossible case–to challenge the evidence and clear her brother’s name.

Ray reluctantly pulls the threads of this supposedly dead-end case only to unravel a murder investigation so deep that it threatens to turn the Orlando political landscape upside down and transform old friends into new enemies. As Ray chases down leads and interrogates suspects, someone is watching his every move, someone determined to keep him from ever finding out the truth–at any cost.

Read our review of The Void.

Listen to House of Wolves by Matt Bronleewe for free!

Matt Bronleewe is offering a free Podcast of his book House of Wolves as a special gift. Says Matt:

"Earlier this year I created an audio book for HOUSE OF WOLVES. It's formatted somewhat like a "director's commentary." In addition to reading the story I sprinkled in some interesting facts I think you'll enjoy. It's available now as a FREE podcast on iTunes. It might be just the thing you need to survive that long trip to Aunt Edna's.

Click HERE for the link or type "House of Wolves Podcast" in your iTunes search box. Check it out and let me know what you think. If you enjoy it, please share with a friend"

Read our review of House of Wolves.

Read our interview with Matt.

The Knight by Steven James

Coming in August 2009 from Revell, is Steven James' third Bowers novel.

Summary:

In The Knight, the third installment in the bestselling series of thrillers featuring FBI criminologist Patrick Bowers, the stakes have never been higher.

Agent Bowers is used to tracking the country's most dangerous killers, but now it looks like a killer is tracking him. When he realizes the murderer is using clues from an ancient manuscript as a blueprint for his crimes, Bowers faces a race against time to decipher who the next victim will be and to stop the final shocking murder--which he's beginning to believe might be his own.

Gritty, chilling, and intense, this psychological thriller is guaranteed to keep readers up all night.

Read our review of The Pawn
Read our review of The Rook

Countdown in Cairo by Noel Hynd

Here's a peak at a book that isn't releasing until January of 2010 (Zondervan). No word yet on a summary.

Read our review of Conspiracy in Kiev, Book #1 in the Russian trilogy here.

Also, our friend and TitleTrakk writer Rel Mollet of Relz Reviewz has a terrific interview online with Noel Hynd here.

Christmas Short Story by Jenny B. Jones

Jenny B. Jones, author of the Katie Parker Production series (In Between, On the Loose, and The Big Picture) has a brand new short story featuring main character Katie Parker online at Briomag.com.

So if you've missed Katie (and Maxine!), you'll want to check the story out here. It can also be found in the print version of the December issue of Brio.

Read our interview with Jenny here.