Happy Thanksgiving to Everybody!

From of all of us here at Gelati’s Scoop, The G-ZONE blogtalk radio show and Trestle Press we hope you have a very nice Thanksgiving Day.
We know not everyone we know or work with celebrates this holiday on Thursday, but everyone is in our thoughts and we appreciate all the support and kind words we have received. Without everybody we would not be able to do what we do.
So thank you again, God Bless all of you, and please have a safe, wonderful Thanksgiving celebration.

Carey Jane Clark to release new novel with Trestle Press in December

In the middle of a soccer drill, in an awful, awkward moment, Celia Bennett's eight-year-old son Caleb lands on his face and chest in the grass. The diagnosis blindsides her, bringing her face-to-face with every parent's worst nightmare.

Desperate to save her son’s life, Celia pursues a cure through alternative medicine, but her quest ends in frustration and disappointment. Facing despair, hope walks in on the most unlikely set of legs, when her father returns after a 30-year absence. Can she release pain to embrace hope? Will it make a difference, or is it too late?



About the Author

Carey Jane Clark writes to instill courage, hope and conviction in her audience. She has authored several articles for Canadian publications and has ghostwritten a devotional for teens. She has been writing in one form or another for more than twenty years. Her writing in After the Snow Falls has been compared to that of Karen Kingsbury and Jodi Picoult.

Carey shares the adventure of her life with her husband Brian and three children, whom she homeschools. She blogs about their experiences homeschooling and as expats in China at www.careyjaneclark.com/enCouragement and www.holdthemsg.com.




“Carey Jane Clark is a new voice in Christian fiction, and definitely one to watch. Her picturesque prose and compelling characters makes After the Snow Falls a riveting story, one that will remain with readers long after closing the final page.” - Kathi Macias

Olivia Miller ,Guest Post,Co-Author of the soon to be released "Sons of the King"

I am the daughter of Mark Miller, author of The Empyrical Tales and Small World Global Protection Agency. My name is Olivia and I was named after my father. He was named after Mark Twain. Mark Twain’s wife was named Olivia.
I want to be an author because it would be fun to write for other’s enjoyment. I think writing with my Pop is fun because he writes great stories. I would like to be a part of that.
Well, our story takes place on another planet called Kaskaya. The King and his sons live in a place called Dome Town. And on a certain farm, a man named Esephis finds something. He thinks there is a person inside, but really it’s a “visitor”. Read the book to find out more.
I’m very excited to be a part of Trestle Press like my Pop!
Olivia Miller is currently a full-time student. She completed a three year dual language program, in which she learned Spanish as a second language. Olivia is an Honor Roll member and has been recognized as a gifted student.
Born in Kansas, she moved with her family to Florida at an early age. She has a passion for writing and a unique way with words. Sons of the King is her first collaboration with her father. She has many more stories to tell, but also holds a secret wish to sing on America’s Got Talent.
Readers can find more about Olivia at www.MillerWords.com and on Goodreads.

Melody Carlson “The Christmas Shoppe”

I have my wife hooked on these things, these little novels around this time of year. Melody Carlson is beginning to become a tradition here at Casa de Gelati. My wife reads the story and then tells me to read it. I know I will enjoy it so I do and did, then my daughters form a line and the book goes from one to the other till they have all read it. Pretty good mileage on this novel.
What is not to like? The cover just rocks, the content is just as good if not better which is a true compliment because the cover is so strong. Melody Carlson has the feeling of the season down cold, and that is no pun. She strikes the right cords, and puts the reader in that right frame of mind, that safe place for this time of year. The message is strong and resonates well; the plotline is simple yet hard hitting. I don’t know what more a reader could ask for. I for one am totally satisfied.
Here is the synopsis:
“The small town of Parrish Springs is not ready for Matilda Honeycutt. A strange older woman with scraggly gray hair and jewelry that jangles as she walks, Matilda is certainly not the most likely person to buy the old Barton Building on the town's quaint main street. When it becomes apparent that her new shop doesn't fit the expectations of Parrish Springs residents, a brouhaha erupts. After all, Christmas is approaching, and the last thing the town needs is a junky shop run by someone who looks and acts like a gypsy. But as townsfolk venture into the strange store, they discover that old memories can bring new life and healing.
Once again, Melody Carlson delivers a Christmas story that will touch hearts and delight the senses. Sure to be a classic, The Christmas Shoppe is filled with the special magic the best Christmas stories share--that intangible mixture of nostalgia, joy, and a little bit of magic.”

Remembering Christmas: A Novel by Dan Walsh

I have been reading a lot of death and mayhem lately so I was lucky enough to dig this out of the reading pile and get to it. Just the cure for a respite from cars blowing up, end of the world scenarios and terrorists, unless of course you count nice old ladies coming into bookstores terrorists; they come in all shapes and sizes you know.
Dan Walsh delivers a very twist on a classic theme and does it with a very nice deft touch and plenty of panache. These are not words I usually get to use in my reviews; this though fits like a glove. I love the publisher, Revell, and have a major soft spot for them and enjoy everything I have read that they have put out. This is an excellent read to sandwich into any reading week; the novel is a nice size and will fit in any purse, back pack, lunch pail, or cargo pocket to take anywhere. Props to everyone from the author on up and down, grab this, put it in someone’s stocking for the holidays, but do yourself a favor and read it first; don’t pass it up.
Here is a little something on the novel:
“Rick Denton lives his life on his terms. He works hard, plays hard, and answers to no one. So when his mother calls on Thanksgiving weekend begging him to come home after his stepfather has a stroke, Rick is more than a little reluctant. He's never liked Art and resents the man's presence in his life, despite the fact that his own father abandoned the family when Rick was just twelve. When what was supposed to be just a couple days helping out at the family bookstore turns into weeks of cashing out old ladies and running off the homeless man who keep hanging about, Rick's attitude sours even more.
Still, slowly but surely, the little bookstore and its quirky patrons--as well as the lovely young woman who works at his side each day--work their magic on him, revealing to Rick the truth about his family, his own life, and the true meaning of Christmas. With skillful storytelling, Dan Walsh creates a Christmas story will have readers remembering every good and perfect gift of Christmas.”

KBL: Kill Bin Laden: A Novel Based on True Events John Weisman

Reading a book you already know the ending of before you start I think lends to a bit of trepidation. I had a little bit. I mean I have read other novels by the author, enjoyed his style, enjoyed the substance, have had many good experiences so why not right?
I have to say he nails this, from the first page to the last, he struck every chord, hit every note, and made a recount of events seem as real and visceral as if I was there, watching it all unfold in my face. The tales of heroism in this novel are just amazing. The lengths gone to carry this off are off the charts. I would recommend this to read to anyone; it is that good, the storytelling is that strong, the words chosen intense, and the action and tension ramped to a level that will challenge any reader not to be separated from this read. No matter what the percentage of truth is in this fictional telling of real events, even if one percent of it is true, the men and women that participated in any of these events from the beginning to the end need to not just commended, but each given a special place in each of our hearts as true patriots for their many sacrifices. I was a big fan of this author already, but John Weisman takes things to a new level; get this in your hands, take the journey. It is well worth it.
Here is the synopsis:
“The acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling military thriller writer and coauthor of the bestselling Rogue Warrior series goes beyond the headlines and worldwide speculation in this pulse-pounding fictional account of the breathtaking hunt for the world’s most wanted terrorist, Usama Bin Laden
KBL
Some truths are better told in fiction. In this riveting novel drawn from actual events and based on real-life heroes whose identities remain classified—including soldiers, sailors, intelligence operatives, technocrats, analysts, and policymakers—John Weisman fills in the blanks of what may have happened during the hunt and capture of Usama Bin Laden.
Moving from the political battlefields of Washington, D.C., and the secure, seventh-floor suite of the CIA director in Langley, Virginia, to the dusty streets of Peshawar, Lahore, and Abbottabad, Pakistan, to the rough Afghan interior, to the Middle East and western Europe, this fictional narrative brings to life the drama behind SEAL Team 6’s breathtaking raid in which Bin Laden—a.k.a. Crankshaft, a.k.a. al Mas (the Diamond), the ghost, the wraith, the grail for counterterrorists for more than a decade—met his fate.”

MIchael Tabman "Bad Intent Volume 1"

Fruit right from the vine, I love this kind of stuff. Michael Tabman lived through all this; it was his job for 25 years. No research had to be done for the project; we are getting first-hand knowledge and experience with this series. Each installment for this new digital short story series is sent to the FBI for a once over so no sensitive information is released that may jeopardize any current investigations or to make tactics known that should not be.
Basically, as the reader, once we open this up on the e-reader we are stepping right into a real situation and universe. We are thrust and catapulted at warp speed into what it is like to be in on a take down and drug bust. We are right there on the inside, looking at it through Michael Tabman’s eyes, getting that visceral feeling for what type of tension, apprehension, and adrenaline these agents must feel. For me that is a bargain at any price, but for $.99 I don’t think a reader can ask for much more. Okay, maybe Volume two to take the ride again, it was worth the price of admission.
Here is more on Michael Tabman and “Bad Intent Volume One”:
An FBI Agent. A New York City Detective. Cocaine flooding the streets. Colombian Cartels in control.
The Mob has been cut out. Someone must be killed. Everybody has a motive. Nobody can be trusted.
Born and raised in New York City, Michael served as a police officer with the Fairfax County VA police department on patrol, in plain clothes and as hostage negotiator on the SWAT Team, before joining the FBI. Michael, a 24 year FBI veteran, investigated crimes ranging from white collar to bank robberies, organized crime, drug trafficking and money laundering. He rose through the ranks reaching the level of Special Agent in Charge. His professional travels took him to Israel, Russia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. He has been interviewed and quoted on national and local media on matters ranging from workplace violence to fraud and street crimes.
Michael is the author of two books, Walking the Corporate Beat: Police School for Business People and crime novel, Midnight Sin.
He has a Crime and Security Blog and can be followed on Twitter @MichaelTabman Please visit michaeltabman.com

Karen Anna Vogel and Trestle Press are set to release “Knit Together: An Amish Knitting Novel”

“Knit Together: An Amish Knitting Novel” is a full length novel based on the characters from the Number One Amazon Best-Selling Short Story Series “Amish Knitting Circle” It is set to be released Tuesday, November 8, 2011.
Here is what you can expect to find in the novel, what others are saying about “Knit Together: An Amish Knitting Novel” already and a little bit about the author:
“Two cultures knit together by one faith”
Ginny and James Rowland have close-knit ties with many Amish families in the small-town of Smicksburg, PA. But these ties are threatened to unravel…
Ginny’s photographer brother, Joseph, comes up from Pittsburgh to capture Amish farm scenes, but instead captures the heart of an Amish woman, Katie Byler.
A shunned Amish man finds refuge in the Rowland’s Baptist Church.
The Bishop discovers his son is dating the Rowland’s daughter.
Will Granny Weaver’s knitting circle, that Ginny and other Englishers attend, be able to bring harmony through their love and faith?

Bio:
Karen Anna Vogel is a trusted English friend to Amish families in Western PA and Western NY. These friends inspired her to write the Amish Knitting Circle Series. She’s represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency and blogs under Amish Crossings: http://karenannavogel.blogspot.com. She owns Thrifty Christian Shopper, an online Christian bookstore, and is a volunteer advocate for Compassion International.

What others have to say about “Knit Together: An Amish Knitting Novel”
“Within the simplicity of an Amish setting, Karen Anna Vogel has taken on topics that are universal; grief, family estrangement, cultural differences and of course love. And in all this, she crafts a story weaving these topics through two cultures-the Amish and the English. The beauty is in seeing the truth of how faith and trust in God can reconcile friends, families, and communities.”
Dr. Maryann Roberts, Ph.D. Clinical Christian Counselor

“Karen Anna Vogel brings to the table a fresh new Amish series that readers will certainly love based from her own experiences as a friend to the Amish. We 'English' look at the Amish through rose-colored glasses. They seem so peaceful and content with a simple way of life. But we forget they are people like everyone else. Karen's series shows this through the hardships and heartbreaks they face and the faith they cling to or struggle with.”
Rita Gerlach Surrender the Wind, Daughters of the Potomac Series

“Author Karen Vogel has approached the often misunderstood beliefs of the Amish with tact and tenderness, and I highly recommend this heart-stirring story.”
Kathi Macias award-winning author of 35 novels, including Deliver Me From Evil and A Christmas Journey Home

"Karen writes with heart-touching insight and her characters are gripping. Highly recommended."
Jennifer Hudson Taylor, author of Highland Blessings & Highland Sanctuary

Roger Rheinheimer and Crystal Linn “Amish Forever”

Here’s a question you may be asking yourself: Do I (Giovanni) really groove on this stuff? The answer is simply I enjoy good writing, plain and simple. And if that means that I follow that credo to read a work about the “Plain People”, my friends the Amish, then that is where I will go. I also knew going into this it didn’t include anything on Big Daddy Abel, EZ, Hez, Jake “The Plummer”, or any of the other “Amish Outlaws”. Be forewarned. But I digress yet again, sorry.
Melding two worlds, what is it like? Please when I get done my diatribe here, read the author’s bios; they will strike you as authentic, just as this work is, the real deal. “Amish Forever” is a very respectful look into the mindset of a very respectful and thoughtful group of people, the Amish. I personally love them, their ideals, and their outlook on life and family. Much can be learned from them and each time I get to read about them I learn a little something new to take with me. This work is no exception, and the best part is that there is more to come.
I am looking forward to taking the journey with this set of characters and find out where Roger and Crystal plan to take them. I will be interviewing Roger and Crystal today at 1pm EST on my blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE.
You can use this link to catch it live or in the archives: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatisscoop/2011/11/05/roger-rheinheimer-and-crystal-linn-are-my-guests

Here is more on what you can expect from this series:
“Ava Troyer never really considered the possibility of life outside of the warm, protective Amish community. Even during her state-mandated schooling through the eighth grade, she would dreamily fantasize about whether any of the other Amish boys in the history class right after lunch was going to be the father of her children, or if she would meet the man of her dreams from another state, an exciting possibility. But the wreck that killed her father and almost killed Ava, that early Sunday morning, at the hands of an all-night reveler, changed everything. The young man in military fatigues that pulled her to safety spoke Pennsylvania Dutch to her, but he wasn’t Amish. Or was he? And how could she be so powerfully attracted to a young man about to go overseas to war, something she fiercely believed was wrong?
Roger Rheinheimer spent the first eighteen years of his life in northern Indiana. His father was the only doctor for a small town of 1200, and had a hitching rail on a side street by his office for the Amish patients. His father bought an eighty acre farm, and Roger and his older brother worked it, raising cattle and growing crops.
While he was still in high school, Roger learned woodworking skills from Elmer Schlabach, his Amish mentor. They built houses in the old-fashioned tradition, from hand-mixing the concrete for the foundations to hand-nailing the shingles. The only phase they did not do was the electrical. To this day, Roger enjoys using his wood crafting skills, making acoustic guitars and furniture.
Roger earned an undergraduate degree in Behavioral Psychology from a small private college in the Shenandoah Valley, took a Creative Writing class, loved it, and published a short story called My Brother. He was a regular contributing writer to the college newspaper.
Roger has two novels in print and ebook, Amish Snow and Yield Spread: a novel.
Crystal Linn is a free-lance writer and award-winning poet who teaches a variety of creative writing classes. Her third book, Poetry for Friends, is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2012. She lives in the greater Seattle area where she enjoys reading mysteries, writing poetry and sailing with friends and family.”