Thursday, November 26, 2015

The Other Nine (A Thanksgiving Sermon)

Happy Thanksgiving! I pray you have a restful and enjoyable day with family and friends, and return thanks to our God, the giver of all good gifts.


“The Other Nine,”  
A Thanksgiving Sermon



(Click here to download this one as an MP3. As always, you can access many more of my sermons on the church website, www.churchlansing.com)



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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Official Imaginary Soundtrack

Before I started writing novels, I wrote a few screenplays. And before that, I made a whole lot of movies in my mind. Maybe that's why I had no choice but to compile the official soundtrack of the imaginary movie of my latest book The Last Con. Here's a listing by scene. Mild spoilers, so if you haven't read it yet, go get it, read it, then check out this post. Or, better yet, get the book and read it while listening!

Also, in a sort of outdated early-aughties fashion, I'm going to tag five other authors to do this with one of their own books: Cliff Graham, Dani Pettrey, Carrie Stuart Parks, Susie Finkbeiner, and Ted Kluck. (Since Ted writes non-fiction, I guess we're talking the soundtrack of a documentary.) No need to designate a song for every single scene, and don't forget to tag some authors yourself . . .


TRACK 1 - AFTER THE OPENING SCENE IN THE CHURCH, THIS WOULD PLAY OVER THE CREDITS. Lecrae  - "The Drop"



TRACK 2 - CAGLIOSTRO, HAVING ARRIVED IN MALTA, ENTERS THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. Gregorian - "Nothing Else Matters" (Metallica)



TRACK 3 - DANTE GOES INTO THE COUNTY JAIL. Trip Lee - "Snitch"



TRACK 4 - LEAD-IN TO THE YOUTH GROUP MEETING IN THE CLICHED YOUTH GROUP ROOM. The Newsboys -"Breakfast" 



TRACK 5 - WHEN FLETCHER IS DRIVING BACK INTO DETROIT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LEAVING PRISON.  Rancid  - "Detroit"



TRACK 6 - CAGLIOSTRO'S SWANK PARTY-SLASH-SEANCE. "Crystalize" by Lindsey Stirling



TRACK 7 - THIS WOULD PLAY OVER AS FLETCHER FIRST HAS A LOOK INSIDE BELLTOWER'S MANSION.  FM Static - "Man Watcha Doin'?"



TRACK 8 - THIS WOULD PLAY AS FLETCHER AND HIS CREW RACE AWAY FROM BELLTOWER'S HOUSE AFTER THE HEIST. Steve Taylor - "Only a Ride"



TRACK 9 - LEAD-IN TO THE INNER-CITY YOUTH CENTER "He Reigns" by Kirk Franklin 



TRACK 10 - WHEN FLETCHER IS TRYING TO SLEEP IN HAPPY'S VAN. Just the beginning of "God's Great Dance Floor" by Chris Tomlin



TRACK 11 - WHEN DANTE WALKS BACK TO HIS CHURCH AND SEES THE ROBED MAN ON THE STREET CORNER. Andy Mineo - "Never Land"



TRACK 12 - AS FLETCHER AND HIS FAMILY WALK BACK TO THE SANCTUARY OF THE CHURCH AT THE END. "All That I Am" by Rend Collective



TRACK 13 - OVER THE END CREDITS.  "Don't Waste Your Life" by Lecrae
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Monday, November 9, 2015

Re-Launch! (And Free Short Stories)

If you're looking for a quick and exciting read this week, I have two short stories on Amazon that are absolutely FREE today and tomorrow. Why now? Am I suddenly and prematurely filled with the Christmas spirit weeks before Thanksgiving like some sort of social pariah stringing lights while the neighborhood kids are still counting their candy?

No.

 Rather, it's part of my RE-LAUNCH for my novel The Last Con.

Speaking of which, if you haven't read The Last Con, the e-book is currently on sale for $2.99 (Including Kindle, Nook, iTunes, and kobo)




I know, right?

Also, in the spirit of Re-Launch, I will be giving away some books TONIGHT at 8 PM amongst various other virtual shenanigans at my Last Con Virtual Flash-Mob (read: Facebook online event that I didn't create in advance). Because Facebook "online events" never seem sad at all

The theme is danger, but also the theme is my book The Last Con.



Click any of these graphics, or really click anything at all to be taken to the event page.