Everbloom – Stories of Deeply Rooted and Transformed Lives by the Women of Redbud Writers Guild. Contributing Editors, Shayne Moore and Margaret Philbrick (Paraclete Press – 2017)
Through the pain, loss, beauty, and redemption in these pages, you’ll find freedom and the courage to embrace your own story. The diverse women of Redbud know the importance of spiritual shelter, and how easy it is to feel alone and misunderstood. In the Everbloom collection they offer essays, stories, and poetry: intensely personal accounts of transformation, and the journeys to find their own voices. Best of all, they invite you to join them, with writing prompts that encourage a response of honesty, faith, and imagination. Click to order:https://www.amazon.com/Everbloom-Stories-Deeply-Rooted-Transformed/dp/1612619339
“We read to see elements of our own hearts, experiences, and stories reflected back to us in the words of others. This collection is just that: stories that help us feel seen, known, and understood. Honestly and beautifully told, this book will keep you in good company along your own journey.” —Shauna Niequist, bestselling author of Present Over Perfect
“Everbloom contains a smorgasbord of personal stories and reflections that put the strong writing of women and the reality of women’s lives on display. I suspect every reader will find themselves in one or more of these chapters.
—Carolyn Custis James, author of Half the Church: Recapturing God’s Global Vision for Women and Maelstrom: Manhood Swept into the Currents of a Changing World
“Once I began reading these stories I couldn’t stop. Each writer is a strong woman who has learned much from life and God. Gritty, funny, painful, affirming. No punches are pulled, but grace abounds.” —Luci Shaw, poet, author of Thumbprint in the Clay
“Readers will find gold within these pages. Excellent writing often springs from deep sorrow that has softened hearts, widened vision, and presses its bearer into the Man of Sorrows.” —Dee Brestin, author of The Friendships of Women
“Everbloom isn’t just a book… it’s a collection of stories that inspire courage, promote honesty, and promise freedom. When you travel through the journeys of these amazing women, don’t be surprised if you discover hope for your own story.”—Caleb Kaltenbach, Lead Pastor, Discovery Church, author of Messy Grace and God of Tomorrow
A Minor – A Novel of Love, Music and Memory (Koehler Books – 2014)
“An emotional story…breaks the mold…delicately constructed….nuanced characters…clear prose.” Kirkus Reviews
This novel features embedded music courtesy of Ingram Distributors
Clive Serkin, a teenage piano prodigy, seeks victory at the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, and enlists the help of world-renowned pianist Clare Cardiff. She becomes his mentor and teacher, and even though she is more than twice his age, Clive finds himself falling in love with her. After Clare is diagnosed with early-onset dementia, Clare’s estranged husband Nero takes her away from Clive to pursue further medical testing. Clive is faced with the challenge of traveling to Moscow and performing at the competition without his beloved mentor. Ultimately, he must discover if the music they share is enough to keep them together. Read More All print versions with music streamed at: www.koehlerbooks.com/dropbox/aminor eReader Kindle versions with musical selections included, some original arrangements by the McMakens www.themcmakens.com Just click your favorite icon to purchase or read further reviews:
REVIEWS A Minor is an Alzheimers’s Association Selection
“This is a deeply moving novel that touches upon love, creativity, and memory. It is the story of a musician who develops Alzheimer’s disease, yet continues to struggle with her craft. The author is a passionate and gifted writer who understands the nuances of memory and Alzheimer’s disease.” Dr. Bruce Miller, Director, UCSF Center for Memory and Aging
“With A Minor, Margaret Philbrick has deftly penned an engaging and entertaining coming of age romance. It is pure entertainment from start to finish. Very highly recommended for libraries and personal collections.” Midwest Book Review
“Music provides healing, inspiring, and calming medicine for our brains. It has the capacity to move humans unlike any other animal and we rely on music to help us when life introduces our greatest challenges. Margaret Philbrick educates us about the powerful role of music for those suffering dementia and for the millions of families who provide loving care.” Dr. Paul Nussbaum, best-selling author of Save Your Brain, President of the Brain Health Center
“A powerful story, beautifully told.” Jane Stroh, independent bookstore owner and book reviewer
“I recommend this novel because it is a smart and insightful look at a family coping with Alzheimer’s. Philbrick finds a hopeful prism through which to view the illness…Music lovers will love this novel as well as anyone who loves a good story.” Sandy Koropp, West Suburban Living Magazine, independent bookstore owner
Back to the Manger, A Treasure Hunt for the Nativity (Singing River Publications – 2009)
This book was more – way more, than I had originally thought…. I handled each page with loving care as the words lifted from the pages and into my heart. ~ Sheila DeChantal of Book Journey Reviews
https://bookjourney.net/2009/08/03/back-to-the-manger-by-margaret-ann-philbrick/
“This is a lovely, loving, thoughtful story. It is a wonderful Christmas tale with all of things that make the Christmas season so special, especially family traditions. I love that the author and her mother created this beautiful book together with their own family traditions in mind. I would love to give a copy of this book to all of my friends to share with their children at Christmas. Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written.” Amazon Review
Just click your favorite icon to purchase or read further reviews:
Messy Grace – Testimonies of God’s Love, Grace and Truth from those personally affected by LGBT identity and issues, including Margaret Philbrick and her transgender sibling Carly, Jackie Hill-Perry and Sam Alberry in the video and group study curriculum (Waterbrook, City on a Hill – 2016)
Very few issues are as divisive as the acceptance of the LGBT community by the church. Many lean toward one of two extremes: Sacrificing truth for the sake of grace, or sacrificing grace for the sake of truth. Jesus was able to love all people and yet still hold onto his beliefs. So can you. Even when it’s messy. Messy Grace combines sound teaching from Caleb Kaltenbach with stirring testimonies from an author with a transgender sister, a college student who lived a double life, a former lesbian hip-hop artist and a celibate pastor who’s same-sex attracted. This four-episode study will inspire and empower us to completely love our LGBT neighbors (and any neighbor) while remaining committed to living a life of faith and integrity. Additional Messy Grace resources available at cityonahillstudio.com.
https://www.amazon.com/Messy-Grace-Small-Group-Study/dp/B01N7G3HEO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488911762&sr=8-1&keywords=Messy+grace+small+group+study#customerReviews
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Mass Public Shootings Video (2019). As a teacher herding my students into the corner of the classroom for drills, I could feel their fear. Could this happen here? We all wonder. We know the inevitable answer is “yes.” The United States is beyond the tipping point with availability of guns to be used as weapons of mass destruction on our own citizens. I created this artistic rendering on the scope of our collective gun crisis. All of the photographic images were taken with my tiny iPod and music used by permission of Ola Gjeilo. Please take a few minutes to view this video, contact your congressional reps – both locally and nationally and ask for change as outlined in the film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=morLyk5HhLA&t=152s
GG’s rendering of me attempting to work with her C3 hair, a total fail.
Margaret’s Child, a picture book co-created with our Liberian goddaughter for Black kids growing up in white foster or adopted homes whose parents have not the first clue how to care for their hair. This collaboration was such a delight as GG created the book illustrations (seen right) and I wrote the story. Books can be purchased via this website, just message me in “Contacts.”
Articles
An interview with filmmaker Janet Craig about her new film Wake Up! which chronicles the horror of human trafficking (Trinity) https://www.trinity.edu/news/making-movie-wake Deconstructing faith is trendy, even called “sexy,” but how do we reconstruct faith? (Redbud Post) https://redbudwritersguild.com/the-reconstruction-choice/ An interview with author, Sheila Wise Rowe about her book, Healing Racial Trauma (Patheos) https://www.patheos.com/blogs/redbudwritersguild/2020/01/more-than-just-mercy-a-path-to-healing-racial-trauma/ Crossing the Road – A Path to Racial Healing (READY print) http://margaretphilbrick.com/crossing-the-road-a-path-to-racial-healing/ Seeing God through an iPod, taking time to stop and see the world (Propel) https://www.propelwomen.org/content/seeing-god-through-an-ipod/gkdwph Why Groot is the Greatest Superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Relevant) https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/film/groot-greatest-hero-marvel-cinematic-universe/ Stop Excommunicating Christians Who Don’t Agree With You (Relevant) https://relevantmagazine.com/god/stop-excommunicating-christians-disagree/ A Reflection on Cancer – Gratitude to the End (The Redbud Post)Gratitude to the EndWhy Mary Matters to all Christians (Relevant) https://relevantmagazine.com/article/why-mary-should-matter-to-all-christians/ Is the Proverbs 31 Woman for real? (The Redbud Post) http://www.redbudwritersguild.com/is-the-proverbs-31-woman-for-real/ How Your Marriage Can Avoid the Seven Year Itch (Relevant) http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationships/how-your-marriage-can-beat-7-year-itch Five Big Picture Takeaways from the Wheaton College Controversy (Relevant) http://www.relevantmagazine.com/current/what-we-can-learn-wheaton-college-and-professor-hawkins Loving my Transgender Brother/Sister. One of C.T.’s top 20 most read articles of 2015: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/july-august/loving-my-sister-brother-transgender.html?share=5n6eTxOyYvM8anNmV/w4JXbSbqbEJ9uA C.T. article in Spanish: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/en-espanol/amar-mi-hermana-hermano.html