Links
http://www.authorlauradavis.com | spiritfilledcanada.wordpress.com
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Happenings & Links
PLEASE NOTE my former site (raisethegaze.com) in now defunct.
Author Mary Haskett, was guest speaker at my church's Family Focus Sunday on November 29, 2009. She shared a wonderful message on "Family," and shared some of her personal story. We were honoured to have Mary and her husband, Al, and two friends, with us. Her books, Reverend Mother's Daughter (her lifestory) and Because We Prayed, are available through Christian bookstores, Amazon, and http://www.maryhaskett.com/.
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A number of Raise the Gaze members and my friends have been honoured and awarded for their writing so far during 2009. Good things are happening on the Canadian writers, authors, and editors who are Christian, front -- despite rapid changes in the publishing world in North America and around the world. For example, Check out Donna Dawson, Fay Rowe, Mary Hasket, Laura Davis, Ruth Meyer. These authors are all located in SW Ontario, and have great websites.
Website and blog information for many more of our writing friends -- and their books, cds, etc. -- from across Canada, can be found at: http://www.thewordguild.com/
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Write! London, a one day writers' conference, was held under the auspices of TWG (The Word Guild) at The Gathering Place & Revival Centre in London, Ontario, on Saturday September 19th. It was a wonderful time of meeting friends old and new, with workshops and delicious food and snacks. Our TWG Managing Director Denise Rumble and her team did a terrific job in putting together such a helpful schedule. Our presenters, Donna Dawson, Mary Haskett, and Ruth Smith Meyer gave very practical and helpful - and fun --workshops. Towards the conclusion of the day Fay Rowe moderated a lively and interesting panel discussion with Denise and those ladies. Several of them are members of Raise the Gaze. Waytago ladies! (Sep. 22/09) 
WELL, friends, I really missed being at The Word Guild's Awards Gala Write! Canada Conference in June. I had a throat and ear infection and I didn't want to infect others. Also my sister had a massive heart attack, and the family were on my case to get checked out, so I've had a number of medical appointments; oh, and in the middle of this our car needed to have a new gas tank installed, and ... an'... and on it goes. But praise the Lord for His mercy and grace -- they go on and on too!
Great reports came from both TWG events, including a number of friends whose works were awarded with Winner and Finalist placements. For example, Raise the Gaze member, Donna Dawson's novel Vengeance won in three categories, and member Fay Rowe's Keepers of the Testimony won in a category. An article by member Mary Haskett was also awarded. At least four Word Alive Press authors and their works had winning placements in The Word Guild Awards, this year. Congratulations to them and to all! Get the full scoop at --http://www.thewordguild.com/
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Report on our LGT Stint -- Thursday, May 21st -- 11:30 AM.
May and I received a warm welcome at London Gospel Temple's Fifty-Plus ministry (called '50 Forward'). The room was set up with round tables, and the event began with a delicious lunch of salad, veggies, roasted new potatoes, two flavours of hot-served chicken, and dessert choice of mousse or cheesecake served with fresh field berry fruit salad.
I led the attendees in singing some of the older well-known (at least for our generation!) worship / praise songs, and May and I sang several duets and solo numbers (accompanied variously by moi on piano and accordion). May shared some background and testimony of the Lord's goodness and grace upon our lives and family, and I presented a poem and an inspirational biographical piece, employing a Scottish accent, entitled Chuppet Shoo'der. (Wanna' know what that's about, ask me ...)
We met several friends of longstanding there, and a bunch of new friends too.
Sincere thanks to Carol and her committee for granting us the privilege.
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"Parables from the Pond" was featured at an informal instore 'meet and greet' author event at London, Ontario's The Upper Room, Saturday, May 9 (2009).
May and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with authors Thom & Jean (Chamberlain) Froese, Wally & Jean Stephenson, and Keri Orozco. It was lovely to have London author Laura Davis stop by and take some snapshots, and have a chat. Googling these folks will lead you to their excellent w/sites and books.
Sincere thanks to The Upper Room, and especially Kristine Jongepier who arranged the event. Their support of Canadian authors is much appreciated.
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A March 2009 edition of The Maranatha News (a Christian news and events paper based in Toronto, Ontario), published a very favourable author profile and book review of Parables from the Pond, written by Belinda Burston.
The April 2009 Issue of Testimony (the official mag. of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada) published in full, Canadian Novelist Donna Dawson's review of Parables from the Pond. She wrote that this is: "... a classic children’s book that could ... become the next bedtime story of choice ..."
Ms. Dawson's fast-paced novel Vengeance, and P. A. Black's Parables from the Pond were finalists in Word Alive Press's 2007 contest. http://www.authordonnadawson/
Saturday, Jan 31/09 "ParaPond" goes to Strathroy, Ontario.
'ParaPond' is my nickname for Parables from the Pond.
Yours Truly joined one hundred+ men for this annual mid-winter event. It didn't occur to me that I should take some books along until shortly before the event. However, Pastor Rob kindly allowed me to set up my table, taking its place beside missions promotion displays. Three copies of the book were purchased. Not many (actually, I only spent a few minutes attending my display).
However, that's three books, each one a messenger, with life affirming, relationship sensitizing, character reinforcing, and inspirationally oriented mini-messages, with Scripture reinforcement. These will be read by parents and grandparents with the young ones in their lives, and I understand that one may be used in a Sunday School or other children's ministry setting.
Amazon Comment: I noticed a while back that a purchaser from the 'deep south' left a favourable comment about 'ParaPond' on Amazon.com .
Canadian Authors' Day at Living Books, New Dundee
Saturday November 29. 2008, saw eight Canadian Authors in attendance at a book promo and signing event hosted by Living Books. All the authors are members of Canada's TWG (The Word Guild).
It was a delightful time of meeting friends, old and new, with sharing over tasty cheese and crackers snacks and hot spiced apple cider. This was very appropriate, since, in addition to the authors' own works, the ground-breaking anthology Hot Apple Cider (comprised of brief works from 30 TWG contributors) was the showcased book. Go to http://www.thewordguild.com/ and you'll find the link for the HAC (Hot Apple Cider) --page.
The authors each read a portion of their work, and Parables from the Pond was there, too, and I presented an episode, namely, Journeying Geese and the Rock Refuge which is the 6th episode in Volume One (the book has three sections which we call volumes, and each one contains 13 episodes).
My wife and I were accompanied by one of Parables from the Pond's most enthusiastic endorsers, children's and youth counsellor, Annette Miner. Manager Peggy and her staff were very kind and accommodating. In fact, this has been our experience at each of our locales (all in Ontario): The Gospel Lighthouse, Tillsonburg; Giant Tiger, Strathroy; and Mitchell's Family Books, Kitchener. 
This shot (pardon the repeat -- it's on the Home page, too) was taken at our first book signing event at Sarnia Christian Bookstore.
What's P-Pep! ?
It's the name of the weekly inspirational column I write in The Watford Guide-Advocate. From time to time we'll reprint a P-Pep! article either on this page or on the blog. For reprint of articles or other writing inquiries, please email me at raisegaze@execulink.com
