In
every instance, these ordinary people discovered that God was waiting
to dry their tears and help them see His plan for their lives, where
good eventually emerged from the hurt and confusion.
Hot
Apple Cider is an inspirational anthology by 30 Canadian authors
who are Christian, including Carolyn Arends, Mark Buchanan, Keith
Clemons, Grace Fox, Sheila Wray Gregoire and Denyse O’Leary.
They've learned that dependence on God creates the character and
insights that produce a deep, rich faith.
Authors
Team Up to Donate $500,000 Worth of Books
30,000
copies of book will be given to women
Thirty
Canadian authors, from six provinces, have joined together with
publisher That’s Life! Communications to produce a groundbreaking
anthology that will be presented to women across Canada this year
as part of FaithLife Financial’s
Girls Night Out
events.
Hot Apple Cider: Words to Stir the Heart and Warm the
Soul is a 296-page collection of personal experience
articles, short stories and poems. While there are similarities
to the popular Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Hot
Apple Cider has its own unique character and content, with
a variety of stories from the lighthearted and humorous to those
dealing with serious real-life issues such as the death of a child
or spouse, cancer, infertility, loneliness and family conflicts.
All
of the authors included in this book are professional members of
The Word Guild,
an association of more than 325 Canadians who write from a Christian
faith perspective. The authors represent more than 20 Christian
denominations.
In
an unusual publishing arrangement, the authors will receive royalties
from the publisher, That’s
Life! Communications, for copies of the book sold through
normal retail channels in both Canada and the United States; but
the authors donated the money required to print an additional 30,000
copies of the book. The 30,000 books—whose retail value is
worth $500,000—are being contributed at no charge to World
Vision, a Christian relief, development and advocacy
organization.
World
Vision will then present Hot Apple Cider as a gift to the
women who will attend the 80 FaithLife Financial’s Girls Night
Out events hosted in communities across Canada. Girls Night Out,
which is managed under the planning and guidance of World Vision
and its partners, offers women an enjoyable evening of music and
inspirational speakers. During the evening, the needs of millions
of children affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic are also presented.
“We
are honored to begin partnering with The Word Guild,” said
Eric Spath, Manager of Artist Associates, Speakers and Events for
World Vision Canada, “and we’re thrilled to give every
woman attending the Girls Night Out events such a beautiful and
powerful book.”
Hot
Apple Cider was edited by award-wining author N.
J. Lindquist and journalist/editor Wendy Elaine
Nelles.
“We’d
been thinking about producing an anthology for some time,”
Lindquist said. “As far as we know, this is the first compilation
that highlights Canadian authors who write from a Christian worldview.
We’re excited that Hot Apple Cider has the potential
to create a whole new level of interest in the work of the authors
included in it, and in work by other Canadian writers.”
“Readers
are telling us that the stories in Hot Apple Cider capture
their attention and resonate with them, because they’re about
us and our neighbours,” Nelles said. “They can identify
with the writers because they’re like people they know, and
the book reflects our culture, values and experiences.”
“Creating
a meaningful, high-quality book while at the same time helping World
Vision made this a perfect project,” added Lindquist, who
has sponsored a number of children through World Vision over a 30-year
period.
The
book is being launched formally on June 11th at the Canadian
Christian Writing Awards Gala at World Vision headquarters
in Mississauga, Ontario. Tickets for the evening are available from
Ticketmaster.
Retail
copies of Hot Apple Cider will be available through normal
channels in the U.S.A. and Canada.
