Book Signing Part II + Radio Interviews

OK, now that I've cooled off from my little rant against Barnes and Noble, I'll once again remind folks of the upcoming signing.

I will be at Christian Book & Gift this Saturday from 10-Noon, signing copies of the book! The store is located in Rochester, MN.

Website: http://www.christbk.com/home.asp


Radio Interviews

I have booked a call in for station WKNY in Kingston, NY on December 6, 9:15 Eastern.

On December 21, I will be interviewing with FoxNews Online. 2PM Eastern. http://live.foxnews.com

Re: Barnes and Noble and other “Noble?” booksellers:

I have generated quite a bit of interest in this book, Following Yonder Star. So far I have about six radio interviews booked, including FoxNews online. However, when I went to our Barnes and Noble, I was told the book is in a “pre-order” status, meaning they cannot stock it, but will “gladly” order the book on request. “We support local authors, but...” There is no support in the word “but.” I talked to corporate and got the same reply. No amount of begging, pleading on behalf of the author will do any good.

But all is not lost. If enough people walk into their local store and request that the book be carried, they will have to order enough copies for the demand. I can understand why they don’t carry all titles, especially from the independent and small-press authors, but now it’s getting silly.

So, if you have a local bookstore, please ask them to carry the book. When people listen to the radio interviews, they will wonder where they can buy the book... if all they have is Amazon, it’s not going to go over too well. And so, if people are out there asking for it, perhaps the giant will change its ways. Until then it will only be available locally, and a few scattered independent stores.

Following Yonder Star

By: Martin Gibbs

ISBN: 978-1475080605

Thanks everyone!

Book Signing this Saturday!

I will be at Christian Book & Gift this Saturday from 10-Noon, signing copies of the book! The store is located in Rochester, MN.

Website: http://www.christbk.com/home.asp

There will be candy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Let's remember to pray for those who have little or nothing to eat today, and those fighting for us overseas. And be reasonable tomorrow--remember it is all just stuff, no matter the deal.

We are supposed to be happy with who we are and what we have, as little or as much. We're lucky to be here.

God Bless,

Martin

Great Christmas Books

OK, so this is the Christmas season (or very, very, very close!) and so it's not really fair for me to spend my webspace hyping my own stuff. Lots of great stuff is out there. Here are just a few great works by other hard-working authors (kids stuff):

The Rainbow Stick Boy

"This is the story of Huey, a stick boy who is born a little different than everyone else in the town. He doesn't let his differences keep him down. Huey finds a friend who is also a little different and together they find the magic at the end of the rainbow, and discover that their differences are really only skin deep.

This is a great Kindle e-book about diversity and the beauty within!"

Mailbox Kitten

"A small boy named Bubba unexpectedly finds his first love. He learns what it is to truly love, care for and tend to another. He does so happily, and with his whole heart. Sadly, just as unexpectedly his loved one dies through no fault of his own. Mammy and Pappy (his parents) console Bubba as much as they can. Until, one day Pappy discovers something that, if all goes right, will fill Bubba's heart with joy again."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reckless Rudy and the Green Vase

"He kicks toys about. He knocks lamps over. He forgets to do his homework. But it doesn't stop there. He also steals food from his little sister. He makes his little brother do his chores. He doesn't care one way or the other what anyone thinks. He'll step on your toes if you get in his way. He's just reckless, and he gets away with all of it.

When Rudy's mom brings home a beautiful, old green vase to keep for their aunt, Rudy just can't keep his hands off the priceless antique. He will soon step into a weird and wacky, afternoon adventure of chases and flight. Ages 5 and up."

The Meeting of the Ways

The storied Meeting of the Ways is the spot where John of Hildesheim claimed the three kings met one another. In his 14th century tale, the three kings raced across thousands of miles in a single night, and met each other at this spot. Was this miraculous or simply an easy way to explain how they met each other?

Since we all must make sacrifices in following Christ, why would the three kings be any different? Even if they didn't know exactly what the star meant (when they first saw it), it is hoped that they knew it was a portent of a very special event. Is it out of the bounds of possibility that they saw the star long before others, and that God was calling them to sacrifice their kingdoms and themselves?

And so a Meeting of the Ways could have other connotations, too. Perhaps a spot where they chatted, or had another revelation, or perhaps even had tea. Maybe they met the legendary "Fourth King Here" (that, my friends is for another story, as it doesn't happen in mine). Who knows? But the idea of them traveling the thousands of miles in a single night is a little stretch, and since their journey to Christ is not detailed in the Bible, for me it remains an open question.

Thoughts?

... Next up... The Hill of Vaws.

A House or a Manger?

<sup>Matthew 2

9</sup> After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.


I've been having some great discussions over on the Amazon forums. Verna mentioned that in Matthew 2: 11, it is written that the kings went to a house. Was it a stable/manger, or a house? Or both? When did they get to go to a house? I thought the inn was full?

It brings up an interesting question... most of us have in our minds the image of the three royal figures bowing down before Jesus, knees touching the straw, arms outstretched with their gifts. Our manger set growing up always included the three kings standing by. As such, the imagery is so embedded that sometimes we forget to re-look at what was really written.

And so I admit that Following Yonder Star, at least in this case, does not feature the wise men entering a house. Sure, they are offered a place by the so-called mayor, but they still make their way to the stable.

Timing

Who saw the star first? Was it always there? Did its coming signal the exact moment of birth, or was it merely an indication? So many questions, and my story embraces the theory that the star was there for quite some time, giving them the chance to travel the distance.

How long did Herod detain them? Was Jesus already born then? Or not quite?

The Main Event

The main event here is Jesus' birth. We can speculate and research and discuss, but that was the entire focus of the journey. Even if, upon starting, the kings did not know exactly what they followed, they realized very quickly that they were following something holy. If the devil had put that much effort in stopping them, they had to push on.

So... the key message is still the birth of Christ. Heralded by a star, a star which three foreign rulers followed, He is the focus of everything.