Book Title: My
Beauty For Your Ashes
Paperback: 454 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform;
1 edition (June 21, 2012)
ISBN-10: 1503198030
ISBN-13: 978-1503198036
Genre: Christian Fiction Romance
About The Author
Traci Wooden-Carlisle began writing poetry and short
stories as soon as she was able to form words on paper. She used that as a way
to creating worlds, as well as, to communicate with God. A native of Los
Angeles, California, she grew up attending United Methodist Church under the
leadership of a pastor whose heart was for youth. Once she finished college at
Humboldt State University she found herself at a loss. She felt caught in the
transition between childhood and adulthood. She received a great deal of her
answers through a Tuesday night Bible Study. As she continued to attend
classes, the Bible became real to her and the scriptures were more than just
words on a page. They came to life and she was able to identify with the
teachings. She was filled with the Holy Spirit one November evening in 1995 and
soon found that when she wrote to God, the Holy Spirit would respond; at times
in the form of poetry and other times in conversation. She was amazed,
awestruck, and humbled to know that He had not only been listening, but also
wished to have a more intimate relationship with her. As she continued to write
she joined a smaller church closer to her home in the San Fernando Valley and
became an intercessory prayer, volunteered at the juvenile hall in the area, participated
in door-to-door evangelism and shared her first love of dance by creating a
praise dance team. She surrounded herself with saints and volunteered her
services as a graphic artist. Through the early-morning prayer, all night
Friday prayer and 3-day shut-ins she started on her journey toward her most
desired gift, an intimate relationship with God.
Today, Mrs. Wooden Carlisle lives in San Diego with her
husband, David Carlisle. She serves as a church Office Manager, teaches fitness
classes, continues to praise the Lord through dance, and is currently writing
her third book in this Christian-fiction series.
About The Book
Though they hail from backgrounds that are worlds
apart, it only takes one fateful accident to rearrange their priorities and set
them on roads that intersect, forcing them to acknowledge the relationships
they can’t do without.
Elder Paige Morganson has worked hard to overcome the
anger, hate and abuse of her past. With God’s help she believes healing and
wholeness is within her grasp when she is propelled into a world of secrets and
lies that threaten to unravel the very thread of hope she’s clung to in her
struggle for peace.
Mason Jenson is a self-made man who has been able to
create his own fortune and build a home life with his wife and child void of
God’s help…so he thinks, but as the world he knows balances precariously on the
edge of destruction, who will he turn to?
Elder Brandon Tatum’s, new in town, has prided himself
on not making a move until he’s heard God, but even as he accepts his new
position in ministry, he is faced with decisions of the heart; a whole new
territory for him.
Victoria Branchett has ruthlessly survived the death of
her only daughter by fierce determination, but is the strength she has relied
on enough to see her through a failing marriage and an ailing grandchild?
This novel merges colorful characters facing one
untimely circumstance after another, and mixes in a serious spin on how one
views God, both inside and outside of His will. Of course, this is just the
beginning. More people emerge from behind the scenes; some to help and others,
to hurt. With everything happening simultaneously, one would almost question if
God is able to truly fix and heal everything, and the readers will see just how
far each person's faith (or lack thereof) will carry them. As they sift through
the debris of past dreams and hopes left by the wayside, they are offered a
lifeline and given an opportunity to receive God’s Beauty for their ashes.
Excerpt 1 Mason and Vivian
“Hi Daddy!” The squeal, melting
his heart, he bent under the rope and scooped up his daughter’s thin, gangly
frame in a fierce hug. He took in her dusty smell as he buried his face in her
curls. When he felt her arms slacken a little, he began to release her, only to
have her cling harder to him as he walked to the edge of the carpeted area.
He let her down when they got
to the edge of the seating area of her arrival gate. Vivian talked nonstop
about her flight and how she met the pilot before boarding. She had made
friends with one of the flight attendants, who kept her full of sprite
throughout the plane ride. After retrieving her baggage, they walked to the
airport parking lot. It wasn’t until he placed the key in the ignition that she
took a deep breath, allowing him to get in a question or two.
“So…? Tell me how you liked
Oklahoma? How was Grandma? Did you have fun with your cousin Asha?” It wasn’t
as if he didn’t already know most of the answers; he just liked seeing the
excitement on her face when she talked about his late wife’s family.
Vivian shook her head, allowing
her curls to move slightly, and giggled. “Daddy, you know everything. You
talked to me every day and I sent you pictures…it was like you were there. Gram
said if it were 15 years ago, you wouldn’t have let me go ‘cause they didn’t
have cell phones with cameras, and you couldn’t go more than 24 hours without
makin’ sure I was alright.” He looked away from the road and into her smiling
face, the expression so very much akin to his wife’s. He shrugged and pulled
his attention back to the road that would take them to Stevenson Expressway.
“I know, but you weren’t able
to tell me everything. What was your favorite part?”
“Mmmm…let me think.”
As he pulled up to the red
light, he glanced over to watch her drum her fingertips along her chin, posing
as if in deep thought. He almost laughed.
She cocked her head to the
side, looking at him out of the corner of her eye.
“Trisha, the cat Gram let me
keep in the barn, had kittens. That…”
There was a terrible screeching
sound, causing him to look in the rear-view mirror. He caught sight of a
medium-size, sky-blue SUV racing towards them. He leaned over his daughter as
much as he could in that second, trying to shield her from the dashboard and
the crushing blow.
The impact was fierce,
propelling their SUV into the intersection. Mason’s head hit the dashboard,
sending off a ringing in his ears. He didn’t know what was louder: the sound of
metal crumbling and giving way, or his heartbeat. He could feel Viv’s body rock
forward, and tightened his hold. Then everything began to slow. He felt her
breath against his neck – it was quick and erratic.
Then the car slowed and came to
a stop; not until then did he open his eyes. He raised his head, peering into
his daughter’s eyes, examining her face for any sign of pain.
“Are you alright?” He tried to
make his voice sound calm and controlled. She nodded. He pulled back,
straightening his frame while trying to get a better look at her. He took a
deep breath, sighing in relief at the fact that the crash wasn’t worse. He gave
Viv a wry smile, and then turned just in time to see a brown sedan come through
the light at full speed towards them. Everything went black.
Social Links
Email: tawcarlisle@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TraciWoodenCarlisle
Buy Links
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Cathy Lynn Bryant & Jessica M. Dorman
