I’ve been waiting to make this announcement, but it is official. My book, Mouse’s Christmas Gift, will be published in October, 2018 by HarperCollins Zonderkidz. The illustrator will be the very talented Dow Phumiruk. I am so excited to see this book come to life! The countdown begins!
Category: Author life
Mouse-sized World
I’ve been thinking about what Mouse’s living quarters must look like in Parson’s church. I picture it similar to the scene in the children’s book by Audrey and Don Wood entitled, The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear.
As a child, I loved the book series The Littles, by John Peterson. I read each of those books over and over! I also had a doll house. I don’t remember actually playing with the doll house, but what I loved to do was make my own furniture and accessories for it. You know, like take a sticker and “frame” it for the artwork on the wall. Or use a toothpaste lid stuffed with a dab of play dough for a “vase” that a little twig could stick into. Or find a little box and a fabric scrap and fashion them into a bed. You get the idea. The illustrations in The Littles books inspired me, and I loved to think of what a miniature world would look like. Nowadays there is Pinterest. I browsed for awhile and came up with a few projects to share. I’m pretty sure Mouse would love a few of these in his living quarters. Aren’t they adorable? Which project looks fun to you?
THE HOPE OF HEAVEN by Alan Hallene Jr. with Erin Keeley Marshall
In 2008, Alan Hallene Jr. discovered the lifeless body of his 22-year-old son. Alex had committed suicide. While Al waited for the authorities to arrive, he had ten minutes alone with his young son. During that wrenching time, God sent him eight visions of heaven, where the father and he son would someday reunite. Al recounts those life-changing visions in The Hope of Heaven, released on
March 10, 2015
The Hope of Heaven is a very different kind of “heaven book.” Rather than an argument for the existence of heaven or the account of an out-of-body experience, Al gives readers a glimpse of life beyond the tragedies we endure.
“I did not go to heaven. I was the one left behind and the one who received clear messages from God in the aftermath of my son’s death.” Al Hallene Jr.
“The story points to Jesus as Savior–and not just a general Savior but one whom we each need to acknowledge our personal need for.” Erin Keeley Marshall
Alan M. Hallene Jr., PhD. is the father of three grown sons, one whom he anticipates reuniting with someday in heaven. While working on The Hope of Heaven, Al was on leave from his teaching position at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA. He has also taught at the University of Illinois and the University of Iowa, and is President of NorthHill Consulting, LLC.
Erin Keeley Marshall is the author of Navigating Route 20-Something and The Daily God Book. She spent the early years of her career as an editor for Tyndale House Publishers and has edited and written for several publishing companies throughout the United States. She lives in Arkansas with her husband, Steve, and their two children.
The Story Behind the Last Line
The last line of my book, MOUSE’S CHRISTMAS GIFT, is the sentence “All was well.” This line comes from a very vivid memory that I have of a Christmas Eve Service at our church one year not too long ago. The church was beautifully decorated with trees, glowing star lights, and candles. All around me were friends and family– the scene was picture perfect.
But that particular year, all was NOT well. A close friend of mine had cancer, and almost every other area of my life seemed messy and very uncertain. My heart was heavy, and the burden of it all seemed more than I could bear.
What I remember the most about that night was the lyrics to one of the songs. It was entitled, “All Is Well,” written by Michael W. Smith. God used this song to speak a gentle, but powerful reminder into my heart. Because of Jesus’ birth, all that is wrong will one day be made right. This certainty brings peace and comfort to our present circumstances, and the ability to say–All Is Well. We can praise him in the midst of our pain because He walks with us through it, and we know he holds our tomorrows. And our eternal tomorrow will be wonderful–with joy unfathomable.
I pray that you will find the miraculous peace that comes from knowing Jesus as your Savior. Let his peace flow into your heart as he walks with you through the pain of today, and look forward to the certain joy of heaven’s tomorrow.
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LyricsAll is well all is well
Angels and men rejoice
For tonight darkness fell
Into the dawn of love’s light
Sing A-le
Sing AlleluiaAll is well all is well
Let there be peace on earth
Christ is come go and tell
That He is in the manger
Sing A-le
Sing AlleluiaAll is well all is well
Lift up your voice and sing
Born is now Emmanuel
Born is our Lord and Savior
Sing Alleluia
Sing Alleluia
All is wellHere is a link if you would like to hear the song: