Merry Christmas

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The old song says "everywhere you go." This is the best time of the year for most of us. Christmas brings out the "child" in many who have fond memories of Christmas past.

For me it is a time to contact as many as I can and say, MERRY CHRISTMAS. I do this in person if I can; if not, there is the telephone, facebook, classmates, and this dear old blog.

Trans Figuring Ivan has been a great blessing for us this year. The novel has reached the hearts of old friends and brought us into contact with so many new friends.

Today a dear old friend emailed - then called - to order four novels for his friends for Christmas presents. We talked for over half an hour. That was a great blessing for me and such a nice present.

The Book Signing events, interviews, and speaking engagements have been wonderful. We are looking for more opportunities after Christmas.

Long's Christian Book & Outlet in Altamounte Springs, Florida has a few copies of Trans Figuring Ivan on their shelves under the LOCAL AUTHORS label.

From our house to yours - MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Trans Figuring Ivan - Listed with Local Authors

(Trans Figuring Ivan) © 2009 R T Epling has joined the ranks of local Authors in Brevard County Florida.

We are very pleased to join with other Authors in support of local charities. One of our most recent events was the run / walk in Melbourne, Fl. This is an annual event to raise money for (Nana's House). There were many business owners and community leaders present.

The exhausted winners, male and female, were presented with a signed copy of Trans Figuring Ivan.

The event photos and a picture of Eric and Kim Frodge can be seen (here). Please pray for and support this home for children . From the newsletter, " Again, we see the community coming together to support our Neglected, Abused, Needy and Abandoned Children."

R.T. Epling
http://rtepling.com/

Thankful for long time friends

A long time friendly Christian Book Store and Outlet - (Long's of Altamonte Springs, FL) - was visited recently. It brought back so many memories of happy days with my daughter and shopping. Long's is a family must stop around Christmas time.

This time the visit was with my son who lives near their new location. The prices are still the best in the area on great gift items. We were pleased to find three copies of my new Christian novel, Trans Figuring Ivan, on the shelf and two in reserves.

They are in a great location : Circuit City Plaza on East Altamonte Dr. Stop by and tell them your friend, Ty Epling sent you.

Hope you are enjoying the holidays.

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving Day comes but once a year. Yet most of us are thankful year around for something or someone. Those of us that are Christians turn to the One who gave Himself and thank Him.

This is an everyday thankfulness; but we come together as a family on Thanksgiving Day to count our many blessings, and enjoy spending time with each other. To those family and friends that we can not be with we call, email, or blog - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Great Day at Searstown Mall Titusville, Florida

The Epling family had a great day at the Titusville, Florida Searstown Mall last Saturday. Several old friends stopped by to talk and purchase (Trans figuring Ivan) for Christmas presents.
There were new friends made also. That is one of the wonderful things about getting out with your family. You get the benefit of meeting a lot more people in different age groups.

I talked with several merchants who were busy displaying their Christmas sales. The economy is down here as it is in other parts of our country. Still, there is optimism and good will to be seen. Some say we will experience a slump like we did in the 70's; but they also say - we made it through that tough time - we will make it through again.

We would like to take this time to wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving. May you and your family be gathered together in joy and thanksgiving.

Trans Figuring Ivan BOOK SIGNING this Saturday!!

Saturday - November 7 - 9AM through 7PM.

The date has finally arrived! My family and I will be in the Titusville, Florida Searstown Mall.

We will be signing my new novel - (Trans Figuring Ivan). See more about the novel here: http://rtepling.com/ - the Web Page. If you are in the Titusville area, please stop by and visit our booth in the mall. There is a coin show also being made available by the Mall.

The Mall is located on U.S. 1- 3550 South Washington Ave. by the beautiful Indian River that flows beside the author's home town. We will be looking for you. Come by boat if you wish.

Thank you for the private comments and emails.

American Christian Fiction Writers (click for web page)

ACFW is a new group for me. This is exciting to be able to communicate with others of like minded souls. After so many years of wanting to write something that would honor our Lord and be helpful to others, Trans Figuring Ivan became a reality.

There is even a Florida chapter that meets in central Florida. And - YES!, I'm am going this Saturday. My very first work shop in writing. Again, something I've always wanted to do.

Reading is a passion. Some of us love to spend time with our nose stuck in a book. If you are one of us, maybe you would like to get involved in writing.

Please use the above Title to this post for a quick click to all the information you need.

Road Trip

Back from Road Trip to West Virginia and Ohio. It is good to be back. There are many new and exciting things going on in my world and yours as well, I'm sure.

Facebook has taken off with old friends and new ones being added almost daily. Then the Road Trip. Now, I'm back and looking to new adventures with you.

One is our new GROUP. It is being set up on facebook. We already have the Web Page located
@ http://rtepling.com/ .

Stay tuned, Fall is upon us and that means BLOGING!

Trans Figuring Ivan Is Avaliable

Trans Figuring Ivan is available at (Amazon.com) and soon to be in fine bookstores everywhere. The ISBN is 1607919923.

My brand new Web Page is located here: http://rtepling.com/ . We are holding a Book Signing at New Fellowship Baptist Church this Sunday - 30 August 2009 - 11:00 AM followed by dinner on the grounds.

Thanks to Pastor Jerry R. Hanson,Jr. many have signed up for an autographed copy of the novel. We are looking forward to this visit. We trust that the reading of this book will change lives eternally.

Christy Awards

Keeping promises is a sacred duty. "Always remember, a man is only as good as his word," my grandfather intoned to us children.

We believed him then. I still do to this very day. I tell my grandchildren, "Always remember, a person is only as good as their word." They believe me.

I promised to post the winners of the (Christy Awards) in early July. The nominees were listed on Robin Lee Hatcher's (blog) 27 June 09 on this site.

Congratulations to all the nominees and finalists. I have read the introductions to several of the books and see why they were chosen. Keep those new projects humming.

Happy

Happy. That is the best way to describe the July 4th celebration with family and friends. America is still the land of the free and the home of the brave.

My side of the family is struck with wander lust. Travel is in the blood so to speak. The last area will be visited by my son in the future. That is the far East. The family has covered the rest of the planet - populated areas that are friendly to Americans - and some not so friendly.

Hope to have other bloggers up and running soon. Facebook is new and is in competition. One thing for sure, there is no reason we can not keep in touch with family and friends.

We have come a long way in my life time. Personal visits were the norm. Then a letter if you were living at a distance, or a telegram if it was urgent. Then the telephone, if you were home to hear it ring. Now you can multitask with the phone and the computer.

So... keep in touch.

Celebrating in July

It's the 4th!!!

Somewhere in the park... I know it was the 4th of July... I saw my first fireworks. All the children had been told about our nation's birthday in school and at home. But this was different.

Family and friends had brought their favorite picnic foods. They wore their Sunday best. Everyone I knew from the neighborhood was there, and several I had never seen before had come from miles away to celebrate this special day, in the 40's.

That night I joined the other children in laughing, while I watched some adult men and women wipe away tears. Still, today, I have mixed emotions on our country's birthday.

Peggy Noonan reports today:
"Almost two years ago, I was lucky enough to tour Mount Vernon with a dozen people including him. (If I were David McCullough I would know the date and time. But I know the weather.) At the bottom of a stairway leading to the second floor, we chatted for a moment, and I asked him how he accounted in his imagination for the amazing fact of the genius cluster that founded our nation. How did so many gifted men, true geniuses, walk into history at the same time, in the same place, and come together to pursue so brilliantly a common endeavor? "I think it was providential," he said, simply."

I agree with David McCullough and Peggy Noonan. Providence did it. "One nation, under God."

Here is an old news clip from the days of my youth. Be patient until the children sing.
(VIDEO)

Men and women are still fighting for their INDEPENDENCE. God bless America!!!

Celebrating in July

It's JULY 3!!! One more day and--- "LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN!!"

We still have time to read a book. Well... maybe just a few pages before tomorrow. Let me see, how about a #1 top seller - right now.

Many of of us are concerned about our country. After all, celebrating involves past, present, and future. Let's look at a page or two in this book. Click (Glenn Beck) for some of Glen Beck's Common Sense.

Did you see yourself, or someone you know, someone real close to you?

Thank you for the comments, emails, and posts on facebook. We can be just one big happy family. Now let's see... where did I put that stars and stripes top hat?

Celebrating in July

On the second day of July my true love brought to me..._____________.
Feel free to fill in the blank. As we start this second half of 2009, we look back to the hopes and fears of January 1, 2009. How does where we are compare with where we hoped to be?

Bloglogger is an old name that started out as a blog that tied in with my love for nature. My first chosen profession was to become a forester and live in the forest. The Bachelor of Science Degree was bestowed upon me by West Virginia University in 1967. I was hired as a procurement forester by West Virginia Pulp and Paper. Thus the logger part of the blog.

But that is only part of the story. I was also interested in other blogs and wanted to pass along what other writers had to say. We began to log other blogs for discussion and comments.

My grand daughter, Dani, was intrigued by the Pu Bear characters at the time of the blog,... so the URL became tiggernpal.

How did you come up with your URL and site name? The blog is one of our "TRUE LOVES" we must admit. My hope in January was to get back to writing and discussions with my pals. My fear was that I might become sidetracked again and not realize my hope.

Here is a link to another wonderful Christian web site. It is an interview with Os Guiness By Tim Challies, author of The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment. Click (here) .

Received a nice note from Robin Lee Hatcher today. See her Christy Award site from yesterday's post.

It is so good to be back.

Celebrating in July

The fourth of July is a month of celebration. Remember those picnics, and the spectacular fireworks displays as a child. Let's try to see them again this year through our child's eye.

America is still the greatest nation on earth. I believed that as a child and I have no reason to discontinue that this 4th of July. Strike up the band. It's a grand old flag... it's a high flying flag.

After the celebration of the birth of our nation's birth, the( Christy Award )program will be held in Colorado on the following Saturday. This is an exciting time for Christian writers and fans.

History of the Christy Award:
"In the spring of 1999, nearly a dozen Christian publishers confirmed the need for establishing a Christian fiction award to recognize novelists and novels of excellence in several genres of Christian fiction. By late summer, ideas and planning had come together to launch The Christy Award, named in honor of Catherine Marshall’s novel and of her contribution to growth of the fiction Christians love to read."

Please click on this( Robin Lee Hatcher)site to see those nominated and return to learn who won these prestigious awards.

Check out our facebook too while you are at it.
Until next time...

Followers

Followers is a new badge to Gnu News. So glad to have Jeannette aboard.

So much new stuff is happening in personal communications, like - face book has led to a number of old friends that were emailed on a regular basis. There are also many friends who are in the past.

With all the ways we now have to keep in touch, there is no reason to be lonely. So... click the followers button at the left and sign up. We look foreword to hearing from you. The telephone can be intrusive but not so here. Leave a comment at your leisure. If you are doing face book, or have a blog let us know.

until then...

Facebook

So many are in a tweeter over Face book. It is easy to see why. My family has joined in the parade... and so have I. Suddenly, MY friends are YOUR friends. I haven't uploaded a recent pic, still looks too much like the one at the Post office.

Email was a leap foreword over the telephone, (you can answer at your leisure),and then along came Immediate Messaging, to get all of us up to speed in typing our conversations in real time.

So, it's answer the phone, screen your calls, let the answering machine get it, wait for the voice mail...

There are many ways to communicate these days _ or not.

Remember when we had only the family visit? No phone? - visit in person! DO NOT send a telegram - or DO NOT write a letter. (There will be no mother-in-law jokes, please).

Until next time... keep looking up.

Trans Figuring Ivan

The novel is finally in the hands of the publisher. Trans Figuring Ivan should be available, baring unforeseen circumstances, in book stores between September and October of this year.

We have been beating the heat of what promises to be a--l o n g hot summer in central Florida.
Writing another novel and doing some traveling keeps us out of mischief.

Miss blogging and reading other blogs. Winter time seems best for that venture. Most of the bloggers I know are busy with other priorities as well.

Hope to be filling posts again soon. Until then... keep looking up.

God is Back, a book review reviewed

The Gnu News is that we are free to discuss this book review (New York Times ) and all references to God Is Back.
The title is good. It implies that, to many, God has become real or at a minimum, relevant. John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge have written a book that captures the modern view of the church as a group of like-minded worshipers. God is back in a major role in the lives of those in the mega-church.
They give credit to America for the spread of worshiping God from a historical perspective. We quote, "The Americans led the way by becoming both “the quintessentially modern country” and a very devout one..."
The review referred to Rick Waren's book; The Purpose Driven Life as an example of the drive in modern mega-churches, and are following the "can do ethics" of American capitalism. Again we quote from the article, "The surge of religion was “driven by the same forces driving the success of market capitalism: competition and choice.”
Without a doubt, there is a wide view today toward "religion". This review opens up an opportunity to explore, and to develop our world view, be it theistic or atheist.

GNU NEWS RETURNS

Gun News continues after a long productive period in other venues. Looking forward to "staying in country" for awhile now. Fellow blog persons will be contacted again, and we will let the visiting begin anew.

A new book is being edited and should be released in three or four months. More on that in later blogs. Mean while, back at the ranch, we can comment on book reviews - like this one.

(NYT), "God is Back", (Did He ever leave?) My question; you may have others.

What is your opinion of this review? It is fun, and informative to review a review. From time to time, we will open the blog to guest speakers, that is always a good thing. Comments continue to be welcome and encouraged as usual. Yes, we have a blog nanny, so be nice.

Remember our editor-in-chief's advice; GNU NEWS is always GOOD NEWS.