News – Pilgrim Spirit Communications

Turning the Tables

I love working with independent authors. There’s nothing better than the look on an author’s face when they see their book in print for the first time. Their excitement and pride are palpable.

I just never expected to be in that position myself. But today the tables are turned, as my own book went live on Amazon. I confess it’s a little overwhelming.

The book, Through an Open Door: A Life and a Ministry, is the culmination of an extraordinary journey more than three years in the making. But the many hours of Zoom meetings, conference calls, research, and writing have finally come to fruition.

I am profoundly grateful to Bishop Peter Elder Hickman and the Ecumenical Catholic Communion for entrusting me with their story as they approach the twentieth anniversary of the ECC’s founding. It was a genuine privilege to be able to gather the memories and visions of so many faithful, Spirit-filled people. I’m inspired by their story so far, and eager to see where the next stage of their journey leads.

What’s new at Pilgrim Spirit?

The past few months have been a very busy time at Pilgrim Spirit, so there’s plenty of catching up to do. The last quarter of 2018 saw the publication of three new books from three Pilgrim Spirit authors. There’s a little something for everyone here; I hope you’ll check these out.

Author and chaplain Shannon O’Donnell draws on nearly 20 years of ministry in jail and prison for her new collection, Finding Grace Within. As she tells it, this is sacred ground, and the people inside are human beings with all the hopes, fears, loves, despairs, and trials of the human condition. Every one of them has a story that deserves to be told. The stories and observations Shannon shares here run the gamut—they are powerful, poignant, heartbreaking, wry, and even occasionally hilarious. This is a must-read; it will challenge any preconceptions you have about the criminal justice system and the people caught within it.

Fans of epic fantasy can celebrate the publication of Paul W. Martin’s latest novel, Master of Rage, which is volume three in his Adepts and Demons series. And if you’ve already read the book, you’ll be happy to know Paul reports that he’s making great progress on volume four, with its working title of The Mad God.

Pilgrim Spirit’s newest author is Anna Clark De Foe, whose first novel, Last Communion was published in December. This engaging mystery is set in a small Florida community, where English professor turned amateur sleuth George Ellerton seeks to solve a series of murders that shock his local parish family and friends.

E-book now available: The Sweet Dell

I know that many have been waiting anxiously, so I’m delighted to announce that Nicholas Briejer’s award-winning memoir The Sweet Dell is finally available for your Kindle or other favorite e-reader!

Now Available: Tower of Destiny

If you love epic fantasy, as I do, and you’re tired of waiting for George R.R. Martin to get his act together and finish The Winds of Winter, I’ve got something to keep you busy. I’m delighted to announce that Tower of Destiny, Book Two in Paul W. Martin’s Adepts and Demons series, is now available in print and e-book. Find it here. (And if you haven’t yet read Book One, Path of the Chosen, what are you waiting for?)

For me as an editor, it’s a real treat to handle material that is so engaging. I look forward to every new installment, and am so glad to know that Book Three is well underway. I can’t wait to see where these characters go next!

Congratulations are in order!

The Sweet Dell cover Big congratulations go to author Nicholas Briejer, whose memoir The Sweet Dell: The True Story of One Family’s Fight to Save Jews in Nazi-Occupied Holland, published by Pilgrim Spirit Communications, has been named a finalist for the 2016 Pacific Northwest Writers Association’s Nancy Pearl Book Awards. The first-place winners will be announced on July 30 at the Awards Celebration during the PNWA annual conference in Seattle. So delighted for you, Nick!

In The Sweet Dell, Nick tells not only the story of his maternal grandparents, who were part of the Dutch Resistance during World War II, but also his own quest to uncover this piece of his family’s history. If you haven’t yet read Nick’s powerful narrative, you can find it here.

Newly published: Save the Bones

Pilgrim Spirit Communications is delighted to announce the publication of Shannon O’Donnell’s Save the Bones in a new, expanded edition. Originally published in 2013, this second edition includes new material that adds a final chapter.

Save the Bones is one woman’s story of walking with her mother through the twisting, turning, maddening journey that is Alzheimer’s. It’s a journey filled not just with the major life changes that the disease imposes but also the small, intimate moments that mark the slipping away of memory and personality. In prose and poetry that is both honest and poignant, the author shares her own experiences, finding grace and even humor along the way.

If Alzheimer’s has affected you or someone you love, you owe it to yourself to read this book. If you have a friend or relative dealing with Alzheimer’s, give them a copy. Find the print version of Save the Bones on Amazon; second edition ebook coming soon.

Coming soon: Tower of Destiny

Coming soon to a bookstore or e-reader near you: Tower of Destiny, Book Two in Paul W. Martin’s Adepts and Demons series. Amazon reviewers described Book One, Path of the Chosen, as “imaginative and rich … engaging … a rollicking adventure set in a well-crafted world.” Book Two follows the further adventures of the Chosen as they seek to learn how to harness and utilize their new-found powers in preparation for the coming war.

Tower of Destiny is now in the final stages of prep for publication, with editing and book design by Pilgrim Spirit Communications. Haven’t yet read Book One, Path of the Chosen? Find it at Amazon.com or your favorite e-tailer.

Welcome to the new Pilgrim Spirit site!

It’s been a long time coming, but the new web home of Pilgrim Spirit Communications is finally live. 2016 is shaping up to be a busy year for Pilgrim Spirit, and I’m looking forward to sharing the journey with all of you: new projects, new colleagues, and helpful insights gained along the way.