Introducing SECRETS AND LIES by Rhonda McKnight

About the Book:

Faith Morgan is struggling with her faith. Years of neglect leave her doubting that God will ever fix her marriage. When a coworker accuses her husband, Jonah, of the unthinkable, Faith begins to wonder if she really knows him at all, and if it’s truly in God’s will for them to stay married.

Pediatric cardiologist Jonah Morgan is obsessed with one thing: his work. A childhood incident cemented his desire to heal children at any cost, even his family, but now he finds himself at a crossroads in his life. Will he continue to allow the past to haunt him, or find healing and peace in a God he shut out long ago?

About the Author:

Rhonda McKnight owns Legacy Editing, a free-lance editing service for fiction writers and Urban Christian Fiction Today, a popular Internet site that highlights African-American Christian fiction. She’s also the vice president of the Faith Based Fiction Writers of Atlanta. Originally from a small coastal town in New Jersey, she’s called Atlanta, Georgia home for almost twelve years.

Rhonda, tell us how you came up with the idea for this story? I woke up one morning and these people were talking in my head, or rather arguing. (LOL). I thought this could be interesting, turned on the creativity, and came up with the “issues” in their marriage. I also did a lot of research about heart disease. Jonah is a pediatric cardiologist and that’s central to the story. I knew absolutely nothing about heart disease before I wrote this novel.

Who is your ideal reader? I think most people will think my ideal reader is women who are married. While I think the book will definitely appeal to married women, I’d love for single women who are thinking about marriage or waiting on Mr. Right to read the book. There is a valuable lesson for single women in the story. Faith chose to overlook a very important issue prior to her marriage to Jonah. This issue becomes a huge source of pain for her. Ten years later her ideal black man has her pulling her hair out.
Name something about the book that will appeal to readers? I think readers will find it appealing, because more than half of it is written from Jonah’s point of view. My informal research amongst readers has taught me that women readers love stories that are written from a man’s perspective. Like most men, Jonah is complex. He’s a love to hate kind of guy. People will love him because he’s dedicated his life to physically healing children, but he’s emotionally and spiritually sick himself. What a burden for Faith. Faith’s pain will have some folks shaking their heads at Jonah.
When’s your next book being released? My second novel, An Inconvenient Friend comes out August 1, 2010. I have a nasty little character in Secrets and Lies who gets her own story, and what a story it is. She’s up to no good. Can she be redeemed?How can readers find out more about you? Readers may contact me at my website at http://www.rhondamcknight.net/. I love for people to sign my guestbook and share their thoughts about the story. I’m also a complete Facebook addict. You’ll definitely find me there more than you should at www.facebook.com/rhondamcknight.

Click HERE to order Secrets And Lies now!

Thankful, In Spite Of...

The year 2009 has been a challenging one. Not for a modest few, but for many. Rare to find are those who have not been affected in some direct way by the recession that has plagued our country. The U.S.'s economic problems didn't just start this year, but they certainly worsened. Decrease in healthcare benefits, mounting job losses, shifting gas prices, record company closures, increased theft reports...all of it is largely due to the economy, and all of it has touched each of us in one way or the other.
In times like these, when we cannot necessarily cite a long list of materialistic things for which to be grateful, we sometimes find ourselves waddling in self-pity. Then instead of counting the blessings that we do have, we gripe about those things that we don't have. But as I now sit in my home office, taking a break from an editing assignment as this great holiday winds down, I am full of thanksgiving. This year has been trying for me, and the challenges have been great. But the same God that had been good in the time of plenty has remained good in the lean time. Yes, there were days when finances fell short and days when there was more month than money. But on this Thanksgiving Day, I have been determined to be thankful in spite of.

All that I want may not be visible before my eyes, but I have been provided with all that I need. No, my bank account does not qualify me to rank among the wealthiest authors in the industry, but as Proverbs 10:22 says, The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Therefore I am richer than so many whose bank accounts are running over. I have an abundance of faith - For what does it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:28); an understanding of God's Word - With all thy getting, get an understanding (Prov. 4:7), and a respected name in the literary industry where I've been placed to serve in ministry - A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches (Prov. 22:1). Those things that money cannot buy are perhaps the things for which we should be most grateful. They are certainly the things that I am most thankful for this year.
I had a conversation with a long time friend and supporter on last week who had just suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on one side and unable to walk on his own accord. When he revealed his current situation to me, my heart immediately saddened, and I prayed inwardly for something to say to him that would give him hope. But it only took a few seconds for me to realize that my hospitalized friend didn't need my sympathy, and he had enough hope to spare. Before I could form a word, he continued to tell me how grateful he was. "It could have been worse," he said, and then he went on to give God thanks and praise for what was versus what could have been. Instead of me building his faith, he built mine. When I ended the call with him, I began to thank God too. I thanked Him for sparing my friend's life and for giving him back the full use of his extremities (I claimed that one by faith).
When we learn to thank God in spite of, I believe that it is then that we are blessed to see the overflow that He has stored up for us. If we can't be grateful for what we have, how can God trust us with the abundance that He has on standby? So for the few hours that are left in this Thanksgiving Day, I will continue to give God the praise; not only for what I have today, but for those things that I know that He will bless me with on tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day....and the next day...

What things are you thankful for? In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thessalonians 5:18).

The "I Shall Not Die Blog"

Hello to all of my Blessed2Write Blog followers. Thank you for your ongoing support and most recently, for all of the feedback that you have given regarding my pending I Shall Not Die project. I would like to ask each of you to consider becoming "followers" of the new I Shall Not Die Blog.

This online journal was created as another means to keep me on task with completing this challenging project. Following it will keep you abreast of the progression of the forthcoming book and the accompanying motivational ministry. I know that sharing the journey with you and reading your feedback will be a great encouragement to me. There is also now an I Shall Not Die official website. While there, please consider pre-ordering the book and becoming a vision partner for this God-ordered project.
Thanks and God bless. I look forward to sharing this experience with you.

My First Nonfiction - Stay Tuned...

Today is Monday, October 5, 2009, and I'm going to try as much as possible to abbreviate this blog entry. There is so much to be said. This date marks the fourteen-year anniversary of the death of my beloved first husband. I've rarely put anything in writing about the life and legacy of Jimmy Lee Holmes. He was an outgoing, fun-loving, God-fearing man who was loved and respected by most. In addition to being a devoted husband, father, and friend, he was a highly gifted singer and preacher and served in the capacity of choir director, youth pastor, and ultimately as senior pastor. Until now, nearly all of my written referencing of him has been in the brief accolades that I've dedicated to him on the acknowledgements pages of each of my fictional novels. For most, this is the first time a visual image of him has been seen (see photo). So why, after so many years, have I now decided to write about him? The truth of the matter is that it wasn't necessarily my decision to make. God has said that now is the time, and I am finally adhering to His will.
On this day, I am actively embarking upon the challenge of writing my first nonfiction. Doing this wasn't an overnight decision. It's been a very long time coming. Even before Jimmy's death back in 1995, I had begun writing somewhat of a documentary that was based upon his life. I never had any intention to publish those notations, I was just recording them (with his input) as a way to have a written legacy for our daughters to read and keep close at heart. Something that would insure that no matter how many years passed, they would never forget their doting daddy. Unfortunately, Jimmy passed away before we could finish the project, and my zeal to write it died right along with him. In 1999 (I'd remarried by this time), my current husband bought me a new computer, and I sat down and began writing again. I remember opening a new document and the first words I typed were "I Shall Not Die" which was the title of the last sermon that Jimmy preached. Those words began a painful purging process that ended 125 pages later. I'm sure that I cried more during the weeks that it took me to write out those thoughts than in all the years of my life combined. Once again, those where private writings that I never intended to publish, and when I placed the period on the last sentence of those pages, I thought that all had been said and done.
Little did I know that God wasn't through. A private journal couldn't bless anyone but me, and God wanted to use Jimmy's life to touch the masses. It was a year later, the year that would mark the fifth anniversary of Jimmy's death, that the Lord began nudging me to pick up a pen and begin the process again. By that time, I'd begun writing Christian fiction manuscripts which were beginning to form a small pile behind my bed. There were still no publishing endeavors. I was writing for the therapeutic value only; I found that writing fiction stories was relaxing and liberating. Writing them brought me joy, unlike the experience of writing the "I Shall Not Die" memoirs. When I continued to feel the divine nudging to write a fiction piece based on Jimmy's life, I procrastinated. In this case, that's a nice way of saying that I refused. To a degree, I tuned out God's voice. I told Him that I would begin to write it before the end of that year, but I can't honestly say that I ever had any intention of following through with it. Thank God for His longsuffering and forgiveness.
From that point on, the call to write an "I Shall Not Die" project for publishing purposes never ceased. After reneging to obey within the fifth year, I began saying that I'd wait until the tenth year. By then, I reasoned, I'd be in a better position both mentally and spiritually to write Jimmy's and my full story; to go back and reopen the painful wounds of losing someone so dear so that I could expand upon the 125 pages that had been written in 1999. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that the ten year anniversary (2005) rolled in and out without me even so much as writing one word of the book that had been ordered by God years earlier. I have been abundantly blessed that even in my procrastination/disobedience, God has shown much favor to the Christian fiction novels that I have written and began publishing in 2002. But now I can't help but wonder where my career might be today had I been obedient from the start. Hmmmm....
At any rate, let's fast forward to the year 2009. This year, God made it clear that my five-year increments of procrastination were over. The well of His grace was running dry. October 5, 2010 will mark fifteen years since Jimmy's death, and the Lord said that October 2009 was the time to start writing, and October 2010 was the month of release. His unmistakable order began manifesting itself early in the year. I didn't realize at the time that it was His doing, but God allowed me to be hurt by people that I'd done nothing but helped. It was His way of revealing to me who my true friends and supporters were because only those who were true to the core needed to be in my circle once this journey began taking wings. Seeds of what was inevitably to come began being planted in me this year by people who had no prior knowledge of my past life with Jimmy or the charge to write this book that was initially given in the year 2000. The insight they had could have only come from God. The most prominent eye-opener for me was made during my April 2009 visit to Hamden, Connecticut where I had gone to meet with Genesis Book Club to celebrate the release of The Lyons Den. The day after the book release event, I visited Love Center Deliverance Ministries, and the co-pastor, Dr. Kim Carmichael was speaking. As she began praying for and prophesying to the people, she suddenly turned to me and told me that eyes had not yet seen nor had ears heard what the Lord was going to do in my writing ministry. At the closing of her prophesy, she said, "There's a book inside of you that you haven't written yet. God says that you know what that book is, and He says when you write it, you're going to see Him bless you on an international level. You will become a household name." My tears overflowed because I immediately knew that the book she was referencing was I Shall Not Die. In emotional contrast, I had to laugh recently when I went back home to speak at my father's church, and as he held a copy of one of my other novels in his hand, he turned to me and asked, "When am I going to see a picture of you on the front of one of your books? I keep seeing a picture of you on the front cover." I knew immediately that the book he was "seeing" was I Shall Not Die.
So the time is indeed now. As soon as I gave up the losing battle and told God yes, doors began to open (for speaking engagements) that will serve as preludes to the platform of my newly expanded empowerment ministry. Additionally, when I moved out of the way and allowed God to have His way, I found out that this process wasn't going to be the painful punishment that I'd been needlessly running away from. If I had just allowed God to finish speaking to me all those years ago instead of basically tuning Him out, I would have known that the manner in which He was directing me to write this ministerial tool would not bring on the intense pain that my fallible mind had concluded that it would. Writing it will not bring grief to me, neither will reading it bring grief to others. Instead, it will offer hope and equip God's people for such a time as this. I Shall Not Die is going to allow me to encourage people to live, and now, for the first time in fourteen years, the zeal to write it has returned.
My first nonfiction entitled, I Shall Not Die: Living A Psalm 118:17 Existence will make its debut in October of 2010. I have never been so excited about the writing of or the pending release of a book as I am this one. Stay tuned!

Cruisin' For Christ III: From Glory to Glory

September 5-12, 2009 marked the dates of the third launching of Cruisin' For Christ, and my, what a magnificent experience it was! Not only did this year's mission bring our largest attendance ever, but it was also the most extraordinary mission to date. Registered guests from all over the United States, and even some from as far as Canada, boarded the Carnival Glory in Orlando, Florida, and were blessed by the full week of events that our agenda entailed. Each year, the planning and organizing of Cruisin' For Christ is a difficult task, but this year, the challenge was greater than ever before. Over the years, scripture lessons have taught me that "the greater the battle, the greater the blessing," and it held true to this year's cruise. I knew that there was a great reward awaiting all of us once we crossed the threshold and boarded the ship. And indeed there was! From the initial gathering on the evening of our first day at sea, God's presence was there in the midst, and it all just got better with each passing day.

This year, we visited ports in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, as well as Belize City, Belize and Nassau, Bahamas. There was fellowship on the ship and fun in the sun that registrants won't soon forget. As always, Cruisin' For Christ highlighted some respected names in the gospel industry. Featured guests this year included Stellar Award winner, Jonathan Nelson (of Jonathan Nelson & Purpose) and Stellar and Dove Award winner, Melvin Williams (of the legendary group, The Williams Brothers). Other featured artists were the beautiful LaShell Griffin (Oprah's Pop Star Challenge winner), Stellar Award nominated artist, Marcus Cole (formerly of Commissioned),the incomparable K&K Mime (founders of gospel mime), and multi-talented funny man, Roderick Allison aka ("Rod of God"). Cruisin' For Christ III also spotlighted the varied ministries of acclaimed saxophonist, Antonio Allen, actor, Brian Hurst (of Tyler Perry's "Madea Goes To Jail"), and comedians, DL Henry and Hen Sapp (brother of Marvin Sapp). Co-Hosts for this year's mission were comedian, James Ford (aka "The Storyteller") and Atlanta's popular Praise 102.5 radio host, Rhodell Lewis (aka "Rhodell in the ATL). Aside from myself, other featured authors were Kim Brooks, Maurice Gray, Jackie Moore, Adrian Bellamy, and Coylette James.

Not only were cruise goers blessed to enjoy some show-stopping, boat-rocking, high-praising concerts, but Cruisin' For Christ offered a wealth of valuable information by way of educational workshops that highlighted an array of important topics from worship mentorship to HIV/AIDS awareness to how to manage stress in kingdom careers. The spiritual and women's empowerment seminars were highly applauded, and attendees raved about the sessions set aside specifically for single Christians and married couples. In addition, there were enlightening panel discussions where topics of ministering through Christian writing (fiction and nonfiction), Christian music (gospel and inspirational), and Christian entertainment (acting, comedy, and mime) were expounded upon through lively moderated Q&A sessions between our featured guests and our onboard registrants.
Our time of worship during Sunday morning service was spiritually rejuvenating, and the night that was set aside to honor the founder - that would be me :-) - was beyond special as several of the artists performed and the attendees packed out the space, dressed in their best formal wear. Though organized and structured, the agenda for Cruisin' For Christ III was also a boatload (pun intended) of fun. Edward Watson (aka DJ E. Double U) of the renowned Go Ye DJs was a mix master extraordinaire as he played the hot music mixes that kept us clapping, singing, and dancing during CFC's onboard signature Praise Party and the Old School Jam. And the sightseeing was a beautiful experience during our times on each island that we visited throughout the week. Oh, what a time!

When God gave me the vision for Cruisin' For Christ back in 2006, I never saw it becoming the celebrated ministry that it has grown to be. But as phenomenal as these past three missions have been, I know that the best is yet to come. Each time we embark on another CFC venture, the Lord lifts us to a higher wave (pun intended again) of ministry and a deeper level of fellowship. Even through the challenges and trials that come with handling a mammoth undertaking such as this one, God is faithful. He and He alone gets the glory for giving us yet another highly successful conference. But I know that it would not have been what it was without all of the gifted artists and the registrants who traveled along. So a big CFC "Thank you" goes to each of them.

Wish you had been there? Don't waddle in regret, just join us the next time. We're doing it again, and once more, we will be joined by some of gospel music's finest; along with bestselling authors, celebrated comedians, gifted musicians, and other Christian industry professionals. Our fourth launching will take place in 2011 which gives all who are interested plenty of time to make preparations. Check our website often as the dates for Cruisin' For Christ IV and an affordable payment installment schedule will soon be posted. You may also refer to the website to see more photos of the 2009 mission (special thanks to APV Images, our official onboard photographer) and to read the feedback that has been posted from many of this year's attendees.

Mark my words...we're taking it to heaven in 2011....Don't miss the boat!

The Thrill Is NOT Gone

Very shortly after the death of Michael Jackson was announced and confirmed on Thursday (June 25, 2009), I became very aware of one significant thing. And that is that I am one of only about eight people in the entire world who was never a fan of this music giant.

Don't get me wrong. I've never denied his worth, his genius, his status, or his talent. I've always been awed by the way Michael could move; especially as he matured in years. Even as a man in his forties, he seemed to have the energy level of entertainers half his age. So my lack of "fanhood" (if there is such a word) had nothing to do with Michael's gift. It probably had more to do with my upbringing than anything else.

As the daughter of two preachers who was raised in a home where only gospel music was allowed (unless you count the jingles that were heard on television commercials), I was never introduced to Michael in his early career. I never had a Jackson Five album or a Michael Jackson poster like most girls in my generation probably did. Even as I grew into adulthood and moved out on my own, I was never drawn to his music. To me, he was just another young, gifted, African American artist who had been blessed to make it big in the music industry.

Shame on me? No...not as far as I'm concerned. I was never drawn to what was labeled as "pop music." When I began venturing out and listening to secular music, I was far more drawn to jazz and to those men of music who were known for being romantic balladeers in the R&B arena. Everybody has the right to choose their favorite music and favorite artists, right? Last I checked, we still lived in America where we have the freedom to choose. To this day, the only album of Michael's that I own is "Thriller," and I forgot I owned that one until my husband reminded me just today. But with all of that being said, it still doesn't mean that I don't respect the larger-than-life image that Michael earned in his years as an artist. I do. I think he was one of the greatest entertainers to ever walk out on a stage. No one could light up a stage like he could. Let's face it: Michael Jackson was absolutely phenomenal! No one could command the attention that he could. With a single swing of his hip, or with one release of that famed high-pitched "Heee-Heee" of his, he could send a crowd into a frenzy. Grown men would be screaming like little girls. Grown women would be crying like babies. The Gheri Curl, the white glove, the high water pants, the leather jackets, the signature sunglasses....whew! It all would have looked crazy on the average brotha, but Michael pulled it off beautifully. Not to mention the Moonwalk! How'd he even think of creating that move? It was genius...pure genius. There was never another one before him, and there won't be one after him.

Though I haven't been a loyal follower of his music over the decades, one thing I have respected about him for years is his gift for writing. Michael knew how to write a song that told a story. Sometimes it was his story, and other times it may have been somebody else's story. But there always seemed to be a story behind his music, and as a writer, I definitely take my hat off to him for that. I find that the lyrics to many of the songs that top the music charts today are saying absolutely nothing. But when Michael Jackson sang, if you looked beyond the show-stopping dance steps and listened to the words, you would hear a story.

So for that, I wanted to take the time to salute the life and legacy of not just one of the greatest music geniuses of our time, but to salute the life and legacy of one of the greatest writers to have ever picked up a pen. The THRILLER himself may be gone, but the THRILL will continue to live on.

Yes, Virginia...There is an Opelika

Last weekend, I traveled to a city just outside of Auburn, Alabama called Opelika. I'd heard of it before, but to my knowledge, I'd never been there.

Some weeks ago, I was contacted by Marion Sankey, president of G.O.S.S.I.P. (Gathering Of Spiritual Sisters In Peace) Book Club (see top left photo), and my presence was requested for their June meeting. During my online exchanges with Marion, I introduced her to the writings of my daughter, bestselling teen author, Brittney Holmes, and suggested that they have us both join them.

Marion took the idea back to the book club, and the rest became history. What began as a regularly scheduled book club meeting turned into something more. Much, much more. In addition to the book club members, approximately fifty other members of the Opelika community joined me in a private room of the Hampton Inn Suites to enjoy some tasty finger foods and to discuss One Prayer Away, their pick of the month. And while I was fellowshipping with them, Brittney was in the open dining area of the Hampton, discussing her debut novel, Living Consquences, with nearly twenty of the area's teen and young adult readers. Both Brittney and I had a marvelous time with these groups.

And the fellowship didn't end there. On Sunday morning, we attended worship services at Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church, pastored by Rev. Clifford E. Jones. The majority of G.O.S.S.I.P.'s members are also members of Greater Peace. We had a wonderful fellowship there and was able to sell a few books at the close of the service. To cap off the weekend, Brittney and I were treated to a delicious meal at Red Lobster before hitting the road to head back to Atlanta.

What a delightful experience! Brittney and I had a blast and we met some lovely people in the process. Everyone who knows me knows that I feel particular blessed when I get the opportunity to make appearances with my daughter. She's become an old pro in the almost three years that she's been a published author. I'm so proud of her.

And G.O.S.S.I.P. Book Club was a gracious host! This book club puts Opelika on the map, for sure. I am already looking forward to returning to meet with them in the near future. They are preparing to read Three Fifty-Seven A.M. in the coming months, and I can hardly wait to hear their feedback on that one!