I am excited to share the latest Mosaic Collection offering with you. I had the pleasure of interviewing several of the authors, whom I consider friends I haven’t met yet. I will be sharing these interviews over the next week or so as well my review of the anthology. You can find my schedule of posts near the end of this post.
About All Things New: Stories to Refresh the Soul
When their own mistakes or the actions of others derail the hopes and plans of the men and women in these eight stories, is it too late to find redemption and a fresh start?
The Key by Candace West
Lost and Found by Milla Holt
Scarlet by Sara Davison
Reinventing Josie by Angela D. Meyer
Taste Budding by Deb Elkink
Coming Home by Brenda S. Anderson
Souvenir in My Pocket by Johnnie Alexander
How Life Begins by Eleanor Bertin
As they journey through heartache and challenges, each one discovers the powerful truth that only God can take what is broken and make it new again.
Meet Eleanor Bertin
In a fit of optimism at age eleven, Eleanor Bertin began her first novel by numbering a stack of 100 pages. Two of them got filled with words. She holds a college diploma in Communications and after home-educating seven children for 25 years, took up writing again. Author of The Ties That Bind series, Pall of Silence, a memoir about her late son, and Flame of Mercy, she lives with her husband and youngest son who has Down syndrome amid the ongoing renovation of a century home in central Alberta.
When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Turning fifty and finishing homeschooling forced me to reevaluate my purpose in life. I’d had vague notions of “writing a book” since I was 11, and even studied Communications in college, but raising a family took priority. Of all the items on my bucket list, writing a book seemed the most doable, so I joined a writers’ group and today, I have four novels and a memoir published. I’ve begun work on Flicker of Trust, the sequel to Flame of Mercy.
When you are not writing, what other hats do you wear?
Concocting characters occupies a lot of my thoughts while I’m out in my garden, refinishing antiques for our 1919 farmhouse, driving to my part-time job as a librarian or mowing our acreage. I’m also a wife, mom of 7 grown kids (the youngest of whom still lives with us), and Oma to 10 grandchildren that I love to spend time with on the phone or in person. I lead a women’s Bible study and teach Sunday school to Grades 4-6 kids. My husband and I are responsible for his mother who is suffering decline so that takes time and care as well.
What do you do for fun?
I enjoy memorizing scripture (I’m nearly finished through Romans 5), listening to political and social commentary podcasts, sewing, quilting, home décor, and recently have been following in the handprints of my mom completing some of her unfinished needlework projects.
What is your favorite vacation destination? And why?
Every year, I look forward to our three-day drive to Texas to see our son and daughter and their families for a few weeks. Someday, I still hope to see Europe, England, and Israel.
What historical figure do you admire and why?
So many! I admire Athanasius of whom it was said, Athanasius contra mundum (Athanasius against the world) for his firm stand on the deity and humanity of Christ. The many martyrs who faced horrendous deaths with faith and courage are an inspiration to me, especially those of the Reformation – Lady Jane Grey (only 18 years old and yet so learned in the scriptures, William Tyndale, Hugh Latimer. And I admire my mother for her life of selfless service.
As a former K-12 school librarian I have to ask – what is your favorite children’s book?
I read avidly as a child, but I wish I had been better directed.
I’ll tell you what I despise – twaddle! Silly books that contain no conflict and that offer children “nice” drivel.
Growing up, I thrived on Anne of Green Gables books and have read them all, many repeatedly. The Gammage Cup, by Carol Kendall is a gem I enjoyed as a child, read to my own children more than once, and not long ago, read to my grandchildren. Wonderful story!
I really love the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones for its emphasis on how the entire Bible points to Christ, and wish I’d had it when I was young.
For tots and preschoolers, nothing beats Arnold Lobel’s Frog & Toad stories, Edward Lear’s poems and rhymes (“The Owl & the Pussycat”), Beatrix Potter, Mick Inkpen (“The Great Pet Sale”), and anything by Shirley Hughes.
What advice would you give to a child or teen who wants to be a writer?
The classic answer to this is “read, read, read” followed by “write every day.” I can’t improve on that except to add two vital additions: join a writer’s group, preferably of all ages. And second, criticism is your friend, steel yourself to receive it. When you see your work covered in red corrections, learn to accept it as love! Someone believed your writing was worth their time to offer criticism and comment. Your work will benefit if you incorporate their suggestions and especially if you understand the patterns of what they are saying about your bad habits, repetitiveness, faulty punctuation, spelling, grammar, or the like. Persevere.
How Life Begins
Darla’s personal life is a dried-up wasteland of disappointment and doubt. Reflecting on the women in her family as mothers at her grandmother’s funeral leaves her even more parched. Given the examples she has to follow, what kind of a mother can Darla ever hope to be? Then a long-forgotten memory surfaces. Could the past hold the spring of refreshing she so desperately needs?
About The Mosaic Collection
The Mosaic Collection launched in 2018 as an international community of independently published authors who approach life, faith, and writing together. Some have vast writing experience, and others are somewhat new to the journey. Under The Mosaic Collection’s banner, they’ve published more than 25 novels and five anthologies.
With over 150 years of collective writing experience, Mosaic’s award-winning and best-selling authors are active leaders and members in prominent writing organizations. The goal of The Mosaic Collection is to encourage and uplift readers worldwide, offer hope in story form, and share the unconditional love and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ.
Order All things New
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3xCKHED
Amazon International: mybook.to/MosaicAllThingsNew
All Things New series of Blog Posts
Author Interview – Angela Meyer – June 10
Author Interivew – Milla Holt – June 11
Author Interview – Deb Elkink – June 13
Author Interview – Sara Davison – June 14
Review of All Things New – June 15
Author Interview – Brenda Anderson – June 16
Author Interview – Eleanor Bertin – June 17
Connect with The Mosaic Collection
Website: https://www.mosaiccollectionbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MosaicCollectionBooks
Readers’ Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/426868371408246
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/The-Mosaic-Collection/e/B07TMRT1Q2
Subscribe: https://www.mosaiccollectionbooks.com/grace-glory/
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Library Lady's Kid Lit 
Eleanor, I love that you’re following in the handprints of your mom! And what a beautiful way to phrase that! I’d love to see some of your finished products.
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