New Releases by Laurie Myers

If animals could talk, what stories they could tell us about Christmas! Imagine the perspective of Mary''s cat, or the donkey that carried her to Bethlehem. What stories would the camel tell about the Magi, or the sheep about the night the angels appeared? Nine animals each share a part of the Christmas story from Mary''s house cat in Nazareth to cow in the stable in Bethlehem. As the animals tell their stories, we see that they have been changed by Christmas. A fearful cat gains courage. A proud camel learns to kneel. We are all changed by the presence of Christ and the story of the small baby king born in Bethlehem.

In der Kirche von Pastor Jeremy Higgins stehen Renovierungsarbeiten an. Beim Ausräumen der Abstellkammer begegnen ihm alte Bekannte: die lebensgroßen Krippenfiguren, die alle Jahre wieder den Rasen vor dem Gotteshaus zieren. Doch wohin mit den Figuren während der Renovierung? Als sich schließlich einige Gemeindemitglieder bereit erklären, die Figuren in ihrem Zuhause zu beherbergen, ahnen sie nicht, dass ihre besonderen Gäste sie auf völlig neue Weise mit der Weihnachtsbotschaft in Berührung bringen werden ... Eine ganz besondere Weihnachtserzählung, die zu Herzen geht.

Es soll ein unvergesslicher Tag werden: die Hochzeit von Julia und Douglas. Die Kirche ist geschmückt, das Orgelspiel hat begonnen. Douglas, die Trauzeugen und alle Gäste sind da - nur von der Braut keine Spur. Wo steckt Julia? Während fieberhaft nach ihr gesucht wird, blättern einige Gäste im Programmheft. Dort sind die bekannten Bibelverse aus dem "Hohelied der Liebe" abgedruckt und werden dadurch zum Ausgangspunkt für Gedankenreisen so mancher Gäste zu ihrer eigenen Geschichte ... Ein wunderbarer Roman über die Kraft biblischer Worte.

Een psalm verandert het leven van twaalf mensen in ‘Het lied van de Herder’ van Betsy Duffey en Laurie Myers. Vlak voor een auto-ongeluk schrijft een vrouw de woorden van psalm 23 op een stukje papier voor haar zoon. Voor ze het bewustzijn verliest, spreekt ze nog een laatste gebed uit: ‘Alstublieft, Heer. Laat mijn leven van waarde zijn.’ Het papiertje begint een opmerkelijke reis over de hele wereld. Van een eenzame stomerijmedewerker tot een gewonde soldaat in Irak – de simpele maar prachtige woorden veranderen de levens van twaalf mensen voorgoed.

It is the first annual meeting of the WOOF Society. Dogs of all different backgrounds and breeds have gathered together to listen to the diaries of twelve dogs from around the world and throughout history. Abu is the ruler of ancient Egypt, but Miu, the Royal Cat, continues to challenge him, except at night. Tidbit, born the runt of the litter, becomes a star singer at the Grand Ole Opry. Jip leads his blinded master back home from the Civil War. Mimi, a dog living in Paris, shares her tips on bathroom protocol and dinnertime etiquette. And eight more! Betsy Byars and her daughters, Laurie Myers and Betsy Duffey, the trio who brought you MY DOG, MY HERO and THE SOS FILE, have pooled their talents once again to write on a subject they love. DOG DIARIES is a collection of humorous and touching stories, complemented by Erik Brooks'' black-and-white illustrations, that will appeal to dog lovers of all ages.

In Escape by Night, Ten-year-old Tommy and his sister Annie are intrigued by the new soldiers arriving in their Georgia town. Since the Civil War started, wounded men waiting to be treated at the local church-turned-hospital have been coming in by droves. When Tommy sees a soldier drop his notebook, he sends his dog, Samson, to fetch it. Tommy soon meets the soldier and is faced with the hardest decision he''s ever had to make: whether or not he should help a Yankee escape to freedom. Filled with intriguing suspense and tackling difficult questions about slavery, this story, told in accessible short chapters by Laurie Myers, will appeal to history buffs as well as those who appreciate a faithful dog.

''My Hero'' to Be Chosen: Eight finalists will compete tonight for the title My Hero. The winner will wear the coveted gold Hero medal. These brave and courageous dogs will each appear with their nominator who will tell their story. There''s Smiley, who fought a giant bull. Bear used his giant paws to save the life of another dog. Munchkin warned a gardener of a poisonous snake about to strike. Old Dog helped find people buried under rubble after a tornado. Buster pulled a baby carriage out of the path of a careening truck. Blue, who had never been known to bark, used his voice to bring help to his wounded master. Dopey''s constant barking saved the life of a baby left in a sweltering car. Little Bit brought love and companionship to a nursing home resident. In My Dog, My Hero each story is told in the unique, sometimes humorous, but always compelling voice of the person whose life was changed by the heroic action of a very extraordinary dog. Betsy Byars and her daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers have joined forces to create dog stories full of adventure and suspense. Loren Long''s paintings capture the heroic dignity of each of the dogs and heighten the drama of their special stories.

Complete with new beginnings and the promise of happy endings, the Howard Books Spring 2013 Fiction eSampler has an array of debut authors and perennial favorites for you to try out and enjoy. Step back in time with our historical fiction, fall in love with our inspirational romance, and enjoy our contemporary stories. If you would like to learn more about any of our authors or the titles featured, please visit us at HowardBooksOnline.com, follow @Howard_Books, or like us at Facebook.com/HowardBooks and sign up to receive our free monthly e-newsletter to stay informed of all of Howard’s fiction releases. With chapter excerpts from the following Spring 2014 new releases: Sinners and the Sea by Rebecca Kanner Friend Me by John Faubion The Traitor’s Wife by Allison Pataki The Thief by Stephanie Landsem Healer of Carthage by Lynne Gentry Vow Unbroken by Caryl McAdoo The Shepherd’s Song by Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury Fearless Hope by Serena Miller Sing for Me by Karen Halvorsen Schreck Fair Play by Deaanne Gist Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt Visit HowardBooksOnline.com for more on these and other authors.

Follow the incredible journey of one piece of paper—a copy of Psalm 23—as it travels around the world, linking lives and hearts with its simple but beautiful message. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures… Shortly before a tragic car accident, Kate McConnell wrote down the powerful words of Psalm 23 on a piece of paper for her wayward son. Just before she loses consciousness, Kate wonders if she’s done enough with her life and prays,“Please, let my life count.” Unbeknownst to Kate, her handwritten copy of Psalm 23 soon begins a remarkable journey around the world. From a lonely dry cleaning employee to a soldier wounded in Iraq, to a young Kurdish girl fleeing her country, to a Kenyan runner in the Rome Invitational Marathon, this humble message forever changes the lives of twelve very different people. Eventually, Kate’s paper makes it back to its starting place, and she discovers the unexpected ways that God changes lives, even through the smallest gestures. With beautiful prose evocative of master storyteller Andy Andrews’s The Butterfly Effect, this “intriguing…[and] inspiring read” (RT Book Reviews) will touch your heart and remind you of the ways God works through us to reach beyond what we can imagine.

On one night every year, cats in the MEOW Society, which stands for "Memories Expressed In Our Writing," gather to read from their diaries, hearing stories of a gypsy cat, a Caribbean pirate cat, a library cat, and many others.

The Story of Chicago May

Throughout the year, 12 of Mr. Magro''s students have written about their biggest emergencies and tucked them into The SOS File. Now it''s time to read the stories out loud and try to guess whose contribution has earned extra credit. Illustrations.

Seaman, Meriwether Lewis''s Newfoundland dog, describes Lewis and Clark''s expedition, which he accompanied from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean.

On Lisa''s first day at a new school, she and bossy classmate Angel begin playing a series of tricks on each other, with the class guinea pigs as unwitting accomplices. The conflict escalates until Lisa devises a creative plan for converting her new enemies into friends.

Just as the ants feel a jolt when John knocks over the ant farm, John and his third grade classmates find their world turned upside down following the news of their beloved teacher''s imminent departure.

Will''s enthusiasm over his garage sale disappears when he sells something a classmate had given him to someone who plans to give it to the same girl for her birthday.