Meeting the Author, Robin Jones Gunn

Earlier I posted a review of the book Coming Attractions by Robin Jones Gunn. Today, I thought you might enjoy meeting Robin and getting to know her.

Robin was born on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. When she was five, Robin’s family moved to southern California, where they lived next to an orange grove. Robin is a middle child sandwiched between a brother and a sister. Her family attended church regularly, her dad taught history to junior high students, her mom directed a pre-school at their church.

Later, Robin attended Biola University for two years and when she was 21, traveled to Europe to attend a Bible school in Austria. While there she worked for a mission organization in Germany. She and her husband married while he was finishing seminary and they then began a journey together doing youth ministry for 22 years. They are the proud parents of one son, one daughter and now a daughter-in-law. Over the years, their family moved a number of times, their favorite “duty” being the year they spent in Maui. Robin and her husband now make their home in Portland, Oregon, where he works as a counselor.

When asked her favorite hobby, Robin’s answer is, "Travel, travel and travel!" When she has time to read, she enjoys Hawaiian history or poetry and hymns. You might notice, much of her knowledge acquired while traveling she has incorporated into many of her books. In Coming Attractions she sent Katie off to Africa and is planning to follow her there in real life. Robin will be going to Kenya, Lord willing, in November to teach at an International Writers Conference www.littworld.org

(stay tuned….there’s more!)

Blessings,

Cheryl

Eeeek! Guess What?!

Yeah! Eeeek....that's me! But while I do sometimes cause that type of response (you know, "hurry/ put it up/ stop/ you'd better not...Mom's coming!), that is not what I am “eeeking” about now.


I wasn't suppose to post my review of Coming Attractions until August 31st! I just found out today. Can I help it if I was finally on top things for a change? After all, that doesn't happen all that often. And since I finally was "early" with something, I hate to take it down, only to repost it next week. It just doesn't seem right!


What to do, what to do?


For now, I am leaving it as is. Next week, I may write a whole 'nother, other review! Just warning you ahead of time. Be prepared!

Book Review ~ Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions – Robin Jones Gunn



Recently, I was very blessed to be selected to review Robin Jones Gunn’s latest book in the “Katie Weldon Series”, Coming Attractions. This was a first for me!


Now for the truth. I am familiar with RJG’s work via Gardenias For Breakfast and the Sisterchick books, which by-the-way, I considered were for her older (cough), more mature readers (cough, cough). And I assumed (wrongly) the Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, Katie Weldon story lines to be penned for the younger crowd. (Let me say again, wrong! Wrong! Wrong!)

What I love most about Robin’s books is the way I am absorbed into the story so completely, I almost fail to realize when little nuggets of gold spill off the pages and into my heart. The sliver of soap in Sisterchicks in Sombreros and the meaning of aloha in Sisterchicks do the Hula will always be treasures of gold hidden deep in my heart. And so it is with Coming Attractions!

I love the characters. Their individual personalities ring true throughout the book. Just when you think you might know where the plot is going, there is a gentle twist, uncovering new surprises! And I love that the friendships, while tested, remain strong and believable.

I don’t want to reveal too much about Coming Attractions, as you need to read this book for yourself. But there were two nuggets almost back to back and I do want to share them.

“I don’t think many of us know how to accurately measure success,” Eli said. “That’s because God’s ways aren’t our ways, and his thought aren’t our thoughts. So much of the kingdom of God is measured on a different scale than the one the world uses to measure value.” (pg. 191, Coming Attractions)

“So, if I love God, and I mean really love God with abandon, then I must come to love myself, my life. I need to love my story at the heart level. That’s what I believe life is for all of us. A story being written by God. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. When I start to love my story, with all its messed up twists and turns, then I can love other people who are living out their own stories with all their messed up twists and turns.” (pg. 192, Coming Attractions)

I love these nuggets. They bring God’s word into my heart in a new and different way.
Buy the book! I have an entire new series, make that three series, to buy!

Blessings (and happy reading!),
Cheryl