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Life Without Humor is a Pathetic Experience
Eduardo Chapunoff Author Interview
Charlas Con Dios En Calzoncillos contains discussions with religious representatives of different faiths. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Most people are seriously and justifiably concerned about their thoughts on God and religion. Fears prevail and limit humans’ ability and disposition to express their feelings on the subject.
Asking questions to representatives of different creeds exposed some crucial differences among them. However, I tried to convey the message that mutual understanding can be achieved EVEN when individuals have opposite points of view.
My motivation in writing this book was based on a life-long struggle to deal with this issue and showing how important it is to express your ideas to GOD, even when you don’t know (as it happens in the book), He’s speaking to you.
This book contains some fictional stories to get a larger point across. What were some themes you wanted to capture in these stories?
Life without humor is a pathetic experience. Those who believe in God and his extraordinary goodness will notice his great sense of humor and of course, his capacity to do miracles.
Another very important point I made in the book is the suggestion that God is not directly responsible for human beings cruelty, and that He is extremely frustrated about humans’ highly dysfunctional behavior. That becomes even more pronounced when He recognizes that He’s unable to correct it. God’s attitude is humble and compassionate and he admits that the creation process of the world and human beings, regrettably, and to his deep regret, suffered from “infrastructure failures”.
I like the title of his book. Where did the inspiration for the title come from?
Perhaps, subconsciously I felt that those who believe in God would like to have chats with Him in a very personal and intimate way. Talking to God in underwear would be one way of doing that.
What do you hope readers take away from your book?
Believing in God is far better than not believing in God. Appreciate God’s incredibly smart and beautiful he created for our world but also understand his limitations, as mentioned in the book by Rabbi Isaac. Also, make an effort to tolerate the doubts of the agnostic, Dr. Terrin, and don’t hate him for his ideas.
Nobody’s is perfect and God appears to be the first one to recognize that. Don’t feel guilty for your doubts. God will be grateful to you for your candor, sincerity, and understanding. And remember that He’ll never be able to avoid tragedies in your life, but will give you the strenght and capacity to fight adversity.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
![Charlas Con Dios En Calzoncillos (Spanish Edition) by [Chapunoff, Eduardo]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/418Jl4PR7bL.jpg)
Dios viene a la Tierra como hombre para comunicarse con seres humanos directamente. El libro contiene discusiones con representantes religiosos de distintos credos y tambien contiene capitulos humoristicos. Se cataloga como “ficción”.
No tengo conocimiento de que algo parecido se haya publicado anteriomente.
God Knows Our Hearts
Dr. Ronel Benade Author Interview
Heavenly Whispers is a daily devotional perfectly written for people on the go. Why was this an important book for you to write?
So many people are working unprecedented hours night and day to provide for their family and make their mark in the workplace, leaving them with some guilt for not taking time to give to God. My purpose with this book was to remove that “guilt” we easily place on ourselves. God knows our hearts, and responsibility. With this book I give you, one thought and scripture to focus on, something to ponder during your hectic schedule. I tried to be as balanced as possible, covering different aspects you might encounter or gain new insight.
Time with God has nothing to do with time on a clock, to me it is sacred time during those busy hours where your inner man reflects and speak to God.
This book contains so many beautiful and inspirational selections of scripture. How did you choose what went into this book?
Honestly without the guidance of the Holy Spirit I don’t think I would have been able to write this book. Some life experiences and lessons I have learned He would bring to remembrance, and when praying about it, I would ask for words that would be helpful to the reader.
My favorite is John 17:17 on day 125. Do you have a favorite from this collection?
Day 189, Ephesians 3:16 is just one of my favorites. This one however is based on a personal encounter I went through when I was only a 3-day, born again baby. Back then I did not yet have a Bible, and, when faced with a demonic force I had to take a stand and say “no” 3 times, before that entity would leave me be. This is where I learned about the power our words have. With Christ taking the center within your inner man, you are an unstoppable force.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I just released a booklet in my Mother tongue; Afrikaans, as I believe my own “people” are deprived of new revelation God has for them, and we are in uncertain times in our country. My heart’s desire is that it would release new hope and inspiration. I would like to however release my next book in 2020 but I am working through some ideas.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook
![Heavenly Whispers: 222 Day Devotional by [Benade, Dr. Ronel]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41S%2B4RbIdnL.jpg)
This little book is packed with inspiration and encouragement.
Heavenly Whispers is a pocket-size devotional focusing on one scripture per day with a simple prayer that will inspire the reader to take small steps to impact others in an inspirational way. This devotional will suit the on-the-go persons to have a few minutes to spare to recharge and receive their daily upliftment from God that will carry them through the day.
This book is a quick daily read but packed with insights and new revelations. Be ready to be transformed to a better version of yourself.
Moments in Time
![Moments in Time: Poems of Life Love Faith by [Reinheardt, Larry]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/415cfVULHdL.jpg)
Moments in Time is a collection of Christian poetry by author Larry E. Reinheardt. The collection holds poems that range in length, style, and tone but they all encompass the messages of faith, love, and experience. The poems are meant to present the experience of one person and share them with all. These poems are a way to connect with each other and God.
Some of the poems in this collection feel more like prayers while others have more of a sense of a story. I liked that there was variety in these poems as it kept each one feeling fresh and unique. Another advantage of this choice is that it makes the book reach more people. Each poem will resonate strongly with different people, but there is enough variety of experience presented in the collection that each reader has a strong chance of finding many poems that resonate deeply for them.
Reinhardt uses language that is simple and clear but holds an honest tone and deep desire to share their experience with others. This makes each poem feel strong, heartfelt, and beautiful. This book is clearly meant for Christian readers but does not discourage other readers. I found the earnest tone and the biblical story references to be particularly engaging elements of the collection. Many bible stories have poetic rings to them, so I liked seeing some of them addressed in entirely poetic language. It reminded me of being told a story verbally, listening to the melody within it.
This collection is perfect for poetry lovers that also have deep faith. The combination of the two creates a beautiful and thought-provoking book that is an enjoyable read. The poems are fairly short, the longest of them still fitting on a single page, making them short but sweet and many holding powerful messages. You can tell while reading this book that Reinheardt put himself into the words and you can see his desire to spread love and life to all.
Pages: 132 | ASIN: B0793QNPTG
Unconventional
![Unconventional by [Hebert, J. J.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/516eVZWa2-L.jpg)
James Frost is an aspiring writer with huge plans, but life seems to have things laid out quite differently for him. Rejection letter after rejection letter, James begins to lose confidence, becomes increasingly filled with fury, and sees no way out of his destiny as a school janitor. His father’s offhand attitude about James’s future does nothing to help his morale. Then, James meets Leigh–a woman who could not be more different from him if she tried. A devout Christian always seeing the positive side in trying situations, Leigh brings about changes in James and sends him careening down a drastically different path of emotions and a newfound faith in Jesus Christ.
James and Leigh both shoulder great burdens and are destined to have found one another at this specific moment in both their lives. Hebert paints a grim picture of the life Leigh endures as a woman with overbearing parents who manipulate everything from her love-life to her own self worth. James, with all of his issues, is as much a blessing to Leigh as she is to him.
Hebert addresses warped body images in a realistic and tasteful manner as he highlights the relationship between Leigh and her mother. In addition, he draws James into the dynamic by having him gently override the damage created by Leigh’s mother. Nowhere is this more poignant than when James, in no uncertain terms, explains to Leigh that she is speaking her mother’s words and not her own. Everyone needs a James in his/her life–he an amazing voice of reason.
James is an amazing character on many levels. Hebert has gifted readers with a champion of free thinking while molding a character who is broken and in need of love and faith. As a reader, I was touched on more than one occasion by the descriptions of James’s poor health, his financial struggles, and his staggering lack of self confidence. Hebert certainly gives readers a main character for which they can both cry and cheer.
I was more than impressed with the turn of events in which James becomes a giver of strength and a builder of self-confidence. It is quite a stark difference from the outset of the book wherein James’s feelings are scattered and he’s falling toward depression. Meeting Leigh is just the tip of the iceberg; meeting Meranda completes the change begun by Leigh.
Hebert’s book is an unconventional literary approach to expressing Christianity. Readers do not often find text professing faith in Jesus Christ written in the form of a novel. Each of the stories surrounding James Frost’s life tug at the readers heart and doesn’t stop. James and Leigh are memorable and relatable. Hebert’s in-depth look into James Frost’s transformation is a testament to faith, love, and hope.
Pages: 334 | ASIN: B002QHVW1G
Literary Titan Book Awards April 2019
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and imagination of these talented authors.
Gold Award Winners
![The Money Trail (The Sean Kruger Series Book 5) by [Fields, J.C.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41Fuod7g3hL.jpg)
!["Mama Sou": Metamorphosis of a Mother by [Griggs, Maria, Clapp, Tyler]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/411euB7PfbL.jpg)
![The Tribulations of August Barton by [LeBlanc, Jennifer]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51x08JZtaxL._SY346_.jpg)
![Greater Things Than Thou (Blood of the Prince Book 1) by [Dean, R.L.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51D99PoGFxL.jpg)
![Seven Days in Lebanon by [Tremayne, Eleanor]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51nTo8y0eYL.jpg)
![Jai the Albino Cow: Jai NgâOmbe Zeruzeru by [Gonsalves, Gloria D.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51j9uGD0HdL.jpg)
![Strong Is . . . by [Pulliam, April B.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/5103VC10bBL.jpg)
![Lost in the Reflecting Pool: A Memoir by [Pomerantz, Diane]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41nkLYogIsL.jpg)
Silver Award Winners
![The Chosen by [Corbitt, Ray]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/519eKijdsIL.jpg)
![The Cabin: A Murder Mystery by [Frolick, W.D.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514lo-DpyML.jpg)
![Space Rogues: The Epic Adventures of Wil Calder, Space Smuggler by [Wilker, John]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51WpoHaOgDL._SY346_.jpg)
![Rock Hard: Chord Brothers, Book 1 by [Roberts, Mariah J., Roberts, M. J. ]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51DM3%2BeZehL.jpg)
![Keeper of Slaves: Book Two of Antebellum Struggles by [Erman, Dickie]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51dSTj4W1rL._SY346_.jpg)
![Escape from Kolyma: Aborigin Is a Bear Region by [Litvin PhD, Chester]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51iGty7PlPL.jpg)
![Sailor's Psychology:: A Methodology on Self-Discovery Through the Tale of a Semite in the Squall by [Litvin, Chester]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/416xwr5WRlL.jpg)
![Plum Rains on Happy House by [Greco, Michael]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Q1wl7Un%2BL.jpg)
![Moon Dogg by [Greco, Michael]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51KYaG3C--L.jpg)
![THE ODDS OF GODS: Why Christians Should Not Tell Lies by [Campbell, Rush O. C. ]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41RtRVa5qNL.jpg)
![Nothing is More: a High Black Comedy in Verse with Music for Six Actors by [Landon, Dolly Gray, Noland, Gary Lloyd]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61fQeaJCkRL.jpg)
![Lamellia: The Wicked Queen by [Gonsalves, Gloria D.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xAa4Io9NL.jpg)
![Lamellia: The Kingdom of Mushrooms by [Gonsalves, Gloria D.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51mmYQnA9hL.jpg)
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information and see all award winners.
Moon Dogg
It’s easy to judge a situation from the outside looking in. Jerome Doggman has an opinion about religion and is looking into a specific sect for his next project. Jerome is a semi famous Arizona filmmaker working to expose the practices of a particular fundamentalist religious group. As luck, or lack thereof, would have it. He gets too close to something he shouldn’t and is murdered. You would think that this is the end of it but alas! It is actually the beginning of things.
The subject of Jerome’s expose would have been a teenage boy, Abraham, who’s been in a coma for eight years. When Jerome dies, he reincarnates in the body of Abraham. As if that is not strange and complicated enough he has the hots for the boys sister, Florence. Jerome’s journey is long and enlightening, all the while fighting the fact that his previous killers want to kill him, again.
Michael Greco puts together a hilarious tale of life through the eyes of different people. This book is beautifully written. The story flows smoothly, almost like the characters and story took on a life of its own without control from the author. It is exquisite. I felt that the prose was simple and easy to digest. For such a wild plot, it is pretty easy to wade through and find the lessons in the story.
One of the biggest takeaways from this story is the importance of putting oneself in another persons shoes. Jerome would have remained judgmental of Abraham’s sect for life if he got to live his own life. Another beautiful thing is the realization at the end of what the true purpose of reincarnation had been. It was never about uncovering truths and secrets. Not to mention the happy, maybe a little sad, ending. It is nice to see the characters wrap up so nicely.
The author weaves in some old folk tales into the narrative that help to deliver some complex ideas. All in all, it is a book that is thought provoking and engaging.
Pages: 373 | ASIN: B07B7H3NMV
Cascarones
Cascarones by Sylvia Sánchez Garza is a book that feels more like a conversation between friends. Garza follows the life of a Mexican American girl living in Texas and straddling the world of her culturally rich family and a whitewashed school she winds up going to in Houston. This isn’t the only aspect of her life that Garza delves into. She also explores the girl’s relationship with family members, her church, family traditions, and general everyday life. The book is a nice collection of individual stories about the same family with the same cast of characters.
This was a nice, easy read. It is simple without being boring. The individual stories make nice bite-size sections. This made it a fun, leisurely read. The book feels light. It doesn’t have that heavy, daunting feeling that some books do.
As previously stated, the book feels like a conversation. It feels like sitting and listening to someone reminisce about their childhood. I prefer first-person writing as a rule, and this book delivers. It makes it feel so much more personal and relatable. Readers will identify with pieces of Suzy’s stories and may see themselves in her experiences. Reading this book felt like getting to know a new friend.
I feel like I got to know the characters better through each story. Each story gave a better feel for the family. Even with short stories that could stand alone, the characters were well developed. It also gave a lot of insight into the culture of Mexican American families. It showed their strength and pride in their clinging to their traditions. There were quite a bit of Spanish words and dialogue in the book. I know very little Spanish and looked up a few words, but the vast majority of the meaning comes out in the context.
My only complaint is that I might have liked the stories better in a different order. I think I would have liked them to be in chronological order rather than jumping back and forth in time. It threw me the first time I realized Suzy was speaking as an adult. It took me a second to understand what was happening since it jumped from her being a kid to having kids, and back to a kid again. I lost my bearings a little but recovered quickly.
Cascarones by Sylvia Sánchez Garza is very well-written. There are very few errors, if any. It had a nice pace and flow. I liked following Suzy navigate between two worlds as she is pulled between her large Mexican family and living in America. It taught me a lot about the Mexican American culture that I didn’t know. I’d like to read more by Garza.
Pages: 162 | ISBN: 1724622889
Charlas Con Dios En Calzoncillos
Through a fun, interesting, educational and thought-provoking story this work describes the role of religion in the world and many of the ancient approaches that exist about the role of God in the lives of people. This is Roger’s coming into the world and his affair with Juan, who never thinks about all the things that were going to happen with his unexpected visit. The book also has some fictional episodes, seeking to reflect on what is important in life and the most important lessons God has for each of us.
This book is primarily a teaching tool aimed at readers interested to know more about the established foundations of major religions in the world, its origins, more powerful beliefs and conceptual differences between them. Similarly, this book talks about specific situations in life that people go through and how God can act to make positive changes in each. On the other hand, it has many stories that invite you to think of the most complex questions that can be had in religion.
This book gives the reader a tour of an adventure between John, Roger, Laura, Luis and Horacio, who live their own conflicts and how God can positively impact each of them. Dr. Chapunoff has captured a mix of emotions, truths and feelings between God and the most important representatives of the religions of the world, who talk about the strengths and weaknesses. Each gives the reader a deeper understanding. Each of these sketch the conceptual differences and tolerance zones that have allowed them to coexist since ancient times to the present.
This book delves into the nature of miracles, which can exist at the same time, and may be the result of religious practices. The beautiful, controversial and incredible power of God above all things is a pointed underlying theme throughout this book. It highlights the magic that exists between the unbelieving human and goodness of the almighty God, who is always present and accompanying all people, without distinction. This is an otherworldly book with earthly ramifications.
Pages: 209 | ASIN: B07DTKM57S
LITERARY TITAN 