Tuesday, February 25, 2014

The Prayer - A Love Story

Today's special guest is Jacqueline von Zwehl, a faith based relationship expert. She holds a BFA from New York University and a MBA from Pennsylvania State University. Jacqueline travels the country as a motivational speaker encouraging singles on the path to finding their soul mates. She has appeared on Nite Line, The Harvest Show, EWTN, TCT TV, Victory TV, CatholicTV, Telecare, Changing Lives, CatholicLife, That's the Spirit, The Church, The Cardinal and You, NPR, and more. Jacqueline lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband Christopher, their two daughters and dog. The Prayer, A Love Story is her debut book. Jacqueline von Zwehl, is a faith based relationship expert. She holds a BFA from New York University and a MBA from Pennsylvania State University. Jacqueline travels the country as a motivational speaker encouraging singles on the path to finding their soul mates. She has appeared on Nite Line, The Harvest Show, EWTN, TCT TV, Victory TV, CatholicTV, Telecare, Changing Lives, CatholicLife, That's the Spirit, The Church, The Cardinal and You, NPR, and more. Jacqueline lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband Christopher, their two daughters and dog. The Prayer, A Love Story is her debut book.


AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

We asked Jacqueline for her advice to new authors. And here is her response:

Freshman year of college is always exciting.  You begin a new life, make new friends, and you're moving to a new city to explore endless possibilities.  For many students the most thrilling adventure is in the classroom.  Every once in a while you meet a professor who changes your life, challenges your thinking and leaves an indelible mark on your soul which guides you to your life's work and passion. 
For me, that did not happen freshman year.  I desperately wish I had one of those incredible, inspiring stories of a professor who changed my life in a positive way.  Rather I have one of those stories of professor, whom now as a smarter adult I know for certain should have been anything in life other than a professor.
The class was Creative Writing 101 and the Professor was a young man in his late twenties/early thirties who complained way too much about the unfair bureaucracy of society and the control of government on our lives.  We did not explore Creative Writing as much as being forced to listen to the ideology of a professor whose views were not aligned with my own.  Worse than not learning anything at all I hated Creative Writing because of this horrible experience.
How ironic is it that I hated the one class which would one day be the focus of my destiny and life's work?  You're probably wondering what is my point.  Simply this...being a writer is the most personal journey of your life.  It's hard to take advice on this subject from anyone else on the planet.  Some people may make a damaging influence (like my college professor) and some may inspire you to greatness.  The point is, this is your journey.  You can be any writer you want.  Listen to others with caution but most of all, my advice, listen to your heart.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Do you Believe in Miracles?

Do you Believe in Eternal Love?

Do you Believe in Answered Prayers?

YOU WILL

The Prayer, A Love Story is the inspirational true story of one woman who discovers the secret to living a life filled with miracles, unconditional love and answered prayers.

The journey begins with a divine promise, continues with unforeseen life challenges, and eventually leads to Jerusalem. Inside the Old City, a prayer will unlock the key to a life of miracles. This journey is proof heaven is real and its gifts are available to you now. Whether you have stopped believing in God or not, God believes in you.

The journey holds a promise for everyone. No matter how much darkness exists in your life, it cannot diminish the flicker of even the tiniest light. That light will lead you to your destiny and it will change your life forever.

 

AN EXCERPT
I often wonder about the idea of a miracle. Is it something you feel? Can you see it? Or is it some- thing you just know? Miracle is a very big word, perhaps best saved for big events like the birth of a baby or the first man walking on the moon.

As I ponder this thought, I’m surrounded by lovely, fresh-cut flowers. Isn’t the blossoming of these flowers a miracle? A tiny little seed in the ground, nurtured with rich soil, water, and light, grows to reveal its unique beauty. When we look at the seed, we can’t see the miracle. It’s only later, after its potential has been manifested, we realize what that seed carried all along. Isn’t that how we all are? On the journey of our destiny in this life, all of us start as seeds. Some of us are still in  the  ground, waiting  to  grow. Some  of us have sprouted a few leaves, and some of us have fully blossomed. Is the miracle the blossoming of the flower, or is the miracle knowing with certainty that everything is already in the seed? Yes, for me it always comes down to certainty. When all I can see is a seed in the ground, the miracle is certainty in my knowl- edge of what the seed is destined to become.

These were the thoughts I recorded in my journal on the morning of our wedding. I have heard that most brides wake up jittery and full of excitement, perhaps thinking about their hair and make-up, the excitement of the day ahead, and how the weather will hold up. I woke up and started writing.

‘What is a miracle? Today I will get married. I will marry the man who makes my heart sing and who was sent as the answer to my prayer. A man who calls me his miracle. Today is our seed, the first day of our journey as husband and wife.We don’t know how our seed will grow. We don’t know how many leaves will bloom or what its flower will look like. We don’t know what storms we’ll face. We do know with certainty that this seed is our destiny. It is our miracle.’

We were all ready. The driver took my hand and escorted me to my seat in the limo.
 
SPECIAL LINKS
Read Jacqueline's Blog at www.jackievonzwehl.com




 Amazon Paperback


Amazon Kindle


Prizes for the tour are as follows:
• One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
• Two randomly chosen hosts will each receive a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 




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