February 16, 2021
Danielle Bean Girlfriends, Ascension Press
March 1, 2021
Today we’re talking family, with words derived from Pope St. John Paul II’s Familiaris Consortio:
“Become who you are.”
Quote Me with Lindsay Schlegel
Continue readingSeptember 2, 2020
Carolyn Astfalk shares about some ways that we can open our eyes to some common sins we might be overlooking. She suggests making room for silence in your life and praying to see yourself as God does, among many other ideas.
Catholic Mom Hangout
September 12, 2020
Interviews with authors Carolyn Astfalk, Leslea Wahl, Theresa Linden, and Emily Jaminet.
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Continue readingBook Notes: “The Light” series by Jacqueline Brown
December 11, 2019
Catholicmom
The Light ends with hearts broken open and a new way of life forged. I’m interested in seeing what the second book in the series brings.
Bulletin Board: New Term, New Tools
January 8, 2020
Today’s Catholic Teacher
Modern saints are given poetic treatment in Saintly Rhymes for Modern Times, written and illustrated by Meghan Bausch. St. Faustina, St. Josephine Bakhita, and more are the subjects of short, rhyming biographies with complementary illustrations that bring the saint to life.
Love Stories Giveaway: Come Back to Me
February 19, 2020
Reading Is My Superpower
As I began reading and writing Christian romance, I gave more thought to this love of falling in love. Where does it come from? Why do we crave it?
CM Hangout: What if your broken heart helped save a soul?
February 20, 2020
Catholicmom
Carolyn Astfalk shares a personal story about praying for the dead, Theresa Linden’s novel Tortured Soul, and the Catholic Fiction Challenge.
Bulletin Board: Cold Weather, Hot Ideas
March 4, 2020
Today’s Catholic Teacher
Audacious Ignatius by Paul Mitchell is a rhyming, vocabulary- building picture book that would serve as an excellent read-aloud for students in the primary grades. How many ways can you rhyme Ignatius? Available from Corde Press.
Spring 2020: Bulletin Board Extra
March 10, 2020
Today’s Catholic Teacher
Looking for some new apps? Who has time to discover new creations, let alone test them out? The Educational App Store, a discovery marketplace for educational apps, takes away some of the guesswork. All featured apps are certified and reviewed by experienced teachers. A 14-day free trial allows you to explore recommended apps.
Indie Author Spotlight: Carolyn Astfalk
April 6, 2020
The Edifying Word
I write mainly to get the ideas in my head out and onto paper! I always had sort of a cinematic imagination, but I never knew what to do with it until I started writing novels. Once I found that outlet, it’s been hard not to write, though I’m greatly limited by the time I have available for it.
Author Interview of Carolyn Astfalk
May 11, 2020
Patricia’s corner
I hope that each book is better written that the one before it, and I hope that each book reaches the readers for whom God intends it. I’d like to have five more published novels in five years’ time.
Meatless Friday: Swiss Chard Pie
August 7, 2020
CatholicMom
Spinach would make a suitable substitute for Swiss chard.
Leftovers, if you have any, reheat well for breakfast or lunch.
Bulletin Board: All the Latest (January 16, 2019)
“Theresa Linden, author of awarding-winning Catholic teen fiction, has added another book to her West Brothers series. Standing Strong follows twins Jarret and Keefe as they discern God’s will for their lives. Jarret must learn how to live virtuously when the high of his conversion fades, while Keefe musters the courage to answer what might be God’s call to religious life.”
Bulletin Board: Winter’s Delights (February 6, 2019)
“Staircase for the Sisters by Pamela Love (Pauline Books and Media) is an easy read for children in grade two and up. This adaptation of the true story of the mysterious creation of the staircase in the Santa Fe chapel of the Sisters of Loretto also includes a simple novena to St. Joseph.”
Abloom for Spring (May 22, 2019)
“Enrich each day with short, simple quotes and reflections from Peter Celano’s My Year with the Saints for Kids. Daily entries include a sentence or two from Scripture, a saint, or other noted Catholic figure. Some entries also offer a simple question for reflection (Where do you need courage today?) or a suggested prayer (Pray for me, St. Kateri). Available from Paraclete Press.”
Summer Soulful Selections (July 8, 2019)
“For those charged with sharing Church teaching on hot-button social issues such as transgender identity, same-sex marriage, and contraception, Made This Way: How to Prepare Kids to Face Today’s Tough Moral Issues is an invaluable resource. Using Leila Miller’s practical experience and Trent Horn’s research and debate experience, the authors address 10 timely topics and offer practical suggestions for speaking about the issues in age-appropriate ways — for young children and older students. Available from Catholic Answers Press.”
CM Hangout: Mom and the Corporal Works of Mercy (January 18, 2019)
“This week, contributor Carolyn Astfalk shares memories of her mom and some inspiration for practicing the corporal works of mercy. As moms, we have opportunities every day to practice works of mercy. Listen to Carolyn and get inspired!”
Meatless Friday: 30-Minute Minestrone (February 8, 2019)
“Simple, quick, and delicious, I continue to serve this to our family. On its own, it’s not very filling, but it pairs well with fresh bread and butter or a salad. For a flavor and protein boost, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.”
Faith Through Fiction: Putting God First (February 21, 2019)
“In this month’s episode, Catholic Teen Books hosts author Carolyn Astfalk (Rightfully Ours) discussing this month’s theme of putting God first. The featured book is Secrets: Visible & Invisible, a short story collection by seven Catholic Teen Books authors that includes a variety of genres from contemporary to historical and dystopian.”
Stations of the Cross: Meditations for Moms (April 4, 2019)
“Still, handy and inexpensive, these Stations of the Cross may be the thing you need to draw you closer to our Lord in the waning days of #Lent, whether reading a reflection here or there as time allows or as your companion while you pray the Stations of the Cross in church.”
Meatless Friday: Kale Raab Chowder (May 10, 2019)
“If you’re intimidated by ‘kale raab,’ don’t be. Raab is simply the name for the tender spring flowerings of kale and other members of the cabbage family.”
Faith Through Fiction: Carolyn Astfalk Discusses Temptation (June 20, 2019)
“In this month’s episode, Catholic Teen Books hosts author Carolyn Astfalk (Ornamental Graces) to discuss this month’s theme of temptation. The featured book is Rightfully Ours, a coming of age story in which teens Paul and Rachel work side by side to uncover lost gold while growing in friendship and in love.”
Our Lady of Charity Book Club: Interview with Author Maria Morera Johnson (July 13, 2019)
“The immigrant experience, your experience, is a perfect metaphor for the Christian life. You say, ‘I am neither here nor there – a foot in each country.’ As Christians, we can say the same; we have a foot in this world and the next. How do you think the immigrant experience can enrich our faith lives?”
The Catholic Current: What is a Catholic Author and Why Should I Care? (May 17, 2019)
Every January, we commit.
We commit to exercise more and eat healthier. We resolve to have the best year ever at work. And yet, we neglect the essential part—our spiritual connection with Jesus.
Some people have the same reaction to the term “spiritual goals” as they do to the word “budget”! Begrudgingly, we settle for the more-easily-said-than-done, simple fixes. If you ask a friend how they’re going to improve their spiritual relationship with Christ this year, they may give you one of these examples: Continue reading
Sweetest Romances for Sweetest Day (October 20, 2018)
“I read heavily in the non-Catholic Christian genres and enjoy those novels very much. But there’s something to be said for seeing your own experience reflected in novels from time-to-time. So, when my characters pray, they’re more likely to bring out the rosary beads. If they’re practicing their faith, they’re at Mass on Sunday. They have the benefit of the sacraments and the grace that they offer. They’re more likely to be open to large families.”
How My Mom Changed Lives One Chocolate Chip at a Time (September 11, 2018)
“Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you must do something big, or be someone important to make a difference. You can live your life in obscurity being ‘only’ a mother or a housewife or whatever role it is you are called to. You don’t need money, fame, or education to do what matters most.” Continue reading
CatholicMom.com
LoveEd Program Empowers Parents to Teach Their Children About Chastity (December 20, 2017)
“The beauty of LoveEd: Raising Kids That Are Strong, Smart and Pure by Coleen Kelly Mast is that it does not seek to minimize the parents’ role in educating their children about chastity but instead empowers them to excel at it. It does so by offering materials and a format that encourage the frank, meaningful dialogue necessary to teach our children fundamental, critical lessons about the truth and meaning of human sexuality in a manner that is engaging and appealing.”
Protecting Young Minds with Good Pictures Bad Pictures (October 17, 2017)
“Using analogies and terms children can understand, seven short chapters cover pornography, addiction, and various aspects of brain function. The book also offers a five-step “CAN DO” plan for children to implement should they be confronted with pornographic images.”
Meatless Friday: Shrimp, Corn, and Potato Foil Packets (September 1, 2017)
“By hitting the local farmers’ market in the afternoon, I had all of the fresh corn on the cob and potatoes I needed for this recipe, which, after some prep time, is quick and easy on the grill.”
Catholic365.com
Catholic Fiction and Where to Find It (September 23, 2017)
Catholic Christmas Book-Giving Guide: Ten Picks for Your Holiday Shopping (December 15, 2017)
Under the Catholic Child’s Christmas Tree: A Book-Giving Guide (December 16, 2017)
CatholicMom.com
Rightfully Ours: A Theology of the Body Coming of Age Story (March 30, 2017)
“If ever there would be an opportune time for me to attempt writing 50,000 words of a novel, that was it. With a news story printed from a Pennsylvania newspaper for inspiration and not a clue as to the theme of my novel-to-be, I wrote.”
Catholic365.com
Catholic Teen Books Help Parents, Teachers Find Good Books for Catholic Teens (March 17, 2017)
“As a parent of a young teen, I’m grateful for this new resource that will help to ensure that the books my children read and enjoy are not antithetical to our faith, but help to strengthen it instead.”