Interview with Belinda Baker, Author of Breakthrough – A Testament of Faith

Nov. 3, 2017

I was privileged to invite Ms. Baker for an interview with BooKecCenTric to discuss her latest book and her inspiration behind it. Read the interview below. Enjoy!

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Thank you @BelindaBaker for giving me some of your time today. Let’s start off with the obvious question – Can you give us a brief summary of what your book is about?

BelindaBaker: It’s about the struggles in my life and how my life was out of control until I found Faith. It is a shear testimony for those who are in need of a little faith.

What inspired you to write your latest book, and how long did it take you to write it?

BelindaBaker: I was inspired by my life obstacles. It took me 8 months to write it.

What message do you wish to pass across to your readers with this book?

BelindaBaker: We all go through something, but without faith it’s hard to overcome our struggles.

What have you learned about yourself while writing your latest book? 

BelindaBaker: I’ve learned how to change things in my life, and that prayer works.

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

BelindaBaker: Overcoming the bad things that happened to me that I had to remember.

What is your niche genre, and if you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

BelindaBaker: My niche is letting women know there’s still life after a struggle.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

BelindaBaker: No, I don’t read them.

Have you written any other books, or is this book your first? Will you be writing more?

BelindaBaker: This is my first book, and I’m currently working on my second.

What is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, Goodreads, etc.)?

BelindaBaker: My Website - Belindabaker.org.

Additional Comments?

BelindaBaker: If you are going through something or have gone through something then you need to read this book. Without faith we are stuck and you need it to breakthrough whatever you are going through. Allow my new book ‘Breakthrough- A Testament of Faith’ to give you or someone you know the encouragement that is needed for faith renewal.

Belinda Baker is a very strong woman who has now built three coronations on her own. She loves helping other women build up themselves and make it in life.

For more information on Belinda Baker and her new book BreakThrough – A Testament of Faith, visit her website links as follows - www.Belindabaker.org; www.Changingsteps.org.

What is ‘Book Eccentric’? Let’s Find out Now

September 9, 2017

Courtesy: Quirkbooks.com

What is 'Book Eccentric'? I’ve had this question thrown at me a few times, so I figured it was time to write a blog post about it and share with everyone what the name of this blog really means. 

I came up with the term Book Eccentric because it defines a certain group of people who obsess over books and their play on words et cetera, and although the term may not make much sense at first utterance, it is intended to make you pause and consider its meaning before you come to a conclusion.

I love books and I love reading them. Reading takes me to a different sphere and does really amazing things to my mind. Undoubtedly, there are people who feel exactly the same way I do about books, but admittedly we aren’t in the majority. Because of our unique love for books, we are considered nerds, aesthetic, even eccentric.

Think about the word eccentric. Used either as a verb or a noun, it is defined as something or someone unusual, quirky, weird, even abnormal. Now there are people who love books, and there are others who loove books. These latter group are obsessed with them; their feelings toward books could be termed abnormal to the outside world, but totally normal within ‘their kind’. Their feelings go beyond a mere love for reading and further dwells on their appreciation of literature as an art. Their attitude with books are totally eccentric. They’re not simply book nerds… they’re Book Eccentrics.

Courtesy: Quirkbooks.com

Book Eccentrics dwell more on the arrangement of words and their meaning, how they change the way we experience things, and even the way we see ourselves. Book Eccentrics are aesthetically aware of the beauty that lies in the crafting of words that bring awareness, and are appreciative of the authors that put these words together. Book Eccentrics long to give others the opportunity to see what they see by sharing what they've learned through reading. In simpler terms, Book Eccentrics are high-end book nerds!

Want to know more about what makes one a Book Eccentric? Read 15 Signs You’re a Book Eccentric and find out for yourself if you’re one of us, or are on your way to becoming one of us. It’s a life you can never get bored of living, I can promise you that ;)

15 Signs You're a Book Eccentric

September 6, 2017

Ahh, the beautiful world of books. If you’re reading this, then it means you either have some interest in books, or you somehow found yourself on this page and are probably slightly… curious. Either way, whether you’re a new visitor or a regular, come play a little game with me and let’s find out if you embody the traits of a Book Eccentric. If you say Yes to all 15 scenarios below, then you’re most certainly one of us. *Big wink*

You're a Book Eccentric if...

1.    Reading is definitely on your hobby list – or perhaps your only one. You do little else in your spare time. Maybe watch a little TV here and there, maybe hang out now and then, but 85% of your 'play' time is spent with your eyes buried in a book

2.    Your eyes light up when you drive or walk by a bookstore. You have the urge to just pop in quickly and look around, even though you know doing so will make you late for work, or school, or that job interview

3.    While at the bookstore, even if you don’t buy a book, the mere sight and touch and feel of them… is enough to satisfy you. Temporarily. Until your next trip to the bookstore… tomorrow. When you actually buy a book

4.    You make mental notes and correct errors you come across on your social media feeds. Yes, that one friend on Facebook that keeps mis-using ‘you’re’ and ‘your’. Ughh

5.    You have a hard time pinpointing a favorite book – because you've read too many amazing books to decide on one

6.    You’re confused by people who say they don’t read. What’s life like for these people, you wonder

7.    You mourn a favorite character’s death like they were your real-life relative, best friend or spouse

8.    You love love love the scent of a fresh new paperback

9.    Your heart fills up with joy and climactic anticipation just staring at your e-book collection of unread books, or holding newly-purchased print copies in your hands

10. You find way deeper meanings and interpretations to a book’s theme than the author ever intended

11. You most likely majored in English. Or Literature. Or both

12. You laugh or gasp out loud while reading in public. Who cares who’s watching? Something major just happened to your fav character!

13. You try to convert others to become a Book Eccentric like you... you shake your head in disappointment when they look at you like you’re an alien

14. You absolutely cannot and will not watch the movie until you finish the book. Period.

15. You have serious book hangovers that last for days. You’re still reeling over what just happened to Will in Me Before You (by Jojo Moyes), shocked that it really did happen and wondering why he couldn't have somehow worked it out with Louisa whom he’d fallen in love with and who loved him back. Yep, major hangover

Did you affirm to all 15 signs? 13? How about 10? If you said Yes to even 1 of the above signs, then you’re on your way to becoming a Book Eccentric.

That’s right. It’s time to embrace the eccentric in you ;)

Enough Good News - A Review

Sidra Lyons has everything any woman could ever ask for: a great job as a lawyer, a wonderful relationship with the man of her dreams, and a supportive best friend. But then her father, with whom she’s had a shaky relationship for as long as she could remember, shows up and reveals he has another daughter with another woman (with whom he had an affair while still married to her mother). Sidney’s life thus takes a different toll as she embarks on a journey of discovery, hurt, betrayal and forgiveness.

Audrey McKay's Enough Good News is the story of a young woman’s journey as she juggles family issues, her love relationship, her Christian faith and the demands of her job. She receives a bombshell upon the revelation that she has a sister, whom she has never met, and who, coincidentally, looks almost exactly like she does. With the support of her brother, her boyfriend, her best friend and the reassurance of God’s love, Sidney is able to uncover life’s secrets and discover a lot more about living, loving, and forgiving.

Enough Good News is quite an enjoyable read; not only were the words simple yet captivating, but the character and plot development were also laced with scriptural words that aligned with the plot and were appropriately inserted as applicable.

Formatting and appropriateness aside, there were a lot of lessons and aha moments to go home with from this novel. McKay portrayed, with her words, that God always has a higher plan for His children. No matter how low you feel, or how wrong things may be going in your life, as long as you believe, and you’re continuously steadfast in prayer, meditation and in your faith, the blessings of the Lord will always shine through on His children, even if it does not come in the way or form that you’re expecting it to.

I encourage all book lovers of any genre to get a copy; it’s a truly inspirational one.

GENRE: Christian Romance/Inspirational

COARSE LANGUAGE: None

GRAPHIC VIOLENCE: None

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: Bought for my reading pleasure