The men, women, and children in these stories experienced love in ways they’d never have thought of, from people they might not normally have noticed, and in surprising places: - on the wrong side of the tracks in small-town Ontario - beside a wood burning stove in the Central African Republic - in the words of an old letter in a New Brunswick house - next to a burned-out Saskatchewan farmhouse - upon a deserted country road in British Columbia - adjacent to a chopped-down jackfruit tree in the Philippines - over a table in an empty Alberta restaurant - at a bus stop in a Quebec city - from the bombed-out ruins of a house in the Netherlands We hope the stories in this book will encourage you to make a difference in the lives of the people around you by showing love toward them, even when you don't feel particularly loving. “I love this collection of stories and poems told by great Canadians; stories of real people that transcend the ages. Many of these stories felt like they were a leaf from my own life book. You will find this reading hilarious, therapeutic and inspirational. A must-read for all book lovers.” ―Randall W. Young, Manager, Artists Relationships, World Vision Canada 67 true stories, short fiction, and poems from 61 writers from across Canada. Review Uplifting, heart-warming, and invigorating. Life―real life! Precious, diverse, thought-provoking, worth every minute of it. A pure jewel!” ―Claire de Burbure, MD, PhD, Medical & Environmental Health Teacher “There is a line in a Joni Mitchell song that says, ‘the sun poured in like butterscotch and stuck to all my senses.’ That’s how I felt reading this book. These are tender stories of joy and sorrow, raw and poignant reminders of all that it means to be alive.” ―Ali Matthews, singer-songwriter “There were contributors with backgrounds from Africa to Europe to the Philippines, from Atlantic Canada to British Columbia to Attawapiskat. It was not long before I was drawn into experiencing the expression of God’s grace through challenges of autism, adoption, or abuse; the joys of forgiveness and friendship; and even the setting of priorities with ice cream bars. Some pieces tugged at my heartstrings, others encouraged and some made me smile, even chuckle aloud―thank you Champ! I was reminded that, no matter our background or circumstance, our struggles and victories are universal and we need one another. This is a book to share with a cup of hot apple cider and cinnamon, but it’s also good with a glass of cold lemonade." ―Dawn Loucks, member, Bayview Glen Church “I commend these delightful, heartfelt stories from fellow Canadian authors. They are worth your time to read. The Hot Apple Cider series is a great Canadian treasure.” ―The Rev. Dr. Ed Hird, author of Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit About the Author N. J. Lindquist is an award-winning author, an inspiring speaker, and an empowering teacher. Her published work includes 20 books and one play as well as numerous columns, articles, and short stories. N. J. writes in a variety of genres: memoir, opinion, discipleship, nonfiction, coming-of-age fiction, mystery, and fantasy. N. J. is passionate about empowering writers from the Canadian Christian faith community. In 2001, she co-founded The Word Guild and served as its executive director until January, 2008. She also directed the Write! Canada conference for 11 years. N. J. continues to post advice and instructional videos on her website for writers, www.writewithexcellence.com. In 2007, N. J. realized that an anthology of true stories, fiction, and poetry would be the perfect way to showcase the work of Canadian writers who are Christian. That led to the publication of the Hot Apple Cider Books. N. J. has taught workshops for writers in every province of Canada except Newfoundland (one of these days!) as well as in the United States.
