Saints' Roost Again

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Saint's Roost
Sundowners (September 20, 2009)
by
Terry Burns


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terry has over 30 books in print, including work in a dozen short story collections and four non-fiction books plus numerous articles and short stories.

His last book Beyond the Smoke is a 2009 winner of the Will Rogers Medallion for best youth fiction and a nominee for the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. He has a three book Mysterious Ways series out from David C Cook, and Trails of the Dime Novel from Echelon Press.

A graduate of West Texas State he did post graduate work at Southern Methodist University. Terry plans to continue writing inspirational fiction as well as working as an agent for Hartline Literary Agency. Terry is a native Texan Living in Amarillo, Texas with his lovely wife Saundra.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Terry Burns has written a novel rich in Texan drawl and old western authenticity.

Saint’s Roost opens with a determined couple leaving a wagon train to set off on their own, only to be set upon by savages. Patrick, an eager evangelizing preacher, steps out to share the Good Book with the savages and meets an untimely demise, leaving his wife, Janie, alone on a trail to nowhere with no one to help her survive.

She makes her way across the frontier determined to follow her husband’s calling, but she doesn’t know where to begin, or even how to take care of herself. When her travels bring her into the lives of two cowhands, an ex-prostitute, a young boy and his drunken grandfather, and towns filled with cowboys waiting to be saved, she discovers there’s more than one way to spread God’s word.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Saint's Roost, go HERE

No, you aren't imagining things, I did post this info last week, but I hadn't finished the book yet, so I wanted to give it the full treatment this time out, because it's a book you'll definitely want to read.

Saint's Roost by Terry Burns is a cozy tale told by a masterful storyteller. Every author has a story to tell, but not every author has a distinctive voice that elevates an ordinary novel to a thoroughly enjoyable read; Burns has that rare gift. Janie and her husband Patrick set out from his seminary to the West in hopes of bringing the Gospel to the Indians and anyone else in need of God's Word. His naivete brings a quick end to his preaching, so Janie swears to continue on his dream. As she travels, she picks up one stray after another: two drifting cowboys, an outcast Kiowa woman with her child, an alcoholic and his grandson, plus assorted animals. Janie's gentle touch and loving spirit touch and transform everyone she comes into contact with and forms the core of the novel's message: souls are more often saved through everyday acts by regular people than through amazing sermons by evangelists. The charm of the novel comes from Burns' folksy style of writing. The dialogue zips like that of an old movie, making it a joy to read.

I drove Mia to the bus stop this morning, and was thoroughly chilled to the bone. I came back home, climbed into bed completely dressed under lots of heavy blankets and didn't stop shivering for hours. I take back my welcome of winter. We can return to the 40 degree of weather of last week now...please?