Inklings and Notions: Mosaic Collection Blitz: Eleanor Bertin

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for The Mosaic Collection, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE COLLECTION

For His glory...

The Mosaic Collection is an international community of women authors who use faith-based fiction to touch hearts with the good news that Christ's finished work on the cross has made us one family, and to nurture affection for the people God has placed within our circles of influence, so that the grace and glory of God may become visible and personal to everyone we meet.

...and our good

We are sisters, a beautiful mosaic united by the love of God through the blood of Christ. We have experienced the redemptive, restorative power of God's grace in our marriages and families, and we believe our God is able to heal, restore and redeem our brokenness. His love fills us with the courage to persevere, and to offer others a Christ-like compassion that is full of His wisdom and grace.

Visit the Mosaic Collection Website to stay posted on each new release & follow the collection blog for meaningful posts from the authors!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In a fit of optimism at age eleven, Eleanor Bertin began her first novel by numbering a stack of 100 pages. Two of them got filled with words. Lifelines, her first completed novel, was published in 2016, followed by Pall of Silence in 2017, a memoir about her late son Paul.

She holds a college diploma in Communications and worked in agriculture journalism until the birth of her first child. The family eventually grew to include one daughter and six sons (the youngest with Down syndrome) whom she home-educated for 25 years.

Eleanor lives with her husband and youngest son, Timothy, amidst the ongoing renovation of a century home in central Alberta where she reads, writes, sweeps up construction rubble and blogs about a sometimes elusive contentment at jewelofcontentment.wordpress.com.

CONNECT WITH ELEANOR: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Cornerstone message from the collection: 

Launch out into the far reaches of the universe. Delve deep into the intricate wonders of creation’s minutest particles. The farther humanity goes, the more awe I feel at the God whose power and genius spoke it all into existence. As a very young girl, I relished the delicious thrill of feeling tiny in the face of vast power, whether under a giant prairie sky, or failing in my count of the sparkling night stars. Like holding hands with a grizzly bear, God’s thundering bigness against my feeble smallness terrifies and quiets me.

That shivery awe fills the pages of the Bible, where God’s mighty power and fearsome holiness are vividly on display. There I read of a majestic King, both perfectly holy and utterly sovereign. That’s the terror part! He governs every detail of history, and every detail of my life. 
But layered within that message is the constant harmony line of God’s pure goodness and the astonishing message of His never-ending love in the sacrificial death of His Son Jesus in my place.

“And from my smitten heart with tears 
Two wonders I confess -- 
The wonders of His glorious love 
And my unworthiness.” 
(Elizabeth C. Clephane, Beneath the Cross of Jesus)

I’m flooded with joy knowing I belong to a trustworthy, loving God who forgives me and never leaves me!

Spotlight!

Favorite place to read: On my bed, or stretched out on the couch. With fuzzy blanket. And chocolate.

Favorite book character from childhood: Anne of Green Gables

Favorite movie: Pride & Prejudice (6 hr. BBC version)

Favorite quote or Bible verse: “Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” Dt. 32: 3,4 coupled with “He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zeph. 3:17

Favorite splurge/treat: Chocolate-covered dried cherries!

Favorite character you’ve created: Can I pick three? None of these are my main characters, but they appeal to me anyway.
Anna Fawcett, a wise senior whose insightful questions and warm caring transform those she touches. (She’s modelled after my own mother.)
Jesse Fawcett, her 24yo son who has Down syndrome. I love his quirky ways, many of which are derived from my own son, Timo, or accounts of real people with DS as told to me by their families.
Jake Adrian, cultish, controlling legalist, manipulative self-styled prophet, tyrant of his family, money lover and secret gambler, northern Alberta farmer. (It was alarming to me how easily his wonky theology flowed onto the page!)

Last 3 great books you read: Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin, The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul

Dream vacation: leisurely British/European tour of great art, museums, architecture, history

Hidden talent: Pie-making. (“Maybe it should be less hidden,” husband says.)

Plotter or pantser: I plot by the seat of my pants. By that, I mean I have an overarching theme that governs why I’m writing the book, I make a rough outline of key plot points, and then I live with my characters day in and day out, letting the details of their characters unfold. Unbound (my Mosaic book) is my most plotted book thus far. Three-quarters of the way through its sequel, Tethered, I still wish I’d taken the time to plot this one in more detail.

In no particular order, ten of your favorite things (i.e. hot cocoa, a warm breeze, There are no warm breezes in Alberta. The first time I experienced such a thing was in 100degree heat in Texas. I was not amused., the sound of my kids’ laughter, etc.) : 
The swish of a tape measure  
The squeal of a power tool {These two reveal my eagerness to see our 16-year whole-house renovation completed!}
All my grown sons kibbutzing together (they’re very witty!)
A long conversation about Jesus and theology with whoever will indulge with me
Listening to Handel’s Messiah
Mowing our acreage, seasonally scented by lilacs, chokeberry blossoms, wolf willow, or alfalfa
Reading to/chatting/snuggling with my 5 (soon to be 7) grandchildren
Sewing (especially quilts)
Flower gardening (Lilies! Roses! Delphiniums!)
A deep discussion with my husband (or daughter, or sister, or mother, or friend)

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card & an ebook prize pack*!

Winner will receive an ebook of:

Where She Belongs
Pieces of Granite
Lifelines
Christmas on a Mission
Vigilant
Other Side of the River
The Third Grace
Carolina Grace
The Benefit Package (a devotional)
Dance of Grace
When Love Calls

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight July 10, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on July 24, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally, but international winner will receive a gift card only *(may be substituted for a Book Depository gift card if winner cannot accept from US Amazon)

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See tour landing page for a complete list of authors & book release dates.

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!