From Prisoner to Novelist {A Book Giveaway}
Hope everyone had a nice Labor Day. Michael and I celebrated his dad’s 60th birthday and the best part was hearing all the stories from people of ways he’d impacted them. We love you Mike Dean!
Today, The Reason is available everywhere books are sold. I’m doing something special with this book. I want to send you a copy to read and then leave it for someone else to discover. You might pick a hospital, a hair salon, a school-anywhere you can imagine where someone else might need to hear about grace and forgiveness. This book is powerful addressing two questions, “Where is God when bad things happen?” and “Does God ignore the prayers of the faithful?” William Sirls, the author of this novel, first became familiar with these questions when he was sent to federal prison in 2007.
Listen to part of his story: (for more about the author, visit his website at www.williamsirls.com)
“I was sitting in a federal courtroom back in October of 2007, waiting for the judge to sentence me on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. At the time, I had pretty much restricted my relationship with God exclusively to those times when I needed something, and right there, I was certainly a “friend in need.”
Even though my plea agreement had a sentencing range of 46-57 months, I remember closing my eyes andasking God to somehow keep me out of prison … to keep me out and give me just one chance to fix the mess that I had created. I promised him that if he would do just that one thing for me, I would be a be a better father, a better friend, a better man. . . whatever he wanted. . . but he had to give me just that one chance.
His answer was “no”.
In December of 2007, I was off to the US Penitentiary-Hazelton in the beautiful and snowy mountains of West Virginia to begin a 52-month sentence away from my children, family, friends, and the life I knew.
I deserved to be there. More importantly, I know God wanted me there. I was there to learn some lessons and realize what’s truly important. It ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me.
I still think about that prayer to keep me out of prison. I don’t believe that there is such a thing as an unanswered prayer. God knows what’s best for us. Maybe we just need to realize that sometimes we think we are getting the answers we want. . . when in reality. . . we are always getting the answers we truly need.”
We (@NelsonFiction)want to spread the word about this incredible debut novel. But more importantly, we want the least suspecting people to walk into what they think is just an ordinary day and find The Reason. We want people to know that God is always with us, even in the midst of unanswered questions.
Share this post and tell me you want a copy. If you don’t have FB or Twitter, you can send me an email with the subject line “The Reason Giveaway” , but this should be very few of you. The deal is you have to leave it for someone else and take a picture of where you left it.
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I would love a copy of this, and I know the perfect person to leave it for! Thanks for the chance. I am sharing this post!!
Thanks Valerie! The deal is you have to leave it and then tweet/Facebook a picture of where you left it. Please share and send me your address!
I shared this post and I want to read this book.
I want a copy. I shared on my facebook page.
I would love to get a copy of this! I shared on Facebook. Thanks.
Hi Ruthie! Would love a copy of the book and will share it for sure! Thank you ~
I shared the post and would a copy to read and pass on!!! I love this idea, my friends and I did this with “the Shack”.
“would love”
I would be sooo thrilled to win…’The Reason” by William Sirls….
Hi Ruthie, I’ve shared this, being from Asia, you think I can get on this too?
Sounds like an amazing way to share Christ’s light and love.
I’ve shared it and would like a copy if available. I’ve got a person in mind that I’d like to give it to. Thanks
Hi Everyone! If you wrote in above, please EMAIL your address to me so I’ll have it when I select winners. I can’t select winners without addresses. dean(dot)ruthie(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you!!!
just sent my ifo in to you.
shared! I want a copy!
I would love to have a copy of this book and I would share it with someone who really needs to read it
I agree to the terms of reading, leaving in a public place and sending a picture of where I left it. Please send me the book.
oh Please send me a copy of this book, I will abide by the conditions and leave it and take pic of where i left it. Thank you for sending me a copy. .. Thank you , very much it sounds like a great read!!!
Hey lady – I’d love a copy! You can bring me one in two weeks
Love you!
I would love to read this book & then pass it on. Forgive typing errors, my son is legally blind & he spilled something on my keyboard & my keys aren’t doing right. I have a friend former co-worker that served time & I think it would help him. He has really gone into a shell since he was in prison (he wasn’t guilty but he couldn’t prove it) for almost 5 yrs. He was always the one who helped anyone that needed it, loved his family & did without things he needed so that his 6 chidren could have a few luxurie.
I shared on FB and would love to win a copy.
godblessamerica.jan (at) gmail (dot) com
Would love to win a copy!! Thanks for the chance. Will share on facebook now.
Hi Rita,
Congrats! You’re a winner! Please email me your address using the subject line “The Reason giveaway”.
Thank you! I hope you’ll be back.
Ok Ruthie I posted it on my facebook page and I would like a copy of the book.
Thanks….
Regina
Hi Ruthie,
If the offer is still up, I would like a copy.
I live in South Africa, will this be a problem?
I will send you my physical adress via email.
King Regards,
Hi Lerato, I will check and see if I can send a copy to South Africa. I’ll respond to you via email.
Thank you for your interest and for reading my blog!