I’m the Biggest Fool of All

I'm the Biggest Fool of AllIf you can find one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. Jeremiah 5:1

Lord, forgive me of my sins and my deceit.

O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? 5:3

Yes, Lord, you look and find dishonesty and those who lie. But your people …

do not say to themselves, “Let us fear the Lord our God… who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.” Your wrong doings have kept these away. Your sins deprive you of good. 5:24, 25

Father, forgive my sin and help me find a better way.

Among my people are wicked men. Their houses are full of deceit. They have become rich and powerful. Should I not punish them for this? 5:26,27,29

Oh Lord, yes we deserve your punishment, but I ask for mercy, not justice. Have mercy on me. Forgive my sins. Help me to do what is right and just.

No one said a word to him because they saw how great his suffering was. Job 2:13

Lord, the anguish from my sin is great. Forgive me and make things right.

The prudent keep knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly. Proverbs 12:23

How foolish I am, Lord. I’m the biggest fool of all.

Press Release for Skull Creek Stakeout

Skull Creek Stakeout

Skull Creek Stakeout

Author Eddie Jones Takes Readers to Transylvania in the Newest Book in the Suspenseful YA Series, The Caden Chronicles

14-year-old Nick Caden must unravel his most bone-chilling case yet in Eddie Jones’ second book in The Caden Chronicles, SKULL CREEK STAKEOUT (Zonderkidz; $7.99, August 2013).

After barely making it out alive in last year’s Dead Man’s Hand, Nick is now a reporter for the paranormal news website, Cool Ghoul Gazette. His latest assignment is to investigate a mysterious murder in the notoriously haunted town of Transylvania, North Carolina. What’s even more eerie, the murder looks suspiciously like a vampire killing.
Skeptical that a place like this actually exists outside of a Bram Stoker novel, Nick arrives and encounters several strange characters who make his obsession with analyzing crime TV shows seem normal.

Nick learns that Transylvania is the home of vampirologists, vampire slayer gamers, and those who apparently go so far as to dress up dead bodies as  vampires to fool authorities Anyone of them could be the killer he seeks.

To track down the real culprit, Nick enlists the help of Meg, the local coroner’s assistant.  She  becomes his greatest ally, but the closer the two get to cracking the case, the more dangerous it becomes.  Little do they know someone is following their every move!

Will Nick be able to find out who’s behind this terrifying crime before the murderer strikes again? Are he and Meg next on the killer’s list?

With SKULL CREEK STAKEOUT, Jones pens a gripping plot that blends themes including the history of vampirism and our common infatuation with death and immortality.

Fast-paced and filled with twists and turns, the book will keep readers guessing until the very last page. Endlessly captivating, this newest paranormal chase in the series will have tween and young adult readers anticipating what’s next for Nick and The Caden Chronicles.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Eddie Jones is the author of nine books, including last year’s first title in The Caden Chronicles series, Dead Man’s Hand, which made the 2013 INSPY Awards shortlist in the category of Literature for Young People. A three-time winner of the Delaware Writers Conference and recipient of the 2011 Selah Award for Young Adult fiction for his novel, The Curse of Captain LaFoote, Jones is also a writing instructor and the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries.  He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. www.eddiejones.org

To request an interview with Eddie Jones or to receive a review copy of SKULL CREEK STAKEOUT, please contact Candice Frederick at DJC Communications: 212-971-9707, Candice@djccommunications.com.

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Zonderkidz™, a division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imagination and innovation. As the leader in Christian children’s communications, it produces bestselling and award-winning Bibles, books, board books, graphic novels, audio, video and digital products that awaken the hearts and touch the souls of kids under 16 and the people who love them, from family members to educators. Zonderkidz is the publisher of the NIrV (New International Reader’s Version) Bible translation, the third-grade reading level edition of the NIV that is ideal for children and those who speak English as a second language. Visit Zonderkidz on the Internet at www.zonderkidz.com.

Zondervan, a HarperCollins company, is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is a world leader in Christian communications and the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources authored by influential leaders and emerging voices and has been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher.

7 Ways to Get your Boy to Read Books

Skull Creek Stakeout – Zonderkidz, on sale August 6, 2013 – preorder now!

The Internet, smart phones, online gaming and videos have changed the reading habits of young males. Can we keep books in “their” social network? Yes, says Eddie Jones, award-winning author of Caden Chronicles. Here are seven ways you can turn a reluctant reader into a bookworm.

Select a “boy book”Select a “boy book”

Boys enjoy books about boys, so pick a story that includes a male lead with a unique skill who is overmatched but becomes the hero through conquering challenges. The book should include a specific goal (treasure), consequences for failure (death of someone or thing) and show the value of moral choice (book’s theme). Boys like action, physical confrontation and really do want to storm the castle and save the princess so books with a reluctant female partner is okay. (Think Hermione and Harry Potter.)

Turn your boy into a super sleuth Turn your boy into a super sleuth

Once your son is into the story casually ask him to name the lead character. If he can’t, that’s okay. Suggest he pick a physical feature that will help him remember. If it’s a murder mystery, ask who dies, why and how? This gives you an opportunity to talk with your son about the consequence of violence in a non-threatening way. Create a white board with the names of suspects, possible motives and clues. Adventure and coming-of-age novels lend themselves to different questions but the idea is to get your son talking about the book.

Create a reading hut

Boys of all ages like man caves. Even if space is limited suggest your son create a special reading place. A closet can double as his hide out and a bed sheet draped over chairs makes a great tent. Your aim is to give your son a secret reading spot, a make-believe fort all his own.

Establish a reading time  Establish a reading time  

Encourage your son to pick a special reading time. Start with a half hour and shoot for a time of day when he is alert. Establish a page limit, a chapter, for example. He may finish early and that’s fine. Encourage him to use the extra time make note of any weapons, motives, and characters introduced in that chapter(s).

Read aloud to your child

Even older kids enjoy it when others read to them. Reading aloud can be a great way to encourage a reluctant reader. Read a chapter aloud, then allow your son to read the same passage silently. Watch for clues to see if he is struggling with words. With a highlighter, mark the word and offer to add it to his special word collection. Later when he sees the word (which you planted for him to find) and correctly identifies it as a secret word, reward him.

Collect bookmarks

Collect bookmarks

Collect cool bookmarks from famous authors and use them as trading cards. Children authors love hearing from kids. This is why we write – to encourage young readers to become bookworms and maybe someday, writers! Visit a children’s author’s web site and request a bookmark. Start today! E-mail eddie@eddiejones.org for a free autographed bookmark.

Form a book club

Encourage your son to create his own book club. Since it’s his club, he can be president. Allow him to pick his favorite books. Suggest he write reviews (with your supervision) on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com. Help him brainstorm for ways he can add other boys to his book club. Offer to help the “boys only” book club plan a trip as a reward for finishing a book.

Readers are Leaders – Buy a Boy a Book

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Skull Creek Stakeout

Skull Creek Stakeout

Skull Creek Stakeout – Zonderkidz, on sale August 6, 2013

The good news is, vampires aren’t real. The bad news is…you can’t believe the news.

Nick Caden is a normal fourteen-year-old kid with a “supernatural” knack for finding trouble, ghosts, vampires, and all sorts of undead–or so it seems.

After solving the ghost story murder at Deadwood Canyon, Nick lands a job as a roving reporter for The Cool Ghoul Gazette, a website on paranormal or supernatural disturbances. When the editor sends Nick to investigate a murder in Transylvania, North Carolina, the young super sleuth finds a corpse with fangs, bite marks and a stake driven through the heart. If Nick proves vampires are real, his job as an investigative journalist is set for life! But once he begins to peel back the clues surrounding the mystery of Skull Creek Nick finds his new job is not only scary and dangerous but about to suck the life out of him.

The Skull Creek Stakeout – a story middle-readers and adults can sink their teeth into.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0310723906/

The Caden Chronicles: Dead Man’s Hand

  • 2013 Selah Winner for Young Adult Fiction
  • 2013 INSPY Award nominee in the category of Literature for Young People
  • 2013 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award nominee

 

About the Author

Eddie Jones is a North Carolina-based writer and Acquisition Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. He is a three-time winner of the Delaware Writers Conference and his Young Adult novel, The Curse of Captain LaFoote, won the 2012 Moonbeam Award in the Pre-Teen Fiction/Fantasy category and 2011 Selah Award in Young Adult fiction. Dead Man’s Hand, the first book in the Caden Chronicles mystery series, is now available from Zonderkidz. He co-writes the He Said, She Said devotions, available at ChristianDevotions.us.

 

Eddie is available to speak to groups and write articles for blogs.

Contact info:
www.eddiejones.org
@ EddieJonesTweet
www.facebook.com/EddieJonesHumor
http://pinterest.com/eddiejones

Skull Creek Stakeout – Dedicated to Mom

Skull Creek Stakeout

Skull Creek Stakeout

I’ve waited all my life to dedicate a book to Mom and now I can without fear of retribution. Assuming, of course, she can’t curse me from the grave. One thing about Mom, you always knew what she was thinking—whether you wanted to know or not.

You also knew you were loved.

A year or so ago Mom was on her way to the hairdresser when another driver ran a stop sign and smashed into her Buick. Mom got out, inspected the damage, and exchanged insurance information with the other driver. While waiting for the police to arrive, Mom popped the trunk and motioned the other woman to the rear of her LeSabre.

“My son’s a writer,” Mom announced, “and I’ve got some of his books. Do you want a copy?” I wasn’t at the crash site, but knowing Mom, I imagine the inflection in her voice and order of words was probably more like: “You do want a copy of my son’s book, right?” I’m almost certain of this because the woman bought one copy of my book and a church recipe book. I bet the woman doesn’t even cook or have kids.

But that was Mom. Always hawking my books and asking me how my writing was going. She worried constantly I wouldn’t make enough as a writer to support my family. I kept telling her our daily provision is God’s business; mine was to be obedient and write stories that reflect His truths.

Last year I lost my biggest fan and best salesperson, but God gained a worthy assistant for the running of His kingdom. I can’t imagine how God thinks He’ll remain in charge now.

The last thing Mom told me was, “I’m not as young as I used to be, son. You need to think about your old mom once in a while and come see me.”

I will Mom. Someday I will.

If you’re blessed enough to still have your mom around, give her a hug and whisper, “Love you Mom.” Trust me, it’s the best and cheapest gift there is.

Love you Mom. I miss you. – EJ

The Skull Creek Stakeout (The Caden Chronicles) Coming in August of 2013