Life is Full of Unlikely Blessings and Surprising Grace
Author Judy
Baer entertains and delights
readers with stories of small town life
and an amusing cast of characters
Life is more than just a
series of experiences. It is the people we meet along the way that make life
more interesting and teach us the most important lessons. City dweller turned
country pastor Alex Armstrong learns this first hand in Judy Baer’s Forever Hilltop (Guideposts/May 1, 2012/ISBN: 978-0824945299/$16.99).
Forever
Hilltop is a 2-in-1 book that includes Baer’s An Unlikely Blessing along with the previously unreleased sequel
Surprising
Grace. The charming and often hilarious Forever Hilltop series follows the adventures of protagonist Alex
Armstrong as he settles into his role as a pastor of a Scandinavian community in rural
North Dakota much like the one in which Baer grew up. While Alex is sometimes
baffled by his parishioners and their colorful ways, he comes to appreciate
their simple wisdom. It may be a small town, but life in Hilltop Township is
never dull!
The second half of Forever Hilltop
is brand new, featuring Surprising Grace, the continuation of Alex’s adventures. While he is settling into life on the prairie, and even starts to
understand the strange ways of his new neighbors, Alex also finds that his
flock needs help and counsel like he never imagined. He also finds himself
having to choose between the woman he planned to marry and the home he’s come
to love.
In
the debut release of the series, An Unlikely Blessing, readers are introduced to Alex as he experiences a bit of a culture
shock when he moves from his home in the big city of Chicago to the tiny community
of Hilltop Township in the
wilds of North Dakota. Hilltop Township blooms from the prairie like a wild
pink rose—lovely and prickly all at once, much like the quirky residents who
live there. Alex soon discovers that his new church home has as much to teach
him as he has to teach them.
“God
often allows us to be in new circumstances or relationships that stretch us and
make us grow. He wants us to be more
Christ-like in our everyday lives and often the people we meet or the
situations in which we land are great tools for that,” explains Baer.
Within
the context of the story, Forever Hilltop
presents enduring lessons about how people should treat each other and live
their lives. “I find life to be like that,” says Baer. “The lessons learned
over the years—like the benefits of kindness, respect, sound judgment, faith,
loyalty or honesty—come in bits and pieces.
A little lesson here, a realization there, and eventually you have a big
awareness about something.”
A writing coach, personal life coach,
faculty advisor, quilter, mother, wife, and daughter, Baer uses the experiences
and imagination at her disposal to create stories that amuse, entertain, and
delight her readers. No matter where they grew up, readers are sure to identify
with the cast of characters and the situations they find themselves in.
About the
Author
Judy
Baer was born and grew up on a farm on the prairies of North Dakota, experiencing
many of the same things as her Hilltop characters. An only child, she spent most of her days
with imaginary people—either those she read about or those she made up in her
head.
Baer
graduated from Concordia College with majors in English and education and a
minor in religion. While at the time, she was simply studying what interested
her, Baer later realized that she was educating herself for her future career
as a Christian writer. She certainly put her education to use as she is the
author of more than 75 books.
A
certified professional life coach now certified in three coaching disciplines,
Baer coaches primarily professional and aspiring writers. She is also a faculty
advisor in the Department of Human Development at St. Mary's University in
Minneapolis, MN. Baer has two daughters and three step children. She and her
husband live in Minnesota.
Learn more about the author and her books at www.judykbaer.com.
Judy
Baer is available for interviews to promote the release of Forever Hilltop. To
request a review copy, schedule an interview or for more information, please
contact Audra Jennings, audra@litfusegroup.com.
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