Audra Jennings

This week's Litfuse video takes a look at the hashtags. What platforms should you use hashtags in? What applications don't really use hashtags? When I do use them, how many should I use? Caitlin and I go into all of these questions and more. You can watch our tips via the Facebook live video here . The videos aren't available forever, so if you are catching this post months after I post it, you may not be able to access it anymore. I will embed a video here though. A few years ago, Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake did this skit. After I saw it the first time, every time I talked about hashtags, I wanted to do the hand gesture.

We've teamed up with some fabulous authors as they remember  Christy . . .  and you could win $100! We're excited to be partnering with   Gilead Publishing to create and distribute videos featuring some of your favorite authors sharing their memories of reading Catherine Marshall's Christy ! The five videos will be released week by week every Monday. One reader who shares the videos on his or her social media platforms or blog will receive a $100 Amazon gift card! To enter, fill out   this form . You can fill it out for as many times as you share the videos. The winner will be announced March 2 and contacted via email. This week's video features author Katherine Reay!  Click here to share the video.

Tonight's episode of The Bachelor picks up in Ica, Peru, also known as a place where Arie can see himself falling in love. (Yes, that is part sarcasm, but he really did say it.) His first date is with Kendall. He always has fun with Kendall.  Because Ica is where the desert meets the sea, they ride a dune buggy through the sand dunes. They have a driver, but the driver gets stuck going over a ridge. At least it seems that way. Then, they do the equivalent of snowboarding on the sand. Kendall has to decide if she's ready to say, "Yes," if Arie proposes. She's not quite ready yet. She wants Arie to like her beyond being quirky and liking taxidermy. I'm sure the dead rats are not a reason he likes her, as such. Later that evening, after hosing off all the sand, it's wine and dine. Arie thinks because they have so much fun, they don't really ask the hard questions of each other. Kendall says that's why she appreciated him pulling her aside dur

I posted my Sunday video on Saturday so that my post on The Bachelor wouldn't be double long on Monday. Tonight was a special Sunday night episode of The Bachelor: The Women Tell All , so you get back-to-back posts. Tonight is supposed to be one of the most dramatic Women Tell All ever, of course, followed by an ending to the season like never before. We wouldn't expect anything less. After starting off with a "Best Of" reel from Tell Alls past featuring some women I remember, but not necessarily which men they were after each time, we are re-introduced to 18 women (from the 29 was it?) from this season. There's three left, so I guess eight of the early departures aren't there. I have to be honest, I couldn't have picked several of these out of a line-up. The season has gone by quickly, but I might just be losing my memory. Honestly, I've had some other, heavier, things on my mind lately, so maybe that played a part. There's always the case th

I'm posting my Sunday video on Saturday this week because I have another post this week for Sunday night. I could post a crafty picture tonight because I did spend some time in the studio, but I'll save it for when I have more than one project to post. ;) I go back a few years for this post. Peyton looks so different in this video and Tatum on the end was so little. Those songbooks were new then. They are raggedy rough now. I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy By George W. Cooke I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy Down in my heart, Down in my heart,  Down in my heart, I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy Down in my heart,  Down in my heart to stay. Chorus And I’m so happy, so very happy I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart, Down in my heart, And I’m so happy, so very happy, I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart. I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus Down in my heart, Down in my heart,  down in my heart, I’ve got the love of Jesus,

This week's video started off talking about what a publicist does vs. what an agent is for. Then, we delved into the essentials of self-publishing. I can't share the embed of the video because it is not up on YouTube, but for a while, it will be housed on Facebook. For the time being, you can watch it here . Here's a couple of the key points in really quick summary. A book agent helps you get a publisher and book deal. A publicist gets you interviews and reviews once your book is published. A publicist seeks out media. If you are looking speaking events, you will probably need a speaker's bureau or speaking agent. There are three things that every book must have (I don't mean characters, plot and conflict). This is especially true of all self-published books. These are areas you cannot skip. They are: A professionally designed cover by someone who is an excellent graphic designer. Books are judged by the cover. A bad Photoshop job or plain, ugly fonts can

We've teamed up with some fabulous authors as they remember  Christy . . . and you could win $100! We're excited to be partnering with   Gilead Publishing to create and distribute videos featuring some of your favorite authors sharing their memories of reading Catherine Marshall's Christy ! The five videos will be released week by week every Monday. One reader who shares the videos on his or her social media platforms or blog will receive a $100 Amazon gift card! To enter, fill out   this form . You can fill it out for as many times as you share the videos. The winner will be announced March 2 and contacted via email. This week's video features author Deborah Raney! If you would like to get more info and share the video,  click here!

Part 2 of an interview with Jeff Vanderstelt and Ben Connelly, Authors of Gospel Fluency Handbook: A Practical Guide to Speaking the Truths of Jesus into the Everyday Stuff of Life Jeff Vanderstelt and Ben Connelly wrote Gospel Fluency Handbook: A Practical Guide to Speaking the Truths of Jesus into the Everyday Stuff of Life (Saturate Resources) to help individuals and groups become fluent in the gospel. “To be fluent in the gospel is to know is so well it becomes like a mother tongue,” explains Vanderstelt. “When I am fluent, I am able to filter all of life through the truths of the gospel and am readily able to speak those truths into any situation or struggle we are facing at any time.” The discussions and exercises in this eight-week interactive handbook provide a step-by-step immersion of the reader’s mind, heart, soul and life in the gospel. Each week follows a simple format: three sets of personal readings and reflections and a weekly guide for group discussion

Travel back in time to 1772 England and meet Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson, who has to go to the West Indies to save what is left of her family’s heritage in Lisa T. Bergren’s new book,  Keturah .  Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. To keep her family together and save the plantation that is her last chance at providing for them, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her? Enter to win a copy of  Keturah . Five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced March 13 on the  Litfuse blog ! {MORE ABOUT  KETURAH } (The Sugar Baron’s Daughters)  (Bethany House, February 2018) In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father’s estates and know they have one

If the previews are any indication, Arie isn't going to have fun visiting the hometowns and meeting families this week. The dads all seem pretty intense.  Of course, three minutes after that in the context of the show, they will change their minds and give a blessing. At least, that's how it usually turns out. First up is a trip to Kendall's hometown of Los Angeles. Arie may be scared off immediately when he sees Kendall's taxidermy collection which ranks with the one the dad had a few seasons ago. (Was it during Juan Pablo's season? I know I blogged about it, but can't find it with the search.) It reminds me of a trophy room here in town, and I have to say again what I am sure I have said before. Taxidermy creeps me out. There are some odd creatures. She says it's a way for her to appreciate animals.  Kendall then gives him lessons in mounting rats that she then dresses up to represent the two of them. She even built a set for them. According to

I'm going deeper back into the archives for this week's video. This is about three years ago when the class was third, fourth and fifth graders. Deep and Wide Deep and wide. Deep and wide. There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide. Deep and wide. Deep and wide. There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide. Hmmm and wide. Hmmm and wide. There’s a fountain flowing hmmm and wide. Hmmm and wide. Hmmm and wide. There’s a fountain flowing hmmm and wide. Deep and hmmm. Deep and hmmm. There’s a fountain flowing deep and hmmm. Deep and hmmm. Deep and hmmm. There’s a fountain flowing deep and hmmm. Hmmm and hmmm. Hmmm and hmmm. There’s a fountain flowing hmmm and hmmm. Hmmm and hmmm. Hmmm and hmmm. There’s a fountain flowing hmmm and hmmm. Deep and wide. Deep and wide. There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide. Deep and wide. Deep and wide. There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide.

Image from https://twitter.com/BachWinterGames. I know I said I wasn't going to blog about The Bachelor Winter Games , and I'm not going to do a recap post like I do for The Bachelor , but... Oh, my goodness, y'all! If you watch The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, this is hilarious. I'm just finishing up the first of two episodes from this week. When the first episode started, with the parade of nations coming in (there are contestants from various countries) and the official anthem (which was horrendous and stupid), I thought, "This is going to be dumb." There still is an aspect of stupidity, don't get me wrong, but this is so much funnier than the normal show and so much better than Bachelor in Paradise. I like people scrambling to find a connection - both men and women - and it's more interesting when you don't know EVERYONE. The people from other countries are interesting too. Except the girl from Japan who doesn't understand Engli

Part 2 of an interview with Kelly Johnson, Author of Being Brave: A 40-Day Journey to the Life God Dreams for You Click here for part 1 of Kelly's interview. God has made us brave, not fearful beings. In a forty-day devotional format, author and blogger Kelly Johnson invites readers to consider a new way of thinking about what it means to be brave and challenges them to seek a greater intimacy with God and the people God has placed in their life. Through Scripture, stories, prayers, and thought-provoking questions, readers will recognize the seeds of divinely inspired bravery and learn the strength found in community. Using letters of the word brave as a guide, Being Brave highlights what God’s Word has to say about the characteristics of bravery: Bold, Resilient, Authentic, Vulnerable, and Engaged and Empowered by the Spirit. Q: If you could tell readers one thing about being brave, what would it be? God has named you brave. Being brave is your birthri