by Jason Joyner | Oct 27, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
I’d like to introduce you to Jerome Teel. He is a self-described political junkie, a lawyer in Tennessee, and now a first-time novelist. This week’s blog tour highlights the release of his new novel, The Election.
His tale is ambitious: It involves a Southern attorney defending a murder suspect, a mysterious romance, and a presidential election between Vice President Ed Burke and Republican Senator Mac Foster.
He shows some real promise. The book keeps the pace moving, and there was rarely a time where I wasn’t reluctant to put it down. He keeps up the setting well while keeping the action on high gear.
There are a couple of issues that kept me from fully enjoying the book. The characters tend to be stock: The tall, handsome attorney, the bad guy with a goatee manipulating the action behind the scenes. Except for the main character, Jake Reed, the characters all serve the plot and have no growth at all.
The overall plot structure could be taken from what I felt was a standard Christian end-times scenario: A secretive group of businessmen fund the corrupt VP in his presidential bid over the noble Republican opponent so they can take over the world, Illuminati-style. I appreciate that the Republican good guy is very pro-life, but the character is perfect. On the other hand, the VP’s wife is Hillary Clinton thinly veiled. I happen to share the author’s convictions, but they are dealt with on a very simplistic, surface level. Had depth been added to these ideas, this could have really spoken into contemporary society and politics.
Overall, I do feel it is a solid first effort. If I could write a book that kept readers hooked like The Election, that would be a wonderful start. There is room to grow, so I will keep an eye out for Jerome Teel in the future. If you like political/legal thrillers, he will be an option.
by Jason Joyner | Oct 27, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
I’d like to introduce you to Jerome Teel. He is a self-described political junkie, a lawyer in Tennessee, and now a first-time novelist. This week’s blog tour highlights the release of his new novel, The Election.
His tale is ambitious: It involves a Southern attorney defending a murder suspect, a mysterious romance, and a presidential election between Vice President Ed Burke and Republican Senator Mac Foster.
He shows some real promise. The book keeps the pace moving, and there was rarely a time where I wasn’t reluctant to put it down. He keeps up the setting well while keeping the action on high gear.
There are a couple of issues that kept me from fully enjoying the book. The characters tend to be stock: The tall, handsome attorney, the bad guy with a goatee manipulating the action behind the scenes. Except for the main character, Jake Reed, the characters all serve the plot and have no growth at all.
The overall plot structure could be taken from what I felt was a standard Christian end-times scenario: A secretive group of businessmen fund the corrupt VP in his presidential bid over the noble Republican opponent so they can take over the world, Illuminati-style. I appreciate that the Republican good guy is very pro-life, but the character is perfect. On the other hand, the VP’s wife is Hillary Clinton thinly veiled. I happen to share the author’s convictions, but they are dealt with on a very simplistic, surface level. Had depth been added to these ideas, this could have really spoken into contemporary society and politics.
Overall, I do feel it is a solid first effort. If I could write a book that kept readers hooked like The Election, that would be a wonderful start. There is room to grow, so I will keep an eye out for Jerome Teel in the future. If you like political/legal thrillers, he will be an option.
by Jason Joyner | Oct 25, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
Last night I was up to my elbows in cooking dinner. The phone rings, and I don’t think to screen with caller I.D. I was looking for the spaghetti noodles when the lady said, “We’re conducting an important food survey.”
My answer: “Then you shouldn’t call during dinner.”
CLICK.
Anyone else have a great comeback for these annoying phone calls? List them in the comments, and we’ll have a little contest to see which is the best!
by Jason Joyner | Oct 25, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
Last night I was up to my elbows in cooking dinner. The phone rings, and I don’t think to screen with caller I.D. I was looking for the spaghetti noodles when the lady said, “We’re conducting an important food survey.”
My answer: “Then you shouldn’t call during dinner.”
CLICK.
Anyone else have a great comeback for these annoying phone calls? List them in the comments, and we’ll have a little contest to see which is the best!
by Jason Joyner | Oct 24, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
This may be bad timing, as it has just ended, but I wanted to highlight the 30 Day Muslim Prayer Focus that occurs each year during Ramadan. It is sponsored by WorldChristian bookstore, which you can find a button for on the right. They produce a booklet that leads you through praying for different areas and people groups of the Muslim world over those 30 days.
This has been a wonderful experience, as my wife and I have participated over the last several years. I especially enjoy the testimonies of what has happened in previous years as the result of the prayers, one of which I’ll share now:
Last year an African prayer group of five participating in “30 Days” had the following experience: On the 17th day of prayer during Ramadan, the imam who was leading the local prayers found it impossible to continue praying. Another imam saw in a vision that the local Christians who were praying at the same moment were actually blocking the Muslim prayers. In the vision it was as though both sides were throwing rocks at each other in prayer, but the Christian rocks were breaking the Muslim rocks. The imam even asked the Christians not to pray at the same time as the Muslims. After this even several young Muslims came to faith in Christ.
Next year I will trumpet the Prayer Focus so anyone who would like to get on board can. It is wonderful to partner with our Father in prayer for those that need Him so much. It is also a great learning tool for other cultures and peoples around the world, treated respectfully.
by Jason Joyner | Oct 24, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
This may be bad timing, as it has just ended, but I wanted to highlight the 30 Day Muslim Prayer Focus that occurs each year during Ramadan. It is sponsored by WorldChristian bookstore, which you can find a button for on the right. They produce a booklet that leads you through praying for different areas and people groups of the Muslim world over those 30 days.
This has been a wonderful experience, as my wife and I have participated over the last several years. I especially enjoy the testimonies of what has happened in previous years as the result of the prayers, one of which I’ll share now:
Last year an African prayer group of five participating in “30 Days” had the following experience: On the 17th day of prayer during Ramadan, the imam who was leading the local prayers found it impossible to continue praying. Another imam saw in a vision that the local Christians who were praying at the same moment were actually blocking the Muslim prayers. In the vision it was as though both sides were throwing rocks at each other in prayer, but the Christian rocks were breaking the Muslim rocks. The imam even asked the Christians not to pray at the same time as the Muslims. After this even several young Muslims came to faith in Christ.
Next year I will trumpet the Prayer Focus so anyone who would like to get on board can. It is wonderful to partner with our Father in prayer for those that need Him so much. It is also a great learning tool for other cultures and peoples around the world, treated respectfully.
