Hello Friends! I'm sharing about Biblical plants and botany life on the HHHistory blog, and there's also a chance to win a copy of The Healer's Touch! So be sure to stop by and check it out. Here's a preview of the article.   During our trips to the Holy Land, one of my favorite experiences was visiting the Biblical Gardens outside of Jerusalem. The Biblical Garden is a special reserve that grows and studies all manner of botany and animal life mentioned in the Scriptures. I learned so much, not only about the plants themselves, but also about how the ancients used the plants, and what their every day life would have been like. It gives such a unique perspective on Biblical history. Won't you join me on a little 'virtual tour'? I'll show you a couple of things I enjoyed learning while visiting this Biblical Landscape Reserve.   Read the rest of the article by clicking here.

We all remember the Bible story of Rachel and Leah, but have you ever thought about how this pair of sisters changed the course of history? Leah and Rachel were raised in "the land of the people of the east" according to Genesis 29. The exact location this refers to is unknown, but it was in the country that was then known as Mesopotamia, which corresponds mostly with modern-day Iraq . The girls were the daughters of Rebekah's brother Laban, so they would have been first cousins to Jacob. Dante's Leah & Rachel Public Domain As Jacob fled from the wrath of his brother Esau, he sought out his uncle Laban, but he found his lovely cousin Rachel first. She was keeping her father's sheep and came to the well where Jacob was resting. Read the rest of the article at HHHistory.com ! http://www.hhhistory.com/2017/02/sisters-that-changed-history-rachel-leah.html

Join me over at Heroes, Heroines and History to learn about Leprosy in Bible days! Here's a preview: Incurable disease. Those two words have terrified people for thousands of years. The recent Ebola epidemic caused panic across the globe. In Bible times, leprosy was the disease that was perhaps the most feared of them all, because like Ebola, it was contagious, miserable, with no known cure.  What is leprosy? Leprosy is mentioned 68 times in the Bible, however the modern definition of leprosy, and what was considered leprosy during Bible days differs.  Read the full post on HHHistory.com!

I'm so excited to introduce you to Biblical Fiction author, Stephanie Landsem. She is the author of The Living Water series, and the third book just came out YESTERDAY!  Welcome Stephanie! Tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m a wife, mother of four, and author of The Living Water Series. I love to travel, and am lucky that I’ve been able to see many parts of the world and have visited 4 continents. At home, I love to cook, especially new ethnic cuisines from places where I’ve traveled. When I can’t go to new places, I like to be outside hiking, taking walks, or even snowshoeing during our long Minnesota winters. If it’s too cold, my favorite place to be is inside, reading a good book with a cat in my lap. What is your favorite time in History? It will come as no surprise that I’m most drawn to ancient civilizations. In college, I studied a great deal of Greek and Roman history, and perhaps that why I love researching biblical times. There’s somethin...

You're invited to join us for the official Facebook Launch Party for The Messiah's Sign! We'll be chatting it up about the new release, discussing the history and setting, Bible trivia, and having a BLAST while offering some great giveaways. Here's a few of the items you'll have the chance to win! We're giving away over $75 worth of prizes! Be sure to invite your friends, because one we're giving away a CO-HOSTESS AWARD! This award goes to the person who has brought the most friends along with them to the party! Winner will receive the authentic Holy Land Gift Set with a Co-Host(ess) certificate! Join the fun on our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberSchamel Hope to see you there!

Today I would like to introduce you to an author friend of mine. Joanne is the author of two books, and one of my close writing buddies.   Welcome, Joanne! Tell us a little about yourself. As a lifelong student of the Bible, I’ve done extensive Bible research, taken numerous Bible courses, and had the privilege and the joy of taking four exciting tours of Bible lands. I’ve taught foreign languages and English, and more recently, as an academic language therapist, I’ve helped dyslexic children strengthen their reading and writing skills. I’m a music lover and amateur pianist and especially enjoy accompanying singers. Wow. That's quite a resume. How did you discover your calling to be a writer? In a word: gradually. As a youngster in school, I actually found creative writing assignments intimidating. Later I discovered that writing can be a wonderful way to think through an idea in greater depth, and I wrote some articles and a few poems. But when I made an attempt t...

For those of you that missed it, on Thursday night we revealed the cover for my October release, The Messiah's Sign at the Helping Hands Press Thirsty Thursday party. I was thrilled that so many of my friends were there to celebrate with me! For the special occasion, we all partook in a Samoas Milkshake. Doesn't it look yummy?! Here's a link to the recipe. http://www.happygoluckyblog.com/2013/06/samoas-milkshake-recipe.html Well, you'll be happy to hear there's a fresh batch made up for today's blog post. NOT ONLY THAT, but we also have a giveaway! I'm running a rafflecopter giveaway for an autographed paperback of The Messiah's Sign when it becomes available in October!The giveaway runs through September 5th, and you can earn entries by tweeting/facebooking about the giveaway each day, so you have lots of entries you can earn! And now....Drumroll Please.... * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * Are you ready to see the cover? * ^ ...

I know many of you are anxiously awaiting the release of Volume 2 in the Days of Messiah Series. So, in celebration of the anniversary of the release of The Healer's Touch, we've released a FREE short story! The Saga Begins is a prequel to The Healer's Touch and The Messiah's Sign and it's available as a free download for a limited time only. My hope is that you will enjoy the story and it will help you await the release of Volume 2 this fall. About The Saga Begins: Sixteen year old Tyrus and his family are forced to flee Rome and the cynical Caesar who blames them for a scandal. They board a ship bound for the Holy Land, but can they escape the imperial eagle before he swoops down upon them? The Saga Begins is now available for download! Here's the link to get it FREE for a limited time! http://www.amberschamel.com/free-story---the-saga-begins.html   Here's an excerpt from The Saga Begins: Circa 3 A.D. "Tyrus, wake up...