About the Book
Book: Welcome to the Shivoo
Author: Laura Bartnick
Genre: Inspiration/Christian Living/Education
Release Date: January 1, 2020
DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A CREATIVE, A WRITER, A MEMBER OF THE MAKER COMMUNITY?In the beginning, God created. Should this matter?
Do you find incredible value in your creativity, that is, a reason for being and doing that you could never imagine giving up? Okay then. This book will inspire you to join a spiritual party like no other.
About the Author
Bartnick has been a youth counselor with Youth for Christ, and a worship musician for many years. She is the managing partner of Capture Books, a small but mighty boutique Christian publishing group. She loves creativity and words. She loves to explore the deeper meaning of the things we casually say to one another, the things we write down. She earned a double degree in Bible and Composition from Montana Bible College and Colorado Christian University and is a truth-seeker and recipient of God’s love.More from Laura
ARE YOU A WRITER OR PART OF THE MAKER CULTURE?
This beloved book explains why it matters that “In the beginning, God created.”
A reader coined this title, “The Creator’s Manifesto.”
When you need to find the place of belonging as a creative, look no further than the heart of God. He’s the One Who formed you to be creative in talent, and adventurous in the wild unknown.
Welcome to the Shivoo! This party belongs to Someone bigger than you. Because you are created in God’s image and given specific creative gifts and a life of purpose, you are very special to Him.
Many creatives feel that there is a monkey on their backs, and sometimes that nagging feeling includes the doubt that maybe the terrible distraction is God Himself not wanting them to succeed as a writer or artist. Nothing is further from the truth.
This book is a party and a prayer for the creatives in town.
In Welcome to the Shivoo! creativity begins with the priorities of the greatest Creator, and in that sense of wonder, it moves us into a place of gratitude and thanksgiving. Creativity always begins with a sense of wonder and awe, even a sense of meekness, “Can I do this? I have to try…” In Welcome to the Shivoo!, I try to show that God is the center of a creative’s world, and because of His love and goodness, we have a home and a place to belong. Creativity erupts from that place.
From there, the book shows how there is a Biblical theology for being creative and a means to thrive in creativity. It challenges Christians to be authentic, to focus, to communicate, and to transform. It explains how there is a kingdom language we are charged to learn, as believers, and to use not in a sloppy way, but responsibly. And, it sends us off with an exuberant blessing to go create something and enjoy the process!
Mindy’s Q&A with Laura Bartnick
What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?
My life verses feel braided, interwoven, and circular, yet explosive at the same time to me. Lamentations 3:21-23 became my life’s verse when my parents divorced and afterward because of the way it has lifted me out of confusion, failures, despair, or depression, “This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope… The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, they are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness.” When I was younger and a songwriter/musician, my life verse was Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” During college, my favorite passage was, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10 But, now, as I have finished relaunching The Shivoo, I realize that the first verse of the Bible really ties all of these themes together… “In the beginning, God created…” I now see God’s own amazing creativity as the reason why His lovingkindnesses are new every morning and not stale, and why His love and kindness never cease because they are in a continuum of creativity, and why the word of Christ, when we let it dwell in our lives in a rich way, produces profound wisdom, treasures hidden in secret places, teachings, and admonishment of one another, and singing with grace in our hearts… all of these beautiful, life-giving things are things we cannot boast in because they are not our own good works or our own salvation, but actually the good works and salvation that God prepared for life beforehand through His creation and creativity that we should walk in them, for we are His workmanship.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere with a view, my camera, a blank sheet of paper and pen, and a good book.
What are you reading right now?
Ruth Hally Barton’s Invitation to Solitude and Silence, and Debbie Johnson’s The Journey: A Traveling Companion Through the New Testament.
What is your most well-loved and well-used house appliance?
It’s either my washing machine or my egg poacher. I use them both so much, but I’ve had to live without a washing machine before, so it’s probably the washing machine.
If you could have one piece of art or music a deserted island, what would it be and why?
Tchaikovsky – The Seasons: October (“Autumn Song”) Here it is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq7TNv7Pbm8 It is such a wandering delightful piece, you know “all who wander are not lost” – The quote emerged from a poem that was written by J. R. R. Tolkien for The Lord of the Rings. The poem is used to describe Aragorn. But, lately, I’ve also discovered “a channel” on Spotify called peaceful guitar, which is the answer to all of my longing for personal musical rest, and I think I’m in love with that channel. You know? I think I could do nothing, not eat, not work, just be suspended in a sabbath space of deep awe, joy, and satisfaction for hours and hours…
Thank you Laura, for your time and allowing us to get to know you better!
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 5
Texas Book-aholic, March 6
For the Love of Literature, March 7
Simple Harvest Reads, March 8 (Author Interview)
Stephanie’s life of Determination , March 8
For Him and My Family, March 9
Inklings and notions, March 10
deb’s Book Review, March 11
CarpeDiem, March 12
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 13
Emily Yager, March 14
Artistic Nobody, March 15 (Author Interview)
Create! Teach! Inspire!, March 16
Moments, March 17
Godly Book Reviews, March 18
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Laura is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift certificate!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/f80f/welcome-to-the-shivoo-celebration-tour-giveaway
Sounds like a good book.
This book sounds like a fascinating read.
I enjoyed learning more about the author and her book. Thank you for being part of the tour.