Welcome to my stop on the CM Book Tour for Healing in the Hurting Places by Karen F. Riley. Be sure to check out the entire blog tour here (some feature giveaways!).
“This is not about the tragic event, but about where to go now. I want them to know that they are not alone, and there is One who can heal their broken hearts,” writes the author.
Others who will benefit from this story of hope and healing: those affected by alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic, and other physical or verbal abuse—and those who are involved with them.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
Many victims share similar characteristics and traits as a result of abuse, which often manifest in the same behavior patterns—Healing in the Hurting Places is a springboard to empowerment and better understanding.
Karen F. Riley has been writing since she was eight years
old. She was nationally published at the age of eleven. Since then, Karen has
written for newspapers and magazines such as The Asbury Park Press, New Jersey Monthly and The Tri-Town News. She has authored three weekly newspaper columns
and four books:
o
Whispers
in the Pines: The Secrets of Colliers Mills (Published May 2005, Cloonfad
Press)
o
Voices in
the Pines: True Stories from the New Jersey Pine Barrens (Published May
2009, Plexus Publishing, Inc.)
o
Images of
America: The Pine Barrens of New Jersey (Published October 2010, Arcadia
Publishing, Inc.)
o
Healing in
the Hurting Places (Published August 2011, Destiny Image, Inc.)
Voices in the Pines was a silver international IPPY
award winner in 2010 and Healing in the
Hurting Places was an Eric Hoffer Award 2012 finalist.
Karen has been married to Bill for 32 years and they
are the proud parents of three children: Lisa, Laura and Christopher and one
granddaughter, Lilyana. They reside in the rural town of New Egypt, New Jersey.
After 20 years in the corporate world, in seven
different fields and having survived four layoffs, she started her own
business. KFR Communications, LLC - a
custom graphic and website design company she owns with her business partner,
Andrew Gioulis – is now in its ninth year of operations. They specialize in
branding and have recently started a self-publishing division to help authors
publish and market their books.
For most of her life, Karen measured her success by
what she achieved in her own strength. Then on July 24, 2005, that world and
belief system was rocked when she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself, O
Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
Karen began to understand why God blessed her with
the gift of writing and speaking and how she could glorify Him with it. She
began writing as a means to deal with the pain of childhood sexual abuse.
Today, she heads up a ministry called Healing in the Hurting Places to offer
hope to those suffering in the same way. This book is part of that journey.
Karen believes that through education, we can stem
the tide on the rising epidemic of childhood sexual abuse. She is grateful that
her book is touching so many lives and helping people realize that they are not
alone and begin their own healing journeys.
In 2011, Karen was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and
given a short time to live. She plans to make the most of whatever time God
gives her to continue to be a ripple in the pond and make a difference in
others’ lives wherever she can. For too many years, she suffered alone in
silence and now wants to help others to find their own voices.
Karen sees her childhood sexual abuse, bullying and
cancer as blessings now. She takes heart in this Scripture: “You intended to harm me, but
God intended it
for good to
accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Gen. 50:20)
Karen is available for speaking engagements, book
talks and signings.
Twitter @KarenFRiley
Buy Links: (Available in Paperback and eBook)
Thank you for being part of the Healing in the Hurting Places Book Tour http://www.charismamedianetwork.com
ReplyDelete