Local author Carol McCormick's inspirational, faith-based novel "The Missing Piece" reached No. 25 on the Kindle's "new releases best-seller's list" within the first week of its release. The novel is set in Fredonia.
"The Missing Piece" is not only a love story about a man who loves a woman, but it's also a love story about God who loves mankind. Newly-married Lorraine left Dylan on a wintry night after he'd spent one too many nights out with the boys. Unable to cope with the loss, Dylan escapes the painful feelings by drinking them away. This decision costs him a year-and-a-half of his life after he stops in a little mountain town and ends up in the local jail. When he's released, he returns home in search of a job to get his life - and his wife back.
"The Missing Piece" is rich with essential lessons on life and the afterlife. It is a book of hope and redemption and inspiration. The characters are real (as one Amazon.com reviewer stated), and readers can relate to either Dylan, who is at a low-point in his life and struggles in his quest to better himself; to Lorraine, who is searching for someone or something to fill the void in her life; or to the minister, who desires to serve and to make a difference in other people's lives.
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McCormick also wrote a 30-page booklet entitled, "Your Special Gift: A Preteen Primer to the Facts of Life."
"Having 'the talk' can sometimes be an awkward experience for both parties," McCormick said. "Even so, I didn't want to wait until my children's hormones kicked in, and I didn't want to be caught off guard when they had questions, but most of all, I didn't want them growing up with misconceptions concerning sex."
She wanted her children to be informed about the facts of life, yet without being too sexually explicit in the process. McCormick also knew that some of the facts weren't good, such as pornography, diseases, and predators, but these subjects needed to be addressed as well.
"As a result, I told them what I have written in 'Your Special Gift,' by using the analogy of a gift, a lock and a key to define commonly used sexual terms, consequences, and predator warnings, and using Scripture as the basis of defining true love," she explained. "The simplicity of the gift analogy, opens the door of communication between parent and child in an effective straightforward, and yet sensitive way, so that any question can be answered by using this technique."
"Your Special Gift" is well-suited to the 8-to-12-year-old range. The e-booklet will guide those who feel tongue-tied at the mere thought of talking to their sons or daughters about sex, especially when there are so many diverse opinions and influences bombarding youth today.
In its booklet form, "Your Special Gift" sold nationwide, where many people bought multiple copies at a time. A church in Boston, Mass., heard about the booklet and bought a dozen copies. Another church in Erie, Pa., bought 30 copies every year for three years to use as the basis of a girl's "overnight retreat," where they presented each girl, a booklet, a rose, and a necklace with a lock and a key on it, and then read the booklet together.
Since its recent release in e-book form, it reached No. 50 on the top 100 Non-fiction/Children's/Religious/Christian bestseller list at one point. "Your Special Gift" was endorsed by the late Marjorie Holmes, who wrote dozens of bestselling Christian books. Her endorsement states: "A wonderful book for parents to share with their adolescent children. I love the methodology in explaining 'Your Special Gift!'"
Both books are completely revised and updated, and they are available on Amazon's Kindle, Barnes and Nobles' NOOK, iPad, and other e-book reading devices. Those who do not have a Kindle or a NOOK can download the free reader application to their computer or iPad from either Amazon.com or bn.com.
"Your Special Gift" e-book is $2.99 and "The Missing Piece" is $3.99. The original paperbacks are also available online or at The Book Nook on Central Avenue in Dunkirk.
McCormick is a resident of Dunkirk. For more information, visit her website at www.carolmccormick.com.
