Los Angeles, Calif. (Feb. 23, 2016) - Texas homemaker-turned-lay minister and author, Jennifer Wilder Morgan, acknowledges how sharing divine encounters can draw people closer to God in her debut release, COME TO THE GARDEN. The inspirational book hits shelves nationwide, today, Feb. 23, 2016 through Howard Books (a division of Simon & Schuster) along with an Audible version narrated by Today Show Host and Emmy Award-winner, Kathie Lee Gifford and produced by Eakin Films & Publishing.
In conjunction with the release, Morgan joined Kathie Lee & Hoda on the Today Show to discuss her book, the Audible release and upcoming one-night cinema event, Come To The Garden - On Stage! (Fathom Events/May 2016).
"Jennifer has written an amazing and beautiful book with COME TO THE GARDEN where she introduces us to a lovely angel named 'Margaret' who creates a special and safe place for people to come and tell their stories," says Gifford. "Margaret is the perfect vehicle to guide us through this Garden. She's so lovable and I enjoyed voicing her because she's not a fairy godmother, she is very much God's creation…an angel that has been with us during our journey and loves us very much."
Inspired by her ministry at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Morgan believes that sharing how God shows Himself can lead to healing and deeper faith as we share our experiences and in turn, actively listen to each other.
Right before her 50th birthday, Morgan felt called by God to write about how He has been speaking to her throughout her life, mostly through dreams.
"I never planned on writing a book," says Morgan, whose writing experience is limited to English classes in high school and college. "But when I started thinking about it, I realized that God has been speaking to me, but I always kept my dreams to myself. I didn't want people to think I was strange."
As Morgan began to consider what it would look like to put her real-life accounts on paper, she felt as if God told her to use a fictional angel, "Margaret," to help her share her experiences with readers. Throughout the book in powerful conversations, Margaret helps her recognize how God has been connecting with her from the beginning of her childhood to the present.
In the highly anticipated release, Morgan explains how prayer and listening to others speak about their divine encounters encouraged her to embrace the truth of her own experiences and share her journey with others.
"I began to realize that others were having the same or similar experiences and encounters with the Divine as I was," she says. "The stories they shared with me validated and reinforced my own encounters. I also saw the healing that comes as people share their stories with an accepting listener. It allows them to embrace what they've experienced-stories they might have been afraid to talk about. I knew that I, too, had to share my experiences in this book-encounters that I believe draw people closer to the heart of a personal God who wants to be known."
COME TO THE GARDEN received recognition at the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards Contest and has already garnered endorsements from a number of key influencers, including Sharon Hargrove (author of Safe at Home: A Baseball Wife's Story), Rev. Dr. Ed Robb III (senior pastor of The Woodlands United Methodist Church), Constance Bovier (author of More God, From the Crucible and Restoring Hope), Julie and Katie Black (co-founders of the Contemporary Christian Women's Academy) and Frank Eakin (publisher of New York Times bestseller 12 Years a Slave), and others.
"Jennifer Wilder Morgan is an exceedingly creative writer. With sanctified imagination, she opens a window into God's love and provision." - Rev. Dr. Ed Robb III
"Some years ago, as a spiritual director, I quickly realized that I was sitting in the presence of a woman specially gifted with living in a thin place, where the veil between the here and the not-here trembles with anticipation of new encounters with the Divine." - Constance Bovier, author of More of God, from the Crucible and Restoring Hope
"Jennifer's authenticity and fresh style, combined with Kathie Lee's superb narration performance, will captivate readers and cause many to explore their own pathway to God's presence. - Frank Eakin, Eakin Films & Publishing, leading producer of star-narrated audiobooks and publisher of New York Times bestseller 12 Years A Slave
In May 2016, Morgan will host a unique stage event as part of the book launch titled "Come To The Garden - On Stage!" The feature-length professional stage show will use groundbreaking three-dimensional projection technology to fuse live-action and animation, creating a unique and immersive experience on the big screen. "Come to the Garden - On Stage!" will release in select U.S. cinemas through Fathom Events and Eakin Films.
For more information about Jennifer Wilder Morgan and COME TO THE GARDEN, please visit:
Website: www.ComeToTheGardenBook.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cometothegardenbook
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Come2theGarden
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jennife4morgan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cometothegardenbook
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27248644-come-to-the-garden
Come To The Garden app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1081613580
Come to the Garden by Jennifer Wilder Morgan
97815014131332
Pub Date: 02/23/16
$16.00/$21.00 Can./£10.00 UK
Paperback
222 Pages
Religion / Christian Life
About Howard Books
Howard Books is an imprint of Simon and Schuster. Based in Nashville, the imprint is home to numerous New York Times bestselling books. Simon & Schuster is a part of CBS Corporation, a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon &
Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. For
more information, visit www.simonandschuster.com.
About Eakin Films & Publishing
Eakin Films & Publishing is a producer of star-narrated audiobooks, movie tie-in books, 3D author stage events and author branding programs. The firm represents Jennifer Wilder Morgan and is producer of the Come to the Garden audiobook and 3D Angel in the Garden theater event.
About The Author
Jennifer Wilder Morgan graduated from Kent State University and is a member of the Delta Gamma Fraternity. She resides in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Guy, and is a member of The Woodlands United Methodist Church, where she also sings in the Chancel choir. She enjoys watercolor painting, reading, cooking, gardening and spending time with her dogs.
Lauren Daigle to Perform During Super Bowl LIX Pre-Game Thu, 29 Nov 2024 22:10:00 EST |
Trebuchet SDG Releases Christmas EP, "Lux Mundi" Thu, 29 Nov 2024 21:30:00 EST |
Starflyer 59 Announces New Project for Preorder, "Dejame Dormir" Thu, 29 Nov 2024 21:30:00 EST |
TRIBL Records Celebrates 17 2024 Billboard Music Awards Nominations Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:50:00 EST |
Eddy Mann Launches Four-Part "Monday with the Mann's" Livestream Event Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:30:00 EST |
Amy Grant to Co-Host CMA Country Christmas with Trisha Yearwood Mon, 25 Nov 2024 20:20:00 EST |
StowTown Records Announces New Project from The Booth Brothers Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:30:00 EST |