This book is intended for ages 11+. What do twelve-year-old dyslexic Gavin Goodfellow, prophetically-inclined Uncle Warney, newly relocated mother-daughter witches from London, and a pimply-faced New Age guru have in common? Burnt Swamp, where flames from a mysterious underground fire have been smouldering for ten years. The battle is on for dominion of the swamp and possession of an ancient diary that holds clues to release or destroy the evil that dwells beneath the surface. Will Gavin respond to the Holy Spirit and embrace his God-given calling? Or will Bea Daark and her mother unleash forces that lure Gavin and the sleepy town of Ashboro deep into bondage?
Author Biography:
When God calls, you either obey or run away. In Candy Abbott's case, the call to write came more than twenty years ago while she was working as an executive secretary at a local community college. After her initial response of, "Who, me? Write a book?," Candy accepted God's call and embarked on a remarkable journey that rivals the adventures Gavin is facing in her first young adult novel. Her non-fiction book Fruitbearer, What Can I Do For You, Lord?, is in its third edition and is blessing others with the story of how she found a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Lord challenged Candy to begin writing the Burnt Swamp Trilogy in 2000. During the seven years it took to produce book one, God not only equipped her with all the tools she needed, but brought her husband, Drew, and many friends and professionals alongside to mentor her through the process. Like Gavin, Candy's encounter with the Holy Spirit reshaped her life. Her fervent prayer is that Gavin's story will entertain and inspire young and old alike to search out truth and make wise choices that lead to an intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ; to confess without apology, "As for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord." Candy is a wife, mother, grandmother, author, publisher, speaker, and conference director. Her inspirational stories appear in numerous anthologies, including Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman's Soul. In her role as founder and director of Delmarva Christian Writers' Fellowship and president of Fruitbearer Publishing LLC, she has earned a respected voice in Christian publishing circles. A CLASServices speaker, Candy's inspirational messages are heard throughout the Delmarva Peninsula and beyond. In addition to serving in the Presbyterian Church as an ordained elder and deacon, she co-founded Sisters in Christ, an inter-denominational women's prayer ministry that has been encouraging believers for more than twenty years. In 2014, the Lord tapped her to found Mothers With a Mission for the purpose of imparting eternal values (visit www.motherswithamission.org).
