My Mother Went Looking for a Blessing… This Happened Instead

“As a friend, I’m trying to put some money into your pockets.”

Remember that line from the movie The Five Heartbeats? (Great movie, by the way). In the movie, the character Big Red is a devil masquerading as a friend. Well, I’m here to help you keep your money in your pockets by warning you your pastor may be a wolf in sheep clothing.

Many pastors tell you to beware of the people in the world. I tell you, when it comes to most pastors, I say, keep your eyes on your pockets.

Check out the video below on how one pastor with the tongue of a serpent twisted the scriptures to rob the congregation.

The Times She Saved Me Ep. 5 – The Day My Sister Protected Me From a Lie That Would’ve Destroyed Me

“Mama’s baby, Papa’s maybe.” Remember that line? I did when my sister Nee Nee told me a local women said I got her pregnant. The girl was like a village bicycle, everybody had a ride. But she pegged my fifteen-year-old ass to be the daddy. Enter my sister Nee Nee on the search for the truth.

The Times She Saved Me Ep. 4 – The Night My Sister Told Me Not to Run… Seconds Later a Gun Went Off

“Stupid is as stupid does.”

Remember that line? No truer words were ever spoken for Tommy and his brother Robert. They were dangerous, a real threat to anyone crossing their path. As crazy as they were, how insane were we when we paid them a visit? It turned out to be a decision that threatened our lives.

The Times She Saved Me Ep. 3 – The Night My Sister Tried to Take a Bullet for Me

I didn’t throw one dice, and yet, I’m looking down the barrel of a gun. My brother had lost; the next sound would be a shot heard around our dying neighborhood. I was prepared to die. My sister Nee Nee had other plans.

The Times She Saved Me Ep. 1 – The Day My Sister Saved Me From a Stranger’s Car

Have you ever had someone save your life?

I have.

My sister, whom we all called Nee Nee, saved my life many times. In this series of five videos, I recall the times that have sat with me for years. My sister Nee Nee is a saint, even though she wouldn’t say so. Over the course of my life, I tried to stay on the path of what’s right. When we have someone who cherishes our life, I feel we owe it to them to live the best life possible. To my sister Nee Nee, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can never repay you, but I promise to live the best life you wanted for me.

It is my hope you have someone like my sister; if you do, please live your best life possible. Like me, you owe them. May this series of videos, one posted each month, serve as a reminder to live your best life.

I’m Back! And I Got a New YouTube Channel

Hey, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?

It’s been a long ten years. I’ve been up to a lot of things, a lot of personal projects. New books with my friend Amy, writing groups, movies, awards. But lately, I’ve started to look at this blog again and have been thinking…maybe it’s time to make a little bit of a comeback.

Expect a little bit more content from me in the future. Don’t worry, my journey isn’t done yet.

But for now, I got something I want to show y’all. Recently, I’ve started a YouTube channel. Here, I tell you a little bit about my history, give some advice, talk about things that really make you think.

I invite you to come and sit on the corner with me…Pelly’s Corner.

I got a few videos I’d love for you to check out…including one where I tell you the story of the theft of a century. Be sure to check out “She Wrote ‘My Girl’ but They Never Came Back”.

MAMA, WHY DO BABIES CRY?

babies covder 3

 

Packed House Publications is excited to announce we have found a treasure. Author Amy Winfield and illustrator Katlego Kagbale is the first children book team to join our family.

“Mama, Why Do Babies Cry?” is Mrs. Winfield’s first book. In this heartwarming story a young child asks her mother why babies cry. The answers that follow are both rich and insightful.

Married to the text are the most eye-popping illustrations that will make you take notice and will remain with you for years to come. Katlego Kgabale, is the most talented illustrator I have seen in a long time. Her eye for detail is remarkable; she is truly an illustrator to watch.

When asked why she wrote this lovely children’s book, Mrs. Winfield answers in her no-non-sense style. “I wrote this book specifically as a way to assist parents, grandparents, and all caretakers in their efforts to explain why babies cry. It is my hope that the beautiful imagery of this multicultural book will not only entertain your child, but will also help them grow socially and intellectually.”

 Packed House Publications is blessed to have found these very talented women. It is our hope there will be many more amazing works from this incredible duo.

 

Please purchase your copy of “Mama, Why Do Babies Cry,” today!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016NMQJQM

“Blown Away” Pre-Order Announcement!

I am super stoked to inform you of our newest book release, our proudest achievement, and our most precious baby of all the books…

Introducing “Blown Away”, the 3rd and final book in the ‘Life’ Series! Not only has this book been a huge labor of love for us (over a year in the making), but it is the first book of its kind to feature Fifty Words or Fewer Stories! Yep, that’s right: each one of the fifty stories in this collection are at least fifty words, or often less. This is flash fiction at its tightest, challenging form. Here’s more:

“Blown Away” rings in the 3rd and final installment of the best-selling ‘Life’ series, in its slicing examination of one of the most delightful and likewise, challenging portions of life: the unexpected. Using characters in inventive new ways (water and fire fall in love in “Fiery Dance”), examining people in surprising – and often, devastating –circumstances a soldier returns home to find an unforgiving country, (“A Soldier’s Story”), and serving up twists in every tale (a schoolchild reveals a little too much in “Show and Tell”, with hilarious results) Blown Away seeks to do just that – blow you away – all in fifty stories, fifty words or fewer. Life is run on the unexpected, and Blown Away recreates and reveals the wild ride it often gives us, and where it takes us. In the first ever, short story collection series, author Paul Worthington powerfully demonstrates the joy and despair of the unexpectedness of life, and all the beautiful colors in between. Prepare to be blown away…

It is currently available for pre-order, and will be released on February 14th, 2015. (We will release it on Valentine’s Day because we’re sure you’ll love it so much.) The stories range from heartfelt to thought-provoking, hilarious to deeply powerful, every one of them with an unseen twist. Here’s one story at this blog post, but continue reading below for an extra two stories to get a glimpse into “Blown Away.”

But, where to get it, you ask? Click any of the buttons below to go to your preferred place of purchase, and pre-order now!

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The Process

After challenging ourselves to writing 300 words or fewer stories in the 2nd ‘Life’ Series book, “Dusty Remains,” we decided to go a little crazier and try out 50 words or fewer stories. We wrote and wrote, and after perhaps some 75 stories, we whittled it down to 50.

But nope. We had to give you the best of the best. Only 25 out of that fifty survived the cut, and we went writing again. Fifty word stories might sound easy, but yeah, it’s a little tricky. One of our key processes were to choose three random words, and construct a story out of that. For example, from the story “Ashes to Ashes”, we chose the words: dust, counselor, and keys, and this what was formed:

Ashes to Ashes

As the dust cloud covered the horizon, Mr. Henderson with wide eyes rushed us back into the van.

The pack of wild dogs sprung from the dust and tore into our camp counselor…just as I saw the van keys laying in the grass.

We finally got to fifty great stories (out of a pool of probably 150+), and put together “Blown Away.”

But why not give you an extra treat? We contacted one of our favorite artists, Peter Underhill, to create a series of beautiful pen illustrations to accompany fourteen key stories. Our book cover designer, Moe Pike Soe, created a slamming book cover for us, and then it was time for it to hit the presses. And now, that’s where you come in:

The Worthington Challenge

You have the option to pre-order the book now, and receive it on February 14th, 2015. But meanwhile, tell all your short story-lovin’, rabid-readin’, need-a-break-from-the-daily-hustle-and-want-a-good-short-entertaining-book friends to check out “Blown Away.” Moreover, we’ve also introduced something new – a good, fun challenge – so you can win something extra as well. If you can read one Blown Away story a day, for fifty days, and then e-mail us your experience to paul@paulworthingtonbooks.com, you will win a free copy of our latest, soon-to-be-released short story, “Three Sheets to the Wind.” But be aware…there’s only fifty winners. (We really like the number fifty, as you can see.) Pre-order, read, and review as soon as possible!

Every one of these stories are God-inspired. Without Him, they would not have been possible. And we thank you for being a part of this process with us. Your support encourages us every day, and we truly wrote these stories just for you: whether you simply love short stories, are intrigued by flash fiction, or are looking for a book that gives you a great read without taking you months to read it, “Blown Away” is for you. Pre-order at the available places below, and get ready to be blown away…

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