Authors.

Beverly Armstrong

“Bound soldiers can’t fight” is the conviction that led Beverly Armstrong to write her soon to be released book Messages of Deliverance. Based on her own experiences, this book is meant to address the challenges many Christians face, even after becoming committed followers of Jesus Christ. Beverly says that her struggles have given her both compassion and passion for other Christians who have yet to experience the true freedom we have in Christ.

Delivered by Grace will teach fellow Christians how to speak and live boldly, and live lives of strength in submission to God’s will. Delivered by Grace is currently available.

Beverly Armstrong says that “deliverance is my passion”, which is what led her to write and publish her first book, Poetic Messages of Deliverance.

Though she was born in Chicago , Beverly moved to Michigan when she was just three years old. Her mother moved the family after Beverly ’s father passed away. Beverly lived with her family in Three Rivers , Michigan until she graduated from high school. Then it was back to Chicago for business school.

Eventually, Beverly found herself back in Michigan and now lives in Detroit with her husband and children.

Beverly wrote poetry when she was younger, but didn’t think about pursuing a writing career until later in life when she enrolled in grad school. Her professors often used her papers as class examples. One professor even asked if she’d ever considered writing as a profession. She hadn’t considered writing, because she intended to become a Social Worker. Unfortunately, she became disenchanted with the field before she even graduated! When she found herself, on her graduation day, helping another student write a paper, she began to think more seriously about writing.

Now, as she prepares to release her second book, Beverly marvels at the privilege of being a conduit for God’s message.

“I asked God to anoint me to write, and promised that if He did, I’d use His gift to help others. I know that I hold the pen, but He’s gotta write. Otherwise, it’s about nothing.”

Deborah Burch - God's Greatest Gift

Deborah Burch, a graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids life has been a series of miracles.  Writing a book is just one more of them.

The words of this book came to me in a dream several years ago,” she explains. “And I knew that I was supposed to write it.”

But, with five children at the time and a full-time job at an artist’s studio, she wasn’t sure how to fit it in her busy life. So, she put the poem in a drawer.

This is certainly not the first book that was inspired by a late-night dream or that was shelved for a lengthy period of time, but the series of events that led to its publication may indeed fall under the classification of a miracle.

God’s Greatest Gift is “all about love,” she says. “Each of our six children has a page of the book dedicated especially to them.”

Deb Burch has a sincere and deep-rooted belief that her family and her new career is, indeed, a miracle—one certainly not of her own making.

“Writing a book is the last thing I’d ever have thought I’d do and here it is,” she says. “The Lord leads you down certain paths and He makes your weaknesses your strengths.”

Deb Burch knows she has much to be grateful for. It’s no wonder that her next book will be about giving thanks ... to family, to friends, to mentors, and most of all, to God.

Rose Dyer - Words From Heaven

Rose Dyer is a unique writer with a strong ear for the Word of God.

As a Prayer Partner for her church, Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, Rose is constantly working on the frontlines for God, and has a gift for teaching people that ALL who are at work for God are serving a bigger purpose. Rose is also a teacher of one-year-olds for God’s Little Kingdom, where she provides for both the physical and emotional needs of her small charges.

In her first book with Zoe Life Publishing, Words from Heaven, Rose shares her life experiences and the words from God that pulled her through her challenges.  Rose’s conversational style and real-life examples allow her readers to know that the God who speaks so clearly to her can speak just as clearly to them if they will open their hearts to Him.

Rose currently lives in Bethany, Oklahoma and serves as the Local Administrative Secretary on the board of Women’s Aglow International.  She is married to her loving husband, James, and the two share two daughters: Ashley and Tiffany.

Terri Evans - Humphrey's Shiney New Halmet

Signed as a Zoe Life Publishing author in December of 2005, Terri Evans’ first book, Humphrey’s Shiny New Halmet, is scheduled for release in 1^st quarter of 2007.

Her book tells the fictional story of a little boy’s salvation. The little boy, in this case, is an egg, which makes the story fun for children!

The title of the book references Ephesians 6, in which the apostle Paul tells believers to “put on the whole armor of God”. Terri plans to eventually write a whole series of books, each focusing on one element of the Ephesians 6 passage.

Having never written anything before, Terri’s only inspiration was the Holy Spirit.

“It’s just something God dropped into my heart,” she says.

Terri currently lives in Belleville with her husband of 12 years and her daughter. She is a high school teacher, a position she’s held for 13 years.

Terri is excited for the release of her first book and prays that “the book will be used to reach not just children but whole families.”

Joshua Johnson

Author and Illustrator of “When A Kid Dreams”

Joshua earned his Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Michigan. He works as the Creative Coordinator for Zoe Life Publishing. He currently lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan with his wife Kenya. Joshua enjoys attending church, reading, writing, drawing, playing basketball, table tennis, and singing in the shower.

Chamira Jones - Designer & Illustrator "Days Forgotten"  

Chamira Jones was born on October 15, 1984 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and was raised in Detroit. She has always loved art, although she did not seriously consider it as a profession until her senior year in high school. She is currently an undergraduate senior in the University of Michigan School of Art and Design and is concentrating in illustration and graphic design. She will be graduating at the end of April 2006. Among her interests, she loves learning about other cultures and languages, including Spanish, Yiddish, and German. She also enjoys writing novels and short stories. Her passions lie in seeking God and pushing herself in the areas of creativity.

Janice Jones - Still Standing

Janice Renee Jones life long resident of the Detroit Metropolitan area and wife and mother of two sons, two stepdaughters and grandmother to one grandson. 

Janice says, "I did not set out to become an author/writer as I considered careers for myself.  My first choice was a prosecuting attorney."

Writing sas always been something that came easily for her.  English was a subject that required the least amount of my study time. Yet writing was not her passion until after she became an avid reader. 

She started out writing poetry just for fun and release, but always received such high praise even letters she would write to friends and relatives always seemed to take on the life of a short story. 

She accepted Christ as her Lord in May of 1999.   About one year later she heard God speak very distinctly to her telling her to write His Woman, His Wife, His Widow, her first novel.  Obediently but slowly she wrote the book.

Jance met with Sabrina Adams, Director of Publishing at Zoe Life in December of 2005 and presented her with a collection of essays, short stories and poems for publication.  After reading the first short story, Sabrina told Janice that she had the makings of a book in just the first few paragraphs.  Sabrina encouraged Janice to go back and put her all into detailing what she had only mentioned.  From that advice came Still Standing.   

Melvin Larson "Days Forgotten"

Melvin Larson was born on December 24th 1926 in Sioux Falls South Dakota. As a child, he was naturally interested in chemistry and science. He graduated from Augustana College with a Bachelor’s Degree and from the University of North Dakota with a Master’s Degree in Organic Chemistry. He would later work in many laboratories though out his life. From February 8, 1945 until November 1946, he served in the army. He has also done extensive volunteer work, such as working with the Neighborhood Senior Services of Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Housing Bureau for Seniors, and the 2nd Ward Democrats of Ann Arbor. Among his most important accomplishments are helping to establish and working at the Thurston Nature Center for 25 years, and receiving an award for being the best male volunteer at the Veteran’s Hospital of Ann Arbor in 1999. While working at a hotel in Lake Okoboji, Iowa, he met his wife Bonnie. They married the following year on December 24th 1950, and he adopted her daughter from her previous marriage. In 1965, they moved to Ann Arbor and are still happily married today. They have one son together, who now has children of his own.

Phillip Loving, Sr.

Philip Loving, Sr. has been writing for over 20 years. Last year, at the prompting of family and friends, he decided it was time to share some of his writing with the rest of the world. It is with a great deal of excitement that Zoe Life Publishing signed this up-and-coming author, and published his first book.  He is now in the process of editing his second book to be published by Zoe Life Publishing, Modern Day Parables - Man Who is He, due out mid-year in  2006.

Lazy Squirrel has a Change of Heart gives the public it’s preliminary look at a very talented writer, telling a very timeless story. This children’s book follows the life of a lazy, inconsiderate squirrel who’s experiences cause him to change his lazy ways.

The inspiration for the story came from everyday life. Phillip enjoys getting up early to write and “watch the environment come to life. Next time you see two squirrels running around,” he says, “you’ll see the inspiration for the lazy squirrel and the busy squirrel.”

Some young people see the lazy squirrel in themselves, too. Phillip recalls a time when he was approached by a seven year old girl who said she didn’t want to be the lazy squirrel anymore. He was touched, and thankful to know that his message, about the importance of making good decisions and of being responsible for your decisions, was getting across.

In his spare time, Philip volunteers at the Maxey Boys Training Center in Whitmore Lake , Michigan , where he has logged hundreds of volunteer hours.

Catherine Marek

Catherine Marek has been writing since she was eight years old. She even wrote for her high school newspaper. When asked why she finally published a book, she attributed it to God’s timing, and being at the “right place and right time” in her life.

Her children’s book series, 1^st Haircut, contains two storybooks, and a coloring book that comes with crayons. The books, one for boys and one for girls, are about the anxiety that some children face when they get their first haircut.

The idea came from a combination of her career as a hairstylist, and books she had seen about – believe it or not - potty training. Her career had shown her that some children are worried, and even scared, when they get their first haircut. After seeing some books on potty training, she wondered if anyone had ever published a book about a child’s first haircut. Her research indicated that no one had, so she set out to break new ground.

The series has been a great success. She’s heard from people all over the region. Catherine has plans for another book series, though she’s not sharing any of the details just yet.

“We’ll see how that goes,” she says.

Catherine is a long term resident of Michigan, where she enjoys being a wife and mom, in addition to being a published author and full-time hair stylist. Oh, and she enjoys bowling, too!

Cheryl Wakes

Dialogue with God is Cheryl Wakes’ first book with Zoe Life Publishing. She would say that her partnership with Zoe was divinely appointed, and you just might agree with her!

Cheryl and Sabrina Adams (founder of Zoe Life Publishing) met through a mutual acquaintance who passed Cheryl’s phone number on to Sabrina. Sabrina called her first thing the next morning, and invited Cheryl to an expo where Zoe Life had a booth. Cheryl went, met with Sabrina and saw some of the existing Zoe Life publications. She was impressed with booth. It wasn’t long before she had signed on as Zoe’s newest author.

The inspiration for Dialogue with God came mostly from Cheryl’s own relationship with God, and her desire to help people know how to hear Him and build and intimate relationship with Him.

“A lot of times,” she says, “people don’t realize the Lord will speak if we wait.”

Dialogue with God paints a picture of the ways we can hear from God if we take the time to listen.

Cheryl was also very intentional about including examples of God speaking through dreams and visions “because people don’t think they happen today, but that they only happened in the bible.”

Cheryl currently teaches a Sunday school class on worship, and owned her own catering business for ten years. Now, in addition to being a full-time writer, she is a stay at home house wife.

She currently lives in East Cleveland with her husband Melvin.  Their daughter is a lieutenant in the army and is currently stationed in Texas .