Contact: Julie Solomon
Telephone: (615) 902-1722
Email: jsolomon@thomasnelson.com    

(Nashville, Tenn) – Influential and bestselling author Brennan Manning and John Blase bring to children the message of God’s love for them in the new book, Smack Dab in the Middle of God’s Love (ISBN: 978-1-4003-1713-4, $14.99). The new children’s book, releasing from Thomas Nelson September 6, 2011, help parents give children tangible examples of how God loves them.

In Smack Dab in the Middle of God’s Love, Manning and Blase discuss Abba, or God, and his love for the children. This book tells a story of a familiar man named Willie Juan from Manning’s other writings, including one of Manning’s personal favorites Patched Together, who ask the children of his village “Little friends, what is one thing you think Abba will ask you someday when you are in heaven?” The children talk about their fears, their hopes and finally come to understand that God’s love is not dependent upon what they do, God’s love is always there and they are smack dab in the middle of it.  Manning and Blase show in the writing that children can’t get away from God’s love, no matter what the cause or circumstance.

"Willie Juan and Ana are characters close to my heart,” says author Brennan Manning. “The chance to have them brought to life in a children’s story was one I couldn’t resist! I’m thrilled with how the book turned out. It’s beautiful!”

This book captures for children the same message that is told in Manning’s previous bestseller The Ragamuffin Gospel and upcoming to-be-released memoir All Is Grace. The characters in this story have a range of emotions and experiences that are much like those of Manning’s life. Manning hopes to offer the truth of God’s never ending grace in a story that is easy accessed by children, their parents and grandparents.

 “This book is a great example for children to know that God will love you no matter what struggles, background or experiences you have met in life. The fundamental truth in this bookthat runs throughout all of Brennan’s writings is God loves you and His grace is big enough for all of us,” says Laura Minchew, Vice President & Publisher Children and Gift Books.

Brennan Manning has spent the past forty years helping others experience the reality of God’s love and grace. It’s at the heart of everything he’s written and done. A recovering alcoholic and former Franciscan priest, he has walked a spiritual journey that has taken him down a variety of paths. He has taught seminarians, spoken to packed arenas, lived in a cave while laboring with the poor in Spain, and ministered to shrimpers in Alabama. Brennan is best known as the author of the contemporary classics The Ragamuffin Gospel, Abba’s Child, Ruthless Trust, The Importance of Being Foolish, Patched Together, and The Furious Longing of God.

John Blase is a writer, editor, and husband of one and father of three. He lives out West, but he’ll always be from the South. His books include Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas; Start With Me: A Modern Parable; and All Is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir(co-written with Brennan Manning). He ponders faithfully at http://thebeautifuldue.wordpress.com/. 

For more information, contact Julie Solomon, jsolomon@thomasnelson.com

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Product Details:
TITLE:  Smack Dab In The Middle of God’s Love
AUTHOR:  Brennan Manning and John Blase
ISBN#: 978-1-4003-1713-4
MSRP: $14.99
FORMAT:  Hardcover
PUB DATE:  September 6th, 2011

Publicity Contact:
Julie Solomon
Thomas Nelson Publishers
(615) 902-1722
jsolomon@thomasnelson.com    

Author is represented by the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc. 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, www.alivecommunications.com