Friday, August 28, 2015

Rick Barry: Do You Have Regrettable Elements From Your Past?

Everyone's Story welcomes multi-published author and church-planter/missionary, Rick Barry. As a co-client of our agent, the amazing Linda S. Glaz, I've had the pleasure to get to know Rick these past few years and I'm thrilled he agreed to be my guest. An encourager, Rick shares with us this week how to let go of the past in order to move forward and parallels this with the characters of his new release this September, THE METHUSELAH PROJECT. Please check out Rick's dynamic BookGiveaway. Both Rick and I look forward to hearing from you!




BookGiveaway:
Rick is offering 1 printed copy of  his novel THE METHUSELAH PROJECT to 1 randomly chosen commenter. The winner will be announced here on Friday, September 4th between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment (you may choose to use the Contact Me form to privately send me your email address--the form is in the right-hand sidebar on the blog's main page, toward the bottom).


Back Cover Copy:
During World War II, German scientists started many experiments. One never ended. 

Shot down over Nazi Germany in 1943, Roger Greene becomes both a prisoner and an unwilling guinea pig in a bizarre experiment. Seventy years later, Roger still appears as youthful as the day he crash-landed—and he’s still a prisoner. Nearly insane from his long captivity, Roger finds his only hope in an old Bible.

Not until our present time does Roger finally escape from the secret society running the Methuselah Project. When he does, the modern world has become a fast-paced, perplexing place. His only option is to accept the help of Katherine Mueller—crack shot, go-getter, and attractive to boot. Can he convince her of the truth of his crazy story? And can he continue to trust her when he finds out she works for the very organization he’s trying to flee?


You’re Not a Prisoner of Your Past by Rick Barry

Right now, someone reading these words feels hindered by the past. You might be a woman who had a child out of wedlock and gave it up for adoption. You may be a man who fought and struggled to open his own dream business—only to see it collapse in dismal failure. That regrettable element could be any of a thousand things, but even if you read nothing else in this blog feature, understand this: you don’t have to remain a failure because of your past.

In my new novel, The Methuselah Project, my main character Roger Greene is haunted by mysteries in his own past. In fact, he doesn’t even know exactly who or what he is because his earliest childhood memories are of the orphanage where he grew up. Even though Roger is intelligent, even though he’s handsome, and even though he becomes an ace fighter pilot in World War II, as an adult he struggles with his own sense of self-worth.

Why didn’t he grow up with a regular family like other kids? Was he the unwanted result of an illicit affair? Perhaps the unfortunate offspring of a prostitute? Or maybe he had a mother and father who were so dirt poor that they simply could not afford to keep him? But no matter which scenario was true, why was it that no one at the orphanage had ever offered even the vaguest of answers to his questions? Making matters worse, after German fighter planes shoot down his P-47 in WW II, Roger doesn’t get sent to a regular POW camp. Instead, he becomes an unwilling guinea pig in a secret Nazi experiment.



Roger’s romantic interest, Katherine, must also face questions from the past. I won’t reveal the plot, but many of those problems exist in the person of her one living relative, Uncle Kurt.

Failure to separate yourself from the past—mistakes, shortcomings, unwise decisions, whatever—makes you a victim. That attitude is like living with an enormous anchor shackled to one leg, and that anchor prevents you from achieving happiness and your full potential. But your life doesn’t have to be that way. You can learn from past mistakes. You can ask for God’s help in overcoming the source of unhappiness and plant your feet on a new path in life. God is an expert at redeeming lives and giving them new directions.

At this point, I don’t want to offer spoilers about my suspense novel and its dose of romance. What I can say is that both Roger and Katherine must face their past, each in his own way. The Methuselah Project packs a variety of emotions. Readers will alternately laugh, cry, share the characters’ frustrations, and fear for their lives. In the end, though, is that satisfying conclusion that makes the journey worth it all.

If you decide to read The Methuselah Project, I hope you’ll tell me. Better yet—tell others if you like it!

Rick's Ah-hahs To Tweet:
Like #ChristianSuspense novels with a twist? Meet author Rick Barry @WriterRickBarry #BookGiveaway (Tweet This)

Everyone’s Story: @WriterRickBarry, author WW II #suspense #BookGiveaway of The Methuselah Project (Tweet This)

Are you a prisoner of your past? See what author @WriterRickBarry advises. (Tweet This)

Authors' Bio:
Rick Barry has authored three novels (Gunner's Run, Kiriath's Quest, and now The Methuselah Project), plus hundreds of published articles, short stories, and devotional pieces. He speaks Russian and has visited Eastern Europe over 50 times. His experiences have included skydiving, mountain climbing, rappelling, camping in Russia, visiting Chernobyl, white-water rafting, and visiting World War II battlegrounds. He believes that all experiences in life provide fuel for a writer's imagination. Rick and his wife Pam live near Indianapolis.

Places to connect with Rick:
  

31 comments:

  1. Congrats on your release Rick! You know I love a good WWII drama with romance story!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, J'nell. I'm reading Rick's newest novel now and am quite intrigued!

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    2. Thank you, J'nell. I've been excited to see many positive comments about it around the Internet. :)

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  2. Rick, what a super idea for a plot! Since I love the WWII era and understand the obstacles in triumphing over your past, it would be pure pleasure to read your book. Thanks for sharing here - I hope you keep writing more stories like this!

    gkittleson at myomnitel dot com

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    1. Gail, it's always nice to see you here. I also enjoy the tension in a WWII, to see how people survive, overcome, and thrive.

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    2. Gail, thanks for commenting. Aren't the WW II years fascinating? Within a few short years, so many interesting (and tragic) events happened all around the globe. There is always more to learn.

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  3. I think that is a story I need to read! Thanks for the introduction to a new to me author!
    dkstevensne AToutlookD OtCo M

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    1. Deanna, I so enjoy when you visit! I'm also happy I can showcase a new author to you.

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    2. Deanna, I'm glad you found this blog and like the description of The Methuselah Project. If you decide to read it, I hope you'll tell others. If you don't like it... uh... mum's the word! ;)

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  4. Elaine, thanks for sharing Rick's story with us.

    Rick - so easy for us to allow our pasts to haunt us and determine our future. But look at Peter, within a couple of months he went from betraying Jesus to leading the Church.

    Wishing you all the very best with your launch.

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    1. Ian, I'm glad you visited with us. Funny, I was just reading about Peter in my devotionals this morning, and I agree. God distinctly wants us each to overcome a certain past to move forward and ultimately glorify Him.

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    2. Ian, excellent example! Humanly speaking, Peter had every reason to consider himself a failure at pretending he didn't know Jesus. But when he fully understood the Lord forgave him and still had plans for him, he stopped allowing the past to defeat him. And the Apostle Paul, who used to throw Christians into prison? Despite that atrocious beginning, he went on to accomplish wonderful things for the Lord!

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  5. Wow! This story sounds really interesting. Thanks, Elaine, for introducing me to another new-to-me author! And I so agree that our mistakes don't define us. God can take any mistake and bring good out of it.

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    1. Always a pleasure to see you, Pat! I am so grateful and relieved that my past and mistakes don't define me!

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    2. Patricia, thanks for dropping by and for sharing. How amazing that God can take us flawed humans and remold us into new vessels fit for the Master's use.

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  6. A fabulous post thank you. Looking forward to this.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. Mary, thanks for joining Rick and me this week. I'm pleased that Rick's post resonated with you.

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    2. Mary, thanks for reading and commenting. May many blessings from the Lord be yours, both today and every day!

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  7. Certainly an intriguing plot idea! I'd love to read it.
    frontiersoffaith@annaleeconti.com

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    1. Thanks for visiting, AnnaLee. I'm just in the beginning of Rick's novel, but am enjoying it!

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    2. Thanks Annalee. If you decide to give this book a try, I hope you enjoy it!

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  8. You're carrying such an important message in your book, Rick!
    It seems to be so much a part of the human condition to hold
    on to the past, when the Lord wants us to look forward. I'm
    guilty of this struggle myself.

    Elaine, thank you for sharing Rick's message in your blog
    this week. What a powerful reminder!

    kerouser[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Kathy. I absolutely agree with you regarding Rick's message.

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    1. I'm sailing through this fast-paced story right now, Kathy, and am enjoying it.

      Thanks for visiting.

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    2. Thanks, Kathy. I hope you give it a try!

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    3. Happy sailing, Elaine. Glad to hear you're enjoying it!

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  10. Rick, we all have things we've done that we wished we hadn't. Praise God that when He died on the cross He took our past and it is no more.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Janet, so nice to see you again! And let's not forget how He allows for U-turns. Praise God because I'm not sure if I or anyone would stand a chance if it wasn't for His ultimate love.

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    2. Hi Janet (aka, Library Lady). Yes, Jesus can heal the broken-hearted and use that which was once unusable. He wipes away tears and gives a new and new future to those who trust in Him. Blessings to you!

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  11. What a inspirational and fun week it's been on Everyone's Story this past week with my guest, author Rick Barry. Thanks, Rick, for being a wonderful guest, active and helpful in responding to commenters and promoting your feature. I hope this week has blessed you as much as I sense that it has blessed your viewers.

    Thanks for the great Giveaway of your new release, THE METHUSELAH PROJECT. And, the winner of Rick's novel is…

    Janet, the Library Lady. Yay, Janet!! Both Rick and I will contact you in direct emails. Happy reading!

    Blessings to all.

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