Christian Thrillers Speak to Selection of New Pope

Long Island, NY – Novelist Ray Keating not only pens Christian thrillers that take readers on exciting rides, but he manages to weave into those tales a host of issues that speak to and challenge Christianity today.

That includes speculation as to who might succeed Benedict XVI as pope for the Roman Catholic Church.

Keating said, “There’s a great deal of speculation that the next pope will come from Africa, Asia or Latin America. That makes sense given the growing importance of those regions within global Christianity. And that’s exactly why in my Pastor Stephen Grant novels, I’ve had one pope hail from Nigeria, and another from the Dominican Republic.”

Keating has written three Christian thrillers – WARRIOR MONK: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL, ROOT OF ALL EVIL? A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL, and AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL. He is working on his next book.

While the novels mix action, intrigue, compelling characters, humor, and mystery, they also touch on issues that will affect the next pope and all of Christianity, including religious liberty, moral relativism, money and the economy, militant secularism, radical Islam, and the role of Holy Scripture.

U.S. Congressman Peter King (R-NY) has called Keating’s work “a fast-moving, riveting read right out of today’s – and tomorrow’s – headlines.” A recent reviewer echoed this: “Ray Keating has a knack for writing on topics that could be pulled from tomorrow's headlines.”

WARRIOR MONK: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL, ROOT OF ALL EVIL? A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL, and AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL are available at Amazon.com.

In addition to being a novelist, Keating is a newspaper columnist with the Dolan Company and formerly with Newsday, an economist, an entrepreneur and an adjunct college professor.

Regarding Keating’s thrillers, reviewers and commentators have used phrases like “fun adventure romp,” “a fun, intriguing read,” and “a good read, both as pure thriller entertainment and for pondering the Christian mind.”

Amazon.com readers have compared Ray Keating’s thrillers to the works of Clancy, Ludlum, Grisham, and Cussler.

Review copies, interviews for the media, and author appearances are available upon request.

Contact: Ray Keating

Phone: 631-909-1122

E-mail: KeatingReports@aol.com

PastorStephenGrant.com

Book Excerpt from "An Advent for Religious Liberty"

Adam Pritchett is the mayor-elect of New York City in An Advent for Religious Liberty: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating. Here's Chapter Two from that thriller, which makes clear Pritchett's intentions regarding his attacks on religious liberty.

Chapter 2

After a brief hesitation, Maureen Donahue accepted Mayor-elect Pritchett’s offer to become his press secretary for the transition team and for the Pritchett administration when it took office on January 1.

She clearly was pleased when Pritchett said, “Maureen, now that the campaign is over, I’m going to be communicating with the media more directly.” He added, “Let’s call a press conference for this coming Monday. I’ll be announcing my first appointments.”

So, less than a week after his historic victory, Mayor-elect Adam Pritchett stood before a throng of television, newspaper, Internet, radio and magazine reporters in the lobby of the audacious Pritchett Building on Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan.

Pritchett introduced three of his five deputy mayors, and his chief policy advisor.

Pritchett’s selection to be deputy mayor for economic development was Dean Havenport. He had been with Pritchett for many years as the city government liaison with Pritchett NYC Enterprises, Inc. Another longtime employee and close advisor on political and personal donations, Carter Dujas, was made Pritchett’s chief policy advisor.

But once the floor was opened to questions from the press, which had never happened before with Pritchett, it was all about his campaign night declarations on religion and the public life of the city.

Pritchett did not seem to be overly bothered by the questions, but he attempted several times to bring the focus back to his appointments. The press, sensing an opportunity to hurt this politician who ignored them throughout his run for office, failed to relent.

A New York Post columnist inquired, “Mayor-elect Pritchett, didn’t your comments on Election Night, in effect, tell people of faith to take a hike, that there was no place for them in your administration or even in the life of New York City?”

The controlled anger seen on the previous Tuesday night reappeared on Pritchett’s face. “Okay, if this is how it’s going to go, fine. My comments on Tuesday night were not meant to exclude anyone from my effort to turn this city around, or to exclude anyone from contributing positively to the energy and life of our city. What it was meant to do was make clear that religion should not be a part of those efforts and should not be in the public life of our city in general. I believe in a very strict separation of church and state, and have seen little of value come out of religion. If you believe in some Supreme Being or force, that’s your business. You obviously have that right, but keep it as your private business. There’s no justification for it to be in our political and public lives.”

That generated tremendous buzz among the assembled press corps, whose hands shot in the air, with many members calling out Pritchett’s name and title to get his attention. Standing behind Pritchett, Havenport looked non-phased, even uninterested, in the current flurry of activity. Meanwhile, Dujas positively beamed. As for Donahue, she couldn’t hide her discomfort.

Pritchett faced the shouts, flashes and cameras with his anger replaced by a calm delight. He was even smiling as he selected a New York Times reporter.

She asked, “Mayor-elect Pritchett, what about religious groups involved in helping to provide various social services, help for the homeless, education, and health care to those in need in the city?”

Pritchett replied, “To the extent that those services are supplied in partnership with city government, or if city funds are involved, those efforts will be re-evaluated by my administration.”

That declaration created an even louder response among the media, and a bigger smile from Carter Dujas.

Lutheran Thrillers as Thrilling Christmas Gifts

Why not exciting Christian thrillers as Christmas gifts for family, friends and colleagues?

Consider Ray Keating’s three novels featuring Stephen Grant, former CIA operative turned Lutheran pastor.

During Advent and Christmas, a newly elected New York mayor attacks religious liberty and Christianity with deadly consequences in An Advent for Religious Liberty: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel.

Amazon.com reviewer declared: “Keating once again shows he weaves a good story that keeps your interest as well as exploring important topics. Can't wait for the next Stephen Grant novel to come out.”

http://www.amazon.com/An-Advent-Religious-Liberty-Stephen/dp/1480174491/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351260469&sr=8-1&keywords=An+Advent+for+Religious+Liberty

Money influences people in all kinds of ways – sometimes for the better, but sometimes it’s about greed and envy. That’s clear in Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel.

Amazon.com reader observed: “Keating has once again delivered a page-turning thriller.”

http://www.amazon.com/Root-All-Evil-Pastor-Stephen/dp/1479112194/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345549879&sr=1-1&keywords=Root+of+All+Evil%3F+by+Keating

When a pope offers a controversial proposal for global Christianity, reactions range from prayerful hope to murder in Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel.

An Amazon.com reviewer declared recently: “All of my friends have been urging me to read this book. I finally listened to them. This book is a great read!”

http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Monk-Pastor-Stephen-Grant/dp/1453801030/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284850170&sr=1-1

Enjoy these Christian thrillers yourself, and share them as Christmas gifts.

Reviewers compare Keating with Clancy, Cussler, Ludlum, Morrell, and Grisham.

Please “Like” the Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/PastorStephenGrantNovels

Follow Ray Keating, the creator of Pastor Stephen Grant, on Twitter @RevGrantNovel

Book Reviews of Pastor Stephen Grant Novels

Nice reviews of Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel and An Advent for Religious Liberty: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel in the "Liturgy, Hymnody & Pulpit Quarterly Book Review."

http://lhpqbr.blogspot.com/2012/12/noted-review-lutheran-fiction.html

St. Ambrose on December 7 and in Warrior Monk

The life and contributions made by St. Ambrose are noted on December 7.

St. Ambrose also was highlighted in Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, as a good portion of the story takes place in the St. Ambrose Retreat House on the Gold Coast of Long Island.

Pope Augustine in the novel talks a bit about St. Ambrose in the following excerpt from the novel:

Grant was now following the Pope, his aides and security entourage up the staircase in the castle’s main lobby. 

Augustine stopped at the statue of St. Ambrose, and gazed at it. As this continued for several seconds, a silence descended in the large chamber. The Pope said, “He was interesting, St. Ambrose. During a tumultuous time of disagreement in the latter part of the fourth century, he tried to keep peace among Christians in Milan. And he was not even baptized when clergy and the people called for him to become the bishop. He did not want the job, but finally acquiesced, was baptized, and eight days later became the bishop. He would be one of the great Latin Doctors of the Church. And as we talk about the Church’s role in the public arena now, it is worth recalling that Ambrose previously was a lawyer and politician who came to be a powerful voice in the Church for celibacy and voluntary poverty. If that happened today, few, I think, would doubt the transformative power of faith in our Lord.” The Pope smiled, and most everyone else joined in with his infectious laugh.

Read more in Warrior Monk.

Catholics and Lutherans and Religious Liberty

From An Advent for Religious Liberty: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel:

"These two men, despite differences on various issues of doctrine and interpretation of Scripture, spoke for another forty minutes, not as one Catholic priest and one Lutheran pastor, but as two Christians called and compelled in a unified mission to protect the Church of Jesus Christ, as well as the liberty of all to practice and speak out for their religion."

Get the book here.

Religious Liberty, Advent and Bonhoeffer

Among the quotes to open An Advent for Religious Liberty: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating is the following from Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes, does various unessential things, and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent." 

Get the book at

http://www.amazon.com/An-Advent-Religious-Liberty-Stephen/dp/1480174491/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351260469&sr=8-1&keywords=An+Advent+for+Religious+Liberty

Religious Liberty Under Attack in an Advent-Christmas Thriller

Religious liberty is under assault in the world of politics. It’s also under attack in the latest exciting thriller from Ray Keating titled AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL.

Advent and Christmas approach. It’s supposed to be a special season for Christians. But it’s different this time in New York City. The Catholic Church has been called a “hate group.” And it’s the newly elected mayor of New York City who has set off this religious and political firestorm. Some people react with prayer – others with violence and murder.

Stephen Grant, former CIA operative turned pastor, faces deadly challenges during what becomes known as “An Advent for Religious Liberty.” Grant works with the Cardinal who leads the Archdiocese of New York, the FBI, current friends, and former CIA colleagues to fight for religious liberty, and against dangers both spiritual and physical.

AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL is a thriller torn from today’s headlines. It’s a different, fast-paced, action-packed story of politics trying to undermine faith during the Advent and Christmas season.

AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY can be purchased from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/An-Advent-Religious-Liberty-Stephen/dp/1480174491/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351260469&sr=8-1&keywords=An+Advent+for+Religious+Liberty.

The Kindle version is available at http://www.amazon.com/An-Advent-Religious-Liberty-ebook/dp/B009XDS8NG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1351281825&sr=1-1&keywords=An+Advent+for+Religious+Liberty.

Keating’s previous books include ROOT OF ALL EVIL? A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL and WARRIOR MONK: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL. In addition to being a novelist, Keating is a newspaper columnist with the Dolan Company and formerly with Newsday, economist, entrepreneur and adjunct college professor.

Regarding Keating’s thrillers, reviewers and commentators have used phrases like “fun adventure romp,” “a fun, intriguing read,” and “a good read, both as pure thriller entertainment and for pondering the Christian mind.”

Amazon.com readers have compared Ray Keating’s thrillers to the works of Clancy, Ludlum, Grisham, and Cussler.

Review copies, interviews for the media, and author appearances are available upon request.

Contact: Ray Keating

Phone: 631-909-1122

E-mail: KeatingReports@aol.com

PastorStephenGrant.com

Big Thumbs Up on "Root of All Evil?"

A reader review on Amazon.com about Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating:

"Keating has once again delivered a page-turning thriller. In an interesting way, he has shown the powerful influence that the love money has in international economics, politics, and in the Church. Pr. Grant continues to evolve as a lead character, and the supporting cast promises more opportunities for twists and turns in books yet to come. I highly recommend this book, no matter what your interests may be - there is something for everyone from action to romance to politics to religious thought. Make some coffee and clear your schedule...you won't want to put this book down!" 

Get the book at http://www.amazon.com/Root-All-Evil-Pastor-Stephen/dp/1479112194/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345549879&sr=1-1&keywords=Root+of+All+Evil%3F+by+Keating

Vote Grant in 2012!

Stephen Grant in 2012!

Tired of Barack Obama?

Not sure about Mitt Romney?

Well, what about a patriot who fought for the USA as a Navy SEAL?

A man who put his life on the line with the CIA.

A man of action, character and faith!

Why not vote for Pastor Stephen Grant?

Who is this guy?

Get his story right now at Amazon.com:

Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel

Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel

Money, Greed and Envy

From Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel: "The love of money, indeed, is a root of all kinds of evils, including, for example, the sins of both greed and envy."

Get the book here.

Conservatives in New York?

Conservatives in New York!!?? Yes.

The New York Conservative Party gets a shout out in Ray Keating’s Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel.

Get the book here.

Excerpt from Root of All Evil? by Ray Keating

From Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating: 

"For a CIA agent, she was something of an enigma. Her job demanded the ability to blend into a crowd. Yet, her striking beauty and self-confidence meant that Paige drew attention. Of course, she used all of this to her advantage in both her professional and personal lives, and sometimes in acts of playful self-indulgence."

Get the book at http://www.amazon.com/Root-All-Evil-Pastor-Stephen/dp/1479112194/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345549879&sr=1-1&keywords=Root+of+All+Evil%3F+by+Keating