Paraclete titles

An absolutely delightful introduction for children to Thomas Merton

Exquisitely written and stunningly illustrated, this exploration of how different animals make it through winter as a metaphor for death and rebirth, or dark nights of the soul, or whatever you want, can be a daily Advent reflection book for adults and children alike. It can also just be a delightful and enriching read for anyone at any time. I fought at Paraclete to get this seemingly small book the first-tier treatment I knew it deserved, especially the perfect illustrator for it, which I found in David Klein. And it sold out its first print run within weeks. There is nothing I am not in love with about this book. It was an honor to be part of bringing it to print. Buy this book. You will be glad you did.

Jerusalem is a friend, and I was honored to acquire this title and edit her. The subtitle says it all—embracing our imperfectness is what it's about. While her first book was more about crafts and how to live spiritually, this is a much more honest take on the struggles behind the surface of that, and the spiritual principles and teachings that can help us through hard times. It is a remarkably enjoyable read for such heavy material.

One of the things Paraclete asked me to do was acquire its first fiction in a decade. When I met Kate, I knew I'd found a kindred spirit, and when I read her draft of this glorious novel, I knew I'd found our novel.

Sophfronia is an brilliant writer—check out her novels too. This memoir takes on the question of how you might raise a child in this secular world who wears their own faith like a loose and comfortable garment. Wise counsel from a brilliant friend.

Kaitlin's is an important new voice of the next generation of evangelical leaders. I'm honored to have acquired and edited her first book. This beautiful meditation/memoir about seeing the divine in the everyday is inspiring and fun.

One of the greatest blessings of my time as editor of Paraclete was meeting the amazing Redbud Writers Guild community. I met them through editing their words, and I met them in person. What a wealth of writing talent, inspiring and pushing each other.

Donna-Marie is a leading conservative Catholic voice, with frequent appearances on EWTN, including a show paired with this book, which offers a structure to family meals as a way both to bring family together and to transmit the Church's teaching to the next generation.

Combine the great children's book author Anne Neuberger with the amazing up-and-coming illustrator (and friend) Chloe Pitkoff, and add a story about diversity and inclusion: this picture book is one of the titles I'm most glad to have brough to print.

Laura Alary's previous book for Lent, Make Room, was a huge hit. I know many religious educators that use it. With the same approach, and same wonderful illustrator, Ann Boyojian, this title for Advent is bound to be equally appreciated.

On of the challenges I was given when I became editor at Paraclete was to find important new evangelical voices. I'm proud to be bringing Paul Marshall to a broader audience. He's a forward thinker in the charismatic world and this book carries a powerful message.

It was an honor and a delight to work with Rabbi David Zaslow on this valuable work exploring the various meanings of Exodus in religious tradition and in inspired secular movements like civil rights. One of my favorite things is how David explores Hebrew word play, so much of which is lost in translation.

This is one of those books that I have a feeling will be around for a very long time, shared between people for the amazing gift it offers. Roger is a very special person and this children's book (or is it?) is a pure expression of his desire to help people process feelings through art. Combined with his other texts on the subject, it forms a valuable tool kit for everyone. A book I am proud to have acquired and helped bring to the world.

You might not think the story of a man who's wife struggled through Alzheimer's is appealing, but this spiritual memoir is uplifting, challenging, and real. I was deeply honored to work with Carlen on such a personal project. The result is important reading not just for those whose lives are touched by Alzheimer's but for anyone on the spiritual journey (which is all of us.)

Megory Anderson and her Sacred Dying Foundation are doing important work helping people face the inevitability of death honestly. This book is an amazing resource; by completing it you will both make your wishes and views known and come to face and recognize some of your views about death for the first time. So much wisdom and experience is contained in its guiding prompts.

Not victory or escape, but shalom! When a transription of some old Krister Stendahl lectures came to me, I was delighted and honored to bring new words of his to a new generation, on a subject that is so relevant today: the inherent violence in most religious worldviews. Working with a former student and his wife, we created a useful and inspiring text, I think, enriched by a collection of responses from religious scholars in other traditions.

Anselm Grün is a German Benedictine monk with over 300 books selling more than 15 million copies combined. This gentle Advent reflection book is a taste of his wisdom.

A sequel to the St. Francis Prayer Book from Jon, with a wonderful take on the value of foolishness. Much needed in these overly serious and cynical times.

It says Thomas McPherson but it's really me. Part of the job as editor at Paraclete is compiling and editing product books like this one. I researched and found the prayers and wrote all the connecting text.

This collection of Christmas prayers is another one I compiled. These take more work than you might imagine, though it's fun too.

Another product book I compiled, this one was a special pleasure because the subject is dear to my heart—a wideranging collection of writing about simplicity and present moment awareness.

The first children's picture book I worked on, discovering how hard it was to find an illustrator. I found this up-and-coming artist though and love the result. A great story about understanding that the kingdom of God is here, not far away.

Honestly, as I prepared to edit this book, I was not expecting to enjoy it. A cranky old monk dispensing advice about life—but he's hilarious, and there's lots of solid advice here.

It was an honor to acquire and edit this book; I wish it could find its way into more hands. Brother Victor-Antoine is known for his cookbooks, but this is a fascinating and thougthful exploration of the many different ways of conceiving of Christ, and a meditation on the fact that we do so: In other words, the many ways we frame our understanding of the divine. He leans heavily on the Eastern Orthodox tradition which has done this over the centuries with more intentionality. This is a valuable work.

Long before the recent coloring book craze, Sybil MacBeth was promoting doodling and coloring as a calming and spiritual practice, and a way into prayer for those not raised in a tradition with unscripted prayer. In the midst of the craze, I worked with her to connect her work to it, in this very useful guide, and the three coloring books below. This book shows how to use coloring with different types of prayer. I knew Sybil's work before coming to Paraclete—had reviewed one of her books in fact—and it was a pleasure to finally meet and work with her.

Donna-Marie, as I said before, is a powerhouse in conservative Catholic circles. This small volume offers support and guidance to women in the context of St. John Paul II's view of women's role as essential but different, emphasizing motherhood.

Here's another product book I made. This one brings together the prayers for a Catholic household—prayers for the family, for the physical house itself, for rituals performed together, from a house blessing to grace before dinner. An eminently useful little book for Catholics, if I do say so myself.

Fr. Martin is a gentle soul and a thoughful pastor. One of the gifts of the job at Paraclete was spending time with him, as he is in the monastic community that owns it. This first of two books from Fr. Martin which use the Psalms as a base for daily reflections covers Lent. As long as you're not bothered by its reading of the Psalms through a Christocentric lens, this is a thought-provoking and inspiring way to encounter the Psalms anew.

See my note for According to Your Mercy. This is the second volume of Fr. Martin's reflections on the Psalms, this one for Advent. Wonderful.

Fr. Martin explores the role of heavenly messengers in Scripture. Each reading is paired with a beautiful image of angels from classic art, and a reflection by Fr. Martin. Delightful and thought-provoking.

A wacky imagining of what the animals might have said about St. Francis. This delightful illustrated read is a unique and fun way into the teachings of St. Francis for adults and children.