Nancy Flinchbaugh

“In Revelation of the Roots, Nancy Flinchbaugh combines an incredibly diverse cast of characters, stirs them up, has them dig down to their very roots, and then has the roots actually rise up and speak to each other. It’s a coming together of beliefs, of passions, of people from all walks of life. Their joy in their discoveries and in each other leave the reader filled with a great sense of hope.”

“There’s power in the story, there is.” And the stories in this excellent novel help people better understand each other. The Magnificent and Marvelous Book Club (the MAMs) are back. This time their adventure takes them on a spiritual quest to Ireland, as they shepherd a group of men and women in recovery from drugs and alcohol on a trip to discover their roots. As they tour parts of Ireland, some of the travelers are helped on their mystical journey by visits from a leprechaun, St. Brigid, and an African American Sea Island matriarch, Grand Ma-Ma. Some characters fall in love, and all the travelers find that an exploration of their ancestral past helps them to focus on improving their future. People, struggling to find a way forward for themselves, found life-changing experiences in better understanding themselves and others. I found myself finishing the book in just a few days, and the characters and their stories stayed with me long after I quit reading. The strong characters were compelling as they engaged with each other and worked their way through discussions and disagreements in a (mostly) loving way. None of them were perfect, but they found their way forward with the love and support of others. This book is a deeply satisfying read. At a time when our country is ever more divided, this book seeks to help us find ways to reconcile and come together. It is an exploration of the healing power of spirituality and faith.

Nancy Flinchbaugh talent shines in Emerald Isle like a multi-faceted jewel, vibrant and preciously beautiful, she creates magic with world. I have read and enjoyed all her books but this one outshines her previous works. Must read for 2022 classics. Her spirituality is the key to create brilliant works.

Connecting the dots between environmentalism and contemplative practice
Nancy Flinchbaugh's latest offering is a friendly and accessible introduction to a variety of contemplative practices, but even more than that, it offers a truly holistic approach to a deeply earthy, embodied spirituality. If you want to connect the dots between mind and body, between spirit and matter, and between contemplation and action, this book will show you the way.

Excellent guide
This is a wonderful, practical introduction to the contemplative life. The author gives a wide range of possible practices along with very accessible direction for each one. I wish I had had this book many years ago, and I know it will be a big help to people beginning or looking to enrich their spiritual journeys.

The practice of contemplative living.
Throughout this time of quarantine, I have been keenly aware of slowing down, observing and watching. I find myself frequently becoming still and listening, as I witness the beauty of creation. Reading Nancy’s book, Awakening, was a perfect read for me during this time. It gave me practical ways to awaken my contemplative practice of living in the moment. Thank you, Nancy.

Interesting read
I intended to buy the Mark Twain collection of the same title, but I enjoyed this so I won't be returning it. An interesting concept that delivered on its premise.

Time to listen, respond
Fellow Higher Ground Books & Media author Nancy Flinchbaugh came up with an intriguing concept for a book. Since I was planning a road trip from Ohio to upstate New York, I decided to load the audio version of Letters from the Earth. In May 2015, the Earth “wrote” her a letter and told her to start a blog! Since then, she received more periodic letters from the Earth which encouraged, uplifted, and challenged her. The messages provided a fresh voice of Gaia/God, who calls her — and us — to slow down and take time to appreciate the miraculous nature of all, and to awaken to needed changes to avoid environmental destruction. While I don’t personally share her ecological doomsday passion, I do agree we all have a role to play as we strive for proper stewardship of the earth. I did like the format. Each of the 24 letters in the book was preceded by the circumstances of the day — concerning a garden party; about darkness in winter; at the beach; encouraging her to continue listening; and about a walk in the arboretum, for example. These established the back story for Earth’s letters and Nancy’s response. It was a nice blend. Nancy’s words — from the messages she received to her response — flow freely with emotion. You can sense her passion without getting hit over the head with it. You can easily recognize her deep relationships with family, friends and Mother Earth, giving you, as a reader, a similar relationship with people and places you do not personally know. Through Nancy, you become vested in them. The only negative I found — and this is not her fault as much as the medium (audiobook) — was many of the responses blended together. After awhile, the audiobook became white noise in the background while driving. {Actually, that a common complaint I have about audiobooks in general.} I suspect an actual book in hand might remedy this.

A book to enjoy!
Dancing between humor, excitement, and tragedy, Nancy cleverly educates and subtly challenges her audience to become one with each other and Mother Earth through her letters from Gaia.

Excellent read, did some growing
This was a very easy read, and very meaningful to me. I did some growing as a result. In particular, I am doing a better job of slowing down and appreciating the experience and details of food, music, a tree.

Very good book
History with a plot! I really enjoyed this book, the fictional plot and well-developed characters kept the history moving along.

A faith journey that spans centuries
This is the first of Nancy's books about the MAMS—the Magnificent and Marvelous book club. This adventure takes the MAMs far from home as they travel to Turkey to join an archaeological dig. A surprise discovery of a jar of ancient scrolls written by women followers of Jesus leads them to personal revelations of faith. The MAMs are the best part—women supporting each other in their journeys both physical and spiritual.

Surprise upon surprise!
As in an Alfred Hitchcock film, the book begins with a bullet shot at an unlikely person. Then in a series of flashbacks the reader is taken back to events that lead up to the shooting. But, ... wait... there's more! In a series of alternating chapters, we travel to the First Century to learn of the precedents that prompt all of the action some 2000 years later. In modern times' chapters there is a crescendo of action which builds chapter upon chapter to a surprising resolution. This novel contains characters who become very real and although the cast is fairly large, each person is engaging, bringing their own contribution to the tapestry. Reading this book will bring you on an interesting archeological dig, provide vivid pictures of Ephesus and environs, offer romantic interludes, religious searching, introduce strong women on personal quests, create intriguing suspense and ongoing questions about what can happen next. A most worthy first novel.

Revelation in the Cave
Revelation in the Cave is a good read. It has mystery, history, romance, and a strong spiritual mood throughout. The author provides a wealth of historical and biblical information, and she explores the Book of Revelations, arguably the Bible's most controversial component. But Flinchbuagh neither thumps the Bible nor pounds a fundamentalist pulpit; hers is an insightful, reasoned approach. Her characters are varied, well drawn, and engaging; the plot has sufficient twists and turns; the writing is sincere without becoming preachy or teachy. Buy this book. You'll enjoy it.

Not your average summer read
When I picked up Flinchbaugh's book, I was not quite sure what to expect, but, 8 hours later, after devouring the entire book in one "sitting," I had been pleasantly entertained and also given lots of good food for thought, too. The book is easy to read and fast-paced, but also includes some good food for thought. In an era when the "religious right" and the Left Behind series dictates so much of the public discourse on what Christianity looks and sounds like, it was refreshing to read a new take on biblical Christianity and spirituality that embraces nonviolence and holistic care for people.

I'm looking forward to the MAM's next adventures!

Fun and thought-provoking.
A fun, thought-provoking expedition that leads to self-discovery for several women. Will make you want to take a trip with your girlfriends! Also, inspired me to get my Bible out again and dust it off.

I love the MAMs!
What a fun and engaging story with characters you've surely met before, or could any day, because they are so real and multidimensional; but they are on an adventure most of us cannot even imagine. The story has a little bit of everything--suspense, mystery, travel to exotic locals, and more. I enjoyed it immensely and hope volume 2 of the adventures of these book club ladies comes along sooner rather than later.

Intriguing
A creative and engrossing story of spirituality and history that connects the biblical past to the divided political present in the United States. It kept me reading and I enjoyed it very much.

Inspiring exploration of faith and friendship
This is a touching and inspiring book that includes a great deal of important information about many critical and thought-provoking issues of our day, including domestic violence, alcoholism, climate change, and the criminal justice system. The MAMs, the Magnificent and Marvelous Book Club, are a group of women who love and support each other through life’s sometimes challenging times. In addition to taking care of each other, they reach out to others by starting an organic farm for women being released from prison. The farm gives women a place to start over, to heal, to find themselves, and to discover a way to move forward with their lives. The book is by turns profound, loving, inspiring, and touching. The well-crafted plot weaves a variety of issues and themes that keep the reader moving through a story that’s fascinating and engaging. A great deal of interesting and timely information is provided, but the author never lectures. The variety of characters and situations they move through are engrossing and enlightening. The strong, realistic characters are compelling as they engage with each other and work their way through discussions and disagreements in a courteous and loving way. It made me wish we could all learn to treat each other this respectfully all the time. Thomaseena, one of the main characters, is a prophet and poet who is struggling to reclaim her life after spending eight years in prison. Each time she walks the labyrinth, Thomaseena is given a poem that she writes down and shares. The poems are lovely and add another level of depth and caring to the spiritual journey they are all traveling on together. A deeply satisfying novel, this book is an exploration of faith, spirituality, and friendship that will cause you to reflect and learn. The love and ideas stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. I highly recommend it.

Thought-provoking and engrossing!
This novel packs in a lot of thought-provoking material about some of the most important issues of our time: domestic violence, alcoholism, flaws in criminal justice, climate change, and more. These themes are illuminated through an engrossing story that focuses primarily on two characters: Molly, a woman struggling to stay involved in life as she deals with breast cancer, and Thomaseena, who is discovering her voice as a poet and prophet in the wake of abuse and unjust imprisonment. These women interact with a wide cast of characters, including a Molly's book club whose members start an organic farm for women ex-offenders, the residents of the farm struggling to put their lives back together, captains of industry, and assorted other family members, friends, and acquaintances. Even though the narrative moves around among places and characters, the writing is easy to follow and well worth the effort.

Healing thru connecting to the earth.
This inspiring and thought provoking book shows how a determined group are called to make a difference in the lives of those who need their support and love. Healing thru connecting with the earth and God. A spiritual journey for all to experience that leaves you with the question: "What is God calling me to do on this earth."

This was a spectacular story about the strength of women and the love of God that brings them through their trials. The uniqueness that Nancy uses of poetry in her novel, is one that I thoroughly enjoyed. A must read!

Interesting characters!
Up and coming author. Love the characters in this book.

Inspiring, thought provoking story
This book deals with a LOT of serious issues--domestic violence, alcoholism, cancer, climate change, the criminal justice system--but not in a way which leaves the reader overwhelmed by any of them. They are all woven together in the stories of the characters in a way that makes you care about al the characters and what happens to them. While this is a work of fiction, it is full of information that will give the reader cause to stop and think about the above-mentioned issues, particularly the climate change. If you have a heart, this story will stay with you for a long time after reading it. This is the second book in the series, but it is easily read as a stand-alone story. I look forward to reading more about the ladies of the Magnificent and Marvelous book club.

In Revelation of the Labyrinth, Flinchbaugh brings to life ...
In Revelation of the Labyrinth, Flinchbaugh brings to life the power of the walking prayer, as she winds the tale of coming up to speed as a race; opening our consciousness to earth changes, our heart to help those who have fallen off their path, and the force of community in assisting the self and others healing process.

Lots to think about and enjoy.
This second adventure of the MAMs is a fast-moving story with a carefully crafted plot and many strong characters you won’t soon forget. It is a page turner saga full of hope, inspiration, adventure, and romance. The characters struggle with many issues that abound in our present society. Lots to think about and enjoy.