CHRISTINE SUNDERLAND is a well-known novelist from the San Francisco Bay Area. Her stories, set in Europe, Hawaii, and California, draw from the past but take place in the present, dealing with themes of love, suffering, faith, family, and freedom.
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April 3, 2024
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) has published Christine’s post, “Singing the Song of Life,” how Christian storytellers carve the conscience of our culture with life, resurrecting our world with each word.
January 24, 2024
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) has published Christine’s post, “Singing the Song of Truth,” how Christian storytellers lighten the darkness of our world.
Christine was honored to contribute the Foreword and a poem to Francis Etheredge’s most creative work, An Unlikely Gardener (Enroute, 2023): Prose and Poems.
Christine’s review of Francis Etheredge’s upcoming book, The Word in Your Heart: Mary, Youth, and Mental Health (Enroute, 2024) can be found here: “A Pilgrimage into Truth and Beauty.”
September 11, 2023
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) has published Christine’s post, Living the Story of America Rising, how Christian novelists invite readers to rise from the ashes of Nine-Eleven, to honor our heroes with truth, goodness, beauty, and love, and live the story of America rising.
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July 4, 2023
American Christian Fiction Writers has published Christine’s post, Living the Story of America’s Birth, how Christian fiction writers renew faith in America with stories that reflect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, unalienable rights endowed by our Creator, the Judeo-Christian God of love.
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June 1, 2023
The Anglican Province of Christ the King (APCK) has published Christine’ blog post, June Journal: Pentecost, in their newsletter, The Shepherd’s Staff: The Shepherd’s Staff.June 2023
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April 2, 2023, Palm Sunday 
American Christian Fiction Writers has published Christine’s post, “Living the Story of Jerusalem’s Gates,” how Christian fiction writers invite readers to enter Jerusalem, through the gates of life.
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February 22, 2023, Ash Wednesday and the Feast of St. Joseph of Arimathea
American Christian Fiction Writers has published Christine’s post, “Living the Story of Faith and Freedom,” how Christian fiction writers tell stories woven with faith and freedom, set in a real world, enlightening our human condition with hope.
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December 21, 2022:
American Christian Fiction Writers has published Christine’s post, “Worthy Words: Prophetic Plots,” how Christian novelists prophesize, foreshadowing major plot arcs, and thus satisfy the desire for meaning and making sense of God’s world – past, present, and to come.
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November 13, 2022:
Christine reviews Francis Etheredge’s recently released Unfolding a Post-Roe World (En Route Books and Media) in her blog of this date. Congratulations, Francis Etheredge for an outstanding contribution to the debate over human dignity for the unborn. Kudos!
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August 6, 2022:
American Christian Fiction Writers has published three of Christine’s posts on writing fiction from a Christian perspective. Thank you ACFW:
Worthy Words: Creative and Compelling Characters
Worthy Words: Threading the Theme
Worthy Words: Sacramental Settings
June 2, 2022:
“Pilgrimage and the Pursuit of Meaning”
Francis Etheredge reviews Pilgrimage, a Novel (OakTara 2007), a story of healing in Italy, Christine’s first novel, the first in the “Trilogy of Western Civilization.”
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April 24, 2022:
Posted in the blog: Christine reviews Within Reach of You: A Book of Prose and Prayers (Enroute, 2021), “Praying into the Presence of God,” his highly recommended third volume in the trilogy.
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April 6, 2022:
Posted in the blog: Francis Etheredge reviews The Magdalene Mystery, Christine’s fifth novel about the search in Rome and Provence for the true Mary Magdalene, soon to be reissued by En Route Books and Media, St. Louis, MO.
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March 13, 2022:
Posted in the blog: Christine’s review of Francis Etheredge’s Honest Rust and Gold, “Words Torn from Tears of Grace,” a stunning collection of prose and poetry, highly recommended. Earlier, in the blog, on February 27, Christine reviewed Francis Etheredge’s The Prayerful Kiss (“Profound, Touching, and Beautiful”), the first in this trilogy of poetry and prose, about his search for God, vocation, and the nature of life, family, and conception itself. Also highly recommended!
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March 6, 2022:
Posted today in the blog: Francis Etheredge excellent review of Angel Mountain (Wipf and Stock, 2020), Christine’s seventh novel about faith, family, history, and freedom, against the backdrop of fire, earthquake, and terrorism. Angel Mountain is set in the San Francisco Bay Area, on Mount Diablo, in 2018. Francis Etheredge, a Catholic theological writer and speaker located in England, is married with eleven children, three in Heaven. Thank you, Francis Etheridge.
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February 22, 2022:
Posted today in the blog: Francis Etheredge’s compelling new review of The Fire Trail (eLectio 2016), Christine’s sixth novel about faith, freedom, and the collapse of Western Civilization set in Berkeley, California. Francis Etheredge, a Catholic theological writer and speaker located in England, is married with eleven children, three in Heaven. Thank you, Francis Etheridge.
Also, today, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) has published Christine’s post, “Worthy Words: Threading the Theme,” a call for Christian writers to choose themes worthy of God’s love for mankind, reflecting the Kingdom of Heaven. Thank you, ACFW!
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November 11, 2021:
ACFW has published Christine’s post, “Loving Righteousness,” how Christian writers weave stories of righteousness, the foundation of American freedom and character, a theme in her recently released novel, Angel Mountain (Wipf and Stock, 2020). Today, Veterans Day, we recall the brave men and women who loved righteousness and fought for the freedom to speak and to worship. We honor them, for they fought for America, a beckoning light to the world, exceptional in the love of righteousness.
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July, 2021: Praise for Angel Mountain
“I soon became involved with each character and the bridge between the past and the present day. They captured my attention and made me think from a mountaintop vantage point. As Abram heeds the call to leave his worldly life to follow Christ, he becomes as John the Baptist in his hermitage on the mount – preaching and baptizing. What man and nature had meant for harm, Abram’s prayers used to bring glory to God on Angel Mountain… It was a lovely read and makes me look forward with keen anticipation to what comes next!”
– Cindy Rushing, Development Director, Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women, http://www.cblwomen.org
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July 7, 2021:
ACFW has published Christine’s post, “Freeing Righteousness,” how Christian writers free righteousness with the perfect law of liberty, as seen in her recently released novel, Angel Mountain. Thank you, American Christian Fiction Writers!
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April 7, 2021:
ACFW has published Christine’s post, “Resurrecting Righteousness,” how Christian writers redeem American culture in the choices in the stories they write as seen in her recently released novel, Angel Mountain. Thank you, American Christian Fiction Writers!
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February 7, 2021:
Angel Mountain wins award:
Angel Mountain has won Finalist, Inspirational Category, in the Feathered Quill Book Awards. Thank you, Feathered Quill!
Judges’ comments:
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New comments from readers of Angel Mountain:
January 31, 2021:
“We enjoyed it very much! I enjoyed the way you would go into detail about the physical appearance and different personalities of your characters. It really brought them to life for me.” Alan, Texas
“I loved how you incorporated very current issues into the story… I learned more about genetics, the perspective of creation from a scientific mind, and a Holocaust survivor’s experience that was new to me… There is a line from Abram’s letter to Elizabeth that I especially appreciated where he writes, ‘But I learned on Earth that the only way to be of earthly good is to be full of Heaven.'” Angela, Texas
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November 11, 2020:
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) published Christine’s post, “Remembering to Remember,” how Christian storytellers remind us to remember to remember who we were, who we are, and who we are meant to be. Thank you, ACFW!
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September 30, 2020:
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) published Christine’s post, “The Face of God”, how Christian novelists are called to transfigure Earth with Heaven. Thank you, ACFW!
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July 11, 2020:
Announcing a Goodreads Giveaway for Angel Mountain coming soon! Beginning July 19 and ending August 18. Visit Christine’s blog for more details.
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June 24, 2020:
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) has published Christine’s post today, “Our Family of God,” how Christian storytellers are called to banish racism and welcome all into our family of God. Thank you, ACFW!
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June 19, 2020: New Feathered Quill Author Interview. Read here.
June 17, 2020: New Review by Feathered Quill
“Christine Sunderland delivers a quest for peace and happiness in her latest novel, Angel Mountain…” Read full review here.
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June 8, 2020: New Review by Michael De Sapio
A Contemporary Novel of Timely Relevance
Christine Sunderland’s ANGEL MOUNTAIN is a contemporary novel of timely relevance and timeless spiritual themes. We meet four main characters: an elderly religious hermit and his sister, both of whom survived the Holocaust in Greece; a young librarian out of a job because of ideological intolerance; and a Christian geneticist with a passion for proving the harmony of science and faith. Sunderland skillfully weaves together the lives of these four people against a backdrop of cultural tumult and the volatility of the northern California landscape. As college protests and Antifa-inspired terrorism rage at UC Berkeley, the hermit Abram leads a religious revival from atop the numinous Angel Mountain. Earthquakes and storms threaten, portending an apocalypse. Our characters search for answers and peace in this confusing world, relying on the grace of God and the accumulated wisdom of Western civilization.
ANGEL MOUNTAIN is a uniquely modern and uniquely personal novel, interwoven with places and things familiar to the author. Sunderland’s writing is rich in sensory imagery and also takes ample time for intellectual discussion; the topics touched upon include Intelligent Design, the natural moral law, the American founding, and the Pythagorean harmony of the spheres. While underpinned by a strong conservative philosophical worldview, the novel presents its case in a thought-provoking way that will be compelling to a wide range of readers. Most remarkable is the way ANGEL MOUNTAIN combines contemporary issues with a respect for history and a love of beauty. Sunderland sustains our interest right through the gripping, mystically charged denouement in which we see heaven and earth meeting and eternity intersecting with time. This fascinating novel comes strongly recommended.
Michael De Sapio
Michael is an essayist and the author of two screenplays, The Incredible Life of Joey Coletta and Dutchess County.
https://www.amazon.com/Incredible-Life-Joey-Coletta/dp/1983126632
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1079116516
TO PURCHASE ANGEL MOUNTAIN: Amazon; Wipf and Stock Publishing
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June 6, 2020: Reader Views Author Interview
Sheri Hoyt interviews Christine about books, the reading and writing life, Angel Mountain, and today’s unrest that reflects some of the themes in Angel Mountain. Read the interview here.
TO PURCHASE ANGEL MOUNTAIN: Amazon; Wipf and Stock Publishing
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June 1, 2020: Review of Angel Mountain by Reader Views
“Angel Mountain” by Christine Sunderland is a captivating contemporary novel encompassing issues relevant in today’s world along with the timeless conflict of good versus evil, all wrapped up in a message of grace, love, and hope.
The story follows four characters whose fates intersect on a mountain – Mount Diablo, a magnificent landmark in the San Francisco area. Abram Levin is an 80-year-old hermit who lives in a cave on the mountain he dubs Angel Mountain. It is on Angel Mountain where Abram preaches the words of happiness, love, and grace. It’s also where he meets and rescues Gregory, a Christian geneticist who falls off the mountain trail while hiking one morning. Elizabeth, Holocaust survivor and Abram’s older sister, lives on an estate at the foot of Angel Mountain. Elizabeth hires Catherine to sort and catalog her extensive home library. Brought together by fate, circumstance, and divine intervention, the short time spent together on Angel Mountain changes the course of these four lives for eternity.
“Angel Mountain” is a fascinating, thought-provoking novel. Rich in Christian influence, fans of Christian fiction will devour this story. Its comprehensive passages also offer teachings of the faith for those interested in learning more about the message of Christianity. What I enjoyed most are the different elements Sunderland introduces, such as science, suggesting that faith and science go hand-in-hand and should be considered together. One example is an incident considering the source of light coming from the hermit, Abram’s cave: “Uncreated love, the energy of creation. Light in the darkness. Even the Big Bang, the forming of the stars and constellations, the sun and the moon. Uncreated energy. Uncreated love. We don’t have the words – theological or scientific – to describe the indescribable.”
Sunderland writes with a flair that inspires readers to dig deep within themselves to consider alternate views, beliefs, and opinions with respect and without judgment. Such an important message in our current volatile era. From immigration and individual freedom, to the choices we make, to observations about heaven and eternal life, “Angel Mountain” by Christine Sunderland hosts issues inspiring people to be their very best through vivid imagery, endearing characters, and an enticing plotline. Highly recommended reading!
Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views
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“Angel Mountain was a wonderful read!” Gary L., San Ramon, CA
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May 1, 2020: Angel Mountain has been published by Wipf and Stock Publishers and is now available on the website as well as Amazon. Many thanks to all who have encouraged this effort over the last two years.
Description:
A holy hermit, a Holocaust survivor, a literary librarian, and a Christian geneticist search for peace and happiness in a culture of chaos. Hermit Abram, eighty, and his sister Elizabeth, eighty-four, escaped the Holocaust in Greece and made it to America as children. Elizabeth retired from teaching high school Western Civilization, and Abram, who retired from teaching classics at U.C. Berkeley, converted to Christianity and retreated to Angel Mountain to pray with his icons for the world and preach from the mountainside. Elizabeth hires Catherine, thirty-three, to sort her home library. When Gregory, thirty-seven, a geneticist supporting intelligent design, falls from the mountainside and is rescued by Abram, these four lives are changed forever. The earth quakes, fires rage, and lightning strikes, as antifa protestors threaten the hermit and his friends. Angels bridge Heaven and Earth, and eternity intersects time. Is this the end of the world? Is the kingdom coming?
Endorsements:
“In Angel Mountain, Christine Sunderland has created a gripping and theologically rich novel, in which four remarkable people make their way through a shifting cultural landscape ringed with apocalyptic fire, revolutionary politics, and end-times expectancy.”
–Wilfred M. McClay, University of Oklahoma, author of Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story
“Angel Mountain, which the world calls Devil Mountain, is beyond the reach of the secular city of Berkeley. There is a man living on the mountain who speaks of heaven and hell and good and evil. Just raising these topics is enough to spark concern and violence in his audience. Meanwhile, the world of 2018 is on fire, both literally in the countryside and spiritually in the minds and hearts of the characters of this quietly apocalyptic novel. Perhaps when the world does end, it will end both physically and spiritually at the same time. If so, Christine Sunderland’s Angel Mountain shows how to live in the midst of disaster and how lives can be remade if we have bold enough hearts. Read if you dare!”
–Paul Russell, author of Looking Through the World to See What’s Really There
“I have a certain shelf of books that I intend to read more than once. Christine Sunderland’s latest novel, Angel Mountain, is one of those books that will go on that shelf, for I will read it again. It is not a paint-by-number book. It is a Van Gogh, with poetic hues, chroma, colors, and shades brilliantly flowing in and out from one another creating a literary painting one will not soon forget.”
–Fr. Seraphim, Elder, Nazareth House Apostolate, Taylorsville, Kentucky
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April 15, 2020: American Christian Fiction Writers has published Christine’s post today, “Sheltered by the Resurrection,” considering how Christian fiction writers move from Lent into Easter in the telling of their stories. Thank you ACFW!
January 2020: Christine will be reading from her novel, Angel Mountain, set on Mount Diablo on January 19, Sunday, 2-4 p.m., at the Lafayette Library in Lafayette, California, in the free event, “Art Embraces Words“. Six local writers will read from their works surrounded by paintings done by local artists.
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NOVELS BY CHRISTINE SUNDERLAND
Christine Sunderland
Christine Sunderland 
Thanks so much for the great review, Bruce!
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Christine,
I had the joy of reviewing “The Magdalene Mystery” on Amazon and Goodreads. Thanks for a great read! 🙂
I’ve already sent a copy to a friend in Oregon and am sending one to my son in Oklahoma.
Cheers! Bruce
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Thank you for sending me The Magdalene Mystery! I can’t wait to read it.
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No but it sounds like a great opportunity to learn from one another…
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Christine, are you going to the ACFW conference?
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Time to start reading you books!!
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