Updated URL

We’ve updated our URL to a site wide domain.

Be sure you’re linking to http://www.stpetersbrewery.info in all your links and bookmarks.

Thanks!

The Facebook Sanctuary

The Ooze.TV has a great interview with Jesse Rice, author of The Church of Facebook (watch it here).

While the conversation never specifically mentions it, the video is a great explanation of the ambient intimacy that G.T. explains to Jimmy in the book.

Jesse sees Facebook (and other virtual communication) as a great way to begin a conversation with someone. Let’s face it, he says, it’s not always easy to connect with other people—to have and maintain a relationship. Online tools like Facebook are a very simple way to make a connection. At the same time, he acknowledges it can feel like a disembodied tool, and ultimately, we need our conversations to be embodied, enfleshed.

The Church needs to think harder about how to embrace virtual communication tools. We can have a genuine, loving concern for another person—even if it is through a digital connection with them. So rather than fearing digital connections, we (the Church) should be learning how to be human, and how to be the church in the virtual environment.

Facebook and Twitter have often become a sanctuary and space of grace for me what about you? How have you seen these tools become a virtual sanctuary for people?

Or are you uncomfortable viewing online/virtual realms as a sanctuary?

The Singing Company brings new life to old songs

While Jimmy may not have been a huge fan of Capt. Mathie and his big tuba, there’s some great music coming out of the Salvation Army, including The Singing Company.

The group was formed with the hope that many old Salvation Army songs could be updated, preserved, translated and used for praise and worship use today.

In June 2006 they recorded and released their debut album, The Red Book Sessions, which contained new arrangements of old songs, new melodies to old lyrics and completely original material.

Many great stories have been shared as a result of this effort: people have sung these songs in worship services, in solo competitions and at weddings. People have claimed these songs at dedications and funerals. These songs have traveled around the world, have been translated into other languages and have taken on a life of their own. Many have been turned on to the truths found in old hymns and the messages of these songs have helped lead worshippers to action!

The group has three albums out, including a great Christmas album. Find out more about the group at: http://www.thesingingcompany.com

Are there groups/artists in your faith tradition who are doing likewise? Bringing new life to old songs?

St. Peter’s Brewery around the web

As reviews and blog posts come in about St. Peter’s Brewery I’ll try and track them all here on the site…

stewart cutler – st. peter’s brewery a review
I read it all in one sitting, unusual for me, and was drawn in to this story of Jimmy, a man who has withdrawn from life because engaging is just too painful…
One of the joys of working with Jonathan on the Something Beautiful Podcast is his passion for people and for their stories of life and faith. He loves to let people talk, to share their own passions and to hear their experiences without rushing to comment or, as the church so often does, judge. There is something very beautiful about a story, a lived experience. Jonathan brings that beauty to his first novel.
It is a story of community, sanctuary, redemption and forgiveness. Jimmy’s life is turned upside down by people, the very thing he’s tried to avoid for his whole adult life. A motley crew of the most unlikely people including a trucker, a bar tender, a postal worker and a hippy, show Jimmy that he is not alone and that God isn’t anything like he thought.

Headphonaught – St. Peter’s Brewery
I had the opportunity to proofread it… and I found it an engaging read. JD’s style of writing is very descriptive… and I like that. Put it this way… I nearly fell off the wagon at the thought of the Pumpkin Stout on tap. His characters in this book have a humanity about them that enthrals me… I want to hang with Jimmy and the motley band that frequent St Peter’s Brewery.

LC – via e-mail
1. I was very impressed with the depth of character development all the way though…especially Jimmy, GT, Kim, and Eddie…..but Pete was my favorite BARNABAS of the bunch.
2. I also thought you did a great job of developing the threads of multiple themes…you had to think way ahead to do that and weave it all together!
3. Of course the obvious message about discovering faith-life through authentic relationships was crystal clear and effectively communicated too.

interviews:

Johnny Laird – The St. Peter’s Brewery Story

Something Beautiful Podcast – paul partridge & st. peter’s brewery :: 2.43
along with paul’s story, thomas and stewart grill jonathan about his new novel, st. peter’s brewery.

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Have a review you’d like to share, let me know. I’ll add your link to the list. Also, even if you don’t have a blog/website, you can help share the love by posting a review at Barnes & Noble.com, Amazon.com, Facebook or other social media sites.

Want to interview me for your blog, podcast or newspaper? Contact stpetersbrew@gmail.com to schedule a chat.

A Christmas song for St. Peter’s

It’s not Matt & Julie, but I’m sure Ben Thomas & So Elated would fit right in on a typical Sunday Night.

This week they’ve shared a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” as a Christmas song.

every christmastime, it seems i end up meeting out-of-place outcasts who feel even more out-of-place and outcast around the holidays. those people need songs too.

Download it. Share it. Listen and find the truth.

How have you heard this song in the past? How do you hear it now in this new context — hopefully looking at it through a God lens?

First interview for the book

My good friend, Johnny Laird, (over in London) just posted an e-mail interview he did with me about the book.

Knowing that my good friend, Jonathan D Blundell was recently about to publish his first book – St Peter’s Brewery – I was fascinated to hear the back story of the book, and wanted to find out more.

I shot JD a few questions so he could unpack it a little for me:

JL: What were the seeds that made you start in the first place?

JD: As far as the seeds for the book, I guess it really depends on how far back you want to go. I’ve wanted to write and publish a book for some time now. I never really settled on a topic though as far as non-fiction goes and started 2 or 3 other projects along the way that never really went anywhere. I even started one a while back that I blogged as I wrote but I lost interest in the storyline and moved on.

When I heard about NaNoWriMo.org, I decided I’d take them up on the challenge. Essentially the challenge is to write a novel in one month (the month of November). Write at least 50,000 words and you “win.” I wasn’t sure I could do it, but having a deadline and focusing solely on writing and not going back and editing along the way.

I initially came up with the idea of a drifter, or a loner who worked at a post office (not sure why) who comes to find out the importance of community along the way. A few ideas led to another and St. Peter’s Brewery was born.

As I wrote, I found myself calling on a number of situations and experiences I’ve had personally, as well as the experiences and stories people have shared on our podcast. So in many ways, the book I wrote is biographical, just the names, times and exact situations have been changed .

Among other things, Johnny also asked me to predict what a future movie trailer based on the book might look/sound like.

JL: If St Peter’s Brewery was made into a movie, and there was a trailer playing in the movie theater, what would the voice over guy with the deep voice be saying about it?

JD: Wow. Great question! Do I get to pick who plays the various parts?

Whenever I think of the movie guy it always reminds me of over dramatic or horror movie trailers. I’m not totally sure that would fit this particular story/movie but let’s see if I can answer your question either way.

A young man… trying to escape his past…

A pub…. in the most unlikely of places…

A group of friends… all finding sanctuary…

Within St. Peter’s Brewery… a sanctuary for all.

Based on the New York Times bestselling book, by Jonathan Blundell.

Take a fresh look at an old love story.

St. Peter’s Brewery

Coming to a theater and pub near you.

Christmas 2010.

Ha ha! Maybe I should have used that for the back cover instead!

Read the full interview and leave a comment or two for Johnny – he might just have a future in journalism…

If you’d like to set up an interview via email/Skype/Wetoku or in person about the book, visit the contact page and drop me an email. I’d love to chat.

It’s official!

The book is available for purchase!

I received my proof copy in the mail today, clicked approve and immediately the book went live on my printer’s website.

Excellent!

It’ll still be a week or more before the print version of the book will be available on Amazon.com, but you can order it TODAY, directly from the printer — or for the Kindle fans, a Kindle version is available now as well.

Thanks for all your support! I hope you enjoy the book and it challenges in fresh new ways.

Available now!

Available now!

The first review is in

My dear friend, Stewart Cutler, who is one of the co-hosts on our weekly podcast, has posted the first review of St. Peter’s Brewery.

St Peter’s Brewery by Jonathan D Blundell is different. In a good way.

Before I tell you why let me first say that Jonathan is my friend and co-host on the Something Beautiful Podcast and he gave me an advance copy of the book.

That could have made this review a little awkward. At least it would have if the book wasn’t great!

I read it all in one sitting, unusual for me, and was drawn in to this story of Jimmy, a man who has withdrawn from life because engaging is just too painful.

Jimmy finds sanctuary in St Peter’s Brewery, the converted church where he now drinks alone. His only friend is the barman, Pete, who lends an ear when he wants to talk and knows when to leave Jimmy alone when he doesn’t.

Jimmy’s life is one that so many can relate to. Things haven’t gone well for him. Relationships have been broken, work has become a place to escape life rather than live it, life is empty and that’s just fine with Jimmy.

Be sure and read the full review and drop Stewart a comment or two as well.

Have you posted a review, let me know. I’d love to share a link back to your site as well!

One step closer

The book’s one step closer to publication.

Tonight I submitted the interior file (aka everything between the front and back cover).

I finished my 5th (or was it 6th) edit of the book and sent it on it’s way.

All that’s left now is finalizing the cover and submitting the entire book for publication. Hopefully I’ve done all my work correctly up to this point and everything will be good to go.

Once my files are reviewed, a proof copy of the book will be printed, I’ll check it and then if nothing else needs adjusting, we’ll send this book out into the wild.

I’m still hoping for a mid-December publication (if not before).

I’m also hoping to have a Kindle version ready by then as well. So keep checking back and be sure to submit pictures of your sanctuaries on the http://www.flickr.com/groups/stpetersbrewery/ or Facebook page.

There are a few submissions already, hoping to see many more in the days to come.

Thanks again for your interest and support!

Shalom!
jdblundell

Show us your sanctuary

Pictures are worth a thousand words so I’d love to see your sanctuary.

Where do you go to find peace, comfort, grace?

Maybe its a church building. Maybe its a favorite chair in your bedroom. Maybe its a bar, pub or your local coffee house.

Wherever it is, I’d like to know where and why.

Join the St. Peter’s Brewery Flickr group and share pictures of your favorite sanctuary/sanctuaries with the group and tell us why it’s become your space of grace.

I can’t wait to see what you share!