The Messy Magnolia: Book Nine (The Magnolia Series)

Readers from around the globe are devoted to the books in "The Magnolia Series". They anxiously await each novel. The characters that live their lives in the congregation of Historic First Church (Episcopal) in Falls City, Georgia have endeared themselves to their fans. Most every reader believes that one or more of the characters reside in their community or are sitting near them in their local parish church. Father Steele Austin's life and ministry have blossomed in the historic congregation even though they have resisted his calls to include in ministry women, gays, lesbians, and people of color. The antics of the various members that both support and oppose him bring forth laughter and tears from the readers. If you are already a devoted reader, you're going to enjoy your ninth visit to Falls City. If you are a new reader, begin with Book One. Before you know it, you'll be reading this book as well.

The Reverend Doctor Dennis R. Maynard is the author of seventeen books. Over 200,000 new and life-long Episcopalians have read Those Episkopols. 3,500 congregations throughout the United States routinely utilize the book in their evangelism and new member ministries. Several denominational leaders have called Those Episkopols the "unofficial handbook for The Episcopal Church". Two Presiding Bishops of the Episcopal Church have stated that it should be required reading for every Episcopalian. He is also the author of Forgive and Get Your Life Back. Numerous clergy use that particular book to do forgiveness training in their counseling ministries and with small groups in their congregations. Maynard has written a series of novels focusing on life in the typical congregation. The nine books in this series of novels have received popular acceptance from both clergy and lay people. Readers anxiously await each new chapter in The Magnolia Series. "These novels give us a chance to look at the underside of parish life. The story lines are fictional. However, readers invariably think they recognize the characters. If not, they know someone just like the folks that attend First Episcopal Church in the town of Falls City, Georgia." His book, When Sheep Attack, is based on twenty-five case studies of clergy that were attacked by a small group of misguided antagonists in their congregations. The documented cases illustrate the method the antagonists used to successfully remove their senior pastor, leaving the congregations divided and crippled. The book reveals how it happened, what could have been done to stop it, and what can be done to prevent it from happening to your pastor and parish. He has since written two additional books on the subject that have rapidly become best sellers. Preventing A Sheep Attack is being used to guide boards to establish mechanisms to prevent an attack. Healing For Pastors and People Following A Sheep Attack has brought comfort and healing to hundreds that have endured that nightmare. Faculty in several theological schools in America, Canada, and other countries use these three books as resource materials in their classes. Several of his books are being used extensively in the congregations and schools of all denominations in the United States, Canada, England, and beyond.