C. David Belt's Blog, page 3

Haunted By the Neverborn is C. David Belt’s spookiest book yet. Readers will root for Mari Madlen Gwynn in her battle against an evil demon who wants desperately to possess her and a mortal villain who will go to any lengths to destroy her. She’s definitely on the “pricklier” end of Belt’s heroines, but her courage, faith, and integrity are inspiring. With a sweet romance and loveable characters (including some friends we’ve met in previous books), Haunted by the Neverborn reminds readers that death is not the end–not even close–and that we are never truly alone.

– Elissa C. Nysetvold, author of “Nightwalker”

Belt has done it again. A deliciously horrific twist of intrigue, romance, revenge, and murder. “Haunted” intertwines with previous characters from previous books, making their storylines even deeper. Along with the horrific scenes, there is forgiveness, healing, and faith, making this one of his best stories yet.

Jenny Rabe, sweet romance author

“Haunted by the Neverborn” is a gripping horror book that seamlessly blends the supernatural with faith and heart-pounding suspense. C. David Belt masterfully builds tension as Mari faces off against a serial killer and the revenge-seeking Neverborn, creating a relentless sense of danger that kept me on the edge of my seat. But Mari’s journey isn’t only about survival, but also about finding her own happily ever after. It’s a good reminder that even in the darkest of times, light will always prevail.

Marie Woodward, author of Goodbye, Nauvoo

Master of LDS horror, C. David Belt, has once again delivered a compelling, terrifying, and page-turning story–this time diving into the world of demonic possession. He manages to combine incomprehensible evil with the victory of virtue in a way that is completely mesmerizing.
Mari Gwynn is a woman of substance and faith, yet she is often bullied and ostracized by those who do not realize what a remarkable woman she really is. Despite enduring unimaginable trauma, beginning in her childhood, she manages to do good in the world with her unique gifts and wisdom. She is the embodiment of courage–feeling afraid, yet acting in faith anyway to combat evil so horrific from which many, if not most, people would flee.
Harry Stewart is a meek, quiet man who finds within himself the courage to overcome his shyness to pursue Mari. His unwavering faith and determination enable him to defend Mari and others from the powers of darkness. His unassuming personality masks true strength of character, which manifests just when Mari needs him the most.
The Neverborn is hell-bent on destroying Mari and everyone who stands with her. He uses his weapons of lies, empty promises, and scare tactics in his attempts to conquer her righteous and courageous soul. Frustrated as she continually defies him, he unleashes all the powers of hell to force her to accept his power over her and surrender once and for all.
Mari, Harry, and those around them find themselves in a crucial battle–not just for their lives, but for those they love, and even their very souls.
Though the subject matter of demonic possession is horrifying, Belt has introduced characters that are heroic, yet relatable, and the kind of people you would want in your corner in a fight.
Fans of C. David Belt will relish this latest tale of good versus evil, courage versus cowardice, and standing for what is right–even if one must stand alone. Warning for terror, horrific detail, and subject matter. Recommend for ages 16+.

Leslie Whatcott, St. George, Utah

When I told my wife that the bishop asked me to speak in sacrament meeting for seven minutes, she about busted a gut laughing. “He doesn’t know you very well, does he? There’s no way you can speak for only seven minutes!”

I may not have spoken in church in Utah in the last sixteen years, but I frequently do public speeches and presentations. I have been able to limit my storytellings to an hour. My weapons shows tend to last two hours, and even then, I’m rushing. Okay, okay, I throw in a lot of songs as I go. (I’m particularly fond of Scottish fighting songs and Irish drinking songs.)

The truth is, once I get going, it’s really hard to shut me up.

But a couple Sundays ago, I actually managed to keep my talk to less than seven minutes. Barely. Anway, I thought I’d share…

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we read about a woman who had “an issue of blood” or non-stop female bleeding for twelve years. In Mark 5, we read:

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

In Luke, it says she “Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment.”

Back to Mark:

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

Under the Law of Moses, a devout Jewish man was required to wear a prayer shawl. This went around the neck and draped over the front, reaching down past the waist. At the ends of the shawl, hung tassels, one at each of the four corners of the shawl. So, I want you to imagine this, because it’s not often depicted in artwork of the Savior. He’s wearing a white shawl with blue stripes on it that hangs past his waist. At each corner hangs a tassel.

Now, the word in Hebrew for corner is kanaph. The same word also means, “border,” “hem,” and “wing.” So, when Malachi talks about the “Sun of Righteousness” arising with “healing in his wings,” it can also mean “healing in his corners or borders or hems.”

So, now this woman comes up behind Jesus, and grabs at the corner of his prayer shawl or one of the tassels hanging at his side.

And she’s instantly healed.

We all know the story. But I want you to focus on these words:

33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

What was she afraid of? That Jesus would be angry that she had been healed?

No, of course not.

Then why?

She was a woman who was experiencing “an issue of blood.” This made her unclean according Levitical law. She wasn’t even allowed to be out in public. Under the law, she had to be separated from society for the duration. That meant for twelve years in her case. And she just touched a rabbi, making Him unclean too. She could have been stoned by the crowd. She was risking her life to touch the tassel on Jesus’s prayer shawl.

That’s why she was afraid.

She fell down at his feet, trembling with fear, and confessed her transgression, knowing it could mean a death sentence.

But what did Jesus say?

34 …Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

I emphasized, “go in peace.” Jesus is declaring that she is not condemned, and that no one is to hurt her.

She wanted to be healed. But it still took courage to approach the Master. She risked her life. She was afraid.

Have you ever experienced that fear? The fear to approach the Divine? To confess your hurts, your sins, to beg for healing from the Master Healer? I’m not just talking about physical ailments. I’m talking about pain of all kinds. From disease, injury, trauma, and from sin. Pain inflicted by people and forces beyond your control and pain that is self-inflicted.

I have known that fear.

It sometimes takes great courage to approach the Master for healing, especially in public. To reach for, as this woman did, a blessing that she feared to take, that perhaps she felt she didn’t deserve.

But the Savior said:

29 Take my yoke upon you…

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

He pleads for us to come unto Him, to allow Him to bear the burden with us, to heal us.

And He will heal us. Not always in the way we think we need, but in the way that will do us the most good.

While I was in the Tabernacle Choir, I started having severe pain in my left knee. I prayed earnestly to be healed, but that wasn’t what the Lord had in mind. I prayed for strength and courage to endure the pain so I could serve in the Choir as long as possible.

I finally went to a surgeon, and he told me that I needed a knee replacement. He said, “I don’t know how you’re not in a wheelchair.”

I replied, “Lots of faith, a priesthood blessing, and sheer stubbornness.”

He also told me that, after the surgery, I would be unable to serve in the Choir for three to six months.

I said I would just endure it. I continued for a long while, going to an orthopedist who regularly drained fluid from my knee. I told him what the surgeon said. When I told him the surgeon’s name, he said, “That guy’s a jerk.” Then he referred me to a different surgeon.

The new surgeon said, “I can have you walking with a cane two days after the surgery.” I had the surgery on a Tuesday. Two days later, on Thursday night, I went to Choir rehearsal, and I was able to do it. I was high, but God sustained me. And, yes, I sang on the broadcast on Sunday. Since then, the same surgeon replaced my right knee and my left hip. I didn’t miss a single Choir event. Not one. I will limp for the rest of my life, but I am not in pain.

The Lord healed me. It wasn’t instant healing like the woman in the story, but it was miraculous. But I was afraid. I was afraid of losing a significant amount of my dwindling time in the Choir—or worse, of being forced to retire early. I was afraid my faith wasn’t strong enough. I was afraid of the consequences of my weakness.

But the Savior healed me. I just had to have the courage to reach for His healing wings, and accept His divine will.

Whatever it is that is causing you pain—physical, emotional, or spiritual, Jesus can heal you. If you have the courage and faith to reach out and touch His healing wings.

I so testify in the name of the Master Healer, even Jesus Christ.

Amen.

If you choose to comment here, you are free to criticize me, but foul language will not be tolerated: not in your comment and not in your alias. Personal attacks on others (not on me, criticize me all you want) will not be tolerated. If you can abide by those rules, feel free to post. If you cannot, I will remove your comment, even if you are too cowardly to use your real name.

Book Review: The Sweet Sister, by C. David Belt

Today, I am writing a scene about a funeral. And as I was writing, I needed to bring up from the depths of my soul all the raw and tender emotions of my main character. And I found myself weeping. I grieved for the loss of loved ones, particularly my dad, who graduated from mortality almost four years ago. I grieved for the loss of loved ones who are still alive, yet have let hatred pull them away from those who love them so dearly. Mortal life is too short to cling to hate.

But with both types of losses, of the dead and of the living, these losses are temporary. Through the Savior, all will eventually be healed, all will be restored. I have to cling to that.

There are times when the darkness presses upon me, when I feel as if I’m clinging to my covenants and my faith by my fingernails. We all go through this. We feel as if we are abandoned by Heaven. In truth, God never abandons us, but there are certainly times when we feel like it.

That’s why I write the stories that I do. I call them Latter-day Saint horror, but they are really about redemption and hope. Hope that good will eventually triumph over evil. Hope that all our wounds will be healed by Jesus Christ.

I was told once that rather than speak of my own faith, my own religion in my stories, I should make up some parallel religion. But I just can’t do that. I can’t water down the love of the Savior or the power and miracle of redemption and forgiveness and healing He wrought through His atonement. It is only through Him that all this can be healed. It is only through Him that we can all be reconciled after all that we can do.

Through the psalmist, the great Jehovah said, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46: 10)  In the times when the darkness presses upon me, when I’m clinging to hope by my fingernails, I need to remember that He is God, and eventually, all will be well. We will come through the storm. And when we do, it will be glorious.

My dad is not lost. Neither are those whom I love who are currently estranged. Eventually, we will all be reunited in love and joy. Until then, I will say, “It is well with my soul.”

Are the Russians coming? When C. David Belt adds a B52, loaded with nuclear weapons, to his story, drama runs high. Especially when the B52 disappears with Josh Kilmore aboard. His wife Tabitha sets out with her stepfather, Mike, using unorthodox methods to solve the mystery, not realizing the deadly powers which lie ahead. Will Josh be able to remain true to his wife? Will the B52 and its deadly cargo be found before something somewhere blows up? What villain is behind this dastardly plot? With Dave at the keyboard, you never know how the story will play out.

Read The Witch, the Warlock, and the Siren of the Damned to find out. If you enjoyed Dave’s other books you’ll certainly love this 5-star reading.

If he keeps writing like this, they’ll have to add more stars.

J. F. Harrison – Blackfoot, Idaho