Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: The Orphan Carpenter by Kenneth Ian McQuarrie

Book: The Orphan Carpenter: Orphaned at birth. Adopted by God. A tale of hope and a future.

Author: Kenneth Ian McQuarrie

Genre: Spiritual Growth/Memoir

Release Date: November 22, 2022

“Ok Lord, I sure hope you have this under control, because from where I sit things aren’t looking so good.”

When I came into this world, there were no baby showers, no celebrations, no father handing out big cigars, or first photo being passed around the office. Grandma, grandpa, aunts, and uncles would not be visiting, pinching my chubby cheeks and saying how cute I was. You see, I was an orphan. Unwanted, cold, hungry, and alone … or was I?

Have you ever wondered where God is? How can this be happening? What did I do to deserve this? Have your circumstances led you to question your faith? Does God care? Does he even exist?

My core beliefs had been shaken. To make sense of what just happened, I went back and examined my own life. So many times, the odds were heavily stacked against me, life and death situations. Yet, somehow, someway, God always showed up.

From orphan to carpenter and beyond, the pages of this book are my life stories. But the book is not about me or my story. It’s about God.

As you read these true stories of my life like parables, may they be a testament that God loves you and has a plan to give you hope and a future.

 

Click here to get your paperback copy!

Click here to get your eBook copy!

I really enjoy reading Memoir's as it gives the reader a chance to really get to know the author. The Orphan Carpenter by Kenneth Ian McQuarrie is the latest from this genre that I have read. 

WOW, this book is a very touching memoir and life story of the author Kenneth Ian McQuarrie. The book starts in the present time when he and he wife go through a failed adoption and then he goes back to tell his childhood to the present time. Kenneth was adopted a child and his adopted family was an intergal part of who was and is today. He grew up in a Christian Household and his parents laid the Biblical foundation for him. The struggles he went through in his childhood due to medical issues and life happenings, Kenneth attributes to prayer and God for holding him strong. I LOVE that Kenneth included the Scriptures he used for the rough times and tied them to specific happenings. Reading his mom's journal entries was so amazing. Kenneth says it best that this isn't just his story, but God's plan for him. 

I really LOVED this book from beginning to end. I must admit that it was a bit LONG and got slow in some parts. The book as a whole is very Encouraging and God Honoring. I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs encouragaing in their life and enjoys Memoirs. GREAT BOOK!

An orphan from birth with serious medical complications, Kenneth went into foster care at three months old. Eventually adopted by his foster family, he grew up in a small northern Canadian city. Being raised by loving Christian parents and mentored by his carpenter grandfather, he dreamed of becoming a carpenter himself one day. The Lord had different plans for young Kenneth. Plans that would take him on an incredible life journey to the pinnacle of the North American construction industry.

Kenneth has always held firmly to his faith throughout the journey, trials, and tribulations. He’s served in church administration and hosted and led Bible studies throughout his adult life. He lives in Orange County, California, with his wife, Celine.

 

More from Kenneth

Back in early 2018, following a very harrowing experience, I found my marriage starting to crumble. My wife Celine and I were processing things very differently. I’m a builder, a fixer, and I couldn’t fix it. Jeepers, I didn’t even know what it was.

Suddenly, this random thought flooded into my brain, and I blurted out, “Would you be willing for us to go see a counselor to help us process all this?”

     Did I just say that? I thought as Celine said, “OK, yes, let’s do that.”

At one of our counseling sessions, the counselor said, “Your lives together began when you started dating. But, before that, both of you had lived separate lives for many years. So, for this week’s homework assignment, I want you to write each other a story from your life. The life you had before you met. Your memories from when you were growing up.”

“Me, write a story? I barely passed English class in school. I’m no writer,” I responded.

The counselor smiled. “I’m not saying write a novel. It’s more like a letter, just write down some memories of your life you can share. Just like our session today, this will help you to understand each other better.”

“OK, I’ll give it a try,” I said.

That night, Celine fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, exhausted from the emotional roller coaster a few hours before. So, I pulled out a journal and pen and began to write. I scribbled notes down for about an hour then fell asleep.

In the morning, I handed Celine my journal. As she began to read, her brow wrinkled, followed by her face contorting as if in pain. Finally, after a couple of long minutes, she looked up.

“Is it that bad?” I asked.

“No, it’s not that it’s bad. It’s … you should write this.”

“I just did.”

“No, I mean you should write your story, your whole story.”

“You mean like a book? I can’t write a book. I barely passed English class.

“No, you can’t spell, and yes, your grammar is terrible, but you tell stories all the time, and people like your stories. People remember your stories.”

Celine was right about one thing, the fact that I tell a lot of stories. When I was young, Mom would tell me stories repeatedly of how I came to be a McQuarrie. I loved Bible stories about Moses, Joseph, and King David as a little guy. I guess not being good at English, I often used stories of my life to explain myself or try to relate to others.

“Stories are one thing, but to write a book, you have to have a point or a purpose, not just a bunch of stories,” I said to Celine.

“Well, you should pray about it,” Celine responded.

After almost a year of praying about it and three years of writing, in November 2022, The Orphan Carpenter was published. I know the Lord had his hand in writing this book because there is no way I could have pulled this off on my own.

I pray the Lord takes these stories to those they were meant to encourage.

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24

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Artistic Nobody, January 19 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 19

Lighthouse Academy Blog, January 20 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Fiction Book Lover, January 21 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 22

Guild Master, January 23 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, January 23

Girls in White Dresses, January 24

Blossoms and Blessings, January 25 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 26

Splashes of Joy, January 27 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, January 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, January 29 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 30

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 31 (Author Interview)

To celebrate her tour, Kenneth is giving away the grand prize package of a $150 Amazon gift card and a paperback and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/297c9/the-orphan-carpenter-celebration-tour-giveaway

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: The Orphan Carpenter by Kenneth Ian McQuarrie

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