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The Choice

Series

What will you decide?

"There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end,
'Thy will be done.'"
C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

choices

What voices influence your choices?

Do you hear voices? If we’re honest, we’ll admit we all hear voices—those conflicting inner voices inside our heads. They whisper or SHOUT. And, even have names.

Sometimes they sound like your mom or dad repeating messages of Encouragement or Ridicule. Or maybe scripture you had to memorize speaks Wisdom. Culture booms so loud in our minds making its messages impossible to ignore. Conscience usually speaks with a still small voice.

Some voices pound you down—Regret, Defeat, Shame, Self-Pity, Scorn, and Guilt. Others puff you up—Pride, Ego, Self. Or those like Courage, Compassion, Grace, Sacrifice, and Forgiveness can build character.

Sometimes we’ll hear the sounds of Joy, Peace, Hope, and Love in special songs.

Click here to catch these uplifting lyrics of: Matthew West’s Hello, My Name Is and Grace Wins, Lauren Daigle’s You Say, Zach Williams’s Fear is a Liar, and Francesca Battistelli’s The Breakup Song.

At other times, voices scream horrendous thoughts that you’d never confess to another soul. Their messages can spawn deplorable feelings about yourself. Fear, Rebellion, Hatred, Bitterness occasionally launch full-frontal assaults. Or perhaps you’re deluged with thoughts of Defeat, Despair, and Disgrace that send you deep into depression. Or your mind floods with the foul stench of Failure. “You’re a loser. You’ll never amount to anything.”

The father of lies wants to deceive you, and you need to dispatch misguided voices ASAP. Silence their clamor, so you can hear the sweet sentiments from the Spirit. Wouldn’t you prefer to cultivate and embrace Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, and Self-Control? With the Holy Spirit’s help, you can do it!

Consider Dreams in the Distance an introduction to The Voices that pummel and inspire. View the thoughts of the characters from a new perspective, as they discover who they are and whom they serve—the father of lies or our Father in heaven.

THE CHOICE Series

Book One: Dreams in the Distance

Book Two: Hopes on the Horizon

Book Three: The New Knights

Coming Soon!

More About THE CHOICE Series

“I am always fascinated by stories that delve into the magnificent imagination of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Rinella cares deeply for both men’s work and weaves their ingenious ideas into THE CHOICE Series.”

Patti Callahan Henry
NYT Bestselling author of Once Upon a Wardrobe, Becoming Mrs. Lewis, and The Secret Book of Flora Lea.

“The writing depth of Nan Rinella comes, I believe, from her background as a journalist. Fascinating characters and ingenious story lines originate from her rich imagination plus deep research for authentic information about her chosen time frame (WWII), including its locations, history, plus its brave men and women. The results are satisfying and captivating. Nan Rinella’s attention to detail are a tribute to her love / respect for her many satisfied readers. Another page-turner to enjoy!”

Carolyn Curtis, latest book is Women and C. S. Lewis: What his life and literature reveal for today’s culture, published by Lion Hudson in Oxford, England.

“Nan Rinella’s THE CHOICE Series, including Hopes on the Horizon, are novels of love and war, faith and doubt, intellect and insight. Fans of J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis will be charmed by the interweaving of familiar Oxfordshire settings and by the appearance of these literary giants as secondary characters and influences. Throughout, Rinella displays her passion for history and literature, for the research that brings it together, and for a beautifully told story.”

Joy Jordan-Lake
Part-time professor and the author of the bestselling novel A Tangled Mercy, as well as the Christy Award-winning Blue Hole Back Home and other books

“Another magical installment in Nan Rinella’s epic series. The wonderful storytelling and entertaining characters will keep you turning pages.”

Terry Glaspey,
Professor at Northwind Theological Seminary and bestselling author.

“Hopes on the Horizon is a fitting follow up to Dreams in the Distance, expanding on the characters Rinella introduced in the first book of the Choice Series. Her young adult characters–three veterans, and two young women–struggle, hope, and dream, trying to find their way through the challenging world after the Second World War. If you are a fan of historical fiction, romance, or the writings of C. S Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, you’ll find something to love in this book.”

Steven Elmore, President, C. S. Lewis Foundation

Want to learn more about the voices that influence your choices?

Our free monthly e-newsletter will not only help you identify the troublemakers, but will also inspire you to listen for the One with the best advice. Sign up now, and you can download a free pdf of either or both of the Prologues from Book One: Dreams in the Distance and/or Book Two: Hopes on the Horizon.

We promise not to share or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Author Image

Nan Rinella

A Hobbit in Narnia

What?
If you’re a J. R. R. Tolkien & C. S. Lewis fan, you get the gist. A Hobbit is a small down-to-earth being who loves his creature comforts. Once upon a time in The Hobbit, a wizard knocked on Bilbo Baggins' door inviting him on an adventure, way out of his comfort zone, often in the company of exceptional men and elves— elegant other-worldly intellectual beings. Then Bilbo returned to write his book.

Once upon a time (2004 to be exact), Nan, a petite down-to-earth journalist, ventured out into “The Fantastic Worlds of C. S. Lewis & J. R. R. Tolkien” (a C. S. Lewis Foundation, CSLF, event). After reading the academic tomes of some of the speakers, she went forth in fear and trembling.

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More About the Choice Series
Come along on insightful interviews as the characters reveal more about their personalities, likes and dislikes, and the voices they struggle with.

Special Features

LOTR to
THE CHOICE and
Conception

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The Making of THE CHOICE

A Writer's
Role Models

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C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien
and Other Inspirational Voices

Watch Song
Videos with
Powerful Messages

View Here

Songs about Voices & Choices

Go back in time with Nan. Explore British customs with Nan,
and find fantastical
facts with Nan.

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The Turquoise Traveler

From the Archives

Feb 14, 2020

THE CHOICE WWII Veteran Mourns Lost Love

Dateline Oxford 1952— St Valentine’s Day   Dublin Press reporter interviews Dreams in the Distance O. C. Ogilvie   Reporter – Sergeant Ogilvie, may I have a word? C. –… 

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Feb 14, 2020

Still Looking for Prince Charming on Valentine’s Day

    Dublin Press reporter interviews Dreams in the Distance Phila Claiborne Reporter – How’s it looking for tonight Ms. Claiborne? Phila – As in a date? Surely you jest…. 

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Feb 14, 2020

Interview with the Author of THE CHOICE Series

      Dublin Press Reporter interviews Nan Rinella The first in this SKETCHES series   Whatever Happened to Susan?     Reporter – “Where do you get your ideas?” is… 

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From the Archives

  • THE CHOICE WWII Veteran Mourns Lost Love
  • Still Looking for Prince Charming on Valentine’s Day
  • Interview with the Author of THE CHOICE Series
  • Reflections on Pearl Harbor
  • ATTN: Gen Y & Zers & Cool Gen Xers & Baby Boomers — Kindle Alert

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Meet Nan and her team
  • About THE CHOICE Series
    • Book One: Dreams in the Distance
    • Book Two: Hopes on the Horizon
  • Character Sketches & Stories
  • Contact Nan

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  • Meet Nan and her team
  • About THE CHOICE Series
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