Pinnochio Vs. The Real Boy

   This has been a long time coming, but as of March 20th my book has been out for sale!  I can't tell you how grateful I am to those who helped me get this off the ground and the willingness of my family to share our story with the world is an extreme blessing to me!

   I started this journey about 3 years ago when God sparked my heart to do a sermon series on 1 John 1:5-2:2 with my then High School Students in Nyack, NY.  Once that series ignited the hearts and lives of those teens, I knew God had a message to share and he wanted me to write this book.

  After writing a couple of chapters, I hit a wall when no publisher desired to print the book, plus I had taken a drop in hours and pay from the church due to the economy and I had to get a second job.

  During this time on hiatus from writing I was working 2 jobs, having  a baby (well, my wife was) and working towards my Ordination in the C&MA.  I felt that if the book wasn't going to be published, I wouldn't keep writing but something in me woke up after I got a new Pastoral position at ACAC in Pittsburgh, so I finished the entire book (6 more chapters) within 3 months time!

  I looked at the evidence of this and realized God wasn't done yet, nor was my dream of getting this book published.  I went back to the ground, re-writing the same publishers who refused my book before and then some.  All of them, except one denied me again.  The one that excepted me caused me HUGE excitement, so I shared this with the Associate Pastor at my church (John Stanko) who is also an author.  He saw the dumpy publishers website and said we could do better if we self-published.

  I had a decision to make...to go with the publisher who accepted my work or self-publish which would cost about $4,000.  I prayed and thought about it and decided to raise the money to get published.  If God desired the book to be out, the money would come and the book would be printed.

  That is exactly what happened!  God proved Himself faithful and the money was raised in 3 months time!  Now, after the long journey the book is published!

  John Stanko always said the hardest part was yet to come, meaning once the book is out, marketing and selling the book begin.  He couldn't have spoken truer words.  This IS the hardest part of book writing...getting your book sold and in the hands of people.  You want to share how amazing the book is, without sounding like a self-promoting, arrogant jerk.  You desire to see people transformed by the book, the way you were and others who experienced the book were without being pushy and showy.

  This is the tension I now live in.  I know God desires to use this book for Youth Workers, Parents and Pastors around the world but I am not enough to make it happen.  For people to hear about it, others need to share it.  It's now in His hands and the hands of those who read it.

  I am praying for the book to go viral, where people share it, live it and give it.  If you have a copy and read it, would you blog about it?  Would you review it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble?  That would go a long way.  If it positively or negatively impacted you, write about it.  Write me.  I am available to chat about this project, so please email me (marvin.nelson@acac.net), comment on the blog here about it...whatever you feel you need to do.  Thanks!

  If you haven't read the book and desire to, Amazon just put it at a 15% discount here: http://www.amazon.com/Pinocchio-Youth-Workers-Guide-Authenticity/dp/1581693745/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300887514&sr=1-1

So, check it out and let me know your thoughts!

Pinnochio Vs. The Real Boy

Dear Friends and Family,


   I'm not aware how many of you know, but for the past 3 years, I've been writing a book and last year around this time I finished the book entirely. Since that time I have been pursuing a publisher very intently, I've been praying and hoping and dreaming that this book that was so heavy on my heart could be placed in the hands of people who could gain something from it. Just this past week, I received my first "yes" from a company...which is a HUGE praise!

    However, as I shared this news with some of my writing friends and they reviewed the company alongside of me, we noticed that this wouldn't be the best fit for me and the book I have felt so strongly about. After praying about it, thinking about it, talking with Hilary and some of my writing friends, I've decided to venture down the road of self-publishing. If I were to go with the Publisher that offered me the contract, I would see my book in print and little more, which for me isn't want I desired. I feel that the content of my book (listed below) is worth much more than just me and a close few reading it. I feel in fact that many could and will benefit from my book because I truly believe God placed it on my heart to write.

   If I were to go this route, many more people can and will read my book and can be positively affected by its message. One of my advisors (who is also my boss) challenged me today to take the risk and self-publish to which I responded: "I don't have the money to do that." He knowingly shook his head and challenged me to then raise the money, and offered a small amount to help. This is why I have written this email: to ask for your financial support for this endeavor.

   Tonight I am placing on my facebook, a paypal fundraising application, to which anyone who desires can donate whatever amount they desire via either paypal or credit card. Just because you are on this email list, doesn't mean I expect you to give anything at all. You are on this list because you have helped make this book a reality by being in my life and I am simply asking if you would partner with me in this, even if it is only in prayer. The publishing world is a jungle and I have found out the hard way that no company worth their salt is taking on a new author who isn't known...it's simply too risky. I decided not to go this route a year ago because I thought it was a cop-out, yet I am convinced today that this is something that must be done in order to get my book out. My motive is to share with others what God has shared with me. There is an incentive, of sorts, to donate! I can, in fact, keep track of who gives and the amount and I will give 1 book to every donor of $20 or more! So, if you donate $20 to help me, you get a book written by someone you know!

I need to raise $4,000 and only $4,000. This covers: editing (done REALLY WELL), ISBN number, promotion on AMAZON.com and BARNES & NOBLE as well as marketing, 100 free books, brochure hand outs, book layout, distribution costs and more. It seems like a daunting number to me, but I know with your help, it can happen! Also, if you want to see the amazing books that the publishing company I'm going with is producing, go to this website: http://www.intermediapub.com/books.htm

My facebook URL (where you can donate) is: http://www.facebook.com/pastormarv

I hope many of you are wondering what the book is even about and I have produced a lengthy description so you can know exactly what is being produced and for whom it is being written. That description is below:


I am a Youth Pastor at Allegheny Center Alliance Church (of the Christian and Missionary Alliance) and the book I am presenting to you is titled: Pinocchio Vs. The Real Boy (mainly for Youth Pastors/Youth Leaders/Pastors and Church Leaders but also can be used for young adults). Relationships with others can be extremely difficult, as can our relationship with God. Most of our relationships are inauthentic and ineffective, especially those in the church. We are a society of people that like to keep our problems, sins and doubts to ourselves, never opening up to others or being transparent. We struggle on our own, because we fear the disappointed faces of our Christian brothers and sisters. 1 John 1:5-2:14 gives amazing insight on the importance of being real and honest to the point of transparency with both God and men. Once we come to this place of allowing ourselves to be transparent with both God and men we can have true, effective and authentic relationships with others and our Lord. We fear this type of intimacy and aren’t well acquainted with it. This book will be a sort of field guide to this type of authenticity, asking pointed questions at the end of each chapter to get the reader really wrestling with the ideas proposed by the chapter. That is the premise and foundation of my book Pinnochio Vs. The Real Boy. It is also a strong call for Pastors and Leaders to lead the charge on authenticity so we can stop making false followers but instead ones that are real. It starts with us. If we can’t be real, own up to our junk and allow God the Great Physician to work on us, our disciples (mainly Youth) will follow that path of living fake.

Being a Youth Pastor and involved with youth for over 8 years, I have seen the adverse effects on Teens and 20-somethings being fake people and experiencing fake people within the church. There are numerous stats about churched teens walking away from their faith after they go to college and I believe full heartedly that this is due to (at least in part) the fake perfection that the church as a whole demands. Baker Books recently released a book entitled “UnChristian” which was a survey of young believers and non-believers about the church, and this idea of what I call “fakeness” was a huge piece of why people don’t accept or walk away from church and Jesus. I have a firm conviction that teens and young adults (as well as older adults) NEED to hear this message. I feel that if the church as a whole were to grab on to the principles laid down in 1 John 1:5-2:14 we’d see this generation POURING into the church, begging to be a part of a genuine, transparent community.

As previously stated, this book is focused towards Pastors and Leaders, and targeted thus. It will make a difference in the age group specified because, from my experience of working with teens group for over 8 years, I can see it being the heart-cry of their generation and we need to live it first in order to teach it in word and deed. They desire real authenticity, no more false pretenses, no more fake facades, but they desire raw transparency. People (teens in general) have grown disillusioned with the way church is and need to find Christ in the church.

Pinnochio Vs. The Real Boywill be around 180pages in length (46,462 words). It will encompass 11 chapters, each around an average of 15 pages in length.

Thank you so very much for reading all of this and considering to donate to this cause!

Here's the website to donate directly: http://apps.facebook.com/fundrazr/activity?crid=91448ef62de74cce89a9b34ca1dda9d2