The Shepherds' Prayer - A Christmas Novel

A young man orphaned as a baby sets off to discover the truth about the circumstances of his birth, the fate of his parents, and his heritage. Having been raised in a culture where bloodlines mean everything, he seems forever condemned to live as an outsider on the fringes of society until he discovers his true heritage.

His only clue is a cryptic message on a lambskin blanket about a child born in a stable in Bethlehem. Who is this mysterious child? And what could such a child have to do with his own birth and destiny?

The answers will change his life forever...and maybe yours.

The Shepherds' Prayer is crafted as a gift book. The dedication page is printed in gold ink, and each new chapter features an illustration in gold ink. The text, in black ink, is large enough to be comfortable to read.

The book can be enjoyed from people of most ages, from middle school age and up. It's about 120 pages and can be read in several sittings, fairly quickly. It is an excellent choice for reading groups, book clubs, or home fellowship groups because a PDF study guide is available on the official web site www.shepherdsprayer.com under free downloads.

The story is available not only as a hardcover, but as a professionally narrated audioBook. Veteran actor and narrator John McDonough lends his talent to The Shepherds' Prayer.

John McDonough is an accomplished actor, singer, and narrator who has appeared on Broadway, in television and movies, and with opera companies and orchestras. He is the narrator of almost 200 audiobooks, including works of adult and children's fiction, biography, and history. McDonough is a longstanding member of AudioFile magazine's Golden Voices, the hall of fame of audiobook narrators.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) December 14, 2007
-- The Shepherds' Prayer: A Christmas Novel recently gained endorsements from key Protestant and Catholic leaders. Chuck Colson, Jeff Cavins and Teresa Tomeo have all endorsed the book. Their endorsements are provided below.

Chuck Colson, nationally syndicated columnist and radio commentator had this to say about the book, "This imaginative Christmas novel tells the story of an adopted son with a mysterious connection to the Messiah, who seeks the truth about his birth thirty years earlier.' The Shepherds' Prayer' is a story that reminds us of two things. First, we remember that the humble will be lifted up and confound the wisdom of the wise. Secondly, Barry's novel reminds us of perhaps how we often react to the difficult and painful circumstances in our lives... Likely, as Barry imagines, those who spoke of Jesus and that fateful day of His birth were met with scorn from those in Bethlehem and the surrounding area, because His birth had brought bloodshed."

Jeff Cavins, author and creator of The Great Adventure; The Bible Timeline referred to Barry's novel this way: "The Shepherds' Prayer is a Christmas treasure! Reading The Shepherds' Prayer, I imagined how the shepherds must have felt on that blessed night of Christ's birth more than 2,000 years ago; so afraid when the angel of the Lord appeared to them with the news of the Savior's birth, yet trusting completely in the word of God. 'The Shepherds' Prayer' tells the tale of one man's search for the truth of who he is, where he came from, and how he fits into God's story. Anam's search is our search - when we seek the truth, we always find Christ!"

Teresa Tomeo, author and syndicated Catholic talk show host says "Richard Barry takes you on a dramatic trip to the Holy Land. The Shepherds' Prayer, although fiction, helps us identify with those closest to the events on that most silent and holy night. Just grab a cup of coffee or cocoa, throw a few logs on the fire, and plan to leave the commercialism of the world behind and rediscover the true meaning of Christmas."

The book explores, in a thought-provoking way, how the people of Bethlehem
might have felt about Jesus after Herod's massacre. And it chronicles how that tragic event might have affected the shepherds who were the first to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. "I started thinking about those untold stories and, after researching them, found that they were inspiring stories that were begging to be told," says author and publisher Richard Barry. "And so I set out to try to tell them in a way that would lead the reader on his or her own journey to discover Christ and what it truly means to be a Christian."

The Shepherds' Prayer is available as a hardcover and an audiobook. The audio version, narrated by the John McDonough (a member of AudioFile Magazine's "Golden Voices"), provides an opportunity to listen while wrapping gifts, on the way to shopping, or on family trips to visit relatives. John McDonough has narrated more than 200 audiobooks.

STL Distribution, Ingram/Spring Arbor and Baker & Taylor recently picked
up the book for distribution to the trade.