Between Two Trailers: A Memoir

Born to drug-dealing parents in rural Indiana, J. Dana Trent was a preschooler the first time she used a razor blade to cut up weed and fill dime bags for her schizophrenic father, King. While King struggled with his unmedicated psychosis, Dana’s mother, “the Lady,” a cold and self-absorbed woman whose diagnosed personality disorder ruled the home, guarded large bricks of drugs from the safety of their squalid trailer, where she watched TV evangelist Tammy Faye on repeat. Growing up, Dana sought to be the daughter both her parents wanted: a drug lord’s heir and a debutante minister. But when the Lady impulsively plucked Dana from the Midwest and moved the two of them South, their fresh start resulted in homelessness and bankruptcy. In North Carolina, Dana becomes torn between her gritty midwestern past and her desire to be a polite Southern girl, hiding her home life of drugs and parents whose severe mental illness left them debilitated.

Dessert First: Preparing for Death While Savoring Life

In the year she served as a chaplain in a hospital "death ward," Dana Trent accompanied more than 200 people -- and their families -- on their passage from life to death. Dessert First gathers those stories and lessons, as well as others from her journey with her dying mom, to illuminate the complexity of death and grief, and how we all might better prepare for a "good death." Dessert First is a deeply personal, touching, and sometimes humorous look at death and dying, and the ways we cope and create meaning for the inevitable end of life. A full appendix includes religious, spiritual, practical, and legal resources for the reader and their loved ones.

One Breath at a Time: A Skeptic's Guide to Christian Meditation

In secular mainstream America, meditation has become as ubiquitous as yoga. But how does meditation fit into Christianity, and how does it differ from prayer? One Breath at a Time: A Skeptic's Guide to Christian Meditation reframes meditation for those who are skeptical because (1) they doubt their ability to be still and quiet and (2) they doubt the validity of meditation as a Christian spiritual practice. Using scripture, theology, and examples from the early church, this book challenges the prayer habits of Christians that leave little room for enough silence to experience and listen for God.

For Sabbath's Sake: Embracing Your Need for Rest, Worship, and Community

In our culture of constant busyness, most of us feel like we're never caught up. The lines between home and work have blurred as we stay tethered to our mobile devices and computers. Many people use weekends to catch up on errands and other work that doesn't get done during the week. God's commandment to "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy" seems like a relic from a simpler time.

Many Americans balk at the idea of setting aside a whole day for worship, rest, and time with those who matter most to them. Yet we long for more time to spend on what matters most--unrushed time to rest, reconnect with friends and loved ones, and deepen our relationship with God.

Saffron Cross: The Unlikely Story of How a Christian Minister Married a Hindu Monk

Saffron Cross is the intriguing memoir of the relationship between Dana, a Baptist minister, and Fred, a devout Hindu and former monk. The two meet on eHarmony and begin a fascinating, sometimes daunting but ultimately inspiring journey of interfaith relationship and marriage.

Dana's compelling vignettes, laced with self-deprecating humor and refreshing honesty, give you a glimpse into the challenges and benefits of bringing together two vastly different spiritual paths into one household.

Saffron Cross includes chapters on Dana and Fred's honeymoon at an ashram in India, their individual spiritual journeys, Sabbath keeping, vegetarianism, grief, community, and more. You will sense what an adventure their East-meets-West partnership has been, and you'll also see how much Fred's commitment to his faith has enhanced Dana's Christian growth.