Michigan author Joy Ibsen’s second book “Unafraid: published in June 2009 by Wipf and Stock Publishers of Eugene, Oregon.
Ibsen recently started a several month Midwest book tour including book stores in northern Michigan, Iowa and South Dakota bookstores.
“Unafraid is co-authored by her late father the Rev. Harald Ibsen.
Ibsen died in 1972 at age of 74.
He was born in the U.S. but was moved back to Denmark at age four by his mother following the death of his dad.
A Lutheran pastor, Harald Ibsen had rural churches in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska.
Each of the 36 chapters in the 225-page book “Unafraid” starts with a portion one of her Ibsen’s sermons following special events in the church calendar like Trinity
Ibsen started her book tour on June 7, 2009 at her hometown library in Trout Creek, Michigan.
That was followed by another Upper Peninsula appearance at Finn Fest 2009.
Joy rescued her dad’s old sermons from an old file cabinet at her mom’s home.
Each chapter details how Rev. Ibsen’s sermon affected a congregation member using both autobiographical experiences of the author and fiction.
Reviewers have said it is interesting that the same social problems in the 40s, 50s and 60s are similar today like war, bad economy, social issues and personal challenges like divorce, childrearing etc.
To purchase Joy’s book call 906-852-3479 or 906-401-0109 .
(Above photo of Dr. Walter Brueggemann)
Endorsements of “Unafraid” were written by well-known Christian author Dr. Walter Brueggemann, St. Olaf College religion professor L. DeAne Lagerquist and and retired Lutheran Bishop Emeritus Harry Andersen of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Northern Great Lakes Synod.
Harald Isben was “fresh in his thought, puckish in his style and grounded in faith,” Brueggemann said. “Harald was unafraid as an immigrant who lived in a venturesome way”.
Reviewers say the book is relevant today because the issues then and now are the same including the bad economy, war, marital problems, loss of faith and other social issues.
“Unafraid doesn’t mean a person is problem-free and it surely doesn’t mean to be reckless,” said Ibsen, Pine Mountain Music Festival board VP.
The work is named after the Danish hymn “Unafraid” from Ibsen’s first book “Songs of Denmark.”
“Songs of Denmark” was presented to Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary by Grand View University President Kent Henning in March 2009.
The hymn “Unafraid” was “sung by the Danish Resistance during World War Two – a time of terrible danger,” said Ibsen.
“Nevertheless one can live with confidence, and hope. Today’s society is bombarded by all kinds of fears and we need to learn to live unafraid.”
(Above photo on right by photographer Sisse Brimberg; photo on left shows Harald Ibsen in 1919 wearing his Danish Royal Guard uniform and guarding a castle)
From protecting a castle as a member of the Danish Royal Guard to being a construction worker at Yellowstone National Park, Rev. Ibsen’s career was as unusual as his parenting style.
The mother of three grown children and two grandchildren, Joy Ibsen say her parents “have been models for my own parenting.”
Related websites
Joy Ibsen official website:
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/JoyIbsen
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/AuthorJoyIbsen
youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/JoyIbsenUnafraid
bliptv:
http://unafraidthebook.blip.tv
Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joyibsen
Photobucket:
http://s650.photobucket.com/albums/uu227/JoyIbsenUnafraid
Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/AuthorJoyIbsen
Word Press Blog:
https://authorjoyibsen.wordpress.com
Joy Ibsen, Editor, Church and Life:
http://www.churchandlife.org/credits.htm
Danamerica is the official website of book “Songs of Denmark: Songs to Live By” – color photographs by National Geographic photographer Sisse Brimberg
Superior Chronicle story on “Unafraid” 6-18-09:
http://www.superiorchronicle.com/archives/09_june/ibsen.html
——-
Contact info:
Joy Marie Ibsen
P O Box 43
Trout Creek, MI 49967
or call:
906-852-3479
Books by northern Michigan author Joy Ibsen 
Leave a comment