Friday, December 31, 2010

Say Goodbye to 2010

I just went through the yearly task of switching from one desk calendar to another. The 2010 calendar is spent, used up. It will be filed away with years worth of others (I can't bear to throw one away... what if I write my memoirs some day and need to know that on Thursday, April 26, 2007, my son and I saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat at the Summerlin Library? See what I mean?)

But I digress... I know a lot of people are going to be happy to send 2010 on its way. For me, however, it was a year of blessings. Personally, my son started his senior year of high school, my husband achieved a career goal, and we were finally able to buy (and move into) a house of our own. Professionally, I saw the release of my second novel (The Pastor's Wife), signed a contract to write another one (The Mother Road), and signed with a great agent. So when I put away my 2010 date book, it's with a smile and a thank you.

Then there's the new calendar. It's so pretty. It already contains (in no particular order):
  • The January schedule for all the awesome ladies who contribute to my blog, The Pastor's Wife Speaks.
  • Dates when I'm scheduled to blog elsewhere
  • The deadline for my next book - April 1st!
  • The date for the next ACFW Conference
  • Special dates to remember for family and friends
That may sound like a lot, but for the most part, the calendar is blank. Like the year spreading out before me, it's open to amazing possibilities. 2011 will hold challenges, to be sure... How will I cope with an empty nest when my son goes off to college? Will I sell another book, or will I crash and burn? Will my Wii Fit character EVER lose enough weight to be skinny again?

I have no idea.

But here's what I do know: God loves me. My husband and son love me. My family and friends love me. I even love myself from time to time (something I think every woman on the planet struggles with). Being surrounded by that much love, everything else is just icing, right?

I can't wait to see how God fills up my calendar. May He fills yours with all that is good and lovely.

Be blessed!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Great Gift Idea - Autographed Books! And Here's Where to Find Them...

If you're looking for special Christmas gifts, I can't think of anything better than books chosen for that certain someone and personally inscribed. If that sounds good to you, check out this amazing event.


75 Christian Authors
One Amazing Online Event

The Christian Review of Books in conjunction with CrossPurposes Bookstore is excited to announce the first annual Christmas Book Signing Bash.

Beginning on the day after Thanksgiving and lasting ten days (26 November- 7 December), this book signing will be an unprecedented online event. Seventy-five of today’s favorite Christian Authors have come together to answer questions, chat with their readers, and offer signed copies of their books—all without you leaving the comforts of home and hearth! Readers can search by author, title, or genre at the Christian Review of Books and then follow the purchase links to CrossPurposes Bookstore and buy autographed copies of each book featured. The authors will sign the books and ship them to the customers. For a full list of participating authors, visit the CRoB.

(In case you're curious, you can find my book by clicking here. Happy hunting!)

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

CFBA Presents LONG TIME COMING by Vanessa Miller


This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Long Time Coming
(Abingdon Press  - November 1, 2010)
by
Vanessa Miller



ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Vanessa Miller of Dayton, Ohio, is a best-selling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. Her stage productions include: Get You Some Business, Don’t Turn Your Back on God, and Can’t You Hear Them Crying. Vanessa is currently in the process of turning the novels in the Rain Series into stage productions.

Vanessa has been writing since she was a young child. When she wasn’t writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels, reading great books consumed her free time. However, it wasn’t until she committed her life to the Lord in 1994 that she realized all gifts and anointing come from God. She then set out to write redemption stories that glorify God.

To date, Vanessa has completed the Rain and Storm Series. She is currently working on the Forsaken series, and the Second Chance at Love series. Vanessa believes that each book will touch readers across the country in a special way. It is, after all, her God-given destiny to write and produce plays and novels that bring deliverance to God’s people. These books have received rave reviews, winning Best Christian Fiction Awards and topping numerous Bestseller’s lists.


ABOUT THE BOOK


Two women from different worlds find hope together.

Faithful Christian Deidre Clark-Morris is a professional career-minded woman with a loving husband, but no children. Kenisha Smalls has lived in poverty all her life. She has three children by three different men and has just been diagnosed with inoperable cervical cancer.

While the meeting between these two women appears accidental, it becomes their catalyst of hope. Neither woman expects the blessing that God has in store for her. While Deidre will guide Kenisha on the path to eternal life with Jesus Christ, Kenisha will teach Deidre how to stand strong against the hard-knocks of life.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Long Time Coming, go HERE


Watch the book video:


Friday, November 5, 2010

CFBA Presents HEAD IN THE CLOUDS by Karen Witemeyer


This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Head in the Clouds
Bethany House; Original edition (October 1, 2010)
by
Karen Witemeyer



ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen Witemeyer is a deacon's wife and mother of three who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul.

After growing up in California, Karen moved to Texas to attend Abilene Christian University where she earned bachelor and master's degrees in Psychology. It was also there that she met and married her own Texas hero. He roped her in good, for she has lived in Texas ever since. In fact, she fell so in love with this rugged land of sweeping sunsets and enduring pioneer spirit, that she incorporates it into the pages of her novels, setting her stories in the small towns of a state that burgeoned into greatness in the mid-to-late 1800s.

Karen is living her dream by writing Christian historical romance novels for Bethany House. When she visited her publisher back in January of 2010, she was interviewed by the staff. If you'd like a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how she develops her story ideas and a description of her bumpy journey to publication, go to her website to listen to a podcast of that interview.


ABOUT THE BOOK
Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.

When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon--and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.

When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the child--and her inheritance--Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Head in the Clouds, go HERE.


JEN'S THOUGHTS

After reading Karen Witemeyer's debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride, I was excited about adding a new author to my list of favorites. With novel number two, Witemeyer lives up to her promising start and solidifies her place on that list. If you enjoy historical romances with heart and humor, get your hands on Head in the Clouds.

Just for Fun - Facebook Etiquette... Fifties Style

Hope you get a chuckle out of this tongue-in-cheek video. After you watch it, come visit me on the electronic friendship generator.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Just for Fun - THRILLER... Bollywood Style

It's downright frightening how little I blogged during October. Hopefully, next month will be better. That's the plan, anyway. For now, I present you with this entertaining little video...

Bollywood salutes Thriller

Enjoy!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM by Francine Rivers

Many thanks to Francine Rivers and Christian Speaker Services for making this interview available.



How has exploring the relationship between your mother and grandmother helped you understand yourself?
This is a question I would love readers to ask themselves at the end of Her Mother’s Hope. I realized early in the story that I have many of my grandmother and mother’s character traits, both good and bad. They both had tempers. So do I. They both had low self-esteem. I’m always striving to “measure up”. They both chose spouses who respected them. So did I. Both women had strong faith and servants’ hearts, something they encouraged in me. My mother extended grace to others -- a trait I want to cultivate to the end of my days. By holding onto her anger, Grandma lacked the peace and joy she could have had in her last years. I tend to relive past hurts. Writing about Marta made me decide to let go, forgive and move on. For whatever reason, Grandma couldn’t and missed out on so much joy in her last years. Sometimes people deeply hurt as children take offense where none was intended. Holding a grudge causes suffering, especially for the one who won’t let go. Jesus said to forgive one another as He has forgiven us. Forgiveness frees us, even if the other person refuses to join in the process of reconciliation. As I examine my own life, I see how much I’ve been forgiven. How can I not extend God’s grace to others? The best way to experience the fullness of God’s presence in my life is to surrender it to Him. And in that surrender, we are made more complete and joy-filled.

Mother-daughter relationships are often complicated and fraught with emotional land mines. What was your approach to exploring the complexity of those relationships in a fictional setting?
Questions, lots of questions! Every time I told someone I was working on a book about mother-daughter relationships, people wanted to share their family stories. As I wrote Her Mother’s Hope, I wanted readers to see through each woman’s eyes, and understand how the past shaped each in the way she responded to her mother. Hildemara doesn’t believe her mother loves her, but it is out of Marta’s pain and loss that tough-love techniques were forged. Marta wants to strengthen her daughter for whatever lies ahead. Sometimes what we view as rejection can actually be an act of sacrificial love. We seldom know the experiences that shaped our mothers, the deep hurts, traumatic events, broken relationships. I hope women who read this book will want to share those things with one another.

Writing a novel is not for the faint of heart. What was the most difficult part of writing this family saga? What came the most naturally to you?
The most difficult part of writing any novel is getting out of my own way. I have to get rid of preconceived notions about themes and characters and plot. The first draft of this novel came in at over 1000 pages and was too biographical. I wanted the story to shift back and forth from present to past, trying to show what happened to create the rifts and valleys between Hildemara, Carolyn and May Flower Dawn. I was too cautious, too afraid to harm to my grandmother and mother’s memory.

A wonderful editor wrote me an insightful letter in which she listed what she wanted to know about each the characters. Her letter got my creative juices flowing. She helped me look at the story in a new way. I set the first manuscript aside and started over. I found it better to move from one generation to the next in a linear story. This time the characters followed my grandmother and mother’s timeline, but took on a life of their own. They became unique individuals rather than the shadow of real people.

After readers finish this series what do you want them to remember? What questions and feelings do you want it to provoke on a spiritual and emotional level?
I hope and pray readers who have had difficult relationships with their mothers or daughters will let go of the pain and anger and allow God to work in their lives. God can work all things together for good for those who trust and love Him. Following Jesus’ example changes the way we see people. It changes the way we relate to one another. Even when the chasm is too deep to cross, we can decide to forgive. Some people wear grievances like a dirty coat. With God’s strength, we can strip it off and be free. When people finish reading Her Daughter’s Dream, I hope they will want to extend God’s grace and forgiveness. I hope they will tear down their walls and use their life experiences to begin building a bridge.

Who do you see as the audience for this story, and does that differ from your previous readership?
I am fortunate to work with Tyndale House. If a writer does well in one genre, publishers encourage the writer to continue in the same genre. Tyndale has given me the freedom to go wherever the story leads. I have done historical as well as contemporary. This two-part saga was intended to be one LONG book. Splitting the story into two parts made it more affordable for readers, and eliminated the need to delete entire sections. Hopefully, both women and men will enjoy Her Mother’s Hope and Her Daughter’s Dream. Men play a strong role in the lives of all four primary characters: Marta, Hildemara Rose, Carolyn and May Flower Dawn. And both books have much to do with faith, how it presents itself, how it grows, often under difficult circumstances and in unexpected ways.

Where may we connect with you further or to purchase a copy of HER DAUGHTER'S DREAM?
I would love for you to visit my web site at http://www.francincerivers.com/, browse through the various events and other resources available, as well as sign up for my mailing list. You may also join me on my Facebook page, please click here.


ABOUT THE BOOK: Her Daughter's Dream
In the dramatic conclusion to the New York Times best seller Her Mother’s Hope, Francine Rivers delivers a rich and deeply moving story about the silent sorrows that can tear a family apart and the grace and forgiveness that can heal even the deepest wounds.

Growing up isn’t easy for little Carolyn Arundel. With her mother, Hildemara, quarantined to her room with tuberculosis, Carolyn forms a special bond with her oma Marta, who moves in to care for the household. But as tensions between Hildie and Marta escalate, Carolyn believes she is to blame. When Hildie returns to work and Marta leaves, Carolyn and her brother grow up as latchkey kids in a world gripped by the fear of the Cold War.

College offers Carolyn the chance to find herself, but a family tragedy shatters her new found independence. Rather than return home, she cuts all ties and disappears into the heady counterculture of San Francisco. When she reemerges two years later, more lost than ever, she reluctantly turns to her family to help rebuild a life for her and her own daughter, May Flower Dawn.

Just like Carolyn, May Flower Dawn develops a closer bond with her grandmother, Hildie, than with her mother, causing yet another rift between generations. But as Dawn struggles to avoid the mistakes of those who went before her, she vows that somehow she will be a bridge between the women in her family rather than the wall that separates them forever.

Spanning from the 1950s to present day, Her Daughter’s Dream is the emotional final chapter of an unforgettable family saga about the sacrifices every mother makes for her daughter—and the very nature of unconditional love.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Francine Rivers
Francine Rivers began her literary career at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in English and journalism. From 1976 to 1985, she had a successful writing career in the general market, and her books were highly acclaimed by readers and reviewers. Although raised in a religious home, Francine did not truly encounter Christ until later in life, when she was already a wife, a mother of three, and an established romance novelist.

Shortly after becoming a born-again Christian in 1986, Francine wrote Redeeming Love as her statement of faith. First published by Bantam Books and then re-released by Multnomah Publishers in the mid-1990s, this retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea, set during the time of the California Gold Rush, is now considered by many to be a classic work of Christian fiction. Redeeming Love continues to be one of the Christian Booksellers Association's top-selling titles, and it has held a spot on the Christian best-seller list for nearly a decade.

Since Redeeming Love, Francine has published numerous novels with Christian themes—all best sellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for numerous honors, including the RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Gold Medallion, and the Holt Medallion in Honor of Outstanding Literary Talent. In 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame. Francine's novels have been translated into over 20 different languages, and she enjoys best-seller status in many foreign countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, and South Africa.

Francine and her husband, Rick, live in northern California and enjoy time spent with their three grown children and taking every opportunity to spoil their grandchildren. Francine uses her writing to draw closer to the Lord, and she desires that through her work she might worship and praise Jesus for all He has done and is doing in her life.


JEN'S THOUGHTS
After reading Her Mother's Hope, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Her Daughter's Dream. Rivers created such a compelling, and heartbreaking, mother/daughter relationship in book one, I wondered how she would follow it up. (If you want to read my thoughts on book one, go here.)

In Her Daughter's Dream, we are treated to the stories of Marta, Hildie, Carolyn, and May Flower Dawn... four women who are bound together by blood, yearning for unconditional love, yet certain they are letting down the women they want to please the most. It's a cycle that's been repeated in the family for years. But May Flower Dawn is destined to be the one who breaks it and brings reconciliation to her family. At least, that's her heart's desire.

No one writes character driven novels quite like Francine Rivers. She takes you deep into these women, making you feel their emotions. More than once I wanted to sit down with them and make them talk to each other! It's a long journey to healing, but Rivers ends the book on a positive note (although we take a bittersweet detour to get there). It just goes to show that no mother'/daughter relationship is beyond repair when the Lord's hand is on it. I highly recommend both books in this series. Enjoy!



A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host by the Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services at www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Successful or Significant?

Sunday morning at the ACFW Conference, literary agent Chip MacGregor shared a devotion after breakfast. I'm going to give a very bare-bones, doesn't-do-it-justice paraphrase here, but basically, he asked... do you want to be successful or significant?

It's a question that struck a chord with me, and something I've been pondering ever since. In the publishing industry, success can be boiled down to some very basic, quantifiable facts. How many books did you sell? Did you earn out your advance? Do you have another book contracted?

Significance is a little harder to pin down. What touches one person may mean nothing to another. But ultimately, it's those times when our work strikes a chord in someone that makes it significant.

During a rare time between running from this to that, I was sitting with a friend and talking about what kind of stories we write. For the first time, I acknowledged a common thread running through all of mine: identity. In The Pastor's Wife, I wrote about a woman who tried so hard to live up to the expectations of others that she lost track of who God meant for her to be. In The Mother Road (which comes out in April 2012), a marriage expert is thrown for a loop when her husband tells her he wants a divorce, making her doubt everything she thought was true about herself. Obviously, identity is a topic I'm passionate about. And I believe it's significant.

When I started my blog, The Pastor's Wife Speaks, I did it with the goal of supporting women who live on the front lines of ministry... women who sometimes struggle to separate their true selves from the expectations others have for them. When I told someone (who shall remain nameless) about the plan, I was asked this question, "How are you going to make any money from that?"

I understand the reasoning behind the question. Starting up and maintaining a new blog is a lot of work, and most people won't put that much work into something without an expectation of financial return. But the blog isn't about success for me... it's about creating something with significance. I knew I was on the right track when I got an email saying, "I'm so thankful for today's post. I thought I was the only one who felt that way."

How about you? Besides raising your kids (because let's face it, that's the first thing most of us women think of, and rightly so), what's the most significant thing you've been a part of?


In the above picture: Four significant women... Bonnie Calhoun, Anita Mae Draper, Lisa Richardson, and Jen AlLee

Monday, September 27, 2010

This Week... 2010 ACFW Conference Memories

Last week was the American Christian Fiction Writers annual conference. I spent five glorious days in Indianapolis, surrounded by writers, editors, agents... in other words, people who are just as sick and twisted as I am. People who don't think it's weird to talk to yourself in different dialects, to plot out murders while wandering the aisles at the supermarket, or to take notes in church not about the sermon, but because you just had a breakthrough on your character's motivation. Yes, it was a little slice of heaven!

This week, I'm going to share some conference pictures and thoughts. Hope you enjoy the trip as much as I did!



My pal Lisa and I walked down the street to a TJ Max.
For some reason, the name "YUMNUTS" just struck me funny and I had to take a picture.

More to come...


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

CFBA Presents IN EVERY HEARTBEAT by Kim Vogel Sawyer


This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
In Every Heartbeat
(Bethany House - September 1, 2010)
by
Kim Vogel Sawyer



ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of fifteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and six grandchildren.




ABOUT THE BOOK



As three friends who grew up in the same orphanage head off to college together, they each harbor a cherished dream.

Libby Conley hopes to become a famous journalist. Pete Leidig believes God has called him to study to become a minister. And Bennett Martin plans to pledge a fraternity, find a place to belong, and have as much fun as possible.

But as tensions rise around the world on the brink of World War I, the friends' differing aspirations and opinions begin to divide them, as well. And when Libby makes a shocking discovery about Pete's family, will it drive a final wedge between the friends or bond them in ways they never anticipated?


If you would like to read the first chapter of In Every Heartbeat, go HERE.


JEN'S THOUGHTS

Having spent most of last week either preparing for or attending the annual ACFW Conference, I find myself way behind on things. Sadly, I've only just started reading In Every Heartbeat, so I can't share many thoughts about it. I will say that it starts off with the promise of being a great read. Of course, I would expect nothing less from the lovely and talented Kim Vogel Sawyer. If you've read it, why don't you share your thoughts with everybody. We'd love to hear from you!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

It Happened Again

Back in May, I wrote a post about artistic coincidences... those times when two people will accidentally write scarily similar story lines. Or when life imitates art long after the art has been created. If you read that post, you know it's happened to me before.

Well, it happened again.

Back in June, I wrote down a story idea in the notebook I keep by my bed. It was something I thought was fresh and engaging. Flash forward to yesterday evening when I'm watching the news and what do I hear? You got it. My story.

Of course, it wasn't the whole thing. But the basic inciting incident, the thing that sets the whole story in motion, was almost identical to what I scribbled out three months ago. Now, that doesn't mean I can't use it. In fact, it might even work for me. You know how popular those "ripped from the headlines" stories are. But I'm still pretty amazed by the whole thing.

How about you? Have you experienced any stranger-than-fiction moments lately?

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Blogging Here and Blogging There

Obviously, I have not been very good about keeping up this blog lately! But it's not that I haven't been blogging... I've just been in other places.

So if you want to see what I've been up to, you can check out my posts at Inkwell Inspirations. Most recently I've written about positive thinking and why fiction is so important.

Or, you can go to the place that's really been occupying most of my time: The Pastor's Wife Speaks. It's a new blog I started for women in ministry. (And if you've got an article or devotion you'd like to submit to TPWS, please get in touch with me.)

As for this blog... I hope to do better. Let's see how that goes :+}

Friday, September 3, 2010

Just for Fun - Smells Like Rockin' Robin Mashup

My friends Nate and Cora clued me into this video. It's a pretty amazing mashup of two songs you'd never expect to go together: Rockin' Robin by the Jackson 5 and Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvanna. Warning... once you hear it, it's going to stay in your head for awhile. Enjoy!


Wednesday, September 1, 2010

New Releases in Christian Fiction - September 2010

Looking for something to read? Here's the latest crop of fresh Christian fiction from my fellow ACFW members...

1. Across the Cotton Fields; Mississippi Brides, book 1 by Diane T. Ashley and Aaron McCarver-- Romance from Barbour.
Alexandra Lewis must find a husband before a family scandal follows her to Mississippi, but where does God fit into her plans?

2. A Door County Christmas; The Heart's Harbor by Cynthia Ruchti, Ride With Me Into Christmas by Rachael Phillips, My Heart Still Beats by Eileen Key, and Christmas Crazy by Becky Melby
A collection of four Christmas-themed romance novellas from Barbour. A Door County innkeeper guarantees four single women that her Christmas cactus gifts˜and love˜will bloom by Christmas. As December nears, will barren plants and romances blossom into holiday joy?

3. A Hope Undaunted; Winds of Change series, book 1 by Julie Lessman -- A romance from Revell.
While on a summer law internship, a sassy and modern woman of the Roaring 20s butts heads with her lawyer boss, a stubborn pest from her past.

4. A Memory Between Us; Wings of Glory, Book 2 by Sarah Sundin -- An historical from Revell.
During World War II, B-17 pilot Maj. Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge - until he meets Lt. Ruth Doherty, a striking nurse with a shameful secret.

5. A Prairie Christmas Collection by Deborah Raney, Tracie Peterson, Tracey V. Bateman, and six others -- A collection of nine Christmas-themed romance novellas from Barbour.
An instant holiday treasure, this fiction collection is penned by nine multi-published authors. Each novella promises a sweet Christian romance on the historical American Great Plains.

6. A Riverwalk Christmas by Elizabeth Goddard, Martha Rogers, Lynette Sowell and Kathleen Y'Barbo-- A collection of Christmas-themed romance novellas from Barbour.
Four young women find love in the most unexpected places at Christmas.

7. A Very Private Grave; #1 The Monastery Murders by Donna Fletcher Crow -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Kregel.
A new policeman must protect a young social worker from big-city gangs making their evil way down south. Felicity thinks she knows everything, until a brutal murder teaches her she doesn't know anything.

8. A Woodland Christmas by Janelle Mowery, Tamela Hancock Murray, Darlene Franklin and Ramona Cecil-- A collection of Christmas-themed romance novellas from Barbour.
Experience a nostalgic Christmas in the Piney Woods of East Texas where a traveling wood-carver dispenses wisdom that brings four couples to realize the gift of love.

9. Alpha Redemption by P.A. Baines -- A Science Fiction/Fantasy/Futuristic from Splashdown Books.
In man's pursuit of knowledge, artificial intelligence was created. In the pursuit of love, artificial intelligence found God.

10. Baby Makes A Match; Love Inspired/Chatam House Series by Arlene James -- A Romance from Steeple Hill.
A rodeo cowboy rescues a stranded pregnant girl and with the help of three matchmaking aunties….well what else do you need?

11. Christmas Mail Order Brides by Vickie McDonough, Susan Page Davis, Therese Stenzel and Carrie Turansky
A collection of Christmas-themed romance novellas from Barbour. Ride the transcontinental railroad as marriage arrives by mail-order-and just in time for Christmas.

12. Finding Becky; Book 3 Winds Across the Prairie by Martha Rogers -- An Historical from Realms/Strang.
Rebecca comes home with a new attitude, but Rob wants to find the Becky he's loved since their youth.

13. Formula for Danger by Camy Tang -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Love Inspired Suspense.
Dermatologist researcher Rachel Grant is pursued by an enemy trying to take her latest research and her life.

14. Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer -- A Romance from Bethany House.
When a recovering romantic goes to work for a handsome ranch owner, her heart isn't the only thing in danger.

15. High-Stakes Inheritance by Susan Sleeman -- A Romance from Steeple Hill.
Claiming an inheritance turns deadly when Mia Blackburn returns to her hometown.

16. In Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel Sawyer -- An Historical from Bethany House.
Claiming an inheritance turns deadly when Mia Blackburn returns to her hometown.Three best friends, three cherished dreams, three searching hearts...

17. Judgement Day by Wanda Dyson -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Random House/Waterbrook.
One reporter's love of sensationalism leads to a horrifying story and someone willing to kill her to keep her quiet.

18. Lily and the Lawman; Idaho Brides, Book Two by Erica Vetsch -- An Historical from Barbour.
A wary woman has no choice but to join forces with a local lawman to rescue her kidnapped niece.

19. Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe by Anita Higman and Irene Brand-- A Romance from Summerside Press.
Two heartwarming stories of Christmas past and present.

20. Lydia's Charm by Wanda Brunstetter -- A Romance from Barbour.
Will the anonymous gifts left for Lydia bring her hope for a new life, and when tragedy befalls her yet again, will the mysterious gift giver be there to support her?

21. Making Waves; CHAIM series, Book Four by Lorna Seilstad -- An Historical from Revell.
After Mr. Boring presses for an engagement, a witting debutante meets an intriguing sailing instructor who is everything her hum drum suitor is not.

22. McKenzie; Montana Skies Series by Penny Zeller -- An Historical from Whitaker House.
She wanted to change him and mold him into the man she was supposed to marry. Instead, she was the one whose heart was changed.

23. Medical Error; Prescription For Trouble (book two) by Richard L. Mabry, M.D. -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Abingdon.
Identity theft isn't normally fatal, but this time it was.

24. More Than Words; Daughters of Amana #2 by Judith Miller -- An Historical from Bethany House.
Will Gretchen Kohler's one impulsive decision cause tragic consequences for the entire Amana Community and cost her everything, even the love of her life?

25. Second Chance Brides; Texas Boardinghouse Brides #2 by Vickie McDonough -- An Historical from Barbour.
When the man they came to town to marry weds someone else, two mail order brides must find a way to survive in Texas--or find another man to marry.

26. Secret of the Shroud by Pamela Billings Ewen -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from B&H Publishers.
A powerful Bishop reaches for revenge when he's suddenly confronted with the secret of the Shroud and a choice that can destroy him.

27. Tender Vow by Sharlene MacLaren -- A Romance from Whitaker House.
When John Evans is killed in a skiing accident, his brother, Jake, reaches out to his widowed sister-in-law, but Rachel will have nothing to do with his charity, particularly since they have a "history" she'd rather forget--but God has other plans.

28. The Columns of Cottonwood; The Alabama River Heritage Series by Sandra Robbins -- A Romance from Barbour.
When a handsome stranger purchases a woman's plantation for back taxes, she vows to recover her land, but they discover God has a greater solution--a compromise to benefit both.

29. The Doctor's Blessing; #2 in The Brides of Amish Country by Patricia Davids -- A Romance from Steeple Hill.
A nurse-midwife to the Amish and the new doctor clash over her home deliveries.

30. The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson -- A Romance from Zondervan.
The Sleeping Beauty fairy tale comes to life when Rose, the apprentice to the town healer, falls in love with Lord Hamlin, the betrothed son of a duke.

31. The Newcomer by Laurie Alice Eakes -- An Historical from Barbour.
Marigold sacrifices things precious to her, for the sake of her young charges and isn't willing to let their uncle take over when danger follows in his wake.

32. The Perfect Blend; The Tea Shop Series by Trish Perry -- A Romance from Harvest House.
A jilted bride encounters chaotic jobs, overbearing society matrons, and charming suitors in her quest for love, independence, and the occasional glimpse of God's will.

33. The Wolf of Tebron by C. S. Lakin -- An Science Fiction/Fantasy/Futuristic from AMG/Living Ink.
A young blacksmith goes in search of his missing wife, journeying to the four ends of the world and solving riddles with a faithful wolf at his side.

34. Where Hearts Are Free; Darkness to Light Series, Book #3 by Golden Keyes Parsons -- An Historical from Thomas Nelson.
In the freedom and promise of the New World, Bridget Barrington and Philippe Clavell fall in love, but nothing about their love seems possible, apart from God's intervention.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Hooray for the Buffet of Ways to Get Your Hands on a Book! by Judy Christie

It's my great pleasure to welcome author Judy Christie back to the blog!


When I was in elementary school, a bookmobile rolled up every so often and parked on the side street. A few at a time, students entered the cool bus of books. I vividly recall the wonder of a new collection of volumes from which to choose.

When I got my driver’s license, the first place I headed was the Cedar Grove Branch Library. Tons of great reading entered my mind from those shelves.

In my second novel, Goodness Gracious Green, the town’s little newspaper organizes a used book sale. I had such a great time writing that scene because I love book sales. As I wrote, I could see books being dropped off in cardboard boxes and lined up on tables.

These days there is a lot of talk (and even arguing) about where people get their books and in what form. While some debate hardback versus paperback, others discuss electronic readers – and the pros and cons of the “page-turning” experience. Some readers champion independent bookstores, while many like the convenience of online book shopping or large retail chains.

I confess: I like them all! The many ways to pick up a book don’t compete, but complement one another. I stroll through my local library, spend hours in used bookstores, and enjoy books on my Kindle. On vacation, I scour tourist information to discover new bookstores. If I have business in a city, I explore the public library.

The buffet of options for where to get books is as wonderful as a great potluck supper at church, where the choices are so good that I take a little of everything – leaving extra room for my favorites.

How about you? Do you have a favorite place to pick up a book? Have you ever stumbled on a wonderful read in an unexpected spot? I’d love to hear about your encounters with books. Leave a comment below. We’ll draw a winner at random and send you a signed copy of either Gone to Green, first in the series, or Goodness Gracious Green, your choice!

Happy Reading!

Judy Christie


ABOUT THE BOOK
Goodness Gracious Green is the second in The Green Series, about charming and uncertain journalist Lois Barker who is trying to settle into her second year in the small southern town of Green. The year has scarcely been rung in before Lois is wrung out, but in the midst of challenges, Lois’s journey explodes with possibilities. The Glory of Green, book 3 in the series, will be out in February 2011. I can scarcely wait for you to see what happens next!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Judy Christie (that’s me) is the author of The Green Series, about the town of Green and the many interesting folks who live there – and how they change a big-city journalist who moves to town. I’m a frequent retreat and workshop leader who loves to help people hurry less and worry less and have written a series of nonfiction books on how to slow down and enjoy each day more. A former journalist, my husband and I live in Louisiana, where I have fun exploring flea markets and used bookstores, wandering through the park and sitting in the porch swing. For more information or to contact me, see www.judychristie.com. I also love Facebook friends and look forward to visiting with you.