Enter the Thomas Nelson $10,000 Giveaway

From Thomas Nelson:

One of the highlights of our days in the Fiction department at Thomas Nelson? Receiving reader letters—either directly addressed to us or passed along from our talented authors. It’s critical to be reminded that at the end of our long days acquiring, editing, designing, selling, marketing, and publicizing books, those stories are reaching readers, striking nerves, changing lives. We want readers’ feedback. How stories have given you hope. Which authors’ series you can’t help from sharing with everyone you meet. We want to know what makes you stay up late in the night to finish a story, and conversely what turns you away.

We’re conducting a series of surveys—seeking answers from readers who love Christian fiction. Up for grabs is a free ebook for every respondent who completes the survery, as well as a $10,000 prize for one entrant. The responses we gather will help shape the future of the books we publish for years to come. As well as the data we’re collecting here, we’ll also seek more in-depth feedback from a panel we’ll develop over the next year. More details to come. The note below from one of authors gives a specific picture of how reader feedback shapes her work. In short, your opinion matters! We thank you for your time and appreciate your responding.

--Thomas Nelson Fiction

Dear Friends--

Your opinion matters. It really does. I love hearing from readers about what worked for them in a story and about what doesn’t work. Reader feedback changed the balance between romance and suspense in my novels. After the Rock Harbor trilogy, I wanted to write more suspense in my novels because that’s what I personally like. But readers really wanted more relationship and romance in the books so I moved back that direction to about the same mix of 50/50 that the Rock Harbor novels contained. I write for you even more than for myself.

I had no intention of setting a whole series of books at Bluebird, Texas. It was going to be only one book, but readers sent me requests in droves for more books. The fourth book in the Lonestar series, Lonestar Angel, will be out in October. The Rock Harbor novels were going to be complete at three. There are now five and I’m thinking about another one! All due to reader demand.

I’ve often asked for reader input on names and locations too. When I was struggling for a name for my hero in The Lightkeeper’s Ball, I turned to my readers. Harrison really fit my character, and my readers told me. Love that! When I was trying to decide on a location for the new Hope Beach series I’ve started, I asked readers. Their overwhelming response was for a series set in the Outer Banks so guess what I’m writing?!

That’s why we’re coming to you for answers. We want to give you what you really want! Don’t be afraid to let us know what you really think. We value your honesty and the time it will take to share with us. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say!

Your friend,

Colleen Coble

CFBA Presents A LADY LIKE SARAH by Margaret Brownley

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
introduces
A Lady Like Sarah
(Thomas Nelson; Original edition - December 22, 2009)
by
Margaret Brownley


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this, except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, "Maybe God's calling you to write fiction."

It turns out God was and Margaret did. She now has more than 20 novels to her credit. In addition, she's written many Christian articles and a non-fiction book. Still, it took a lot of prodding from God before Margaret tried her hand at writing inspirational fiction which led to her Rocky Creek series. "I love writing about characters at different stages of faith," she says of the new direction her writing career has taken, "and I'm here to stay."

Happily married to her real-life hero, Margaret and her husband live in Southern California.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Sarah Prescott has never known a respectable life; just a hardscrabble childhood and brothers who taught her to shoot straight.

Justin Wells left Boston in disgrace, heading out alone on the dusty trail to Texas. But when the once-respected clergyman encounters a feisty redhead in handcuffs with a dying US Marshall at her side, their journey takes a dramatic turn.

His high society expectations and Sarah's outlaw habits clash from the start. With a price on her head and a sweet orphan in tow, Justin and Sarah make the difficult journey toward Rocky Creek. There justice will be meted out hopefully with a portion of grace.


If you would like to read the first chapter of A Lady Like Sarah, go HERE

Watch the Book Trailer:




JEN'S THOUGHTS

What does it take for a woman to be a real lady? Is it the way she speaks? The clothes she wears? Or is it the depth of her character? When Pastor Justin Wells first meets Sarah Prescott, there's nothing ladylike about her. Her language is coarse, she dresses like a man, and she's in handcuffs with an injured US Marshall. Forced to travel together, Sarah and Justin forge a strong friendship, despite the initial friction between them. When friendship turns to love, Sarah must trust God for a miracle, because that's the only way she and Justin can be together.

Margaret Brownley has crafted a charming, entertaining novel of life, love, and survival in the American West. In Sarah, she gives us a woman who's been running so long, she believes that's her lot in life. And Justin is leaving his former Boston congregation in shame, his only choice to start a new life in far off Texas. Both have been judged for actions that were not their own, and both must trust God to show them their true selves. A Lady Like Sarah is funny, touching, and a great start to the new Rocky Creek series.

Review of FEARLESS by Max Lucado

In his new book, Fearless, Max Lucado takes a look at the things that scare us: something bad happening to our kids, not being able to provide for our family, disappointing God, and the threats of terrorism, joblessness, and global calamity, just to name a few.
It's a scary world we live in. It's easy to become overwhelmed when presented with the challenges that surround us. But Fearless puts a new spin on the fear that sometimes threatens to consume us. Lucado says this in Chapter 1:

When fear shapes our lives, safety becomes our god. When safety becomes our god, we worship the risk-free life. Can the safety love do anything great? Can the risk-averse accomplish noble deeds? For God? For others? No. The fear-filled cannot love deeply. Love is risky. They cannot give to the poor. Benevolence has no guarantee of return. The fear-filled cannot dream wildly. What if their dreams sputter and fall from the sky? The worship of safety emasculates greatness. No wonder Jesus wages such a war against fear.

Whoa. Makes you look at fear in completely different way, doesn't it?

Frequent readers of Lucado know that he has a way with words unlike most other non-fiction authors. Fearless is no different. Weaving real-life examples with spiritual truths, Fearless gives us a glimpse of a loving God who is with us always, protecting us as He guides us through the minefield of life.

I'll leave you with one more snippet from Chapter 11: Caffeinated Life: Fear of What's Next.

God never sends you out alone. Are you on the eve of change? Do you find yourself looking into a new chapter? Is the foliage of your world showing signs of a new season? Heaven's message for you is clear: when everything else changes, God's presence never does. You journey in the company of the Holy spirit, who "will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you." (John 14:26 NLT)

In this video, Max talks about why he wrote Fearless





Check out The Fearless Times, where you can ask Max a question about what makes you fearful.

Just for Fun: An Instructional Video from Thomas Nelson

The creative folk at Thomas Nelson have put together a light-hearted video titled "Some Assembly Required" which gives step-by-step instructions on how to put together a book display. As a former book store employee, I've put together more than one of these in my day. I'd say this video is pretty much right on the money. Enjoy!