EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE!!!

Well, hello there all you wonderful peeps. I just have to tell you that TODAY I learned my book, Hannah Grace, is a finalist in the 2010 Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest. This contest is sponsored by the Faith, Hope, and Love Chapter of Romance Writers of America. Needless to say, I am humbled and grateful to the Lord for this amazing honor!

Of course, I DON'T expect to win, as I am up against the incredible, bestselling authors: Deeanne Gist (Bethany House), Rose Burkhard (Harvest House), and Mary Connealy (Barbour Publishing)--BUT I will be thrilled to smithereens to frame either a second or third place certificate!

I'll keep you posted as to contest results when I learn more. I know there is a banquet, but I have no specifics as to where or when.

A-N-Y-W-A-Y...I thought it would be FUN to do a giveaway of Hannah Grace. It's the FIRST book in my "Daughters of Jacob Kane" Series. (If you want to read the synopsis, just check it out by scrolling down this page till you come to the book.)

All you have to do to earn a chance to win an autographed copy is make a comment HERE on THIS blog (not on Facebook). I'll copy names of all entrants, throw them into my 'proverbial hat', and do a drawing one week from tomorrow--JUNE 4!!!

Are you game? Well, then, come on--JOIN THE FUN! I love you all! Oh, oh, almost forgot--here's the cover of Hannah Grace:

Okay, all you MILLIONS of peeps, here is the video you have ALL been asking me to make. (jk) WARNING: It's STUPID!

I am a total glutton for punishment I guess--that, and I have no compunctions about making an utter fool of myself. If you care to watch and be bored out of your mind, just give a click on the arrow.


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DEVASTATING NEWS!!!

I just learned today that my very best friend in all the world has cancer/lymphoma. Doctors discovered a mass behind her pancreas but were staying cautiously optimistic until the results of the biopsy came back, which was this afternoon. I was with her when the doctor came into the room. Of course, her family was there as well. We still don't know if this is stage 1, 2, 3, or 4 cancer, though, as they still have to do a bone marrow test and await the results of a chest x-ray to see if it has spread. Please join me in praying for my precious friend, Debbie Stinehart. No, she is not a member of SL. I've tried to talk her into joining, so maybe she will at some point. Anyway, I thought I would pass onto you a link at which you can get periodic updates if you like. Not totally sure I will be able to figure out how to make the link work on this blog, but I'm going to give it my best shot. If I'm successful, it would be wonderful if you would drop her a note of encouragement in her guest book. Thanks, everybody, and I love you all! Here is the link--I hope: CARING BRIDGE

A Word To Those Who Love to Write!

AMERICAN CHRISTIAN FICTION CONFERENCE

9/17/10 -- 9/20/10

I wonder how many of you are out weeding gardens, enjoying the springtime sunshine, shopping, tackling indoor or outdoor jobs, or just plain reveling in a blissfully relaxing Saturday. I, for one, am working, as I didn't quite reach my Monday thru Friday writing goal. While sitting here doing a little research I ran across an ad for a writing conference somewhere in California, but that itself is not the point. What is the point is that in their attempt to attract conferees, they made this statement:

"What does the market really want? Reality check time: 50,000 or more in this country are struggling to write first novels. Thousands of manuscripts flood agent and editor offices, but only a few hundred at most will ever be published by a major house. In today's environment, you will face more obstacles than ever. An aspiring author attempting to write the breakout novel must not only create a high concept novel premise that rings with "ca-ching" but must avoid all the common pitfalls in title, hook, early character development, prose craft, and ongoing narrative composition. Sound complicated? Well, it is. Welcome to reality! Writers unable to fulfill the many and picky demands of discriminating agents and editors will be rejected every time, and usually within seconds after reading the first page (or even the first line--no kidding)."

I don't know how accurate the 50K figure is, but if it's true, and only a few hundred actually squeeze through the loopholes and jump the hoops to make it into the publishing industry then no wonder there are so many discouraged writers. (By the way, this conference wasn't a Christian writers' conference—although it would be open to all genres.) Here's the thing, though, let's not limit God and His incredible plans for helping you jump those mountainous hurdles. It's EASY PEASY to give the Enemy a second to whisper in your ear, "You're no good, you have no talent. You don't have what it takes. You can't write near as well as so and so. Who are you fooling by calling yourself a writer?" Etc., etc. Words such as these do NOT come from the Creator, so when you "hear" them, take heed. God doesn't use negative talk!

I say that to say this: yes, writing is hard work, time consuming, challenging, heartrending, and sometimes exhausting, but if your passion for it runs hot, you have a GIFT—and you need to keep plugging, perfecting, and honing. One way to do that is to sign up for the ACFW conference in Indianapolis this September. Beg, borrow, steal (no, don't steal) if you have to, but get there! If you've never been, then you'll be pleasantly surprised and downright amazed by the wide range of classes offered to help you on your journey. This is not just any writer's conference, it's a Christ-centered, God-ordained meeting place where you will rub shoulders with the best of the best as well as beginners. Everyone meets on equal ground, and everyone loves you right where you are. COME! LEARN! PRAY! WORSHIP!

"The TEN-YEAR Good-bye"...

This is a picture of my mom holding my first grandson 4 years ago. She was almost 93-years-old in this photo and already into her 6th year of diagnosed Alzheimer's Disease. First of all, let me say that Alzheimer's is an ugly, horrendous, disgusting ailment that robs one of his/her dignity not to mention brain cells. (We spent ten years preparing ourselves for Mom's end. Heartrending.) Every living, breathing brain cell eventually gives in to this debilitating disease, and if something doesn't take its victim before the disease does, it will be the Alzheimer's that finally steals away that last breath--because the brain will finally run out of power to tell the vital organs what to do. Sorry for the disarming start to this blog.
The good news is this: WE SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR, and MY MOM KNEW HIM WELL! She is with Him now, in fact, as of January 28 and in two days (the 12th), she'll spend her 97th birthday with Jesus, my dad, her parents, two sisters, and a host of other loved ones gone before. What a reunion!
As Mother's Day came and went this year, I thought a great deal about my beloved mother and, ironically, on her birthday my sis-in-law and I are going to finish cleaning her house and preparing it for a realtor's walk-through. Surprisingly, I am not troubled by this. I'm dreading it, yes, only because I know the job will be overwhelming, but I'm not sad about walking into her house because I know she's enjoying a brand new home, one beyond our wildest, most vivid imaginations.
We live in temporary bodies, my sweet friends, and every time I look in the mirror to find another spot or wrinkle on my face I'm reminded all the more of that fact. This skin that holds our frail shells together will one day succumb to death (don't mean to be morbid here), and we will ALL go to one of two places.

Let me just say this: nothing on earth holds more value than making sure we've secured our eternal vacation in Heaven.

Have you made your reservations?