At Last

At last I'm able to get back on my blog! Had a few problems but they're worked out now. I've read some of the best books in recent days not only for BOTY but also books sent to me by my author friends. In addition, my own novella is now on the bookshelves. I hope some of you will be reading it and reviewing it for us. It was a fun book to write.

If you'd like a free copy of Sugar and Grits, please send me a comment and let me know why you'd like to read it. I will draw a name July 15 and send the lucky winner a copy. If you've already read it, let me know how you liked it.

A new adventure from DiAnn Mills

With Lightning and Lace, DiAnn Mills concludes her Texas Legacy series. She finds yet another adventure with the Andrews family in Kahlerville as widowed Bonnie Kahler tries to regroup and get her children under control. When Travis Whitworth, the new preacher, arrives on the scene with a few secrets of his own. When he offers to help with Zack, Bonnie's troubled son, Bonnie realizes the opportunity God is giving her to start over again. However, the pompous banker, Lester Hillman, wants Bonnie's affections for himself. Under the guise of religious zeal, he manages to weave tales of evil around Travis and Bonnie. Mills' unique characters will keep the reader turning the pages to the end and will live in the heart long after the last page is read and love triumphs over evil.

Post a comment and let me know why you would like a copy of this book. I'll draw for a winner March 31. Be sure I have your email address.

Texas Christian Writer's Conference

I am in the process of creating the 2007 brochure for the Texas Christian Writer's Conference. It will be on August 4, 2007 at Houston's First Baptist Church. Our faculty this year will be DiAnn Mills as keynote speaker, Sally Stuart, Kathy Ide, Lena Nelson Dooley, and Terry Whalin. In addition, Janice Thompson, Kathleen Y'Barbo, and Anita Higman will be presenting workshops and critiquing manuscripts. The cost is $80 for non IWA! members. IWA! is a writing organization for Christian writers who want to learn more about the craft of writing and have fellowship with other writers once a month. To learn more about IWA! or the conference, drop me an email.

Review for Lanterns and Lace

Once again DiAnn Mills has woven a story of love, stubborn pride, and tenacity into an exciting read. The moment Jenny Martin steps off the train in Kahlerville, Texas and faints into the arms of Aubrey Turner, you know you will be in for an unexpected adventure. In search of her deceased sister’s child to claim her for her family, Jenny meets Grant Andrew’s, the child’s adoptive father, and discovers a task more difficult than she could have imagined. Jenny’s strict parents have disowned her sister Jessica because of her lifestyle in Texas. Strict upbringing by non-Christian parents and their attitude towards Jessica, gives Jenny the stubborn will to return her young niece to her rightful grandparents. As her relationship with Grant changes back and forth, that same stubborn will gets Jenny into trouble, and she learns things about her sister Jessica’s life in Kahlerville that will lead to more danger. DiAnn also created a cast of secondary characters in Mimi and Aubrey Turner the reader will not soon forget. Grant’s family adds color and humor to a story filled with emotion and mystery.

This and That
The winner of the free copy of The Wedding Caper was Cheryl Shaw. I mailed the book to her. Look for a new contest in January. This is a busy time of the year with Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, and family get togethers. I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

The Wedding Caper Review

Janice Thompson has created a wealth of unusual and lovable characters in her newest novel, The Wedding Caper. When her husband seems to be the prime suspect in the disappearance of $25,000 from the Clark County Savings and Loan, Annie Peterson becomes an amateur sleuth to uncover the real culprit. With twin daughters, Brandi and Candy, both planning weddings, Warren’s gift of the same amount as the heist, Annie starts on her quest to find the truth. The suspects range from a somber faced bank loan officer to new security guard with a shady past. Annie chases down clues in finding who did steal the money by means of an on-line course in private investigating. Along with her best friend, Sheila, and her faithful pooch, Sasha, the reader will follow Annie to an unusual, but most satisfying end.

The winner of Violet Dawn is Karen Ferguson of Houston, Texas. Congratulations. I'll be having another contest this month for Wedding Caper by Janice Thompson. Watch for the review.

Anniversary

Today my husband and I celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary. Maybe that's one reason fall is my favorite time of the year. Last year we celebrated in New England. Rex doesn't like seafood, but he took me to Babin's because he knows how I love shrimp. Afterwards he even went shopping with me, an activity he dislikes immensely. Now that's what I call love. Funny thing is we only knew each other seven months before our wedding and had a total of five dates before our engagement. He was in Houston on leave from the army for five days when he asked me to marry him in 1959. Wonder if that would work in a novel? He left that Friday and I didn't see him again until the week before the wedding when we he was discharged and we went to Arkansas for me to meet his parents. No honeymoon because he'd just returned to his job and had no time off. Not a courtship I'd recommend, but both of us sought God's will for our lives and He put us together. Our three sons and daughters-in-law have blessed us with nine grandchildren, the oldest of whom will be married next June to her high school sweetheart when they both graduate from Texas A&M.

Angel Bears

Some of you expressed interest in the "Angel Bears" I had at the conference in the bookstore. I have them available if you'd like one, and will mail them to you. I have two Christmas ones, three lace ones, and one dressed in checked gingham fabric. They are $25 each for the lace ones and $20 for the others plus postage.

I started making these bears years ago when I made one for my granddaughter who was taking ballet. Then I made a few for a craft show at church and ended up with more orders than I had bears on hand. Each Christmas until two years ago, I made them and sold them at craft shows. I have well made over a hundred of them, but now do only special orders or for events like our conference. Each bear seems to take on her own personality and each one is named and has a card attached with her name and a Scripture verse or a short message on it.

If you're interested, email me and I'll get more info to you.

Book Review of Violet Dawn by Brandilyn Collins

Brandilyn Collins has done it again. Violet Dawn begins with a gruesome discovery of the body of famous movie actress, Edna San then takes off to give the reader another breathless ride. The difference with this book is in the characters created for the town of Kanner Lake. Quirky, lovable, sympathetic, and somewhat eclectic, the townspeople are richly drawn against the tapestry of the beauty of Idaho. The reader will suffer with Paige as she tries to fit in with the others in town, but finds herself the victim in an elaborate scheme to frame her for murder. No one is free from suspicion and help comes from the least likely direction. The care and concern of these likable characters contrasts sharply with the scenes from Paige’s past. In this first novel in the Kanner Lake series, Brandilyn has all the suspense of her usual thrillers combined with the small town feel and unforgettable characters of her earliest novels. A must read for fans of Brandilyn Collins.

Post your comment and enter a drawing for a free copy of Brandilyn's book. Drawing will be October 31.

Review for Reluctant Burglar

Jill Elizabeth Nelson’s novel, The Reluctant Burglar, is a fast paced, tightly written mystery that will intrigue the reader from the first little masquerade to the final disclosure of the true thief. Desiree Jacobs is a character you will come to love as she uses all her wiles and tricks as a security expert to uncover the truth. The clues lead in directions she doesn’t want to go, but her search for truth pulls her anyway. Not even able to trust her best friend or her growing feelings for FBI agent Tony, Desiree finds herself in a situation after situation that tests everything she has ever learned. Was her father a thief? Is her best friend actually her worst enemy? Does Tony return her feelings for him? Read about these and other escapades as Desiree doesn’t wait on help from authorities, but takes matters in her own hands and almost winds up a victim herself. It’s all here, romance, intrigue, comedy, high-stakes thrills, stirring mystery, and fast-moving action. Don’t miss it.

Review: When the Heart Cries

Cindy Woodsmall’s debut novel is a beautiful but heartbreaking novel of what happens when evil attacks. From the first chapter when Hannah’s hopes for a bright future with her beloved Paul are dashed against the rocks of despair to the ultimate choice at the end, the reader is caught up in Hannah’s plight and what she must do to find happiness and peace again in her life. As the daughter of an Amish family, she has been loved and protected for all of her seventeen years. Then in one brief encounter, all that is wiped away and the things which Hannah has held dear all of her life become great question marks for her future. Cindy’s words of description, dialogue, and emotion take the readers on a journey they will never forget and will leave them waiting anxiously for the next in the series of Sisters of the Quilt. This is a must read.

Randy and Deb having fun at the book signing on Saturday.

Gayle Roper at the booksigning.

After Deb's late night chat. I found some great pictures to use.

Kathleen and Janice at the book signing.
Nashville, 2006

Two of my favorite people. Kathleen and Janice

Kim Sawyer and Martha before the morning classes began. Nashville, 2006

ACFW Memories

Having been to all the ACFW (ACRW) conferences, I have many wonderful memories. Outstanding among them are meeting Brandilyn Collins and Ruth Seamands, Deb Raney, Tamela Hancock Murray, and Karen Kingsbury in Kansas City. I was in awe of these ladies. Getting my tote bag signed by them and so many more was fun. Also met Tracie and Jim Peterson during the welcome reception on Thursday night and learned that they were very friendly and easy to talk to.

Here is a list of special memories:
Rachel Hauk's beautiful smile and way of making everyone feel special.
Finding out editors are real people.
Sharing a room with two ladies who were strangers on Thursday, but great friends by Saturday.
Leaving my brand new Eyes of Elisha on the table in the lobby of the hotel when our shuttle showed up and having Joyce Hart find it and get it back to me by way of another member. (I think that book traveled more than I did.)
Floating body parts
Brandilyn/Deb "feud"
"The Hand"
Anita Higman's hog-calling
Having a bunch of members who came in early on Wednesday to Houston at my house for dinner that night.
Patti Miller praying for me during a large group session
Kim Sawyer praying with me before an editor's appointment
Jim Peterson praying for me during an editor's appointment
Anne Goldsmith's crazy games
Meeting my on-line critique partner, Elizabeth Curtis
Eating breakfast with my agent and getting to know her better. (Hi, Tamela)
Seeing Ruth S. every year
Francine Rivers' moving testimony
"Taking down and closing up" the bookstore. (When you're tired, you do crazy things)
Having hotel guests look at us with wary eyes as we discussed WIPS and things we were doing to heroines.
And the list could go on and on. The conference not only is the place to network and meet editors, but it also a place to make dozens of new friends, meet your favorite author, be inspired and motivated, learn the craft of writing, and realize you're not in this game alone.

Hope to see a whole big bunch of you in Dallas next month. For more information, visit the ACFW website: http://acfw.net also members can then log onto the Forums and get more info from other members.

Dallas Here We Come

I'm getting excited about our upcoming conference in Dallas. It is one of the most fun weeks of all the year for me. So many wonderful memories are bound together in the past conferences. I've been to everyone of them and each one gets more interesting, beneficicial, and fun than the last one. The conference is a time to make connections. Connections with old friends, new friends, authors you've read, authors you want to read after meeting them, editors who turn out to be human just like you, agents who encourage you to pursue your dream, and prayer partners who lift you up in prayer.

The workshops are great. Look at our wonderful faculty this year and you will see something for every writer whether just beginning or a best seller. Liz Curtis Higgs will be sharing her heart with us and she will inspire and encourage us with her own experiences and insight into the world of writing.

Of course we can't forget the chocolate party either. Chocolate lovers unite and go a little wacky for an hour or two one night. Funny the people you can meet and what you can learn at a chocolate party.

Friendships made at the conference can last a lifetime. Even though we may actually see each other only once a year, the friendships grow through cyberspace.

ACFW conference replaced Mount Hermon as my "must attend" conference, and I haven't regretted it one bit. Check out my earlier blog about editor/agent appointments.

Get all the details at www.americanchristianfictionwriters.com/conference/

Make plans to go. You won't be sorry. I'll be posting some of my memories from the conference in the coming weeks.