On the Write Track

Congratulations to the winner of The Sound of Sleigh Bells

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:17:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who left a comment to be entered in the drawing for The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall. Sounds like a great book, doesn't it?

OK...did my thing this morning and pulled out a name.

And the book goes to....

SUNNY!

Congratulations, Sunny! Hope you enjoy it!

Can you believe that next week is the final 12 Books of Christmas giveaway? Which means that next week is CHRISTMAS! WOW! Be sure to get in on the final drawing. Oh, wait. Did I say drawing? I meant drawingS. Yes, TWO books will be given away next week. So your chances of winning have just doubled. Don't forget to check back on Monday to read all about the two books up for grabs and the authors who wrote them.

Have a wonderful weekend!

All I want for Christmas (again)

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:37:00 +0000

So I wanted to write a post titled "All I want for Christmas" but I had that deja vu thing going on and figured I had probably blogged about this last year. So I checked back and, sure enough, there it was. You can read it HERE if you're interested. Below, you'll find my basic wish list from last year (minus last year's comments). A couple of these things I received in the past year, and a couple I'm still wishing for. But overall, the list hasn't changed.

1. An Agent. Working on this. In fact, two months ago, I submitted my first manuscript query to several agents. I got a proposal request and, subsequently, a full manuscript request out of it, with another agent still considering my query. I'm good with that. Hey, I won't likely have an agent by Christmas, but am hopeful to acquire one in 2010.

2. Time. Santa is playing games with me. Instead of giving me more time, it seems he took it away because I have less than ever! I'm not getting my hopes up on this one, but time is definitely staying on the list.

3. Butt glue. I did get a bit of butt glue this past year, but the jar is pretty much empty, so I'm wishing for more this year. Maybe Santa will package it up with a bundle of time. That would be cool.

4. My friend, Ginger, to take up reading. Well, I wouldn't say she "took up reading" but I think she may have read a couple books this past year, so it's progress. But I'll keep it on the list. One of these days, Ginger will ask me if I have any good books she can borrow. I just know it.

5. To attend the ACFW Conference. GOT THIS! Yay, Santa! (Actually, yay DAD, as he's the one who paid for me to go). My very first ACFW conference was every bit as awesome as I knew it would be. I plan on attending the conference in 2010, too. The best part is it's closer to home so I don't have to fly. Yippee!

6. A week by myself to write. Still waiting on this one. I'm thinking this one will probably be on my Christmas wish list for many more years. My family just can't live that long without me. At least, that's what I'm telling myself.

7. A CONTRACT! Nope, not yet. But I've taken a few steps that have brought my closer to the possibility. I'm hopeful this will be the last year that Contract is on the list. Not that a new contract every year wouldn't be nice.

8. A Snuggie. This really does have to do with writing. It does! As someone who is always cold and walking around with my microwavable rice thingie around my neck, a Snuggie (The leopard print, to be specific) would be heavenly. I might not wear it to a football game, as the infomercials suggest, but I'd definitely put it on every time I sit down at my computer!

So there you have it. Except for addition #8, my wish list has remained pretty much unchanged.

What's on your wish list this year?

Let's Talk about Tweens and Teens

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:28:00 +0000

Got girls? More specifically, tweens or teens? Then I have a great resource for you.

Nicole O'Dell is one of my critique buddies. Nicole is my hero, not only because she is a mother of 6 (including 1-year-old TRIPLETS!) but because she is a published author who took the bull by the horns and acquired a multi-book publishing contract - without an agent! Now, I don't think I'd be brave enough to sign a contract without an agent, but I really admire Nicole for it. It's been working wonderfully for her and I'm proud to say I'm her crit buddy.

So anyway, Nicole has this series out for girls. And it's becoming more and more popular and gaining tons of attention. With good reason. First, the series is about real girls making real choices. Yes, the books are fiction. But the characters are faced with tough decisions that Christian girls encounter every day.

Second, the series is interactive. Which means that each story has two endings. The reader can then choose which choice they would make and see the consequences of it played out. There is even a "contract" at the end of each book for the girls to sign.

As I said, the whole concept is so cool!

This series is published by Barbour and so far, there are two books available: Truth or Dare and All that Glitters. The third and fourth books in the series, Magna and Making Waves, will be released in April, 2010.

Nicole has just launched her website (Nicoledoell.com) and blog (which already has 94 followers - Go, Nicole!). Visit her website to learn more about her, as well as the books she's writing. Her blog is titled Girl Talk and offers devotionals, advice, reviews, and giveaways. Here is her current blogging schedule:

Monday: Post to Parents
Tuesday: Girl Talk
Wednesday: Writer's Corner
Thursday: Thoughtful Thursday
Friday: Friday Fun

So if you have tween or teen girls, you'll want to alert them to Nicole's website and blog and, of course, her books!

______________________________________________________________

Nicole O’Dell lives in Illinois with her husband and six children, three of whom are triplets. With a heart for young girls and a special passion for the relationship between mothers and daughters as they approach the teen years, Nicole created the Scenarios: Interactive Fiction for Girls series to help girls develop sound decision making skills. Her writing also includes devotionals and Bible studies for women of all ages.

The 12 Books of Christmas - Cindy Woodsmall

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:00:00 +0000

This week, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Cindy Woodsmall, who is giving away a copy of her newly released Christmas novel, The Sound of Sleigh Bells. Be sure to leave a comment on this blog post to be automatically entered to win. The deadline to enter is midnight on Friday, December 17. Winner will be announced on Saturday.

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

The Sound of Sleigh Bells is a heartwarming Christmas novella where lack and abundance inside an Amish community has power for good when it’s tucked inside love. Romantic Times gave The Sound of Sleigh Bells 4 ½ stars, saying ~ This is a wonderfully written, transformative story of two Amish families at Christmastime. It will bring sleigh-riding memories to life as readers vicariously join in this jolly and exciting holiday tradition.

To read the first chapter of The Sound of Sleigh Bells, click HERE.
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Cindy's favorite Christmas craft

From the time my boys were little, I loved doing craft times with them during the holidays. I’d pull out all sorts of items I’d picked up from yard sales or bought discounted throughout the year and let them create. The mess was well worth their excitement as they held up their “masterpieces.” As they grew older, their desire to do crafts began to fade, but I held on to my Christmastime tradition for as long as I could.

One Christmas craft they enjoyed for a long time was making dough ornaments. (I’ve shared the recipe below.) After the holidays, you can pack them away with the rest of the ornaments, and every year when you pull out that box of decorations, you’ll have a delightful trip down memory lane.

When my sons were teens, they no longer looked forward to Christmas craft time. Gathering teenagers together to make memories takes an extra bit of creative thinking. My solution to extending their joy of making something Christmassy was to use food as the craft time. I allowed them to decorate their own gingerbread-men ornaments—one year it was a demolition gingerbread man with a jackhammer in its hand. Other years I let them create gingerbread houses…then let them munch on their little homes as the holidays progressed.

Whatever your kids’ ages, be imaginative and free spirited in your holiday plans. They’ll love you for it…eventually.

Dough ornament recipe:

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
1½ cups warm water

Mix flour and salt. Slowly add warm water. Press dough to about an eighth of an inch thick and use cookie cutters. Add ornament hooks into the top before baking. Bake at 325º until cookies are hardened. Cool. Decorate using acrylic paints. You may wish to use shellac as a final coat to help preserve them. (If your kids are going to eat the decorations, use frosting instead of paint and skip the shellac.)
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Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author whose connection with the Amish has been featured on ABC Nightline and the front page of the Wall Street Journal. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Plain Mennonite and Old Order Amish families.

Cindy is the mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, and she and her husband reside in Georgia. Visit her Web site at www.CindyWoodsmall.com.

**Contest disclaimer: Void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. Only one book allowed per person throughout the duration of the event.

Winner of Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:44:00 +0000

Wow! Lots of entries this week. I love it! Did the usual...

put names in a bowl, closed eyes, drew name...

And the winner of Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire is...

JACKIE!

Woo-hoo! I have to say, I was happy to see Jackie's name, as she has entered almost every one (if not all) of these drawings so far. Congratulations, Jackie! Enjoy the book!

If you haven't walked away with a book yet, don't despair! There are two weeks left in the 12 Books of Christmas! Here's what you can look forward to:

Monday, the 14th - Cindy Woodsmall will be giving away her novel, The Sound of Sleigh Bells. I haven't read this but have heard it's wonderful!

Monday, the 21st - Barbara Cameron and fellow novella authors will be giving away a copy of their anthology, An Amish Christmas.

Be sure to check back and enter to win these fabulous Christmas books!

Writing Resources and Opportunties

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:23:00 +0000

Most of you know by now that in addition to the Grand Rapids Christian Fiction Examiner, I have recently been named the National Christian Writing Examiner.

I have a couple of features on my Christian Writing page that I think will be a benefit to you.

1. Journey to Publication. Interviews with now-published authors about their journey to publication. Each author has his or her own story and I hope that this encourages you in your own journey. So far, I have featured Maureen Lang, Leanna Ellis, Laurie Alice Eakes, Kassandra Elaine, and Carol Parsons. More interviews are to come and if you are a published author who would like to be included, let me know! I'd love to learn more about the path you took to publication and share it with other aspiring authors.

2. Featured Markets. Every few days, I post an article about a specific publication you may be interested in submitting to. I include a link to the writers guidelines so you can see exactly what and how to submit. Check out this link to view the markets already profiled.

As I am currently building content, I am looking for the following:

News and information - if you are a published author and have news about your latest novel, a book trailer you'd like to share, or other information, I'd love to post it on my Christian Fiction Examiner page.
Articles on writing - if you have written an article on any aspect of Christian writing, I'd love permission to post it on my National Christian Writing Examiner page.
Fiction Author Fun Facts - this feature has gotten lots of great response. If you're a published author who wouldn't mind answering 10 random and fun questions, let me know. Here is the link to previous Author Fun Facts (all 30 of them!).

A bio and links to your website or blog will be included, which is a great opportunity for exposure. Please contact me, if interested. I look forward to promoting you and your book(s)!

By the way, being an Examiner for Examiner.com is fun! If you have a passion, or are knowledgeable about a specific subject, consider applying for a position with Examiner.com. Not only is this a wonderful platform, you can earn some nice cash, too! There are literally thousands of topics available on both the national and local level. If you'd like more details, visit this page: WRITE FOR EXAMINER.COM

Oh -and if you do sign up, I'd appreciate you using my name as the referrer. Examiner.com has an excellent referral program and I'd love the credit! Thanks!

In the meantime, check out the above links. I'd love your feedback on how I could improve my content or suggestions on specific articles you'd like to see.

I'm Dreaming of a Write Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:39:00 +0000

So the Christmas season is here and it's awesome. Love the decorating, the shopping, the lights, the music, the giving, the whole wonder of it all, centering around, of course, the birth of our Savior.

But there is one aspect of the season I don't particularly care for. And that is the lack of time I have to write. Basically, everything I love about Christmas takes away from my other love: writing. This lack of time is frustrating, and can get downright annoying. All I want for Christmas is the chance to plop my butt in the chair and type. And type. And type.

But, my type, type, type is replaced by the hype, hype, hype of the holidays.

Sigh...

But it's all good. I try to remind myself that the baking, shopping, wrapping, planning, decorating, and party-going will only last a few short weeks and then it will be back to a routine and productivity. And when I start to get whiny, I try to remember the reason for it all and readjust my focus.

Of course, when it snows, it blizzards (hey, we've got a blizzard warning starting this afternoon, so I know what I'm talking about). Not only is this week my busiest of the month, this past Sunday, I received an email from an agent who's had my proposal for a couple months. He wants to see my full manuscript! GREAT, right? RIGHT!

But now I need to find time to scramble and give it another quick read-through before submitting. Fortunately, this agent is very understanding and gracious and is allowing me some extra time to get it to him (because he is also up to his neck in snowdrifts of paperwork and holiday stuff - ok, maybe not snowdrifts, since he lives in a non-snowy climate). I am very grateful for this grace-period but still want to get it submitted as soon as possible.

So that brings me to a question for you. How do you find time to write during the busy Christmas season? I'd love to hear your tips and tricks for adding words to your manuscript while still accomplishing everything you need to do.

In the meantime, I'll be shopping. And wrapping. And decorating. And baking...

The 12 Books of Christmas - Lauralee Bliss

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:30:00 +0000

This week's Christmas book author is Lauralee Bliss, who has been a busy girl! TWO of Lauralee's stories have recently been released in time for the holidays. Lauralee's novel, Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, is the book she will be giving away this week! She also has a novella included in the anthology, A Blue and Gray Christmas. More on that book below.

But first, let's talk about the book YOU have the opportunity to win this week! Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire was awarded four stars by The Romantic Times! Here's a blurb:

Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire is what one reader calls - a "twist" on the mail order bride story, sort of like the mail order bride meets up with My Fair Lady. In it there’s an uneducated and penniless orphan whose well meaning friend answers an ad for a bride, and the unsuspecting suitor who has no idea what to make of the woman that arrives at the train station. Even if he feels he cannot marry her, he will provide for her. But both are in for a surprise and a change of heart and attitude - thus leading to the idea of the first Bethlehem - that the most precious gifts don’t always come as they're expected.

Want to learn more about this book? Check out the book trailer here:

LOVE FINDS YOU IN BETHLEHEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Leave a comment on this blog post to be entered in this giveaway.

Lauralee's other Christmas release is a novella, "Till Death Do Us Part" in the collection titled A Blue and Gray Christmas. Despite the Blue and Gray troops advancing on their hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Leah Woods and Seth Madison vow to wed at the dawn of the New Year. But when Seth disappears, Leah is left alone, clinging to whatever faith she can muster. This book is available at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and Christianbook.com.

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Lauralee shares a favorite holiday recipe, which also happens to be a favorite holiday memory:

Ah memories - and what is Christmas without Christmas cookies? A fond memory we have as a family is decorating cookies with all kinds of colored sugar, sprinkles, and candies to create individual masterpieces. The recipe I use comes from one included with some Wilton cookie cutters I purchased some fifteen years ago. It makes the most delicious sugar cookies I've ever tasted, and we use it every year! I share this with you so you may also create your own cookie masterpeices in celebration of the holiday season. Enjoy!

Roll-Out Cookie Dough Recipe

1 cup butter (I use margarine)
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups flour

Preheat oven to 400. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add baking powder and flour, one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Dough will be stiff. Blend in last of the flour by hand. Do not chill the dough. Divide dough into two balls. On floured surface, roll out to 12 inches in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. Dip cookie cutters in flour, cut out cookies. Decorate with sugar, sprinkles, etc. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 6-7 minutes. Dough can be tinted with paste food coloring if desired.
________________________________________________________

Lauralee Bliss has always liked to dream big dreams. Part of that dream was writing, and her career began with small creative works as a teen just for fun. After several years of hard work, the dream of publishing was realized in 1997 with the publication of her first romance novel, Mountaintop, through Barbour Publishing. Since then she's had over fifteen books published, both historical and contemporary. Lauralee’s desire is that readers will come away with both an entertaining story and a lesson that ministers to the heart.

Along with the dream of writing and publishing, Lauralee has recognized another dream in her life, completing a hike of the entire Appalachian Trail. Lauralee is a wife of 20 years to husband Steve and mother to son Joshua, whom she homeschooled. Her other interests include traveling (of which she has been to 49 of the 50 states), gardening, and perusing a yard sale or two.

Visit Lauralee online on her website: http://www.lauraleebliss.com/ or her blog: www.blissfulwritingthoughts.blogspot.com/. Lauralee loves to hear from her readers! Email her at: blissful63@gmail.com

**Contest disclaimer: Void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. Only one book allowed per person throughout the duration of the event.

And we have a winner! Er, TWO winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:50:00 +0000

So this was an exciting week! Not only because Allie Pleiter was giving away a copy of her book, Bluegrass Christmas, but also because of the other giveaway for my blog followers. The one where YOU got to choose which gift card you would like to receive.

This morning, first I wrote down the names of the entrants for Allie's book, put them in a bowl (the same one I'll later be using to make candy), closed my eyes and picked one out.

And Bluegrass Christmas goes to....

LINDA!

Congratulations, Linda! Thanks for entering! Your book will be on its way very soon. Enjoy!

And then I did the same thing for my gift card giveaway. I wish I could afford to give a gift card to all of you who entered. Each one of you is so appreciated! Maybe when I acquire that six-figure book deal...

But for now, sigh...just can't do it. So anyway, I wrote down the names, put them in the candy-making bowl, closed my eyes....

And the gift card goes to...

CHARITY!

Woo-Hoo!!!! Charity chose the Amazon.com gift card, which will be on its way to her inbox asap.

Again, THANK YOU to all of you faithrul followers who entered. And CONGRATULATIONS to Linda and Charity!

Remember to check back on Monday for the next 12 Books of Christmas giveaway. It's going to be a good one!

In the meantime, why not go back and check out all of the previous 12 Days of Christmas books, see which ones look fabulous (that would be ALL of them) and rush to your favorite Christian bookstore or Amazon.com to buy yourself an early Christmas present. Sounds like a plan to me!

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Book Stops Here - Review of The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:45:00 +0000

Christmas miracles can come from unlikely sources.

Betty Kowalski isn't looking forward to the holidays. She just can't seem to find Christmas in her heart. Maybe it's because her husband is gone. Maybe it's because she's missing her children. Or maybe it has something to do with her obnoxious new neighbor, who seems to be tearing his house apart and rearranging it on the lawn.

But when a mangy dog appears at her doorstep, the stage is set for Betty to learn what Christmas is really all about.

Betty is a widow who lives a mundane life and is content to wallow in the fact that she'll soon be facing another lonely Christmas. But this year, any joy she might be able to muster up is replaced by disdain for her nasty backyard neighbor, Jack, whose yard is full of junk and who runs power tools in the middle of the night. She knows it isn't very Christianly of her to have such animosity for him, but she just can't help herself!

Then two surprises appear on her doorstep. A mangy mutt and, later, her step-granddaughter, Avery, who is trying to escape her overbearing mother.

Betty assumes the dog belongs to Jack and makes every attempt to return him. But when the dog continues to return and Avery becomes attached to him, Betty struggles with what to do.

In the end, both the dog and her granddaughter play a part in softening Betty's heart and turning her holidays into everything Christmas is supposed to be.

What a fun book! Maybe because she reminded me of my own grandmother, I couldn't help but fall in love with Betty from the very beginning. Her feelings and actions toward her neighbor were realistic and even understandable, although at the same time, I felt a pang of sympathy for Jack, despite his strange and erratic behavior.

Avery was a breath of fresh air. The only qualm I have with her is I kept thinking she was several younger than her character's age of 23. But her relationship with her grandmother was touching and she brought fun and a little adventure to the story. The other characters were done well, particularly the dog. If you're an animal lover, you will definitely be drawn to this lovable mutt that seemed to have been hand delivered by God to Betty's doorstep.

Overall, The Christmas Dog was an extremely enjoyable read. This was the first book by Melody Carlson that I've read, but it won't be the last.

Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus. She also writes many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon. Visit Melody's website at www.melodycarlson.com.

The Book Stops Here - Review of The Unfinished Gift by Dan Walsh

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:43:00 +0000

Dan Walsh was one of the first people I met in Denver, at the ACFW conference, as I worked the registration desk along with him and his lovely wife. And now I'm part of the blog tour for his debut novel, The Unfinished Gift. What an honor! First, a brief synopsis of the book and then I'll offer my thoughts.

Can a gift from the past mend a broken heart?

Ian Collins is an old man without his son. Patrick Collins is a young boy without his father. On his Christmas list are only three items. He wants the army to find his father. He wants to leave his grandfather's house. And he wants the dusty wooden soldier in Grandfather's attic--the one he is forbidden to touch.

Set at Christmastime in 1943, The Unfinished Gift is the engaging story of a family in need of forgiveness. With simple grace, it reminds us of the small things that affect powerful change in our hearts--a young boy's prayers, a shoe box of love letters, and even a half-carved soldier, long forgotten. This nostalgic story of reconciliation will touch your heart.

My thoughts:

First let me say I am not a huge fan of any type of historical fiction. With that disclaimer, I'll go on to say that this book made me a fan. At least of author Dan Walsh and the way he presents the past.

Patrick Collins is a little boy who just lost his mother and whose father is off at war. The only sensible thing for Child Services to do is place Patrick with his grandfather, Ian. Unfortunately, Grandpa wants nothing to do with caring for a child. In fact, he's been estranged from his son, Patrick's father, for many years. Patrick does his best to please his grandfather but he can't seem to do anything right. What it comes down to is that Ian Collins is a stubborn old mule who needs some Christmas in his life.

Dan Walsh weaves his debut novel like a pro. The main characters are well crafted, the secondary characters bring life and laughter to the story, and the plot is engaging and heartwarming. Messages of forgiveness and love abound throughout and you'll find yourself wiping your eyes (at least, I did!) as you relate to the pain Patrick experiences as a boy all alone and the heartache that lies beneath his grandfather's leathery exterior.

Most of all, this story relays a message of hope. Hope for restored relationships. Hope for healed hearts and changed lives. So, in essence, this story encompasses what Christmas is all about.

The Unfinished Gift is definitely a book for your Christmas Keepsake Shelf. I am looking forward to the sequel, The Homecoming, which is scheduled for release in June, 2010.

Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

Dan Walsh is the senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, a church he helped found 23 years ago. He is the author of The Unfinished Gift and lives with his family in the Daytona Beach area.

Visit his website at www.danwalshbooks.com

Breaking News...

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:44:00 +0000

We interrupt these scheduled blog posts to bring you a special announcement....

OK, let's be real. I'm posting this because I just have to share my wonderful news.

I WON THE FAITHWRITERS 2009 PAGE TURNER CONTEST!

'scuse me, a sec....

YAY! YIPPEE! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT! YEE-HAW!!!!!!!!!! WOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! HIP-HIP-HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

K, I'm back now.

Anyway, as I was saying, I WON! Of course, as anyone who enters a contest, I was hopeful. In 2007 I received a highly commended award for the first chapter of Mind over Madi. This year, with Dead Weight, I thought if I walked away with another highly commended, I'd be thrilled. But when I heard I won, it was the ultimate thrill of thrills. My prize package consists of free editing of the complete novel, free publicity and press releases if and when the book is released and $800 cash (just in time for Christmas!).

For those of you who may not know, the Page Turner contest is an annual contest exclusively created for FaithWriters 500 members. Each year, the focus switches from fiction to non-fiction. The winner of the 2007 fiction-focused Page Turner was soon-to-be-published, J.C. Lamont. Last year's non-fiction winner was Cori Smelker for her book about surrogacy. I am so honored to be among these awesome writers in the winners circle.

The two runners up this year are:

Shelley Ledfors for her entry, "Dominion" and Lisa Mikitarian for her entry, "Hundred Pocket Mirage." CONGRATS to Shelley and Lisa! Two years ago, I was one of those runners up. You may just see one of their names on top in 2011!

As for Dead Weight, my goal is to finish it by spring. I may share more about the plot of this book at a later time, but for now I'll just say it's a light mystery with a twenty-something protagonist who is a crime-show fanatic and food addict. I'm having a lot of fun with it.

I hope you don't mind that I posted on a non-blog day. As you can imagine, I am uber-excited and if I didn't share, I would probably combust or something.

All that said....

We now return to your regularly scheduled blog posts.

The 12 Books of Christmas - Allie Pleiter

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:09:00 +0000

I've got a full week of blog posts planned! On Wednesday and Friday, I'll be posting book reviews of two wonderful Christmas books. And no, neither one is featured as one of the 12 Books of Christmas. But you'll definitely want to pick up a copy of each this holiday season.

Next Saturday, the winner will be announced for this week's Christmas book giveaway and also for my Faithful Followers Gift Card Giveaway. You'll want to check back for that. What's that? You haven't entered? Well, what are you waiting for? You can't win if you don't enter! Click HERE to read about your chance to win a great gift card!

Now, on to this week's featured author and the awesome Christmas book she's giving away. I'm thrilled to introduce you to Allie Pleiter, author of several Love Inspired novels, as well as a couple of chick lit books published by Steeple Hill Cafe. The book Allie is offering this week is Bluegrass Christmas. Here's the back cover copy:

BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS

#4 In the KENTUCKY CORNERS Series

An Old Fashioned Christmas...

That’s what led new believer Mary Thorpe to start over in quaint Middleburg, Kentucky. As director of the church’s Christmas pageant, Mary’s job is to bring the townspeople together, to remind them what the season is really about. But everyone is all riled up over one very handsome man: the man daring to run against Middleburg’s popular long-standing mayor. Mac MacCarthy wants change. Mary wants things to stay as they are. Is there a happy medium? Both Mac and Mary are in for one very big Christmas surprise.

Be sure to leave a comment on this blog post to be entered for this giveaway.
Good luck!

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ONE OF ALLIE'S FAVORITE RECIPES

ALLIE SAYS:

I don't bake, so I don't really have a Christmas recipe, but my family makes a goofy snack named "Reindeer Eyeballs" (really, we didn't make up the name, that's what we were told they were called). Be warned: They're addictive!

Ingredients:

1 package Christmas M&M's

1 package Pretzel Rings (Round shape, not traditional pretzel shape or stick)

1 package Almond Bark

Directions

1. cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper (rimmed works best)

2. lay out the pretzel rings in a single layer across the cookie sheet

3. Melt one or two bricks of almond bark at a time in the microwave in a pyrex cup or bowl

4. Fill the center of each pretzel ring with almond bark (a teaspoon works well for this)

5. After about 10 second, place a single M&M in the center of the "circle" of almond bark

6. Let sit for 30 minutes or place in fridge or cold place to cool faster

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ABOUT ALLIE:

An avid knitter, coffee junkie, and devoted chocoholic, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction. The enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie spends her days writing books, doing laundry, running carpools, and finding new ways to avoid housework. She grew up in Connecticut, holds a BS in Speech from Northwestern University, spent fifteen years in the field of professional fundraising, and currently lives in suburban Chicago, Illinois. The “dare from a friend” to begin writing nine years ago has given rise to a career spanning two parenting books, eight novels including the multi-nominated MY SO-CALLED LOVE LIFE, and various national speaking engagements on faith, women’s issues, and writing. Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com or her knitting blog at www.DestiKNITions.blogspot.com

**Contest disclaimer: Void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. Only one book allowed per person throughout the duration of the event.

Winners of Margaret Daley's Christmas books

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:07:00 +0000

CONGRATS to both of the winners this week in The 12 Books of Christmas!

Margaret Daley did something special and offered two of her books as giveaways, which is awesome because that means MORE of you will walk away with a freebie during the holiday season.

The winner of Together for the Holidays is...

PATRICIA!

The winner of Christmas Peril is...

DIANE!

Again, congrats to both ladies!

Check back on Monday for the next giveaway in The 12 Books of Christmas.

In the meantime, have you gotten in on my Faithful Followers Giveaway? Choose from 5 gift cards! One lucky follower will win a $15 gift card! Get all the details and enter HERE.

Faithful Followers Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:04:00 +0000

Last year, on Cyber Monday, I held a Subscriber Monday giveaway to say thanks to those of you who follow my blog. Julie Arduini walked away with a $15 Amazon.com gift card and I'm sure she spent it on something wonderful!

This year, I can't post on Cyber Monday because of the 12 Books of Christmas giveaway going on (by the way, Margaret Daley is giving away TWO books this week and the deadline is midnight tonight, so if you haven't yet commented on THIS POST, do it now to be eligible for this giveaway). Anyway, because I can't post this special, now-annual, giveaway on Monday, I'm doing it today! Yay for you!

I've decided to allow YOU to decide your own gift card. All you need to do is post a comment on this post telling me which of the following gift cards you would choose. IF your name is selected, of course. The winner will be announced NEXT SATURDAY, December 5th, along with next week's 12 Books of Christmas winner.

FIVE GIFT CARDS TO CHOOSE FROM:

Amazon.com
Barnesandnoble.com
Christianbook.com
Familychristian.com
eBay.com

RULES SCHMULES

* You MUST be a follower to be eligible. If you're not yet a follower, no problem! Just click on "Follow" (over there to the right) and you'll be automatically qualified. Then leave your comment.

*Only one entry per follower.

*You MUST tell me which gift card you would choose. None mentioned? No entry.

*You MUST leave a valid email address so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Winner will be selected at random, from all entries received. Gift card will be sent electronically after the winner is announced. Deadline to enter: 5:00 AM on Saturday, December 5th (Hey, I get up early and plan to do the drawing first thing in the morning).

Let me just say again how much I truly appreciate you for reading my blog. I wish I could send every one of you a gift card (but my husband would kill me).

OK. That's it! Go ahead and leave your comment.

GOOD LUCK!

Writing the Thanksgiving Meal

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Last year at Thanksgiving, I blogged about websites I'm thankful for. If you've got some extra time (and you're interested), you can read that post HERE.

This year, I thought I'd do something a little different. As I'm preparing to host Thanksgiving for 12 people this year, plus a few more who may pop in at any given moment, I'm thinking about the Thanksgiving dinner and how it might relate to a writing good book. See if you agree:

THE TURKEY. Really. What would Thanksgiving be without a turkey? I know that some of you might not do the traditional turkey thing. Maybe your choice is ham or chicken. My point is, the meat is the focus of the meal, right? Likewise, we've got our plot - the meat of the story. Everything centers around it. Some plots are juicy, some are dry, some are plump, some are underdone, some overcooked. But one thing is true of the meat. It's probably the most expensive part of the meal AND the part that takes the most work (which is why I pawn off the turkey roasting to my sister-in-law). Your plot will likely cost you the most, too. If you want an exceptional novel, you need to take the time and pay the price required to craft a good story.

Now, if only there were those pop-up timers to let us know when it was ready.

THE POTATOES. At our house, the potatoes are the food item that everyone dives for after that "Amen." There's nothing quite like potatoes to go along with the meat. Have you guessed what the potatoes are? That's right. The characters. Some are lumpy, some half-baked, some cheesy, some fried. And most need to be peeled, just like the skin of our characters, to expose the good stuff. And sometimes, even the most perfect-looking potato can have a really rotten inside. Food for thought...

THE GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE. Not everyone likes it, but come on. Green bean casserole is a must on my Thanksgiving table. In the same way, having a voice is a must - although not everyone will like it. That's where you have to say, "You know? Even though my mother-in-law doesn't like it, it is what it is." Hey, she doesn't have to put any on her plate, but she still has to look at it anyway and acknowledge that I made it.

THE STUFFING. This is the extra stuff. You know, like accessories are to an outfit. Some people put the stuffing inside the turkey, some include it "on the side." But ultimately, it's the padding of the story. All the subplots and aspects that make it more interesting. Again, not everyone will like the texture, but without it, at least at my house, the whole meal just falls flat.

ROLLS. I don't know about you, but for me, rolls are the feel-good food. It's what completes the meal. The bread and butter of the story, so to speak. In novel writing, I would say the rolls compare to the overall flow. The flow is what makes the story come together and seem complete.

THE TABLE SETTINGS. You probably don't even realize there's a table cloth underneath your plate, but it's what makes the meal look so pretty. The candles, maybe good china, pretty wine goblets...that background stuff you don't necessarily need in order to eat the meal but which definitely enhances your dining experience. Exactly the same way the setting of your story brings everything to life and makes it prettier.

PUMPKIN PIE. Hello. What's Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie? OK, so it's not my absolute favorite (my choice is always apple or cherry - or chocolate!) but I can't imagine not having at least one pumpkin pie on the kitchen counter on Thanksgiving Day. So, of course, in relation to writing a story, dessert is the ending. Does it leave you full and satisfied? Regardless, the ending should be tasty! And the more whipped cream, the better!

PRAYER. Of course, a Thanksgiving meal should always start with prayer. And so should your story. Thank God for what He's given you (the food or the talent) and ask Him to bless it. Then get to work, either consuming that meal or writing that novel. And whatever you do, ENJOY the process.

So there's my Thanksgiving meal. Did I miss anything? Just for fun, leave a comment and let me know what foods I'd find on your Thanksgiving table.

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY. THANK YOU for taking the time to read my blog. I truly appreciate you all.

The 12 Books of Christmas - Margaret Daley

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:36:00 +0000

Do I have a treat for you! This week, you have TWICE the chance to walk away with a free Christmas book, as Author Margaret Daley is giving away not one, but two books! I will randomly select two names on Saturday, so be sure to get in on the drawing by leaving a comment on this post.

Here are the two books that Margaret is offering this week:

Together for the Holidays
November 2009, Love Inspired
By Margaret Daley

A single mother with a traumatic past, Lisa Morgan only wants to raise her son with love and values. But lately the boy is struggling. When his basketball coach becomes a reluctant role model, Lisa is relieved. Until she learns that David Russell is also a cop. She's not ready to share her past—or her heart. And neither is the world-weary detective. Yet as Christmas comes closer, the true meaning of the holiday brings them together in ways they never dared dream.

Christmas Peril
December 2009 (anthology-2 in 1)

Christmas bells ring with danger in these suspenseful holiday stories

Merry Mayhem by Margaret Daley

When single mom Annie Coleman unexpectedly arrives in Christmas, Oklahoma, police chief Caleb Jackson suspects she's hiding secrets. He'll be watching her closely. And his protection is just what Annie and her daughter need, as danger has followed them to their new home.

Yule Die by Debby Giusti

It's hardly a happy holiday for medical researcher Callie Evans…until she

discovers her ailing patient is her long-lost brother. And he's being watched

by undercover police officer Joe Petrecelli. When the trio is abducted by a

cadre of bad guys, Joe and Callie will have to fight to keep her brother—and

themselves—alive.

_____________________________________________________

Margaret relays a special Christmas moment

I think one of the special Christmas moments I looked back fondly on was the one where my parents had a open house every Christmas Eve. Friends and relatives (children included) visited, laughed, talked and ate. My mother cooked for days and put out quite a feast for the guests. She made eggnog from scratch which was great. I love eggnog to this day because of her recipe, but of course, the store bought kind isn’t as delicious as my mom’s. And then the calories in eggnog are a lot. I have to limit what I drink each holiday, but as a kid I didn’t have to.
__________________________________________________________

Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Holt Medallion, Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines. She has sold sixty-six books to date.

Margaret is currently the Volunteer Officer for ACFW. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She served as vice-president for two years in WIN-ACFW and is still on its board as an advisor. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.

Until she retired last year, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community.

You can visit her web site at www.margaretdaley.com and read excerpts from her books and learn about the ones recently released and soon to be released.

**Contest disclaimer: Void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. Only one book allowed per person throughout the duration of the event.

Winner of Tidings of Great Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:26:00 +0000

This week, the giveaway in The 12 Books of Christmas was Tidings of Great Boys by Shelley Adina. Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter. If you didn't win, I encourage you to go out and pick up a copy of this book. I know I'm going to! My daughter will love it.

Without further ado, the book goes to....

MICAH!

Congratulations, Micah! Your book will be on its way to you very soon.

Check back on Monday for the next giveaway in The 12 Books of Christmas! AND be sure to pop over next Friday (Black Friday) for another great giveaway!

Marketing Schmarketing

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:45:00 +0000

My name is Lynda and I'm a people pleaser.

I want people to like me. Nothing wrong with that, right? I mean, don't we all? But my people-pleasing personality does not mesh much with marketing and self-promotion.

I used to be a direct sales consultant for Jafra Cosmetics and Usborne Books at Home. And while I loved the products and the process of ordering, planning the parties, organizing open houses and, of course, making money, the one thing I hated was the promoting. I felt like when people saw me coming, they wanted to run away screaming. I was sure they thought, "Oh, great. Here she comes. She's going to ask me to have a party. She's going to talk about her products. Kill me now."

They probably didn't think those things (and if you did, please don't tell me!) but because I am a people-pleaser, I hate the thought of possibly annoying someone (except my husband and kids. Annoying them is fun).

So I quit my direct sales businesses. I just couldn't make myself send out one more bulk email to my friends or ask another person to host a party or beg for another sale. Couldn't do it.

I went back to what I love. Writing.

But the joke's on me. Because in the writing business, it seems like marketing is what it's all about.

Not that I don't like the act of marketing. I don't mind posting on Twitter and Facebook and message boards about the projects I've got going, the articles I've written, and leaving links for people to click on. In fact, I like the thought of all those potential visitors to my site, future readers of my books, and expanding audience.

But when does it become too much? Do you groan and want to remove people from your friends list when they post link after link about book reviews, interviews, articles, blog posts, etc.?

I don't intend on stopping my marketing efforts. I understand the why of it all. I just don't want to annoy my friends with my constant "business" posts and self-promotion. I want you all to like me instead of rolling your eyes when you see another email or post. But then again, it's many of you who end up clicking on these links (thank you! thank you! thank you!)

So my question to you is what are your feelings about marketing and promotion? Love it? Hate it? Do you get irritated by it all?

Oh - and which marketing sites do you use besides Facebook and Twitter? Maybe I'll see you there...

Interview with Debut Author, Erica Vetsch

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:30:00 +0000

Erica Vetsch beat me in last year's Genesis contest in the chick lit category (Hey, I came in 2nd). OK, so it stung for a minute. But I'm over it! In fact, I'm not only over it, I'm thrilled to announce that not only did Erica take home a first place win from the 2008 ACFW conference, she also took home her first contract.

That contract was for The Bartered Bride, a historical romance focusing around an arranged marriage. I have started reading this book and so far, it's great! I'll admit, historical is not my typical choice of novel, but I'm loving the easy style and humor laced throughout. I'm honored to be a part of Erica's blog tour and strongly encourage you to pick up a copy of The Bartered Bride.

Here is a brief synopsis:

Jonathan Kennebrae is furious when his grandfather informs him that his future has been decided. He will marry Melissa Brooke or be disinherited. Jonathan has invested years of his life in Kennabrae Shipping, but heaven help him if Grandfather decides to take it all away for this.

Melissa, too, is devastated when her parents make their announcement. As little more than a bargaining chip in her father’s business maneuvers, she feels her secure world slipping away. Engaged to marry a man she has never met—someone “considerably older” than herself? What have her parents done?

Can Jonathan and Melissa find a way out of this loveless marriage, or must they find a way forward together?

Erica was kind enough to answer a few questions about this book and about her writing.

LYNDA: Where did the idea for this book come from?

ERICA: The original germ of an idea came from touring a museum in Duluth, MN. I learned about a fantastic storm that hit that area in the fall of 1905 that resulted in catastrophic losses for the shipping industry and spawned the movement to build more lighthouses on the shores of Lake Superior. That sparked the story idea.

LYNDA: Have you always been drawn to historical romance?

ERICA: Oh, yes. Everything from Little House on the Prairie (These Happy Golden Years, where Laura and Almanzo finally get married, was my favorite) to Janette Oke, to John Wayne westerns, I love anything set in the past where the guy gets the girl and they live happily ever after.

LYNDA: This is your debut novel. Tell us what it was like to receive "the call."

ERICA: My 'call' was a bit unusual. I was awarded my first contract at the 2008 ACFW Conference. My editor, JoAnne Simmons, announced the contract at one of the general sessions in front of 500 writers, agents, and editors. It was amazing.

LYNDA: That is so cool. A writer's dream, really (at least, mine! LoL). What is your favorite part of the writing process?

ERICA: Living in my storyworld. I love daydreaming about my characters, the setting, and the story, living through them. I've always had a very vivid, intense imagination, and now I get to put that to use creating storyworlds for my books.

LYNDA: How about the most challenging?

ERICA: The daily discipline it takes to write. Writing when I don't feel like it. And letting myself write a rather wretched first draft and telling myself it is okay, I can go back and fix it later.

LYNDA: So what can we expect next from you?

ERICA: The Marriage Masquerade, the sequel to The Bartered Bride comes out this winter, and the third book in the series, The Engineered Engagement is due out in early summer. I'm also working on another three book series that comes out with Heartsong later in 2010.

LYNDA: What do you hope readers take away from The Bartered Bride?

ERICA: Hopefully, first, a good read. I hope the reader enjoys the experience of reading The Bartered Bride. If they also learn a little of MN history that would be great, since it is a subject I'm passionate about. And if they, like me, learn the same spiritual lessons as the characters, that God is sovereign, that He can turn anyone's heart, and that His plans are good, that would be the best of all.

LYNDA: I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions, Erica. Best wishes as you continue on this exciting journey!

ERICA: Thank you so much, Lynda, for having me on your blog.

ERICA VETSCH is married to Peter and keeps the company books for the family lumber business. A home-school mom to Heather and James, Erica loves history, romance, and storytelling. Her ideal vacation is taking her family to out-of-the-way history museums and chatting to curators about local history. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Calvary Bible College in Secondary Education: Social Studies. You can find her on the web at http://www.onthewritepath.blogspot.com/

The 12 Books of Christmas - Shelley Adina

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

This week's 12 Books of Christmas author is YA author, Shelley Adina. She is giving away a copy of her book, Tidings of Great Boys (is that a great title, or what?) This book is part of the All About Us series. Another book in this series, The Fruit of my Lipstick, was a Christy award finalist. If you have a teenage girl, or know one, you'll definitely want to enter to win this book. After reading the synopsis and the customer reviews, I intend on buying a copy for my own daughter this Christmas.

Here is a synopsis:

Finals week is approaching, and Mac is still undecided on where to spend the holidays. Normally she’d go home to Scotland, but spending two weeks alone in the castle with her dad isn’t as appealing as it used to be. So she invites Carly, Lissa, Gillian, and Shani to join her for the holidays! Mac is determined to make this the best Christmas ever. She even decides to organize the traditional Hogmanay dance for New Year’s Eve. If she can get her mother involved, maybe her parents will finally get back together. But when Mac and the girls arrive in Scotland, they are faced with bad news: The castle is falling apart and Mac’s parents are struggling financially. Not only that, but Shani is in big trouble with Prince Rashid’s royal family. Can the girls find a way to celebrate the holidays, get Mac’s parents back together, save the castle, and rescue Shani ... and will Mac believe it's all part of God's plan? There’s only one way to find out!

Read the first three chapters of Tidings of Great Boys.

Leave a comment on this blog post to be automatically entered to win. A name will be randomly selected and the winner will be announced on Saturday, November 21st.
______________________________________________________________

Here's one of Shelley's favorite holiday recipes:

SHELLEY'S GRANDMA'S WHIPPED SHORTBREAD COOKIES

1 pound butter
1 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. vanilla

Beat all ingredients together until fluffy (about 20 minutes). Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet (or foil covered, ungreased). Bake 15 minutes at 350F or until golden brown. Makes 8 dozen cookies.
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Award-winning author Shelley Adina wrote her first teen novel when she was 13. It was rejected by the literary publisher to whom she sent it, but he did say she knew how to tell a story. That was enough to keep her going through the rest of her adolescence, a career, a move to another country, a B.A. in Literature, an M.A. in Writing Popular Fiction, and countless manuscript pages.

Shelley is a world traveler and pop culture junkie with an incurable addiction to designer handbags. She writes books about fun and faith--with a side of glamour. Between books, Shelley loves traveling, playing the piano and Celtic harp, watching movies, and making period costumes.

Learn more about Shelley and her books at http://www.shelleyadina.com/.

**Contest disclaimer: Void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. Only one book allowed per person throughout the duration of the event.

Winner of Big Apple Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:48:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who entered to win Lynette Sowell's Big Apple Christmas! I have blindly selected a winner's name this morning. And the book goes to...

JO!

Congratulations, Jo. Your book will be on its way very soon. Enjoy!

On Monday, we continue The 12 Books of Christmas giveaway. If you have a teenage daughter or know a YA reader, you'll want to check back for sure!

Also looking ahead...

This coming Wednesday, November 18, I'll be offering yet another giveaway. That's TWO next week! The freebies just keep coming!

And speaking of giveaways, don't forget about a great surprise giveaway on Black Friday!

Lots of good stuff coming up. Tell your friends!

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday!

I won an award!

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:47:00 +0000

My FaithWriters friend, Dara Sorensen, has presented me with the Kreative Blogger award. How cool is that? Dara is a sweetie. Her blog, Tales from the Writing Front, is about her "journey through the world of writing and everything in between..." Dara is an aspiring historical fiction/historical fantasy author and currently is writing a Japanese historical. She just joined ACFW and I can't wait to see her at the conference next September! I encourage you to visit her blog.

Now, I have the privilege of presenting this award to a few other fellow bloggers. I've chosen five recipients. Be sure to check out these fabulous award-winners.

And the award goes to...

Stormie Johnson - Books, Movies, Reviews...Oh My! - a great site for reviews and cool contests.

Terri Tiffany...Inspirational Writer - Terri is a great online friend, whose blog is inpiring! She has stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul and numerous other anthologies, magazines, and ezines.

Joanne Sher - An Open Book - The first chapter of Joanne's book, Ailing Body...Nourished Soul, won an honorary award in last year's FaithWriters Page Turner contest. This book relays the difficulties and challenges of working through her husband's health issues. Joanne has a beautiful heart and an encouraging spirit. You'll be blessed by her blog.

Lauryn Abbot - Seed Thoughts - Lauryn is an aspiring author whose blog includes great giveaways, interviews, and foor for thought.

Maria Morgan - Life Lessons - A blog filled with spiritual wisdom and insight.

Congrats to all the winners! Feel free to steal this award and hand out a few of your own...

My New Postion and an Opportunity for You

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:21:00 +0000

About a month ago, I was contacted by my friend, Tracy Ruckman. She asked if I would be interested in taking over her Christian Writing Examiner position. I didn't need much time to think about it. I was VERY interested. So, a few days ago, I officially became the National Christian Writing Examiner.

I still maintain the Grand Rapids Chsitian Fiction Examiner title, but now I am also able to post articles about Christian writing. Articles that will help you along on your writing journey. I am just beginning to add content, but I'd love to have you pop over and take a look. Consider subscribing to my page, so you don't miss anything. And if you have any ideas for articles you'd like to read, let me know and I'll do my best to post one.

Examiner.com also offers a wonderful opportunity for you! Are you passionate about something? Do you have knowledge or expertise that others can benefit from? Consider joining Examiner.com. Just a few of the thousands of topics covered are:

Family Balance Examiner
Single Parent Examiner
Frugal Family Examiner
Children's Toys Examiner
Stay-at-home Moms Examiner
Homeschooling Examiner
Word Geek Examiner
Pet Health Examiner
Cats Examiner
Christian Worldview Examiner
Bible Verse of the Day Examiner
Youth Ministry Examiner
and thousands more...

For an extensive list of topics covered, visit this page: Browse Examiners by Category. Examiner.com is open to new topics, too, so if you have an idea, let them know. There are Local, as well as National positions available. Find out if your city is included by clicking HERE. If so, you can request a position on almost any topic of interest to local visitors. There is also a Canadian edition available.

All you need to do is fill out an application and you're on your way. Please note: You won't get rich! Well, unless you really know how to market well and develop a huge audience. But this is a wonderful way to build a platform, gain exposure, inform the public on something you're passionate about, regularly write, and earn some extra spending cash.

If you do apply, I'd appreciate it if you could name me as the referral! There's a spot on the application form for you to list my name and I'll receive a bonus (YOU can receive that bonus, too, once you become active and refer others).

Anyway, I'm excited about this new opportunity and wanted to share it with you. Please let me know if you have any questions or if you sign up. I'd love to link to your Examiner page.

If becoming an Examiner is not for you, I hope you'll at least bookmark my page. I hope to provide many helpful articles for Christian writers.

The 12 Books of Christmas - Lynette Sowell

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Schab) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:50:00 +0000

This week's author is Lynette Sowell, whose story Where the Love Light Gleams is included in the anthology, Big Apple Christmas. I just love the rich colors and gorgeous scene on the cover of this book, don't you? Leave a comment on this post to be automatically entered to win a copy. The winner will be announced on Saturday.

Here's a blurb of this beautiful Christmas anthology:

The anthology A Big Apple Christmas features four stories that capture the sights and sounds of Christmas in New York City. Christmas plans are set askew when a schedule-bound professional organizer meets a free-spirited poet. Holiday bustle is the means two tourists try to use to get lost in the crowds. The gift of the Magi comes full circle for two lonely Latinos. Romance is in the air from Fifth Avenue to Chinatown.

Where The Love Light Gleams features Gwynn, a widowed grandma whose children surprise her with a trip to New York City at Christmas time to see the family's tree on display in Rockefeller Center. Theophilus Stellakis, a set-in-his-ways professor, doesn't expect a house guest at Christmas time and is used to his quiet routines. When Gwynn's stay in New York is prolonged, they make a delightful discovery that sometimes love does come around a second time.

You can find A Big Apple Christmas at Amazon and also at Christian Book Distributors.
___________________________________________________________

Lynette's favorite holiday memory:

The Christmas of Candle Glow

We never had "silent nights" during Christmas at my grandparents’ house in South Hadley , Mass. Gagnons always celebrate large and loud—just like our French Canadian family. Lights blazed in every room (occupied or not). The Christmas tree sparkled in front of the picture window with its view of snow-covered Mt. Tom .

One fateful Christmas night, someone cranked up the hi-fi stereo until it blasted out Christmas tunes. Then a helpful someone turned on the dishwasher.

We were plunged into darkness and silence. Grandpa Armand ranted and went to find some fuses.

Someone else rummaged for candles, and soon a soft glow filled the living room. Then we began to sing Christmas carols.

“Let’s pass a candle around,” one of the great-aunts said. “Whoever holds the candle has to start a new song!"

The house grew warmer as we sang. Everyone took a turn to lead a song and hold the special candle. My grandfather and one of my uncles worked on the fuses, but the delay didn’t concern the singers. Without a lit tree and without recorded music, the spirit of the season united us.

One photo remains from that night. My great-grandmother Pearl Majeau-Gagnon-Ringuette-Misek had buried three husbands in her lifetime, yet she still found it a merry Christmas. She held the candlestick in one hand, the other hand raised in song. Her mouth formed an "O" as she sang.

We were disappointed when the lights came back on.

Death, divorce, and distance have touched our family through the years. The old house on Parkview Drive was sold in the 80s. Time spread us farther apart, from Massachusetts , to Texas and California and other states in between. We’ve never been together that way since, but I will always hold the memories of Christmas ’77 on Parkview Drive close to my heart.

Electric lights and extra trimmings and digital music don’t make Christmas special. Take those away and what do you have? The silence of candle glow, the simplicity of voices singing age-old carols. An imperfect family, celebrating the joy of the season in a perfect way.

I’m married with my own family now. Each Christmas Eve we light a candle and fill the house with friends. We celebrate the Light that came into the world long ago. We make memories that will not fade, just like the Christmas when the lights went out.
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Lynette Sowell is a Massachusetts Yankee who makes her home in the heart of Texas. She has written a cozy mystery series for Heartsong Presents: Mysteries, and authored four novellas for Barbour Publishing. Lynette is a former secretary of American Christian Fiction writers. Away from Deadline-Land and Writing World, Lynette works as a medical transcriptionist for a large HMO. She loves to read, travel, and spend time with her family.

You can find Lynette on Facebook or visit her web site at www.lynettesowell.com

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