Celebration and good friends!

My friend Beth and I celebrated her new job with yummy ice cream before we headed next door to browse in a variety store. I came home with a hodgepodge of goodies—all stuff I didn’t know I needed until I saw it. Sometimes life is like that. We think we know what we need, but then the Lord presents us with things that have never crossed our minds. Whatever He presents is always better than what we come up with on our own.

I added some wonderful writing craft articles from friends Lisa Mondello and Gail Gaymer Martin to the WRITER STUFF page on my web site, and I expect even more material over the next several days from other friends who love sharing their knowledge. If you’re a writer and you have time, go take a look and see if there’s anything that’ll help you with your own writing.

ACFW thoughts!

I haven’t missed the last 3 American Christian Fiction Writers conferences, so I’m really sad that I won’t be attending this year. I always come back with market information, new craft knowledge, and a long list of e-mail addresses from new friends. There’s nothing like spending time with people who have the same passion for both the Lord and writing. After exchanging e-mail with Joyce Livingston, Pamela Kaye Tracy, Janet Spaeth, Gail Sattler, Pamela Griffin, Janet Barton, Margaret Daley, Rhonda Gibson, Beth White, and Gail Gaymer Martin for years, we were old friends by the time we met in person. I also enjoyed spending time with my Barbour editors Becky Germany, Susan Downs, and JoAnne Simmons.

Fortunately, my agent, Tamela Hancock Murray http://www.tamelahancockmurray.com/, will be there for part of it this year, and she’ll be able to fill me in on the latest market news. Lena Nelson Dooley, Lisa Harris, and Kim Vogel Sawyer, the other 3 authors in the Montana Mistletoe anthology http://montanamistletoe.blogspot.com/, will also be there, so it’ll be nice to hear feedback from them.

Something I’ve learned over the years of writing is that connecting with other writers is not only good for us emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, it also provides us with opportunities to improve craft. Whether sitting in a workshop, soaking up new information from a speaker, or having breakfast with editors, agents, and authors who recently had a manuscript requested, there’s always something exciting to learn.

Blog tour has begun!

The Montana Mistletoe blog tour has started! When you get a chance, check out Lena Nelson Dooley’s blog at http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/. Leave a comment for a chance to win a free book!

Montana Mistletoe interviews coming soon!

All four authors in the Montana Mistletoe anthology, Lena Nelson Dooley, Lisa Harris, Kim Vogel Sawyer, and I are gearing up for a blog tour that'll be here soon! I'm excited to share some of our experiences and information with anyone who's interested, so keep checking back for more!

Kids, agent, and release date!

Nothing makes me happier than my children’s successes. My older daughter Alison and her husband Jason closed on their very first house in Apex, North Carolina. My younger daughter Lauren is heading into her senior year of college in a couple of weeks. I’m super proud of all of them, and I have no doubt they’re at the very beginning of their own unique, wonderful journeys through adulthood.

My agent Tamela Hancock Murray recently updated her web site, and it’s really great! When you get a chance, go check it out: http://www.tamelahancockmurray.com/.

I had a little thrill seeing the actual cover of Montana Mistletoe when it landed in my mailbox today! This means countdown time until the release date—September 1!

Fun times ahead!

I’ve always enjoyed having something to look forward to, so this will probably be a theme in my blog. Over the next several months, there’s so much going on, I’m beside myself with excitement!

Tonight, I’m having dinner with very good friends and fabulous authors Kathy Carmichael, Kimberly Llewellyn, Tara Spicer, and Alfie Thompson. Since Kathy planned the get-together, she got to pick the restaurant – The Tarpon Turtle. Yum!

I got the coolest news yesterday from fellow Heartsong Presents author Rhonda Gibson. Her book To Trust an Outlaw is releasing at the same time as my next Heartsong, Double Blessing, in late September or early October! Something else to share and look forward to with another wonderfully talented friend!

Even though I’m super busy with family, friends, and work, one of my favorite things to do is kick back and read. My TBR (to-be-read) pile never goes down, so I’ll always have something to do. I’m currently reading Bitsy’s Bait and BBQ by Pamela Morsi. I love her characterization and the way she pulls me into her stories on the very first page.

God is truly amazing!

He has allowed me to do the work I love with guidance toward His will and mercy when I try to take things into my own hands. And He has given me plenty of things to look forward to!

My next published project, a novella in the Montana Mistletoe anthology with Lena Nelson Dooley, Lisa Harris, and Kim Vogel Sawyer is coming out next month. In addition to a couple of scheduled book signings, we’re planning a blog tour that should be fun and entertaining.

Double Blessing, my next Heartsong Presents, will go to book club members in early October. I’m really excited about hearing from readers on this book.

In addition to all the wonderful book news, I’ll be starting a new venture that I’ve looked forward to for a very long time. Long Ridge Writer’s Group has invited me to be an instructor for their correspondence writing program. I love working with other writers to help them realize their dream!