Amanda and I went shopping this afternoon for Sara’s birthday. We bought her a few clothes at Kohl’s. Sara will be 34 years old this Wednesday. The picture above was taken a couple of years ago by April at a Reds game. Sara is the one wearing glasses!
I went over my Christmas book so many times but finally was satisfied with the editing. I emailed it this morning to Melissa, my editor.
I started boxing up my many canning jars since I have nothing to can. I used to have lots of tomatoes to can. I also made strawberry jam when we had own own strawberry patch. I saw lots of jelly jars in the basement too. I’m thinking of putting the jars on Craigs List because I haven’t found anyone wanting my jars. I’ll keep some but seriously doubt if I will have much to can in future years. It was nice to have a lot to can when we had a large family to feed. Tom used to put out a big garden, but he’s cut it down to a smaller garden now.
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Don’t forget Kinzie Monroe will be visiting here on Wedneday. Her book, NO GREATER LOVE, is based on an unusual premise. Leah Dalton is dying from cancer with no chance of surviving it. She wants to end her life and will give make one of her friends a multi-millionaire for killing her.
I received my second round of edits from Melissa yesterday for A Christmas Gift. I printed it because I don’t always catch stuff while reading from the laptop. I do better reading from a hard copy. Editing has been mostly painless this time. It was previously published so that helps. However, I do want to read carefully the added parts, especially about Debby’s surgical skills as a cardiologist. I did tons of research on heart surgery, but only used little of it in the book. I’m so glad to get rid of the previous title, The Christmas of 1957. If you already read it before, don’t worry, you will love the additions to it.
When I visited and spoke to the eighth graders last holiday season at St. Louis School in Owensville, a student said he wished I had written more about Carl. I added a revealing scene in my new version about Carl while he’s in Debby’s playhouse. By the way, I had a playhouse while growing up just like Debby’s in the book. It had been a chicken coop but my dad brought it home to put in our backyard for me. I had furniture in it and enjoyed playing house with my friends. I don’t know maybe my parents wanted a break from me and that was the reason for turning it into a spot for me. A friend, Diane Porter Snyder, mentioned to me how she remembered playing in it. She seemed disappointed when she read my original book that I didn’t have the playhouse in it. I’m happy that the playhouse is now in A Christmas Gift.
I have high hopes for the new release. Readers are already asking me when the print books of A Christmas Gift will be available so they can purchase them for Christmas gifts. Isn’t that great?
If you leave any comment on my posts about my new release, I’ll be sure to send you promo stuff - I’d like to have writing pads with the cover on the front or each page. I’m checking out prices now.
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Wednesday, August 25th, Kinzie Monroe, will be here to talk about her new inspirational romance, NO GREATER LOVE! It will be a great interview from a talented author. Kinzie also writes under the name Anne Patrick!
When I opened my email, I saw this on one of my yahoo groups and it made my day! Thanks, Tracy! It meant even more because Tracy Krauss is a published inspirational author!
Re: [acfwbookclub] Re: “Inspiration’ blog chain
Thanks Diane. So YOU are the author of Marrying Mallory?! I was just having a discussion over at ‘Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers’ about ‘a book’ I had seen somewhere (obviously yours) that sounded intriguing. I was recommending it to my friends, as we were having a discussion about divorcees as heroines. How awesome. I am planning to buy it very soon. (Still waiting for my kindle …
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More good news:
While in the post office line yesterday (mailing print copy of NEVER THE SAME for JOTQ winner), someone asked me when I’m going to write another Catherine Steel mystery. She informed me that my copy of A Fiery Secret(heroine is Catherine Steel and stand alone book right now) is in their trophy case because she loved it so much. Wow! That put me on a high. I do want to write two more mysteries and have a series. Originally, that was the plan but got busy with other projects.
AUGUST CONTEST: Next Friday evening will draw winner. It will be fun to see which ebook the winner chooses - Killing Time, Retired and on the Rocks, Fire and Ash, OR The Obessive Compulsive Romance Novelist.
I’m now at 24,521 words on my story, A Christmas Gift! We left for the national park, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky on Tuesday morning. While there I received an email from Janet, my publisher. She was happy to hear that I wanted to add words to my story so it would meet the new print requirement of 25,000 words. When I submitted it to Whimsical Publications, it was 21,320 words so I accomplished a lot today. But still…I need almost 500 words. I do like what I added so far. I decided to put more in about Debby’s brother, Carl. I also thought of scenes to include in the epilogue.
It was so hot walking a trail at Mammoth Cave. It seems like when we go away we hit the hottest days of the summer. We all were miserable and thought we’d never get back to the parking lot. The cave was 57 degrees so that was great. We probably could have used jackets while taking a tour through the cave. The electric went out on Wednesday night at the motel. I’ve never been to a motel and had the electric go out. The whole area around the Best Western was also without electric. We waited but when it didn’t come back on, Tom suggested we go see a movie at a nearby town. Without the air-conditioning running, the motel room would get hot. He said that at least we’d be cool while watching a movie. We saw “The Grown-Ups” and Amanda loved it. When we returned to our room, we were happy to see the electric was back on.
Okay, I better get back to writing. Have a great weekend! Be sure to visit on Monday. I have a contest to announce for my new novella, YOUR PLACE OR MINE.
Oh yeah, I received good news today. I have another scoring project in August. They need so few readers for the retesting that I’m thankful to have another job. Many scorers have been there for 6 or 7 years and there are 1000 readers in the pool. This is only my second year scoring tests. I’ll be working on the Washington Reading for 5th grade.
My writing friend, Shawna Williams, emailed that B & N is having a big sale on their inspirational ebooks. My Marrying Mallory is only $2.13. Come on, if you haven’t read it and you love me, please buy my ebook. You will save 57% - what a sale! No Greater Loss is also on sale for $3.92 - it’s a longer book. You will save 28% for it. Hope you buy it if you haven’t already!
Just checked and all books are on sale at B & N - Whitney in Charge is only $2.56! I’m sure my other ones are good prices too!
B&N has a free reading app you can download to your pc, iPhone, Droid, or other gadget just like Kindle does.
I’m so lucky to have friends like Shawna and Miss Mae. Miss Mae told me how my new publisher, Whimsical Publications, is going to start putting books in print that have 25,000 words or more. Before they had to have 50,000 words so I need to add words to my Christmas book. I really want to see it in print.
Book Trailers for both inspirational romances!
Blurbs for my inspirational romances:
Marrying Mallory:
Is Mallory Harrington jinxed because her name means luckless?
Things have gone wrong for Mallory since she was a small child. All she ever wanted was to have a complete family and live happily ever after. It appears she has it all when she marries Toby Harrington and they have a son. Unfortunately, their marriage ends when Toby has an affair with his law partner. After their divorce, Mallory doesn’t think she should ever get married again.
Mallory decides to get a surgical procedure that she’s always wanted, but meeting plastic surgeon, Doctor Seth Whitman, complicates her life. Seth realizes that having Mallory as a patient might not work. She intrigues him too much. He wants to spend more time with her, but definitely not on the operating table.
Mallory learns that sometimes faith is about accepting what can’t be changed and grabbing what God offers her. Life must go on.
No Greater Loss:
Dr. Jennifer Hunter is so stunned by her past that she’s unable to move on with her life. After losing her young husband and baby son fifteen years ago, she’s determined never to marry again. Losing loved ones is just too painful.
A friend introduces Jennifer to Luke Brunsman and suggests she hire him to renovate her antique farmhouse. Instantly attracted to Luke, she refuses the widowed contractor’s help. But after she gets injured working on a fireplace, she gives in.
Luke clearly wants more than a business relationship, and Jennifer guards her heart. His kisses make her yearn for a future once denied her. Luke falls in love with her but finds tearing down the walls in Jennifer’s house is easier than breaking through her protective shell.
When Dr. Hunter’s radio talk show catches the attention of a vengeful arsonist, Luke and Jennifer must overcome the shadows of the past and find the courage to love again.
If you already read it before, don’t worry, you will love the additions to it. 