Welcome Lena Nelson Dooley and Maggie's Journey

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lena Nelson Dooley is an award-winning author with more than 675,000 books in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers-—where she received the Mentor of the Year award in 2006-—and president of the local chapter, DFW Ready Writers. She’s also a member of Christian Authors Network (CAN), CROWN Fiction Marketing, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. She lives in Hurst, Texas, with her husband of almost 47 years.

Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with fifteen signing their first book contract after her mentoring. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

In addition to her writing, Lena is a frequent speaker at women’s groups, writers groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally. Lena has an active web presence on Shoutlife, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and with her internationally-connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books. You can check out her books and find out more about her on her blog by clicking the tabs across the top.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

MAGGIE'S JOURNEY
by Lena Nelson Dooley
Published by Realms/Charisma House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Maggie's Journey grabs you on page one with characters and events that reflect real-life joys and heartaches that change the characters forever. Make room on your "keepers" shelf! —Loree Lough, best-selling author of 80 award-winning books, including From Ashes to Honor.

A girl who’s been lied to her whole life...

Near her eighteenth birthday, Margaret Lenora Caine finds a chest hidden in the attic containing proof that she was adopted. The daughter of wealthy merchants in Seattle, she feels betrayed both by her real parents and by the ones who raised her.

Maggie desires a place where she belongs. But her mother’s constant criticism and reminders that she doesn't fit the mold of a young woman of their social standing have already created tension in their home. With the discovery of the family secret, all sense of her identity is lost.

When Maggie asks to visit her grandmother in Arkansas, her father agrees on the condition that she take her Aunt Georgia as a chaperone and his young partner, Charles Stanton, as protection on the journey. Will she discover who she really is and, more importantly, what truly matters most in life?

Readers, buy your copy of Maggie's Journey (McKenna's Daughters) today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

A Day in the Life of an Author

Yes, I write novels, and I’m multi-published, even award-winning, but that often takes a back seat to the here and now. I will give you a peek into my Mondays.

During the extremely hot summer we’ve had in Texas, I got up really early. My laundry is in the garage, and by midday, the heat is stifling. So I’m up early to separate the clothes and put in the first load. If I’m really tired, I set the timer and sit in the recliner and rest (snooze) while that load washes. At the ding, I’m off to the garage, where I set up two large fans and put the first load in the dryer, then start the second load. I always wash the loads with my clothes that need to be hung up from the dryer first.

After the second load is in, I go to the office and read email, answering what needs to be answered. Then I do my first set of physical therapy exercises while watching one of the local channels to see what’s happening where I live.

I finish those exercises in time to go to the garage to hang up the first load. By then, James has awakened. Since he’s now retired, he comes out to put the next load in while I’m hanging up the first one. That’s a great help in getting things done before I’m totally wiped out.

I cook us breakfast.

After that, I’m back in the office for a couple hours, stopping to hang up the second load when it is ready. At least James will completely finish the last two loads.

During all of this, I’m careful not to forget the heart medication and other vitamins and herbs I take in the morning. I’m working on my rewrite of book two in the McKenna’s Daughter series. Soon I will continue writing book three.

James and I eat a late lunch about 2:00 pm. And I work for the rest of the day until suppertime. Right now, we’re watching a lot of the Texas Ranger baseball games in the evening. But when it’s at a slow time, I’ll read part of a book.

Oh, the glamorous life of an author. Of course, some days we go to the movies as we did this week. We saw Seven Days in Utopia. A very good G-rated movie. And recently, we saw The Help.

And of course, by the time you read this, I’ll be just returning from the American Christian Fiction Writers national conference in St. Louis.

James and I are very active in our church and involved with our extended family, but this is a typical day in the life of an author.

So what do you do on a typical day in your life? It might be more glamorous than mine.

* * * * *

Thank you, Lena, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: So what do you do on a typical day in your life?

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

Monday Mishaps with Mom - Cereal Art & Tired Baby

This week is for those "helpful" older siblings who in their minds are doing what they can to alleviate Mom's burden, only they end up creating more work in the process.

Now, many of you here know I'm an author. And that means I have deadlines for completing books. My editors don't like it too much if I'm late. Thankfully, they allow quite a bit of time in between each deadline, but as we all know, life loves to get in the way of our best intentions. The same holds true for attempting to write a book on deadline, and even getting started early. I start out great and establish a somewhat decent routine each day. Then, a doctor's appointment, a sick kid, a teething kid, or a kid who won't sleep, interrupts that routine.

Sometimes the interruption is necessary. Sometimes, it's an imposition. And sometimes, it's downright funny...even though you need to scold the older sibling in the process.

That's what happened this week. My son was in his jumperoo, having a grand old time bouncing and playing with his toys surrounding him or hanging from the cloth bar above his head. It all seemed so peaceful, and the kids were in the playroom, playing nicely.

That should have been my first clue.

I'm in the middle of cleaning up supper when all of a sudden, I hear, "Oh no...Tori! No!" I shut off the water and rushed into the other room, almost colliding with my daughter running away from my husband. It took me a moment or two to figure out what happened. Then, I got a good look at my son. You can see it best in the picture to the right.

Yep. My daughter decided her little brother needed more to eat, so she grabbed the cereal bowl and fed him. Only she didn't get the cereal in his mouth. Instead, she painted with it all over his head and ears. I have to say, it isn't easy scolding and reprimanding one child for doing something she shouldn't be doing, when all you want to do is laugh at the comical sight. But laughing would only encourage her to do it again. So, we had to force stern faces when we spoke to her, then smile and snap pictures behind the wall, out of her view. Let's just say it's a good thing that night was bath night. Our son really needed it.

Oh, and this past weekend, I was at my desk working with my son sitting in my lap. He was playing with my arms or random paper he could reach. But after about 20 minutes, he grew very still. One moment he's content watching my type. The next, his head is down on my desk and he's fast asleep. I guess my schedule is wearing him out too. :)

Tune in next week for the next "Monday Mishap with Mom." See you then!

And you can always look at the labels at the bottom of the right column to find "monday mishaps with mom" and read up on any week you've missed. My goal is to encourage mothers who feel a bit frazzled, and to help brighten your day as you start off your week. You're not alone.

2011 ACFW Awards Gala - Winners List

This year, ACFW celebrated it's 10th annual national conference, and the awards banquet was just as spectacular as always. A star-studded evening, complete with corresponding graphics and music from the A/V folks running the show when a winner walked the stage.

And to recap, here is a list of all winners:


Mentor of the Year: Bonnie Calhoun
Agent of the Year: Rachelle Gardner
Editor of the Year: Andrea Doering
Lifetime Achievement Award: Tracie Peterson (also the keynote speaker at the conference)

Genesis Contest Winners:

Contemporary Fiction: Katy Pistole for Jubilee
Contemporary Romance: Mary Curry for War of Hearts
Historical Fiction: Johnnie Alexander Donley for Where Treasure Hides
Historical Romance: Sarah Ladd for Heiress of Winterwood
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller: Dianna T. Benson for Illusion of Safety
Romantic Suspense: Renee Ann Smith for The Children's Corner
Speculative Fiction: Matt Jones for Shield
Women's Fiction: Camille Eide for My Father's House
Young Adult: Nicole Quigley for Like Moonlight at Low Tide

Carol Awards:

Novella: A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky (Barbour - Rebecca Germany, Editor)
Short Contemporary: A Father for Zach By Irene Hannon (Love Inspired - Melissa Endlich, Editor)
Short Contemporary Suspense: Night Prey by Sharon Dunn (Love Inspired Suspense - Emily Rodmell, Editor)
Short Historical: Her Healing Ways by Lyn Cote (Love Inspired Historical - Tina James, Editor)
Young Adult: Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson (Revell - Lonnie Hull DuPont, Editor)
Long Contemporary: Never say Never by Lisa Wingate (Bethany House - Dave Long, Editor)
Long Contemporary Romance: Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson - Natalie Hanemann, Editor)
Mystery: The Camera Never Lies by Elizabeth Goddard (Barbour - Rebecca Germany, Editor)
Romantic Suspense: The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press - Rachel Meisel/Susan Downs/Ellen Tarver, Editors)
Speculative Fiction: Predator by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan - Sue Brower/Dave Lambert, Editors)
Long Historical: Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren (Summerside Press - Susan Downs, Editor)
Long Historical Romance: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press - Rachel Meisel/Connie Troyer, Editors
Speculative: König’s Fire by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press - Jeff Gerke/C.L. Dyck, Editor
Women's Fiction: Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett (Tyndale Publishers - Jan Stob/Lorie Popp, Editors)
Debut Author: Crossing Oceans  by Gina Holmes (Tyndale Publishers - Kathryn Olson, Editor)

Congratulations to all winners. It was an amazing event.

Welcome James L. Rubart and The Chair

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James (Jim) L. Rubart is a husband, dad, author, and speaker—in that order. He’s the best-selling author of ROOMS, BOOK OF DAYS, and THE CHAIR. He graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing which helps businesses and authors make more coin of the realm. In his free time he dirt bikes, backpacks, golfs, takes photos, and does the occasional sleight of hand. No, he doesn’t sleep much. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his amazing wife and teenage sons and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman. More at www.jameslrubart.com.

THE CHAIR
by James L. Rubart
Published by B&H Fiction

ABOUT THE BOOK

What if a chair has survived from the time of Christ— not just any first century chair, but one Jesus crafted. And what if this chair has healing powers? If such an artifact were offered to you, would you believe it? Would you accept it? Because owning that chair not only opens up the chance for physical, emotional and relationship healing, it also throws wide the door to danger. Because inevitably others would seek the power of this supernatural object and stop at nothing to get it.

Readers, buy your copy of The Chair today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

Frequent Questions About This Insane Occupation

Being a novelist garners a fair amount of questions—many of which repeat. Often. Here are three, and my commentary on them:

"What's it like being the wife of a famous novelist?" (Directed to my wife.)

I understand why people ask it. They have a smile on their face when they do, in affect acknowledging my success, but this is somewhat of an unanswerable question.

There are three possible answers: "It's unbearable. His ego is now the size of Manhattan," "He's much nicer now than he was before," or "It's the same." The last answer is the honest answer, and the most boring.

The reality is the majority of the time I don't even think about the fact I've achieved a small bit of success in publishing. It still surprises me when I show up on a blog or a Web site or magazine.

The point isn't me anyway. If we've chosen to follow Jesus the point is making him famous, not me.

"What did you do before you became a novelist?"

Many people think once you start publishing novels you have to buy a fleet of dump trucks to haul all the money to your home. Nope. Sorry to burst any bubbles, but the money ain't quite that big. Two to three percent of novelists make a full-time living writing books. (When the average book sells 5,000 copies and most royalty rates are .80 cents per book it's easy to see why.) So the answer is, "the same thing I did before." Do I dream of writing full-time. Absolutely. I believe most novelists do. Check in with me in a year—or five. I'd love to tell you I'm one of the three percent.

"Your novel(s) would be so great as movies! When are they going to start making them?"

Since a fraction of a fraction of novels are made into movies, the blunt answer would be, "I have no idea, but the realistic answer is never," but that's seems pessimistic, so instead I thank the person (it does make me feel good when people say that) and talk about how cool it would be if one of my books make it to the big screen.

And I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy, so I believe it's going to happen. In fact I'm talking to a Hollywood Producer/Director right now, which begs the question, if it did happen, when would it come out? Most movies take about ten years from deal to screen, so I'm not holding my breath. But yes, it's still fun to dream about! (And yes, you can all be extras if it happens.)

* * * * *

Thank you, Jim, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: What question do you like to ask novelists? Or what's the funniest answer a novelist has given you to one of your questions?

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of the book featured above. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

Monday Mishaps with Mom - Leave the Baby Alone!

This week is for those moms with kids who refuse to leave their younger siblings alone.

See that picture to the left? My daughter looks so peaceful, and her brother seems so content. But wait just 30 seconds after the picture is snapped, and she'll be squeezing him around the neck, grabbing him by his head, dragging him by his arms or legs across the floor, or just rolling him over and over on the floor, even sitting in front of him and pulling him up to a sitting position, then letting go so he falls back.

Every day, I have to tell her to get off his head and stop trying to pick him up by his head. And it's even worse when he's taking his naps. The afternoon nap isn't problematic, as they take that one at the same time. But the morning nap, if I don't keep my eye on her every second, she's down the stairs and into his room, climbing into his crib, dumping stuffed animals on his head, and waking him up.

That makes for a very cranky infant who just wants to be held, and since he won't go back to sleep after being awakened, it's a VERY long morning.

Oh, how I long for when this little guy can crawl and get mobile and start fighting back. Sure, I know that will mean being a referee to a greater degree, but when they can both do for themselves, those blocks of times when they entertain themselves will increase...I hope.

Would that I could watch my daughter during all of her waking moments, but that isn't possible. And I HAVE to work from home to supplement our income. But all of this is sapping my creativity for my writing, and it's making my clients suffer because I don't have enough blocks of time to do the design work necessary.

They say it takes a miracle to survive a 2-year-old, and I can see "they" are right. Of course, it will be a miracle if I *and* my infant son survive. Praise God we pretty much have our daytime living on one floor or I'm sure she'd be dumping him down the stairs as soon as I turned my back. It's enough to make a mom pull out her hair or scream, only I can't do either. (sigh)

Tune in next week for the next "Monday Mishap with Mom." See you then!

And you can always look at the labels at the bottom of the right column to find "monday mishaps with mom" and read up on any week you've missed. My goal is to encourage mothers who feel a bit frazzled, and to help brighten your day as you start off your week. You're not alone.