tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56654076909964822672024-03-14T02:49:17.431-05:00Janelle's JottingsLet the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-83410684557559480322010-05-22T09:04:00.004-05:002010-05-22T09:17:15.306-05:00Another Book Cover!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/S_fk0UmC-cI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/xC6bZIc9NIc/s1600/Silver+City+cover.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/S_fk0UmC-cI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/xC6bZIc9NIc/s200/Silver+City+cover.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474095459624745410" border="0" /></a>Love Finds You in Silver City, Idaho is set for release October 1 this year. I had so much fun researching this setting, and what I learned makes me want to visit the old mining town one day. Around 75 of the original buildings are still in this ghost town, many of them refurbished and maintained by private owners. Visitors can even spend the night in the old Idaho Hotel to get a taste of the old west. Sounds fun to me but I doubt my husband would go for that.<br /><br />I love this cover!Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-86685102053265309502010-05-07T08:05:00.001-05:002010-05-07T08:12:33.617-05:00Recommended Read!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/S-QRrL1jNVI/AAAAAAAAAFA/52MTcDIYKfo/s1600/The+Anonymous+Bride.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 193px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/S-QRrL1jNVI/AAAAAAAAAFA/52MTcDIYKfo/s200/The+Anonymous+Bride.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468515281144067410" border="0" /></a><br />The Anonymous Bride, by Vickie McDonough<br /><br />From rock-flinging and bride-bringing to contests and outright pests, you're sure to enjoy this Texas tale about a poor marshal's dilemma of too many women and so little time. It's a fun and entertaining story you won't want to miss.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-18427632328137571482010-04-29T16:35:00.006-05:002010-04-29T16:42:11.068-05:00NEW BOOK COVER!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/S9n7ubRU_pI/AAAAAAAAAE4/vmDXEMRfw0I/s1600/When+All+My+Dreams+Come+True-1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/S9n7ubRU_pI/AAAAAAAAAE4/vmDXEMRfw0I/s200/When+All+My+Dreams+Come+True-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465676397803798162" border="0" /></a><br />I just had to share the cover to my novel by Harvest House titled, When All My Dreams Come True, set for release in 2011. It's always exciting to get the first glimpse of an new book cover and this is no exception. This is the first novel I wrote, and to see it come to fruition is my own dream come true. Thank you Harvest House for believing in me and this story.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-85048458599344659192010-02-25T07:46:00.004-06:002010-02-25T07:53:29.650-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/S4aAU-dI_xI/AAAAAAAAAEw/_zKVDawLae4/s1600-h/BorrowedBook.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 462px; height: 219px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/S4aAU-dI_xI/AAAAAAAAAEw/_zKVDawLae4/s200/BorrowedBook.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442178297574784786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;" ><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="file:///C:/Users/Janelle/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Looking for just the right book but not sure where to look? Check out <i><a href="http://theborrowedbook.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 128);">The Borrowed Book</span></a></i>, a website designed specifically for readers and writers of fine books and devotionals! On Mondays, meet the finest debut authors Christian fiction has to offer. Wednesdays and Thursdays, read interviews with your favorite authors or browse excerpts from many of the latest books. Not into fiction? Then stop by on Tuesdays when writers of non-fiction and devotionals will be the featured guests.</strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong> </strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Created by award-winning author and speaker, Elizabeth Ludwig, The Borrowed Book offers readers the chance to meet some of their favorite authors, catch up on the latest books, and sign up for weekly drawings and prizes. Rest assured, this isn’t your average writer’s blog. The Borrowed Book was designed with the book-lover in mind…you.</strong></span></p></span>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-68887220585408108792010-01-13T22:36:00.009-06:002010-02-01T07:57:39.892-06:00Oh DeerI had an amazing morning and just have to share. I was out in one of our fields and it was so foggy I could hardly see a thing. As the fog lifted and I was leaving, I looked out across the field and noticed some shapes that looked like deer. I immediately squatted down. For a good twenty minutes, I watched as six bucks pranced and played their deer games.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/S06hGZFYWSI/AAAAAAAAAEo/S2qQyguQe-o/s1600-h/4White-tailedDeers-ByWater1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 96px; height: 140px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/S06hGZFYWSI/AAAAAAAAAEo/S2qQyguQe-o/s200/4White-tailedDeers-ByWater1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426451732212767010" border="0" /></a>No, that isn't a picture of the deer I saw, though I was kicking myself for not bringing my camera. But for some reason, I can only think of it as a blessing, those deer started wandering my direction. About fifty yards away, they finally noticed me. Curious, they continued closer, hesitant, their heads bobbing up and down and side to side trying to get a better look at me and see if I was friend or foe. About 35 to 40 yards away, they stopped and eyed me for a good five minutes before the biggest of the bucks snorted, making them all run off. Though my legs were asleep and the tingling was awful as the blood once again surged when I stood, I wouldn't have traded my morning for anything. Our God of all creation gave me a scene I'll never forget.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-67037894077910468462009-12-30T09:47:00.011-06:002009-12-30T10:26:01.164-06:00For Love of the FamilyI recently returned from a trip to the frigid north...Minnesota...to see my family.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt5QQQjOAI/AAAAAAAAADg/Bk-zofZj_GA/s1600-h/Ready+for+bed.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 116px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt5QQQjOAI/AAAAAAAAADg/Bk-zofZj_GA/s200/Ready+for+bed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421059896619776002" border="0" /></a></div><br />Okay, so the picture isn't recent, but I got to see some of our old photos for the first time in many years and I absolutely love them.<br /><br />It's been colder up there on other trips, but it's been years since I've seen so much snow up there in December. Eight inches of the big, wet, fluffy flakes kept us in the house Christmas day, postponing our gathering. It snowed about sixteen, or more, inches while we were there. When we left, they had about two and a half feet of snow on the ground.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt6LYqHpTI/AAAAAAAAADo/imyR4iOqaPM/s1600-h/HPIM0697.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 95px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt6LYqHpTI/AAAAAAAAADo/imyR4iOqaPM/s200/HPIM0697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421060912486786354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt7prqkfKI/AAAAAAAAADw/rXHtNPZE0g8/s1600-h/HPIM0698.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 103px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt7prqkfKI/AAAAAAAAADw/rXHtNPZE0g8/s200/HPIM0698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421062532496653474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt9F16tGGI/AAAAAAAAAEA/Jdr1FscAzSE/s1600-h/HPIM0724.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 98px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt9F16tGGI/AAAAAAAAAEA/Jdr1FscAzSE/s200/HPIM0724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421064115796645986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt8qEJaYRI/AAAAAAAAAD4/bjjTBulrTCc/s1600-h/HPIM0687.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 109px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt8qEJaYRI/AAAAAAAAAD4/bjjTBulrTCc/s200/HPIM0687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421063638580093202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Quite the winter wonderland. But as beautiful as it is, it has a tendency to hinder travel. So we broke out alternate modes of transportation.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt9qvVkJwI/AAAAAAAAAEI/FBwWpahiJgQ/s1600-h/HPIM0675.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 93px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt9qvVkJwI/AAAAAAAAAEI/FBwWpahiJgQ/s200/HPIM0675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421064749685417730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt9_DciTpI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/adwzRhVDLtw/s1600-h/HPIM0678.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 91px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt9_DciTpI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/adwzRhVDLtw/s200/HPIM0678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421065098680749714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt-YfhLKuI/AAAAAAAAAEY/oFHRGJbYGXE/s1600-h/HPIM0696.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 97px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Szt-YfhLKuI/AAAAAAAAAEY/oFHRGJbYGXE/s200/HPIM0696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421065535713127138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I'm not overly fond of that cold white stuff, which is why I moved south, but I wouldn't trade that trip for anything. In fact, I'd do it all over again...for love of my family.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-79700573178464369312009-08-04T09:40:00.013-05:002009-08-04T13:47:15.632-05:00MTCAN Fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SnhOn9IGR-I/AAAAAAAAACw/3CZQ3NortzY/s1600-h/MTCAN+2009+029a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 130px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SnhOn9IGR-I/AAAAAAAAACw/3CZQ3NortzY/s320/MTCAN+2009+029a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366125404342339554" border="0" /></a>I always enjoy a chance to get together with fellow writers. The fun and fellowship we share is priceless. Not to mention that writers are the only ones who understand other writers...the oddities and little quirks, or even the unique way we think. For example, I was told by my friend, my pastor's wife, (you know, one of those 'normal' peop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SnhO6lg8k7I/AAAAAAAAAC4/9b9UcKF9t4Q/s1600-h/MTCAN+2009+037a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 107px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SnhO6lg8k7I/AAAAAAAAAC4/9b9UcKF9t4Q/s320/MTCAN+2009+037a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366125724421624754" border="0" /></a>le) that my thought process is quite interesting. Never mind the fact that I had just told her the dark, narrow road we were on would be a good place to dump a body. But since she is an avid reader and has come a little closer to understanding me, she puts up with my odd statements. (though I did notice she hugged the passenger door a little more)<br /><br />MTCAN (Meet The Christian Authors Night) provided the perfect opportunity to mix and mingle with other authors. But that's not all it did. The funds raised from our book s<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SnhcSeTbh0I/AAAAAAAAADA/lhmR7a1QTck/s1600-h/MTCAN+2009+027a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 123px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SnhcSeTbh0I/AAAAAAAAADA/lhmR7a1QTck/s320/MTCAN+2009+027a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366140428453906242" border="0" /></a>ales helps Grace-Full Ministry provide back-to-school items for children of single moms as well as fix cars to help those moms get their kids to school on time. The funds also allow children to attend camps and helps with home repairs. I would like to thank the ladies of this ministry for the opportunity to help serve in these activities, even in such a small way. I know what this ministry does for these families is such a blessing, and I'm blessed to be even a small part of it. Thank you, Linda Kozar for inviting me to be a part of MTCAN. And I also thank Janice Thompson for doing such and excellent job as emcee of the event. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SniAO502TII/AAAAAAAAADQ/tDAN5LNhV6A/s1600-h/MTCAN+2009+039a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 121px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SniAO502TII/AAAAAAAAADQ/tDAN5LNhV6A/s200/MTCAN+2009+039a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366179949540953218" border="0" /></a>One more special thank you goes to Karen, who has become a dear friend and is without a doubt the most incredible PR person I know. There's not a question in my mind that without her enthusiastic praise of my book, none would have sold. She's a gem.<br /><br />We are here to praise, worship, and serve our Lord. Whenever you get the chance, help God's loved ones. They're not the only ones who will be blessed.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-15321645200082245372009-07-15T14:48:00.003-05:002009-07-15T14:59:18.012-05:00Meet The Christian Authors Night<img src="file:///C:/Users/Janelle/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />Mark your calendars for the second annual<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">MEET THE CHRISTIAN AUTHORS NIGHT</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">on</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, July 31st, 2009</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">6:30-9:00 pm</span></div><div><div><br /><div><div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Live Entertainment from local Christian music artists</span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Hear Cec Murphy speak</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">On the Spot Author Interviews</span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Meet your favorite Christian authors in person</span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Shop for books and have them autographed</span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Meet local Christian music artists--buy CDs</span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Buy unique handcrafted silver jewelry and antique beaded necklaces from a Christian jewelry artist</span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Enter a raffle to win a BIG BASKET OF BOOKS!</span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Browse our silent auction with fantastic items to bid on (Astros tickets, spa package, etc)</span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Enjoy refreshing beverages and delicious desserts</span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Help support </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Grace~Full</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> the ministry to single parents.</span></span></span></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">As of July 1st, 2009, authors who are coming to sign books at this event are:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"> Cec Murphey, Gail Gaymer Martin, Kathy Ide, Cyndy Salzmann, DiAnn Mills, Kathleen Y'Barbo, Janice Thompson, Martha Rogers, Anita Higman, Lena Nelson Dooley, Jeff LeJeune, Linda and Steve Bauer, Janelle Mowery, Elizabeth Ludwig, Randi Morrow, Karen Zick Slagle, Julie Johnston Zick, Nancy Williams, Cathy Messecar, Kim O'Brien, Brenda White, Donn Taylor, Kent Whittaker, Marcia Gruver, Linda Kozar, Dannelle Woody, Rene' Morris, Eileen Key, Marilyn Eudaly, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Lena Nelson Dooley, Vicki Moss, Darol Hail, Don Dickerman, Patricia Lowenfield and Don Dilmore<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">@WoodsEdge Community Church<br />35333 Gosling Road<br />Spring, TX 77389<br /><br />View the blog about this exciting event and watch the video at<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">http://meetthechristianauthorsnight.blogspot.com</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!</span><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-28253562420386713112009-03-23T10:23:00.014-05:002009-03-23T15:10:14.176-05:00CBEThough the CBE turnout wasn't as large as hoped, I must say I had a wonderful time. Catching up with old friends and meeting new ones without having to wait for the ACFW conference helped make the trip a success in my eyes. I was able to spend time with three of my favorite people, Elizabeth Ludwig, Susan Downs, and Kim Sawyer,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Scevzr3eMpI/AAAAAAAAACQ/0GU1fMh_zMQ/s1600-h/CBE2009+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Scevzr3eMpI/AAAAAAAAACQ/0GU1fMh_zMQ/s320/CBE2009+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316411187617739410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />not to mention Chris Lynxwiler, Carrie Turansky, Wanda Brunstetter, Becky Germany, and Mary Connealy who, btw, found out she was nominated for the Christy Award while at the CBE. Great stuff. Congratulations, Mary.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/ScewHxwkTGI/AAAAAAAAACY/6bjEaKXZbII/s1600-h/HPIM0700a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/ScewHxwkTGI/AAAAAAAAACY/6bjEaKXZbII/s320/HPIM0700a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316411532796775522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I think one of the most exciting things to happen was when Max Lucado was kind enough to speak to my sister on the phone since she couldn't be there. Her excitement alone made the trip worthwhile.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Scewdw79_8I/AAAAAAAAACo/fvpF5bxhAMI/s1600-h/HPIM0708a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 139px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/Scewdw79_8I/AAAAAAAAACo/fvpF5bxhAMI/s320/HPIM0708a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316411910533283778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/ScewdKBtQSI/AAAAAAAAACg/V9MLcNCnTbg/s1600-h/HPIM0704a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 138px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/ScewdKBtQSI/AAAAAAAAACg/V9MLcNCnTbg/s320/HPIM0704a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316411900088369442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was also able to meet face to face with my agent, Sandra Bishop, who has become another of my favorite people. She introduced me to some of the marketing folks at Harvest House, who will soon be publishing my Colorado Runaway historical series. I had dinner with Mary Lu Tyndall and Kelly Hake one night and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them. Another night I had dinner with many of the members of the Christian Authors Network, and spent time with Anita Higman and Aaron McCarver, but do you think I was smart enough to get pictures of any of these people? Nope. I'm still kicking myself.<br /><br />All of this is to say, the next time you have an opportunity presented like the CBE, try to make it. You'll get to connect with some wonderful people.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/ScerYwUZGvI/AAAAAAAAACI/uDxZqaU9ph8/s1600-h/HPIM0700a.jpg"><br /></a>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-89801969580307720012009-02-13T09:55:00.002-06:002009-02-13T10:44:01.339-06:00God Is So GoodIt has happened. It was a long time coming. At least in MY time frame. But God, in all His goodness and grace, blessed me with a sale of my historicals. And not just with any publisher, but with Harvest House. Why is that such a big deal? Well, I'll give you the short version of this story.<br /><br />It was only after reading several stories by Lori Wick that I determined I could write a story. She, or better, her stories inspired me. I was sure I could do it. So after formulating a plot and carrying the story around in my head for a year, I finally sat down and started my first story. When that one was finished, I started another, and then another. I had no clue what I was doing. Didn't know a thing about writing rules. I just wrote the stories that kept taking over my mind.<br /><br />Then I joined ACFW and one of their critique groups. With the help of the ladies in that group, I learned the writing rules, went back to my stories, and applied those rules. After years of work and patience, those stories have now sold. A dream come true.<br /><br />For those of you who don't know, Lori Wick is published by Harvest House. Isn't that amazing? Talk about a dream coming full circle. To this day, I still stand in awe of how God works. His ways are perfect. Don't ever stop dreaming, and never give up.<br /><br />A big thank you to my Lord and also to the editors at Harvest House, who believe in these stories. I am thrilled and honored to be working with this publishing house, and I am humbled by God's graciousness. Praise God! And thank You so much.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-55494948237542858852009-01-25T13:06:00.001-06:002009-01-25T13:06:59.224-06:00Teen Series Turns 20, Hits 2.5 Million SoldRobin Jones Gunn Reaches 4 Million Copies of her Books in Print<br /><br />THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS--When taken individually--having a series last twenty years with all the titles still in print; seeing 2.5 million copies of those titles sold; and having 4 million copies of your children's, teen and adult books in print--could be considered quite an accomplishment. Yet bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn has achieved all three milestones. Just last week she turned in her 70th book.<br /><br />Gunn, the wife of a former youth pastor, never intended to become a writer. "We were on a camping trip with the kids in our church youth group, and a bunch of girls were hiding out in their tent reading evocative novels." she states. "When I said I didn't want them reading those books, they challenged me and said, 'Why don't you write a book for us, then? We'll tell you what to write. How hard could it be?' I soon found out that it was very hard but those girls helped me every sentence of the way." <br /><br />It took two years to finish Summer Promise, the first title in The Christy Miller Series, and 10 rejections from publishers that claimed they just didn't see a market for them before the title was contracted. "I wanted to say, 'You can't see them because they're hiding in the tent with a stack of books from the library.'"<br /><br />But the book division of Focus on the Family was aware of the need for clean teen books and had been looking for a writer to create a series. When then-editor Janet Kobobel Grant read the manuscript for Summer Promise, she realized Gunn understood how to connect with teens.<br /><br />By the time the first book was published, Gunn was committed. She had fallen in love with the art of telling stories to teens. "The cast of characters in the The Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, College Years, and Katie Weldon series are all very alive and real in my imagination. Over the years I've received thousands of letters from teens that feel the same way. These characters are their friends."<br /><br />The books have been translated into several languages, including Portuguese. "Whenever I receive another email from Brazil with lots of exclamation marks I smile," she says. "I can't read a word of it, but my heart knows what they're saying."<br /><br />Every one of the thirty novels in the Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, College Years, and Katie Weldon series is still in print. Indeed, fans of the first books are now introducing a new generation of readers to the books they love. One of the original readers, Tracy, showed up last year at a booksigning Gunn was doing in Indiana. Tracy surprised Robin by bringing her teenage daughter with her stack of books ready to be signed. "My daughter still doesn't believe I helped with these stories," Tracy said. "She says they're too authentic to have been written in my generation. I told her it's a God-thing." <br /><br />"Robin's books have connected with teen girls for twenty years, with the first Christy Miller novel releasing in 1988," says Janet Grant, now Gunn's agent and founder of Books & Such Literary Agency. "How fitting that during this anniversary year, her teen books should reach this level of sales."<br /><br />Grant remains as surprised about the longevity of the series as Gunn. "Neither she nor I ever envisioned such a long, happy and spiritually productive life for Todd, Christy, Katie, and the other authentic characters Robin created. Yet she receives letters and emails from girls every day who gave their lives to Christ or made other significant spiritual decisions as a result of reading these works of fiction."<br /><br />"After two-plus decades of writing for publication," Gunn says, "I have come to ask of myself and of God the same questions I ask of these fictional characters: "What happens next? What if . . .? and Why not?"<br /><br />Gunn's desire to write in a way that teens connect with and to touch their lives continues to be her driving force. In the words of one of her fans, "These books totally changed my life. You have no idea how much. Please don't ever stop! No one else writes for us like this. You have to keep writing for us until your hand falls off!"<br /><br />Given Robin Jones Gunn's track record, many productive years lie ahead of her, and she still has stories to tell that teens long for. Her next teen book release, in May 2009, will be an addition to the Katie Weldon series, Coming Attractions.<br /><br />Robin Jones Gunn is available for interviewJanellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-80216670491056564832009-01-10T13:43:00.002-06:002009-01-10T14:40:52.073-06:00Standing Firm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SWj6tcGuQOI/AAAAAAAAABg/BeqEoeep4fc/s1600-h/old-man-southview.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289753420892094690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 237px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SWj6tcGuQOI/AAAAAAAAABg/BeqEoeep4fc/s320/old-man-southview.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="font-family:';font-size:100%;">The Old Man of Hoy is a 449 foot stack of sandstone that stands in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. Relentlessly beaten and battered by winds and crashing waves for 400 years, the column still stands. Some say erosion will soon make the Old Man fall while others are certain it will stand another 200 years. Regardless of who is right, it’s still quite impressive to know this famous landmark has stood so long while facing constant adversity.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="font-family:';font-size:100%;">As Christians, we too must stand firm. Our faith must stand firm, even when we’re beaten and battered until we feel like an old man, or woman, as the case may be. We may wonder when the wind will ever stop blowing or the waves stop crashing against us. Adversity comes in many forms. Poor health. Loss of a loved one. Ridicule. Sometimes just the wear and tear of our busy, everyday lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="font-family:';font-size:100%;">As a writer, I also see the similarity, the need to stand firm, keep the faith, even when we feel beaten and battered. Rejections. The need for patience. Deadlines. Writer’s block. Doubts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="font-family:';font-size:12;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The list goes on for both believers and writers. But we can overcome. The Old Man stands because of its strong foundation. We, too, have a firm foundation. God’s strong foundation stands firm upon which we can rest. In, on, and through Him, we can endure anything. ‘For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and discipline.’ (2 Timothy 1:7) Choose to stand firm in the face of adversity. By doing so, you will glorify God. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-14728970726133017902008-10-08T13:07:00.013-05:002008-10-08T16:17:58.198-05:00Spring Is In The Air?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SO0jfXgj7UI/AAAAAAAAABI/ktRGIYuN2Tg/s1600-h/blooming_tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254895362004741442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SO0jfXgj7UI/AAAAAAAAABI/ktRGIYuN2Tg/s320/blooming_tree.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>New buds are appearing. Any tree that is supposed to bloom is filled with blossoms. It’s a beautiful sight…except that it’s fall. What gives? Hurricane Ike, that’s what. Now I’m certainly no tree expert. I’m sure there’s a scientific reason and an arborist could explain it perfectly for us. I’d rather give you MY explanation. But first, let me tell you a little story to lead up to my reasoning.<br /><br />I arrived at the ACFW conference a day later than planned feeling battered and beaten. I was hurting physically, emotionally, and even my spirits were on the low side. Hurricane Ike had taken a toll. Our power went out at 7:05 the night the hurricane arrived. We’d spent a sleepless night as the storm swirled over and around us. But God put His strong hands over us and protected us. I’d spent four days cleaning up tons of tree debris left by the storm. We still had no electricity the day I left for the conference. I was heading toward electricity and water. My husband and sons were left behind with neither. I wanted to stay with them but the conference and plane fare were paid for. I would be doing nothing at home except waiting for the power to come back on just like the rest of the neighbors.<br /><br />What I’d forgotten in the midst of the storm and its aftermath was that God, the real power, was still with me. He’d never left and was still riding alongside. From the moment I arrived in Minnesota, I witnessed God at work, turning all my bumblings into blessings, my messes into miracles, clearing away the debris I carried with me from the storm. Each day, each hour, He lifted me higher with His great grace, proving His unending love and that He is the great Physician. He was giving so much to me and I wanted to pass that giving on to others. The high point of the conference, for me, came Sunday morning, our last time for praise and worship before the conference ended. Rachel Hauck did an incredible job, again, putting together the music for us. Each of her selections spoke of how great our God is. Each song built upon that theme like building blocks, lifting us higher and closer to our Lord. I was feeling so much love and gratefulness for my God. Then Rachel surprised me by ending with Amazing Grace…and the tears fell. God had taken me through my storm. I was filled with love and joy and wanted to praise Him as best I could.<br /><br />One of the first things I noticed when I arrived home was that the trees were in bloom. Our apple tree was loaded with blossoms. How odd. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. The only thing I could figure was that the storm had caused it to happen. Anyone who knows me knows I try to take situations like this and make them spiritual. So in my small, finite mind, I bring you to MY explanation for the new buds and blossoms.<br /><br />The trees were battered and beaten…and they showed it. Some limbs were broken. Others were nearly bare, stripped of their leaves by forceful winds. But they had survived the storm and wanted to show it by praising God the only way they knew how. They clothed themselves in beauty.</div>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-71147635664070435762008-08-20T17:01:00.003-05:002008-08-20T17:06:19.092-05:00HUGE Author Event!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SKyVIb2FpmI/AAAAAAAAAA4/b8iZhgyJN4A/s1600-h/book_pen_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SKyVIb2FpmI/AAAAAAAAAA4/b8iZhgyJN4A/s320/book_pen_small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236724438871156322" border="0" /></a><br />Multi-author Book Signing - Mall of America<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What</span>: ACFW book signing<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who</span>: 127 Christian novelists<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where</span>: Best Buy & Sears Rotundas and connecting hallway, Mall of America, Bloomington, MN<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>: Saturday, September 20, 2008 1-3 p.m.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why</span>: To meet your favorite authors<br /><br />Come to this amazing gathering of some of the top fiction writers in our field. It will be a fun opportunity to meet the authors representing a wide array of genres. Bring your books to be autographed or buy them at Barnes & Noble. It's FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.<br /><br />Here's a list of participating authors:<br /><br />Tamera Alexander<br />Jennifer AlLee<br />A.K. Arenz<br />Diane Ashley<br />Karen Ball<br />Janet Lee Barton<br />James Scott Bell<br />Joseph Bentz<br />Terri Blackstock<br />Robin Caroll<br />Patricia PacJac Carroll<br />Jeanie Smith Cash<br />Eleanor Clark<br />Debra Clopton<br />Gloria Clover<br />Brandilyn Collins<br />Mary Connealy<br />Lyn Cote<br />Kathryn Cushman<br />Margaret Daley<br />KM Daughters<br />Susan Page Davis<br />Mary Davis<br />Janet Dean<br />Megan DiMaria<br />Brandt Dodson<br />Lena Nelson Dooley<br />Cecelia Dowdy<br />Sharon Dunn<br />Wanda Dyson<br />Lynette Eason<br />Meredith Efken<br />Leanna Ellis<br />Sharon Ewell Foster<br />Miralee Ferrell<br />Tina Ann Forkner<br />Darlene Franklin<br />Jonathan Friesen<br />Rhonda Gibson<br />Terri Gillespie<br />Debby Giusti<br />Beth Goddard<br />Cathy Gohlke<br />Rene Gutteridge<br />Cathy Marie Hake<br />Kelly Eileen Hake<br />Karen Harter<br />Rachel Hauck<br />Roxanne Henke<br />Cynthia Hickey<br />Patti Hill<br />Sharon Hinck<br />Joan Hochstetler<br />Steven Hunt<br />Angela Hunt<br />Denise Hunter<br />Annette Irby<br />Jennifer Johnson<br />Jenny B. Jones<br />Golden Keyes Parsons<br />Deb Kinnard<br />Julie Klassen<br />Kathleen Kovach<br />Harry Kraus<br />Patti Lacy<br />Maureen Lang<br />Jeanne Marie Leach<br />Tosca Lee<br />Julie Lessman<br />Michelle Levigne<br />Sherri L. Lewis<br />Elizabeth Ludwig<br />Christine Lynxwiler<br />Richard L. Mabry<br />Sharlene MacLaren<br />Gail Martin<br />Debby Mayne<br />Vickie McDonough<br />Andrew McGuire<br />Susan Meissner<br />Becky Melby<br />Dana Mentink<br />Amber Miller<br />Judith Miller<br />Sara Mills<br />Siri Mitchell<br />Nancy Moser<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Janelle Mowery<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />Elizabeth Musser<br />Mark Mynheir<br />Jill Nelson<br />Mae Nunn<br />John Olson<br />Donita K. Paul<br />Trish Perry<br />Marta Perry<br />Allie Pleiter<br />Cara Putman<br />Deborah Raney<br />Sandra Robbins<br />Paul Robertson<br />John Robinson<br />Martha Rogers<br />Cynthia Ruchti<br />Gail Sattler<br />Kim Vogel Sawyer<br />Shelley Shephard Gray<br />Virginia Smith<br />Lynette Sowell<br />Candice Speare<br />Kathryn Springer<br />Denice Stewart<br />Sarah Anne Sumpolec<br />Michelle Sutton<br />Camy Tang<br />Donn Taylor<br />Janice Thompson<br />Cindy Thomson<br />Missy Tippens<br />Carrie Turansky<br />ML Tyndall<br />Amy Wallace<br />Susan May Warren<br />Linda Wichman<br />Beth Wiseman<br />Cheryl Wyatt<br />Kathleen Y'Barbo<br /><br />AMAZING!!! Please come and look for me. I’d love to see you.<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-79410837143406016392008-07-18T07:57:00.003-05:002008-12-10T14:37:31.813-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SICTdGzhx-I/AAAAAAAAAAw/3crwAJ22VdM/s1600-h/MTCANflyer.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 319px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yd4GSRyhsnM/SICTdGzhx-I/AAAAAAAAAAw/3crwAJ22VdM/s320/MTCANflyer.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224337696002000866" border="0" /></a><p style="margin: 0px;"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Everyone is invited. Come to enjoy coffee, cheesecake, and fellowship with 40 Christian authors.<br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Authors in attendance include: </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;"> </p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Don M. Aycock, Linda & Steve Bauer, Alison Bottke, Terry Burns, Lena Nelson Dooley, Leanna Ellis, Dorothy Feartherling, Marcia Gruver, Anita Higman, Charlotte Holt, Nancy Jo Jenkins, Eileen Key, Linda Kozar, Jeff LeJeune, Elizabeth Ludwig, Cathy Messecar, DiAnn Mills, Randi Morrow, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Janelle Mowery</span>, Kim O'Brien, Susan Titus Osborne, Allison Pittman, Karen Porter, Deb Raney, Jerry Rassamni, Deborah Rather, Martha Rogers, Carla Rossi, Lynette Sowell, Donn Taylor, Janice Thompson, Sharen Watson, Carol Weishampel, Brenda White, Nancy Williams, Kathleen Y'Barbo, and Julie Johnston Zick<br /><br />Hope to see you there!</span><br /><br /><br /></span></span>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-63566626431647320732008-05-09T17:10:00.002-05:002008-05-09T17:12:38.784-05:00We have a winner!The winner of a free copy of Where the Truth lies is...<br /><br />Tracey Bateman!<br /><br />Congratulations, Tracey. Please email your mailing address so I can get this on it's way. <br /><br />Thank you to everyone who posted a comment.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-6190181001794601952008-05-03T16:18:00.002-05:002008-05-03T18:13:35.822-05:00Got Animoto?<div>The easy way to make a book trailer.</div><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/46928cc51133af17/481cd6bbbdd6ff8f/46928cc5788deb29/b6ce054e/widget.js"></script><br /><br />Leave a comment by Friday and I'll put your name in for a drawing to receive a free copy of Where the Truth Lies.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-65186699172527057892008-04-14T10:05:00.000-05:002008-04-14T10:08:33.735-05:00An Interview with Debbie Fuller Thomas<table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="75%"><table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="75%"><div><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></strong></span> </div> <div align="center"> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span> </div> <div align="left"> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /> <strong>Your story is about a mother whose daughter was switched at birth. How does Marty find out that her child was switched?</strong><br /> Marty's daughter, Ginger, is the victim of a fatal genetic disease, <strong>Neimann Pick Type C</strong>, which often strikes every sibling in a family. Marty is concerned for her other 2 daughters, and when it's determined that she and her ex-husband are not carriers of the disease they know something's not right.<br /><br /> <strong>Where did you get the idea for your story?</strong><br />My inspiration for the book came straight out of real life from a news story I heard about two families fighting over switched-at-birth babies when one child is orphaned. Of course, the circumstances and setting in my story are different, and the characters are completely fictitious. But I knew it would be a heartbreaking dilemma for any parent, especially for one who had suffered through the death of a child she thought was hers. <br /> <strong><br /> Do you have a favorite character? </strong><br />I would have to say Andie, because even at 13-years-old, she doesn't become a victim. She's a little quirky, and she's had to mature quickly. Even though she's developed an attitude toward God and her situation in general, she keeps it to herself most of the time, and we understand her need to vent occasionally. <br /><br /> <strong>On what level do you think women will identify with Marty, her biological mom?</strong><br />I think most moms would understand the panic of discovering they had the wrong child, and the guilt at not realizing instinctively that something was wrong all along. On another level, Marty is a caregiver who sets aside her own dreams to nurture her family. As women, we often set aside our dreams out of necessity, guilt or lack of support from our families, but like Marty, we don't have to abandon our dreams completely.<br /> <strong><br /> The story is set at a drive-in movie theater. What led you to choose that setting?</strong><br />I think there's a nostalgic winsomeness about drive-in theaters and I want to encourage families to take advantage of the few drive-ins that are still in operation. I remember the smell of hot coffee when my mother poured cups from the thermos, and falling asleep in the backseat with my pillow and blanket. There's a sense of intimacy and togetherness that comes from being alone with your family, even though hundreds of other people are watching the same movie. I also used the run-down condition of the <strong>Blue Moon Drive-in</strong> as a reflection of the relationship between Marty and Andie and of the condition of their spiritual lives when they first meet.<br /><br /> <strong>What is the meaning behind the title: <em>Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon</em>?</strong><br /> Tuesday night is family night at the <strong>Blue Moon Drive-in</strong>. Andie needs a family, and the desire of Marty's heart is for her dysfunctional family to be a whole again.<br /><br /> <strong>Who are some of the other interesting characters in your story?</strong><br />Andie is sandwiched in the birth order between Winnie, the needy younger sister, and Deja, an older teen who is bitter about the situation. Some interesting dynamics that take place when the three of them interact, especially when mom has to work long hours and there's too much unsupervised together-time. <br /><br /> <strong>What is the message that you would like your readers to take away from <em>Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon?</em></strong><br />I believe that God is our Father and that we were created to commune with Him on a deep level, but sin orphans us. When we're open to it, God is ready and willing to re-claim and restore us as his children.<br /><br /> <strong><br /> How did you begin your writing career?</strong><br />I operated a home day care for 6 preschoolers when my children were young, and I was in desperate need of a distraction to keep my sanity. So I began to write a novel during their naptimes. I finished it in about 2 years. It was my 'practice novel' which gave me confidence and helped me plot the blueprint for <em><strong>Tuesday Night.</strong></em><br /><br /> <strong><br /> What advice would you give to someone starting out as a writer?</strong><br />Don't quit. I sold the first article I ever sent to a publisher and didn't sell another thing for 19 years. It's not going to happen overnight. It's an apprenticeship - a craft to be honed. When you're tempted to give up, remember the encouraging things other writers, agents or editors have said about your writing. If God has given you some talent, what acceptable excuse can you give Him for not using it?</span></span> </div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> _______________________________ </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">"I am passionate about good fiction, the kind that grabs you and won't turn loose. My hope is that my characters will capture you and that you will consider my stories old friends with whom you visit often." </span></span> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> <u><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Debbie Fuller Thomas is available for interview</span></span></strong></u><br /> </div> </div> </td> <td style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); padding-right: 3px; padding-left: 3px;" align="left" valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="24%"> <div align="center"> <img src="https://app.e2ma.net/userdata/13705/images/large/scaled_e1204694077.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="360" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="232" /> </div> <div><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><strong><em>Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon</em> </strong></span> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> <em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Debbie Fuller Thomas </span></em> </div> <div align="center"> <em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Moody Publishers </span></em> </div> <div align="center"> <em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">June 1, 2008</span></em> </div> <div align="center"> <em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">ISBN: 978-0802487339</span></em> </div> <div align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> </div> </div> <div align="center"> <img src="https://app.e2ma.net/userdata/13705/images/medium/scaled_e1204694434.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="240" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="192" /> </div> <div><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Debbie Fuller Thomas</strong></span></span><br /> </div> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div><div align="center"> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">What others are saying about <em>Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon</em>:</span></span></strong><br /> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">A wonderful debut novel! Honest. Real. Gritty. A compelling look at the hardscrabble lives and beat-up souls of a grieving, single mom and her daughters as they navigate their way to hope and healing to become a family again. I couldn't put it down! I LOVE <strong>Debbie Fuller Thomas's</strong> beautiful, descriptive writing. You will too. Highly recommended.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><strong>Laura Jensen Walker</strong>, Author of <strong><em>Miss Invisible </em></strong>and <em><strong>Daring Chloe</strong></em></span> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> __________________ </div> <br /> <div align="center"> <div align="center"> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">You'll be caught up in this story from the first page, and drawn along by <strong>Debbie Fuller Thomas'</strong> masterful writing. A beautiful, wise tale of a family caught in a predicament with no simple answers, <em><strong>Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon</strong></em> will linger in your thoughts for a good long time. </span> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Kathleen Popa, </strong>author of <em><strong>Saint Bertie </strong></em>and <em><strong>To Dance in the Desert</strong></em></span></span> </div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"> ____________________ </div> <div align="center"> </div> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">In <em><strong>T</strong><strong>uesday Night at the Blue Moon</strong></em>, <strong>Debbie Fuller Thomas</strong> takes every parent's worst nightmare and spins it into a deeply touching story. From the fragile seed of hope in Marty, to the fearful confusion of Andie, we see deep into the hearts of two families who have fallen victim to not one tragedy, but two. Compelling from the first word to the last, this is a story of the healing power of love, both human and divine. <strong>Sharon K. Souza, </strong>author of <em><strong>Every Good and Perfect Gift </strong></em>and <em><strong>Lying on Sunday</strong></em></span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td> <td style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); padding-right: 3px; padding-left: 3px;" align="left" valign="top" width="1%"><br /></td> <td valign="top" width="24%"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-54902512641092054052008-03-10T09:19:00.001-05:002008-03-10T09:24:27.191-05:00Chance to WIN!<p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;">NO FOOLING!</span></span></strong></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><em>Wendy Lawton, Artist and Author, Celebrates Release of Her Seventh Novel With Fabulous April Fools Day Contest </em></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"> <strong> </strong></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;">(THE WOODLANDS, TX) </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;">What do porcelain, <strong>Pocahontas</strong>, and prizes have in common? <strong>Wendy Lawton</strong>, author, sculptor and literary agent is on a mission to find the next <strong>Daughter of the Faith</strong> for her highly successful middle grade series. In celebration of the release of <strong><em>T</em><em>he Captive Princess</em></strong></span></span><em><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;">: A Story Based on the Life of Young Pocahontas</span></strong></span></em><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;">, her seventh novel in the series, <strong>Lawton</strong> is offering a plethora of prizes for contestants who are chosen from among those who post suggestions on Crystal Miller's <strong>When I Was Just a Kid blog (<a href="http://e2ma.net/go/972764585/864172/31651048/goto:http://wheniwasjustakid.blogspot.com/%29" target="_blank">http://wheniwasjustakid<wbr>.blogspot.com/)</a></strong>.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;">One lucky winner will receive all seven <strong><em>Daughters of the Faith</em> </strong>novels ($49 value), while another will get all four books in the <em><strong>Real TV</strong></em> series ($44 value).The grand prize--an autographed <em><strong>Courage to Run</strong></em> doll and book, (value $695.00) will be awarded if more than twenty people comment before <strong>April 1, 2008</strong>, with suggested <em><strong>Daughters of the Faith</strong></em> characters. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;">Keep in mind that each character in this series is a real girl from the pages of history who took a stand for her faith (usually at great cost) while she was still a girl. Nominees should not be someone who grew up to do great things or who married a great man, bur rather a girl like <strong>Pocahontas, the Captive Princess</strong>, who stepped out in faith.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times;font-size:100%;"><br /> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times;font-size:100%;"><em> </em></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"> <em><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;">The Captive Princess: A Story Based on the Life of Young Pocahontas</span></strong></span></em></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times;font-size:100%;">Is there an American student who doesn't know some version of the story of <strong>Pocahontas</strong>-- whether the fabricated Disney version or the equally fictitious but oft-told love story between <strong>Pocahontas </strong>and John Smith?<strong> Wendy Lawton</strong> digs into the history and tells it entirely through the eyes of the young <strong>Pocahontas.</strong> And though the romantic accounts are the stuff of legend and lore, <strong>Pocahontas'</strong> faith story remains one of the most beautiful love stories in history.<br /> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times;font-size:100%;"><strong>What others are saying:</strong><br /> <br /> "<strong>Pocahontas </strong>has long been a favorite character of mine, and <strong>Wendy Lawton</strong> brings her to glorious life in <em><strong>The Captive Princess.</strong></em> Through <strong>Lawton's</strong> excellent research and vivid writing, walked out of the dense forest and into my heart. This book is a treasure!"<br /> <strong>Angela Hunt</strong>, author of <strong><em>Uncharted</em></strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times;font-size:100%;">"I jumped at the chance to read <strong>Wendy Lawton's</strong> latest book, <strong><em>The Captive Princess</em></strong>, because of her previous stories. Again, she wove her literary magic. Always true to historical facts and able to infuse spiritual truths naturally, <strong>Wendy Lawton</strong> is a master storyteller."<br /> <strong>Donita K. Paul</strong> author of popular Christian fantasy including <em><strong>The DragonKeeper Chronicles</strong></em> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"> ____________________ </p> <br /> <p style="margin: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;"> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times;font-size:100%;"><strong>WENDY LAWTON</strong> feels equally comfortable on a computer, at a writer's conference or with a cool lump of clay in her hand. She's been an artist, a writer and now, a literary agent with the respected literary agency, <strong>Books & Such</strong>. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;"> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times;font-size:100%;"><br /> No stranger to the literary market, <strong>Lawton</strong> has written seven books in her middle grade <em><strong>Daughters of the Faith </strong></em>series. These books were followed by a series of teen books <strong><em>The Real TV</em></strong> series and her nonfiction book,<strong><em> Impressions in Clay </em></strong>(Moody).</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"> ______________________ </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"> <u><strong><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Wendy Lawton is available for interview or blog appearance.</span></span></strong></u></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"> </p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong></strong></span></span>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-81123227427616302062008-02-28T11:49:00.001-06:002008-02-28T11:53:58.702-06:00Need Directions?<p class="MsoNormal">So…you wake up one morning with your drippy nose now stuffed tighter than a stomach after Thanksgiving dinner, and your throat is scratching worse than a bad case of hives. You figure it’s time to try this medicine everyone’s been raving about…Airborne. You bought it months ago and stuck it in your medicine cabinet thinking sometime in the future you’re going to need it. If it’s half as good as everyone says, you’re bound to be feeling like Superwoman (or Superman, as the case may be) in no time.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, if you’re anything like me, you’re not a morning person. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Reading</st1:place></st1:City> is rather difficult through bleary eyes and a brain whose waves won’t even wiggle for another hour. You pop the top, drop a tablet into your palm, and marvel at how large the bugger is. Looks like a super-sized TUMS. You figure it’s a chewable. Must be. They’re too big to swallow and you’ve been told they’re chock full of vitamins. You can chew vitamins, right? <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You toss one into your mouth. Doesn’t taste too bad. But then… Man oh man. The thing starts to fizz. You soon resemble Old Yeller during his rabies scene. Foam is spewing. Big time. You fight for air as the foam fills every available space in your throat and sinus cavity and threatens to erupt onto the floor. In a panic, you grab the bottle in search of a warning label. That’s when you see it. (Cuz you’re wide awake by now.) The directions say to drop one tablet in a small glass of water, let it dissolve, then drink the juice. Ohhhhh. That information would have been helpful a minute ago.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Why would I be telling you this? Well, in case you haven’t figured me out by now, I take situations that happen and try to apply them to other areas of my life. As a writer, I have certain rules I must follow. I don’t follow them, I don’t get published. It’s as simple as that. If you think you can just sit down and write a story any way you want, a severe case of the blahs will set in and you’ll soon be foaming at the mouth from all the rejections you’ll receive. Yes, rules can be bent and even broken in the writing world, but you’d better know the rules well before you try to bend or break them. Best way to know the rules is to read. Read authors’ books, blogs, or websites. Buy some how-to books. Attend conferences. How ever you decide to learn, know the correct procedures for good writing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And how would this foamy experience pertain to me as a Christian? It’s very similar to writing. As a child of God, I have rules I must follow. God has laid them out in His Word. If I read His directions and follow them, life will be a little simpler. Oh, that’s not to say life will be a piece of cake, smooth as silk, or any other cliché you want to use. We’ll all run across trouble from time to time, usually because of some bad decision we make, like not following directions. But we all get second chances, and third and fourth. Just because we think we know it all doesn’t mean we don’t have to follow instructions. But you know what? God loves us anyway, foam and all.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Reading</st1:place></st1:City>. Yep. A good dose of it all the way around can keep us from trouble. I recommend it highly.</p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-85989766814525437702007-11-05T22:02:00.000-06:002007-11-05T22:15:39.062-06:00Endurance<p class="MsoNormal">The Badwater Ultramarathon. Just the name evokes difficulty. Then when you hear that it starts in <st1:place st="on">Death Valley</st1:place> and ends on a mountain peak, it denotes near impossibility. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The equivalent of five marathons plus three miles, the Badwater Ultramarathon is the most demanding and extreme of all running events. The starting line is in Badwater, Death Valley, the lowest elevation in the <st1:place st="on">Western Hemisphere</st1:place> marked at 280 feet below sea level. The course covers three mountain ranges totaling 13,000 feet vertical ascent and 4,700 feet descent, and ends at the summit of <st1:place st="on">Mount Whitney</st1:place>, covering 135 miles…nonstop. </p>Temperatures have been known to climb all the way to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. While running in <st1:place st="on">Death Valley</st1:place>, participants try to stay on the white line of the shoulder of the highway. Why? Because the road is so hot, it will melt the soles of their shoes. The white line is ‘slightly’ cooler. Contestants have described their time in <st1:place st="on">Death Valley</st1:place> as ‘running into a hair dryer’ or as being trapped in an oven with no door. <p class="MsoNormal">Runners have been known to hallucinate while on this marathon. One man also claims his shoe size will go from size 11 to 14 before the race is over. The average time to finish this marathon is 48 hours, while the time limit is 60 hours.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">By now you may be asking what the reward is for finishing this race. A million dollars? Thousands? Nope. For those who finish under 48 hours, they’ll receive the coveted Badwater belt buckle. Those who complete the race in the required 60 hours will receive a t-shirt.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">What kind of payoff is that, you ask? I think the real reason the runners are in this marathon is just for the satisfaction of being able to complete such a grueling race. I mean, can you imagine? 135 miles of the most awful conditions man can endure…and to say you made it. You achieved your goal. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I read this information with fascination. It brought forth two questions. 1. Can I say the same about my spiritual life? 2. Can I say the same about my writing life?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My favorite verses are found in Hebrews 12:1-3. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Are we consistent in our faith? In our spiritual walk? In the race set before us? Our goals? We may look at the list given in the ‘Faith Hall of Fame’ found in Hebrews 11 and say, “Yeah, but I’m not like them.” Yes, we are. They’re human, just like us. They made mistakes, just like us. Yet God used them for something special…and He can use us too. God never said it would be easy. Almost the entire book of Acts tells us to expect opposition. But God does promise to be with us through it all. As Chuck Swindoll said… “Faith does not change my circumstances. Faith changes me.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">You may look at the marathon runners and say, “Yeah, but I’m not like them.” Yes, you are. Yes, it takes training to do something like that, but what doesn’t? It takes training to stay consistent in your Christian walk. It takes training to be able to run a marathon. It takes training to write well enough to get your book published. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">You can’t give up. Ever. I’m guessing that the runners who didn’t manage to cross the finish line of the Badwater Ultramarathon return for another go at that belt buckle. When we fail in our walk of faith, or when we receive a rejection letter, we need to return to that starting line and plan to go the distance. Like the Ultramarathon, there will be ups and downs. Valleys and peaks. But keep your eye on the goal. Who wouldn’t want to be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”</p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-67883918954359803032007-10-15T18:36:00.000-05:002007-10-15T18:41:52.937-05:00Playing TAGWhy, Jess Ferguson, you sneaky little bugger. You would pull a TAG like this to get me back on the blogging ball again. Well, I guess I should thank you because I needed to update long before now. So, I guess I’m supposed to tell where I was and what I was doing 10, 20, and 30 years ago. Shoot, you’re really testing my memory cells. Ummm…all right, here we go…<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10 years ago</span> – I had been married almost nine years and our sons were ages 5 and 3. My oldest going off to school. Yep, that’s a memory of ripping out my heart and stomping all over it that I’d rather forget. But we both survived. (grin) Writing was barely a gleam of an idea, especially novels. I think I had just started writing children’s devotions for an online ministry or at the very least been in the discussion phase of the endeavor.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">20 years ago</span> – Goodness, this seems forever ago. Makes me scared of moving on to 30 years ago. Let’s see…I hadn’t yet met my future husband. That would be a few months down the road. I was working in the payroll department for a title company near uptown Houston. Man, what to say about this time. Not much. My life basically consisted of working, eating, and sleeping and attending church on Sundays. I lived with my oldest sister at this time while her husband’s job sent him to Virginia for a while. Or maybe it was Georgia. Can’t recall for certain. Anyway, it was my sister’s best friend who would introduce me to my future husband. That’s when life got interesting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">30 years ago</span> – Ye gads. This TAG is making me feel old. Thanks a lot, Jess. (kidding) Thirty years ago I was still such a young whipper snapper. LOL. Still attending school at Granada-Huntley High School in Minnesota. Playing basketball and running in track kept me busy. Oh, and my grades were pretty good too. (grin) Not much to say beyond that. Ya’ll remember high school, right? Education and friendships. Great stuff. But you couldn’t PAY me to go back there and do it again.<br /><br />Well, that's about it. Hey! STOP YAWNING!Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-31511674689889233632007-07-31T09:59:00.000-05:002007-07-31T10:03:05.949-05:00Wake Up CallI’m not a morning person. I’m not great with nights either, but mornings are by far the worst. My eyes may be open but that doesn’t mean I’m seeing anything. Just ask the door I slammed my nose into one morning when I didn’t notice it was closed. And don’t dare ask me to do math. My husband learned that a while back and has never let me forget it.<br /><br />This one certain morning was particularly bad. I woke up exhausted. I dragged out of bed, pulled on a pair of sweat pants because it felt a little cool, and went about making lunches for the boys. From time to time, and with growing desperation, I’d asked the Lord to help me wake up. To make matters worse, I kept hearing this strange humming. It would start and stop at odd intervals, and I couldn’t locate the source. Every time I thought I was close, it’d change locations. I finally gave up and went about the business of sending my kids on their way. After our goodbyes, I sat down, picked up my prayer list, and began my quiet time. My prayer started off by again asking the Lord to help me wake up. Then I continued on. <br /><br />I was about halfway through my list when I heard the humming sound again. Seconds later, something latched onto my leg.<br /><br />I flung the prayer list aside and grabbed whatever had hold of me. I jerked off my sweatpants right there in the office, keeping hold of my attacker, and headed outside…without putting on any other pants. Thank goodness we live out in the country.<br /><br />Once outside, I very carefully proceeded to turn my sweatpants inside out. There sat a big ole’ bumblebee, staring me down and looking rather irate as it flexed its wings as if to prove its power over me. Or maybe it was a warning that it was about to lay me out. All I know for sure is, it had me scared.<br /><br />(Okay, right about now I figure most of you are wondering how in the world a bumblebee got into my sweatpants. When I learned that running the dryer takes as much or probably more energy than running the air conditioner, I began hanging even the t-shirts and sweatpants out on the line after fluffing them in the dryer for only a few minutes. Now, on with the story.)<br /><br />I shook the pants, but rather than dislodge the beast, it infuriated him. Seeing its wings now preparing for takeoff, I flung the pants away, unwilling for it to latch onto me again. It sat there looking at me for several moments before it decided I wasn’t worth the effort and buzzed away. Only seconds later, I heard a car coming down the road. I grabbed my pants and raced for the house.<br /><br />So, why did I share this embarrassing story? To remind you that God answers prayer. It may not be in the way you think…and most times, it’s not. And it may not be answered right away…and most times, it’s not. But God most certainly answers prayer, in His way and in His time. And sometimes the answer is no. But He answered this particular prayer with a yes. Without a doubt, I was wide awake after that. I finished my prayer list without yawning once. But just a warning…be careful what you ask for. Or rather, how you ask for it.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-8988131431496514182007-07-26T09:15:00.000-05:002007-07-26T09:21:30.202-05:00JUST DO IT...NO EXCUSESOr any other ad campaign that applies.<br /><br />I’ve recently started writing again. No, it wasn’t a planned absence or even a wanted one. How many times have we all said, “Just wait till summer. I’ll have tons of time to write,” only to have those months become so busy, you wonder if you found time to sleep?<br /><br />So anyway, things have finally slowed to where I can actually sit and write again. An addition to a scene came to mind. Cute. I could visualize it so well. I whipped it out and zipped it to my crit group thinking they’d love it. Oh, they loved it all right. Gushed all over it. Blood, that is. It came back <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">RED</span>. Actually, they loved the IDEA of the scene, but my writing left much to be desired.<br /><br />I’d heard and read many times that we should always find time to write every day. Even if it’s just a little. But we really need to keep our fingers dabbling in some form of writing. Or better yet, dig deep, right up to your elbows and beyond, even if you break or chip a fingernail. Whether it be writing a chapter, a page, a paragraph, or editing, critiquing, or even reading a book in the genre of your current wip, do SOMETHING that’s writing related. No excuses…just DO it. My two month hiatus proved this. I wrote very little during the last two months and it showed in that scene.<br /><br />It wasn’t long before I saw the parallel to my spiritual life. If we aren’t spending time with our Lord and in His Word on a daily basis, it will begin to show…in our spiritual walk, the way we act, talk, and even feel, the absence will be noticed.<br /><br />My goal this year is to read through the Bible. I’ve done it in the past, but this year seems especially difficult. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I read just to keep up with the schedule. It’s too hard to get caught up if I get too far behind. But other times, when I didn’t allow distractions, the words really spoke to me. Without a doubt, we have an awesome God.<br /><br />But the point is, the absence was noticed…by me, and I know God noticed. He wants to be first in our lives. Not just something we have to do when we can fit Him in. Time spent with Him makes the day go so much better. The feeling I get when I manage to finish a ten page chapter in one day is nothing compared to time spent with my heavenly Father.<br /><br />So, similar to our world of writing, dig into the Word, up to your elbows and beyond. Break a fingernail, get a paper cut. Whatever it takes. Just do it…no excuses. And I promise, you won’t regret it.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665407690996482267.post-87100309695855114312007-07-09T15:16:00.000-05:002007-07-10T11:35:22.747-05:00AccountabilityObservation. It’s key in life. I have a substantial lack in this department unless I specifically tell myself to <span style="font-weight: bold;">pay attention</span>. . .and I’m a writer. . .someone who should have mastered the art of observation long ago.<br /><br />Another key in life is knowing laws and rules. I thought myself to be pretty good at this. I was proven wrong not long ago. But, I wasn’t alone. My visiting sister and her two teens, along with my husband and our two teens, headed out on an adventure that became so much more.<br /><br />A river in our area filled and overflowed, five feet over flood stage. We’d driven there a couple times to check on it since it’s so close to our house. It even managed to show up in our backyard about 15 years ago. My sister called it an ‘angry river’. My husband laughed and said if she really wanted to see it angry, she should see it at the mouth as it entered the Gulf. And so began our ‘incredible journey’.<br /><br />We followed the river until we could go no further. A fence with a ‘U. S. government’ sign hanging on it stopped us. After gaping at the ‘angry river’ for several minutes, we turned around planning to head for the beach. But before we got too far, and as my husband is telling about the tanks holding oil reserves on the opposite side of the road from the river, my oldest son hollers, “Alligator!” I glanced down and saw it too. Knowing my sister and her kids had never seen one, I told my husband to turn around, which was quickly echoed by all the others. He dutifully obeyed, pulled off the road, and stopped next to a fire hydrant.<br /><br />“Take a picture,” was the next order given. Don’t know by who. Could have been me but I don’t recall. My sister got out with two cameras, stepped to the edge of the grass, and began snapping photos of said alligator. As we all urge her to get closer, (yes, I urged her too) I also notice that a security vehicle has pulled out of a gate. Not much later, I see a man, with a rifle slung over his shoulder, get into the passenger side of said security vehicle. They then pull onto the road and stop. I listen as my husband tells her to go halfway down the bank, that he’d go with her to protect her. I laugh at the comment as I notice two more security vehicles pull near the gate of the facility. Visions of a newspaper article shortly after 9-11 come to mind about a person taking pictures of a refinery that had been arrested. I’m thinking surely that’s not going to happen now. Surely not. Of course it won’t. I mean, we’re only taking pictures of an alligator.<br /><br />My sister refuses to get any closer and gets into our vehicle. My husband now notices the security vehicle sitting on the road. He waits for them to pass. When they don’t, he backs onto the road and begins to leave. The lights on top of the security vehicle begin to flash. My husband starts to pull over, then returns to the road saying, “They’re not after us. We didn’t do anything wrong.”<br /><br />WRONG.<br /><br />I noticed that when we started to pull over, so did they. When we returned to the road, so did they. I told my husband, “They’re after YOU. You have to stop.” He did. They promptly pulled in behind us. The driver walked very carefully up to us, the strap over his pistol removed, his hand on its handle. The passenger of his vehicle stood at his open door, the barrel of his rifle pointing at the back of our vehicle. Not a comfortable sight. The driver finally reaches our door. He peeks inside.<br /><br />“How many occupants?”<br /><br />“Seven.”<br /><br />He speaks into the radio attached to his shoulder. “Occupant times seven.”<br /><br />The gate to the facility opens and out come the other two security vehicles. They pull in behind the first. Suddenly, another one rushes out and pulls ahead of us. We are now completely surrounded by vehicles and men with their guns unstrapped, though they haven’t pulled them, but their hands are on the handles. The uncomfortable level has now increased six times…at least.<br /><br />“Sir, do you realize that when you pulled over, you were trespassing on government property?”<br /><br />“Uh—no, sir.”<br /><br />The officer gave us a brief rundown, then asked for my husband’s driver’s license and told us to sit tight. Yeah, right. Like we were going anywhere. With seven handguns and one assault rifle at the ready, we were sitting tighter than he could imagine. They were gone quite a while. One of my sons says he has to go to the bathroom. Like we all didn’t by then after they've scared the you-know-what out of us. We told him it wouldn’t be a good idea to even open the door, to just hold it. Then the first officer returned and asked my husband to get out and move to the back of the vehicle. Oh boy. My sister, her voice trembling, asked, “Are they going to arrest him?”<br /><br />I answer in a very confident, “Naw,” while inside I’m asking myself, “are they going to arrest him?”<br /><br />Several minutes later, they ALL return, well, except for the guy with the assault rifle. He’s still hanging back with the barrel still pointing at our vehicle. They asked to see the pictures. They let my sister keep all but one, which showed part of the facility in the background, and let us go.<br /><br />As we drive away, my husband is giving his accounting of what all was said when he left us. He jokingly said that he told them it was my sister’s fault and that if they wanted to arrest someone, arrest her. But that if they chose to arrest him, he’d choose to forego the one phone call if they’d guarantee that they’d have his sister-in-law out of the state by the time he was released. Yes, we can laugh about it now, but at the time, it wasn’t much of a laughing matter.<br /><br />I have this habit of looking for the spiritual aspect of odd things that happen to me. A dear friend of mine, Lisa Ludwig, does the same thing on her website – www.elizabethludwig.com – but using her dog. She calls them Maxisms. I guess you could call mine Janelleisms. And yes, I realize I just likened myself to a dog. . .(probably not the first time) but I’ve met this dog, so I don’t mind. Anyway, on to the spiritual aspect. It’s simple, but bears repeating from time to time.<br /><br />As I looked back on that incident, I realized that if we had been more observant, we would have known we were still driving along a government facility. We allowed a swollen river and a large alligator to distract us. If we had known the rules, the laws, we would have known that to pull over and stop was illegal. We thought we hadn’t done anything wrong, but we had. We got away with saying we didn’t have any idea—which we didn’t—but we can’t use that excuse for breaking God’s laws. He’s written them down and made them readily available to us. There is no excuse. Not even blaming our sin nature will cut it with God. We are held accountable for our actions, or lack thereof. Thankfully, God, like the officers (this time), gives us second chances. Forgiveness is a wonderful thing. But oh, wouldn’t it be even more wonderful if we didn’t have to ask for second chances so often? Read His book, observe His laws, and maybe, just maybe, the need for second chances will diminish.<br /><br />And if all else fails, blame your sister.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07866813673268878034noreply@blogger.com6