Showing posts with label Abingdon Press. Show all posts
Hey, y'all! Today, I want to introduce you to a really awesome lady--LINDA CLARE--and her Abingdon Fiction title, THE FENCE MY FATHER BUILT. Through Abingdon, I've gotten to know Linda, and I have to tell you she's one of the sweetest, most encouraging ladies I've met. I'm so honored to feature her book and share with you a gem!
THE FENCE MY FATHER BUILT
When legally separated Muri Pond, a librarian, hauls her kids, teenager Nova and eleven year-old Truman, out to the tiny town of Murkee, Oregon, where her father, Joe Pond lived and died, she's confronted by a neighbor's harassment over water rights and Joe's legacy: a fence made from old oven doors.
The fence and accompanying house trailer horrify rebellious Nova, who runs away to the drug-infested streets of Seattle. Muri searches for her daughter and for something to believe in, all the while trying to save her inheritance from the conniving neighbor who calls her dad Chief Joseph. Along with Joe's sister, Aunt Lutie, and the Red Rock Tabernacle Ladies, Muri must rediscover the faith her alcoholic dad never abandoned in order to reclaim her own spiritual path.
Think I'm just touting another of my amazing friends? Nope. WAit. Okay, yes--maybe I am. But read this and see what Jane Kirkpatrick had to say about Linda's THE FENCE MY FATHER BUILT:
"With vivid descriptions and a fine sense of place, Linda Clare introduces us to a little known landscape of the high desert west. Her distinctive characters soon populate the small sagebrush dotted town, the seemingly isolated homesteads, a ranching community's ways, and our hearts. Self-discovery is not left to Muri Pond, the single mom seeking meaning in her life; each character makes a change a so do readers as the mystery of the fence is unveiled and we discover how voices from our past can transform and lead us home." ~ Jane Kirpatrick, Award-winning author of Flickering Light and All Together in One Place
Ha! See, it's not just me. You've got to read this book. And if you'll leave a comment, I'll draw a winner for a FREE COPY of this book.
BIOGRAPHY: Linda S. Clare grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and taught art as well as elementary school in public and private schools. She has published four books, including her debut novel The Fence My Father Built (Abingdon Press 2099). She has won several fiction awards, teaches college writing classes and works as a mentor and editor. Her husband of thirty-two years and their four adult children, including a set of twins, live in Eugene, Oregon, along with five wayward cats, Oliver, Xena Warrior Kitty Paladine, Melchior and Mamma Mia!REMEMBER: LEAVE A COMMENT (WITH EMAIL ADDRESS) FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF THE FENCE MY FATHER BUILT!
Today through Wednesday, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, founded by the amazingly brilliant Bonnie Calhoun, will be featuring Dead Reckoning for a blog tour. Take a minute to read a chapter, watch a video, and on a site or two, they're giving away a copy of Dead Reckoning!
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
This trailer was made for Dead Reckoning. What do you think?
BTW: If you've read Dead Reckoning, would you be willing to post a review at Amazon, B&N.com or Christianbook.com? I would appreciate it.
Hey, y’all. Okay, I didn’t figure Shiloh would give you a full explanation. She rarely does. Reece is even worse. (If you haven't visited NovelJourney, then click on over there and find out what all the hub-bub is about--it's life or death!) Here's the rundown:
Reece's older sister is missing. Something I mentioned in my book must've exposed her (which is interesting--do you know what her career is *supposed* do to be?). Anyway. We have to find her.
Since time’s of the essence, let me give you some help in finding the clues. Use the blogs below--they're proven to be safe havens for characters, so I believe that's where we'll find the path that leads to Julia.
Ane Mulligan Southern-Fried Fiction – http://anemulligan.blogspot.com
Beth Goddard – http://bethgoddard.blogspot.com/
Camy Tang/Story Sensei - http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/
Cara Putman http://carasmusings.blogspot.com
Cindy Woodsmall – www.cindywoodsmall.com
Dineen Miller – www.dineenmiller.blogspot.com
Kim Woodhouse – http://kimberleywrites.blogspot.com
Lynette Sowell – http://myslicesoflife.blogspot.com/
Mindy Obenhaus – http://www.mindyobenhaus.blogspot.com/
Robin Caroll – www.robincaroll.com
A few tips I’ve learned in research. Okay, first—clues can be hidden in the forms of pictures, messages hidden within text. Once, I even saw white-on-white messages--easy to find when you use SELECT-ALL on a page. Wicked kewl. Clues can be videos with clues or links. Keep your eyes open. If you need help deciphering a clue, contact me at ronie [at] roniekendig dot com and I’ll do my best to help.
Reece insists that all the clues are out there; we just have to figure out how to put them together. Below are a half-dozen websites/blogs. Some have information; some don’t. Find the clue. Return to base (this blog). Comment in the comment section (all posts are moderated and will be held till we are certain Julia is still safe (IOW: so one person doesn’t do all the work)). Due to the severity of the situation, I will post each day to update everyone—and to let you know I’m still alive . . . hopefully.
To all who participate in the mission to save Julia, Here are the rewards:
- WINNER WHO SAVES JULIA first: An iPod Nano, 2 autographed copies of Dead Reckoning (one for you, one to share, and so you can read all about Shiloh and Reece and see that I did my best to do them justice), a sari from India, an assortment of treats from India.
- FIRST RUNNER UP: A sari, an autographed copy of Dead Reckoning, tastes of India and a trinket.
- 5 Second-place runners up: A copy of Dead Reckoning, a trinket from India.
The winner will be determined by overall participation (that the person has gathered all the clues and returned to base with proof) and the earliest time-stamp on the comment placed at SupernaturalCraving that provides the final clue.
I am waiting for Reece to share the email with me. I'm sure he's going to do everything he can before he sends us something for help. Until we get that clue (he promises me it will be later today), please be sure to login (leave your name in the comments) and let us know you're joining Mission:Julia to help find and save his sister. I'm sure that will go a long way in helping us gain his trust.
please note: this MISSION: JULIA (M:J) is entirely based upon a work of fiction, a novel entitled Dead Reckoning written by Ronie Kendig; no lives are in jeopardy, but if you thought so—imagine how awesome Dead Reckoning will read!
DEAD RECKONING RELEASED TODAY!!! BUY YOUR COPY NOW!!!
Can you believe it? I can't. There are only five days left before the release of my debut title, DEAD RECKONING!! It's been a long, crazy ride to this point. Above, you can see the print sample Abingdon Fed-Exed to me this week. What a thrill sliding this copy out of the envelope. ZOWIE! Nothing like that.
It also made me acutely aware of what--and who--it took to get Dead Reckoning published and in my hot little (okay, maybe not so little) hand. Encouragement from my husband to seek publication, my awesome agent Steve Laube, my friends and critique partners, an editor--the incredible Barbara Scott--who caught the vision for Dead Reckoning, believed in me and the story, and was willing to take a risk on a new/unpublished author, then the copyeditor, the marketing, publicity, the ... so many others. WOW!
THANK YOU to all who've had a part in bringing this book to life. Monday, I'm doing an online launch party. Check back for a chance to win a prize package!! YAY!!!
Did you get a chance to read about my beautiful friend, Robin Caroll? Be sure to read the post and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of her book!
Yesterday, a new friend, Sherry Kuhn, pointed out that NIGHTSHADE had shown up on CBD.com I was thrilled to see it up there. Take a moment for a peek at the cover, then let me know what you think! And hey--if you're one of the rare few who've read this book already, I'd appreciate it if you left a review. :-)
Hey, have you been wanting to read Dead Reckoning, and waiting for its release (a mere three weeks away!!) is agony? Well, guess what? You've got the chance to read two more chapters!! That's right--my amazing friend, Bonnie Calhoun, emailed and told me that Abingdon had made a widget for Dead Reckoning with its cover and first three chapters!
Here's an image of the cover flat. Gorgeous, isn't it?? They did an absolutely fabulous job. I love it!!
Okay, I had to share this review with y'all--it's the first that's come since the ARCs went out. Revel in the moment with me, please! :-D
I just had to write to tell you what a FANTASTIC book you've written. I lov
ed how it held my interest from beginning to end. I told myself one chapter a night, and it was so hard to stop reading at just one chapter. I was impressed with how you kept the story moving, as the romance began to unfold. Most books of this nature tend to forget to keep the story going once the romance hits and focuses solely on the romance, I find that annoying. I loved the spy aspect and found myself visualizing every scene as though I was watching an action-packed movie. Such a great read!
~Alyice Edrich
Freelance Writer & Artist
Aha!! I just got an update from this fabulous writer/artist (I'm biased now, I know...) but she has put up a "teaser review" on her site. Check it out: http://thedabblingmum.blogspot.com/2009/11/dead-reckoning.html
Okay, yep, I'm jumping up and down, and dancing! My book, DEAD RECKONING, is up on Amazon now. I'm soooo excited. This really made it feel real (wonder how many "this made it feel real" it will take to make this REAL to me LOL).
So...you can PRE-order it now at Cokesbury (40% off!), Amazon, and CBD.com!! Of course, we'll have a big push on the March 1, 2010 release date to see if we can't skyrocket through the ranks.
BookPreview is doing my trailer, and I am anxiously awaiting that. Stay tuned so I can share it with you when they're finished. You *have* seen some of their trailers, right? I think they're top-notch.
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In other writing business, I'm working steadily on my new military series, since DR is heading toward the ARC (yay!). Book 1, NIGHTSHADE, is written and I have an awesome guy combing through it for military-related errors (yeah...it's painful, but good. Anything that makes the story stronger/better, ya know?). Interspersed with the editing, I'm working on book 2, DIGITALIS. That book...it's daunting. Of course, so was book 1 since Max was so intense.
Oh, oh, oh! I want to share with y'all the awesome Nightshade emblem my husband's best friend designed for us. He did such an awesome job that Barbour is going to use the emblem on the cover. YAY!!! Here it is.
What do you think? I am so impressed!!
Check it out, y'all! My spy thriller DEAD RECKONING (March 2010) is now available for Pre-Order from Cokesbury, a partner with Abingdon Press. Below is the text of the back cover copy:
Dead Reckoning is the story of a young woman anxious to abandon the crushing effects of her father’s espionage career only to find herself tangled in the very web of mystery and intrigue that consumed his life.
Who is he? How is he always one step ahead?
Reece Jaxon is a former Navy SEAL, who now serves his country as a spy. His mission is threatened by the beguiling Shiloh Blake as he hunts down the sources to a nuclear dead drop in the Arabian Sea. The only way to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is for Shiloh to join forces with Reece. Will Shiloh violate her vow to never become a spy like her father?
Will she reconcile with her father? Will her trust issues destroy her chance for love? And will she allow God to help her through this ordeal?
First...I'm just stoked that the book is showing up on sites. HOW KEWL!!
But to realize you can actually get in line to order it right now makes me giddy.
By pre-ordering, you save FORTY percent off the cover price. That's just $8.49!!! How awesome! (okay, why did that sound like a cheesy late-night infomercial--my book is way kewler than that! LOL)
PREORDER DEAD RECKONING HERE!!
Yea!! I'm so thrilled to share with everyone the cover for my spy thriller Dead Reckoning to be released March 2010 from Abingdon Press. I'm so pleased with how the design team captured the heart of my story and translated that into the cover, but of course, they couldn't have done that without the lead of the fabulous Barbara Scott, acquiring editor for Abingdon Press. (THANK YOU, BARBARA!!! YOU'RE AWESOME!!)
in the middle of an international nuclear arms clash, she is forced to flee for her life
into the streets of Mumbai, India. Is the man trailing her an enemy,
or is he sent by her CIA father to protect her? Whoever he is, the only way
to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is to
join forces with former US Navy SEAL Reece Jaxon.
Leave a comment and tell me what you think! I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I can't believe we're launching 2009 already! How on earth did that happen so fast? It seems only yesterday...Okay, okay. I'll spare you the boring details. You know the gig. :-D But i do want to take a moment to reflect on this amazing year. In November of 2007, I felt that 2008 would be a "year of promise." And it was!
- Brian got a great new job that helped get us back on our feet both financially and emotionally (nothing like feeling like major losers after six years of financially struggling and battling to get your life "back," only to have your feet swiped out from under you again).
- We moved back to the metroplex and found a beautiful new home to rent. God closed the doors to purchasing a home, but we are hopeful that in 2009 we can realize that dream.
- And also this summer, my awesome agent Steve Laube negotiated my first book contract. I am so delighted to be a part of the Abingdon Press fiction line and working with Barbara Scott, the awesome acquiring editor. I am so blessed! Watch for the book cover sometime in the next couple of months!
As Ryan indicates with his thumbs-up, 2008 was a good year, overall. So...here we are. On the eve of 2009. And what do I feel God saying about the coming year? Well, I think He's saying its' a Year of Jubilation. when I shared that with Brian, he reminded me of the Jewish tradition of the Year of Jubilee--the slaves are set free and debts are forgiven. I am excited and thrilled to see how God will work in our lives over this next year. My deepest prayer is to be a conduit that funnels all attention and glory to HIM!In the next month, I will post several reviews (sorry, I got really far behind when I brought my twins back home to school them here). There's a ton of great, clean fiction out there--so watch for the reviews to know what to check out.
Before I hop off and get back to the insanity, I wanted to make you aware of a free MP3 download as part of a promotion in conjunction with one of my favorite bands, Kutless. Here's the information:
A free Kutless MP3 is being given away at Bible Study Magazine. They are also having a contest to win cool Kutless gear and Logos Bible Software. Go check it out!
