Craving the Supernatural

My awesome agent, Steve Laube, was nominated and selected as one of three finalists for the 2009 ACFW Agent of the Year!! This year, they revamped the judging and scoring process, so this is a big feat. Huge applause for my rockin agent!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, AGENT-MAN!!!!

First, I have to admit that I didn't want to post.

Why, you ask?

Because...I don't want anyone to forget about BFF Sara Mills and her new journey. So, if you're stopping by for the first time in a while, please take a moment and read the previous post about how you can help my sweet, crazy, Canadian friend.

Okay--well, my biggest point for today is that I've got an article posted over at NovelJourney on Psychology in Writing. It's a subject near and dear to my heart since that's what I earned my bachelor's degree in (and hope to get my master's in some day!). I'm not a psychologist, but I believe God gifted me with understanding people, something I believe translates strongly in my writing. So hope on over there and check it out!

And this is just something I gotta share. Mother's Day is coming up, and yeah...we've had a ton of family drama (I'm learning that I've become the "strict" mother whose children are ready to ditch the nest...*sigh* Yeah, I need some ointment for that "burn"!), but it was so kewl when my mother-in-law emailed me the other day. They're celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary with a cruise of the Greek Isles (MAJOR DROOL here, right?!?!?!?).

And guess what my precious MIL requested for Mother's Day--a printed and autographed copy of the Dead Reckoning manuscript(my book that will be released in 2010 by Abingdon Press) to take on the cruise with her and read. HOW KEWL and humbling is that?!?!?

Seriously, it put me to tears. It also scares me. LOL What if she reads it and hates it--or hates ME! (okay, I know that's irrational, but hey, I can't help it.) In reality, this is a good preamble to the reaction of readers at large. I'm nervous, but excited!

It's with a very heavy heart that I blog today. My best bud, Laube Sister (we have the same agent, Steve Laube), and business partner, Sara Mills, has been dealt a blow--her wonderful husband, Keith, died April 7, 2009 from a massive heart attack. I'd do anything for my beautiful friend and her precious children not to have to go through this, for Keith to be back full of life, laughter, and love.


Keith, I am so sorry we never met but thank you for what you did for your family, for my best friend. Thank you for loving Sara so completely. For all the nights I kept her up laughing and giggling...thank you for laughing right along. What a gift you were! Thank you.



Sara so didn't deserve this (I know that sounds lame, but that's what keeps rolling through my head!). Words fail me at a time like this. I keep wanting someone to wake me up and say it's not real, that Sara is just pulling a fast one on me. But it is real. Isaiah, Laura, and Julia are without their father. Sara is without the man she loves.


So grieved by our friend's loss, many of us are doing a blog tour to show our support and love for Sara. This isn't an attempt to trivialize Keith's death--I'd actually think he'd be thrilled to see so many throwing their support behind his beloved wife and the mother of his children.


So, if you haven't heard, Sara writes fabulous mysteries. Her books, Miss Fortune and Miss Match (released through Moody Press) are on shelves NOW! Miss Match, as a matter of fact, just released.

Please, take this opportunity to support a friend, a writer, a grieving family and order a copy of Sara's books! Visit her website or drop by Facebook and befriend her!

Miss Fortune, Allie Fortune Mystery Series #1

By Sara Mills / Moody Publishers

In 1947 Allie Fortune is the only female private investigator in New York City, but she's kept awake at night by a mystery of her own: her fianci disappeared in the war and no one knows if he's still alive. Until Allie finds out, she will have no peace. When there's a knock on her office door at four in the morning, Allie suspects trouble as usual, and Mary Gordon is no exception. Mary claims someone is following her, that her apartment has been ransacked, and that she's been shot at, but she has no idea why any of this is happening. Allie takes the case, and in the process discovers an international mystery that puts her own life in danger.Meanwhile, the FBI is working the case as well, and she is partnered up with an attractive, single agent who would be perfect for her under other circumstances-if only she knew whether her fiancee was still alive.



Miss Match, Allie Fortune Mystery Series #2

By Sara Mills / Moody Publishers


FBI agent Jack O'Connor receives a letter from Maggie, a woman he used to love, saying she's in trouble in Berlin. The FBI refuses to get involved, so Jack asks Allie Fortune to help him investigate. Allie and Jack pose as a missionary couple who want to bring orphans back to the United States. A child finds important documents that everyone in the city - Soviets and allies alike - want for themselves. Maggie refuses to tell Jack what the documents are, saying if things go wrong, they are better off not knowing. Through the course of the search, Allie's past is brought back to her, half a world away from home.


Sara...I'm so sorry, girlie. I know things aren't shiny right now...but I am praying for a bright future for you and your family. I love you.

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!!)

Hey, everyone! A thrilling announcement: I've been invited to join the NovelJourney blog as a monthly columnist. This is a humbling honor for me. My posts will be the first Monday of each month--so be sure to bookmark this site, if you haven't already, and come back to visit!

Please take a moment to check it out:

http://noveljourney.blogspot.com

Well, as I said in an earlier post, I'm a tad behind in getting reviews done. My apologies to the authors whose wonderful books I've had the pleasure of reading. Now...on to the review...

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DiAnn Mills has crafted a fascinating tale of intrigue with Breach of Trust. I am so pleased to review a book by a lady I admire and respect. DiAnn Mills is an accomplished and award-winning author of umpteen-million books. LOL No, seriously. She’s written many, and I’ve greatly admired her efforts to bring attention and help to the Sudanese. To me, *this* is what writing is all about—making an impact!

Paige Rogers survived every CIA operative’s worst nightmare.

A covert mission gone terribly wrong.

A betrayal by the one man she thought she could trust.

Forced to disappear to protect the lives of her loved ones, Paige has spent the last several years building a quiet life as a small-town librarian. But the day a stranger comes to town and starts asking questions, Paige knows her careful existence has been shattered.

He is coming after her again. And this time, he intends to silence her for good.

Since I write spy stories, I was especially excited to review DiAnn’s Breach of Trust because the heroine, Paige Rogers (is that really her name?) is a former CIA agent now operating as a small-town librarian (what a cover. . .book covers. . . get it? Okay, okay, lame joke.).

This morning in my Bible study, I came upon a phrase regarding King David: TENACIOUS BELIEF. David knew that God had called him out, anointed him to be king, and even though he had every right to defend himself against Saul, who tracked and hunted him down to kill him, David had a tenacious belief in honoring and respecting God, in the fact that God *had* called him to be king, even though the time had not come yet.

I believe we all need to cling to David's attitude here. So many of us have dreams and goals, maybe even promises we feel God has given us that have not come through yet. Don't go after them, crashing through doors God has closed. In His time, all things are beautiful and perfect.

With that thoughts in mind, I'm going to have TENACIOUS BELIEF for the goals I believe God has settled into him heart for 2009. Admittedly, I hesitated posting these, not wanting to look like a dork if they dont' happen. But if we don't try, we can't succeed, right? So without further ado, here is my 2009 TENACIOUS BELIEF list (in no particular order):

1. To *buy* a home for our family. We've rented for six years, and we're all ready to be in a home of our own, one we can decorate and make our own.
   
2. A new vehicle - our 13-year old Expedition is on it's last leg, poor thing. We will need a new used vehicle.
   
3. To write as God leads. Last yeart, I unwittingly attempted to "take control" by deciding that I could make money at this. It's not necessarily a bad thing. I just didn't seek God's will. And my writing shut down. Hopefully, I learned my lesson from that. I want to write to honor Him, not fatten my bank account. :-D (although, that is certainly a nice benefit )
4. Grow my craft - I want to become a better, stronger writer. There's always room to grow!
5. To organize family photos, make digital copies, make duplicates, and return the photos borrowed from my aunt in Ireland.
   
6. Be a help to others in their writing. I didn't get here on my own, so I want to be a blessing to my fellow writers.
   
7. Dig deeper into God's word. I got an archeological study Bible, and I want to use that to help me understand the people/times of which I'm reading.
   
8. To return to my tenacity and consistency in writing every day!
   
9. To pull off the 'best yet" ACFW Book of the Year contest.
   
10. To honor God in all that I do and say.
11. Prayerfully consider adoption...well, I've been prayerfully considering it for years. But to seek God to see if this is the right year.
    

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!
  

Howdy, folks!! Well, I have the delight today of lending my blog to my daughter Kira so she can review a book (yes, this review is WAY overdue...shame on both of us). So, without further ado, here is my daughter.


Back cover blurb: When the mysterious Jesmet, whom the authorities brand as a Magician of the Old Order, begins to connect with Orianon, he is banished forever to the shadowside of their planet Corista.

Kira here: I liked Trion Rising because it is like what Jesus went through with all those who hated him and when he was crucified, except with a futuristic twist to it. Robert Elmer is an amazing writing as well, trapping you in the story.

One of my favorite things in the book is a little earpiece that two people have and can hear each others thoughts, but only the thoughts that you want each other to hear.

I would recommend this book to people who love sci-fi and want a story with excitement, adventure, and a teenage girl who remembers everything she sees and hears.




Ronie here -- Wow, I am a proud Mom! Didn't my daughter do a great review. She really enjoyed this book--so much that she could recall the details from many months ago (I alluded to the fact that we're "late" posting this review). LOL Kira has already said she's looking forward to the next book! YAY!

From September 17-21, 2008, more than five hundred writers, agents, and editors converged on the Sheraton Bloomington in Minneapolis, MN for the American Christian Fiction Writers annual conference. I worked throughout the conference in a few different capacities, but it was still a superb time! I met with the incredible Barbara Scott, my editor (hey! I actually have an editor now!!) from Abingdon Press. In all honesty, I didn't expect her to remember much about my story since I knew she was working on the macros for multiple other books at the moment. But she had an uncanny recall! And it was so clear to me that she caught the vision and passion for Dead Reckoning. I'm absolutely amazed and even more thrilled now about working with her!

Here are some photos from the conference. Hope you enjoy them--they'll keep me smiling for years to come.

Me presenting during the Book of the Year Awards













Me and awesome friend Sara Mills














Me and my fabo Agent-Man, Steve Laube












Me with Robin and her boas (yes, there is a story behind that, and no, we're not telling. LOL)












Me with "big brother" John Olson...he was humming (im)patiently while Dineen lined up the photo *just right*...I couldn't stop laughing.













Me with the amazing Sharon Hinck!











I'll have more photos later. First, have to get caught up on schtuff. :-D

Today, I'm delighted to promote Lena Nelson Dooley, Tamela Hancock Murray, Susan Page Davis, and Darlene Franklin for the release of their new anthology, Snowbound Colorado Christmas. I know two of these ladies, and I have to say they're both very talented and sweet women!

What is the name of your novella, and where in the collection does it occur?

Tamela: My novella is FIRES OF LOVE, and takes place first.


I know that working on a collection that weaves together takes a lot of work. How did your team schedule the work?

Lena: Working with this team was a joy. We set out our various storylines. Tamela’s and mine were more closely connected, so we had to work more closely together. That wasn’t a problem for me, because I really like Tamela, and we both wanted the best story possible. So we ironed out any inconsistencies rather well.


When you aren’t writing or spending time with your family, what is your favorite activity?

Susan: I love to travel and have recently been able to do a fair amount of that on business. My three sisters and I also take a trip together, known as Sister Week, once a year. Last June we borrowed a beach house in Avalon, New Jersey for our getaway. My next excursion will be a week in Alaska to do research for some upcoming books.


What part of the country do you live it? And why do you like that part of the country?

Darlene: I’m the only one of the four of us fortunate enough to live in fabulous Colorado. Like Susan, I’m originally from Maine. After I left home, I felt restless and kept moving west (with stops in New Jersey, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma) until I arrived in Colorado. When I arrived here, I knew I had come home. The mountains do the same thing for my spirit that the ocean used to. Because my story is set at Denver’s Brown Palace, Mom and I treated ourselves to a weekend stay during last year’s Christmas season. As I said, how I “suffer” for my art! A beautiful, fabulous place.

Bios:

A native Virginian, Tamela Hancock Murray has been writing all her life. She interned on Capitol Hill and at the U.S. Department of State before graduating with honors in Journalism from Lynchburg College in Virginia.
An award-winning, bestselling author, Tamela has over 20 fiction and nonfiction books to her credit. Upcoming releases include LOVE FINDS YOU IN MAIDEN, NORTH CAROLINA, and THE MASTER'S MATCH. She has discussed her work on radio and television. Her professional affiliations include Trois Riviere Fiction Writers and American Christian Fiction Writers. Tamela enjoys being an agent with Hartline Literary Agency, and she takes turns with her fellow agents writing a column for Christian Fiction Online Magazine http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/.
When she's not writing, Tamela spends wonderful times with her husband and their two daughters, as well as extended family and friends.

Lena Nelson Dooley holds a BA in Speech and Drama, and she completed many graduate hours as well. She has served as a drama director for several churches. In addition, she has been the administrative assistant to two different pastors.
Snowbound Colorado Christmas is her 18th book release. Four more books will release in 2009. She is often a speaker at women’s events, writers’ meetings, and conferences. She’s an award-winning, bestselling author. At present she serves as vice-president of DFW Ready Writers, the local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She has a website, http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/ . In the monthly newsletter, she gives away copies of her books and features reviews of her recent reads as well as what’s new that month in Christian publishing. Her blog, http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/ , is popular with readers, because she promotes authors and their most recent works.

Susan Page Davis is the author of ten historical novels, six romantic suspense, and two young adult books. She has co-authored a cozy mystery series with her daughter, Megan Elaine Davis. Susan’s historicals have won awards in the Book of the Year and Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contests. She’s a homeschooling mother of six and grandmother of five. She and her husband Jim live in Maine, where Jim is a news editor.

Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin resides in the Colorado foothills with her mother and her Lynx Point Siamese cat Talia. She is the mother of two children. Her daughter has gone ahead of her to glory; her son lives in Oklahoma with his family. She loves music, reading, and writing. She is the author of five novels, and has contributed more than 150 articles to numerous magazines, anthologies, and devotionals. She has also written curriculum for children’s Sunday school.

Hey, y'all! Come on over and visit me at Kaye Dacus's blog today where I share about Spiritual Salves to Hot Spots during conference:

http://kayedacus.com/

Hey, y'all! Come on over to Seekerville and visit me while we talk about contest Aftermath!!

http://seekerville.blogspot.com/

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Okay, so I've been offered a contract by Barbara Scott with Abingdon Press (have I mentioned lately how thrilled I am??), and I already know they are working (or maybe that's done at this point) on setting up their outlets, like Amazon, etc. But one thing that has me a tad ... um... curious is what graphic designer or designers they will have. So...in light of my curiosity, I thought I'd post a copule of covers that have piqued my interest lately:

1. Shadow of Colossus by TL Higley -- ABsolutely love the cover. The colors are soothing and pleasant. The image of Colossus's foot gives it a powerful nudge. And the woman is just beautiful.

2. Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet - I love teh dichotomy of this cover. The title mentions color, yet it's almost a monochromatic scheme, with the only true hints

of color coming from the overcloak on the heroine. Very intriguing and mysterious.

3. Miss Fortune by Sara Mills - this book is releasing next week, and I think the cover is absolutely perfect for the genre and era of this book.




Wow, I realized I could go on and on listing book covers. And my favorite graphic designer, Dineen Miller, has such a knack for stuff like this (see my header on my website!!). LOL What about you? What covers have gripped you lately?

Hey, everyone! Hope you're having a great week! Our kids start school next week, and I'm looking forward to everyone being in a solid routine again.

It is with trembling and shaking that I review this next book. My big brother and friend, John Olson, has Shade releasing next month! John's latest masterpiece is a work that is creepily chillifying! Doctors say Hailey Maniates has paranoid schizophrenia. Melchi, the hero, warns her that what she's seeing is supernatural! I'm telling y'all--this is a story where you have to trust. You know the kind like Sixth Sense and The Others, where you have to just enjoy the ride...then again, is it safe enough to trust? Who knows what portals that trust might open. :-D


Here's the official blurb about Shade (coming Sept 08 from B&H):

Graduate student Hailey Maniates is injured as she tries to escape a waking nightmare. The doctors diagnose her as having paranoid schizophrenia and urge her to forget about the hallucinations, but she can’t rest. Too many unsolved mysteries surround the attacks. First and most perplexing is the giant homeless man who rescued her. He seemed convinced that some kind of Gypsy vampire is pursuing both of them. Is he suffering from the same condition she has?
Against all reason, Hailey finds herself becoming more and more attracted to this strange young man. But can she trust her feelings? What if they’re part of her delusion? What if the vampire is real after all? What if the homeless man is the vampire?


Look what John had to say about his first writer's conference and this book:

I am *so* thrilled to tell y'all that my awesome friend and crit partner, Lisa Harris, has her first book with Steeple Hill's Love Inspired Suspense coming out in Septmeber. Final Deposit is a fabulously unique story, and I absolutely love the way Lisa weaves this story together. Here is a blurb of the book:

In 2006, the Internet Crime Report showed growing criminal activities targeting Americans had resulted in an estimated loss of almost two hundred million dollars. Thousands of people were scammed in such infamous con games like the Nigerian scam, fund transfer scams, and mail-order-brides.

Imagine finding out that your father has fallen victim to one of these long cons. After disposing of all his stocks, mortgaging his house, and maxing out his credit cards, George Taylor flies to Europe to meet with the man who promised him millions for his help in expediting funds out of West Africa. It’s a fortune he will never see.

When Lindsey Taylor tries to save her father from losing his life savings to the Internet scam, she discovers that losing everything you have isn’t the worst thing that can happen.