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Camy Tang Podcast
2008-10-01 14:13:00
Tyora Moody posted a podcast with this month's FIRST author Camy Tang . For more info, check it out here.

FIRST: Single Sashimi by Camy Tang
2008-10-01 14:07:00
I read this book as well as Camy's first book Single Sashimi? and I LOVED both of them. She may write "romance with a kick of wasabi" but there's a lot of fun and humor in there also. A definite MUST ADD to your TBR pile. It is time for the FIRST Blog Tour! On the FIRST day of every month we feature an author and his/her latest book's FIRST chapter!The feature author is: Camy Tang and her book: Single SashimiZondervan (September 1, 2008) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Camy Tang is a FIRST Family Member! She also is a moderator for FIRST Wild Card Tours. She is a loud Asian chick who writes loud Asian chick-lit. She grew up in Hawaii, but now lives in San Jose, California, with her engineer husband and rambunctious poi-dog. In a previous life she was a biologist researcher, but these days she is surgically attached to her computer, writing full-time. In her spare time, she is a staff worker for her church youth group, and she leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. Sushi for One? (Su...

TEENFIRST: All About Us
2008-09-21 08:32:00
My daughter read this book and (hopefully) she'll be posting her thoughts on it later this week. It's the 21st, time for the Teen FIRST blog tour!(Join our alliance! Click the button!) Every 21st, we will feature an author and his/her latest Teen fiction book's FIRST chapter!Shelley Adinaand her books: It's All About Us: A Novel FaithWords (May 12, 2008)andThe Fruit of My Lipstick (All About Us Series, Book 2) FaithWords (August 11, 2008)Plus a Tiffany's Bracelet Giveaway! Go to Camy Tang's Blog and leave a comment on the Teen FIRST All About Us Tour and you will be placed into a drawing for a bracelet that looks similar to the picture below. But the winning FaithWords Tiffany's bracelet will be a double heart charm. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shelley Adina is a world traveler and pop culture junkie with an incurable addiction to designer handbags. She knows the value of a relationship with a gracious God and loving Christian friends, and she's inviting today's teenage girls to jo...

FIRST: The Summer The Wind Whispered My Name
2008-09-02 07:19:00
It is time for the FIRST Blog Tour! On the FIRST day of every month we feature an author and his/her latest book's FIRST chapter!The feature author is: Don Lockeand his book: The Summer the Wind Whispered My NameNavPress Publishing Group (August 2008) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Don Locke is an illustrator and graphic artist for NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno and has worked as a freelance writer and illustrator for more than thirty years. He lives in Southern California with his wife, Susan. The Summer the Wind Whispered My Name, prequel to The Reluctant Journey of David Connors, is Don's second novel.Product Details:List Price: $12.99 Paperback: 355 pages Publisher: NavPress Publishing Group (August 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1600061532 ISBN-13: 978-1600061530 AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER: PrefaceUntil recently my early childhood memories weren?t readily available for recollection. Call it a defective hard drive. They remained a mystery and a void?a midwestern landscape of never...

FIRST: Mile In My Flip-Flops
2008-07-01 14:49:00
It is July FIRST, time for the FIRST Blog Tour! (Join our alliance! Click the button!) The FIRST day of every month we will feature an author and her latest book's FIRST chapter!The feature author is: Melody Carlsonand her book: A Mile in My Flip -FlopsWaterBrook Press (June 17, 2008)ABOUT THE AUTHOR: In sixth grade, Melody Carlson helped start a school newspaper called The BuccaNews (her school?s mascot was a Buccaneer...arrr!). As editor of this paper, she wrote most of the material herself, creating goofy phony bylines to hide the fact that the school newspaper was mostly a "one man" show.Visit Melody's website to see all of her wonderful and various book titles.Don't miss her latest teen fiction, Stealing Bradford (Carter House Girls, Book 2).Product Details:List Price: $13.99Paperback: 336 pagesPublisher: WaterBrook Press (June 17, 2008)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1400073146ISBN-13: 978-1400073146AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER: I?m not the kind of girl who wants anyone to feel sor...
More About: Flip-flops

A Treasure Hunt
2008-04-11 06:01:00
In May, one of the books the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Book Club will be reading is A Soldier's Family by Cheryl Wyatt. Cheryl is a wonderfully talented writer, but I may be slightly biased since she's been in my crit group, with the other ladies posting blogs for this treasure hunt (Pammer, Syn, Dream), for several years now. She's a great friend even though we've never really "met."So, since we're reading Cheryl's latest book, we're giving away some free books. For this giveaway, we're having a treasure hunt. Four questions were posted to the Book Club and on Wednesday, I'll draw a name from everyone who got the correct answers and sent them in. ALL members of the book club are eligible. Joining the book club is easy and FREE! Simply send an blank email here!When I first met her, Cheryl liked to write suspense novels, but she sold her first book to Steeple Hill's Love Inspired line. Her first sale was quickly followed by a second! Her first book, A Soldie...
More About: Hunt , Treasure

Blocked at every turn!
2008-04-03 18:34:00
I’ve sat in front of my computer with a blank page and a project I’m working on and nothing happens. No words. No ideas. No thoughts. Nothing. I used to have story ideas floating around in my head all day every day. But lately, I’m stuck. Not sure if it’s the move, stressed from life or getting the rejection on Sarah’s Hope from Steeple Hill, but lately I have nothing to write.  
More About: Turn

Big or Little - Does it really matter?
2008-03-27 14:23:00
I guess it depends on what you're looking for.For over thirty years I lived in a large city. Lots of things to do, stores open all night, plenty of choices for shopping, lots of traffic. Now, I live in a small town - one red light, two grocery stores, one pharmacy, one movie theatre with one screen, and the sidewalks roll up by 9 PM. But you know what, I'm thinking the small town wins out. The people who don't know you are more freindly. A very nice lady I'd only met in the hardware store helped us get a house to rent. Another guy, the first time we met him gave (not sold) us a stove. Sure, I can't just run down to the corner Wal-Mart and grab a gallon of milk at midnight, but I also don't have to drive thirty minutes and go through a dozen traffic stops to get to the bank.I said all of that to get to this point, the next time you feel God leading you in a direction you really don't want to go, or you're not completely sure about, remember, He sees the whole picture and you ...
More About: Matter

Settling In
2008-03-07 04:52:00
Well, we're here. The house we were supposed to get into wasn't ready, so we had to scramble to find another one. But, after making what seemed like a hundred phone calls each day for almost a week, we got a phone call from a gentleman who said he had a house for us. Turns out he wasn't one of the calls I'd made, but someone else had referred us to him from a card we posted at the hardware store. Definitely God's hand working things out. It's a great house and we were able to get a refrigerator at a REALLY good price. Now we're just on the lookout for a stove and washer.So, we've been here almost three weeks and we're getting settled in. Then, we got another shock. We got up Monday morning and everything was WHITE! Only an inch or so and it melted before noon, but still the kids had fun. Okay, if I'm honest, so did I. Then, today it started snowing again. More this time around, so we were all back outside enjoying it again. Check out the slideshow below to see how much fun...

Sometimes It's Hard
2008-02-08 18:57:00
st1:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } Following God. If you had told me last year that I’d be moving out of Jacksonville, I’d have said you were crazy. But, on February 10th, not only will my family and I pull out of Jacksonville, but we’ll leave Florida and move to Hugo, Oklahoma. Once there, we’ll be helping his dad who is the pastor of a church in Antlers, Oklahoma.   I’ve always lived in Jacksonville. With the exception of a couple of years, I’ve lived within 10 or 15 miles of the first house I ever lived in. Most of my family lives here. I’d never considered moving. Not because we are such a close family that we can’t imagine moving away from each other, but because it was comfortable. Over the last year or so things have happened and I catch myself asking God, “Why are You letting this happen to me? I’m doing what You want me to. I’m serving You. Why aren’t You stopping all of this?̶...
More About: Hard

Looking For A Good Read?
2008-02-01 05:04:00
Check out these new releases!1. A Passion Most Pure, Book 1 of the Daughter of Boston Series by Julie Lessman from Baker Publishing Group, Revell. Rival sisters with strong faith--one in God, the other in herself--turn the head of a heart breaker who proposes to one and falls in love with the other.2. A Whisper of Freedom, Book 3 in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series by Tricia Goyer from Moody Publishers. In the exciting third book in the Chronicles of The Spanish Civil War series, the characters we've come to love are in greater danger and yet filled with greater hope than ever before.3. Awaken My Heart by DiAnn Mills from Avon Inspire. When mestizos kidnap Marianne Phillips, they hope that her wealthy Texas rancher father will trade land for her freedom.4. Bayou Corruption, Book #2 in the Bayou Series by Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll from Steeple Hill, Love Inspired Suspense. Alyssa LeBlanc returns to Louisiana, almost running over a body. She works to expose c...
More About: Read , Good

It's Finally Here - Cheryl Wyatt's Debut Book!
2008-01-30 15:31:00
DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR A FREE COPY OF A SOLDIER'S PROMISE! I'LL DRAW A NAME ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2008! BACK COVER BLURB"My name's Bradley. I'm eight and have cancer. I want to meet a Special Forces soldier more than anything. Well, almost anything. Having a family would be nice."U.S. Air Force pararescue jumper Joel Montgomery promised to make a sick child's wish come true. Well, not the family part?not with Joel's past. And so despite vowing never to set foot back in Refuge, Illinois, Joel parachuted onto the boy's school lawn to a huge smile. But another smile unexpectedly stole Joel's heart: that of Bradley's beautiful teacher, Amber Stanton, who was trying to adopt the boy. And trying to show Joel it was time for new vows.I?ve been waiting for this for so long! Cheryl Wyatt is the first in our crit group to be published and it?s so exciting. Her debut book was a Romantic Times Top Pick! Here?s what they said:"Cheryl Wyatt infuses A S...
More About: Book , Finally , Debut

Moving And Everything's Gotta' Go!
2008-01-28 15:04:00
st1:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } I’m moving to Hugo, Oklahoma – a small town near the Texas border. Unfortunately, my books aren’t coming with me, so I’m selling them all for the unbelievable price of $.50 each plus shipping. So, if you’re interested in inspirational fiction (especially romance) check out my website for a list of the books available.  
More About: Moving , Gotta

Praise and a Call To Prayer
2007-12-10 05:07:00
Hi! Kristy Dykes blogged! She’s been having problems with her reading and writing, but she was able sit at her computer yesterday and type out a blog post. You can read it here.   Her husband is asking everyone to say a special prayer at 3:30 EST Monday. Kristy will begin her radiation treatments at that time. His idea is that while she is being bombarded by the radiation treatments, she’ll also be bombarded by prayers. So, if you can, say a prayer for Kristy at 3:30 EST Monday afternoon.  
More About: Prayer , Praise , Call

The Hard Things
2007-11-24 14:50:00
Parenting can be hard. You want to spare your child as much pain as possible, but unless they make mistakes of their own, they won’t learn. You want to give your child everything you didn’t have, but unless they earn some of it themselves, they’ll never understand the value of hard work or a hard-earned dollar.   Sometimes writing is hard. I was plugging away on Emily’s Faith. I hit a good stride and was adding to the story every day, but now it seems like writing one word is like pulling teeth. I just can’t come up with anything.   Waiting is hard. I sent a full ms of Sarah’s Hope into Steeple Hill earlier this year. I know it takes a while to hear back on a full, but still waiting is hard. I keep coming up with questions. What if they don’t like it? If they don’t like it, what do I do with it? And, what do I do with the follow-up stories for it? Am I really cut out for this writing thing? What if I’m not?  ...
More About: Hard , Things

Happy Thanksgiving!
2007-11-22 19:26:00
st1:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } As we sit around our tables today enjoying Turkey and all the trimmings, remember those who are away from their loved ones today. The police officers and firefighters who are on duty protecting us and keeping us safe. The soldiers here and around the world protecting our freedoms. The missionaries spreading the gospel to those who’ve never heard.   This past Saturday, as I was getting ready to prepare the bulletins for Sunday’s service, I did a search for a Thanksgiving poem to include in the bulletin. I found several poems and stories, but nothing was quite what I was looking for. Then, God put these words on my heart and I wrote them down. I included them in the bulletin Sunday and posted them here earlier this week, but I’m posting them again. I hope they touch your heart as they did mine.   BE THANKFUL By: Michelle D. Rodgers   Be thankful for the valley, It means you’ve just com...
More About: Happy , Hank

What A Difference A Day Makes
2007-11-19 15:25:00
I have a friend I’ve only met online. Her name is Kristy Dykes and she’s a writer who lives here in the same town I do. On Monday, November 5th, her blog title was Weather’s Nice in Florida. On Wednesday, November 7th, her blog title was My Brain Tumor. Such a big difference in only two days. I’ve been following her blog and her attitude amazes me. She has been through surgery, and her husband is now blogging for her. If you get a chance, you really should check out her blog – Christian Love Stories.   But, the reason for this posting is Kristy’s friends at the American Christian Fiction Writers are putting together a prayer chain. Kristy’s tumor has been removed and they’ve said it was malignant. We’d like to get people praying for her around the clock. So, if you’re interested, please email Tracy Ruckman to be added to the list.   God can and does heal people, and the power of prayer is amazing!  
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Be Thankful
2007-11-18 13:53:00
Be thankful for the valley, It means you’ve just come off one mountain and are heading towards another. Be thankful for illnesses, Without them good health wouldn’t mean as much. Be thankful for the time with your loved one before God called them home, Those precious memories will be with you until you see them again. Be thankful for your family, even when they drive you crazy, Without them you’d be alone in this world. Be thankful for the lean times, They make the wealthy times that much sweeter. Be thankful for your sins, They’re why Christ died for us.    
More About: Hank

The Begotten and The Betrayed Winner!
2007-10-18 03:30:00
Congratulations to Vader?s Mom. She won a copy of Lisa Bergren?s The Begotten and The Restorer. Send me your mailing information by Sunday and I?ll get the book out to you. If I don?t hear from you by Sunday, I?ll draw a new name on Monday. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and to Lisa for the great books!
More About: Winner , Tray

Lisa Bergren's The Begotten and The Betrayed
2007-10-08 15:36:00
I was supposed to do this last month, but due to a move and loss of internet for nearly two weeks (MAJOR WITHDRAWS!!!), it?s just now getting up.ABOUT LISALisa Tawn Berg ren is the author of 28 books, with over 1.3 million sold. She is a publishing consultant, writer, Bible study leader, mother and wife. Her hobbies include travel (mostly from an armchair), reading, watching movies, cooking and exploring with her family. Lisa's most recent books include The Begotten, The Betrayed, God Gave Us Heaven, What Women Want and The Busy Mom's Devotional. She resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado. To sign up for her monthly email (which includes a new, unpublished devotional) go to www.LisaTawnBergren.com and join her newsletter list.ABOUT THE BOOKSThe year is 1339, and a secret a half millennium old is on the brink of being exposed.Centuries ago, Paul?s letters became part of the foundation of the Christian canon. Only a few know of another letter, potentially written by Paul. Kept secret ...
More About: Tray

Today We Remember
2007-09-11 23:57:00
Today we remember those people who climbed onto a plane, rode an elevator to work at their desk, walked into a building for a meeting, or simply decided to take a tour of a building and were killed by terrorists. Men, women and children from nearly every nation in the world who were simply doing what we do everyday. Traveling, working, eating. They left home not knowing they’d never see their loved ones again.   Today we remember their families who watched the TV in horror knowing their husbands, wives, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, and friends were on those planes and in those buildings.   Today we remember the brave men and women who walked into a burning building while everyone else was running out. Those whose jobs made a life and death difference for people every day and who knew doing their job could mean sacrificing their own life to save another.   On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people got up and went about the...
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Check Out These Great New Releases!
2007-09-02 14:29:00
Are you looking for a good book to read? Check out these new releases from some great authors! 1. A Big Apple Christmas by Vasthi Reyes Acosta, Gail Sattler, Lynette Sowell, and Carrie Turnasky from Barbour. A contemporary collection of four novellas that captures the sights and sounds of Christmas in New York City. 2. A Mommy In Mind, A Tiny Blessings Tale, Book 3 of 6 by Arlene James, from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A single woman trying to adopt an infant eventually realizes that the attorney behind a nightmarish custody suit is God's chosen mate for her. 3. A Shadow of Treason, 2nd book in The Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series by Tricia Goyer from Moody Publishers. Sophie must leave behind the man she loves and return to the person who betrayed her. Another layer of war in Spain is revealed and nothing is as it seems. 4. A Texas Legacy Christmas, Texas Legacy series Book 4 by DiAnn Mills from Barbour Publishing. Snuggle down between the covers of A Texas Christmas Leg...
More About: Great , These

In Case You're Wondering
2007-09-01 01:46:00
I am still here, but things have gotten a little busy and writing seems to have taken a back seat to life. Since April, my husband has had six surgeries requiring general anesthesia and I’m not sure how many office procedures. Then, he’s had appointments 3-5 days a week. Now, on September 15th, we’ll be moving. But, in all of this, God gave me a verse last night. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I’ve taken this verse to heart. It’s nice to know that no matter what things come our way in life, God already knows about them and has promised to give us the grace to face the trials and come through them stronger.  
More About: Case , Erin

Brenda Coulter's Latest Release
2007-08-13 04:31:00
I absolutely loved Brenda Coulter's first two books, Finding Hope and A Family Forever. Now, she has a new book, A Season of Forgiveness available September 25th, or, you can order it from Amazon.com. If you can't wait that long, you can read the first chapter on Brenda's website.For a preview of the book, check out the trailer below!
More About: Release , Ease , Renda

August 2007 Releases 1. Abomination by Colleen Co...
2007-08-03 14:05:00
August 2007 Releases1. Abomination by Coll een Coble from Thomas Nelson. A young woman flees from a serial killer who leaves his victims at geocaching sites.2. Family for Keeps and Sadie's Hero reissued as one book by Margaret Daley, from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. This Love Inspired Classic captures two touching stories that were favorites of readers.3. Jacob's List by Stephanie Grace Whitson from Bethany House Publishers. Facing the challenge of their lives, the Nolans learn that their son's list is about a lot more than youthful adventure. Jacob's List: a story of reconciliation. . . against all odds. 4. In His Dreams from the Michigan Island Series by Gail Gaymer Martin from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Two widowed in-laws meet again on Beaver Island after a few years absence and find joy in the sense of family, especially the hero's emotionally impaired pre-teen daughter, but the familiar friendship goes far beyond what they expected. 5. Massachusetts Brides by Lis...
More About: August , August 2007 , August 2 , Ease

Prayers
2007-07-13 13:51:00
Okay, this is another little story that was handed out at church last week. Hope you like it.   A little boy in church was sitting with his mom and dad and kept acting up. His mom shushed him a couple of times and he’d stop fidgeting and playing for a minute or so, then he’d get started again. Finally, after several reprimands from his mother, the father picked the little boy up and headed down the aisle. As they reached the back door, the little boy called out to the congregation, “Pray for me!”   Aren’t we so often like that little boy? God tries little things to get our attention and get us to stop doing things and we straighten up for a little bit and then return to what we were doing, or we ignore Him. Or, often when things are going good, we don’t have time for God or what He wants. God might nudge us to do something and we put it off. But then, when God ‘takes us to the woodshed’ so to speak, or when things start ...
More About: Prayers , Raye

Cell Phone VS. Bible
2007-07-11 01:56:00
This was handed out at church last week. Really makes you think about what’s important!   Cell Phone VS. Bible   I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone. What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets? What if we flipped through it several times a day? What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? What if we used it to receive messages from the text? What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it? What if we gave it to the kids as gifts? What if we used it in case of emergency? This is something to make you go “hmmm, where is my cell phone?” Oh, and one more thing, unlike our cell phone, we don’t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill, and no dropped calls. Makes you stop and think “where are my priorities?”  
More About: Cell Phone , Cell-phone

Thanks!
2007-07-05 04:54:00
st1:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } Today our country celebrates its 231st birthday! I spent the day relaxing (no doctor appointments since the offices are all closed today), grilling, and setting off a few fireworks with the kids.   Imagine if the patriots all those years ago had chosen to live under England’s rule and not fight for their freedom. I am thankful to God that I live in a country where we are free to speak our peace and worship as we choose; and, I am thankful to each and every man and woman who has ever served in the armed forces to protect those freedoms!     Happy Birthday America!    
More About: Thanks , Hank

The Hardest Part
2007-06-28 16:01:00
I used to think the hardest part of writing was actually putting the words on paper (or computer screen as the case may be J). But, lately I’ve come to see an even more difficult area – waiting to hear on a submission and working on something else and leaving the subbed ms alone until you hear back. Sarah’s Hope is currently at Steeple Hill. I was so excited to get the request and to actually get it sent off. Then, I started working on the follow-up book, Emily’s Hope. But now, I keep wanting to go back to Sarah’s Hope and make changes. I have a new found respect for those authors who routinely sub, do rewrites and edits and write new stories all at the same time.   Then, I got to thinking that we’re kind of like that with God. We struggle with a problem and finally turn it over to Him and focus on what He wants us to do. But, in our human selves what do we do? We worry about the first problem and come up with ideas to “fix” it...
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It's Summer!!!
2007-06-23 04:30:00
st1:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } Okay, I’m a day late, but here in Florida, that’s not such a big deal. See, here we really only have two seasons – most of the year is hot and then we have a couple of weeks of somewhat cold weather. Sometimes we actually get down to freezing. J   So, HAPPY SUMMER! Enjoy all those summer things: baseball, beach, picnics, pools, ice cream, Fourth of July, friends and family!  
More About: Summer