High Five Friday!!

It’s been an exciting month for a number of writers. Here are a few with special celebrations:

James R. Callan looks forward to the early April release of Murder a Cappella, because it’s the first mystery/suspense book he’s written with his daughter, Diane Bailey, a writer of young adult non-fiction.

Lena Nelson Dooley celebrates the first time one of her books has appeared in a Top Ten Books list. Anne Payne, reviewer with Stuff & Nonsense II blog put Maggie’s Journey on her Top Ten Books of 2011. She found out about it when she read a note Anne put on a board in Pinterest this month. Anne does a lot of respected reviews of Christian fiction, both on the blog and on other Internet sites–Goodreads, Christianbooks.com, Amazon.com.  

Vannetta Chapman rejoices in the sale of another three-book series to Zondervan books, tentatively titled Amish Artisan Mystery Series. They will release in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

JoAnn Durgin is excited by the successful telling of two parallel and simultaneous romances in her new book Twin Hearts. She says, ”It was a unique challenge to write their love stories without frustrating the reader by switching back and forth (one in Houston and the other in Lousiana). This book is particularly special to me because redemption and forgiveness are huge themes, and Josh finds his redemption in a rather shocking, surprising and ultimately very tender and sweet way. In other words, there’s a BIG surprise coming for those who’ve read my other books.”

Sandra Orchard, author of an Undercover Cops series for Love Inspired Suspense, is thrilled to announce that Revell Publishing has offered her a three book contract for a trade-length, mystery/romantic suspense series. The first book (as yet untitled) is scheduled for release in summer of 2013.

Elaine W. Miller has waited forty years for the May 1 release of her non-fiction book We All Married Idiots: Three Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and Three Things You Can. This book was conceived over forty years ago when during an argument with her husband she thought, I must have been an idiot to marry this idiot. It was funny, but it was tragic. Her marriage almost ended. Today she thanks God that two idiots stayed together as she shares lessons learned in their 40 years of marriage. As one review states, “This book contains the secrets that will enable couples to persevere, to run their race through the difficult years.”           

Raise a hearty High Five!! of congratulations for the achievements of the above writers!

Writers: Are you dancing around your desk in celebration of a writing-related success? Leave a comment and let us cheer with you!

 

High Five Friday!!

Today we’re applauding writing accomplishments that have the following authors celebrating even as their fingers are flying over the laptop keys. 

Janalyn Voigt had an awesome month. She gained an agent, Barbara Scott at WordServe Literary, and signed a contract for DawnSinger and Wayfarer, the first two novels in her allegorical epic fantasy series Tales of Faeraven.

Lena Nelson Dooley is pleased to have eight of her out-of-print Heartsong titles releasing this year as ebooks with new covers. Those titles are: A Daughter’s Quest, Who Am I?, Never Say Never, Pirate’s Prize, The Other Brother, His Brother’s Castoff, Double Deception, Gerda’s Lawman.

Martha Rogers signed a three book contract for a historical series with Realms of Charisma Media this month. The series is Loves Homeward Journey with Love Comes Home, Faith Finds Love to be released in  2013 and Love Never Fails to release in 2014.

Dora Hiers signed a contract with White Rose Publishing for Journey’s Embrace, her third book in the Marshals of Journey Creek series.

Jennifer Hallmark celebrates the publication of her second short story, “Finally Home,” in Harpstring Magazine. It’s a story of a woman’s arrival in Heaven. It’s in the winter 2012 issue and can be ordered at http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/308785 

As for me, I’ve been praising God for Diana Flegal of Hartline Literary Agency who will represent my novels as my agent. Diana is hard at work finding the right publisher for my historical romance A Lady Divided, while I’m busy writing the second book in the series.

 

High Five Friday!!

Christmas came early for some writers and December was an awesome month!

Lena Nelson Dooley has been the featured author on the December cover of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, which also features an interesting interview. She is also featured in the lead article on the Church Bookstores page of Christian Retailing January issue that released this month.

Lillian Duncan has a new book coming out. Deception is a suspense story about estranged  twin sisters. “This story is so special to me. I began to write it after the death of a dear friend I was estranged from. I’d always planned to reconnect with  her—later. Unfortunately, I waited too long and missed my opportunity. I wrote this story in hopes that others would read it and not miss their opportunity to reunite with a loved one.”

James Rubart’s second novel, Book of Days, which released in January 2011 was nominated as a finalist in RT Book Reviews Book of the Year in the Inspirational Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category.

Margaret Brownley’s novel A Vision of Lucy is up for Best Western Romance of 2011. Readers can vote through December 31 at Loves Western Romances. “It’s fun, it’s easy and you might win a prize.”

Tiffany Amber Stockton signed with Sandra Bishop of MacGregor Literary for representation. She also signed a contract for Book Two in her current Brandywine Brides trilogy. The contract for Book Three will be coming in January.

Julie Arduini received an early Christmas present when she learned that her story, “The Dollar Store Statue,” won first place in the 6^th Annual JournEzine Christmas Story Contest. The story is featured in their December issue, as well as sent out to all Heart of God Ministry partners. Their theme was Emmanuel, God with Us.

Lisa Carter signed a contract with Abingdon Press for her debut novel, Aloha Rose, which is part of the Quilts of Love romance series that releases September 2013. Also in December, a humorous parenting anecdote of hers was contracted with Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family magazine and will appear in the March 2012 issue.

Alice J. Wisler thanks her new agent, Chip MacGregor, for a new contract for a novel with Moody Publishers! Her other four novels have been with Bethany House and she looks forward to working with the folks at Moody on Still Life in Shadows (to be released fall of 2012).  

Ada Brownell worked for fifteen years on her non-fiction book Swallowed by LIFE: Mysteries of Death, Resurrection and the Eternal. The book explores the faith aspect of eternal life and released on December 13, 2011, about a month before the anniversary of her daughter’s 1990 death. “I am thrilled with the book and feel the cover that shows three little dew-drizzled seedlings popping up in a cemetery adequately signify 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, the illustration of death being likened to a planted seed that decays, but still bursts to life.”

 

I’m so proud of all these writers and their accomplishments! Give them a cyber High Five!!

As for me, my interview about writing and the children’s book Family Ties: Thirteen Short Stories appeared on the Shades of Romance blog yesterday.

 

High Five Friday!!

October brings the yummy stuff, but the following authors are rejoicing over the sweet news they’ve already received. I’m excited to share their celebrations with you today!

Miralee Ferrell has announced she’s signed a contract with David C. Cook Publishing Company for a three-book contract for a historical romance series with a strong women’s fiction thread. The first book, with the working title Katherine’s Hope, is set in a small, 1870s mining town in Eastern Oregon, and will release in about nineteen months. The other two follow six months apart. “I’m so excited to be working with Cook on this new project, and thankful for their trust in giving me a three-book contract.”

Tina Pinson rejoices in receiving a contract for a short story from Written World Communications. Prelude to Christmas will be in November’s Harpstring Magazine.

Sandra Orchard is “honoured to learn how God uses the stories he’s given me to draw others to prayer.” Her childhood friend, Lisa Jamieson of Walk Right In Ministries, posted a touching review of her novel Deep Cover last week. Lisa has a child with Angelman Syndrome, and the heroine in Sandra’s book is struggling to ensure her 18 year old special needs sister is properly taken care of since their mother is dying. Anticipating this future for her own daughters, the book spoke to Lisa in unexpected ways.

Connie Stevens knows God can work when you let Him. She recently signed a new contract for Harvest of Hope. This is the second novel in her Georgia Mountain Horizons Series and part of an orignal three-book proposal. At the ACFW Conference in September, Editor Becky Germany of Barbour requested the book ASAP. Connie wrote the first chapter by the end of the conference and typed “The End” this week. Book One of the series, Heart of Honor, will release early next year, possibly February.

Donna Fletcher Crow celebrates being chosen to be among a group honored as Idaho’s “Top 50 Writers.”  The awards ceremony is tonight. As an interesting aside, Donna, a writer of mysteries set in England, tells me it’s common practice for novels to release in the U.K. several months ahead of being released in the U.S. While her A Darkly Hidden Truth came out ”across the pond” last month, you can expect it to be available here in January.

Vanetta Chapman was happy to learn that her novel Falling to Pieces was selected as a Kindle Monthly 100 title for November. This means Amazon will set a special promotional price for the entire month of November.

 

High Five!! everyone! Awesome work!

 

High Five Friday!!

Happy feet have been dancing this month as awards have been passed out left and right, and we’ll soon have new novels to read. Let’s congratulate the following:

  

Linda Rohrbough’s new novel, The Prophetess One: At Risk, garnered two national awards in August. It took first place in the “Religion/Faith – Fiction” category at the Global eBook Awards held in Santa Barbara on August 20. Then ten days later, it was announced a winner of the Millennium Star Publishing Summer 2011 Awards. So August was a pretty good month for Linda.

Anne Greene‘s Masquerade Marriage just won third place in the First Coast Romance Writers Published Beacon contest. She’s thrilled. Masquerade Marriage also won the New England Readers Choice Award in the inspirational category, and is a finalist in the Ancient City Romance Authors Heart of Excellence Readers Choice Award and the Georgia Romance Writers Maggie for Published Authors. Both these contests will announce the winner in late September.

Dora Hiers celebrates receiving her second contract with White Rose Publishing. Journey’s Edge is her second inspirational romance.

April Gardner delights in receiving a contract for her first middle grade historical Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang. The book will release November 15 through Astraea Press.

 

Below are the winners of this year’s ACFW Carol Awards. These awards are for published books and were announced at the ACFW Conference held in St. Louis September 22-25.

Debut Author – Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Tyndale Publishers – Kathryn Olson, editor)

Long Contemporary – Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group – Dave Long, editor)

Long Contemporary Romance – Plain Paradise  by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson – Natalie Hanemann, editor)

Long Historical – Sons of Thunder  by Susan May Warren (Summerside Press – Susan Downs, editor)

Long Historical Romance – Love Finds You in Homestead Iowa by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press – Rachel Meisel/Connie Troyer, editors)

Mystery – The Camera Never Lies by Elizabeth Goddard (Barbour Publishing – Rebecca Germany, editor)

Novella – A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky (Barbour Publishing – Rebecca Germany, editor)

Romantic Suspense – The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press – Rachel Meisel/Susan Downs/Ellen Tarver, editors)

Short Contemporary – A Father for Zach by Irene Hannon (Love Inspired – Melissa Endlich, editor)

Short Contemporary Suspense – Night Prey by Sharon Dunn (Love Inspired Suspense – Emily Rodmell, editor)

Short Historical – Her Healing Ways by Lyn Cote (Love Inspired Historical – Tina James, editor)

Speculative Fiction – König’s Fire by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press – Jeff Gerke, editor)

Suspense/Thriller – Predator by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan – Sue Brower/Dave Lambert, editors)

Women’s Fiction – Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett (Tyndale Publishers – Jan Stob/Lorie Popp, editors)

Young Adult – Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson (Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group – Lonnie Hull Dupont, editor)

 

Also announced at the ACFW Conference were the winners of the ACFW Genesis Contest held for unpublished writers. This is a great opportunity for both feedback from knowledgable peers and getting finaling entries before an agent or editor.

Contemporary Fiction – 
Katy Pistole

Contemporary Romance – Mary Curry

Historical Fiction - Johnnie Alexander Donley

Historical Romance – 
Sarah Ladd

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller – 
Dianna T. Benson

Romantic Suspense – Renee Ann Smith

Speculative Fiction – 
Matt Jones

Women’s Fiction – 
Camille Eide

Young Adult – Nicole Quigley

 

So, what writing accomplishments are you celebrating this month? Tell us here so we can rejoice with you.

 

 

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