Happy Thanksgiving

As I sit here before dawn on Thanksgiving Day 2008, I can honestly say that in spite of the state of our economy and the uncertainty of when or how this will all turn around, I am truly blessed and thankful.

Yes, I still have a roof over my head, food to eat, and clothes. I have my friends, my extended family, the gift of writing, and good health. But most of all I have God. He is my Healer (Ps. 103:3), Redeemer (Is. 59:20), Advocate (1 John 2: 1), Bread of Life (John 6: 35), Strong Tower (Prov. 18: 10), Refuge from the Storm (Is. 25:4) , Provider (Gen. 22:14), Everlasting Light (Is. 60:20, Strength (Ps. 43:2), and Husband (Is 54:5).

He is all those things and more to me and the Bible tells me He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. No matter what tomorrow holds He cannot be taken from me and for that I am in awe and so very thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. The list of names that I attributed to God is taken from "The Power of a Praying Woman" by Stormie Omartian. She lists many more. It's found in Chapter one of her book.

The Winner of Love Finds You in Miracle KY is . . .

JO!!

As soon as Jo contacts me with her snail mail address I'll get the book out to her.

Be watching for another book contest soon!

Win A Copy of Andrea Boeshaar's Love Finds You in Miracle KY!

We have a new publisher in the CBA market and they are hitting the bookshelves this fall with a couple great launch titles including Andrea Boeshaar's Love Finds You in Miracle, KY.

I have been very intrigued with the concept of Summerside Press's Love Finds You line ever since I first learned of it. Over the coming months you will see a variety of titles coming out, all with the titles including the first words of "Love Finds You In . . ." The second part of the title will be the actual, real and existing small town somewhere in the United States. It's going to be fun to see what wonderful stories will be told through this unique idea. If they are anything like Andrea's Miracle KY story, we've got some great reading ahead of us!

Meg Jorganson leaves her inner-city teaching job and a relationship that is going nowhere behind in Chicago and heads for her family's roots in Miracle. There she accepts a third-grade teaching position and moves in with her grandmother. All she knows is she needs a change. What she doesn't know is that God has greater plans for her than she could ever hope for or imagine. Enter Vance Bayer and his rather precocious eight-year-old daughter Cammy. Cammy is wheelchair bound but that doesn't stop her from doing her best to bring her widowed dad and Meg together. Now don't think this is going to be another cliche'd Parent Trap kind of story, because it is told in a new and fresh way that will keep you turning pages.

Andrea has always been a great storyteller, but this time she has outshined herself in this romantic tale. Her characters are well-developed and I found myself feeling like I was right there in Kentucky. In fact, every time I put it down I couldn't wait to get back to the slow Kentucky way of life where I could sit on the front porch and sip some sweet tea :-).

Andrea has offered to send a free copy of Love Finds You In Miracle KY to the lucky person whose name is selected from the comments left on this posting. But before you leave a comment here is an interview with Andrea about her story:


1. Describe your journey to publication with Summerside Press and being one of the first authors to launch this new publisher’s “Love Finds You” line.
It’s been an incredible ride. Early last year, the publisher contacted my agent and asked to see some of my work for its new “Love Finds You” line. I did, the proposal was accepted; however, I never dreamed I’d be one of the launch authors. I’m so honored and thrilled about this opportunity. Talk about a writers dream come true!

2. How did you decide on Miracle, KY for the setting?
Actually, it was suggested to me by the publisher. But once I visited the area, my story came alive to me and I fell in love with the town. Everyone there has been so helpful and kind, answering my questions and even helping to promote my novel.

3. How much of the setting in the book is real and how much is fictional?
All of it is real. It’s just the characters that are fictional. There’s really a Depot Restaurant in Stanford...there’s really a Goodwill store (I bough$t some beautiful framed watercolor paintings there!). The high school is there, and Redemption Road a very real road (and church) in the Miracle area.

4. How much research went into the story? For example: Cammy, the disabled child in the story has an opportunity to be helped to walk again. Did you research this and did what you found out affect the storyline?
I really did a lot of research on this and had help from another writer-friend, Annie McDonald. We found testimonials online about SCIs (spinal cord injuries). In addition, I asked around at the hospital. I work part-time in the admitting department at Milwaukee’s regional medical center which is nationally known for its neurosciences. So I phoned the SCI floor and asked nurses some questions too.

5. Will you have another book coming out from Summerside in the future?
Yes, God willing. Two more books are in the works, to be released in 2010.

6. Where are you planning to hold book signings for Love Finds You in Miracle, KY?
I'm having an autograph party on Nov. 22nd at George Watts & Sons, located in downtown Milwaukee. There's a quaint teashop above the crystal and china shop and I'll be signing books upstairs. The public is invited. I'll also be back in Stanford, signing books at Kentucky Soaps and Such for the town's Christmas on Main Stree on Dec. 6th. There are additional booksignings in the works at Barnes & Noble and a local bookstore where I live, here in West Bend, WI

Thanks so much, Andrea, for stopping by. It was fun :-).

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win your own copy of Andrea's book! Please be sure to leave your contact information so I can let you know if you win!

You can learn more about Andrea at her website. The drawing will take place on Monday, November 17.

And the winner is . . .

The winner for Michelle Sutton's It's Not About Me is Reborn Butterfly. As soon as I hear from the winner I will send the book out to her.

Thanks to all who entered the contest. I'll be having more down the road so please check back.

Drawing for Michelle Sutton's Book Coming November 6th!

To clarify, I will be drawing for a winner of It's Not About Me by Michelle Sutton on Thursday, November 6th (tomorrow), not November 4th (yesterday). I made a boo boo on the date. Why I said that it would be election day's date I have no clue. I was working the polls from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. and had no time to draw a name yesterday.

Today I'm recovering LOL. Check back tomorrow for the winner's name!