Monday, December 10, 2012

Meet Jo Huddleston and That Summer

Win a copy of That Summer! Leave your name and email to win!

 
Jo Huddleston is a multi-published author of books, articles, and short stories. Her debut novel, That Summer released this month as the first book in The Caney Creek Series. Book 2 in the series is scheduled for release in April 2013 and book 3 is scheduled for release in September 2013.
Jo tells us how That Summer came to be:

The setting of That Summer is the Southern Appalachians of East Tennessee where my ancestors and I were raised. I’ve listened to the older generations tell their stories at family reunions about time before telephones and automobiles. Their stories fascinated me and caused me to want to write about a time before I was born.

This story percolated in my mind in the late 1990s. I’m what writers call a panster type of writer. I don’t outline my plot on paper. My entire plot and characters simmer in my mind before I write a word. Many times I don’t know the ending but I know how to get there. Of course, sometimes characters surprise me by going this way when I intended them to go another way. I love how my stories many times work themselves out as I write.

While this story still rumbled around in my mind, in 2001 I received a life altering health diagnosis with a negative prognosis. My first symptom was the loss of penmanship that nobody, even I, could read. Then I began to have involuntary muscle spasms that prevented me from holding my fingers on the home keys of a keyboard. I couldn’t write and couldn’t type—this was before speak-to-type.

I thought my writing career had vanished. I cleaned out my files—even trashed all my rejection letters I’d been saving. Now I wish I’d kept them to prove that I really am a writer. I gave away most of my writing craft books.

My mind was still intact but my body wouldn’t do what it was told. My balance while walking started to diminish and I quit going to writing conferences. My doctor advised me not to drive. I was dependent on my family to even get to my doctor’s appointments and still am.

In 2008, I began to improve. My hands were steadier and I could get my story started. The biggest aggravation when I write anything is the time I have to leave my story to research the facts. When the story starts pouring out of my mind I want to write. I write continuously, not indicating chapters but I do indicate scene and POV changes. After I finish that first draft I go back and do those things.

I have outlived my doctor’s prognosis by over a year and a half. I’m writing the second of a 3-book contract and feel fine other than fatigue when I don’t stop to rest now and then. Fatigue does bring on more unsteadiness in my hands and legs.

From 2001 to 2008 I had a lot of time to meditate. A relative marvels that I’ve never questioned God, why me? I have not become bitter because of the health issues. I think God just gave me time to understand a lot of things when I was inactive. I’m a more peaceful, patient, and faithful me.

This is the way That Summer came to be: hibernated for seven years, and then became a story on paper.

Thank you so much for hosting me, Diane. It's my pleasure to spend time with you and your readers.
 Leave your name and email here at Diane's blog. I'll give away a copy of That Summer at each blog.

Jo Huddleston
Author of the forthcoming Southern historical, That Summer
Website/blog http://www.johuddleston.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jo.huddleston.hope
Offering spiritual tonic and hope

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Launch of Elaine Cooper's The Legacy of Deer Run

Elaine_5760.jpg
 The Legacy of Deer Run is Elaine Marie Cooper’s third book in the Deer Run Saga. This book is another set in Colonial America and based on the lives of her ancesters. She will be offering free gifts to those that purchase this book at Amazon on Tuesday, December 4 when they go to her page at http://www.DeerRunSaga.com. Be sure to save your receipt number from your Amazon purchase in order to obtain the free gifts offered!

FrontCover(FINAL2).jpg

The Legacy of Deer Run


By Elaine Marie Cooper

 The Year is 1800.
 
A young man makes weapons for the defense of America, still a fledgling nation. He also protects his heart from the allure of a young woman who seems so far above his station in life that he cannot win her.

The lady fights her own war against loneliness and grief. Despite her finery and airs, she is drawn to the young armory worker, who is distant yet disarming.

Love is the not the only entanglement. The nation's enemies are afoot. They creep within the very walls where America’s defenses are being forged. Who are they? When will they strike? Who will survive their terrorism?
 
Intrigue of the heart and intrigue of the times are only part of this compelling story—Book 3 of the Deer Run Saga. This series finale is a gripping mix of romance and deception, faith and forgiveness, transgression and trial.

See Diane's review on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1GKJH8FACQ4YY?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_cr_pr_pdp .
 
What other readers saying?

This is a stellar read of the early American period. Elaine Cooper is a gifted wordsmith who brings the era to life vividly and leaves you wanting more. Bravo!
 — Laura Frantz, Author, Love’s Reckoning

A plot to wound the baby nation of America, trusted friends who turn into enemies, death, faith, and life, all blend into a tragic yet beautiful tale of life and passion in 1800.”
— Lisa J. Lickel, Author, The Map Quest

 “It's no wonder Elaine Marie Cooper is an award-winning author. Her writing shines with an artistic flair to blend deep-heart issues with light romance, love and adventure. Danny and Susannah capture the heart with their innocent love, yet honor and faith. Their story resonates with courage, commitment, faith and victory.”
—Janet Perez Eckles, Author, Simply Salsa

Legacy of Deer Run is a truly beautiful, heart-warming tale that will appeal to readers who enjoy historical romantic Christian fiction.
    Lynn Dove, Author, the Wounded Trilogy

Author Bio:

Elaine Marie Cooper is the author of The Road to Deer Run (Finalist in Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Religious Fiction, Honorable Mention in Romance at 2011 Los Angeles Book Festival) and The Promise of Deer Run (Romance Winner for 2012 Los Angeles Book Festival, Finalist in Religious Fiction for ForeWord Review Book of the Year).

Cooper is also a contributing writer for Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home by Edie Melson. Look for her upcoming short story, “The Tea Set,” that will appear in a soon-to-be-released Christmas anthology called, I Choose You (Dec. 2012) She is a wife, mom, Grammie to triplets, and a registered nurse.

Contact Info:
http://www.facebook.com/elainemariecooper
http://www.facebook.com/ElaineMarieCooperAuthor
Website: http://DeerRunBooks.com
 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, November 8, 2012

NaNoWriMo and Historical Fiction

So, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is 7 days old. I have 5950 words in those days. I'm feeling way behind, BUT I have discovered an important reason for such a problem.

I write historical fiction. DUH! I have to do research while I am writing. For example, in Colonial Dream, my hero and heroine have immigrated to the Colonies in 1773. They are about to celebrate Christmas. Well, I spent 12 years down the road from Colonial Williamsburg. They are all about a big Christmas observance with their Grand Illumination, natural fruit and greenery for wreaths, candles in the windows, etc. However, my story begins in Boston. I thought it would be a good idea to see if Boston traditions at this time were different.

That's when I ran into the big obstacle! If you remember your Thanksgiving lore, you remember that the Massachusetts Bay Colony was settled by Puritans. These Puritans came to America for religious freedom to worship the way they wanted, which they proceeded to force on the all of the members of the colony. One of the tenets of their faith required the NON-celebration of Christmas. In fact, it was illegal to celebrate Christmas in Masschusetts until 1681! Even the changing of the law did not change the cultural beliefs of the area. Citizens were actively discouraged from celebrating Christmas.

Why? As always, all the reasons are probably unknown. One big reason involved the fact that the original celebration of the winter solstice was a pagan event. The greenery and other customs were brought into Christianity and mingled with a birth of Christ holiday. The pagan roots caused the Puritans to shun the celebration. In addition, the Bible does not record a celebration of the birth of Christ, so the "pure" reading of Scripture excluded such observance. In addition, the name of the holiday harkened back to Catholicism since it's meaning is "Christ Mass". Protestant groups rejected much that was tinged with Catholicism. Eventually the Puritans observed the religious significance of the holiday in church services

Another bit of research then concerns how the Welsh celebrated Christmas before coming to America. Some of their traditions included caroling, wassailing, taffy making on Christmas Eve, decorating with greenery (hanging the greens), burning a large yule log, and feasting. It sounds like the 18th century Welsh did it all at Christmas.

I think my characters will have to celebrate a Welsh Christmas behind closed doors. All of this research is quite interesting to read and to share with my readers. But none of it creates word count for NaNoWriMo! Even writing this blog doesn't count, though it does help me to be ready to write this afternoon.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Author Lynn Dove's Book Launch

Author Lynn Dove.jpg                   Love the Wounded (The Wounded Trilogy)
Lynn Dove is launching her new book, Love the Wounded, October 30th. 

Love the Wounded  is the final and dramatic conclusion to her brilliant Wounded Trilogy  series that has followed the lives of teenagers Jake, Leigh, Mike, Dylan and Tim as they come to terms with a series of tragedies and events that have made each of them question why God allows “bad things to happen to good people.”

You can help her achieve ‘best seller’ status by purchasing the book at amazon.com TODAY – and receive all kinds of free gifts while you’re at it!

Here’s how:

1. Go to the Landing Page on Lynn’s Word Salt Website

2. Buy the book at amazon.

3. Go back to the Landing Page and fill in the {{{{{{{form}}}}}} with your name, email and purchase number.

It’s that easy! You’ll be directed to your free gifts and all you have to do is choose which ones you want.

About the book:

Leigh does not know who to choose...her heart tells her she will always love Jake, but he has changed so much since the death of their friend, Ronnie, and with his mother going through breast cancer; he has totally closed himself off from her emotionally. Now she is dating Dylan and try as she might to accept him for who he is, she can't stop thinking about Jake! Dylan has never gotten over the loss of his father and little sister, killed by a drunk driver when he was just a young boy.


After a horrific accident that has put both Tim and his little brother, Evan in the hospital, everyone knows that not only is he being bullied at school; he cuts himself to cope with it all. But meeting Cassidy has given him the courage to stand up to the bullies and at the same time give her what she so desperately needs...a life-giving bone marrow transplant. Jake's mother keeps telling him that "God works all things out for good" but with all the things going on in his life and with his friends, he's just not sure anymore. It is only after Mike is paralyzed in a car accident that Jake was partially responsible for that all the families and friends will be brought back together, not by coincidence, but by God's design and then Jake will finally believe that God truly does "Love the Wounded".


"A life of working with youth has inspired Lynn Dove, a Cochrane mother to turn her experiences into a book trilogy...(the Wounded Trilogy) series that parallels the struggles of students...(and) covers the angst of some of the real serious issues that teenagers face today, particularly with bullying and gossip. " -Rocky View Weekly-

What others are saying:

“I couldn’t put the book down…(A) dramatic ending to a wonderful series about five teenagers and their families who are struggling through life,…Lynn Dove has created a cast of teenage characters we grow to love over this three book series,…It is a wonderful, good, clean book with twists and turns about issues on a young adult level that they will enjoy reading.”  - Readers Favorite–

“A personal story of honest truth – offer(s) an uplifting spiritual message” – Cochrane Times –

Author bio:

Lynn Dove is a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and writer.  Winner of a Canadian Christian Writing Award in 2011, Lynn Dove's debut novel, Shoot the Wounded, written for teens and young adults was a finalist in the 2010 Readers Favorite Book Awards. Heal the Wounded, released in 2010, the second book in this series won the Bronze Medal in the 2011 Readers Favorite Book Awards in the Young Adult - Coming of Age category. Love the Wounded is the final book in the "Wounded Trilogy."

FREE STUFF:

Here’s just a sampling of the FREE e-gifts from generous supporters:

Free Kindle version of Tracy Krauss’s best seller: Wind Over Marshdale

Autographed copy of The Chamomile by Susan F. Craft

Autographed copy of award winning They Stood Alone by Sandra McLeod Humphrey

Free ebook Fit for Faith by Kimberley Payne

Free PDF copy of Live Without Stress by Shelley Hitz

First Three Chapters of The Legacy of Deer Run by Elaine Cooper

Plus more!

All if you buy your copy of Love the Wounded  at amazon.com on Oct 30! All links will be operational on the ‘Landing Page’ at the Word Salt website on that day only!
 
book covers.jpg
Check out the whole trilogy!
 
DISCLAIMER: This ‘Best Seller book launch’ has been coordinated with the help of the ‘John 3:16 Marketing Network’and many other generous supporters. The free gifts are deliverable electronically over the internet or by email (or mail) by individual authors and supporters. They are not in any way associated with, nor deliverable by, amazon.com 

Monday, October 15, 2012

On Being a Lighthouse for Christ

God has called me to be a light on a hill in a dark world. This calling is behind my fascination (some would say obsession) with lighthouses. As a teacher, I was often the only light in a middle schooler’s world. Relationship with those students was always about being light and, hopefully, showing Christ in that light.

Having retired from the classroom, I feel God has called me to accomplish my childhood dreams of being a writer. Embracing that call, however, feels like I’m setting myself up for failure. Am I good enough for traditional publishing? Am I wearing a mask of being a writer? Is writing historical Christian romance really a calling? The romance genre can feel inconsequential in a world filled with terror and with need for Christ. It’s an escape for women, at best, and called emotional porn at its worst. There are ungodly romances on the shelves at Wal-Mart!
God has called me to be a light in a dark world. His call leads me to be an author who portrays God’s Love to the world through historical Christian relationships. The world does not comprehend the Christian lifestyle or romantic relationship within a Christian worldview. Relationships in this post-modern world are typically unpure -  sexually, emotionally, and physically - because they are not centered around Christ.

Accepting the challenge to write and to succeed in writing requires dying to self so that Christ’s power can work through me to accomplish what HE wants. Ephesians 3:20 states “With God’s power working in us, God can do much more than we can ask or imagine.”(CEV)
God has called me to be light! He has called me to use my imagination and my abilities to bring forth a world where Christians relate to one another in a Christ-like way. To do this, I must set aside my twin fears of failure and rejection. To do this, I must believe that Christ will work to put OUR writings in front of those He wishes to reach with OUR imaginings.

In other words, be a lighthouse that God uses to steer others away from the rocks and into the narrow channel that leads to Him and, therefore, to life.

What has God called you to do?

Monday, October 1, 2012

What God did at ACFW Conference

My last post was full of my anxiety about attending the ACFW Conference in Dallas. Now I'd like to share what GOD did at conference.
  • While I stood, still terrified, waiting on my first literary agent appointment with Mary Sue Seymour, two women, Stacey Monton and Valerie Comer, approached me and asked if I was okay. I replied that no, I was very nervous. The two of them wrapped me in a bear hug and prayed over me. I learned that this is not unusual behavior when almost 700 Christians get together to talk about Christian fiction.
  • Buoyed by my personal prayer support, I had a great meeting with Ms. Seymour. She asked for the 1st 50 pages & synopsis of Gold Earrings, the 1st 50 pages & synopsis of my next book, Colonial Dream, and the manuscript & synopsis for A Time to Choose !
  • My next appointment was with Ramona Richards of Abingdon Press. She wants to see Colonial Dream when it's done.
  • While waiting for my next appointment, I struck up conversation with Jessica Kirkland, another 1st time attender. (We were all labeled with a brown ribbon that declared "First Time Attender.") She asked me what I was pitching (trying to sell). So I gave her my pitch, then she asked if I had a one sheet. I gave one to her. It was then that I realized she was also an agent! She took my one sheet and first 3 chapters for A Time to Choose, my series proposal,and a copy of Gold Earrings.
  • My last appointment on Friday was with Melissa Endlich, editor for Love Inspired (a division of Harlequin). She wanted my complete manuscript of A Time to Choose!
  • My appointment on Saturday was with Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency. She seemed to be the agent for most of the people I met over this weekend event! She also wants to see Colonial Dream first.
Beyond the appointments and extra God-appointments, there were amazing times of worship and devotion! The workshops were fun and helpful.  Ken went with me and was so supportive. We also had the chance to see my brother Russ and his family while in Dallas.

I am happy to report that my manuscript has been sent to Love Inspired and all my 'stuff' has been sent to Mary Sue Seymour. I spent last week trying to put together the first 50 pages of a novel I started and wrote various chapters for in the 1990s! This work also required converting the word documents to .docx files!!

So God is working in my life to encourage me to pursue my childhood dream of being an author. He is also allowing me to write His message in my writing.  Jeremiah 29:11

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Preparing for ACFW Conference

Several months ago I decided that moving to the next level in my writing career required attending the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference in Dallas in September. It's September! While I had attended the Greater Philly Christian Conference 2x in the past, the ACFW is much bigger! Here are things I am doing to prepare for ACFW in just a few weeks:
  1. I reserved my hotel and airline. I completed the LONG conference form including the classes I plan to attend, the editors and agents I want to meet, and the meals I hope to eat. By the time I was done, I had no idea what I had signed up for! Hoping I made good choices, I made notes in my journal about what choices I had made, set the conference on the back burner, and paid the bills when they came in (EEK!!! WHAT HAVE I DONE?).
  2. I signed up for the first timer's loop. I've been receiving hints about what I should do in preparation for the conference. Some of those things will be listed here. Unfortunately the loop also has a frightening effect, as in WHAT AM I DOING?
  3. I prepared a "one sheet" describing my new book A Time to Choose in concise and intriguing form in hopes of finding a publisher or an agent willing to take me on. Several iterations later, I printed 6 copies on nice stationary. Why 6? That's how many options I had to list on the conference registration to get 2 appointments with publishers/agents. I'll load it on a flash drive in case I need more copies.
  4. I printed business cards. Lots of business cards. With all conceivable ways to contact me! And with my picture. I also created a label with said contact info to stick on the back of my Gold Earrings business cards.
  5. I have finished, almost, editing and reprinting my new book A Time to Choose. I plan to load the digital copy and several other pertinent documents on $4 flash drives to give to anyone who can help me find a publisher or agent! Prayer for this is much appreciated.
  6. I bought flash drives on sale at Office Max.
I'm sure I'll find many more ways to drive myself crazy in these few coming weeks. Please pray for my anxieties and fears. Please pray that God puts the correct people in my path to allow A Time to Choose to be published. Pray that I feel I received professional contacts and instruction that is well worth the time and cost to go to ACFW Conference. Finally pray for my health, that I would be able to make the most of the time in Dallas, including seeing my brother and his family.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Writing Contest Winner!


Fourteen-year-old Cameron Presson of Thompson Station, TN, claimed first prize in the 2012 New Christian Books Summer Writing Contest. He entered a modern Jonah story entitled “In the Belly of a Jail” about a 16-year-old arrested for driving while intoxicated, who surrendered his life to Christ after being incarcerated.

 “I think all the entries are beautifully creative work. All these writers should be encouraged to keep writing,” remarked one of the judges, Katherine Harms. She is author of Oceans of Love, a book with 30 days of meditations on God’s love built on texts relating to oceans and water.

Second place went to 11-year-old Victoria Rifa of Yakima, Washington, for her wail tale, Double Trouble, involving squabbling twins who turned to God after an earthquake.

Third place went to 14-year-old Maisie Lay of Marshall, IL, for her story, “To Learn Responsibility,” about a girl who was sent to military school for a day after leaving her baby brother alone.

Receiving Honorable Mention Awards were Nathan and Daniel Bae, of Irvine, CA, and Stephen Gordon, Tampa, FL.

New Christian Books, an online magazine serving the Christian reading and writing communities, sought modern Jonah stories from 10 to 14 year olds for its summer contest held in conjunction with the John 3:16 Marketing Network. The network is a group of Christian authors who have bonded to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"It was my goal to teach and reinforce the lesson of Jonah: there is price to pay when you disobey,” says the magazine’s publisher Cheryl Rogers, “while at the same time introducing the magazine and the work of Christian authors to new readers.”

Rogers has penned a number of ebooks, including the short story collection Just Like Jonah Wail Tales that inspired the contest. The ebook involves characters who land in a whale of trouble for making the wrong choices, but who seek God and are restored.

The judging was done by a panel of Christian authors including Harms and Acacia Beumer, author of Launch Out Into the Deep; Lisa Lickel, author of First Children of Farmington to be released later this year; Diane Tatum, author Gold Earrings; Cheryl Rogers and her son David Rogers, a 13-year-old Williams Middle School student in Tampa, FL, as junior judge.

The contest was sponsored by Samantha Ryan Chandler, author of A Love Story: How God Pursued Me and Found Me, An Impossibly True Story; Linda Yezak, author of Give the Lady a Ride; Jairus King, author of Men's Ministry Handbook for Christians; Mike Lynch, author of After the Cross; Tom Blubaugh, author of Night of the Cossack; and Sana Edoja, author of Knowing God.
 
The winners received cash and other prizes, including books by Christian authors Acacia Beumer, Laura Davis, Lorilyn Roberts, the founder of the John 3:16 Marketing Network; and Cheryl Rogers.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Middle School Writing Contest!


Wanted: Young Readers and Writers


The New Christian Books Online Magazine is recruiting readers and writers for its 2012 Summer Writing Contest. Readers will be junior judges and writers will submit short stories that teach the lesson of Jonah: There is a price to pay when you disobey.

The first place winner will receive $100 and a $50 Walmart gift card, plus free books from Christian authors Acacia Beumer, Laura Davis, Lorilyn Roberts and Cheryl Rogers.

Entries will be accepted from June 1 though July 15 at contest.newchristianbooks@earthlink.net .  All stories must be wail tales, or short stories between 1,000 and 3,000 words that teach the importance of obedience to God.

Wail tales are, in essence, exaggerated tales of woe involving a youth who has made bad choices and lands in a whale of trouble, just like Jonah in the Bible. In the end, the youth must call upon God and be restored through his grace.

The contest is being held in conjunction with the John 3:16 Marketing Network, a group of Christian writers who have bonded to promote the gospel through their writing.

 “I believe the contest is a fun way reinforce the lesson of Jonah,” says Cheryl Rogers, publisher of New Christian Books Online Magazine. “It’s also a chance for budding writers to practice their craft.”

Rogers authored Just Like Jonah Wail Tales, a storybook collection featuring modern Jonahs who make mistakes but turn to God and receive his mercy.

Judges include:

* Acacia Beumer, who was awarded the Dove Foundation’s “Family-Approved” Seal for ages 12 plus for her book Launch Out Into the Deep!  Beumer also is a recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award Gold Medal for the Most Outstanding Religion and Spirituality Book.

 * Katherine Harms, author of Oceans of Love, a book with 30 days of meditations on God’s love built on texts relating to oceans and water;

 * Lisa Lickel, author of First Children of Farmington, six stories of settler children and their families, which is illustrated by Brenda K. Hendricks, slated for release in time for Christmas 2012;

 * Diane Tatum, author of the historical love story Gold Earrings, who taught middle school Language Arts for 11 years in Tullahoma City Schools; and

 * Cheryl Rogers, publisher of New Christian Books Online Magazine.

 Junior judges are volunteers ages 9 through 17, who will receive free copies of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales and the John 3:16 Marketing Network's sampler book, Taste and See.

Here is a list of prizes:

First place: $100, $50 Walmart gift card, a paperback and audiobook CD of Acacia Beumer’s Launch Out Into the Deep, a copy of Laura Davis’ novel Come to Me and the accompanying Bible Study Guide Learning from the Master: Living the Surrendered Life, a copy of Lorilyn Robert's upcoming young adult novel Seventh Dimension slated for release later this year, an autographed paperback copy of Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook, a devotions book by Cheryl Rogers; an e-copy of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales by Cheryl Rogers; and an e-copy of John 3:16 Marketing Networks’ sampler book Taste and See.



Second prize: $75, $25 Walmart gift card, a paperback and audiobook CD of Acacia Beumer’s Launch Out Into the Deep, a copy of Laura Davis’ novel Come to Me, a copy of Lorilyn Robert’s upcoming young adult novel Seventh Dimension slated for release later this year, an autographed copy of Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook, a devotions book by Cheryl Rogers; an e-copy of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales by Cheryl Rogers; and an e-copy of John 3:16 Marketing Networks’ sampler book Taste and See.



Third prize: $25, a paperback and audiobook CD of Acacia Beumer’s Launch Out Into the Deep, a copy of Laura Davis’ Bible Study Guide Learning from the Master: Living the Surrendered Life, a copy of Lorilyn Robert’s upcoming young adult novel Seventh Dimension slated for release later this year, an autographed copy of Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook by Cheryl Rogers; an e-copy of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales by Cheryl Rogers; an 18" x 12" Scripture poster quoting John 3:16; and an e-copy of John 3:16 Marketing Networks’ sampler book Taste and See.



Honorable Mention Awards will be given if the judges choose to recognize one or more excellent wail tales not chosen for the other awards. These award winners will receive e-copies of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales, the John 3:16 Marketing Network sampler book Taste and See, and Finding God: Biblical Answers to Questions about our Maker by Cheryl Rogers.



All of the award winners will have their wail tales published in either the New Christian Books Online Magazine, an ebook, or both.




Tuesday, May 15, 2012

And the winner is ....

Laura Davis has won a $25 gift card for her participation in the Blog Hop! Congratulations!

The John 3:16 Marketing Network Kindle winners are
 
Marnie Pohlmann
Patricia Day

More info available at

Hope you enjoyed the Blog Hop! We're already talking about when to do this again!

Monday, May 14, 2012

Book launch for A Tumbled Stone

Today is the book launch for Marcia Laycock's A Tumbled Stone. Marcia Laycock's new book, A Tumbled Stone, is the sequel to A Smooth Stone . Get freebies by purchasing a copy and going to www.writer-lee . Help Marcia impact the world for Christ by telling your friends, too.




Continue the Blog Hop until midnight PST. Drawing for free stuff occurs tomorrow!

a'>http://www.rafflecopter.com">a Rafflecopter giveaway


Blog Hop Participants:
1. Lorilyn Roberts (John 3:16 Blog) – http://john316mn.blogspot.com/
2. Lynn Dove – Word Salt (Host blog) - http://wordsalt.wordpress.com/
3. Laura J. Davis - http://interviewsandreviews.blogspot.com/
4. Paulette Harper - http://www.pauletteharperjohnson.blogspot.com/
5. Carol A. Brown - http://connectwithcarolbrown.blogspot.com/
6. April Gardner - http://www.aprilwgardner.com/
7. Sue Russell – http://www.suerussellsblog.blogspot.com/
8. Thomas Blubaugh - http://tomblubaugh.net/
9. Susan F. Craft – http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com/
10. Heather Bixler – http://heatherbixler.com/
11. Joy Hannabass – http://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/
12. Deborah Bateman - http://www.DeborahHBateman.com
13. Kimberley Payne - http://www.fitforfaith.blogspot.com/
14. Rose McCauley – http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com
15. Lisa Lickel - http://livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com/
16. Alice J. Wisler - http://www.alicewisler.blogspot.com/
17. Amanda Stephan - http://www.thepriceoftrust.com/
18. Saundra Dalton – http://gracetolivefree.blogspot.com/
19. Tracy Krauss - http://www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com/
20. Ashley Wintters - http://ashleyschristianbookreviews.blogspot.com/
21. Deborah McCarragher - http://www.godmissionpossible.blogspot.com/
22. Lorilyn Roberts - http://lorilynroberts.blogspot.com/
23. Anita Estes - http://anita-thoughtsonchristianity.blogspot.com/
24. Martin Roth – http://www.military-orders.com
25. Kenneth Winters – http://www.lostcrownofcolonnade.com/
26. Eddie Snipes – http://www.eddiesnipes.com/
27. Diane Tatum - http://tatumlight-tatumsthoughts4today.blogspot.com/
28. Janalyn Voigt - http://janalynvoigt.com/
29. Alberta Sequeira – http://www.albertasequeira.wordpress.com/
30. Tammy Hill – http://tammyhillbooks.blogspot.com/p/blog-hop.html
31. Marcia Laycock – http://www.writer-lee.blogspot.com/
32. Nike Chillemi - http://nikechillemi.wordpress.com/
33. Elaine Marie Cooper - http://wp.me/PVo1a-1vM
34. Sidney W. Frost - http://christianbookmobile.blogspot.ca/2012/05/welcome-to-john-316-giveaway-blog-hop.html
35. Jairus B. King – http://ministerjking.blogspot.com
36. Bill Burt - http://kotbooks.blogspot.com/
37. Kathy Eberly - http://authorkathyeberly.blogspot.com/
38. Bob Saffrin - http://bobsaffrin.com/
38a Julie Saffrin - http://juliesaffrin.com/2012/05/08/heres-how-to-possibly-win-a-kindle-and-autographed-copy-of-blessback/
39. Theresa Franklin - http://theresa-lifesjourney.blogspot.com/
40. Ray Lincoln - http://blog.raywlincoln.com/
41. Lilly Maytree - http://www.lillymaytree.blogspot.com/
42. Yvonne Pat Wright - http://www.spicetoeternity.co.uk/1/post/2012/05/come-blog-hopping-with-john-316-marketing-network-members-for-gifts-and-prizes.html
43. Pauline Creeden - http://fatfreefaith.blogspot.com/
44. Katherine Harms - http://livingontilt.wordpress.com
45. Brenda Wood - http://heartfeltdevotionals.wordpress.com/
46. Deborah Malone - http://deborahsbutterflyjourney.blogspot.com/
47. Melissa Main – http://www.mainwriters.com/
48. Kevin Main - http://mainchristianbooks.com/
49. Sandy Humphrey - http://www.kidscandoit.com/blog/
50. Felice Gerwitz - http://www.writingandpublishingblog.com/
51. Hallee Bridgeman - http://www.bridgemanfamily.com/hallee
52. Lisa Mills - http://www.authorlisamills.com/blog/

Monday, May 7, 2012

Blog Hop!!! The Last Day to WIN! May 14, 2012

Today is the last day for the J3:16 Blog Hop!
As one of the members of this great network of Christian Authors, I am excited to participate in this event!


My first novel is a Christian historical romance called Gold Earrings. The theme concerns judging others by outward appearance. Read about it on my website www.dianeetatumwriter.weebly.com. You can order a signed copy from me at the website through PayPal, paperback or hardback OR order a paperback copy from Amazon.com.

I am in the process of editing my 2nd historical novel, A Time to Choose, set in Civil War Washington DC.

When you leave a comment and your email address at THIS blogspot, you will automatically be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Just follow the link to rafflecopter which is keeping track of this for me!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Marcia Laycock's Latest

Welcome another book from one of the members of the John 3:16 Marketing Network!
Marcia Laycock's new book, the sequel to A Smooth Stone, is A Tumbled Stone. Check out the following blurb:

Andrea Calvert had to run away. She couldn't stay on the farm, shaming her parents . She couldn't face being pregnant and alone. She would take care of this on her own.  As she struggles to make life-changing decisions, Andrea discovers a diary and the wrenching story about her family's dysfunction. But is Andrea’s life at risk at Evie’s Diner?
Here's a short excerpt:

Sitting on an old fallen cottonwood, she put a hand on her stomach. She should feel something. But there was only numbness now, even when she thought about Cory. What would he do if he knew she was carrying his baby?

She could still hear the rushing water in the creek. The wind had increased and seemed to punish the trees. She pushed herself up and headed back toward the house, each foot crushing the ground in front of the other. She could feel the stubble under her shoes like blunt needles trying to break through.

The back door swung silently as she opened it into the kitchen. Earl had fixed the squeak. He was always fixing things, quickly, before they became a bother.

But he can’t fix this.

Intrigued? Find A Tumbled Stone on Amazon!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Scott M. Shafer eBook Launch!

Kindle eBook launch, Tuesday April 17, 2012
  What Every Dream Means
by
Author Scott M. Shafer

 Get your KINDLE ebook on Tuesday, April 17,  from Amazon and you can download lots of free egifts. Take a peek at what YOU can receive:
 Free Egifts, ONE TIME OFFER!

Don't Forget the John 3:16 Blog Hop May 7-14!!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

What is a Blog Hop?

What is a blog hop?
Basically it is an opportunity to read some awesome blogs (50+ to be exact!) and register for some awesome gifts. Every blog on the hop will be offering a prize drawing. I am offering a $25 Amazon gift card. Since it's a John 3:16 Network Blog Hop, you will be introduced to some amazing Christian authors as well. If that's not enough, the J316 Network will do a random drawing for everyone who does the tour to receive 1 of 2 Kindles donated by members of the Network!!
How do I hop on the tour?
Start with Thomas Blubaugh's blog The Write Trail at #1 then hop to #2 and so on. The list should be on every blog to help you along the way. My blog is #28. The blog hop lasts for a week May 7-14. After the 14th, the prize drawings will be held!
Here's the official spiel:


Only 15 days to go until the
John 3:16 Giveaway Blog Hop
May 7th – 14th!

Join over fifty authors and bloggers who will be offering great books and other prizes on their blogs
during that week. As a reader, you just “hop” from blog to blog and leave a comment and sign up to
win at each blog.

But wait…if you check out every blog you have a chance of winning one of two Kindles!

How’s that for fun?

Tell all your friends and join us May 7th – 14th for the

John 3:16 Marketing Network Giveaway Blog Hop!

See you there!
a Rafflecopter giveaway