New Facebook Contest!

We're having a cool, rainy spell here in VA, so in the spirit of positivity, I'm holding a contest over at my Facebook page. Just post your favorite thing to do to relax on a cool, dreary day, and you'll be entered to win a signed copy of Catching Moondrops and some hot chocolate!

Stop by to join the conversation!

More free e-books!

Check out the Tyndale House Publishers blog to find out about more free e-books!

Free E-Books!

Tyndale House Publishers is offering six e-books free for a limited time. Check them out here!

Fireflies in December Receives Audie Award

The audio version of Fireflies in December received an Audie Award for inspirational fiction at the 2011 awards ceremony in New York last night! The folks at Recorded Books, along with narrator Kate Forbes, have done such a phenomenal job bringing my books to life on audio, and I'm so excited to see them rewarded for it.

The full list of nominees and winners can be found at the Audies website. Congrats to all of them!

Blog Post for Seriously Write

Today, I have the pleasure of being a guest blogger over at Seriously Write. Stop by and read about what this long, crazy journey into publishing has taught me about perspective. And while you're there, check out the great work these ladies are doing to encourage writers on their blog!

2011 Christy Award Nominations

The nominees for the 2011 Christy Awards were announced today. Congratulations to all!


The Christy Advisory Board is pleased to announce nominees in nine categories for the 2011 Christy Awards honoring Christian fiction.

The 2011 Christy Award nominees are:

Contemporary Romance/

Blood Ransom
by Lisa Harris (Zondervan)

Indivisible
by Kristin Heitzmann (WaterBrook Press)

Sworn to Protect
by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House Publishers)


Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas/

The Reluctant Prophet
by Nancy Rue (David C. Cook)

The Thorn
by Beverly Lewis (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

The Waiting
by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Contemporary Standalone/

Almost Heaven
by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers)

Lady in Waiting
by Susan Meissner (WaterBrook Press)

A Season of Miracles
by Rusty Whitener (Kregel Publications)


First Novel/

Crossing Oceans
by Gina Holmes (Tyndale House Publishers)

Heartless
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

A Season of Miracles
by Rusty Whitener (Kregel Publications)


Historical/

Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther
by Ginger Garrett (David C. Cook)

For Time & Eternity
by Allison Pitman (Tyndale House Publishers)

While We’re Far Apart
by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)


Historical Romance/

The Girl in the Gatehouse
by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

She Walks in Beauty
by Siri Mitchell (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Within My Heart
by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)


Suspense/

The Bishop
by Steven James (Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

The Bride Collector
by Ted Dekker (Center Street)

Predator
by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan)


Visionary/

To Darkness Fled
by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press)

Konig’s Fire
by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press)

The Last Christian
by David Gregory (WaterBrook Press)


Young Adult/

The Charlatan’s Boy
by Jonathan Rogers (WaterBrook Press)

The Healer’s Apprentice
by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)

Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book
by Nancy Rue (Zondervan)

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples.

-- Matthew 28:1-8

He is risen!! Happy Easter, everyone!

"At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' - which means, 'My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?' When some of those standing near heard this, they said, 'Listen, He's calling Elijah.' One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 'Now leave Him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take Him down,' he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion who stood there in front of Jesus heard His cry and saw how He died, he said, 'Surely this man was the Son of God!'" -- Mark 15:33-39