Operation First Novel Finalists

The 2010 Operation First Novel finalists have been announced by the Christian Writers Guild! They are:

Sandy Cook - The Darkest Night
Kimberley Graham - The Rocking Horse of Tuscumbia
Timothy Owens - The Search Committee
Diana Prusik - Delivery
Jennifer Slattery - Impossible Choices

The winner will be announced at the 2011 Writing for the Soul conference held February 10-13 in Denver, CO. The winner will receive $20,000 and a contract with Tyndale House Publishers.

Congratulations to all!

Operation First Novel Semifinalists Announced!

Semifinalists Announced for Operation First Novel

The Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild is pleased to announce the 10 semifinalists for the 2010 Operation First Novel contest. In alphabetical order by author, the finalists are:

Sandy Cook, Emporia KS, The Darkest Night
Sandra Hendrickson Esch, San Diego CA, Tracks in the Snow
Kimberley Graham, Memphis TN, The Rocking Horse of Tuscumbia
Allison Martin, Newton NC, The Answer
Timothy Owens, Summerville SC, The Search Committee
Diana Prusik, Sullivan MO, Delivery
Jennifer Slattery, Kansas City MO, Impossible Choices
Kimberly Stokely, Bellevue NE, Winter Trees
Terrie Todd, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada, Silver Suitcase
Beverly Varnado, Athens GA, Give My Love to the Chestnut Trees

The five finalists will be announced January 21, with the winner of the $20,000 and a contract with Tyndale House Publishers announced at the 2011 Writing for the Soul conference in Denver CO. To attend the conference, visit our website to register or call 866.495.5177.

The Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild congratulates our 10 semifinalists, as well as the other 129 aspiring novelists who entered the 2010 contest.

Happy New Year!

So this is it, everyone... the end of another year. And if there's one thing the Lord has worked overtime to teach me this year, it's to be completely dependent on Him. Not on me, not on others, not on circumstances... just Him. It's been a long, slow, sometimes painful process, and I'm certainly still learning. But it's been a journey worth taking.

A lot of us make New Year's resolutions - about anything from losing weight and quitting smoking to setting career goals - but I'm going in a different direction. If I could encourage you to do one thing this year, it would be to go before the Lord and just learn.

Learn about who He is and what He's done for us; what He wants to do for us every second of every day if we'd only back off and let Him. Learn about His words and His promises... and believe in them wholeheartedly.

It's a resolution you'll never regret.

Happy New Year, everyone! Here's to a wonderful 2011!

Merry Christmas!

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests'" (Luke 2:10-14).

"Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end" (Luke 1:30-33).

"Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, an man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him" (Isaiah 53:1-3).

"...By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:11-12).

Wishing all of you a Christmas and New Year blessed by the power of His presence and the miracle of His unfailing love.

Fireflies in December freebie!

Sandwiched in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is the beginning of a month of free Fireflies in December!

All you e-readers can download the book for free at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Happy reading!

Catching Moondrops Nomination!

Catching Moondrops has been nominated for Best Inspirational Romance in the Romantic Times 2010 Book Review Awards!

Co-nominees in this category are Lynn Austin for While We're Far Apart, Liz Curtis Higgs for Here Burns My Candle, and DiAnn Mills for A Woman Called Sage. Congratulations, ladies!

Winners will be announced in April, 2011 at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention.

Book Signing!

On October 23rd, I'll be signing at the Lifeway Christian Store in Glen Allen, VA, 9840-A West Broad St. Stop by between 11am and 1pm to celebrate Christian Store Day with me!

Save the Date!

October 1st is a big day for me as it's the official release date for Catching Moondrops! Don't forget to grab your copy!

It's also the deadline for entering the Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and you all know how worthwhile I think it is to enter. Don't miss out! You never know what might happen!