Leanna’s sister recommended that she write, since she ‘wrote in her journal all the time.’ The idea took root and began to grow. So after five years of teaching, she quit and started writing, with no clue about the book business. Ignorance is bliss. If she’d known the odds against her, she might not have ever started writing.
For about three years, she wrote with a collaborator, but because she had so many ideas she began to write more stories on her own. She suffered numerous rejections. Deservedly so. But she was growing as a writer and learning. She went to as many conferences as she could manage. During that time, she met her future husband, fell in love and became engaged. She also began to final in contests and then actually began to win! The contests helped her get noticed by editors and agents. In March, the year Braveheart won the Best Picture Oscar, Victor/Victoria opened on Broadway, she sold her first book. It was her Cinderella year. She sold her book, got married and won RWA’s Golden Heart Award in Hawaii.
She wrote six books between her first baby’s birth and when the second baby turned one. Then she hit a wall. Not literally. But creatively. It’s not that she didn’t have any ideas, but her ideas didn’t fit the romance market. These new characters, random and weird as they were, began to take over the part of her brain that wasn’t domesticated. These stories were about all types of women, and so she began to let her writing grow in new and different ways.
Leanna Ellis sold more than 1.3 million romantic novels writing as Leanna Wilson, winning a Readers’ Choice award and the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award for her work. Elvis Takes a Back Seat is the first book published under her married name, marking a new creative direction in her writing. Like Francine Rivers before her, Leanna has left behind a successful career as an author of secular romances to write novels of faith that glorify God. A former schoolteacher, Leanna is now a homeschool mom and lives with her husband and children in Keller, Texas.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Bryn Seymour was nine years old when her mother died under mysterious circumstances on the same day Apollo 11 made its historic lunar landing. Forty years later—divorced, working as an obituary writer, and duly cynical—she meets Howard, a conspiracy theorist who knew her mom and believes a small Texas town may hold clues to what really fueled her demise. Seeking closure, Bryn goes along for this men-in-black ride. But upon meeting Howard’s son Sam, an outspoken Christian, she can’t decide whose beliefs are more pie-in-the-sky.
The gravity of life has pulled Bryn down for decades. But a perfect love could be her first step to soaring. It only happens once in a blue moon.
Debbie Viguié has been writing for most of her life. She has experimented with poetry and nonfiction, but her true passion lies in writing novels. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing from UC Davis. While at Davis she met her husband, Scott, at auditions for a play.
Debbie’s love for writing brought her from working as a church secretary to a successful career writing supernatural fiction. She is the author of Midnight Pearls, Scarlet Moon, and Charmed: Pied Piper, and the young adult Sweet Seasons series. She also is coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Wicked book series.
Debbie and Scott now live on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. When Debbie is not writing and Scott has time off they love to indulge their passion for theme parks.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Cindy’s church is getting ready to celebrate Easter, and Jeremiah’s Temple is preparing for Passover when Cindy literally stumbles over the body of an unknown man lying dead in the sanctuary. The church was locked, and a bloody cross necklace on the floor seems to be the only clue. The killer is likely a member of the congregation, but there are hints that similar deaths have happened in the past. Are Cindy and Jeremiah dealing with a serial killer? They have to unravel the clues before Easter Sunday arrives and more people die.
Cindy and Jeremiah come from two different worlds, even though they work right next door to each other. Cindy is a strong Christian who lives a normal but somewhat dull life, working as a church secretary. Jeremiah is a Reformed rabbi with a mysterious past full of danger and excitement. But one eventful Easter/Passover week, the two find themselves working together to solve a murder and stop a serial killer from striking again. Solving the mystery should put an end to their alliance, but the church secretary and the rabbi quickly find themselves enmeshed in another mystery. Soon the two form a friendly alliance and friendship, exploring personal history and faith and growing closer with each passing adventure. Despite their differences Cindy and Jeremiah find a lot of common ground.
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I got this book the other day but couldn’t remember where I’d requested it so had no idea when it was “due”. If you know anything about the past week for me; you know I’ve been super busy. I really do want to read this one though.
1) I don’t know about the rest of the country; but election is in full swing here in Texas. I sure wish that it would be illegal to put more than one sign for a candidate on public property. I’m getting a little tired of all the signs. Fouruk must be proud of his supporters though….
And what is with none of the Governor candidates saying what party they belong to in their ads. Seriously! I want to know if you are Rep or a Dem. I need to know.
2)I have a rewards bank account. And I just recently found out that I had enough points to get a $50 gift certificate from Amazon! $50! Awesome. I’ve been wanting to get a white bedspread for my bed. I’ve been waffling between how to decorate my room for awhile now. I finally decided that I am going to just embrace the white walls and go white….white…white. And using the gerber daisies (as seen on my front page) and other bright items to give a hint of color. That way when the mood strikes; if I want to replace the theme with say brown and blue pillows… I can. So today I got the certificate. Now I get to go shopping.
And this concludes my first blog post in quite awhile…..
ETA 30 minutes later – looks like I won’t be buying a comforter from Amazon. All the ones I am finding have some very bad reviews
One of the benefits of joining ACFW is that I’ve gotten to know of a lot of writers that I didn’t even know existed. One of those authors is Janice Thompson. While I don’t believe I have ever met Janice but I’ve learned from the ACFW Bookclub, Loop, and Facebook that she is a funny, funny lady in real life. Therefore I knew, when given the opportunity to review her latest book, Swinging On a Star, that I wanted to jump at the chance.
While I once again violated my “If I haven’t read the preceding books in a series – don’t review the most recent, “ this time I really didn’t mind. While Swinging on a Star isn’t exactly stand-alone its clear that most of the events of book one were tied up. Therefore I never felt lost, confused, though I did miss a bit of what was obviously Bella’s growth in the first book.
Bella Rossi’s life is nearing perfection. Not only does she have the perfect guy, but she’s also running a successful wedding planning business and is about to plan its most ambitious wedding yet – a renaissance-themed fairy tale come true, complete with period costumes and foods, horse-drawn carriages, and even a castle. There’s only one hitch. The best man just happens to be Hollywood’s hottest and most eligible bachelor, and he’s showing an interest in Bella. Oh and did we mention he’s staying at her house to avoid the paparazzi? With all the pressure surround the wedding, Bella’s not sure she’s going to make it through. Add her star struck sister and feuding aunt and uncle, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster – and a lot of laughs
I will admit, because I hadn’t read the first book, I wasn’t all that invested in Bella and DJ’s relationship; so when Brock showed up I really didn’t care much where Janice had decided to go. And of course I won’t tell you what happens. But the last couple of chapters? Total grins on my face.
It takes a lot to get me to laugh out loud In a book – but Janice forces me to laugh – even in public. I appreciate that Bella actually hears God’s prodding voice in several situations. Bella’s spiritual walk feels very authentic.
Oh and that Renaissance wedding? If I ever get married; I know what theme I want now….
Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and native Texan. An experienced wedding coordinator herself, Thompson brings alive in her books the everyday drama and humor of getting
married. She is the author of Fools Rush In and lives in Texas.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet. For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com
Available January 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group
FCC Disclaimer: This book was provided to me free of charge for the purposes of a review. No promise of a positive review was given nor implied (though I was pretty sure I would love the book before I ever recieved it)
Christa Allan, a true Southern woman who knows any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, weaves stories of unscripted grace with threads of hope, humor, and heart.
The mother of five and grandmother of three, Christa teaches high school English. She and her husband, Ken live in Abita Springs, Louisiana where they play golf, dodge hurricanes, and anticipate retirement.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Leah Thornton’s life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But already sloshed from one-too-many drinks at a faculty party, Leah cruises the supermarket aisles in search of something tasty to enhance her Starbucks—Kahlua and a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice shatters the facade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears.
When her best friend Molly gets in Leah’s face about her refusal to deal with her life, Leah is forced to make a decision. Can this brand-conscious socialite walk away from the country club into 28 days of rehab? Leah is sitting in the office of the local rehab center facing an admissions counselor who fails to understand the most basic things, like the fact that apple juice is not a suitable cocktail mixer.
Rehab is no picnic, and being forced to experience and deal with the reality of her life isn’t Leah’s idea of fun. Can she leave what she has now to gain back what she needs? Joy, sadness, pain and a new srength converge, testing her marriage, her friendships and her faith.
But through the battle she finds a reservoir of courage she never knew she had, and the loving arms of a God she never quite believed existed.
Phew, they will replace the DVR no charge to me. I figured they would since I've had it for so long. Not fun when SMOKE starts billowing out 102009/09/10
On hold waiting for DirecTV customer service. *Sigh* I've already been on hold for I don't know how long.... 102009/09/10
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