Excited About What I'm Reading!

My to-read pile beside my bed is so large right now that I've had to relegate some of the books to my closet shelf! I'm currently reading an advanced reader copy of this book.

And I'm really enjoying it! This is Grand Central's first inspirational historical romance - and it's a good one. I'm excited to be part of the team with my WWI series and I will definitely be giving Jennifer's book my recommendation!

What are you excited about reading?

*Today Jessica Nelson is reviewing Lady Outlaw on her blog and doing a giveaway!

 

A Pic and a Post!

(Look what we found in Walmart this weekend!)

Today I'm answering questions over on Melissa Tagg's blog, which is quite an honor. She has a fabulous blog, plus Melissa is funny and nice!

Come find out more about my upcoming WWI series with Grand Central Publishing and enter to win a copy of LADY OUTLAW.

*To see where else I've been this month, check out the side bar for all the details on the LADY OUTLAW blog tour for September!

No Sufficient Words!

As I write this Thursday night, I feel tired and humbled. My kids got to bed way too late - like hours late in my 2-year-old's case :), and my kitchen sink is still full of today's dishes. But it doesn't matter. What matters tonight and in the days ahead is the gratitude I feel right now.

Thank you to everyone who came tonight to the launch party for LADY OUTLAW. Thank you to everyone who helped us pull this party off with a bang. Thank you to everyone for your support! It is truly amazing, humbling and encouraging.

Big Announcement!

For those unable to attend the launch party, I wanted to share my big announcement here! I will be publishing a three-book, inspirational romance WWI series with Grand Central Publishing. The first book is slated for release in March 2014 - the 100-year anniversary of the start of WWI. Grand Central has been doing romance for a long time, but they're just starting into inspirational romance and I'm so excited to be part of that venture.

Launch Party Photos!

(Old fashioned candy jars & candy -

these play a role in Caleb and Jennie's first meeting)

 (Me talking about the book)

(Cake with little cowboy hats, horseshoes and cacti on it)

(Me and my critique group - Elana Johnson, Sara Olds & Ali Cross -

love these ladies!)

(Lee Caldwell doing a horse -training demonstration)

(Me signing books - no hand cramps yet!)

More LADY OUTLAW Fun!

- If you'd like to win a copy of LADY OUTLAW, hop over to the blog of my good friend and critique partner Ali Cross for a giveaway!

- Check out Clean Romance Reviews today for her review of LADY OUTLAW.

A Dream Come True

Eight years ago this summer, when my oldest son was just a couple of months old, I began writing my first book. This was my first serious attempt to accomplish a goal I'd written in my journal at the age of 11 - write and publish a book.

(Me and my son by the Atlantic Ocean - Sept 2004)

I wrote during naptime, went to my first writers' conference and finished my book. I wrote another book (which became Lady Outlaw). I had another son and wrote another book. I lost a baby girl at 20 weeks gestation, then later had my second daughter - all while reaching for this dream.

Three times I had a manuscript with a publisher - and all three times I received a "no." I queried most of  last year and racked up more rejections.

This wasn't the quick jump to publication I might have envisioned early on.

The end of last summer, I hit a real low. I knew this was what I was supposed to be doing, but it wasn't happening like I'd hoped or thought.

If I could have only seen what would happen four months later - an acceptance of publication from Harlequin and signing with my agent. I couldn't see it, but Someone could. Through all the struggle and rejection, the Lord was right with me. He knew it would be eight years of work and growth and triumph and failure. But He knew that it was exactly what my journey needed to be - for me. 

Today I feel an abundance of gratitude to Him, to my family and to all the friends and family who've helped with fulfilling this dream in any way. Thank YOU!

Who's been the biggest help in reaching for your dreams & goals? What is the biggest stumbling block to fulfilling our dreams & goals?

*Today my good friend and critique partner Elana Johnson is giving away 3 copies of Lady Outlaw on her blog!

*And check back here on Friday - I'll have pictures from my Western-themed launch party happening tomorrow night!

Weddings on My Mind

While we're waiting for Season 3 of Downton Abbey to start up (still FIVE more months to go), my husband and I discovered My Fair Wedding. We watched the first season and now we're onto Season 2.

The premise of the show is that wedding planner David Tutera shows up three weeks before a couple's big day and changes whatever he wants - the venue, the bridal gown, the food. Typically he expands on the concept of the bride and makes it into something amazing.

It's a fun show to watch - and with my anniversary coming up next month - I've been thinking about my wedding. I wasn't one who knew from girlhood what theme or decor I wanted for my wedding. After my husband and I got engaged, we set a date in September. Because I loved the fall season, the only thing I was definite on was having a picture with the fall leaves. Not a lot of leaves have changed here by the end of September, so getting that picture took some hiking - in my bridal gown - but we got some great fall shots.

I didn't really care what the colors were or the flowers - just something that tied into fall. If I could go back, I would probably have more of an opinion and maybe picked a different dress. But the day was amazing - it couldn't have gone any better - including riding away from our reception in an old-fashioned car!

Have you watched My Fair Wedding? What wedding concepts would you change about your big day, if you could go back? If a wedding is in the future, what sort of theme do you want?

**Also be sure to check out the LADY OUTLAW giveaway that Joanne Bischof is hosting on her blog!

Thoughts on Unbroken

I finished reading Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption over the weekend. While very raw in parts, this book was incredibly inspiring.

The book follows the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner and WWII bombardier, who was stranded on a life raft on the Pacific Ocean for more than 40 days, then captured and thrown into a Japanese POW camp. One of my favorite parts talks about the attitudes of Louis and his friend Phil while on the raft. Though they recognized their dire situation, they were able to remain optimistic, envisioning a future beyond their present circumstances. The third man on the raft, Mac, could not picture a future and was haunted by thoughts of dying out on the ocean. It made me think what my outlook would be in that situation.

The author briefly explores the idea of whether or not we're born with innate optimistic or pessimistic outlooks, then goes on to say the men's different attitudes ultimately turned out to be self-fulfilling. That really struck me. What a powerful reminder that we choose how we react to life's circumstances and challenges. We can't always choose what happens to us, but we can choose faith and optimism or fear and despair.

Just reading Zamperini's tragic but incredible story has caused me to view things in my own life differently. I've found myself more inclined to tell myself "things will work out," even if it's different than I might want or expect. I've thought more about the blessings in my life and the immense gratitude I have for those men and women who've served in the military for this country. It was definitely a thought-provoking read!

Have you read or heard of Unbroken? Do you think we are born with a tendency toward optimism or pessimism? What book have you read lately that caused you to think long after you finished it?

Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones

*In an effort to spread the word about my favorite type of book - inspirational romance - I'm doing Christian Fiction Fridays here on my blog where I share my recommendations for books in this genre.

Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones

What It's About:

Maggie Montgomery lives a life of adventure. Her job as a cinematographer takes her from one exotic locale to the next. When Maggie's not working, she loves to rappel off cliffs or go skydiving. Nothing frightens her. Nothing, that is, except Ivy, Texas, where a family emergency pulls her back home to a town full of bad memories, painful secrets, and people Maggie left far behind . . . for a reason.

Forced to stay longer than she intended, Maggie finds her family a complete mess, including the niece her sister has abandoned. Ten-year-old Riley is struggling in school and out of control at home. The only person who can really handle the pint-sized troublemaker is Conner, the local vet and Ivy's most eligible bachelor. But Conner and Maggie keep butting heads--he's suspicious of her and, well, she doesn't rely on anyone but herself.

As Maggie humorously fumbles her way from one mishap to another, she realizes she's going to need to ask for help from the one person who scares her the most. To save one little girl--and herself--can Maggie let go of her fears and just trust God?

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this story! It has everything I want in a good, contemporary romance - lots of laugh-out-loud humor, real growth in the main character and great romantic chemistry. It's both entertaining and thought-provoking. Maggie is hilarious and definitely someone you want to cheer on, and Connor is the perfect match for her.

Find it here on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.