Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match!

What a lovely time and what lovely people I had the opportunity to meet over the last few weeks at book signings across Indiana! Some were slow and some were busy, but they were all a great match for me! Thanks to all the owners, manager and employees of the stores for your graciousness! And to all the people who came and bought a book!

Here are a few photos:

My good friend Sherri and I at BAM (Books A Million)

Living Truth Bookstore in Noblesville. Brenda (next to me)

has such a ministry there and her employees were so kind!

Judy with my best friend since Jr. High - Lisa

Aunt Ann, me and my cousin's friend

Lisa, Judy, Ann, Candice, Me and my mom-in-law

Deann

Bible Bookstore in Vincennes, Indiana

The Bible Bookstore gang and me - Chad has

such a nice store!

The Open Door in Terre Haute. Lynette actually

came to see me! She said she bought Snow Angel

from CBD and loved it, then saw that I was doing

a signing and asked if she could bring in her book

for me to sign. She was so sweet!

Wonderful ladies at The Open Door (I've got

to remember to write down names next time!)

Eric, me and Mike - cool guys that came all the

way from Olney, IL to see me. Thanks!

Sweet girl at the Open Door.

Peggy and her team at the Open Door. Thanks guys,

you were wonderful!

Snow Angel Wins Award

Friday I found out that Snow Angel won the award for best fiction in the religion/literary catagory at USA Book News.

A complete list of winners and finalists in each category can be found at:
http://www.usabooknews.com/bestbooksawards2007.html

All I can say is Glory to God in the highest! If anything good comes out of me, it is HIM!

And . . .

Thank you!!!

The Perfect Day

It was the perfect day.

The temperature hummed at a pleasant 70 degrees. The leaves, as I drove along the winding hills and curves of our neighborhood, taking my son to the BMV to get his first license plate, were the color of fire.

Autumn is a slow burn. It takes its time, like a man just before the winter of life, shuffling a little, making it last to the last drop. A fire turns to ash so quickly. But these leaves will slowly drop, turn brown and curling, be covered in snowflakes, their strength hidden for awhile and then produce life for the young things of spring. And I realize . . . could we ask for anything more? I stare at the molten gold, the burnished orange and, my favorite, the brilliant reds from behind my cool, white-framed sunglasses – a summertime indulgence - I find I'm thankful to be alive.

"Do you see it?" I ask my seventeen-year-old who seems to have all the answers . . . who has had answers for everything since he was two. "Do you see the leaves?"
He glances up from his I-Pod.
And for a moment, I can see that he does.
I smile and take the next turn.

Later, I get back from a book signing to find a neighbor in need. She has lived across the street from me for years, been married and raised her children there for years . . . now standing on my front step telling me about another woman taking her place in the heart of her husband . . . and all I can think is, how does this happen? Thirty years lost in a new, younger woman’s eyes.

It makes me afraid. Afraid to count myself among the inoculated, the safe, the sure. Life is anything but sure.

I spent the rest of that brilliant day helping pack and load and unload into an apartment. I passed those same leaves and while they were still brilliant, my tears now blurred the color making it a washed out world. How many times had I stood in her kitchen talking and laughing . . . but today, I watched as she pulled out the house key from her pocket and left it on the counter saying, “Goodbye, my kitchen,” my home, my life as I’ve know it. She admonished me to be strong when I’d cried then – yes, she told me to be strong. But alone in my car with her potted plants swaying in my rear-view mirror, I couldn’t be strong. I could only cry and try, to drive.

I can still see her face. See her anger and her brightness at the same time. See her determination and her brokenness. See her, my friend.

I will call her. I will visit her new home. I will invite her over and we will, together, shield our eyes from the foreign car in her driveway . . . but I pray . . . dear God, I hope, she won’t be robbed of Your greatness, Your color, Your autumn extravagant show. Cause, sometimes, some days, it’s all we have.

The perfect day.

Do You Like Writing Contest?

I found this great list of current writing contests here http://www.novelandshortstory.com/blog/PermaLink,guid,36568afb-bfb8-4f3e-9e4b-1535bc74b042.aspx
Let me know if you win!!

Happy Writing!

Jamie

Just Trying to Keep Breathing!

I recieved this amazing review last night in my inbox from Rel in Austrailia!! http://relzreviewz.blogspot.com/ (Austrailia!!)

"Elizabeth Smith doesn't know where she has come from but her future goals are clear ~ she just didn't count on a storm interfering with those plans. Noah Wesley loves the solitary wilderness that is his Alaskan home but when God calls him to open his front door during a fearsome blizzard, the unconscious woman lying at his feet unlocks a chamber in his heart previously undiscovered. While drawn to each other during Elizabeth's recovery, Noah knows he can't compete with her yearning to stake a claim in the Yukon gold fields. Noah fears for Elizabeth's safety as she pursues a perilous course but it is a more evil threat from her past that may haunt them forever.Snow Angel captured my imagination from beginning to end. It is an epic romance with fast paced intrigue and an emotional intensity rarely achieved. Jamie Carie's gifted characterisation is of a calibre expected from a multi-published author not one writing her debut novel. Noah and Elizabeth have enormous depth, with appealing attributes alongside tangible weaknesses that evoke an emotional and compassionate response. Jamie does not shy away from portraying genuine romantic tension and desire and the dilemma that poses for Noah, a man of faith and integrity experiencing passion and attraction.Jamie's prose is elegant yet accessible, placing the reader amongst the icy shards of the blizzard and the muck and deprivation of the gold fields. Faith and belief is interwoven seamlessly, gently revealing the loving heart of God amidst the heartache of loss and loneliness. Prepare to be swept away by this powerful tale of love and sacrifice and become a devoted reader of anything Jamie Carie pens in the future.Snow Angel is available now from B&H Publishing Group."
Praise God! That's all I can say. Falling to my knees, tears falling from my eyes. Praise You Lord!

Women's Retreat Update

I went to a women's retreat last weekend. I hadn't gone to a "Women's Retreat" in a long while. A part of me likes them and a part of me . . . well, dislikes them. Women are tough. There always seems like there is a wall of judgment that I have to scale or break through before I feel like I connect. I have had enough conversations with other women to know that I'm not the only one to feel this way. It doesn't matter what we look like on the outside, we all grapple with this thing called sisterhood. But this retreat gave me hope. I'm learning (again) that if I put myself out there I will find acceptance. That we are all scrabbling with the same issues, the same angst, this crazy female life creed of sacrifice and love.

I grew up the eldest of five: me, three brothers and then Jennifer (in the photo), my baby sister and fifteen years younger. I didn't have much of a relationship with Jen until she reached college age. Now, I wouldn't trade her for anything on this Earth. Not anything. She walks such a bold, blazing path. She says things out loud that I'm afraid to think. Check out her blog.

Then I had three sons. I wanted a daughter with each one, but God knows me and knows what I can handle.

Women are hard won.

But worth it.

A big thanks to Stacy for all your help over the weekend! You were wonderful!

And a big thanks to all the women at the conference who embraced me and Snow Angel! What a great time we had at the Reader's Discussion class! A supportive home church is an amazing thing to have! God bless you!!

Oh and the worship leader, Sarah Scharbrough, was fabulous!

And The Winners Are . . .

Right after my last post, I received my box of books! So, drumroll please . . .

The five winners of the Big Book Give Away are:

Vail
Marcia
David Fry
Patricia
Freda

Congratulations!!

Oh, and for those who didn't win this round, don't forget that if you are signed up for my newsletter you will automatically be entered each month in a drawing that starts in October! Good Luck and God Bless!

Big Book Give Away Update

For those patiently awaiting the results of the drawing of five copies of Snow Angel, I must apologize!! Remember when I said I expected to receive my box any day? Well, I'm still waiting. It seems that Snow Angel is selling out fast enough that my publisher can't keep the book stocked. I heard yesterday that a third print run has been ordered, and that I should have my books by the end of October. Thanks for being so patient. I will draw the names just as soon as I get the copies!

Jamie as the Dog Whisperer - NOT!!!

Okay, I'm surrounded by males in my house . . . a husband, three sons, one male cat and one very male dog named Leo. I well know testosterone . . . manly competition, ribald humor and snacks that disappear before I can get them into the pantry. They roll their eyes or laugh behind their hands at each other when they catch me crying during a movie or worse, a commercial! They put up with my steadfast belief that I should own some dishes only for company and that stopping at a stop-light to check my make-up isn't a mortal sin. But as much as they tease and love me despite of my other world thinking, I can't seem to get beyond the fact that THEY ALL THINK THEY ARE SMARTER THAN ME!!!

The dog, Leo (the Lion) is no exception. He's a great dog, so good with the kids, but he is terrified of thunderstorms. So, the other day, I was trying to get the overgrown puppy to go into the garage because it had started sprinkling. Now, let me back up and tell you that we had to build a fence in order to keep him in our own backyard. And even with the fence, he once, recently and during a thunderstorm, escaped out of abstract fear. Appearantly, he found a Fed Ex truck with the back doors open and crawled in amonst the packages to cower. The nice Fed Ex man called the number on his tag and brought him home. So now anytime a storm is coming, we are quick to crate him. Anyway, this day, I was attempting to get him into the garage and he was pulling that passive/aggressive male stance. (I'll just lie here knowing that she can't lift my 100+ pounds and do anything about it). I spoke in an authortative voice. I pleaded. I promised treats, "Want a treat Leo? Want a treat?" He rolled his eyes at me. It's a look I'm familiar with.

The phone just happened to be in hand so I had the brilliant idea of calling my husband at work and having him order Leo into the garage by phone.

Tony didn't pick up. Plan B.

The last few times I had tried to get Leo to do something that he didn't want to do and Tony was home I had called, "Honey!!!" (Really loud) just like I do when the boys are giving me trouble. Sure enough, as soon as Tony rounded the corner of the hall, Leo would leap up and charge into obediance mode. That's when brilliance struck:

"Honey!" I yelled as if he was there.
Leo hopped up from the ground, trotted through the gate and then paused at the garage door as if suspecting my game.
"Honey!" I shouted even louder and madder.
Tail tucked between his legs, ear down, he slinked into the garage and plopped down.
Thank God dogs, males, (did I type that out loud???) are so dumb . . .

And we women? Well, we have our ways and the knowlege that they can't ever seem to quite figure us out!

Snow Angel - Flying Off the Shelves!
I just received word from the lovely Julie over at B&H that Snow Angel has already sold out the first print run (and it's not even the street date of September 1st yet!). I know that my local Borders and Barnes & Noble stores sold out in a few days (thanks family and friends!!). Amazon showed it had "3 copies left" and then "1 copy left" and then "on order" for a few days. Now, I believe they have them back in stock!

Speaking of Amazon, have you seen that prolific reviewer Harriet Klausner? I was hoping that she would review Snow Angel, and I found today that she had! http://harrietklausner.wwwi.com/review/snow_angel_carie
Thank you Harriet!!

It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's a Snow Angel!...

Okay, it sometimes seems I've been waiting for this moment my whole life. To walk in a local bookstore and see my book displayed? Wow! But really, when I was a girl, I didn't even dream that I would ever be a writer.

There was a girl on my bus. She was blond and very pretty and popular. And while she didn’t really talk to me much (I was the weird preacher’s daughter) we shared in common the fact that we both read voraciously. I would watch her out of the corner of my eye from those high backed seats, reading some novel, admiring her new clothes, her perfectly straight, long blond hair, her confidence. I don’t exactly remember if she told me or I heard from the grapevine, but I knew that she wanted to be an author. The thought that I might be an author never crossed my mind. Those things were for important, special people and I was not that. I thought that when I grew up that I would "do hair" like my mom, or go into "business" like my first boyfriend said I should do. I couldn’t imagine anything bigger…

But there was always something in me that wanted to impact the world for Christ. My parents laid down their lives to present the gospel - they still do. And I think, more than anything else, it was that example (they weren't perfect!!) but it was that heart for the kingdom of God that lead me to writing. And so, when yesterday I walked into a Borders Book Store and saw my book for the first time sitting on a table IN THE FRONT - I started shaking.

We went to my brother's house an hour later for my nephew's birthday party, and I was still shaking. I am realizing that this isn't my "dream come true" because I never would have dared dream it. He just did it. His purpose. His will. His vision. For His glory.

And in that moment of discovering HIM, I can only fall to my knees and say . . . I am so unworthy, I am so unworthy. (And human, cause yes, I kinda, sorta, hope that that beautiful girl will visit Borders, recognize my name, and pick up a story called Snow Angel. ;)

Shoes and Flowers and a Few of my Favorite Things...

Okay, if you know me at all, you know that I LOVE beauty.

I'm the kind of girl that compliments everyone around me about something. To some people, this may seem as some kind of false flatery, some brown-nosing effort . . . but NO! Let me assure you that (if I've ever complimented you!) I SEE YOUR BEAUTY!!

I see it everywhere: In a friend's smile, the color of their lipstick, the way their whole face lights up with laughter, eyes tearing, or a classy outfit, the texture of the fabric, the put-together accessories, the color that shows off a face. Your home decor, how you have carefully arranged the mantle, the candlesticks and the paintings and the color of the walls. I notice these things in seconds of entering a room. I sense the mood you've created and I can't help but comment on it.

I love a toddler's chubby thighs, the way their stomachs protroud and hang out without a care in the world. Or a plate of artfully arranged food (that I can't wait to destroy to eat!) but pause to memorize its elegant setting. The sunset that I pull my Wii playing boys to the window and say, "See! Do you see that?"

Flowers: The texture and rich color of a rose or the delicate petals of a daisy, the feel of a straw-flower agasint my finger tips as I water it.

I love a phrase, whether spoken or written, that leaves me agast with glee, or a caught moment when some music is playing and I catch my husband's eyes. I love a sleek car, a hot-rod, my eyes following and admiring as it takes the curve ahead of us. How about a wedding, there is nothing like a bride's smile - a groom's pride. Or a beauty of another kind, the sad, pressed down, melting of a funeral.

Then, there's the poem, encompassing it all. And SONG . . . especially song. The whole world loves a song.

And then, there is paintings . . . paintings that catch and hold for us a moment of caught time.

And so, please allow me to introduce you to Elena Feliciano . . . one of my favorite artists . . . an artist of beauty.

You can find her complete porfolio at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_8896_profile_portfolio__1_1_G.htm

Snow Angel Now Available on Amazon!

When Noah Wesley heard the faint sound outside the door of his remote Alaskan mountain cabin during a violent nighttime blizzard, it was no less than the voice of God that urged him to take a closer look, soon to discover his snow angel.

Unconscious and more than half frozen to death, her name, as Noah would later learn after boldly saving her life, was Elizabeth, a beautiful young woman, fragile yet fierce, and intent on discovering gold like so many others in that region during the late 1800s.

But why Elizabeth was so drawn to the gold, and why she would chase it even through a pounding storm that no man would dare face, was a secret to be shared with no one else, not even at the invitation of Noah's d deep blue trusting eyes. First time novelist Jamie Carie pens a can't-put-down debut in Snow Angel, a masterfully romantic story wherein cold and lonely hearts risk everything to be forever warmed.

Ha! After my rant about selling God, I find out that Snow Angel is available on Amazon early (was supposed to be September 1st)! My husband keeps telling me to make the announcement on my blog and to tell all my friends, and I'm like, but I just complained about harassing people to buy Christian products! Oh well, God's timing is perfect even if I can't always figure Him out! LOL!

So please consider placing an order on Amazon. I hope it truly blesses many people!!

Selling God
As I dive into the marketing process for Snow Angel, sometimes I pause . . . am I just trying to sell God to people?
I turn on Christian radio and Christian TV and I feel . . . harassed.
I walk out to the mailbox to get my mail and there is something from this person and that, all Christians, all with great messages, but always asking for some investment in their ministry. Buy this CD, buy this book, buy this teaching tape, sign up for my newsletter, look at my catalog, BUY THIS... BUY THIS . . . BUY THIS . . . and CHANGE YOUR LIFE . . . you will be okay if you will only BUY THIS!

Then I think of Mother Theresa - a life spilled out. I heard a story about her. There was this missionary group of young people from the states visiting Calcutta. They ministered to the poor. They visited the sick. They hoped to see Mother Theresa. But they didn't. And then, on the way home in the airport they suddenly, inexplicably ran into her. "Oh, Mother Theresa. We wanted to meet you! We've been here ministering to the poor and sick. We're so happy to meet you!"
She nodded and smiled at them, her face wreathed in wrinkles.
Then they asked, "Tell us! What can we do to help you in your work?"
They waited breathlessly for her answer, knowing that she would say something to spur them on for the years to come.
"Stay." She said simply.
I imagine that she saw the look of shock on their young, American faces and then smiled a small smile and turned away. I can see her turning back and waving at them, saying goodbye. She'd seen that face many, many times before and it was no surprise.
I can't imagine that I would have stayed....
Then I think of JESUS . . . he said something similair. "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." (Mark 8:34-35, NIV)

I cringe and grieve and wrestle with it all.

I have to face it.

God may care less if I reach multitudes through my books then I hand out water to the few in my circle to give water to - my family, my friends and neighbors and even strangers that he puts in my path. I know God gave me this gift of writing to impact a world, but what if I neglect MY world. I am so weak and grasping for answers sometimes. There's so much to read and hear and do . . .
I need You. I need You. Fill me Lord. I need You.
This is the best prayer I have for today.
Maybe tomorrow I will be more eloquent, more true to Your word and filled with faith.
But today is just an ordinary day of lack and need.

Big Book Giveaway!

Any day now, I will recieve a big box of beautiful books! I can hardly wait to open it and get my hands on the final copy of Snow Angel. It's been so long in coming . . .

To celebrate, I would like to give away five free copies! To be included in the drawing, just drop me a comment to this blog entry with your name and email address (so I can notify you if you win!) All I ask in return is that you leave a review on Amazon, CBD, B&H's site or your own blog. Thanks and Good Luck!

First Interview!
Whoo-hoo!

A special thanks to Gina Holmes for giving me my first author interview! You can visit her blog at http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/ where the good folks at Novel Journey cover all the latest and greatest in the Christian book industry. Gina has lots of coverage on ICRS and the Christy Awards too. (I hear they call her the Barbara Walters of the CBA!)

Please comment on the interview on her site!

Peace,

Jamie

Simply Amazing Video . . .

Saving Lindsay Lohan

Earlier this week as I spun up my MSN homepage, I saw the mug shot of Lindsay Lohan. The look in her eyes made my heart drop. Oh, my dear, I thought with sudden tears pricking my eyes. I read the article which, after giving the details of her arrest, stated that jail may be her only salvation.

As a Christian you would think I would have some answers for her. Some pat Christian phrase that might reach in and rescue her.

But I don't.

I don't know if I'm jaded and tired of hearing the cliches of quick fixes, or if I've just seen too much. When I have seen God's hand working (or the times when He seems silent) it's rarely what I might have expected to believe He would do. The God I hear about and the God I see in action are often too very different Beings.

There is this one thing that I know: I have a love for her that wells up in me everytime I hear her name. I don't know this beautiful, young woman. I probably never will, but for some reason, God wants me involved. The only tool at my disposal is prayer.

So I am publically pledging to pray for her every day for the next few months (more if I feel I'm not finished). I don't know what to pray, I don't know how to heal and restore her, but God does. And all He is asking me to do is spill out a little of myself on her behalf.

To My Friends...






I fail

I know the moment
when you discover my secret
That I am not enough
it cuts me
as it does you

I see my weakness
of time and forbearance and lifting wing
I know my lack better than you
I've lived with it time and time again
I see its shadow
casting o're your face, and his and his, and her's and her's...
how I wasn't there
how I turned away
torn
toward some other need
be it mine or my closest ones
or some little thing like watered flowers and email tolls

I grieve
I will never be enough
I will never match up to the need
even in my small line of held hands
My choices are tick and time
Selfish and small

How great the gap
How little strength we are given for it
The ignored phone call
The closed face
I want to be all you thought me to be
But that person is vacant
strained and bleeding and bare

Need weighs like a mill-stone
Where is the Lord?
The Great I AM?
The Beginning and the End?
Where is the still, small voice?
The Prince of Peace?

I have failed so many
I have failed so many
Hear my lament
I have failed so many opportunities that You have given me
Forgive me
The need is so great

Come
Come quickly
Oh, Knight in righteous armor
Oh, Glorious One, clothed in glory
Oh, Redeemer and Healer and Breath of Life
Come quickly

Come and rescue your Bride

Then I see a shadow
it's a Cross
His body slain upon it
nailed by the grasping and panting and wanting
He knew it all upon his frail frame
He took it all away
Up . . .Up . . . unto the right hand of the Father
How He bore it I cannot know
But He did
LOVE
He bought us and carried us and knew us
He lived each of our lives and then brought them to an ending
an eternal beginning with His father
so that we might bask with Him
In that Light
Forever

Mistaken Identity

You move into a new home and see your neighbors for the first time. You wave, hoping to catch their eye and make a good first impression, but either they didn’t see or don’t care. Deflated, you turn away. Negative thoughts spring to mind. “They must be snobs. Great, now I won’t have any friends here.”
You go to the mall and see a pack of teenagers, skater dudes with emu haircuts and black clothes. They weave into your child, nearly knocking him down. You clamp your teeth together and give them a look. “Those kids are up to no good. Where are the parents?”
A new employee shows up to work that you’ve only known on email. He/she is vastly overweight. “Wow. No self-control there.” The thought rolls through your brain, effortlessly.
You see a woman in her 40’s squeezed into clothes too tight and young. You internally roll your eyes. “There’s a candidate for an Oprah makeover.”
Or, you attend the first meeting for a women’s Bible study and the leader is dressed in a frumpy jumper with her hair in a bun. “Oh great. This is going to fun.”

Most of us struggle with snap judgments like these, but Isaiah prophesied about Someone (Jesus) who would come and show us a different way to think.
2 "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord-- 3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,” (Isa. 11:1-4)
Then Jesus gives us a directive as his followers:
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37)

My prayer is that Jesus will give me insight into the heart of a person, and then His love for them will overflow through me toward them. It takes years to really get to know someone and usually, after spending some time with them, we discover that first impressions are only an outward expression of a need, brokenness, a floundering identity, or just an expression of creativity. Even the people who look perfect on the outside have made a conscious decision to put that identity out there. In the old days, people dressed to express their class, their place in society. It’s not so different today, (think designer clothes and purses!) although today people are able to express their individuality, their personality too.

So next time you see a women bending over in her low-rise jeans sporting a tattoo on her lower back, I challenge us to retrain our immediate reaction and think instead, “I bet she’s a great person, adventurous and fun, someone God created in His own imagine,” and just give her a smile.

A Beautiful Spirit

Have you ever had contact with someone on email or through the internet and wondered what they might be like in person? Will they be different? Will enough of their personality translate from the written to the verbal, the face-to-face with all its expression, body-language and connection that you recognize? Will they be as cool? As funny? As sweet . . .will they (and you) have that same voice that you've had online?

I think this is a common question in these days of email, texting and websites. Recently, I've experienced this anomaly over and over. It's so great to finally see their face, to meet the person behind the words. If you excel at the written word (like me) more than the verbal (I hate the phone), then you know that feeling of hoping not to disappoint.

Mary DeMuth does not disappoint.

While at ICRS, my husband and I were wandering down the aisles and I saw her. I whispered to Tony, "I think that's Mary DeMuth!"
"Go say hi."
"I'm not sure it's her."
Tony steered me around so that we could see her name badge.
Sure enough, it was her.
Oh great. I like to think of myself as an extrovert, but really, I'm plagued with doubts in social settings. Should I approach her?

She was leaning over a trash can (closed lid!) and looking over some notes. I was loathe to disturb her moment of thought. But, with Tony's encouragement (pushing me physically toward her, Ha!) I walked over and said, "Mary, hi, I'm Jamie Carie."

The name is still a bit rusty for me. It's my maiden name and not used until these books have been published. She looked up and smiled. We spoke and the fact that she remembered our few emails and my fewer posts on her WONDERFUL blog, floored me. Then we had a nice chat about her book and the experience at ICRS.

All of my nervous energy dissolved within her peaceful presence. I can say, first-hand, that she is as authentic in person as she is online.

This is no small thing.

This speaks of maturity and grace in the Lord, and a genuine love for God's people. She is truly one of those who has a grace and a peace about her. But an intensity too. Something that God gave her, some purpose that is being spilled forth into these books that she writes.

Her work is beautiful. Fiction, such as "Watching the Tree Limbs" which I had to read slowly, allowing God to do his work in my heart as I read it, and her non-fiction, this new book, Authentic Parenting in Postmodern Curlture are testamonies to her range of thought and artistry. Her face, like that one we see in her photo, is lovely. . . her spirit is beautiful. She is God's handmaiden for this time and this place and we can only soak in all that He has given her . . . for us.

Be sure to check out the other blogs participating on the Authentic Parenting Tour this week. For a complete listing of the blogs participating in the six week tour, visit here.
A Cup of Cold Water
Be a Barnabas
Christian Work at Home Moms
Dawn Morton Nelson
Deborah Gyapong
Dobsons 411
Eleanor Joyce
Good Word Editing
Preacher’s Daughter
Sky-High View
Spaghetti Pie
the law, books and life
The Master’s Artist
The Surrendered Scribe
Through My Window
Writer-lee

A Wonderful
Time at ICRS!







Whew! Just returned from Atlanta and the International Christian Retail Show. What an amazing time! I met Mary DeMuth in person (see previous blog entry), Vicki Courtney, Leanna Ellis, Jerry Jenkins, and even Karen Kingsbury (a bus was tooling around Atlanta with her picture on the side!!). Vicky and I had dinner with the wonderful folks from CBD where I learned so much about the book business! Be looking for Snow Angel in their Fall 2007 catalog! Thank you guys!!

Thanks for everyone who turned out for the book signing. It was, once again, so much fun! My husband, bless his heart, was running around passing out Snow Angel cards and several women came up at the signing telling me how lucky I am to have such a wonderful guy! I agree! Thanks Tony.

Here's some photos - I hope to have some more in the next few days...



Giant Ads for Snow Angel and The Duchess and the Dragon!!

Thanks Jennifer!

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Signing Books

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We stayed at the beautiful Omni Hotel and
Mary Beth always sends me goodies!

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The CBD folks, Vicki and I, and the lovely B&H Team!

Have You Discovered Mary DeMuth?

If you haven't yet read, "Watching the Tree Limbs" or "Wishing on Dandelions" they are well worth a look. Mary has a blog http://relevantblog.blogspot.com/ and what I love about it, is her perfection in describing herself and her views. So many Christians want to look like they "have it altogether." On the other extreme is post-modernism which says that "anything is okay if you are experiencing it." To be grounded in Christ and the Word of God, and yet, be real and open and vulnerable - that's what I think the church is hungering for. She has a new book, and I can't wait to read it.

Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture

Take off your mask

Don't lie anymore

For the Truth of God

is a Light to the whole world.

We didn't know what sand felt like

before we became Abram's sons and daughters,

We didn't realize the tang of salt

until we tasted it on our tongues.

We don't know who we can become

Until we see Him

JESUS

The Light, the Sand, the Salt, the Blood

everything overwhelming everything

Together in Him

Thanks, Mary. For inspiring that.

A New Friend

Have you ever met someone truly brilliant?
You know it in their phrases and thought processes.
It’s visible in the way that they view the world and then articulate that view.
They put into words what you feel.
And you nod and laugh and agree
a connection on a level you’ve craved.

They are usually highly educated, though not necessarily so.
But it helps.
I envy them that.
Some of them get a little too lost in their bookish thoughts.
But the good ones don’t.
They know when to turn it off and turn it on.
When to switch from head to heart.
Those are the jewels.

I met such a jewel recently.
Her pale blue eyes lock onto mine
intense, sincere, just plain smart
I feel like a yappy puppy
but she likes puppies
and so do I
so it all works out
me with my intuition
and her with her revelation
I think we make a great team.

What of you? Do you have friends like this?

Photos From BEA


A sweet woman with a cool English accent

The B&H Group!

Me in front of the New York Public Library
Big guardians for a whole lot of books!


Eating a really expensive hamburger around Ground
Zero location. He was grimacing on the inside!

David, Jennifer, Rebeca, Me, Karen and Julie

My husband looked so handsome that day!

Out on the town at Les Mis

Rebeca and I - signing as fast as we can!!

Here I'm signing the first book . . . it was so fun!

New York, New York and the BEA

48 hours later and I’m still so amazed by God’s provision at BEA (Book Expo America). There are many, many times that I am a fleshly woman. I care about what people think too much - if they will like me, if they will accept this work. I worry too much. I lack faith at times. And then God steps in to blow my mind with His glorious provision.

Isaiah 41:10-20
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 "All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. 12 Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. 13 For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. 14 Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you," declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 "See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. 16 You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up, and a gale will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel. 17 "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. 18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. 19 I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, 20 so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it. (NIV)

Praise God! I feel like that worm, Jacob, most times. I feel unworthy of the plans He has for me. But then He just shows up and reveals His great and wondrous love.

We opened the booth at 9:30 am for the signing. I was co-signing with a wonderful woman, Rebeca Seitz, who has written a contemporary fiction book about scrapbooking friends entitled, “Sister’s Ink.” Within minutes, we had a line . . . a line of people waiting for me to scrawl my name on page of my book. Then it just built and built until a half an hour had gone by and I’d signed 75 copies of Snow Angel. The people were so nice! Librarians, bookstore owners, people who are in this industry because they love good books. They were happy, reaching out to grasp it, smiling up at me, making me feel like the last ten years of angst and work and blood and sweat was all worth it . . . it was an amazing, connecting feeling. I hadn’t known what to expect, but it was so much better than anything I had imagined, just like all of this experience has been.

Glory to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, giving us His work to do, for His name sake! May He be glorified through this book . . . my Snow Angel.