Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.31.2006 Blog book giveaway: Oops, other things derailed my Thursday book giveaway, but I just realized I shouldn’t hold it today since I won’t be in town next week Thursday—I’ll be at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference in Santa Cruz until the following Tuesday. So instead, look for a book giveaway on Monday, April 3rd I’ll be interviewing Carrie Turansky and giving away an autographed copy of her book ALONG CAME LOVE . The winner of REASONABLE DOUBT is: Katie Hart Congratulations! Squirl’s Blush and Cringe: My friend Cheryl Wyatt has her infamous “Blush and Cringe” on her blog, in which she confesses to all blogdom her embarrassing moments. I certainly wouldn’t be that crazy—er, transparent, but this week her discussion topic is your most embarrassing moment at a conference. Want to know mine? Check out her blog and look for my story in the comments. St. Theresa’s prayer: I got this from Megan and this prayer really touched me. May today there b...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.29.2006 I had a wonderfully funny blog post planned for today, but I got sidetracked by some news yesterday! Zondervan has offered me a three-book contract on my Asian chick-lit series ! I’m still stunned by everything that’s happened. The series is actually a 4-book projected Asian chick-lit series about four cousins who fall under the infamous family title "Oldest Single Female Cousin," and their ruthless, wealthy grandma applies pressure on each of them to improve their lack of love interests. I think the first book is tentatively scheduled to be released in August 2007. The blurb on the series is on my website here . Brandilyn Collins posted to the ACFW loop about my writing journey, and Tamara Cooper asked that I share it. And since you all know how much I like to talk , here it is. My writing journey: Like most writers, I have wanted to write since I was very young. (In high school, I wrote a fantasy novel that will never see the light of day ...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.28.2006 Continuing my interview with Ginny: What's your writing schedule like? How do you ensure time for family and church? Since I was lucky enough to quit work last summer (Thank you, Lord!), I write during the day. I do a Bible devotional and pray first thing in the morning, then read e-mail and perform any marketing activities I’ve planned for the day, like contacts to media or sending bookplates and bookmarks to readers. Then I start writing and write pretty much all day long. My daughter and I go to the gym around 4:00 or so, and I try to stay away from my office after that. I really do give my day to the Lord each morning and ask Him to arrange my activities according to His will. Since I know He takes an active role in guiding my life, I believe He does just that. What is your most memorable moment as a writer? It was during the writing of Just As I Am . I had a character who was absolutely furious with Mayla for becoming a Christian. ...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.27.2006 I’ve gotten to know Virginia (Ginny) Smith through the Genesis contest, and she is one remarkable writer. Those of you who entered—you should pray you got her as your judge. She totally rocks! I’m really lucky because she agreed to do a two-day interview with me, despite the rumors about my sanity. Then I read her book JUST AS I AM and I was absolutely blown away. Her character Mayla is so real and yet wonderfully sympathetic and vividly drawn. I wanted to take her home with me! And even though this loud Asian chick has never been to the South, I got such a great flavor of the culture through her book, like Kentucky folk just drew me in and wrapped arms around me and included me in the story. When purple-haired Mayla Strong struts down the center aisle of Salliesburg Independent Christian Church, the bug-eyed congregation strains to get a peek at her pierced nose and lip. Determined to make her heavenly Father proud, Mayla's sincere a...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.26.2006 Leave any prayer requests in the comments and I’ll be praying this week. You don’t have to be Christian to leave a prayer request. If you’d rather not advertise to everyone on the blogosphere, just leave an unspoken prayer request or email me. Not to be mean or anything, but if you don't email me or comment to update your prayer request, I'm only going to pray 3 Sundays. Lord God, you are our strength and shield. Please comfort those who are grieving with your mantle. Continue to be with Christina as she prepares to come home from her missions trip. Thank you that Heather wasn’t hurt by her accident. Please help her to heal. Please help Pammer as she strives this last lap to finish her revisions. Please help her to trust you and believe in herself. I pray for complete healing for Squirl. Please give her and her doctors wisdom and skill for her surgery. I pray you will heal her soon. Continue to help Dineen prioritize her life. Help her to be e...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.24.2006 Blog Book giveaway: My Monday book giveaway (QUEEN ESTHER AND THE SECOND GRADERS OF DOOM) is here . My Thursday book giveaway (REASONABLE DOUBT) is here . You can still enter both of them. Just post a comment on those blog posts. On Monday, I'll draw the winner for QUEEN ESTHER and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned. Where it started: So I was IMing with Heather and she told me about Technorati, and I went searching for which blogs linked to mine. You know my favorite meme “15 things about books”? I found out that it started here . Isn’t that way cool? So guess what I’m going to blog about today? Another 15 things about books: 31) The last book I finished was Virginia Smith ’s JUST AS I AM , and it TOTALLY ROCKED!!! GET THIS BOOK! I loved the heroine Mayla as she feels out her new faith and how it changes her life—which involves purple hair, facial piercings, gay friends and an atheistic roommate. I laughed and I cried...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.22.2006 Blog Book giveaway: My Thursday book giveaway (DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL) is here . My Monday book giveaway (QUEEN ESTHER AND THE SECOND GRADERS OF DOOM) is here . You can still enter both of them. Just post a comment on those blog posts. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned. MARY G!!!: Am I totally cool or what? Mary Griffith agreed to do a guest blog post! I didn’t even have to bribe her with chocolate. Can I hear ya say Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhhhh! During the month of March, I’m giving away a copy of her latest book, PINK . Go to my website to sign up for the giveaway! Here’s Mary! Pink. It's the title of my latest book and often the hue of my faith. Bright and bold and sometimes a little hard on the eyes (ears). Like the character in the book, I spent the first few years of my Christian life trying to beige myself down, trying to cultivate that meek and quiet s...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.20.2006 Today I’m so lucky to have Steeple Hill Café author Allie Pleiter write a guest blog post! Her latest book is QUEEN ESTHER AND THE SECOND GRADERS OF DOOM (isn’t that just a faboo title?). Teaching Sunday school at her brother’s church in the Bay area was supposed to help former champion athlete Esther “Essie” Walker understand boys—the better to raise her newborn son as a stellar example of manhood. Fat chance! Enter the eight-year-old male psyche: awful jokes, disrespectful behavior and general mayhem. Essie, the queen of control, finds herself in a brand new world of chaos. The pressure builds on all fronts—Sunday school class, husband’s job, church dramatic pageant, aging parents, finances—until Queen Esther has one royal meltdown. God, it seems, has makeover plans for Essie’s competitive nature. Her characteristic control is in very short supply as she gains a better understanding of the nature of imperfection, the value of mot...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.19.2006 Leave any prayer requests in the comments and I’ll be praying this week. You don’t have to be Christian to leave a prayer request. If you’d rather not advertise to everyone on the blogosphere, just leave an unspoken prayer request or email me. Not to be mean or anything, but if you don't email me or comment to update your prayer request, I'm only going to pray 3 Sundays. Thank you, Lord, for another day to worship you. Father, please comfort all those who are grieving with the incomprehensible comfort only you can give. Continue to be with Christina as she prepares to come home from her missions trip. I pray you will provide Heather with more clients, Lord. Help Pammer continue to work for you and work through her fears. Please heal Squirl's hip, and give wisdom to everyone involved so she can be free from pain. Thank you for her recent contest finals and also for the request for her manuscript. Please help her do revisions quickly. I ...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.18.2006 Blog Book giveaway: My Monday book giveaway (STEALING ADDA) is here . My Thursday book giveaway (DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL) is here . You can still enter both of them. Just post a comment on those blog posts. On Monday, I'll draw the winner for STEALING ADDA and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned. Mochi: On the way home from their China trip, my parents had a layover at Narita Airport in Japan, and of course they headed straight for the Duty-Free shop. The both love mochi and bought some there. The mochi made in Japan is so much better quality than the stuff made here. It’s also ten times more expensive, even bought IN Japan. After saying there was no way in hell they’d send me some of their precious stash, Mom and Dad relented to my whining and sent me a package of this mochi. Talk about heaven in my mouth. The Japanese have this thing for cute little packages. The mochi is individually packaged in little ice-cube sized p...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.17.2006 Blog Book giveaway: My Monday book giveaway (STEALING ADDA) is here . My Thursday book giveaway (DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL) is here . You can still enter both of them. Just post a comment on those blog posts. On Monday, I'll draw the winner for STEALING ADDA and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned. Green: You know what I hated? I always forgot to wear green to school and got smacked and pinched ’til I was black and blue. Makes for a traumatic childhood. I still don’t remember to wear green. Except now people are more mature and don’t chase after me, intent on physical abuse. Besides, I eat enough green stuff, why do I need to wear it? Bible in 90 Days: Day 64. Matthew is a very quick read. It’s very factual, almost like a journalist. “This is Matthew the ex-tax collector, reporting live from Palestine.” Writing: Got a lot of brainstorming and plotting done last night. I’ll hopefully start on the scene outline tonight. Diet: ...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.15.2006 Blog Book giveaway: My Thursday book giveaway (ALMOST HEAVEN) is here . My Monday book giveaway (STEALING ADDA) is here . You can still enter both of them. Just post a comment on those blog posts. On Monday, I'll draw the winner for ALMOST HEAVEN and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned. My parents’ China trip: My folks got back yesterday from a 10-day trip to China. They both had a terrific time. Mom loved the different culture, the different food, and the scenery from the Great Wall. She was so excited and awed that she was actually there (hopefully I’ll have their pictures soon). (I went to China when I was in high school. Climbing to the First Station was like running the Boston Marathon when the furthest I had run was around the block away from my irate mother when I did something wrong. I can’t believe Mom actually made it, because at 16 years old, I almost didn’t.) Anyway, Mom bought for me a pashmina shawl. I had...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.14.2006 Blog Book giveaway: My Thursday book giveaway (ALMOST HEAVEN) is here . My Monday book giveaway (STEALING ADDA) is here . You can still enter both of them. Just post a comment on those blog posts. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for ALMOST HEAVEN and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned. Quiz: I got this from Pam Hillman: I have been pondering this all important question--What is your bookmark of choice? A) The one I handmade for myself B) The one a friend/family member made for me C) An expensive metal one bought by a friend/family member D) A jagged strip of toilet paper, junk mail or the corner of the gas bill E) Bookmarks from other authors F) A turned down page Camy here: It's usually E, because I have so many that I can stick them by the handfuls in every corner of the house where I could possibly need a bookmark--kitchen table, TV room, bathroom very near the toilet--oops, was that TMI? So leave a comme...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.13.2006 Multi-published Tamara Leigh has shifted from Medieval romances to chick-lit! Her newest book is STEALING ADDA published by NavPress. It had been a long time since New York Times best-selling author -- and historical romance writer extraordinaire -- Adda Sinclaire had experienced more than a fictional dose of romance, but when publisher Nick Farnsworth walks into her life, everything changes. Life for Adda ironically reads more like a country song than a bodice-bursting, breathless affair. For starters, she has no actual romance in her life. That might have something to do with the fact that her husband -- correction-EX husband -- ran off with Stick Woman, whom everyone knew would never be more than a mid-list author anyway. To add insult to injury (and another verse to the country song), he not only took their dog but gave it to her. If this isn't enough, Adda's come down with a horrible case of writer's block and finds h...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.12.2006 Leave any prayer requests in the comments and I’ll be praying this week. You don’t have to be Christian to leave a prayer request. If you’d rather not advertise to everyone on the blogosphere, just leave an unspoken prayer request or email me. Not to be mean or anything, but if you don't email me or comment to update your prayer request, I'm only going to pray 3 Sundays. B lessed be your glorious name, O Lord. Father, please comfort everyone who has lost a loved one recently. Help Christina as she finishes the final weeks of her missions trip to Japan. Continue to help Heather work through the things you spoke to her about. Give Pammer your strength and courage to overcome her fear. Please heal Squirl's hip, and give wisdom to everyone involved so she can be free from pain. Lead and guide Robin in her writing, and thank you for the opportunities you've given to her. Thank you for Ronie's good news, and help her prepare for the ...