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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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The Christy Award winners

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.14.2008

Here are the Christy winners! The finalists are all listed, as well.


CONTEMPORARY (Stand Alone)

Winner:
Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson)

Finalists:

In High Places by Tom Morrisey (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)



CONTEMPORARY (Series, Sequels and Novellas)

Winner:
Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon (Viking Penguin)

Finalists:

A Time to Mend by Sally John and Gary Smalley (Thomas Nelson)

What Lies Within by Karen Ball (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)



HISTORICAL

Winner:
A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Finalists:

Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

A Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)



LITS (tie)

Winner:
Hallie's Heart by Shelly Beach (Kregel Publications)

Finalists:

Doesn't She Look Natural by Angela Hunt (Tyndale House Publishers)

Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck (Avon Inspire, a division of HarperCollins Publishers)



ROMANCE

Winner:
Remembered by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Finalists:

Lightning and Lace by DiAnn Mills (Barbour Publishing)

Remember to Forget by Deborah Raney (Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster)



SUSPENSE

Winner:
The Cure by Athol Dickson (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Finalists:

My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay (Moody Publishers)

The Pawn by Steven James (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)



VISIONARY

Winner:
Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)

Finalists:

Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

The Restorer by Sharon Hinck (NavPress Publishing Group)



FIRST NOVEL

Winner:
The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Finalists:

Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee (NavPress Publishing Group)



YOUNG ADULT

Winner:
Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson (NavPress Publishing Group)

Finalists:

Maggie Come Lately by Michelle Buckman (NavPress Publishing Group)

In Between by Jenny B. Jones (NavPress Publishing Group)


Camy here: I am rather embarrassed to confess I have not read many of these books, although several are on my TBR pile (including Demon by Tosca Lee and In Between by Jenny Jones).

In fact, I think the only ones I’ve read are Auralia’s Colors and The Restorer. Personally, I liked The Restorer better because Auralia’s Colors, while beautifully written, was a bit boring until about halfway through the book. Nothing really happened until then.

To remedy my Neanderthal-ish ignorance of these award winners, I think I will try to read these by the end of the year. Anyone else with me?

Anyone else read these books? What did you think?
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Comments

Katie Hart - Pinterest Manager said…
Out of the 27 books, I've read 8, and plan to read four more. See which ones on my blog!
Mon Jul 14, 04:42:00 AM 2008
luv2read said…
HEy Camy,
I know I was surprised to see how little of these books I had read also. I have read Quaker Summer and The Pawn. I did read Tamara Alexndra Revealed which comes before Remembered.
The Pawn was very good and scary. I was very impressed with it and he now has out the sequel.
I went through the list of winners Saturday and reviewed the previous years winners. I wrote authors names down I saw had won or been nominated over the last 3 years and know I definetly want to read them.
Charles Martin, and Athol Dickson, Lisa Samson have had their names on the list several times so my goal is to read at list theirs off the list. Come visit me at my blog page http://luv2read-luv2read.blogspot.com
It is a page I have just for fun and also use it for my bookclub I have started. SHellie
Mon Jul 14, 05:22:00 AM 2008
Gracie said…
I haven't read that many from the list (mostly because right now I'm trying to finish my own list). But I have read The Restorer (and loved it!), Auralia's Colors, and The Trophy Wives Club. I haven't been able to get In Between, although I read the sequel, On the Loose. Either way I'm glad that some of my favorite authors were finalists in the Christys!
Mon Jul 14, 08:30:00 AM 2008
Amy said…
Of the winners the only I've read is Hollywood Nobody.

I actually didn't like the Restorer as much as everyone else.
Mon Jul 14, 09:09:00 AM 2008
Unknown said…
I'm even worse than all the previous commenters. lol. I've only read ONE! I have four more on my to read list, but still, that's pathetic! lol.
Mon Jul 14, 10:01:00 AM 2008
Crystal Laine said…
When I was publishing book reviews for the magazines I wrote for, I usually had read almost all of the finalists. This year I find that the romance category is one I can be sure to cover, but the rest is spotty.

I will say that I read The Restorer's Son recently for a contest and it was so well done! So now I'm going back to pick up book one (The Restorer) and Book 3.

I also read Lady of the Milkweed Manor and was blown away (so good.)I have the others in the historical category, so now I have time to catch up on those. Other than those, I am not sure I even want to read the rest.

I've found that now that I don't have to read everything (grin,) I just read the genres I like.

Now, if I became a judge for the Christys, that might change things. (Something I've always been interested in doing.ha)

I say--read what you want!
Tue Jul 15, 07:59:00 PM 2008
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