Captain’s Log, Stardate 04.02.2006 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, that we can draw close to you. Please comfort all those who are grieving with your strength and peace. Help Heather heal from her accident, and please give her more clients. Please continue to heal Pammer’s finger and help her to push forward on her writing. I pray for complete healing for Cheryl’s hip. Please give her and her doctors wisdom about what to do. Please be with Dineen as she prepares for Mt. Hermon. Help her to submit to you in all things, and bless her abundantly. Give peace and strength to Robin and her family. Lord, we pray for justice—please d...

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...