About the Author~

Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. She is the author of numerous titles including novels, novellas, and a nonfiction. In addition, she’s written several short stories, articles, devotions, and has contributed to several nonfiction compilations.

DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” Her desire is to show characters solving real problems of today from a Christian perspective through a compelling story.

Several of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents, and she remains a favorite author by Heartsong Present’s readers. Two of her books have won short historical of the year by American Christian Fiction Writers both in 2003 and 2004. She was named Writer of the Year for 2004 at the 35th Annual Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference and is the recipient of Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards for 2005 in the long contemporary and novella categories.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, ChiLibris, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association and a mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops. DiAnn also belongs to Cy Fair Women’s Networking, an exclusive professional women’s networking organization.

She lives in sunny Houston, Texas, the home of heat, humidity, and Harleys. In fact she’d own one, but her legs are too short. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.

About the Book~

Awaken My Heart is set in 19th century Texas and tells the story of 18 year old Marianne Phillips, the daughter of a wealthy rancher, Weston Phillips. Weston is involved in a hostile struggle with Armando Garcia, the infamous rebel leader of the ‘mestizos’ who claim to own the land that Phillips has settled.

Marianne Phillips, the daughter of a wealthy rancher, has never agreed with her father’s harsh treatment of the poor mestizos who first inhabited the colony of Texas. When rebels kidnap Marianne, in hopes her father will trade back their land for her freedom, she realizes her loyalty lies with her abductors, not her father, who plans to marry her off to the don of a nearby estate.

Armando Garcia is the locals’ reluctant leader, but his people revere and depend on him. Knowing that without his leadership they’d be forced from their land, Armando accepts his role, but does not approve of the latest attempt to manipulate their enemy. When he learns that Marianne actually speaks his language, of her loyalty to his people, and of the faith that keeps her strong, Armando is faced with a difficult decision. Will his newfound love keep him from letting her go? Or will he set her free and risk losing their land forever?

This afternoon I was reading history to my two older kids. We were learning about the Pennsylvania Dutch (who weren’t Dutch by the way, the were Deutch) and reading about the architecture. One of the features often found in their homes was a Dutch door that opened on the top and on the bottom.

I was immediately transported to my childhood! My grandparents (true Hollanders!) had a Dutch door in their house. We grew up living on the same farm as my grandparents and I have very distinct memories of my grandmother keeping the bottom half of the door locked and looking down at us from the top half. We’d stand on our tippy-toes and try to pull ourselves up by our fingertips on the bottom half of the door, to see what she might be doing on the “inside.” If we were lucky she would invite us in, but sometimes she would just hand a lemon drop or a cookie over the locked door and send us back out to play.

Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me” Revelation 3:20. I long to always throw open the door and run into His embrace! However, if I am being honest, sometimes I only open the half door on the top. I peek out and see what He has to offer. If I can’t get a clear picture, I opt for self-reliance and shut the door. Other times I open only the bottom half and leave the top locked. Ah, to entire this type of door you have to follow the criteria I have established…namely, ducking. I’m not suggesting that Jesus has to duck, but I am admitting that at times I don’t give Him clear access to my heart, my mind, and my soul; I only give Him a narrow opening with obstacles in place.

While I have sweet memories of Dutch doors, I’m thankful I don’t have one in my house now. I don’t want to give Him limited access, I want to swing open the door when I hear Jesus knocking on my heart.

It’s not very often that I purchase a new Bible for myself, but when I do I experience a thrill like no other. I rub my hand across the cover and then the pages. I treat it like the precious thing that it is to me.

The second most exciting book that I get each year is my copy of Christian Writers’ Market Guide by Sally Stuart. When the 2008 edition showed up on my doorstep I came close to experiencing the same thrill I get with a new Bible. Note: I said CLOSE, but nothing compares to a Bible! Stuart’s book, however, is the only other book that has a specific home on the desk where I sit to write. I’ve had my copy for nearly a month now and it is already well loved. I have sticky notes poking out, passages highlighted, and stars marking favorites. The CD-ROM with contacts for 1200+ markets…well that is a huge bonus!

If you are a Christian writer, think you might like to become a Christian writer, or know a new Christian writer, then get this book! It is seriously the most valuable reference tool you will ever use.

About the Author~

Sally Stuart has been writing for the last 40+ years, and has been putting out the annual “Christian Writers’ Market Guide” for the last 23 years. Her other writing includes several Christian education resources books, a children’s picture book, a basic writing text, writing resources, and a western novel–plus hundreds of articles and marketing columns. She writes marketing columns for the “Christian Communicator,” “Advanced Christian Writer,” and the Oregon Christian Writers’ Newsletter. She speaks and teaches at Christian Writers’ Conferences nationwide. Sally is the mother of 3 and grandmother of 8. She and her husband, Norm, spend their free time vacationing on the Oregon coast.

About the Book~

The essential reference tool for the Christian writer, Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide is now in its 23rd annual edition! Check out the section on Blogging on page 69…the CFBA is listed!

To keep you up to date with the latest marketing news, visit Sally Stuart’s new marketing blog, Christian Writers’ Marketplace, at http://www.stuartmarket.blogspot.com/.A new, updated version of the Christian Writers’ Market Guide is available about January 15 each year.

Sometimes we have to do difficult things as a parent, spouse, friend, Christian… This week I have had both the privilige and responsibility of talking to more than one friend who came to me for counsel and a ready ear. In each case, I presented the issue to God and let the Holy Spirit guide me in my response.  However, in two of the cases I had to share some hard things. I’m happy to report that both friends have since thanked me. Whew. In fact, one just called and opened the conversation by thanking me for “smacking her in the head with a holy two-by-four.” Woah. It’s not easy stuff, but it is certainly part of the grace lessons we must learn.  We are instructed to do these things…

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 1 Timothy 4:1-3

After one of these conversations, I was getting ready for bed when Mike read the following story to me from the newspaper: I am giving this mother a standing ovation! While her son is unhappy now, I believe he will thank her one day. Jane Hambleton is teaching him a grace lesson that may very well have saved his life and the life of others. Kudos to you, Mom!

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Jane Hambleton has dubbed herself the “meanest mom on the planet.”

After finding alcohol in her son’s car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old’s misdeed with everyone — by placing an ad in the local newspaper.

The ad reads: “OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don’t love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet.”

Hambleton has heard from people besides interested buyers since recently placing the ad in The Des Moines Register.

The 48-year-old from Fort Dodge says she has fielded more than 70 telephone calls from emergency room technicians, nurses, school counselors and even a Georgia man who wanted to congratulate her.

“The ad cost a fortune, but you know what? I’m telling people what happened here,” Hambleton says. “I’m not just gonna put the car for resale when there’s nothing wrong with it, except the driver made a dumb decision.

“It’s overwhelming the number of calls I’ve gotten from people saying ‘Thank you, it’s nice to see a responsible parent.’ So far there are no calls from anyone saying, ‘You’re really strict. You’re real overboard, lady.”‘

The only critic is her son, who Hambleton says is “very, very unhappy” with the ad and claims the alcohol was left by a passenger.

Hambleton believes her son but has decided mercy isn’t the best policy in this case. She says she set two rules when she bought the car at Thanksgiving: No booze, and always keep it locked.

The car has been sold, but Hambleton says she will continue the ad for another week — just for the feedback.

You can say what you want about Marilyn Griffith, but I’m telling you from first hand experience, that woman is one mean K-Mart shopper! And I don’t mean “mean” in the bully sense, but in the keen sense. I met Marilyn at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference in the spring of 2007 and she was an instant friend. She makes me laugh and at the same time think deeper about things. Her books follow the same pattern.

I loved Happily Even After! Reading this novel was my New Years Day gift to myself…my motto…always start the year by reading a spectacular book! I will confess that my husband had some doubts. I was talking out loud an awful lot while I read this book and most of the time I was exasperated with one nasty…and I mean Nasty with a capital N…mother-in-law.  If you think you have a whopper of a MIL, you ain’t seen nothin’, sista!  (That’s Marilyn talk! )

Marilyn slices to the core with Happily Even After. If I didn’t know that she lives in FL and I live in MN, I would think she has a camera in my bathroom, first of all. (No, I don’t have a purple throne room…but the antics…well…read the book!) Griffith goes right to the heart of issues that most people try to side-step…i.e. how new mom’s feel about cry rooms, gossip, women and friendships, manipulation, weight struggles, marriage…and more!

Even if you have not read the first two books in this series, you will love Happily Even After. Do get a copy for yourself.  I almost guarantee you will find yourself getting the first two books after that! I did!

About the Author~

Marilynn Griffith is mom to a tribe, wife to a deacon and proof that God gives second chances. While best known for her colorful novels about friendship, family and faith, Marilynn is also a speaker and nonfiction writer.

Her nonfiction has been included in CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S SOUL and several other devotionals and magazines. Currently, Marilynn is editor of the SISTAHFAITH:BELIEVING BEYOND SHAME anthology. She is also the founder of Faithchick.com, a blog for faith fiction readers.

Marilynn is the author of six novels dealing with issues such as teen pregnancy, AIDS, abstinence, stress relief, single parenting and marriage. Her recent fiction titles include TANGERINE and IF THE SHOE FITS.

Marilynn has served as Vice President and Publicity Officer of American Christian Fiction Writers. She speaks to youth, women and writers about believing beyond boundaries and daring to reach dreams.

Marilynn lives in Florida with her husband and seven children whom she taught at home for seven years. When not chasing toddlers, helping with homework or trying to find her husband a clean shirt, she can be found scribbling furiously on her next novel.

To book Marilynn for media interviews, speaking engagements, Serious Fun fiction parties or book club call-ins, please contact her thru her WEBSITE.
About the Book ~

Superwoman

doesn’t live

here!

I marry a gorgeous executive, have a baby, lose all the weight (most of it), and move to a fine house in the suburbs with a welcoming new church. Wait…did I say welcoming?

One teeny waaah! and new mothers and their crying babies are exiled to a separate room. At least there’s some enlightening conversation. Like about my husband and issues I didn’t even know about!

And then there’s my aptly named mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, who can’t stand me.

I’m about to lose my mind! So it’s high time for a visit to the Sassy Sistahood for some much-needed advice about men, marriage and motherhood!