Shelley Shepard Gray's Blog, page 9

PEACE Facebook Chat

Over on my FaceBook Page, we’ll be having a chat at 6:00 pm, EST tonight.

If you’ve never participated in a FB chat before, that’s okay~I haven’t either! I’m certainly looking forward to it, though! If you have time, please go to my FB page tonight and check it out. Plan to ask me a question about any of my books…or to chime in on the discussion.

We’ll be giving two gift cards away, a signed copy of PEACE, and a beautiful signed Amish doll.

*Also, please don’t forget that I’m hosting a PEACE booklaunch party here in Cincinnati next Saturday, on October 26, 1:00-3:00 pm. All the details are on my previous blog, and in the events section of my website.

Thank you for stopping by!

with blessings to you,

Shelley

 

PEACE Booklaunch Party!

On Saturday, October 26 at 1:00 pm, I’ll be hosting a Book Launch Party for this year’s Christmas Novella, PEACE.

PEACE is a Crittenden County book. If you happened to have read last year’s trilogy, MISSING, THE SEARCH, AND FOUND, then you might remember two characters from THE SEARCH, Beth Byler and Chris Ellis. PEACE is their book!

I’m so excited about the book that I’ll be hosting another party here in Cincinnati. Once again, I’m sending out invitations! You are more than welcome to attend even if you don’t have an invitation. But if you’d like me to send you one, please email me your mailing address! I’d love for you to join us!

Blessings, Shelley

See you in Michigan and Wisconsin!

Next week I’ll be heading to Michigan and Wisconsin for a quick three day trip!  If you live in the following areas and have time to stop by and see me, I hope you will!

Here’s all the information:

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Signing and Reading at Schuler Books

7:00 pm

2820 Towne Centre Blvd.

Lansing, MI 48912

517-316-7495

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Signing and Reading at Baker Book House

11:00 am

2768 East Paris Ave. SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49546

616-957-3110

Thursday, October 10

Luncheon and Reading/Signing

11:00 am-1:30 pm

Books and Company-Lake Country Enrichment Center

1306 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Oconomowoc, WI 53066

262-825-8222

(This is a ticketed event. Please call for a reservation) 

Home From Europe

Last night we got home from a two week trip to Europe. We joined two other couples on a Mediterranean Cruise, starting in Monaco and ending up in Athens, Greece. As you might expect, we had a great time! It’s always fun to get away and I really enjoy traveling to other parts of the world.

This morning, it was back to reality.   We were still on Greek time, so by 10:00 am, we had already been to the grocery store, picked up the mail, and done three loads of laundry! I wish I was that productive every Saturday morning!

After such a long vacation, I’m more than ready to get back to work! I did manage to write 50 pages while I was gone, but that wasn’t nearly enough to finish up my current work in progress. This week is going to be very busy, I think!

This afternoon, I’m going to spend some time with my daughter-and the dachshunds! And, who knows? I might even take a nap. I’m thinking I probably need to ease back into work…

Below is a photo from our first day in Europe. Here we are in Monaco.

Thank you for stopping by,

Shelley

 

And the winner is …

Recently my latest novel Eventide went on a virtual book tour and traveled the countryside via some fantastic blogs. I’m thrilled by the reviews (thanks so much to all who reviewed the book!) and by the way the book and The Days of Redemption series has touched hearts. Always the goal of a writer!

All Grown Up said | “I love the ‘heart’ I feel from Eventide. It is both inspiring and uplifting. With a story that grabs you, makes you google things to learn more info, keeping you turning page after page until finally, it gives you that “ahhhhh” feeling when you read the last word.”

A Nest in the Rocks said | “What I appreciated most by the end of the story, however, was how aptly named this book truly is. Gray ties up all the loose ends with thoughtful, peaceful reflection, which contrasts starkly to the drama of the story and shows just how far everyone has come. She paints a picture of relaxing in God’s grace that is both beautiful and hopeful.”

Mocha with Linda said | “Shelley Shepard Gray brings her latest trilogy to a satisfying close with Eventide. I love how even the titles captured the progression of the stories. This book may have been my favorite of the three. The characters are wonderfully portrayed, flaws and all.”

During the blog tour, my publisher gave away five sets of the series … and the winners are:

Chaplain Debbie Mitchell
Sherri Partin James
Susan Johnson
Cynthia Bish
Connie Ruggles

If you’re one of the winners, CONGRATULATIONS! Email info {at} litfusegroup {dot} com with your mailing address. Happy reading.

Vannetta, Shelley, and 1 Elk

I had such a great time in Indiana! I posted tons of photos on Facebook, mostly thanks to my roommate Amy Clipston. She was our group’s ‘official’ photographer! Every night she downloaded the pictures and I put a couple of them on Facebook.

I got home yesterday afternoon and am hopping on a plane this afternoon for a vacation with my husband. We’re going to see some family in Europe, which is very exciting! I hope to post lots of pictures from our travels-even though we won’t have Amy with us!

Below is a fun picture of Vannetta and me in front of the  Middlebery Public Library. They were so kind to host us for a reading and book discussion. It seems they really like Elk in Middlebery!   It was fun to see them around town!

 

See you in Indiana!

 

 

Tonight, author Vannetta Chapman, one of my favorite writing buddies is flying into Cincinnati.  Tomorrow (Sept. 11), we’re heading off to Indiana on a little adventure!

Our first stop will be J. Farvers Christian Books and Gifts in Shipshewana, IN. (2:00 pm!) We’ll be reading excerpts from our newest releases and signing books. I’m so excited to visit this store! Isn’t their display pretty?

From there, we’re heading to one of Vannetta’s favorite libraries, the Middlebury Community Library. At 7:00 pm, we’ll be reading and signing and answering questions. And…giving away gifts! If you live in the area, I hope you’ll join us!

After a night in a hotel, we’ll be driving over to Indianapolis.  Part of the time, we’ll be attending the annual ACFW Conference. When we’re not taking classes and meeting with friends, editors, and our agent, we’ll be signing books!

Here is all the news about these books signings:

Thursday, September 12, 6:00 pm Family Christian Bookstore

Authors Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Vannetta Chapman, and Shelley Shepard Gray

715 E. Carmel Dr. Carmel, IN (317) 816-0884

and for Friday, September 13, 1:00-3:00 pm :

Barnes & Noble, Indiana University Bookstore. 1:00-3:00 pm. Signing with authors Amy Clipston, Amanda Flower, Vannetta Chapman, and authors Lorrie Langdon and Ruth Reid!

Barnes & Noble @IUPUI Bookstore Barnes & Noble @ IUPUI, 420 University Blvd, Suite #155  Indianapolis, IN 46202DIRECTIONS   (317)278-2665

If you live near any of these places, I hope you’ll come out to join us!

 

it is eventide’s big day!

Today is eventide’s On-Sale Day! Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered a copy or is planning to pick it up!

In honor of the book’s release, I thought I’d share ‘Eventide‘, the poem by John McCrae…one of the things that inspired the whole days of redemption series. It’s a beautiful poem!

 

EVENTIDE

The day is past and the toilers cease;
The land grows dim ‘mid the shadows grey,
And hearts are glad, for the dark brings peace
At the close of day.

Each weary toiler, with lingering pace,
As he homeward turns, with the long day done,
Looks out to the west, with the light on his face
Of the setting sun.

Yet some see not (with their sin-dimmed eyes)
The promise of rest in the fading light;
But the clouds loom dark in the angry skies
At the fall of night.

And some see only a golden sky
Where the elms their welcoming arms stretch wide
To the calling rooks, as they homeward fly
At the eventide.

It speaks of peace that comes after strife,
Of the rest He sends to the hearts He tried,
Of the calm that follows the stormiest life –
God’s eventide.

John McCrae

Thank You, Trimble County Public Library

Yesterday afternoon, my husband and I packed up the car and headed south to Bedford, KY. I have to admit it, I was a little stressed out.  We’ve had construction going on in our backyard all week, which meant I’ve had a week filled with workmen, sledgehammers, and barking wiener dogs. Added to that, there’s a conference coming up, two books due in October, and two book releases to prepare for.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m so grateful for the work, and grateful for the opportunity to improve our cement patio! But I was thinking that a little bit of peace and quiet was what I needed…not a two hour drive to Kentucky.

I couldn’t have been more wrong! Tom and I got there early and ended up eating at the local pizza parlor. We’ve both been trying to lower our cholesterol(ugh!), so pizza has been out of our lives for the last month. Last night we splurged and shared a cheese pizza. I tell you what, no pizza has ever tasted so good!

Then we headed over to the library, books and totebags and my speech in tow…and I got to meet just the nicest group of ladies ever. About 25 people came to the event, and we talked about writing and reading, libraries, and the Amish in Kentucky. Some of the ladies had read almost every one of my books. Some had never heard of me! All of them were as warm and gracious a could be~as was the whole staff at the Trimble County Library.

When my husband and I got back in the car, he said our visit to Bedford was the best part of his week. I had to agree. Visiting with the folks in Bedford reminded me that I write because I love to write. It makes me happy. Funny how sometimes you need to take a step back in order to put things in perspective!

On the way home I read outloud to Tom. We’ve been slowly reading all of Lee Child’s books. We’re currently on Tripwire. It’s so good! It made the trip home fly by.  When we walked back in our front door, I felt like me again. It turns out that all I really needed to relax was a trip to Trimble County.

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Blessings,

Shelley

Trimble County Library Next Week!

If you happen to live in the Trimble County, KY area, I hope you’ll make plans to see me next Thursday!

I’ll be in Bedford, which is not all that far from Louisville~one of my favorite places to visit!

Here’s the information:

I’ll be speaking and signing books next Thursday, August 29, at 6:30 pm.

Timble County Public Library

35 Equity Drive

Bedford, KY 40006

502-255-7362

You can also sign up on the library’s website, http://www1.youseemore.com/trimble/