Some Fun Book Updates
Haven’t done this in a while. If you’re someone who follows me on FB a lot, some of this might feel like a rerun. Usually FB is where I toss up new things that are happening, as they are happening. But I also know, with FB or Twitter, because of the scrolling thing, if you aren’t reading it RIGHT THEN, it scrolls right on by.
I’ll put things not in order of importance, but in the order they float up to my brain.
Remembering Christmas makes CBA Bestseller List!
This was pretty exciting and unexpected. 
My 4th novel, Remembering Christmas, which made the ECPA Bestseller list last year, had a re-surge of interest this holiday season in a fairly big way. It made it to #9 on their national bestseller list for February, which I’m pretty sure was a reflection of holiday sales, not how many people bought it in Feb. (Click on this Pinterest link if you’d like to see a pic of this).
I had an inkling it was doing well by how it ranked on Amazon, but Amazon ranking is not a solid indicator across the board (including other online stores, bookstores, etc.). It made it to #1 on their Christmas bestsellers list, then stayed mostly in the top 5-6 the entire time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The surprising thing was that during this time, it was outselling Christmas books by big bestsellers like Glenn Beck, Mike Huckabee, Max Lucado, Debbie Macomber and Joel Osteen. Of course, their books in regular bookstores clobber mine.
My other Christmas novel (actually my first book), The Unfinished Gift, also stayed in the Top 10 on Amazon’s Christmas bestseller list throughout the holiday season also.
The Reunion Wins 2 Awards!
My most recent novel, The Reunion, was honored in 2 significant ways last month. It was 
chosen as The Book Club Networks’s (TBCN) Fiction Book of the Month and featured in the January issue of Christian Retailing magazine. I didn’t have anything to do with this. Books are nominated by readers and voted on by readers, so this was a great honor. Here’s link to a pic on Pinterest of that article in Christian Retailing.
Also, it received 5 out of 5 Stars (“near perfect”) and was nominated by Christian Manifesto, a large Christian website that reviews and critiques Christian music, movies and books, for their annual “Lime Award” for Excellence in Christian Fiction. In December, the 2012 winners were announced and The Reunion won in the Contemporary Romance category! Mega bestselling author Karen Kingsbury was mong the other nominees in my category. Here’s a link to the list of winners.
Speaking 6 Times at FL Christian Writer’s Conference
When it rains, it pours. 
I spoke 3 times last November at the CLASS Christian Writer’s conference near Santa Fe. In about 2 weeks, I’ll be doubling that effort at the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference near Lake Yale, FL. I’ve been asked to share a 3-part Continuing Education fiction track, teach a fiction workshop, deliver one of the keynote messages and then share at a keynote VIP breakfast the last day of the conference. Here’s a link for more info on what I’ll be sharing.
I’m really looking forward to this. Not just at the chance to speak there, but even more so for the opportunity to listen to the incredible faculty that Directors Eva Marie Everson and Mark Hancock have put together. This is a regional writer’s conference, but you’d be hardpressed to find a better team with a deeper bench at any national conference. People like Steven James, Alton Gansky, Rachel Hauck, Deborah Raney and Sally Stuart. Not to mention a host of literary agents and editors.
If you’re a writer, or aspire to be, not just in fiction but in any area don’t miss this opportunity. Here’s a link to the main website.
Coming Soon…
We’re close to unveiling the new cover for Book 2 in the Restoration Series, The Promise, as well as the “final” title to the novel I’m working on now (my 10th).
Related StoriesResults of The Dance’s Blog TourThe Dance – Receiving Crazy Good ReviewsRemembering Christmas Contest – Book Giveaway
