High Five Friday!!

April ushered in good news for a number of writers, and we’re cheering them on! 

Melanie Dickerson rejoices that her book, The Healer’s Apprentice, is a finalist in the National Readers Choice Awards! It finaled in two categories, Inspirational and Best First Book. The Healer’s Apprentice can be found on Amazon.

Kathleen Y’Barbo celebrates the news that The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck, her June 2011 historical romance release from Waterbrook, earned 4 1/2 stars from Romantic Times. It was awarded a June Top Pick. This novel is Book 3 of her Women of the West series.

Cheryl St. John, deep in deadlines when she got the call, is finally able to let people know her good news. She has a RITA nomination! Montana Rose is her novella in A Mother’s Heart anthology from Love Inspired Historical.

Jordyn Redwood is dancing and thanking her agent, Greg Johnson, for the contract he negotiated with Kregel for her first novel. The book, currently titled Lilly’s Ashes, is set to come out in Spring 2012. She’s also grateful to all those who have helped her along the way—through advice, prayer, etc.

Roger Bruner is thrilled to have had two renowned authors, Nicole O’Dell and Ray Blackston, write very nice endorsements for the second book in his Altered Hearts series, Lost in Dreams. Barbour will release the novel on August 1.

Naomi Musch delights in having won the Clash of the Titles “best hook” competition this month for the opening of her historical, The Green Veil.

Karen Witemeyer shouts “Woo-hoo!!” after finding out this week that her debut book, A Tailor-Made Bride, is a finalist in the Best First Book category of the National Readers Choice Awards sponsored by the Oklahoma chapter of RWA. Karen wrote about how she got the idea for her current release, To Win Her Heart, here.

Leave a comment and give all these authors a cyber High Five!!

As for me…I’m encouraged after receiving word that my entry made the semi-final round in the Historical Romance category of the ACFW Genesis Contest. I’ll find out the middle of next month if mine will be one of three to move on to the final round.