High Five Friday!!

Ann Shorey rejoices in a 4 1/2 star review for her latest novel, The Dawn of a Dream, in RT Book Reviews’ April issue (now available at newsstands). What really made her happy was that they included the interview she did with Liz French at the ACFW conference last September—with her photo and the book cover!

Sandra Orchard is excited to announce that Love Inspired Suspense has contracted the second book in her Undercover Cops series. Shades of Truth will release March 2012. Her debut novel, and the first in the series, Deep Cover, releases this September. Margie Lawson (teacher of Empowering Character’s Emotions) has asked for permission to use passages from that book as examples in her classes!

Eileen Rife’s third book in her Born for India trilogy, Chosen Ones, has recently released. Four years ago, her youngest daughter alerted her to the horrific crime of sex trafficking. Eileen’s daughter and her husband are training to minister to victims of the sex trade. Her daughter’s burden became her own and thus the seed of inspiration behind the third novel in the trilogy. Chosen Ones profiles a missionary couple in crisis whose world intersects with a child taken captive. Each of them will receive a precious gift, but will they find it in their hearts to accept an outcome so different than what they expected and hoped for?

Deanna Klingel is amazed at receiving her March 18 release of Avery’s Battlefield by Journey Forth Publishing. This is the first in a Civil War series for young readers. The second, Avery’s Crossroad, is expected in September. After five years and mounds of research and rewrites, the box of books arrived on her doorstep just in time for the Civil War sesquicentennial celebrations.

Connie Stevens cheers at signing her fourth contract with Heartsong Presents. The book, entitled Heart of Honor, is an historical set in north Georgia.

Jen Stephens has an even bigger reason to finish her second book these days. She is pleased to honor her late friend by donating a percentage of the sales of her first book, The Heart’s Journey Home, and future books in the series to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. She hopes it will aid the research and make more people aware of ovarian cancer. She says, “,,,while I’m not writing ABOUT cancer, I am trying to help beat it.” Jen’s second book in the series, The Heart’s Lullaby, is due out in October. 

Alice Wisler is singing with the start of her first Writing the Psalms online workshop—a three-week course about using the psalms to energize your writing as well as to deepen your faith. She’ll be offering it again in May.   

Diane Burke knows dreams come true. When struggling over an idea for her second Love Inspired Romantic Suspense, Double Identity, she found the answer (and some of the dialog) in a dream. Now, the dream book has hit store shelves and is soaring high with a review in Romantic Times (“…fascinating story of hidden identities and forbidden love, creating a page-turning mystery”) and five-star reviews on Amazon. We should all have such inspiring hours of sleep! 

Ann H. Gabhart, author of Angel Sister, expects an unusual Friday coming up. She has been asked to ride a bus with a retired lady’s group to the Shaker Village near her home. During the ride, they want her to speak about the Shakers like a bus tour guide. “I’m hoping for smooth roads and few curves.” She has a problem with motion sickness. 

As for me…I mentioned last month that my entry finaled in the North Texas RWA Great Expectations Contest. I am happy to announce that it placed second!       

A High Five!! goes out to everyone!