My pal Donita Paul's Dragon series

Hi, everybody! 

I am so happy today to tell you about my friend Donita and her latest book, DragonLight.  

Donita has carved out a unique place in the market with her dragon tales, and kids LOVE these books.  Every time I teach at a writers' conference where teens are, they're all busy writing fantasy--tales of kingdoms and strange creatures where anything can happen.  And yes, I noticed this even before Harry Potter!  In any case, Donita's fantasy stories have a Christian element, and I can promise that your children (and grandchildren, if you have them) will love these charming stories.  

Donita is an excellent writer with a heart for teens and for God. You can order her books here.  Here's a blurb: 

DragonLight by Donita K. Paul WaterBrook Press, June, 2008 

The fifth book in the Dragon Keeper Chronicles, concluding the drama that has been building since DragonSpell was released in 2004.

Donita K. Paul weaves eternal truths into a page-turning story and still takes time to tickle her reader with humorous characters and situations.

 As Kale and her father are busy hatching, bonding, and releasing the younger generation of dragons as helpers throughout the kingdom, the light wizard has little time to develop her skills. Her husband, Sir Bardon-despite physical limitations resulting from his bout with stakes disease-has become a leader, serving on the governing board under Paladin.

When Kale and Bardon set aside their daily responsibilities to join meech dragons Regidor and Gilda on a quest to find a hidden meech colony, they encounter sinister forces. Their world is under attack by a secret enemy. Can they overcome the ominous peril they can't even see?

~~Angie

Blue Heart Blessed

I'm sorry to post this late, but I've been in the emergency room. No, I don't feel sick, but my blood pressure was 212/100, so the doc sent me to the hospital. 

Well.  What fun.  My first EKG. 

Anyway, I'm home, and my eyelids are heavy. Probably a good thing. 

I've invited my friend Susan Meissner (aka "Sooz"--isn't she cute?) to tell us about her latest release.  Susie is a wonderful writer, so I know you'll enjoy this one!  

Blue Heart Blessed in a nutshell:

 

Left standing at the altar, Daisy Murien, a wounded but hopeful romantic, opens a secondhand wedding dress boutique, hoping to soothe her broken heart while giving doomed wedding dresses a second chance at love. Her predictable days take a sharp turn, though, when the retired Episcopal priest who blesses the tiny, blue satin heart she sews into each dress falls ill. When the priest’s brooding and recently divorced son arrives with plans to take his ailing father away, a contest of wills begins between two stubborn—and hurting—souls. While fighting to keep Father Laurent close by, Daisy finally begins to understand why she has routinely convinced potential buyers not to buy the one gown that started her business—her own: She doesn’t want to give up on the dream of a fairytale romance. This compelling story is about the magnificence of unconditional love and God’s impeccable timing in bringing it about.

Publisher’s Weekly said this about Blue Heart Blessed: “Meissner tells her story well, and her Christian themes are interwoven throughout with a deft touch. Readers will appreciate some fresh elements: an Ecuadorian couple that cooks for the apartment dwellers every Sunday, and the one gown in Daisy’s inventory she does not want to sell. The ending is well told if conventional, with all the loose ends neatly tied up, which should please fans of “happily ever after” romance novels.”

Romantic Times gave it 4½ stars and chose it for one of their Top Picks for February: “Meissner's unique story is a treat. It's filled with realistic, wounded characters who rely on God's grace and guidance to see them through. Themes of learning to trust God and waiting for His perfect timing exude warmth and love.”

You can preorder BLUE HEART BLESSED here.  

 

Where did this story idea come from?

I was on a long car ride with a friend one afternoon a couple years ago. She had just seen her roommate’s wedding dress and she was describing it to me. It sounded so beautiful. I said something like, “It’s kind of a shame such a lovely dress will only be worn once.” As soon as those words were out of my mouth, a story began to bloom in my head about a woman who opens a boutique and sells second-hand wedding dresses. I began to imagine what kind of woman would open a shop like that and by the time we got to our destination, I had a title for this book, my quirky character Daisy, and a reason why she can’t seem to sell the one dress that began it all. And I knew this would be a story about waiting on God for true love — that is, love that is true.

Hey, my wedding dress is still in my closet--and I really don't think my daughter will be interested in wearing it (too traditional).  I'd happily donate it to your character, except  . . . she's fictional.  :-)  Anything else you want to tell us? 

I’ve got a great blog started that will dovetail nicely with this book. The blog, called Blue Heart Blessed by the way, will feature stories, ideas, op-ed pieces, poems, jokes, lists, you name it, on quirky engagements, second chances at love, proposals, laughable wedding stories and the like. I’d love to hear from readers and writers alike, especially if they’ve a story to share. Here’s the web address:

http://www.blueheartblessed.blogspot.com/

 Thanks for dropping by, Sooz!  (Echoes of Seinfeld, anyone?) 

~~Angie

Books! I get Books!

For some inexplicable reason, my mailbox was flooded with books on Monday--and they're all books I'm thrilled to tell you about.  

The first is from my pal Ron Benrey, and this book will be a boon to all of you who are interested in writing Christian fiction.  It's one of the "Idiot's" series, and it's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Christian Fiction.  Ron is a practical and intelligent person, so you'll find this book loaded with intelligent points and practical insights.  I'm going to be recommending it a lot.  

The second book I received is from my sweet friend Claire Cloninger.  Claire is a lovely lyricist, writing books and song lyrics with poetic beauty and spiritual insight.  Once Claire and I worked on a church musical together.  After working at my desk, I stayed at the computer to finish up a few things, and Claire cooked dinner for us!  I was stunned (probably because I don't cook much, ever, much less for other people.)  Her new book is called Making 'I Do' Last a Lifetime, and it should be required reading for all newlyweds.  Plus, it's beautiful . . . just like Claire. 

The third book in my mailbox on Monday was Healing Stones by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn. This is one of those collaborations where one gives input and one does the writing, and Nancy is the writer on this one.  I can attest to this because I've been to a workshop with Nancy while she was working on this--I lived through several scenes as she wrote them, and I can tell you that this is a powerful book.  

Boy, is my TBR stack growing!  A sweet little bird sent me a couple of books last week, plus I have my book club book of the month to read, plus I'm well into Koontz's BROTHER ODD--I may take the rest of this week off to sit in my easy chair and work my eyeballs.  :-) 

Here's to good reading in 2008!  I'd post a list of what I plan to read in 2008, but I never know what treasures I'll discover!

~~Angie