Yearly Archives: 2008

My First Sale Story – Part One

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I just want to remind everybody reading this post to keep all the victims of Hurricane Ike in your prayers. I was watching CNN yesterday since they were focusing on the storm.

With my leaving for the ACFW Conference in a few days, I thought I’d blog about how important it is to attend writers’ conferences, especially if you’re seeking publication.

When I first started writing back in the mid-nineties, I joined an organization called Romance Writers of America. They had a conference every year. Each year I would attend and meet with various editors, pitching my stories, hoping I could make a sale. When I initially started writing, the Christian fiction market was just starting to thrive. I found out more about the genre through the Faith Hope and Love Chapter of Romance Writers of America.

Once I joined this chapter, I discovered more about the inspirational market. My initial novels were secular stories, since I was not aware of an inspirational market at first. I sent a few of my chapters away to a paid editorial service and when I got my edits back the editor made the following comment about my writing: is this supposed to be an inspirational?

So I researched the genre, checked out some novels published by Multnomah from the library, and began to focus on the Christian market. I felt that this was the genre that I wanted to focus on since I loved reading the stories! I also joined the Heartsong Presents bookclub. I submitted to Barbour several times for their Heartsong Presents line. I met editor and Heartsong author Tracie Peterson at a Romance Writers of America conference. This contact proved to be crucial in establishing my first sale.

I’ll continue talking about it in a later post!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

My Love Of Books!

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I grew up in the seventies and eighties. During that time, I went through elementary, junior high (we called it middle school), and high school and college! Of all the wonderful memories that stick in my mind during this period of time, the one that really stands out is my reading a book. Books have always been a huge part of my life. I recall reading everything from Nancy Drew to Laura Ingalls Wilder. When I reached my high school years in the early eighties, I discovered romance novels and I read them voraciously. At the time, there was not a whole lot of Christian fiction out there, but I read whatever novels I could find.

Every two weeks, the bookmobile would pull into our neighborhood and the driver would honk the horn, signaling it was time to get more books to read. I guess my love of fiction was kind of a sign that I wanted to be a writer, although I didn’t realize it at the time!

Are there any books that impacted you as a youth/child? If so, what books were your favorites when you were a youngster?

When I was in college in the late eighties, my freshman English teacher said that he felt that I could write well, and he tried to get me to change my major from Finance to English.

Needless to say, I didn’t listen to him. But I wish I had.

I’ll continue to post about how I came to discover the joy of writing in future blog posts.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Greatest Find

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The Greatest Find by Paige Winship Dooly
H S #807
Publisher: Heartsong Presents
ISBN: 9781602600584
Binding: Mass Market
Pages: 176 pages
From Heartsong Presents website:
Tabitha will not quit. Tabitha Augustine and her famous archaeologist father are on the verge of their greatest find. As they compete to discover the first dinosaur fossil in Utah, Tabitha is determined to win. But sabotages and threats quickly
send many contestants packing-including her father. Refusing to quit, Tabitha keeps digging. Will her stubbornness cause her to dig her own grave? Hunter Pierce loves history and adventure. His maverick ways infuriate Tabitha, but he soon becomes a friend and safe haven amid mysterious attacks. After promising Dr. Augustine he would protect the man’s daughter, Hunter realizes something else needs protected-his own heart. As Tabitha and Hunter join forces, will they discover who is behind the attacks? And will Hunter’s faith provide the peace and security Tabitha craves, even though it defies all her scientific knowledge?
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This book had a great, unusual setting: an archeological dig for dinosaur bones. I really enjoyed reading about the process of digging in the earth, looking for fossils. Tabitha was raised by her scientific, atheist father. She doesn’t know if she believes in God or not, and when she meets Hunter Pierce, he shares his faith with her.
Hunter fights his attraction to Tabitha because he knows there is no hope for them if Tab has not accepted Christ as her Savior.
While both Hunter and Tab dig for bones, Tab, as well as other diggers, find that their lives are threatened, and several diggers abandon the camp, including Tab’s father.
Hunter convinces Tabitha that they need to join forces in order to find the first dinosaur bone. However, when Tab is hurt, Hunter wants her to abandon the search. But Tab is stubborn, refusing to give up, in spite of the threats made against her life.
I’m sure readers will enjoy this lightly suspenseful and entertaining story.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Rest Of The Winners!

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Here are the rest of the winners for my August book giveaway:

Murder, Mayhem, and A Fine Man – Maurice M. Gray Jr.of Wilmington, DE
The Heartsong Presents Mysteries – Sarah Wollman of Mountain Lake, MN
Unlikely Hero – Carla Pullum of Palmdale, CA
Six Heartsong Presents titles – Amy Lin of Philadelphia, PA
Catching Katie – Lia Bobberson of Rochester, NY

Also, I’ve mailed the books out today, so the winners should be receiving them within the next week or so!

I’m toying with the idea of doing a series of posts about my journey to becoming a published author! I’d do the posts intermittently between my book reviews and book giveaways. Somebody was asking me about how I got started writing and why I wanted to become a published author in the first place. The question spurred this idea!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Recipe For Murder by Lisa Harris

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Recipe For Murder

by

Lisa Harris
From Barbour’s website:
Pricilla never expected to be involved in a real life mystery, but that’s exactly where she finds herself when she joins her son at his hunting lodge in the beautiful Colorado mountains. A superb cook and articulate hostess, Priscilla plans an informal buffet for the guests at her son’s hunting lodge. But the dinner party turns to chaos when a guest is found dead after sampling one of her salmon-filled tartlets.
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This novel took place all within the span of a few days time. Priscilla Crumb is retired, with a lot of time on her hands. When Priscilla’s son’s (Nathan), chef becomes ill, Nathan calls his mother to temporarily fill the job. Nathan owns a hunting lodge, and he must keep his guests happy with home-cooked meals amidst their game-finding excursions.

However, once Pricilla makes her salmon tartlets, one of the guests eats one, and drops dead! Pricilla is determined to find the cause of death, and she sleuths her way through the story, questioning all of the guests as well as the dead man’s widow.

This book was charming as you see how stubborn Pricilla is as she strives to solve the mystery. Her old friend, Max, is a guest at the lodge, and he’s had a crush on Pricilla for awhile. Since both Max and Pricilla are widowed, they wonder if a romance can develop between them. Also another romance brews between Nathan, and Max’s daughter Trisha, who is also staying at the lodge.

There’s a sequel to this novel entitled Baker’s Fatal Dozen. I look forward to reading book #2 within this series.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

September 2008 Book Giveaway!

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I’m giving away the following novels this month. As usual, these novels are brand new or slightly used! Leave an email address when commenting if you are interested in entering the drawing!
John’s Quest by Cecelia Dowdy:
Here is the book summary from Heartsong Presents website:
It’s amazing how quickly life can change. Overnight, Monica Crawford finds her neatly organized world turned upside down. Her sister abandons her blind son, Scotty, leaving him on Monica’s doorstep. Caring for a handicapped child brings unexpected conflict-but unexpected joy as well. When John French volunteers to tutor Scotty, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to Monica. But John and Monica are very different. She is a strong believer, determined to live her life for Christ. John is an agnostic who wants nothing to do with God.Will John see the light? Will Monica realize that sometimes letting go of a dream is the way to achieve it? Only in full surrender will either of them be happy- whether they end up together or alone.

The following two novels are Heartsong Presents titles. I’m giving them away as a set:
White As Snow by Janice A. Thompson
In Pursuit Of Peace by Jennifer Johnson

Unforgivable by Tina Wainscott – please note that this is a secular title

The following two novels are Heartsong Presents cozy mysteries. I’m giving them away as a set:
Gunfight At Grace Gulch by Darlene Franklin

Beach Dreams by Trish Perry

The Whitney Chronicles by Judy Baer

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down by Neta Jackson

FYI, I’m still waiting to hear back from two of the winners from my last drawing. If I don’t hear back from them by tomorrow, I will choose new recipients.

Some Of The Winners

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Here are some of the winners for my last book giveaway.

A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber = Teresa Warner of Toledo, Ohio

Redemption by Jacquelin Thomas = Faye Perkins of Dyersburg, TN

The Last Ten Percent by Michelle McKinney Hammond = Cheryl of Yakima, Washington

Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy = Martha Artyomenko of Kalispell, Montana

John’s Quest by Cecelia Dowdy – Charlotte Schofield of Lisbon, Maine

I’ve contacted all of the winners, so once I hear back from them, I’ll post the rest of the winners.

I’ll be posting another book giveaway within the next day or so.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Quest by Nancy Moser

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The Quest by Nancy Moser
Paperback: 407 pages
Publisher: Multnomah Books (June 12, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1576734102
ISBN-13: 978-1576734100
From Amazon.com
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
The Quest, book two in author Nancy Moser’s Mustard Seed series, is the continuing story of four ordinary people whose lives are forever changed after they are invited to the very supernatural town of Haven, Nebraska. The paths of Natalie, Walter, Kathy, Del, and Julia are once again joined in a quest of faith — and a battle against the forces determined to stop them — as they implement the decisions and direction they received in The Invitation and discover the meaning of Matthew 7:7: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” When the heat’s turned up and the enemy unleashes his greatest opposition, the Havenites learn that it’s not enough to know what’s right — one must, with God’s help, do what’s right. No matter what the cost.
About the Author
Nancy Moser is an inspirational speaker, college instructor, and well-published writer. Her books include the three titles in The Mustard Seed series, The Invitation, The Quest, and The Temptation. A musician, needlepoint enthusiast, and antique hunter, Nancy lives with her husband, Mark, in Kansas. The couple has three children.
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I purchased this book about a year ago at a local Labor Day Festival.

When I think of this novel, the words spiritual warfare come to mind. The cast of characters are being targeted by the enemy, and they must rely on their faith in God in order to overcome evil.

Natalie has given her little girl up for adoption, and she’s now living in a rooming house, however, when Beau, a handsome and charismatic man moves into the home, she finds her life suddenly spinning out of control. Beau claims he has her best interests at heart as he promises to help her fulfill her dreams of becoming a published author. However, Jack, another tenant in the house, has affections for Natalie, but doesn’t think he can compete with the attractive Beau. As the story deepens, Natalie realizes that Beau is not what he appears to be.

Walter is still coming to terms with being a new father. His advanced age make him doubt his parenting abilities, and he finds it hard to follow the path that God has set before him. He must learn that he needs to strengthen his faith, and rely on the Lord.

Clergyman Del is called to move to another parish. When a troubled church member cries out for help, he fails to stop the impending crises. He doubts his abilities as a clergyman and wonders what he can do to stop the evil from ruining the life of one of the Havenites.

Kathy believes her husband is dead. However, after Dr. Roy Bauer steps into her life, she finds her feelings for him begin to grow. Evidence soon surfaces that suggests that her husband may still be alive. A frightening series of events threaten Kathy’s life, as she discovers a secret about Roy’s past.

Julia is running for president, but will the enemy stop her from winning a seat in the Oval Office?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I enjoyed it immensely. I’d be interested in reading the other books in the Mustard Seed series.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Flower Of Grass

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by James E. Robinson
Category:
FICTION / Christian / General
ISBN: 978-0-8254-6286-3
$13.99 paperback
256 pages
JULY 2008 (Available)

I received an email from Kregel about this novel. When I read it, I’ll be sure to post about it on my blog. It sounds good! Read the storyline below:
From Kregel:
“John Allen had come back to say goodbye. But he was too late; there would be no atonement.”

John Allen returns to his hometown after the death of his alcoholic, abusive father. He has been gone 16 years and has become a successful writer, but with major addiction problems of his own. Now he struggles to make amends with his careworn sister and dropout younger brother-and, perhaps, to pick up the pieces of his teenage love affair with Jessie.

But Jessie has grown tired of waiting for letters that ceased to come, and has married. At what cost might their love be rekindled.

An exquisitely written, passionate and thoughtful novel, this is a classic love story framing deeper themes of morality and passing time, the true nature of faith, and the delicate balance of human relationships.
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Sounds like a good read, doesn’t it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~