Yearly Archives: 2011

The Passing Of Author Stephen Bly

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I was shocked to discover author Stephen Bly passed away on Wednesday. I didn’t realize he was ill. I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Stephen in person, but we “talked” online over the years. My prayers are with Stephen and his family.

I’ve hosted Stephen on my blog over the years. He was the highly respected author of over one hundred books, most (maybe all) in the Christian market. He also wrote several books with his wife. If interested, here’s a listing of all of the blog posts in which he was featured. Rest in peace, Stephen. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Janet, and the rest of his family.

You can find Stephen’s obituary on the Novel Journey Blog.

S.B Blogpost #1

S.B. Blogpost #2

S.B. Blogpost #3
S.B. Blogpost #4

~Cecelia Dowdy~

How Many Writers’ Conferences Have You Attended?

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How many writers’ conferences have I attended?
Twenty-three!! But, I’m not sure if that’s the correct number – it’s just an estimate, but it should be pretty close to that figure!!

How many conferences have you attended? Can you leave a ballpark figure in the comments?

Yesterday’s Writers’ Rest blog post brought this question to mind. Here’s a list of conferences that I’ve attended – this list may not be complete because it’s based upon my memory over the last fifteen years. (I started writing back in 1994):

Florida Romance Writers Conference (a chapter of RWA) – This was my very first writers’ conference. I attended back in 1996. I recall that everybody was warm and friendly and there were some male romance models there on motorcycles.

RWA National Conference (Romance Writers of America) – I attended this one eight times. (1996-2002, 2009) This was the only conference I attended for several years. If you’re trying to break into the genre of romance fiction, then this conference is for you! You’ll find a plethora of editors and agents seeking authors. I stopped attending this conference because the Christian fiction professionals had stopped attending RWA conferences once ACFW was formed. I did look at the lineup for this year’s RWA conference, and a couple of Christian fiction publishers and agents are there. However, if Christian fiction is your focus, then you should attend ACFW (keep reading for more information about ACFW).

Washington Romance Writers Annual Retreat (a chapter of Romance Writers of America) – I attended this one at least five times, give or take? WRW is my local chapter, plus, I served on the board for this organization for a few years. I volunteered for the retreat by soliciting to publishers and authors for donations for the goody bags for this event. This conference USED to be held at historic Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia at the now-extinct, historic, Hilltop House Hotel. I loved this event because the scenery was so pretty and the casual, laid-back atmosphere was very nice! Also, I sold my SECOND BOOK as a result of meeting a Harlequin editor at this retreat. I know the location for this event has changed in recent years.

Midatlantic Christian Writers Conference – I attended this one twice, it doesn’t exist anymore. I really enjoyed it the first year because Jerry Jenkins was there and he was the keynote speaker! I even have a personally signed copy of his novel, The Mark. The second year that I attended, I didn’t enjoy it as much. Can’t recall why? I didn’t attend the third year and after the third year the organizer stopped doing this conference.

New Jersey Romance Writers Conference (a chapter of RWA) – I attended this one three times. It’s a great conference because, from what I can recall, since the location is near New York, they get a lot of editors and agents attending. It’s the next best thing to attending RWA’s National Conference.

Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference – I attended this one only once. I enjoyed the ACFW Conference more than this one because my focus is ONLY Christian fiction at the moment. This conference has a plethora of other types of things like self-publishing, magazines, devotionals, etc. It was a hodge-podge of things to choose from, and, while it was nice, I felt I got more for my money from ACFW. But, since this conference is local to me, I attended for the one year.

ACFW Conference – I attended this one three times. If you’re currently trying to get your Christian novel commercially published, then you should attend this conference. From what I’ve seen, this is where you will find the largest gathering of CHRISTIAN FICTION editors and agents. It was a great experience and I wish that I could attend this year, but, right now, I just can’t justify the cost! I’ll probably attend next year, though!

So, how many conferences have you attended? Can you leave a ballpark figure in the comments?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

I Wish…

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Do you ever wish you could travel back in time for a little while just to see Jesus perform His miracles?
 Sometimes, I wish that I could travel back in time, just for a few minutes, to just see Jesus, really see Him in the flesh, performing miracles….healing people. The following scripture really resonates with me because I have a blind husband. It’d be nice if he could see. Does Jesus have the power to heal right now? Of course He does, and I’ve heard of people getting healed miraculously…all by the power of Jesus. Why aren’t all believers healed? I don’t know! It’s just one of those mysteries to which we’ll never know the answer until we get to Heaven.

~Cecelia Dowdy~Two Blind Men Receive Their Sight

Matthew 20:29-34

29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Catching Katie By Robin Lee Hatcher – From The Blog Archives

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Yesterday’s review of A Great Catch

made me think about another title that I read a long time ago. If you think the storyline of A Great Catch is appealing because of the woman’s suffrage issue, then you should read Robin Lee Hatcher’s

Catching Katie. It was recently re-released as an e-book, but I reviewed it on my blog back in 2007.

Have you read Catching Katie? If so, did you like it?

Here’s a brief summary of the Catching Katie:
Katie Jones is committed to fighting for the cause of women’s suffrage. She has no time for romance, especially not with her best friend Ben Rafferty. But when Katie’s column in Ben’s newspaper, The Homestead Herald, stirs things up, sparks begin to fly. Ben is set on winning Katie over, but Katie is just as determined to stay true to her 1916 feminist ideals. With such strong obstacles in the way, their relationship can’t possibly progress. Unless somehow love finds a way…


~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Great Catch By Lorna Seilstad

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A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad

Woman’s suffragist Emily Graham doesn’t need a man in her life. She’s committed to fighting for the cause and having a husband would slow her down. She wants to make her own decisions and she really wants to fight for the right for women to vote. In spite of some townsmen objections to her actions, she’s still committed to her cause. However, her life takes an interesting turn when she literally slams into baseball player Carter Stockton. Carter is an old friend of her brother’s and she has not seen him in awhile. There is an old feud brewing between the Stockton and Graham families, and Emily’s aunts object to her spending so much time with Carter.

In spite of her objection to marriage, Emily is attracted to Carter. When she’s determined to prove that a woman can do whatever a man can do, she arranges a baseball game between an all women’s team and Carter’s Manawa Owls baseball team. As a result, Carter has to teach clumsy Emily how to play, which proves to be a delightful and funny lesson on the rudiments of baseball.

This book was sweet, charming and endearing. There was also an unusual combination between baseball and woman’s suffrage that you won’t usually find in a novel. I also enjoyed the thread of mystery involved in the story. Carter is hired as Emily’s grandmother’s bookkeeper. However, he finds some discrepancies in her records – is Carter’s family’s bank at fault for the discrepancy? The book also shows how families can be divided over issues. Carter wants to be a baseball player, and, in spite of his family’s objections, he refuses to work in the family banking business.

If you like a sweet, warm, light-hearted story with a thread of mystery, then this book is for you. I also think you’ll find it interesting when you read about how baseball was played during that time period.

Many thanks to Baker/Revell for providing me with a free review copy.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

From the Back Cover
She wants to change the world.
He wants to change her mind.

It’s the beginning of a new century at Lake Manawa resort in Iowa, but some things never change. When Emily Graham’s meddlesome aunts and grandmother take it upon themselves to find her a husband among the resort guests, the spunky suffragist is determined to politely decline each and every suitor. She has neither the time nor the need for a man in her busy life.

Carter Stockton, a recent college graduate and a pitcher for the Manawa Owls baseball team, intends to enjoy every minute of the summer before he is forced into the straitlaced business world of his father.

When their worlds collide, neither Emily nor Carter could have guessed what would come next. Will Carter strike out? Or will Emily cast her vote for a love that might cost her dreams?

The perfect summer novel, A Great Catch will enchant you with its breezy setting and endearing characters.

Good Ol’ Southern Hospitality

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When people mention “The South” what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?

When I think of the south, I think of sweet Georgia peaches…

Photo courtesy of Suat Eman – Free Digital Photos
I also think about a nice cold pitcher of iced tea, served in frosted glasses with slices of juicy, bright yellow lemons…

When I think of the south, the first thing I think about is southern hospitality. When I was in Durham last weekend, I went to the drugstore to get my son some cold and allergy medicine. As soon as I walked into the store, the clerk approached me at the door, wanting to know if I needed help finding anything. We don’t get that kind of treatment over here in Maryland. If I go to the drug store and need help, it might take me awhile to find somebody to help me, and, sometimes the workers don’t care and may tell you the wrong information – like saying an item is on row 5 when it’s really on row 12.

When we went to The Waffle House in Durham for breakfast, as soon as we walked in the door, the hostess, as well as the entire staff behind the counter greeted, “Good morning.” It’s treatment that I’m not used to in Maryland.

I recall visiting Atlanta several years ago for a business trip. When we went out to lunch and we walked to the restaurant, everybody that saw us on the sidewalk said hello – we didn’t even know these people. Over here in Maryland, we don’t really speak to one another unless we have a personal relationship with that person. It’s just a way of behavior that I’m not exposed to in Maryland.

So, what do you think about The South? Are people friendlier over there?

BTW, several people have told me over the years that Maryland is considered The South, but, I don’t consider Maryland the South….but, I guess it’s all a matter of opinion.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Big 5-0h

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The Big 5-0h by Sandra D. Bricker

This book was a light and funny story about Liv, a cancer survivor who’s dreading her 50th birthday. Liv is downtrodden, she’s survived cancer and now she needs a spark of…something to rejuvenate her depressive state of mind. Her friend Hallie suggests that Liv do a home swap – use Hallie’s mother’s Florida home since Hallie’s mother will be vacationing with Hallie and her family and her house will be empty. Liv agrees and once she sets foot into the beautiful tropical state of Florida, things take a turn for the better. She meets an eclectic assortment of people, the most important person being Jared, a hunky doctor who lives nearby. Jared is smitten with Liv and Liv is attracted to Jared too. But, both people are cautious, perhaps too cautious, to take a leap of love. Both of them need to learn to rely on God and to trust their instincts about their feelings for one another.

Liv also wonders if this Florida trip is just what she needs to break her birthday curse. Every year, a tumultuous event happens that marks Liv’s birthday. She doesn’t want to see what’ll happen on the day that she turns fifty.

I enjoyed this novel because of the light-hearted humor, and I also enjoyed the fact that the characters were older. Seldom do I see a romance novel with the main characters who are around fifty years old.

I got this book as a free Kindle download awhile ago, and I’m glad that I did. Nice, heartwarming story and I encourage you to purchase the book and give this story a try.

Why do you think that publishers fail to release more romance novels with older characters? Is romance a subject that is usually linked to a younger crowd?
~Cecelia Dowdy~

Product Description
Olivia Wallace has a birthday curse . . . or so she thinks. It was a broken heart on her 16th, a car accident on her 21st, pneumonia on her 30th, and a fall down a flight of stairs on her 35th. There were Ohio blizzards on her 38th, 39th, and 40th; and six days before her 45th, she lost the love of her life to a heart attack. Numbing grief stole that birthday and a couple more to follow and, on the morning of her 48th birthday, she received the call she’d dreaded ever since losing her mom so many years ago…she was diagnosed with stage-3 ovarian cancer. The doctors didn’t hold out a lot of hope, but Liv survived and maintained her faith. Months of surgeries and chemotherapy and radiation treatments followed.

But now, as her 50th birthday creeps up the icy Ohio path toward her, her hair has grown back, her energy level is up, and she is officially cancer free. It makes her nervous. After everything she’s gone through, Liv hates the idea of driving on icy roads and returning to work as an O.R. nurse in a local Cincinnati hospital.

Her best friend Hallie knows just the thing to break Liv out of the winter doldrums, while providing a safe haven of warmth, sunshine, and a time to regroup: a holiday in the Florida sunshine!

A Few Things….

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Well, it’s Sunday, May, 22, 2011 and there was NO RAPTURE YESTERDAY Camping needs to re-evaluate his Bible and stop making false prophesies!

I also wanted to announce that the winner of the Stephen Bly Book Giveaway is: JOY ISLEY – MESA, AZ

I’m still experimenting with the Amish Friendship Bread. I don’t have any friends who are bakers, so I don’t have anybody who’s interested in taking the extra starter from me. However, I developed a workaround for myself. When I split the first batch of starter, I merely placed the extra starters in the refrigerator and used them to bake – I did not feed them – I just used them as is – with the exception of the one I used yesterday. I fed that one but I didn’t feed it again on the tenth day nor did I split it. I used the entire 2 cups to make pancakes. I still have one bag of starter left from my original batch. Since I only have one left, I will feed this one on days six and ten, split on day ten and then I’ll have some to place in my refrigerator. So far, out of the recipes that I’ve tried, my favorites are the Amish Friendship Bread and the Banana Nut Amish Friendship Bread. I made the biscuits, but they didn’t turn out like I wanted. Also, I made the pancakes yesterday, but they were just “okay”. They were a bit too sour and you have to really watch the batter when you cook it on a griddle, it gets done very quickly and can burn. I believe it’s because of the sugar content in the Friendship Bread starter.

Any of you ever make Amish Friendship Bread, or a variation of it? If so, did you like it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~