Author Archives: Cecelia Dowdy

Harry Potter Vs. Left Behind

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No, they’re not literally going against each other, however, I found the article above quite interesting. Although the Left Behind series has taken off, peaked, and slowly declined(although it’s still popular), I’d still like to see it take off with the same magnitude as the Harry Potter Series. I’ve noticed there are people out there, Christians, who are totally unaware of Christian fiction. There are Christians who feel that fiction and novels are bad because they consider it lying, and God frowns upon lying. There are others I’ve heard of who only read Christian non-fiction because they feel that when they read something, they want it to be a book that’ll make an impact on their daily Christian living, and Christian walk (like the Purpose Driven Life. I know I haven’t blogged about that in awhile since I’d forgotten all about it until recently. As time permits I’ll go back to blogging about the chapters in The Purpose Driven Life.)

As far as Christian fiction goes, I just wish that there were a way to make more people aware of its existence. Some people might pick up a Christian fiction novel and be surprised that they actually enjoy the content! Perhaps God has a plan, though. Perhaps He doesn’t want the Left Behind series to be as big as the Harry Potter books because LaHaye and Jenkins would not be able to handle that kind of fame and fortune?? I’m totally speculating here, but in my lifetime I have seen an increase in Christian fiction. Back when I was growing up, there was no Christian fiction market available, with the exception of the classics like Tolkein. I believe Janette Oake’s books have been around for a long while, as well as the Grace Livingson Hill books. When I started writing back in 1994, I don’t think there was a Christian market. When publishers found this untapped market, then I guess they decided to start acquiring more books to fill this need. Harlequin created their Steeple Hill imprint and Barbour created their Heartsong Presents imprint. Currently, Christian fiction is so huge that any reader can find a number of titles to fill their days and nights with pleasurable reading because the magnitude of titles released has increased so much.

So it’s nice to hear that the final installment of the Left Behind Series is going to be released. Their popularity is something worth noting in the history of Christian fiction.

Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com

First Mates For $118.00 on Amazon???

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Just in case the link I provided above stops working, or changes, here is the text on amazon.com that draws my interest:

First Mates (Love Inspired) by Cecelia Dowdy (Paperback – 2005)
1 available offer from $118.00

Now why in the world would anybody want to purchase a paperback copy of my book, published back in February 2005 for $118.00?? It’s a Love Inspired Christian romance released by Harlequin’s Steeple Hill line. You can get a used paperback copy for a penny, and, I’m sure there MAY be a few new copies still floating around someplace!

Somebody, please enlighten me! Why would somebody post my book on Amazon asking for $118.00? I guess it doesn’t sound too dumb if the seller actually gets somebody who will purchase the book for that inflated price!

I know it won’t be me buying it!

Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com

Fiction Fellowship

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I had a really nice lunch in White Marsh yesterday with my fiction cronies! In the photo, you’ll see Chandra, Tiff, and Dani, the Baltimore subgroup of the Midatlantic chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

We chatted about lots of things, but the most exciting is that Tiff is getting married!!! I’m sure she’ll be doing lots of planning within the next few months for her upcoming wedding!

Writing-wise, we talked about the submissions we currently have out at various publishing houses. We also chatted about agents and writers conferences. I told of how I sold my book to Barbour, and Tiff also told of her sale. Her book is entitled Promises Promises and it will be released as part of the Heartsong Presents line in January 2008.

I told of my experiences at the Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference last August, and Tiff told us about the Delaware Christian Writers Conference. I also reminisced about the good times I’d had at the now-extinct Mid-Atlantic Christian Writers Conference.

I pointed out that I usually choose the conferences that I plan on attending based upon the editors and agents attending. All three of my lunch buddies pointed out to me that I need to also look at the workshops being offered. They said that sometimes you can glean a wealth of information from the fiction workshops. I catalogued that information in the back of my mind for future reference.

I spoke a little about my agent search and we also talked about the fact that most Christian publishers require that you have an agent in order to submit. The exceptions are Steeple Hill and Barbour. I also recall reading something similiar on agent Chip MacGregor’s blog, about publishing houses closing the doors to unagented submissions. The only way around that is to meet with an editor at a writers conference!

Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com

Serenity Weekend

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Lisa Samson, an author on one of my writers loops, has posted about her Serenity Weekend! Go to the link and see the description for yourself! It sounds wonderful, peaceful, and divine! Good food, lovely atmosphere and great company would be a great way to whet your writing appetite! I think if I were to attend, I wouldn’t want to leave!

Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com

Murder, Mayhem, And A Fine Man

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Murder, Mayhem, And A Fine Man
Author: Claudia Mair Burney
Paperback: 301 pages
Publisher: Navpress Publishing Group (July 5, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1576839788
ISBN-13: 978-1576839782

From the back cover:
Life as a forensic psychologist isn’t quite as cool as prime-time televeision would have us believe, and most of us just don’t have closets full of red-carpet gowns and bling. Instead of painting the town in a drop-dead gorgeous dress, Amanda Bell Brown finds herself at the scene of a crime–and she just may know who the killer is. She needs to spill her guts, but not on the handsome detective’s alligator
shoes–especially if she wants him to ask her out. A complicated murder investigation unearths not just a killer but a closet full of skeletons Amanda thought long gone. Murder, mayhem, and a fine man are wreaking havoc on her fortieth birthday, but will she survive to see forty-one?

Does she survive? You’ll have to read the story to find out!

This book grabbed me from the first page and just wouldn’t let me go. The characters are real, down-to-earth, and they’re not perfect: they struggle with issues like most of us do. Amanda Brown (Bell) is still struggling with the aftermath from a terribly abusive relationship from ten years ago. The abuse she suffered caused a senseless death, a death she in which she has yet to bring closure. In comes Jazz Brown, handsome detective (no relation). Although Jazz and Bell try to crack the case and find the killer of two men, they manage to find romance along the way. I found the attraction between the two to be quite strong. Jazz has his own problems that he needs to face. He’s currently unavailable for romance and Amanda is frustrated, not understanding why she and Jazz can’t just be together and in love!

Since the story starts off with a murder on Amanda’s fortieth birthday, it’s sort of dark, but it’s dark with spots of humor along the way. The humor reminds me of a term I learned in Shakespeare class in high school and college. I believe it was comedic relief? Burney provides spots of comedic relief along the way of a dark road with light provided at the end of the tunnel!

If you like mysteries, murders, and a good suspenseful story, then you should purchase this book! I guarantee you will love it….and you’ll fall in love with the characters, too!

Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com

Teen Apologetics Conference

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My next book, John’s Quest is about an agnostic who finally accepts God. Since John (my fictional character) is a scientist, he uses logic and science to try and discover God’s existence.

When I heard about Teen Apologetics Conference yesterday on the radio, I could imagine somebody who attended this conference, talking to John, giving him the evidence that God really does exist. It sounds like it will be a great conference.

Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

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This is a Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe I used for Easter. The link that I’ve provided has a slightly altered version than the one posted from my cookbook. These are the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had. If you use a melon ball scoop to measure dough onto the cookie sheet, and bake them just right, and use milk chocolate chips, you’ll take one bite and feel like you’re in sweet chocolate heaven! Yum!

2 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 C. Dark brown Sugar, firmly packed
1/2 C. white sugar
1 C. Salted butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 tsp. pur vanilla extract
2 C. semisweet chocolate chips (NOTE: I PREFER USING MILK CHOCOLATE CHIPS IN MY COOKIES SINCE THEY HAVE A SWEETER FLAVOR)

Preheat oven to 300°F

In medium bowl combine flour, soda and salt. Mix well with wire whisk. Set aside.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer blend sugars at medium speed. Add butter and mix to form a grainy paste, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add eggs and vanilla extract, and mix at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the flour mixture and chocolate chips and blend at low speed until just mixed. Do not overmix.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet, 2″ apart.
***NOTE, I USE A MELONBALL SCOOP TO PLACE COOKIES ONTO SHEET. THIS IS THE PERFECT SIZE FOR THE BEST COOKIES. ALSO, MY OVEN BAKES THE COOKIES PERFECTLY WHEN THEY ARE LEFT IN THE OVEN FOR 22 MINUTES.
Bake 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer cookies immediately to a cool surface with a spatula.

Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com

Deviled Eggs

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Happy Easter! He has risen! I’m sure many of you bloggees have dyed eggs for this blessed holiday. I found a great link with deviled egg recipes for you to enjoy with those edible colored eggs. I’d wanted to dye some eggs for my son to enjoy, but, alas, I was just too tired! I did manage to make some great chocolate chip cookies for our Easter dessert, though! Yum! I’ll be sure to share that recipe with you all sometime this week!

Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com

Easter Eggs

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I never dye Easter eggs, however, I figured a lot of my readers do. I found this site about dyeing Easter eggs. I know some use PAAS to dye their eggs. Since I have a young son, I figure I’ll be dyeing eggs within the next year or so, and they’ll probably talk about the Easter egg tradition in my son’s daycare. When I talk about Easter, I usually focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus, since that’s the true message of Easter. If I feel so inclined, I’ll be posting more Easter thoughts and musings later this week.

Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com