Author Archives: Cecelia Dowdy

Top Ten Bestselling Christian Authors Of 2009

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I saw this list on Sally Stuart’s blog yesterday. I’ve copied and pasted the list below:

Top Ten Bestselling Christian Authors Of 2009

Max Lucado
Stephen & Alex Kendrick
Karen Kingsbury
Stormie Omartian
William P. Young
Ted Dekker
Francis Chan
Beverly Lewis
Gary Chapman
Joyce Meyer

The only authors I’ve read from the list are:
Karen Kingsbury (I’ve reviewed a number of her books on this blog.)
Ted Dekker – I’ve reviewed some of his titles on my blog, too
William P. Young – I reviewed The Shack about a year or so ago on this blog.
Beverly Lewis

The other names are familiar, but I’ve never read any of those authors’ work. Probably because I don’t read much non-fiction. Except for The Word, I’m not a big non-fiction fan. I tend to get bored easily when I read a book that’s not a novel. I set it aside and forget about it. Months later I might pick it back up and try to read it again, but then I have to re-read or remember what I read the last time I tried to read the book.

Any of you read any of these authors on this list. Would you consider any of them your favorite? If so, which ones?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

February Book Giveaway

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***This contest is closed! Winner has already been selected!

Okay, first things first, my 3-in-1 collection, Chesapeake Weddings, is available for pre-order on Amazon and other places, too. As usual, the price on Christianbook.com is a bit cheaper than other places. If you’ve read any of my Heartsongs, you can leave a review for Chesapeake Weddings on Christianbook.com since Chesapeake Weddings is a re-release of my 3 Heartsongs.

I’m giving away the following books for the month of February. This month’s set includes a couple of non-fiction titles. As usual, if you enter the giveaway, be sure to leave your email address in your comment. Also, by entering, you’ll automatically be added to my email list, however, I only send out mass emails a few times a year, so you won’t have to worry about being inundated with too many emails from me! Some of these books were purchased and some were provided to me directly from the publisher for free. Some of them are brand new and some are slightly used. If you win, I’ll be posting your full name on my blog, announcing you as the winner! Here are the books:
1. The Face by Angela Hunt

2. Building Dreams by Kathleen Y’Barbo
Lise is just trying to do her job. When Texas architect Lise Gentry arrives to oversee renovations to several deteriorating buildings in Latagnier, Louisiana, she finds the newly elected mayor is none other than the architect her firm competed against for the contract. And he holds the power to veto her plans. Ted Breaux is dedicated to restoring and preserving the nineteenth-century structures his ancestors helped build. But the lady architect from Texas intends to raze historical structures to make way for businesses the small town doesn’t need. Will the architects’ vastly different visions lead to destruction? Or can Ted convince Lise to begin building dreams, instead?

3. The Superheroes Next Door by Andrea Boeshaar
Luke Weston is fascinated by his new neighbor, Ciara Rome. Her open admission that she intends to use his family in support of a wild theory is unsettling, but Luke decides to let his life speak for itself – and he turns the issue over to God. But he finds himself increasingly drawn to this lovely young woman whose goals and beliefs are so opposed to his own. Only God would bring these two together, and only His love can break through walls that have taken years to build.

4. Gone To Green by Judy Christie

5. Raising Rain by Debbie Fuller Thomas

6. Latter-Day Cipher by Latayne C. Scott

7. Becoming Lucy by Martha Rogers

8. Night Light by Terri Blackstock

9. The Writer’s Guide To Critique Groups by Linda Griffin – this is a non-fiction title. Those who are trying to get published, or are interested in joining a critique group might find this book helpful.

10. The Bible Promise Book

11. The Lord Of The Rings – The Fellowship Of The Ring – Part One (this is a mass-market paperback novel.)

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Tired

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I usually like to post my book giveaways on the first of the month. This month, I was too tired and frazzled to do that! I hope to post tomorrow, or shortly after that! Life’s been hectic lately!

We’ve been getting some snow here in Maryland! It’s snowing now! It looks so pretty! Maybe my job will be delayed or closed tomorrow! 🙂

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Night Light By Terri Blackstock

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Night Light by Terri BlackstockPaperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (July 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310257689
ISBN-13: 978-0310257684
From the Back Cover
In the face of a crisis that sweeps an entire high-tech planet back to the age before electricity, the Brannings face a choice. Will they hoard their possessions to survive or trust God to provide as they offer their resources to others? #1 bestselling suspense author Terri Blackstock weaves a masterful what-if series in which global catastrophe reveals the darkness in human hearts and lights the way to restoration for a self-centered world. An era unlike any in modern civilization is descending, one without lights, electronics, running water, or automobiles. As a global blackout lengthens into months, the neighbors of Oak Hollow grapple with a chilling realization: the power may never return. Survival has become a lifestyle. When two young thieves break into the Brannings home and clean out the food in their pantry, Jeff Branning tracks them to a filthy apartment and discovers a family of children living alone, stealing to stay alive. Where is their mother? The search for answers uncovers a trail of desperation and murder . . . and for the Brannings, a powerful new purpose that can transform their entire community and above all, themselves.

I reviewed the first book in this series here. I can see why this author is a #1 best-selling writer! I was so impressed by the first book that I ordered the rest of this series from Amazon! I kept thinking about the characters and the fact that the lights, electricity and electronics had not been restored by the end of the first book. The characters never left my mind so I eagerly started the second book in the series months later. This book won’t disappoint you! The world is still without power and mankind is still scavenging for food and clean water. Most of the residents of Oak Hollow have banded together to stay alive. They’ve combined their manpower to build a well, so that they can have clean water to drink. Food is still scarce and when the Brannings find children stealing their food, they discover that the youngsters are living in a dirty apartment building, alone.

The children come to live with the Brannings and the family wonders if they’ll have enough food to feed the extra youngsters. Meanwhile, technology in the world does get a slight boost when it’s discovered that old automobiles, build in the seventies and before that, will work because they don’t use a microchip.

Meanwhile, Deni Branning wonders about her fiance. He doesn’t seem to care that’s she’s almost gotten killed during the blackout. Should she breakup with him?

I highly recommend this novel. The story will keep you entertained for hours. Blackstock is one of my favorite authors. Her suspense is extremely intriquing.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Momma’s Wine Cake

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You don’t have to worry about the alcoholic content in this cake! The alcohol bakes out of the cake in the oven. You could probably use any kind of cake mix for this recipe. Somebody gave me this recipe in an email. It’s very tasty!

Momma’s Wine Cake:

1 (18.25 ounce) package butter recipe cake mix or chocolate cake mix
1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix or chocolate pudding mix
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup white wine
4 eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray the inside of a bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle white sugar inside the pan. (This will create a great sugary crust on the cake while baking.)

In medium bowl combine the cake mix, instant vanilla pudding, vegetable oil, white wine, and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer for 5 minutes. I mixed it by hand. It only took a few minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool on rack in pan for 10 minutes then remove cake from pan to rack. Let cake cool completely before slicing. Garnish sliced cake with a dollop of whipped cream or dust with confectioners’ sugar and sliced strawberries. I didn’t garnish mine. I just removed it from the pan and we sliced and ate it! Yummy!

I’d like to try this using another variation: Yesterday, I purchased a lemon cake mix and a box of lemon instant pudding from the store. I’d like to try this recipe using those two ingredients. I’d also like to add a little bit of lemon extract to the cake if I do this? Not sure if I’ll add the extract, though. It would be interesting to see how it turns out. I probably won’t get around to trying this for awhile though – at least a few months! I’ll be sure to blog about it once I try it!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Where Am I?

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I stumbled upon this post on the Sunny Island Breezes Blog. I told the blogger that I currently am not under contract for any more books. I do have projects for which I’m searching for a home, but so far, no takers! Plus I told her that Barbour rejected my last proposal.

So, if you’ve read my any of my Heartsongs and enjoyed them, then could you please let the publisher know via this link? Just mention that you liked my books and you’d like to see more!

I hope everyone has a blessed day!

~Cecelia Dowdy~