Saturday, July 26, 2008

Need A Crit Before Conference????

Double Crit Editorial Services is the brain-child of Ronie Kendig and Sara Mills. Ronie and Sara were brought together as friends and critique partners because they are both represented by the same agent, Steve Laube.

In their experience on various writing loops and in networking with other writers, Sara & Ronie saw a gaping need for high-level critique services for writers who wanted to attend conferences and have their proposals ready. Thus, Double Crit was born.

A great book proposal can open publishing house doors for a writer. Sara & Ronie want to help you to tighten your proposals to sharpen your edge in the publishing world.

Visit Double Crit today, and get your stuff polished before the ACFW conference in September!

Friday, July 18, 2008

ACFW Book of the Year Finalists Named

2008 Book of the Year Finalists:

Debut Author

Bayou Justice (Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll)
In Between (Jenny B. Jones)
Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
My Soul Cries Out (Sherri Lewis)
Petticoat Ranch (Mary Connealy)


Contemporary Novella (*six finalists due to a tie)

A Cloud Mountain Christmas (Robin Lee Hatcher)
Finally Home (Deb Raney in Missouri Memories anthology)
Mississippi Mud (DiAnn Mills in Sugar And Grits Anthology)
Moonlight & Mistletoe (Carrie Turansky in Big Apple Christmas anthology)
Remaking of Moe McKenna (Gloria Clover in the Race to the Altar anthology)
Sweet Dreams Drive (Robin Lee Hatcher)


Historical Novella

Beyond the Memories (DiAnn Mills in Mississippi Memories anthology)
Finishing Touches (Kelly Hake in Missouri Memories anthology)
Love Notes (Mary Davis in Love Letters anthology)
The Spinster & The Cowboy (Lena Nelson Dooley in Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner anthology)
The Spinster & The Tycoon (Vickie McDonough in Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner anthology)


Lits (*six finalists due to a tie)

Around the World in 80 Dates (Christa Banister)
One Little Secret (Bottke, Allison)
Renovating Becky Miller (Sharon Hinck)
Splitting Harriet (Tamara Leigh)
Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
The Book of Jane (Dayton/Vanderbilt)


Long contemporary

Autumn Blue (Karen Harter)
Like Always (Robert Elmer)
Taming Rafe (Susan May Warren)
When the Nile Runs Red (DiAnn Mills)
Within This Circle (Deb Raney)




Long Historical (*seven finalists due to TWO ties)

Courting Trouble (Deeanne Gist)
Fancy Pants (Cathy Hake)
Lady of Milkweed Manor (Julie Klassen)
Remember Me (Maureen Lang)
Then Came Hope (Louise Gouge)
Veil of Fire (Marlo Schalesky)
Where Willows Grow (Kim Vogel Sawyer)


Mystery

Days And Hours (Susan Meissner)
Death of a Garage Sale Newbie (Sharon Dunn)
Gone With The Groom (Janice Thompson)
Sticks And Stones (Susan Meissner)
Your Chariot Awaits (Lorena McCourtney)


Short Contemporary

Heart of the Family (Margaret Daley)
The Heart of Grace (Linda Goodnight)
The Perfect Blend (Allie Pleiter)
Wedded Bliss (Kathleen Y’Barbo)
When Love Comes Home (Arlene James)


Short Contemporary Suspense (*six finalists due to a tie)

Caught Redhanded (Gayle Roper)
Her Christmas Protector (Terri Reed)
Nowhere to Hide (Debby Giusti)
Pursuit of Justice (Pamela Tracy)
See No Evil (Gayle Roper)
Vanished (Margaret Daley)


Short Historical (*six due to a tie)

A Time to Keep (Kelly Hake)
A Wealth Beyond Riches (Vickie McDonough)
Canteen Dreams (Cara Putman)
Corduroy Road to Love (Lynn Coleman)
Golden Days (Mary Connealy)
To Trust An Outlaw (Rhonda Gibson


Speculative

Demon: A Memoir (Tosca Lee)
DragonFire (Donita Paul)
The Restorer (Sharon Hinck)
The Restorer’s Son (Sharon Hinck)
Isle of Swords (Wayne Thomas Batson)


Suspense

Abomination (Colleen Coble)
Black Ice (Linda Hall)
Coral Moon (Brandilyn Collins)
Crimson Eve (Brandilyn Collins)
Ransomed Dreams (Amy Wallace)


Women’s Fiction

A Promise To Remember (Katie Cushman)
Bygones (Kim Sawyer)
Remember to Forget (Deb Raney)
The Oak Leaves (Maureen Lang)
Watercolored Pearls (Stacy Adams)


Young Adult

In Between (Jenny B. Jones)
On The Loose (Jenny B. Jones)
Sara Jane: Liberty’s Torch (Eleanor Clark
Sarah’s Long Ride (Susan P Davis)
Saving Sailor (Renee Riva)

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Bayou Paradox Review

Tara LeBlanc has been taught the ways of the bayou by her grandmother for years. She’s always felt the Louisiana bayou was a place of sanctuary not fear, until now. Two elderly women with close ties to Tara are in unexplained comas, and Tara knows neither incident is an accident. Why would someone harm an old woman and what could the medicinal foliage found in the bayou have to do with it?

There’s only one man who can save Tara from herself and a fate similar to that of other elderly women, Sheriff Rene “Bubba” Theriot. However the Sheriff doesn’t share Tara’s beliefs, nor is he sure her assumptions are correct. However, he won’t let that keep him from protecting her. But will his feelings for Tara prove more dangerous for Bubba than he expects? Will Tara find that her long held beliefs are false? Or will a killer prove to be more dangerous than anyone thought?

BAYOU PARADOX is book four in Ms. Caroll’s Bayou Series. However readers can follow along with ease if they have not read the previous titles, BAYOU JUSTICE, BAYOU CORRUPTION, and BAYOU JUDGEMENT. Just be warned that once you met Ms. Caroll’s cast of characters you’ll be eager to read about them.

BAYOU PARADOX may be my favorite book to date. The story is engaging, suspenseful, easy to read, fast paced, and inspiring. It offers readers an intriguing look at following God’s path and gives them a look into the heart of new faith. The setting of the Bayou offers a fun, spooky and often refreshing backdrop for romance and suspense. I am eager to see this series continue. I highly recommend BAYOU PARADOX and Ms. Caroll’s Bayou series to all readers. You are sure to be delighted and inspired. --Reviewed by Wendy Keel, Rating 4 ½, The Romance Readers Connection