Hello everyone.
I know we are 4 weeks into the new year. Sorry I haven't written. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas. I touched base at the end of the year, so I probably already told you that. Oh well...I'm saying it again. NOW, I say -- Happy New Year!!
I had a book signing at Barnes & Noble right after the first of the year. It was great. People were coming in and buying books at a steady pace. It was so cool. Although the first one wasn't there until 10 after 2, the starting hour, it never stopped until 10 after 4. 2-4 or should I say 2:10-4:10 was the best two hours I'd had in weeks. Non-stop chatter of readers of Deborah Lynne novels excited about the newest release, to new people who had never heard of me and purchased a copy and stated they would check out my others if they liked this one, Crime in The Big Easy. It was a great signing...fun and busy. The best kind. And I got to talk to everyone, even if it was only a few minutes. Wait. I say that, and then I remember someone who knows one of my daughters, texted her, and told her she saw my in the store but every time people were around my table so she never came over. Sorry to hear that. I did sign the few that were left...so if you're looking for a great read, go to Barnes & Noble at Citiplace and you can pick up an autographed copy.
Now for 2013--how many of you made new years resolutions? Not me. I did, however, make goals of things I'd like to accomplish in the year.
Looking back through 2012, I had a great year of growth. I hope you did too. Two new novels, Testimony of Innocence and Crime in The Big Easy, were released through Oak Tara Publishing. In fact, at the beginning of the year I met my publisher and found out what a fantastic publishing house I was working with. The part that thrilled me the most was the level of faith Ramona Tucker had. She is my editor as well as the co-founder and owner of Oak Tara Publisher. God blessed me when He connected me with them. I started work on book 3 of The Samantha Cain Mysteries -- The Truth Revealed, as well as started a romance. The present title of that is -- After You're Gone. Also an idea for a young adult fiction was given to me. I've set two of them aside and have turned my focus on The Truth Revealed, book 3 of the Samantha Cain Series. By the end of January I hope to have it with my critique partners for review. Also, if you haven't checked my website lately, you should check it now. All six of my books that are available have a book trailer (it's like a movie trailer) on my web site. click here. Another thing I got to do in 2012 was judge in writing contests. Two different ones, connected with American Christian Fiction Writers, ACFW. I've been with them for several years now, and this year I was asked to judge. It was a joy to read the entries and also to give feed back to the aspiring writer. I also rejoined RWA (Romance Writer's of America) this year. When I first joined many years ago, my number was in the 3 digits. When I rejoined it now has 6 digits in my member number. Talk about growth...wow. I'm glad to be a part of the local chapter as well - Heartla, Heart of Louisiana. When this chapter was first formed I was part of the founding group. When I gave up writing for a year, I walked away from it all. I'm so glad it didn't last. I knew in my heart it was what I was supposed to be doing, I'd just gotten off track on the how to. As most of you know, my books are inspirational, and they are meant to honor God and share His love with the reader. When I came back to my passion of writing and listened to His direction, the wheels started turning and now six books released in the last 5 years.
We're in the new year...2013. I'm looking forward to so many things this year. First thing I did that I've never done before--I entered a contest. (possibly because I judged in those two in 2012). Never before had I done that. I know it's good to enter writing contests. Through them you get feedback on your writing as well as, when you win, you get to add that to your bio. I entered Crime in The Big Easy in a contest. We'll see. The winner, to be announced, is many, many months away, but I look forward to seeing what the judges say. I know it's my favorite - of my books--even though I love them all. As I mentioned earlier, I have two books I'll be sending to my publisher this year. Hopefully they'll be released five or six months apart. We'll see. When both are ready, I'll work more steadily on my YA novel. Maybe in September when I attend the ACFW conference, I'll have one to pitch to a publisher who is looking for YA fiction...or maybe my publisher now, Oak Tara, would want it. We'll see.
In my personal life, I was blessed with my daughter, Rachael, who lives in California, to fly over and spend two weeks with us while she recovered from her surgery in 2012. It's been fun having her here, but I have to admit, I haven't written daily like I was doing before she arrived. I'll get back to it, and work for double the hours until I catch up to where I should be. Another blessing in 2013, I'm going to be a grandmother again. Molly (who you all prayed for when she miscarried a couple of times last year) is due July 21st. This is my husbands birthday. Talk about a great birthday present. It's one we are all so looking forward to. Yay. This year, my husband and I are taking a vacation to some islands. We've always dreamed of it, but never was able. Although Scott can't do many things, he can sit around and relax on a beach just as easy as he does on his recliner. Instead of a TV, he'll be seeing the beautiful blue waters rolling in and out. I can't wait.
God has been so good to us in the past and by His Word "my latter will be greater than my past" so what does that tell you. I so look forward to every day of my life, and I count the many blessings that come my way. In fact, I look forward, knowing how good my God is, to each and every day. Don't get me wrong...it's not about what I have or can have...it's more about the peace, the joy, the love--I guess all the fruits of the Spirit that overflow in my life.
Even in the midst of trials, we know that God is watching over us. Today we received a call from the VA. My husband had tests run almost 2 weeks ago. They said if its cancer we should hear back in a week. No news is good news. Of course, we expected no news and sure enough we didn't get any. Then today, as we were going to apply for our passports, we got a call. Now our phone calls in the car come over the car speaker. When she said it was the VA, we both kind of glanced at each other, but then he returned his gaze onto the road. Then the lady said, sorry.... Well, we could have gotten defeated and stopped what we were doing, but after the call ended, and the two tears that trickled down my face (that I hid from my husband), we talked about it. Both of us believe strongly the Lord is in control, and He will take care of this as well. This time there will be surgery to remove the small amount of cancer and we know it will all be removed without any problems, never to return. Funny how Satan doesn't want to give up---but my God is greater than he that is in the world and I am so thankful for that fact!!!
I hope you all find your hope in God and trust He knows what is best for you. No matter what comes at you, God will bring you through it and better off after, as long as you put your trust in Him. I know we are. Take care and God bless you all. See you soon.
