May 05, 2008

Derrick Days Parade

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Corsicana hosted a Derrick Days Festival and asked me to act as Grand Marshal of their parade.  My publicist from Bethany House, Carra Carr, flew down to be with me for the event. 

True to their reputation, the Corsicanans welcomed us by rolling out the red carpet.  The parade was in the morning and we crawled through historic downtown while the marching band played Deep in the Heart of Texas.

Afterwards, I talked a little bit about how I incorporate my research into my books, showing examples and doing a reading.  This presentation was followed by a book signing.

Those were all my official duties.  But many things happened behind the scenes.  Carra is mailing me pictures of all our adventures.  I'll tell you more about those next week.

***

As of today (May 5), we start all over with a clean slate.  So, leave a comment for your chance to win!  Good luck.

posted by Deeanne on 05/05/2008 - 29 comments - Post a Comment

April 28, 2008

Face Lift

I don't know if you've surfed around the website lately, but we've just given it a "face lift" so to speak.  Most of those changes revolve around including Deep in the Heart of Trouble.  Here are the highlights:

1. We put DEEP on the Home page.
2. DEEP is now included in the Bookstore, along with an excerpt, a couple of reviews and a shopping list you can print out.
3. In the Press Room, we added a couple of icons on the sidebar that you can click on to read a big interview that was published in Christian Retailing earlier in the year.
4. We archived all my previous newsletters, so if you go to the Newsletter tab and scroll down, you can access those.
5. We rearranged the Scrapbook page so that the captions are right next to the pictures.
6. And my favorite change is in the Gameroom.  We added new puzzles, sliders, word finds and hang-man games.

So, take a few minutes to surf around and enjoy our renovation. 

***

My stint as Grand Marshal of Corsicana's Derrick Days Parade was great fun.  I have lots of pictures and stories to share with you.  I'll start on those next week.

***

Don't forget: We have a contest going on right now.  Anyone (living in the continental US) who leaves a comment on my blog has a chance to win an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of Deep in the Heart of Trouble.  The computer chose Sarah as last week's winner.  She posted a comment on April 25th.  Congratulations, Sarah!

As of today (April 28th), we start all over with a clean slate.  So, leave a comment for your chance to win!  Good luck.

posted by Deeanne on 04/28/2008 - 29 comments - Post a Comment

April 21, 2008

A Crime Writer Most Confounded

Well, it's official.  J. Mark Bertrand and I signed a contract with Bethany House to collaborate on a Contemporary Romantic Suspense.  That's the good news.

The bad news is, that we both have other books that need to be written/finished.  So, we are going to have to work on this one betwixt-and-between.  Which means, it won't be on the shelves until 2010!!  I know.  That's a really long time.  But, because of our schedules, he and I won't be able to start working on this until the fall.  Won't finish it until February-ish of 2009.  Then, it will take another year after that to publish it.

(fyi:  I'll still have historicals released every June.  So, no worries!)

So without further ado, I want to introduce you to J. Mark.  I've acknowledged him in Courting Trouble (and Deep) for critiquing my chapters as I write them.  I describe him as a "highbrow, deep-thinking intellectual."  He's really, really smart.  He's written a nonfiction book for Crossway.  He's been interviewed by Mars Hill.  He's contracted to write crime fiction for BHP.  He's the last person in the world you'd expect to write a romance.

When I first pitched the idea of collaborating, I knew better than to call it a Romantic Suspense.  (I didn't want him to refuse outright.)  So, I pitched it to him as a "crime fiction with a strong romantic element."  Ha!

He agreed to talk further.  We went to work on developing characters, a plot, a storyline, etc.  And when he'd invested lots of time and energy, I broke the news to him:  This is a Romantic Suspense.

Silence.

Oh, I wish you could have been there.  Classic.

Anyway, when we signed the contract, he sent me this mock-up of himself as "A Crime Writer Most Confounded."  LOL!  He's such a cut-up.  (Publishers Weekly didn't really say that about my "sauciest book to date."  Mark was just funning.)

I'm looking forward to working with him and I think y'all are really gonna love him.

He has all sorts of websites. He has a blog on Bible design (I think he, like, edited a Bible or something ridiculously hard like that.  I can't remember.)  He has a website devoted to his nonfiction book, Rethinking Worldview.  (Which is getting rave reviews.)  He has a blog devoted to writing.  He's a guest blogger on "The Master's Artist" and he has a blog about everyday living.

So, I'll start you off at his blog about everyday living.  Then, you can surf around from there.  So, have fun meeting my buddy and collaborator ... J. Mark Bertrand.

***

If you are going to be anywhere near Corsicana, Texas this weekend, I'm gonna be Grand Marshal in their annual Derrick Days Parade.  I'll also be speaking and signing books.  Details here. 

If you're trying to decide on whether or no to go, I'll let you in on a secret:  The publisher is supplying copies of DEEP only at this signing.  Since it is set in Corsicana, and they are celebrating their oil history and I'm the Grand Marshal, they agreed to give the attendees a "sneak peek" at the actual book.  That's the only place it will be available until it's official release June 1st!

If you go, be sure to let me know you are part of our online community!

***

Don't forget: We have a contest going on right now.  Anyone (living in the continental US) who leaves a comment on my blog has a chance to win an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of Deep in the Heart of Trouble.  The computer chose Dely as last week's winner.  She posted a comment on April 14th.  Congratulations, Dely!

As of today (April 21st), we start all over with a clean slate.  So, leave a comment for your chance to win!  Good luck.

posted by Deeanne on 04/21/2008 - 55 comments - Post a Comment

April 14, 2008

Introducing ... Other

If you haven't read Courting Trouble, this week's post will totally spoil it for you.  (To see who won this week's ARC, scroll down to the bottom.)

 Ever since Courting Trouble came out in June, there has been a vigorous discussion in the Chat Room about what should happen to Essie in the sequel, Deep in the Heart of Trouble.  There is one thing everyone agrees on:  Essie should get her man!

The area that opinions differ is in regards to WHICH man?  So, you started a poll and everybody voted on who they thought Essie should end up with:  Hamilton, Adam, Ewing or "Other."  The poll has been closed and the votes are in:

3rd Runner Up:  Hamilton with 5% of the votes

2nd Runner Up: Ewing with 10% of the votes

1st Runner Up: Adam with 34% of the votes

And the WINNER is:  "Other" who garnered 51% of the votes.

Well, here is a sneak peek of Essie when she first meets "Other" in Deep in the Heart of Trouble.  (I pictured Hugh Jackman when I wrote about this hero.)

That is the last sneak peek I am giving you.  After this, you will have to read the book (once it comes out June 1st).  Here, however, is what the press release says:

"When Tony Morgan discovered he’d been disinherited, romance was the furthest thing from his mind. His sister, Anna, had been only marginally provided for in the will and his half-brother had plans to marry her off to a man three times her age. Tony needed a job. And he needed one quickly.

Essie Spreckelmeyer had given up on romance. The thirty-four-year-old spinster was outspoken, fiercely independent and a free spirit. She simply didn’t have time for a man. She was the owner of the Corsicana Velocipede Club and part-owner of Sullivan Oil. Singleness suited her.

When Tony lands a job with Sullivan Oil, he immediately locks horns with Essie. It doesn’t take long, however, for his feelings to shift from combative to affectionate. It will take more than flowers to win Essie’s heart, though. For they both harbor secrets that could quickly squash any burgeoning feelings.

Can their love survive or are they Deep In The Heart of Trouble?"

Don't forget: We have a contest going on right now.  Anyone who leaves a comment on my blog has a chance to win an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of Deep in the Heart of Trouble.  The computer chose Rachel as last week's winner.  She posted a comment on April 8th.  Congratulations, Rachel!

As of today (April 14th), we start all over with a clean slate.  So, leave a comment for your chance to win!  Good luck.

posted by Deeanne on 04/14/2008 - 43 comments - Post a Comment

April 07, 2008

Winners of the NAME THAT OIL COMPANY Contest

Remember the contest we initated in the Chat Room back in May ? I was in the midst of writing Deep in the Heart of Trouble and I needed some names of oil companies from back in the day.  I didn't want to use real ones, so I asked y'all to brainstorm for ideas.  The folks who came up with the names I chose to use in the novel would win free Advance Reading Copies (ARCs) of DEEP.

Well, you came up with some great ideas.  Some of the more memorable ones were:

• Olive Oil
• Doyle Oil
• Annointing Oil
• Crood Oil
• Whole-E Oil
• Royal Oil
• Castor Oil

LOL!!   In the end, I picked the following to use in DEEP:

•  Alamo Oil (Lisa)

• Tyler Petroleum (Ricky)

• El Filon de Madre Oil (means The Mother Lode) (Jamida)

• Agarita Well (kbelfi)

These four gals win the ARCs.  I have been able to contact all except Lisa and hope to hear from her soon.

And don't forget: We have a side contest going on right now.  Anyone who leaves a comment on my blog has a chance to win an ARC.  The computer chose Cat as last week's winner.  She posted a comment on April 1st.  Congratulations, Cat!

As of today (April 7th), we start all over with a clean slate.  So, leave a comment for your chance to win!  Good luck.

posted by Deeanne on 04/07/2008 - 49 comments - Post a Comment

March 31, 2008

Cover Model for DEEP IN THE HEART OF TROUBLE

We had so much fun interviewing the cover model for Courting Trouble, that I thought it would be fun to do it again for Deep in the Heart of Trouble.  But, unless the model emails me to tell me she's on my book, I have no way of contacting her.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I found out last month that Carissa Points, the afternoon receptionist at Bethany House, was the cover model!  (I'm sure you can see from her photo why the Art Designer, Jennifer Parker, asked her if she'd model--she's beautiful! And sweet, too!)

Anyhoo, I immediately contacted her and asked her if she would be game for an interview.  She very graciously said she would.  So ... may I introduce you to Carissa Points.

How did the opportunity for you to model for the cover of DEEP IN THE HEART OF TROUBLE come about?
Well, I actually work for Bethany House Publishers. I’m the Rights Assistant and I’m also the afternoon Receptionist. One afternoon Jenny came up to me and asked me if I would be up for helping them with a book cover by possibly being on it. I said sure and a few days later Jenny had everything set up, and just like that I was balancing on a bike getting my picture taken!
 
Have you been on the cover of other books or is this your first?
This was my first book cover. However, after shooting the cover for Deep in the Heart of Trouble, Jenny asked me to help her out with another cover, the repackage of A Searching Heart by Janette Oke. So I’m on one other cover as well.

What was involved with this shooting?  Can you walk us through it?
Well, we shot the photos at a studio in downtown Minneapolis. As soon as we got there I went through the process putting the dress on, and we did finishing touches with hair, make-up, jewelry… Then I got to observe as Jenny [the designer], Paul [the art director] and the photographer decided how the bike should be positioned, how I should be positioned and so on. Once they had that figured out, they had to devise a way to get me (in the very full, very heavy dress and heels) up onto the high seat of the bike. 

They ended up putting a wooden crate next to the bike and, with the help of several people, I managed to get seated on the bike. Finally up there, I had to balance for quite awhile as Paul and Jenny (and a few assistants) pinned the dress just so, positioned the veil, and set my feet on the pedals, my hands on the handlebars … After they had everything to their liking, they started taking the photos. It took a few hours, but eventually they got all the shots they wanted.

When you modeled for this cover, had you already read Courting Trouble?
Yes, and it was great!

Anything funny or out of the ordinary happen while shooting this cover?
One moment more than any other really sticks out in my mind, and I’m pretty sure this would qualify as a funny moment! We were in the middle of the shoot, actually taking pictures when the photographer asked me to lean forward a little more and turn so that I was looking back. I was already precariously perched on that bike, but when I tried to follow the photographer’s directions, the bike (and me on it!) tipped right over! Luckily, I was able to unearth my foot from beneath all those skirts to stop my descent before I would have face-planted on the studio floor. lol. Let’s just say that I was a little shaky after that and someone had to physically hold up the bike from the front for me!

How did you ride a bicycle during the shoot?
The bike was actually stationary the entire time of the shoot. There was a stand that the front tire was put in to hold it up and to keep it from moving. Apparently back when this bike was made (late nineteenth- early twentieth century, I think?) kick stands weren’t invented yet! 

Tell us about the wedding dress.
Warm. Heavy. Beautiful. It was a very intricate dress. There were layers and layers of underskirts, and the top layers were a satin underlay and a lace overlay. You can see on the cover that the lace had some beautiful detail and flower patterns, especially on the front, the sleeves and the bottom of the skirt. And WOW, the skirt on that thing was HUGE! I remember at one point during the pinning up process, people actually disappeared beneath it! That was a little awkward! lol

How many different poses were there?
There were quite a few different poses on the bike that were minimally different. Looking forward or back, and leaning certain ways. They did totally mix it up at the end by having me get off the bike and stand next to it, like I was walking along with it.

Anything else you’d like to add?
Not really, just that it was a great experience!

Thanks to Carissa for this wonderful insight into the world of cover-making!  She may be lurking, so if you have any questions, perhaps she'll come out of hiding and answer them for you (if she has time).

Within the next couple of weeks we will be interviewing Jennifer Parker--the gal who actually designed the cover.  So, stay tuned.

DON'T FORGET:  Anyone who leaves a comment on our blog this week has a chance to win an Advanced Reading Copy of DEEP IN THE HEART OF TROUBLE.  We will hold a drawing on Friday, then start all over again. (See all the details on the previous post.)

***

THE CHAT ROOM IS BACK!  IT IS UP!  AND IT IS WORKING PROPERLY!

PRAISE THE LORD!!

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Recent Posts:

• Derrick Days Parade
• Face Lift
• A Crime Writer Most Confounded
• Introducing ... Other
• Winners of the NAME THAT OIL COMPANY Contest

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Favorite Things:

Food
Anything chocolate

Coffee
Peppermint Mocha, extra mocha

Song
Shackles, by
Mary-Mary

Group
Avalon

Female Song Artist
Janna Long

Male Song Artist
Michael McDonald

Movie
Sound of Music

TV Show
The Wonder Years

Fiction
To Kill A Mockingbird

Romance
Years, by
LaVyrle Spencer

Sport
Volleyball

Bible Study
A Heart Like His,
by Beth Moore

Place
Norway in the summer