Friday, December 16, 2005

Unveiling LADY's Cover Art

{Note: Kids are home for vacation, so I will check in on our comments, but will not be posting anything new until the kids go back to school: Jan. 3rd. So ... Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!}

I don't know how many of you realize this, but authors do not get to choose the title of their books or what their covers are going to look like. So, when an email comes across your inbox that is called "Cover Art," lots of commotion occurs in your tummy!

I had been especially worried because the cover art for Bride was soooooo fantastic. I mean, how could they possibly top that? And yet, they did.

May I present to you ... ... the cover art for The Measure of a Lady, coming to a store near you this June:


So?? What do you think??

posted by Deeanne at 7:41 AM 13 comments  

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Landon Snow

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for that niece or nephew? Looks like December's feature of the month, Landon Snow & the Auctor's Riddle by R. K. Mortenson, might be just the ticket. One reveiwer said:

"Landon Snow is quality. The artwork on this paper-over-board cover is fantastic. The weathered leather look, the funny, colorful pictures--excellent work. Inside, the book's thick, creamy pages give a "substantial" feel to the reading experience, while the brown print and pictures hint that herein lies a story rare and wonderful. Congratulations to Barbour for realizing that reading is more than letters on a page." --S. A. Apokedak

And does the content deliver what the packaging promises? Here's the opinion of another reviewer:

"This book found its way into my hands, and I fell into it. Yep -- I got swallowed in, just like I'd been warned by the back cover of the book: "Don't Fall In: This Book May Swallow." I started it, and I couldn't stop...page after page of pure adventure." --H. Ivestor

I've put it on my shopping list and will be putting it under the tree for my nephew. Can't wait!

P.S. I am going to be "unveiling" a surprise for you tomorrow. See you then!

posted by Deeanne at 12:45 PM 6 comments  

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Reporting In

The Steven Curtis Chapman/Mercy Me Christmas Tour my daughters and I went to last night was lots of fun. We shook our key rings in the air while singing "Jingle Bells" and waved our cell phones (nobody has lighters these days) to some other song (can't remember which one). And we spent a FORTUNE on dinner (my piece of pizza was $7.50!!). All and all, it was a great night out with the girls.

This morning I was brought abruptly back into the real world with my son (freshman in high school) who is sick with a nasty stomach virus. I knew the basketball team was dropping like flies. Our shooting guard was sick on Friday, his mom on Saturday, the forward on Monday and now my son (point guard) today. The bad thing is: finals are tomorrow. So, not only is he missing all the reviews, but I'm not sure he'll be well enough to study, much less take the tests tomorrow and Friday. So ... prayers for his healing (and protection for the rest of our family) would be very much appreciated.

Uh-oh. He's ringing the bell beside his bed. Gotta go! (You should see me. I have on a doctor's mask and latex gloves. Not very motherly, I know, but I simply cannot get sick right now!)

P.S. I have some really big news to tell you on Friday, so be sure to check back in.

posted by Deeanne at 11:24 AM 4 comments  

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Christmas Concert

The 16 year old daughter and I are going to the Steven Curtis Chapman Christmas Concert tonight! Mercy Me is going to be there as well. Have any of you bought the CD or seen the concert?

I love Christmas music, I love SCC and I love spending time with my daughter, so I am really looking forward to the evening.

Meanwhile, I have a very special treat for you on Friday. I can't WAIT to show it to you. You won't want to miss it!

posted by Deeanne at 11:06 AM 1 comments  

Monday, December 12, 2005

Congrats To Our Winner

Congratulations to Kathleen A. in Minnesota for winning our last contest. She graciously sent us a photo of her favorite reading spot along with a really sweet note, as so:

"A hot cup of coffee, a cozy chair and A Bride Most Begrudging warmed my heart and spirits during these past cold Minnesota evenings."

Thanks, Kathleen, and congratulations!!

As you will recall, this contest asked "Which scene below from A Bride Most Begrudging was the most difficult for Deeanne to write?"

This is how you voted:
  • The hunt for Sally = 13%
  • The fight scene between Drew and the Indian = 34%
  • The rooster flogging scene = 20%
  • The first chapter = 13%
  • The last chapter = 20%
Kathleen chose the correct answer, which is:

The fight scene between Drew and the Indian.

All those scenes were difficult. What made this one particularly so was my lack of experience. The only physical fights I've ever been in are "girl fights" which by their nature do not involve fists. I had no idea where to start. So, I contacted a film maker out in California by the name of Richard Alvarez who choreographed the fight scene for me over the phone. Had he not done so, that scene would have most likely involved slapping and hair pulling and biting. Ha!

The new contest question is:

Which New Year's resolution did Deeanne Gist achieve in 2005?
  • Finished and turned in The Measure of a Lady one month before it was due to the publisher.
  • Completed last year's family scrapbook (for 2004).
  • Changed the oil in her car every 5000 miles.
  • Resisted purchasing anything from mail order catalogs.
  • Hand painted a border in her study and half bath.
You can vote now by clicking here or on the contest link in my sidebar. (You do not have to pick the correct answer to be eligible to win.)

So, are you surprised that the fight scene was the hardest? Which one scene did you choose (or would you have chosen if you had entered the contest)?

posted by Deeanne at 11:40 AM 2 comments  

Friday, December 09, 2005

Birthday Results

Remember when I told you my husband's birthday was approaching and I didn't know what to get him, so I asked you for suggestions? Well, the big day has come and gone and I am reporting back with the results.

Somebody suggested a tee-shirt with a favorite sports team on it. Perfect. Our daughter bought him an Astros National Champions shirt and he loved it.

Offline, someone suggested giving him a gift certificate for golf lessons with the golf pro. I did that, too.

I strolled the aisles of our office supply store and found lots of things for me and in order to justify all my purchases (for me), I felt like I needed to buy him something. So, I picked up a screen saver (that was on sale) for his computer. It was a virtual fish aquarium that you get to "build" yourself.

Lastly, I remembered how he had been complaining that I never give him pedicures. I have no idea what prompted this complaint. Never in my entire life have I given him a pedicure (or vice versa). Not because I'm a mean and selfish wife, but because he has really good looking feet and doesn't need one. Also, he places a high premium on his calluses (says he needs them for his sporting activities). I don't want to be blamed for ruining his game by taking off too much callus.

So ... I went to the day spa and got him a gift certificate for a pedicure. I decorated the front of the envelope with footsies and bubbles and decorative letters that said: "Good for One Pedicure."

The big day came. We baked a cake, bought two boxes of birthday candles (and had to use every single one), wrapped his presents and made his favorite meal. After an inspiring chorus of "Happy Birthday to You," he reaches for the fish aquarium package. Opens it. Frowns. Flips it over to read the back.

At this point, I begin to "sell" the item. "It's a screen saver! You get to pick out your own fish and everything!!"

He looks up. "Did this come free in the mail or something?"

The kids roar.

I smile. "Close."

He studies it some more. His frown grows more pronounced. "Wait a minute. This is a screen saver, right? That means, it won't come on unless ... I'm not there."

The kids roar again. I hand him another package. This one is the golf lessons. We wrapped it up inside a box of golf balls. He opens it. Is pleased with the balls, then scans the gift certificate. Then reads the gift certificate. Then looks up in astonishment.

"Are these lessons for me??" (As in: he's so good he doesn't need lessons.)

The kids laugh. I nod my head.

"Well," he says, "I'm glad it's only for an hour because by that time that pro will have taken me as far as he can."

I roll my eyes and hand him the package that has the pedicure certificate inside. He opens the package, takes it out of the box and doesn't even look inside the envelope. Just reads the outside. His eyes widen. His face pales.

"Oh, nooo!"

By this time, the kids are clutching their sides and bending over in their chairs with laughter. I'm starting to get perturbed.

"Well, happy birthday, sweetheart," I snap.

He looks up. "No, no! I mean, I really appreciate it. I do. And I want one. But ... do they have a back door, do you think?"

I give in. I laugh, thump him upside the head and serve dinner. He really liked the dinner. Ate so much it made his stomach hurt.

The next day, he went to lunch with one of the guys at work. Told him about his birthday experience. Got to the part about the last present and frowned. "Now, I want you to know I'm okay with this, but she got me a ... pedicure!"

His buddy looks to the right and left, leans in and whispers, "I got a facial last week."

Shocked my husband right down to his toes. But he and his buddy, then he and I, got a pretty good chuckle out of it.

He has yet to make use of his screen saver or his golf lessons or his pedicure certificate. But he's worn his Astros shirt lots and lots of times. Well, can't wait to see what Christmas brings!!

P.S. We have notified our contest winner. When we hear back from her, I will announce who it is, as well as the tallies of your voting. Meanwhile, the new contest is up.

posted by Deeanne at 10:07 AM 1 comments  

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Tag -- You're It!

I've been tagged by fellow Bethany House author, T.L. "Tony" Hines. The game is the Seven Sevens. Here's mine:

Seven Things To Do Before I Die
  1. Make a scrapbook for each of my kids.
  2. Buy a yellow VW convertible that has daisy hubcaps.
  3. Visit the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Niagara Falls with my husband in any kind of convertible whatsoever (because no way will he be seen in a yellow VW that has daisy wheels).
  4. Convince my husband to take ballroom dancing lessons until we are really, really good.
  5. Go dancing all night long with my husband (after he has lots and lots of lessons).
  6. Retire someplace in the US on a lake that has some mountains, 4 seasons and temperate climate all year round.
  7. Visit and hug all my loved ones.

Seven Things I Cannot Do

  1. Sing really well
  2. Play the piano
  3. Read fast
  4. Compete with my husband in any sport of any kind
  5. Sit by my husband when he "gets into the sporting event" our kids are playing
  6. Fly (as in like Superman)
  7. Listen to/sing God Bless America without crying

Seven Things That Attract Me To My Husband

  1. He would do anything to protect me from harm (physical harm, emotional harm, all of it)
  2. He is totally committed to me and our marriage
  3. He loves our kids fiercely
  4. He brings me flowers for no reason other than he loves me (I call those "just because" flowers)
  5. We never run out of things to talk about
  6. His packaging (tall, broad shouldered, green eyes, dimples, cowboy boots and nice backside)
  7. He supports all my entrepreneurial schemes even though he thinks they will fail
  8. Wait ... I'm not finished: He's funny, he's hard working, he's romantic (in a jock-kinda way), he holds my hand everywhere we go, he holds me back one step behind him when we cross the street so he'll get hit first ... or maybe it's that he thinks I'll get hit without his guidance--that's probably it, but it cracks me up everytime he does it and he's been doing it for 23 years and counting, and, and, and ... I'm going to stop, but I really do have lots, lots more in this category.

Seven Things I Say Most Often

  1. y'all
  2. darlin'
  3. I love you
  4. Ooooooooh
  5. amen
  6. I'm sorry
  7. bless his/her/your heart

Seven Books (or Series) I Love

  1. To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
  2. Years, LaVryle Spencer
  3. Morning Glory, LaVryle Spencer
  4. Vows, LaVryle Spencer
  5. Wild Oats, Pamela Morsi
  6. Something Shady, Pamela Morsi
  7. Wild at Heart, Patricia Gaffney

Seven Movies I Would Watch Over and Over Again

  1. The Sound of Music
  2. To Kill a Mockingbird
  3. Roman Holiday
  4. Witness
  5. The Three Musketeers
  6. Beauty and the Beast
  7. Frequency

Seven People I Want to Join in Too

  1. Dave Long
  2. Meg Moseley
  3. Barb
  4. TS Beckett
  5. ValMarie
  6. Jeff
  7. You (post your list in the comments section or post a link to your blog)

That was fun! Hope you can play, too.

posted by Deeanne at 9:53 AM 14 comments  

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Last week's decorating went soooo much faster with my friend helping. We listened to Christmas music and laughed and worked really hard. The only thing we didn't get to was the tree in our family room, and I'll have the kids & hubby help me with that.


I took a couple of pictures for you. This first one is of the tree I was telling you about last week that I had to re-string with lights. Total count once I was all done was 1600 lights. It is in the music room and to the left and right are the before and after pictures.




Down the hall is our family room and the tree for this room will go to the right of the fireplace once it is all finished.


I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed the decorations. For the past couple of years I haven't put up anything but the family tree and stockings because it is so much work. So this year has been a real treat. I didn't take pictures, but we did decorations in the kitchen, in the dining room, on the stairs and in the entry hall.

My friend told me she had visited one lady's house and she had a collection of 200 Santas and 16 Christmas trees. Can you imagine? Made me feel much less frivolous about my Christmas tree with 1600 lights!!

Ho, ho, ho!! Merry Christmas!

posted by Deeanne at 10:41 AM 3 comments  

Monday, December 05, 2005

Thanks For Your Help

What I want to know is how my precious babies could have gone from this:


TO THIS!!! :

Anyway, I have counted all the votes (both those online and offline) and here are the results from yesterday's contest:

Photo 1: 1 vote

Photo 2: 1 vote

Photo 3: 0 votes

Photo 4: 5 votes

Photo 5: 3 votes

Photo 6: 0 votes

Photo 7: 3 votes

Photo 8: 1 vote

Making the final winner . . . Photo #4:

Thanks for all your help! Tomorrow we'll look at the Christmas decorations I promised you last week!

posted by Deeanne at 9:02 AM 2 comments  

Friday, December 02, 2005

Kids Christmas Pictures

The Christmas decorating went well yesterday and I will post pictures next week, but first I need you to help me decide which picture of the kids to use for our Christmas letter/cards. The problem is, I don't really like any of them. They are all just "okay." So ... I need your help in discerning which is best.

I've placed them in my scrapbook and given each photo a number. Look them over, then go to the comments section and let me know which one you like, or email me with your vote.

I'll post the winning picture on Monday.

Thanks a million and have a great weekend!

posted by Deeanne at 11:07 AM 5 comments  

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Decorations

I have someone who said she would come over and help me put up my Christmas decorations if we did it today, so I worked late on Tuesday and Wednesday so I could take today off. It will take the two of us the better portion of the day.

The only prep work I did was putting all new lights on the tree we have in the music room. The tree we used to use in there completely fell apart this year, so I ended up getting the tree my mom has used for years. (They are building a new house and her tree will be too tall for their ceilings.)

I would post a picture, but one of the kids made off with my camera and hasn't returned it. Anyhoo, Mom's tree was made in Germany and it is the most beautiful artificial tree I've ever seen. But she had all white lights on hers and I wanted all gold lights on mine. Took me about fifteen hours over the Thanksgiving holidays to get all her lights off and all mine on. (Mom and I are into lights. I don't know how many of hers I took off, but I can tell you I put 1600 of mine on.)

So, we'll decorate that tree and inside the house, but probably won't have time to decorate the family tree. I'll give you some pics tomorrow!

Have a great day!
Dee

posted by Deeanne at 8:11 AM 2 comments