January 28, 2008

Saving Sarah Cain Now on DVD

My buddy, Beverly Lewis, had her novel, The Redemption of Sarah Cain, made into a movie last year.  It is now out on DVD.

Sarah Cain (Lisa Pepper) is sweet, successful, slightly self-absorbed city girl. But when the untimely death of her sister draws her to Amish country for the funeral, she makes a discovery that will change her life: she is now the legal guardian to five Amish nieces and nephews! Desperately trying to juggle the kids, her career and her comfort level, Sarah must reevaluate her priorities as she prepares for the biggest culture shock of her (and the children's) lives!

To view the trailer, click here.

I watched the movie when it first came out and loved it.  It was directed by Michael Landon, Jr.  Click here to see our discussion and some behind-the-scene photos of the filming and of Bev.  If you missed Saving Sarah Cain the first time around, then go get you a copy.  You won't be sorry!

posted by Deeanne on 01/28/2008 - 2 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

January 21, 2008

Surley Goodness and Love Will Follow

A friend of mine emailed this to me.  Isn't just the most precious thing ever?

posted by Deeanne on 01/21/2008 - 6 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

January 18, 2008

Busy Season

Well, I'm looking at my schedule for the year and it looks like I'm going to have to do more travel, which means I need to make up those writing hours where I can.  One of those places is going to be my blog.

In other words, I'm going to go from blogging twice a week (Monday & Thursday), to once a week (every Monday).  I'm really sorry about this, but instead of my schedule becoming more managable, it is becoming more hectic and January is the beginning of my busiest season. 

My fiscal year is from September to September. Here's a run down of how it works:

September 1st: 

1. My manuscript is due to my publisher

September - December:

1. I research the next book
2. I plot the next book
3. I do edits and revisions on the book I just turned in
4. I go to the American Christian Fiction Writers convention
5. I travel to the location of the new book to do on-site research
6. Thanksgiving
7. Christmas
8. Winter family vacation

January - May:

1. I write tne first draft of the next book
2. I do numerous speaking engagments, some in town, so out of town
3. Do galleys and pre-release PR for the upcoming June release

June:

1. I self-edit and revise the first draft
2. The book I turned in in September is released, so I do all the PR activities required for a new book release

July:

1. I send my new manuscript to my parents, my sister and my critique partner to have them read it and tell me what works & what doesn't
2. Continue to do PR for the new release
3. I go to two conventions (International Christian Retail Show & Romance Writers of America)
4. Our family goes on vacation

August:

1. I get my manuscript back from my parents, my sister and my critique partner.
2. I make the changes they suggest, reread the whole thing and polish it up to a shine.
3. I go to Bill Hybel's Leadership Summit

Septemember 1st:

1. I turn my manuscript into my publisher and ...
2. ... start all over again

The reason I consider January - May my "busy season" is because that's when I "create" the story from scratch.  Writing the first draft is the hardest part of my job.  Editing is so much easier because I have something on the page already to work with.  With the first draft, I start with a blank screen.  I sometimes feel like I have that Uncle Sam poster with the big finger pointing at me, but he says, "Be creative. NOW."

And this year, I am throwing a lot of extra things into the mix.  In May, I have 2 kids graduating from high school and another one getting married and another one leaving for Italy the day after the wedding.

On top of that, I wanted to write an additional book.  If I'm going to do that, it will have to be during the September - December months while I'm researching and plotting and editing.  I've figured out a plausible way to do it, but it is going to make my schedule really, really tight.

In addition to that, my manager would like to see me up my speaker circuit schedule.  I have a meeting with him about that today.

In order to fit all that in, something had to give.  Reducing the number of days I blog is just one of them.  So, from now on, I'll blog only on Mondays, but I will visit the blog all week and continue to comment.  I will also continue to pop into the Chat Room as my schedule permits.

Hope that's okay with everybody!

posted by Deeanne on 01/18/2008 - 9 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

January 14, 2008

Scrapbooking

I finally bit the bullet and decided to become a Creative Memories consultant.  Not that I have time for one more thing, mind you, but I've been a scrapbooker (and Creative Memories fan) since 1991.  And I was spending enough per quarter on gifts and other supplies to warrant becoming a consultant.  This December, the woman who has been my consultant all these years simply said, "Dee, This is ridiculous.  It is time.  Past time."

I think the thing that pushed me to taking that final step was the Lisa Whelchel Bible study I'm facilitating at my house.  Whelchel has put together a scrapbook Bible study called This Is My Story (which I'm really enjoying).  Some of the girls attending are starting to really get into scrapbooking and need some start-up supplies.  I've been scrapbooking for so long, I know just what they do (and don't) need.

Do any of you scrapbook?

posted by Deeanne on 01/14/2008 - 11 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

January 07, 2008

Resolutions

I always look back at what my resolutions were for the previous year to see how I did.  They were:

Organize my pantry (with all those cool Tupperware containers)
Organize my arts & crafts closet
Organize my sewing closet

I didn't do so well.  I only did the first one.  But it was a big project and if you have been a member of our online community here for a while, you'll remember when I cleaned out my pantry.

My husband would LOVE it if I cleaned those other two closets out.  They have been on my "to do" list for three years now and they are pretty scary at this point.  But, I did organize some things not on my list.  I organized my scrapbook room.  I cleaned off my desk.  I balanced the checkbook.  And I read the entire Bible in 90 days.  So, I'd say the year wasn't a complete wash.

This year, I'm gonna keep it simple.  My goal is to:

1. Organize my arts & crafts closet
2. Organize my sewing closet
3. Write more than one book this year

Saw that last one, did you?  We'll see if I can manage it.  I don't want to sacrifice the integrity of my historicals, but I'm itching to try my hand at a contemporary.  Maybe a romantic suspense--but only IN ADDITION to the historicals I'm already contracted for.

We'll see if it's a pipe dream.  But I read somewhere that 90% of the people who meet their goals have written them down.  So, I've not only written it down.  I've written down where I can be held accountable for it.  This time next year, we'll revisit this list and see what's what.

How did you do with your resolutions?  Did you meet any of the ones from last year?  Did you make ones for this year?  Tell us about them.

posted by Deeanne on 01/07/2008 - 12 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

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