FRIDAY FLICKS: Contest!

Today, you can take part in a contest! I am offering The Gift: A Parable of the Key to one lucky reader at the Christian Women Writer's Club!



Subscribe to the mailing list and be entered to win one of three Kindle Fires preloaded with over $85 in books! Winners announced December 15!

And check out what's happening on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/events/802075369915538/

FRIDAY FLICKS: The Gift: A Parable of the Key by yours truly

I am off to the second and final day of book signings at the Kearns Senior Center. But before I head out, I want to share my book trailer for my newest book!

Enjoy!

Get Some Treasures on Wednesday! FREE eBOOK!

Simple Treasures is coming up tomorrow. I will be there - of course - plus many, many others! Get your place decorated for fall! Find some one-of-a-kind vintage wear! Enter the constantly revolving contests!

Entrance fee is only $1.

My newest book, The Gift: A Parable of the Key, will be there for purchase. Come and get the last book in the Parable series and learn how Virginia uses the five stones for the greatest challenge of all!

Another great option...

Beginning today, get the eBook of The Gift for FREE! Free eBook will extend through September 19th!

Book Contests: Should you try them?

I used to be all for book contests, and I guess I still am to some extent, though there are a few things you should know up front if you decide to do them:

1. Many people who enter contests, even for free books, are, quite frankly, looking for a free handout. They may enter contests all over the globe to see what they can get., and this may not be the best bet for you, especially if they also don't read the book that they've won.

2. Contests done up on blogs versus prominent sites like Goodreads, may not produce enough entrants to make your contest worthwhile. If the site uses a Rafflecopter, however, you have a better chance of entrants.

3. Book contests may bring in new readers, or they may not. But your book does get noticed when you have them, and it may take some time (maybe up to 7 or more posts) of varying types, before readers buy. This is called the "Rule of Seven". Some of the concerns of would be readership for your book may include, price, lack of trust of you and your product, or, frankly, that they don't need it yet. There is a terrific article on the Rule of Seven here.

4. Timing is important. I usually do a book contest after the release of my book, during holidays like Christmas or even Black Friday (which isn't really a holiday, but hopefully you get my drift) and when I'm adding a new book to a series and want to get folks reading the first or second so they will buy the third. I don't always have impeccable timing with contests, (though Amazon does a terrific job getting the word out and I have a great list of places that will advertise my book for free).

Third and final book in the Parable Series
Coming in September!

I'm a firm believer in doing what works. Although I still do contests as described above, I also do other things that bring in new readers (like blog interviews, reviews, book trailers and imaginative author signings) - and this is why my books continue to sell.

The Gift: A Parable of the Key Sneak Preview

Coming out in September!

The Beginning

Beatrice was 9 months old when the key turned for Virginia. The summer leaves were just beginning to dry, preparing themselves for yet another fall and heavy winter in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and the little babe Virginia had finally managed to bring into this world was gone.

                No real cause. No real solution. But crib death was like that. "Don't turn her on her belly." "Don't put stuffed animals in her bed." "Don't smoke."

                Well, she hadn't done any of those things and the baby girl that she'd waited for, for so long, was under the cold, frozen earth, never again to reach out her tiny little hands.

                God was cruel.

                No, that was the wrong thing to say.

                God was...

                She didn't know what God was. And she didn't know if she'd truly ever believe him again.

                Richard was smart. He went to work. Struggled with the doughnuts and cupcakes that she still made for the tiny shop they'd finally managed to purchase away from the grocery store. He was smart because he kept himself busy, like a tall elf in Santa's shop, doing the busy stuff so the doughnuts could be delivered on time to the smiles of every heavy, needy customer.

                All of her thoughts were negative now. The size of the customers, the way the air blew through the bottom of the front door in a sort of chilled whirr, the remembrance of icicles that would soon be dangling from the rooftop of their tiny home; like sharp knives penetrating her heart.

                It would soon be Christmas.

                And it wasn't fair. With all that she knew about God, all that he'd taught her, all that he'd shown her in the birth of their baby Beatrice, he had taken her daughter home. With so many children already, probably catering to his every need, he had taken her baby home. He had taken her home!

                She sat, as she did most days since Beatrice's death two months past, but she hadn't put away any of the baby things, or taken down the crib. She couldn't touch the crib. And now? She was lonely, sad and angry. And she didn't know what to do with her pain, except cry.

                Beatrice. What a beautiful little girl she'd been. She liked music and when Richard danced with her, she'd smile, her first tooth protruding through her gums like a tiny jack-o-lantern with a light inside.

                It wasn't like her to cry. More likely, that she'd smile and giggle and drool.

                She wore pink, of course. And Virginia had put her in fluffy dresses with pink bows and matching booties. She'd read her stories about princesses and queens and handsome strangers. Nights were filled with feedings and cuddling, and playing "This Little Piggy..." but that night...

                Tears spilled down Virginia's cheeks. They'd replaced the couch that had sported the hole from the rock of trust. But now, even though their newfangled red couch was perfect in form and stability, she needed that hole; yes, somehow that hole would have soothed her soul.

                But she had the stones, had kept the stones for these few years since she'd first walked with God. And they were still with her, even now, as she sat on the couch and looked up at them on the mantel. Listening...trust...optimism...tenacity...constancy... So close and yet so far away.

                She couldn't even think, let alone stand to take the first one in her hands and listen to God. She wondered what he would say...

                "I needed her..." "She's a sweet girl..." "You'll have another child..."

                But she couldn't think about having another child, and she couldn't think about herself, and she couldn't think about Richard. Or God.

              

COVER REVEAL! The Gift: A Parable of the Key

I wanted to give you a sneak peak of my upcoming book, The Gift: A Parable of the Key, coming out in September of this year. The Gift is the last book in the parable series. You can imagine my tears as I've gotten this one ready for publication. Characters for me become like real people, and now the time is nearing for me to let them go.

I love Christmas, so a part of this book deals with this holiday as well as some other wonderful and not so wonderful experiences that bring Virginia, Richard and Joy together.

After the death of their only child, it was time for Virginia and Richard to truly act on the power held within the five stones.

But their healing was taking a long time, and, quite frankly, proving to be an empty vessel needing to be filled.

Would they ever have a child of their own?

Would the old key help in their search for the truth? Joy was in their lives once again, a homeless teen with an alcoholic mother, still managing the journey to Just  Desserts for another pink cupcake.

Was Joy the answer? And if so, what was the truth locked within her heart?

Travel with Virginia and Richard as they make their journey with God. Seek. Knock. Open. Find. Discover for yourself how an open heart - heals.