I just received notice yesterday that One Holy Night has been chosen as the Fiction Book of the Year by Christian Small Publishers Association! Needless to say, I am thrilled—and admittedly a bit stunned. I’d forgotten I even entered the contest. LOL!
It’s also entered in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year contest for long contemporary novels, and it’ll be interesting to see how it does there. Winners in all the categories will be announced at the ACFW conference in September, so I’ll have to wait a while to find out, and that’s always hard. In the meantime, however, Sheaf House will be doing additional promotions in upcoming weeks featuring the award and will also feature One Holy Night again for the holiday season.
I’m having another book signing, this time at the Perry Bookstore, 907 Carroll Street, in downtown Perry, Georgia, from 11 to 1 on Saturday, April 18. I’ll also be signing Wind of the Spirit, Book 3 of the American Patriot Series, and will have copies of books 1 and 2, Daughter of Liberty and Native Son, available at a discount. I appreciate your prayers for a good weather and a good turnout, and if you happen to be in the area, I would love to have you stop by! This is also the weekend for the annual Dogwood Festival in Perry, and there’ll be lots going on downtown, not to mention the Mossy Creek Barnyard Festival, which is close by. Come on out and join in the fun!
Below is an excerpt from a recent review by Jackie Cooper, who is known in the middle Georgia area as the “entertainment man” for his entertainment reviews. His short stories have been used as commentary on Georgia Public Radio and he is also a popular after dinner speaker as well as a noted author. Jackie’s latest release is The Sunrise Remembers.
"Author J. M. Hochstetler has crafted a story that will drive us to tears but also lift our spirits at the same time. . . . It is a “family” story that all readers can enjoy and one to which they can relate in some way. Hochstetler takes us on a journey with these characters as they move through times of joy and times of sadness. Each person described in the story comes alive and takes his/her place in the order of things. The author even brings in side characters to flesh out the story and she does it with inventiveness and skill. If you do not enjoy or appreciate a story of faith then this is not the book for you. But for those who do like this type of religious material as the backdrop for a good story, this is an excellent choice."
Friday, April 17, 2009
Fiction Book of the Year!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Interview and Book Drawing on Amber Stockton’s Blog!
Hey, everyone! Head on over to Amber Stockton’s blog and leave a comment on the March 13 post with my interview to be entered into the drawing for a free copy of Wind of the Spirit! You only have a week from yesterday to get in on the drawing, so you’d better hurry. I appreciate your support, and you may win a free copy of the latest installment of this thrilling story to boot!
Thursday my husband and I are heading off to Dallas for the Christian Book Expo, which runs from Friday, March 20th, through Sunday the 22. More than 200 of your favorite Christian authors will present seminars, do readings and book signings, participate in panel discussions, and more. The event is open to the public.
I’ll be signing Wind of the Spirit in the American Christian Fiction Writers booth on Saturday, March 21, from 3 to 4 p.m. So if you’re going to be in the Dallas area next weekend, I’d love to see you there!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Surviving Tough Times
The first book is on solutions for tough times. The other is about planting what others throw away by seeing symbols in our everyday lives that lead us closer to Jesus’ plans for us. Lynn, who is a very talented illustrator, is doing the design, illustration, and layout for both book, so I know they’re not only going to be a great encouragement to those who read them, but also beautiful as well. Three additional books will release in late summer or early fall.
The event, Surviving Tough Times: Celebrating God Through the Arts, will take place on May 2, 2009. Following the workshops, Lynn says, “there will be a time of ministry/worship where there will be people from various ministries ready to pray and stand beside struggling people and draw them into Jesus’ light and speak words of encouragement and hope over them.”
Below is more information about this event for those who would like to attend, help spread the news, and/or join as prayer warriors to petition the Lord to move powerfully in the hearts of his people through these books and this event. I hope some of you will be able to attend what promises to be a life-changing celebration, but whether you can or not, I know your prayers for the Lord’s anointing on Lynn and Paul as they step out in faith will unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all those they touch. The most powerful thing we can do is to pray!
SURVIVING TOUGH TIMES: Celebrating God Through the Arts
Saturday, May 2, 2009
1:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Cyrus Ministries, Route 30, Big Rock, IL
Choose one of three tracks or create your own:
Visual Arts Track
Solutions for Tough Times Track
Creative Arts Sampler Track
Workshops:
Dance, Manga Drawing, Sculpture/Montage, Creating Symbols, Photography, Tough Times Solutions, and Worship
There will be an evening celebration using all the arts.
For more info: http://www.karitos.com/ or http://www.cyrusministries.com/ or call (630) 393-6516
Cost: $10 per person.
This is a Karitos Christian Arts and Cyrus Ministries International event organized by http://www.promisegarden.com/.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Win a Free Copy of My Latest Release!
My newest novel, Wind of the Spirit, book 3 of my American Patriot Series, released on Monday! I have interviews coming up on a number of blogs during the next few weeks, plus a radio interview. Most of the blogs are offering a drawing for a free copy of Wind of the Spirit, and all you have to do to enter is to make a comment on the post! Here’s a schedule so you can check them out and possibly win a free copy!
March ACFW’s Afictionado e-zine. Interview, but no drawing.
March TBA Tyora Moody’s ChristianBookwormReviews.com
March 5 Novel Journey.
March 10 Favorite PASTimes historical fiction blog.
March 12 8:15 a.m. KREJ 101.7 FM Kelly Long Proverbs 31 Wannabe Club (the station covers southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma; call in to enter (620) 886-3537)
March 13 Amber Stockton Spotlight Interview.
March 15 Wind of the Spirit is featured on this week on Christian Authors Network You’ve Got Books fiction blog.
I’m attending the brand-new Christian Book Expo in Dallas March 20-22. More details on this later. I hope to see you there! And of course, I’ll post additional appearances, interviews, and announcements as they come up!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Safety in the Storm
Today I've been thinking about the lessons I’ve learned through my own life experiences that I wanted to share with readers in writing One Holy Night. This is the message given to me through this God-breathed story.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve gone through. There is healing!
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. There is forgiveness!
It doesn’t matter who you’ve hurt, or who’s hurt you. Reconciliation is yours through Jesus Christ!
Beloved, it doesn’t matter what losses you’ve suffered. There is restoration and there is joy in store for you!
There’s only One who ever stilled the storm by his command. And that’s Jesus. So if you’re sinking under the despair of your past and your fear for the future, reach out and take the hand extended to save you from the stormy sea. Take hold of Jesus and live!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A Merry Christmas to All!
Christmas is the season for parties, events, and giving gifts; for getting together with loved ones; and for celebrating the greatest gift God gave us in his Son. As if this season of wonder couldn’t get any busier, I have another book signing coming up this Saturday, the 13th, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble in the Indian Lake shopping center in Hendersonville, Tennessee, following our group’s Christmas party. It promises to be a merry day, indeed!
This is a combined event, with authors from my local writers group, Middle Tennessee Christian Writers signing their latest releases. Attached is the flyer that gives all the information on the featured authors and our books. I’ll be signing copies of One Holy Night, a perfect read for the Advent season.
When this many authors get together for an event, I promise we’re going to be having way too much fun. If you happen to be in the area, I hope you’ll come by to say hello and join in the festivities! We’d love to see you there!
