Happy Friday, friends!
I have emerged. (Blinking. Squinting. Possibly wearing the same shirt since early October.) But I have officially finished the rough draft of my epic Edinburgh adventure! (Rough being the key word. It’s held together with sticky notes and prayer. But words on the page are words I can edit!)
And now that I’m out of my writing hole, Andrew and I have become… those people. You know, the ones who drive around on Friday night looking for a high school football game to adopt. We don’t have a kid on the team. We don’t know the fight song. We just show up, buy a hot dog, and pick a side.
Last Friday, we cheered for the Melbourne Central Catholic Hustlers. And oh, did they hustle. Great plays, plenty of drama, and we threw ourselves into it like we had money on the game. (We did not. We’re Baptists.)
Then the Hustlers scored a touchdown, and we leaped up, whooping and hollering…and noticed we were the only ones in our section on our feet.
Hubs turned to the fan next to us and said, “You guys are a quiet bunch.”
The guy laughed and said, “That’s why we need you.”
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That stuck with me. We all need people who stand up and cheer for us (or our team). As I sit down to write this, I’m struck by how thankful I am for you. Thank you for reading my books, and for reading Sunrise Publishing’s books too. (Yes, I see you. I’m grateful.)
Here’s a little behind-the-scenes truth–writing is a lonely, emotionally draining job. It’s a blast after the book is done, and it’s fun while I’m telling the story. But trying to nail the plot, the emotions, and the spiritual journey wrings me out. And somehow, right when I’m most overwhelmed, a kind note from a reader friend shows up and puts fresh wind in my sails.
Like this one:
Aw. XOXO.
So thank you for being the ones who stand up in the stands and aren’t quiet. I need you. :)
Because of you, THIS happened:
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WEST has been sitting in the Top 10 all month. Whoot!
A little thank-you sale
Because you’re awesome, and because Barcelona Betrayal is headed your way soon, here’s a fun sale: the entire Homecoming of Logan Thorne book + audio is just $4.00. Yes, that’s less than a coffee. It’s short, it’s an easy, fun read, and it’s perfect for a snowy/rainy weekend.
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In the mood for winter and romance?
Grab Trail of the Brave at its preorder price now!
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And this weekend…
We’ve never been big Halloween people. Our son’s birthday is Saturday! But we’re joining him and his kiddos for a “trunk and treat” at their church, so that’ll be fun. Andrew and I are going as Snowbirds who might be missing the cool, beautiful weather in Minnesota.
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(Yes, I know that’s an AI image. This is the problem when you never leave your writing chair. I don’t think you want a picture of me in my pajamas, surrounded by gum wrappers, empty coffee cups, with bloodshot eyes and an empty chip bag. I like you too much to leave that in your brain. 
)
Have a beautiful weekend!
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P.S. If you haven’t grabbed it yet, snag this fun collection for only 99 cents! Eight previously published novels…8 couples face stalkers, killers, spies, and blizzards in these Christian romantic suspense novels filled with faith, courage, and Christmas love.
And, we’re giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner. All you have to do is answer one question correctly and leave your email address (so we know where to send the gift card).
The answer can be found in the first 60ish pages of the first book, Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful, by me!
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Click here to enter! Don’t have the book yet? Download it here!