Monday, May 30, 2011

Women Soldiers Memorial Day Tribute

This weekend a friend shared a link with me that honored Af-Am Women Soldiers who had fallen during their tours in Afghanistan or Iraq. It made me pause. Many of them were mothers. They are all someone’s child. As we celebrate this weekend, please carry them and their families in your heart.

Here’s the link:

If you would like for us to pay tribute to a fallen loved one, please leave their name in the comments.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

A Good Excuse to Be Bad GoodReads Giveaway

image

 

Enter to win an advance copy of Miranda Parker’s A Good Excuse To Be Bad via GoodReads First Reads.

Giveaway dates: May 14-Jun 14, 2011

5 copies available, 121 people have already entered

Countries available: US

terms & conditions

  • If more people are interested in a book than there are copies available, we will pick the winners at our discretion. The factors that go into our algorithm are: randomness, site activity, genre of books on your shelves, current phase of the moon, and more.
  • No purchase necessary. Only one entry is allowed per household. You must be 13 or older and a legal resident of one of the countries this giveaway is listed for.
  • The publisher or author, not Goodreads, is responsible for shipment of books to winners. To list a book, the publisher or author has already agreed never to send you anything except the book in question.
  • You are not required to review the book if you win a copy. However, we encourage you do to so, as it's the reason the publishers are giving us free books in the first place. People who review the books are also more likely to win more advance copies in the future.
  • By accepting an advance copy and posting a review, you grant Goodreads and the publisher an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, fully paid, worldwide license to use, copy, perform, display, and distribute your review.
  • In compliance with FTC guidelines, please disclose in your review that you received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Click here and enter to win

To learn more about Miranda Parker on Good Reads or www.mirandaparker.com

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Reviewed: Miles to Go

MILES TO GO
by Richard Paul Evans

When widower and former advertising executive Alan Christofferson loses everything, he makes a decision to walk from Washington state to Key West. But after he’s viciously stabbed on the side of the road, he’s homeless and bed bound until he is saved by a woman named Angel. She takes him into her home but she needs him to save her before he can continue his journey. Read the full review in May’s RT Book Reviews Magazine (on newsstands now or click here .)

Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, May 23, 2011

Our Last Day


IMAG0151
Over the weekend while some waited with anticipation for The Rapture and others prepared their jokes about those who waited for The Rapture, my friend lost her battle with Cancer. God indeed took her up. 

As I mourn for her, I am reminded of the two times I had to prepare myself for death. My final arrangements, my will, who will care for my daughter Selah,  what must I tell her about life that she needs to know from me, Selah, how will she go on and grow into the sweet soul that I’ve worked hard for her to be, who will protect her for me, Selah… Both times I couldn’t prepare as well as I hoped.

I am so thankful He gave me more time. Aren’t you?

Continue reading "Our Last Day" »

Enhanced by Zemanta

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Sneak Peak and Excerpt of A Good Excuse to Be Bad

A Good Excuse To Be BadThursday I finally turned in Someone Bad and Something Blue to my editor. I took Friday off to relax my brain and read. I hope you all will help me write Book 3 (will begin plotting next week.) However, this morning I learned that you could read a sneak peak of A Good Excuse to Be Bad. It releases next month, so I’m pinching myself every day. Would love for you to check out and tell me how you feel. Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/Good-Excuse-Be-Bad/dp/0758259506

Also, mirandaparker.com is a community site. I built it so that you could register share your stories, books, book clubs, whatever with me and others who like the stories I write and the things I like. So register, tell yourself something about me and let’s have a good excuse to get to know each other!!

Still waiting on some cupcake ideas for my A Good Excuse to Be Bad Cupcake. My book release party is in July, so put your thinking caps on.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, May 06, 2011

2011 Christy Award Nominees Announced

 

2011 Award Nominees

The Christy Advisory Board is pleased to announce nominees in nine categories for the 2011 Christy Awards honoring Christian fiction.

The 2011 Christy Award nominees are:

Contemporary Romance/
Blood Ransom

by Lisa Harris (Zondervan)

Indivisible

by Kristin Heitzmann (WaterBrook Press)

Sworn to Protect

by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House Publishers)

Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas/
The Reluctant Prophet

by Nancy Rue (David C. Cook)

The Thorn

by Beverly Lewis (Bethany House Publishers,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

The Waiting

by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell Books,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Contemporary Standalone/
Almost Heaven

by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers)

Lady in Waiting

by Susan Meissner (WaterBrook Press)

A Season of Miracles

by Rusty Whitener (Kregel Publications)

First Novel/
Crossing Oceans

by Gina Holmes (Tyndale House Publishers)

Heartless

by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

A Season of Miracles

by Rusty Whitener (Kregel Publications)

Historical/
Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther

by Ginger Garrett (David C. Cook)

For Time & Eternity

by Allison Pitman (Tyndale House Publishers)

While We’re Far Apart

by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Historical Romance/
The Girl in the Gatehouse

by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

She Walks in Beauty

by Siri Mitchell (Bethany House Publishers,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Within My Heart

by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Suspense/
The Bishop

by Steven James (Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

The Bride Collector

by Ted Dekker (Center Street) [George Kerrigan the book cover photographer for Dekker’s The Bride Collector also did my cover for A Good Excuse to Be Bad. How cool is that? :)]

Predator

by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan)

Visionary/
To Darkness Fled

by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press)

Konig’s Fire

by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press)

The Last Christian

by David Gregory (WaterBrook Press)

Young Adult/
The Charlatan’s Boy

by Jonathan Rogers (WaterBrook Press)

The Healer’s Apprentice

by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)

Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book

by Nancy Rue (Zondervan)

Congrats to all the nominees. However, I thought Stacy Hawkins Adams should have been a nominee for  Contemporary Romance Standalone for The Someday List (Revell). Perhaps Revell nominated her and she didn’t make the end cut, but still. This book sparked a movement last summer. What do you think? FYI: I was a Christy Awards Judge for four years

Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

2011 Faith & Fiction Retreat Book Club Gift Basket Promo for Authors Announced

image 

Have you spent money on print products for your books and fees to place those print products at book events, to no avail? Don’t know if anyone seen the material? Saw your book marks in the trash?

What if you could promote your book to a specific book club at that event? What if you could be the only author pitched to them?

The 2011 Faith and Fiction Retreat has that opportunity for faith based publishing houses, authors, and or publicists, who cannot attend the event with our Book Club Retreat Gift Basket Promotion.

Here’s how it works…

For $149.99 the Faith & Fiction Retreat will create a special gift basket for one of our book clubs with a size larger than ten, that have registered for the 2011 Retreat (June 23-25 .) This basket will include:

 your media kit by DeeGospel PR specifically designed for the retreat
 a sales letter created by DeeGospel PR specifically designed for the retreat
 10 of your paper bookmarks
 10 autographed book plates (created by DeeGospel PR specifically designed for the retreat )
 1 autographed book supplied by you
 1 Digital CD of your book excerpt(we will create) and book trailer(if you have one)
 Gift Basket goodies that fit the theme of your book
 Chocolates
 Fruit (Tangerines, Limes, Lemons)
 1 Bottle Sparkling White Grape
 10 bags of Beach Snacks (Trail Mix, Sunflower Seeds, or Pretzel)

Faith and Fiction retreat averages 10-15 national book clubs per year. This year we will prepare ten baskets. If you would like to have your book featured in a gift basket, please contact Dee Stewart at deegospelpr@gmail.com by June 6, 2011. She will invoice you for your basket, once the invoice is paid, she will schedule a time to chat with you about your book and the type of basket that needs to be created.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, May 02, 2011

God’s Sovereignty, Setting, and Screenwriting Booker T. Mattison Speaks

Booker T. MattisonBooker T. Mattison is an author and filmmaker who wrote the screenplay for and directed the film adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s The Gilded Six-Bits, which aired on Showtime. His debut novel,Unsigned Hype, has been optioned, and he is currently writing the film adaptation of the book. Mattison has taught literary criticism at the College of New Rochelle, film production at Brooklyn College, and advanced directing and actor coaching at Regent University. Snitch is his second novel.

Snitch, which releases this month, has received praise from some of the most acclaimed movie producers of our time, such as Lisa Cortes(Precious) and Stephanie Allain Bray (Hustle & Flow) and has also received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly. What is even more fantastic about Mattison’s success is that he writes for Revell, a Christian publisher.

This month Christian Fiction Online Magazine speaks with Mattison about Snitch, a writer’s responsibility, and what defines Christian fiction. This is the end of our Thrilling the Romantic Soul Series. Read the interview here.

Is your Christian Fiction Novel a Summer Read?

agetb

Good Monday. I am seeking  Christian Fiction authors who have novels releasing in June, July & August for my Summer Beach Read 2011, to spotlighted on my blog, CFOM & some other spots. Publicists and/or authors message me. First five pages, synopsis, contact info. Book must have national in store distribution. Deadline 5/15/11. Email to deegospelpr at gmail dot com.

Psst… my debut novel, A Good Excuse to Be Bad releases June 28, 2011. If you would like to review it, message me.

Labels

"hold out" (1) 1question (4) 1questionMay (2) 1questionspring (3) 1questionsummer (2) 1questionwinter (7) 2011 (2) 30 Days to Build a Better Blog (5) 30 Days to Build a Better Book Blog (17) 9/11 (2) a good man blog watch (2) aaliyah (2) about me (1) Academy award (2) acfw-vip (2) Africa (1) african america (3) african american christian fiction (19) african american history (8) altartainment (1) amazon (9) american heart (1) american idol (1) amish (4) amy grant (1) Amy wallace (1) andrew carroll (1) angela bassett (1) Arts (2) atlanta (3) atlanta journal (1) atlanta tornado (1) audition (1) authentic creation (1) author (1) author interview (12) author read-in (3) authors (6) authors read in (2) authors read-in (1) awards (11) barbie (1) Basketball (1) bath luxe (2) bational wear red day (1) bbaw (1) bea (2) best of (8) bestsellers (2) bethany house (4) bible (3) bible study (3) bill gates (1) billie jean (1) birthday (3) black authors (2) black authors network (1) black christian novel (1) black christmas plays (4) black hawk down (1) black history (1) black in america (2) black men in america (1) black spiritualism (4) blacklitchat (2) blog alliances (1) blog talk radio (22) blog tour (14) blogalicious (2) blogcatalog (1) bloggers unite (9) blogging (7) bloglight (1) blogtalkradio (6) blythe (1) book (3) book arts (1) book awards (12) book blogging (5) book chat (3) book club (6) book cover (4) book deals (1) book events (9) book fun (2) book marketing (51) book pick (1) book pr (1) book preview (9) book promotion (7) book proposal (2) book release party (2) book review (52) book review submission form (5) book signing (4) book tour (4) book trailer (21) bookbyte (3) bookclub (2) books (3) brook promotion (1) bubble bath (1) bynum (1) c.s. lewis (1) camy tang (2) career (1) carl weber (1) carleen brice (1) casting call (9) cba (2) cfba (4) children books (7) chip macgregor (2) choir (1) chris well (2) christian (2) christian comedy (1) christian detective novel (1) christian ethics (7) christian fiction (13) christian fiction blog alliance (2) christian fiction news (28) christian fiction online magazine (26) christian living (2) christian movie (1) christian novel (4) christian publisher (2) christian retailing (2) christian romance (4) christian summer book (9) christian writer's carnival (1) christian writer's guide (1) Christianity (4) christmas (14) christmas story (14) Christy Award (4) christy awards (3) chronicles of narnia (2) chuck holton (1) chuck palahniuk (1) church news (1) cindy (1) cindy woodsmall (9) civil rights (1) claudia burney (10) clown girl (1) cnn (2) coco brother (2) contest (20) contests (6) controversy (1) convention (3) copyright (1) craft (1) creston mapes (1) cupcakes (2) cyndy salzmann (1) darfur (2) dargur (1) david c. cook (4) David Talbert (1) deanne gist (2) deborah raney (1) decaturbookfestival (1) dee and marina (4) dee stewart (19) dee stewart hezekiah walker (1) dee stewart linda beed (1) deegospelpr (11) dekker (5) denzel washington (1) denzel washington. (1) Derek Fisher (1) designer shoes (1) devotions (1) DiAnn Mills (1) digital publishing (2) disney (2) domestic violence (1) don hoesel (1) doodle (1) dwan abrams (2) e-reader (4) e. lynn harris (1) Earth day (2) eartha kitt (1) easter (4) ecpa (1) editing (2) ella curry (2) England (1) eric wilson (1) essence magazine (3) ethics (3) excerpts (9) facebook (3) faith and fiction retreat (11) Faith anf fiction retreat (1) faith*in*fiction (3) fashion show (1) father's day (1) fictin in rather short takes (1) Fiction (1) fiction in rather short takes (33) flag of our fathers (1) followthereader (1) fox faith (1) frank peretti (1) friday afternoon club myster (1) friday afternoon club mystery (1) friday fest (8) fuge recipes (1) genesis awards (1) George Jackson (1) giveaway (8) Golden State Warriors (1) good reads (4) gospel dream (1) gospel fiction (3) gospel music (19) gospel play (13) Grace (1) guestblog (9) haiti (1) haley kilpatrick (1) hank stewart (1) harper collins (1) Harriet Beecher Stowe (1) harry potter (2) Hawaiian Islands (1) heart disease (2) help wanted (1) historical (9) hope for women (1) horror (3) house of faith (1) human trafficking (1) I Dream of Jeannie (1) ibook (2) imprints (1) inciting incident (1) infuze magazine (1) inspirational monday (2) inspys (1) interviews (12) iThink (1) itw (3) jeanee damoff (2) jeff gerke (1) jena 6 (3) jill elizabeth nelson (1) job announcement (1) juanita bynum (3) juanita bynumemkm (1) juneteenth (4) karen kingsbury (3) kathy herman (1) kim brooks (1) kim cash tate (1) kimani press (1) kimberla lawson roby (2) Kindle (1) kristy dykes (2) laura bush (1) lent (11) leny (1) librarything book reviews (2) lifetime tv (1) lifeway (2) linda hargrove (2) links (1) lisa samson (3) literacy (1) literary agent (3) Literature (2) love (1) M M (1) madea girl talk (1) marcher lord press (1) marilynne robinson (1) marilynnn griffith (5) marina woods (2) marines (2) marketing (5) marketing christian fiction blog (1) marriage (1) mary demuth (1) mary hart (1) media candy (10) medical fiction (2) melody carlson (2) meme (1) Memorial day (3) michael jackson (1) mike duran (1) ministry (3) miranda parker (26) mochareaders (1) mombloggers (2) mommyfest (5) monday mention (3) monika drake (1) morgan freeman (1) mothers (3) motivationmonday (6) movie (14) mtv awards (1) myspace (1) nanowrimo (7) Nat Turner (1) National Basketball Association (1) national book month (1) NBA (1) networking (1) New York Times (1) Newsletters (1) nicole seitz (5) non-fiction (2) novel (2) novel writing (10) ny times bestseller (1) obama (14) off-topic Thursday (3) offf-topic Thursday (2) olympia vernon (1) online bookstore (5) oprah (2) ott (2) Pacific War (1) pam perry (1) parenting (2) party (1) pat simmons (1) pay it forward (2) Pearl Harbor (1) people magazine (1) Philippines (1) play (2) plug and play (1) po bronson (1) politics of the mass media (1) poll (1) prayer cell (4) prayer request (3) preorder pick (2) prince caspian (1) princess dominique (1) publishing (14) race and religion (3) radio (1) radio talk show (4) rawsistaz (4) reading series (4) rebeca seitz (1) reflections (1) relief journal (1) Relief Journal christian writing (3) Religion and Spirituality (3) renovating becky miller (1) reshonda tate billingsley (5) retreat (1) rhonda bowen (5) rhonda mcknight (9) richmond (1) romance (6) romantic times (2) romantic times magazine (8) rt convention (2) saint patrick's day (1) sally e.stuart (1) saturday christian carnival (3) Science fiction (3) secret life of bees (2) selah (3) self-publish (2) shana burton (8) sharon ewell foster (6) sharon hink (3) shawneda marks (1) shelfari (1) sher (1) sherri lewis (12) shine in 09 (5) shoes (1) Shopping (1) short story (2) Sidney Sheldon (1) single women (1) sistahfaith (1) skype (2) Slave ship (1) social media (7) social network (2) social network problogger (7) social networking (2) social networkingh (1) sormag (1) South Carolina (1) specfiction (3) speedlink (8) spiritual autobiography (3) Sports (1) spotlight (2) stacy hawkins adams (6) star wars (1) steeple hill (1) storytellers (3) stranger than fiction (1) sudan (1) summer (8) sunrise (1) survey (2) sxsw (1) t.l. hines angela hunt (1) tavis smiley (2) tavis smley (2) teen (4) the first lady (3) the master's artis (2) the master's artist (56) the masters artist (6) the shack (2) the spirit of your story (1) the stones cry out (1) the trouble with publishing (2) theology (2) thomas nelson (7) thriller thursday (7) tia mccollors (1) tiffany warren (7) titletrakk (1) to (1) tolkien (1) top ten (25) tosca lee (1) tours (1) trailer park tuesday (61) trailer park tuesdaycngdkvb (1) travis Hunter (1) tribute (12) tricia goyer (4) tuesday (2) tv (1) twitter (22) ty moody (3) tyler perry (55) tyler pery (1) tyler play (1) United States (3) urban christian book (5) Utah Jazz (1) utterz (10) valentine (2) vanessa davis griggs (1) vanessa miller (2) veteran's day (2) video (2) wachooreading (2) walmart (1) wanza leftwich (1) warren buffet (1) WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group (1) weakend read (2) wedding (1) wednesday wrap (11) weekend chat (29) weekend chatter (17) weekend read (11) westbow (1) what i'm reading (3) what's done in the dark (1) why fiction matters (9) widcard (1) wiki (1) wild card (12) wildcard (32) Wings of Glory (1) womanist thought (1) women (1) women of faith (2) women's ministry (1) workshops (4) world aids day (1) World War II (1) write-or-die chick (3) writer's call (3) writer's conference (8) writer's prompt (2) writing (4) writing conference (8) writing contest (8) writing journey (2) writing life (38) writing opportunities (2) writing project (5) writing tip (3) writing workshop (2) x-files (1) yolanda king (1) young adult (5) youtube (4) zondervan (5)