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April - May 2008
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This 'n That Note from Ginny!
Welcome to spring! I love
snow, but I’ve seen enough this winter to make me long
for tulips and daffodils and tender green grass. A
couple of years ago I spent a week in Amsterdam, and I
brought back some genuine Holland tulip bulbs. What a
joy to see them push fresh green stalks through the soil
to soak up the sunshine.
The past few months have been hectic but happy. February
saw the release of a book that is very special to me,
Stuck in the Middle, book 1 in the Sister-to-Sister
Series. In the weeks following its release, reviews
started rolling in. I was thrilled to find that my story
touched so many people in a personal way. I’ll share a
few of the comments I received, so keep reading.
Another big thrill was the release of my fifth novel!
Sincerely, Mayla took me by surprise when the
publisher released it almost two months early. (See
below for more about that book.) On the heels of that
release, I received a contract to write two more
romantic mysteries for Steeple Hill. Those books will be
released in April and June of 2009, so I’ll tell you
about them in a future issue of this eNewsletter.
 And
finally, in March I received the honor of a lifetime
when I was named 2008 Writer of the Year at the
Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference! The award was
completely unexpected, and I admit I’m still reeling.
The Writer of the Year recipient is selected by the 72
members of the conference’s faculty and staff, which is
comprised of authors, editors, and other professionals
in Christian publishing. This award is such a special
gift to me, and I’ll treasure the memory of that night
forever.
I’m reminded constantly of God’s love in the blessings
He showers on me. Sometimes those blessings are public,
and sometimes they’re private—intimate moments when He
urges me to be quiet and listen as He whispers His truth
in my ear. Oh, the joy of being His child!
May all your dreams
come true, my friend!
Virginia Smith
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Mayla Is
Back! |
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Wonderful, wonderful
read! “Sincerely, Mayla is the
long-awaited sequel to Just As I Am. Mayla is just as
strong and as quirky a character as she was in the first
book. I fell in love with her in Just As I Am and that
love grew in Sincerely, Mayla. I hope to see another
book starring this spunky heroine.”
—Armchair Reviews
Mayla’s new story is here! The purple-haired girl who
made her debut in Just As I Am two years ago is
back, and she’s wackier than ever. Mayla’s life has
turned topsy-turvy. She loses her job and manages to
scare off the man she’s decided she’s in love with, none
other than Pastor Paul. Sounds like a good time for a
visit with her estranged grandmother in sunny Florida.
But Mayla soon discovers when you run from your
problems, they follow—and multiply! Grandmother’s home
isn’t the haven she hoped it would be. And then her
friends turn up on the doorstep, bringing problems of
their own they expect Mayla to solve. She’s got her work
cut out for her. But if anyone can tackle all those
issues, Mayla can.
Want to win a copy of both Mayla books? I’ll give
away autographed copies of Just As I Am and
Sincerely, Mayla to five lucky people on April 30th.
Just reply to this e-mail and let me know you want to be
entered into the drawing. Or you can send a comment
through the Contact Page of my website
here.
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Reviewers for Blog
Tour Needed |
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Kregel Publications is hosting a blog tour for Sincerely,
Mayla the week of May 12th. If you have a blog and would
like to participate, send an email to the Marketing Manager
Amy Stephansen at
amys@kregel.com with your mailing address and your
blog’s URL. She’ll send you a free review copy of
Sincrerely, Mayla.
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And the Winner Is....
I’m pleased to announce the winners of
the contest to celebrate the release of the first book in
the Sister-to-Sister Series, published by Revell.
First Place winners were Carol Edwards, Donna Montagnino,
Jenny Thompson, and 2 others who have yet to respond to my
e-mail. (They have 15 days before I select replacement
winners, so check your inbox for an e-mail from me dated
March 31st!) Each of these will receive autographed copies
of Stuck in the Middle immediately, and Age before
Beauty (book 2 in the series) and Last but Not Least
(book 3) as soon as they are released.
The lucky Grand Prize
winner of the $500 Shopping Spree was Gaye McGill.
Upon receiving the news that she had won, Gaye said, “The
prize will be put to a very good purpose! I haven’t read
Stuck in the Middle yet, but it’s on my list. It’s not
always that you can find a writer who is clever, amusing,
and meaningful too. You meet those criteria and I love your
books.” Thanks, Gaye!
Congratulations to the
winners, and thank you to all who entered and referred
others.
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Stuck in
the Middle Makes a Splash!
I love
reading what people think about my books, and especially
when they like them! Check out these awesome reader
comments from people who have read Stuck in the Middle,
book 1 in the Sister-to-Sister Series.
“Author Virginia Smith has given us another wonderful read. And if
this first book of
the sister-to-sister series is any indication, more
enjoyable sibling rivalry is on the
way. Smith is a great story teller whose gifted use of humor
is sure to please. The
reader will readily identify with Joan's story. Haven't we
all felt stuck at some time
or other?” –Linda
“Stuck
in the Middle was so heartwarming and deep, yet fun and
light at the same
time. How did the author do that??? I totally loved the
hero, too. He was
delectable. Those "almost kisses" were making me nuts. I
loved the misunderstandings, too. This
story was also a great example of what not to do to win a
man's heart. The flirting lessons were hilarious, especially
when Joan tossed her hair and noted each time he moved
inside her hula hoop. To find out what that means you have
to read the book. I loved it.” –Michelle
“Joan is believable and sympathetic, her heartache shows on every
page as she struggles to do what's right without really
knowing what that is. Very often our relationship with God
has been influenced by our relationship with our earthly
father, and this book is an excellent lesson on how to break
free from the bonds of the past
and security to find God.” –Christina
If you’ve
read Stuck in the Middle, I’d love to know what you
think. Send me an e-mail and tell me. And if you haven’t
read it yet – why not????
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Check Out this Cool Blog
In my ongoing search
through the blogosphere for cool blogs, I found
Laura
Williams’ Musings. I met Laura some time ago when
she reviewed my first book, Just As I Am. She liked
it – which of course made me feel pretty warm about her,
too. One thing I like about Laura’s blog is the variety she
presents. She posts contests, book reviews, excerpts,
software reviews, even recipes! (Check out her ‘Dirt Cake
with Worms’ – yummy!) And she keeps her blog up to date,
too. Next time you’re surfing, check out Laura Williams’
Musings.
Have you found a cool and
unique blog? I want to know about it! Send me an
e-mail
with the link, and maybe I’ll feature it in an upcoming
issue of “This ‘n That.”
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Test
Drive a Book
I don’t know about you, but
before I shell out my hard-earned money for a book, I like
to know what I’m buying. The Christian Authors Network’s
online book club lets you do just that. Each week they post
excerpts, usually the first chapter, from a book by one of
their authors on their online book club You’ve Got Books!
Since their membership roster includes some terrific
Christian authors like Tricia Goyer, Maureen Lang, Lauraine
Snelling, Susan Meissner, Susan May Warren and many others,
you can read excerpts from some of the best new releases on
the shelves before you buy! Check out You’ve Got Books!
here.
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And Finally ... |
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you're enjoying my newsletter, I hope you'll forward it to
your friends and family. And if you have any suggestions for
cool content, you can reply to this e-mail or visit the
Contact
Page of my website to send me a message. If someone has
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yourself. It's easy – just
Click Here. I promise I won't SPAM you, or fill your
inbox, and I’ll never share your information with anyone.
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