Odds & Ends

I'm tying up all sorts of loose ends these days. Or, more accurately, I'm trying to. I can't believe how stressed out I am about leaving my kids! I'm squeezing in as many physical therapy appointments as I can this week... To little avail so far. I just can't relax until everything (or almost everything) has been taken care of. And blogging one last time is on my to-do list.

Since I'm dealing with the details right now, I figured I'd do the same in this final blog before Spain. A quick run-down:

• I got an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) for Summer Snow yesterday! I can't tell you how fun it is to hold the book in my hands, even though it's not the "real deal." Anyway, this is the beginning--Snow will be in stores before you know it. And if you can't wait, pre-order. Right now Snow seems to be doing better than Leaves on Amazon. (Not that I can claim to understand what the rankings mean.) Go figure!
• I've blogged before about our involvement with a church and orphanage in Monrovia, Liberia and promised that we would have a website for you to visit soon. Well, we've finally got it up and running! Our non-profit is called One Body One Hope and it is designed to support the ministries of Abide in the Vine (the founding church) and Christ is Our Hope (an orphanage for 51 orphans). 15% of the proceeds from Leaves and Snow will go to the kids at Christ is Our Hope, where we provide food, shelter, education, and regular medical attention. More than anything, we are committed to being transformational--we don't believe it is enough to provide food and shelter for these kids. We want to change their lives. Check out the website to learn more. We are currently seeking approximately 20 more sponsors...
• Finally, I'd like to announce a little contest! I've been told that the best marketing is done by word of mouth--and I believe whatever I hear when it comes to this sort of thing! Marketing and publicity is not really my forte. But since I like to do what I can, I thought I'd try to get the word out there a bit more. I'll give away a signed copy of Summer Snow to one person who goes to Amazon and writes a review of After the Leaves Fall. Preferably a nice, 5-star review! He-he-he! Anyway, all you have to do to enter the drawing is post a review and email me to let me know about it. I'll throw your name in the pot and pick a winner on February 14. Awww, Valentine's Day! How sweet is that? Of course, you won't get your book in February, you'll have to wait until I get my copies. But hey, it'll be like getting a present! You'll open your mailbox one day and voila! A new book. Signed nonetheless with my ridiculously messy signature.

I think that's everything. I gotta run--so much to do before we jet off to Spain! Hooray! Can't wait to tell you all about it. In the meantime, take care and keep warm (it's -10 here today!).

I have to add a brief P.S. Guess what I got in the mail this afternoon? A package from Author Relations at Tyndale telling me that After the Leaves Fall has gone to a third printing! How cool is that? I just might smile all the way to Spain. Wait, I was going to do that anyway... :)