Newsday Tuesday ...

Welcome to NEWSDAY TUESDAY. A weekly post reporting book deals, upcoming book releases, events, and other news happening in the world of MacGregor Literary.

We've been busy already this year, and that's a good thing because it's been quite sunny recently in the Pacific Northwest. Makes it hard to sit inside and get much done, sometimes. I mean a few days ago it was warm. Like shirtsleeve warm. We were freaking out a little, actually. Planting flowers. Flying kites. Driving our convertibles with their tops down.  Don't worry, though. Rain is always on its way again, so all will be well. 

In other news, (yes, around here winter sun IS news) we're happy to report the following deals and author activities so far this year:

-Shane Stanford, author of A POSITIVE LIFE, which explored being an HIV-positive pastor, is co-authoring a book with cancer survivor and famous NFL wife Deanna Favre. The book, entitled THE CURE FOR THE CHRONIC LIFE, will explore the how people living with difficulties can find joy and purpose in the midst of hardship.

-Novelist Ann Tatlock has signed to write two additional novels with Bethany House Publishers.

-Gwen Faulkenberry is contracted to do LOVE FINDS YOU IN BRANSON, MO, the latest in the LFY line with Summerside.

-TURBULENCE is the next novel from Dana Mentink at Steeple Hill. The book was recently contracted by editor Emily Rodmell.

-NO PICTURES PLEASE is the memoir of growing up Amish in western Pennsylvania. The author, Ira Wagler, had signed to do the book with Carol Traver of Tyndale House.

-Gina Holmes, who started the hugely influential "Novel Journey" website, has her first novel CROSSING OCEANS releasing with Tyndale House soon. Publishers Weekly did a profile on Gina, and national book clubs have named it as a featured selection.

-ROOMS, the much-talked-about debut novel from Jim Rubart, releases April 1. In the story, a man inherits a house that seems to change in a way that reflects his own soul.

-The next novel in the PATCHWORK series with Guideposts will be written by Susan Page Davis.

-Darlene Franklin has signed to do a novella entitled BRIDGE TO LOVE with Heartsong Presents.

-Al Gansky is teaming with bestselling author Mark Hitchcock to write an apocalyptic thriller about the end of the world -- 2012.

-Humorist and football fan Chad Gibbs visited all the SEC schools this past year, exploring the fascination in the South with "God and Football." His book by that title has just been contracted with Zondervan, for release in the fall.

-Sandra Glahn has signed to add another book in her "Coffee Cup Bible Series" with AMG Publishers. This next one is called "Sumatra with the 7 Churches."

-Biola University professor Klaus Issler is doing a book with IVP that explores the gap between the perfection we're called to in Scripture, and the real-world way in which we live our lives. His title is "Mind the Gap," and the book will release in 2012.

- Regal Books has just contracted with Presbyterian pastor, Ron Kincaid, on a book which dares Christians to practice, commit to, and journal the daily discipline of prayer. Kincaid’s book was inspired by a prayer journal he has kept from his earliest days in ministry which now contains over 40,000 documented answers to prayer.

- Arloa Sutter, Director of Breakthrough Ministries in Chicago, and Wesleyan Press are preparing for the upcoming release of THE INVISIBLES, a book which tells Sutter’s story of how she came to found one of the busiest and most successful homeless ministries in the country -- starting with a coffee pot and a vacant room in a church basement.

- Theresa Flores, featured as a guest speaker at the Child Slavery Now conference in Hull, England at the Wilberforce Institute for the Study of Slavery & Emancipation, and in an MSNBC/The Today Show investigative series called Sex Slaves: The Teen Trade, is currently touring promoting her newly released title THE SLAVE ACROSS THE STREET.

- Award winning suspense author Pat Rushford is writing her second title for Guidepost’s HOPE HAVEN continuity series and has also recently been contracted with Summerside to write a full length mid-century novel for their new suspense line.

- Courtney Walsh is well into writing A PERFECT CIRCLE, the first of three books with Guideposts set to release beginning in 2011.

- Julie Cannon is finishing up I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, a WWII novel about a young woman who joins the Navy, leaving her small southern town and her lovelorn beau behind. It will release from Summerside Press in time for Christmas, 2010.

- Revell has contracted Serena Miller to write a post civil war romance about the life of a female cook working in a timber camp in Northern Michigan. It is tentatively titled THE SECRET LIFE OF KATIE CALLAWAY.

- Mark Carlson is busy at work collaborating with B.J. Taylor on CONFESSIONS OF A GUIDE DOG.

- Maureen McQuerry traveled to New York in January to meet with her editor from Amulet Books (well known for their Diary of a Wimpy Kid titles). Maureen is busy editing the first of two middle grade fantasy novels set to release in 2011 and 2012.

- Cook has just arranged to release Renee Riva’s TAKING TUSCANY as a free Amazon ebook to propel sales of her series in time for the spring release of her third book, HEADING HOME.

- Hillary Manton Lodge’s second book with Harvest House, SIMPLY SARA, was recently moved up for earlier release. Her first book, PLAIN JAYNE officially released in January is already in its second printing.

- Hachette/Faithwords chose the cover art from Carla Stewart’s CHASING LILACS to adorn the cover of their spring catalog.

- Melanie Dobson’s second title with Summerside Press, LOVE FINDS YOU IN HOMESTEAD, IOWA has recently released.

- Jay Payleitner’s 52 THINGS KIDS NEED FROM A DAD officially releases March 1 from Harvest House. Jay has created a great promotional website worth checking out.

- Lynne Gentry recently launched two exciting blogs. One, called Stage Write which offers various stage tips which authors can use to effectively dress and set their characters & stories to help bring them to life. While there, you’ll learn about another blog venture she and co-author, Lisa Harris, have recently launched. Lynne and Lisa’s have recently co-authored GHOST HEART, an international drama about two mothers fighting to save the lives of their daughters from certain death, and GHOST SHIP, a contemporary pirate story.

- And the folks over at The Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of Romance Writer’s of America asked us to let our readers know that they are now accepting entries to their 10th Annual Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest. The IRCC is a unique contest in that it is only for Inspirational fiction and is judged by readers, not writers, of Inspirational fiction. The IRCC has seven categories for books: Long Contemporary, Short Contemporary, Long Historical, Short Historical, Women’s Fiction, Romantic Suspense, and Novella. The link to find out more about the IRCC: http://www.faithhopelove-rwa.org/contests.htm 

This post reflects more than one week's news, of course, as we're catching you up from the beginning of the year. But, be sure to tune in next week as there will surely be additional news. Especially if it starts raining again...

Comments

[Melissa]

Ha! Love finds you in Branson, Mo! That's my hometown. And guess what. That's where Love found me too! (Fairly inevitable since I lived there :)

[Julie Garmon]

Cheering for you all!

[Jason]

Congratulations on all your successes!

I had a smile with the Branson title. I lived in Springfield for five years and have many friends in the city. I'm kind of curious to read it and see if they mention any of the local shows & entertainers. :)

[Rachel Hauck]

Good news and congrats to all!!

Rachel

[Medical Advice]

There are many things we can consider, good news and a big congratulation!

[Gina Holmes]

Particularly excited about Jim's book, Rooms. Great news everyone. Congratulations!

[Jay Payleitner]

Yowza...! Doggy confessions. God & football. An HIV-positive pastor. Dads & kids. Christmas during WWII. Finding love in IA and/or MO. Pirates. Sex slaves. The homeless. And the apocalypse. I must say ... Chip and Sandra, you cover a lot of ground. Keep at it, friends.

[patriciazell]

Kudos on a lot of hard work--keep it up! (And being blessed of God is not all that bad either!)

[Speckle]

Ahhhh... The nw! Just yesterday I planted nearly 50
primroses and other goodies! Can't wait for Kincaid's book...
Should be a challenge!

[Robbie Iobst]

Wow! Congratulations all! Just started Hillary Lodge's Plain Jayne. So far, I love it!

[Courtney Walsh]

Wow!! You guys ARE busy! :) I am so happy to be a part of it!

Congrats to everyone! :)

[Karen Humeniuk]

Oh, how strange the wanderings of the human mind can be, or so it seems in the confines of my head at least. While wasting time reading an article about earthquake studies following the recent violent quakes - as I said, strange wanderings - a sidebar about the upcoming Academy Awards sucked me in, which is really odd because they remind me of the La Brea Tar Pits - all dressed up just to gush over dark, smelly [feelbad] movies. As the article noted, "Feelbad confronts you with the darkness, futility and awfulness of existence, but does it with such imagination, bravado, soul and wit that you find yourself exhilarated." Soul? Body shudder! Fleeing the thought, I happened upon the above list of books. So much to choose from. First on my list will be Ron Kincaid's book about prayer. Thanks for the breath of fresh air.

[Maternity nursing clothing]

the IRCC is a unique contest in that it is only for Inspirational fiction and is judged by readers, not writers, of Inspirational fiction.