I did let go of some things I had scheduled for this year. Sometimes, in spite of our best efforts, we just can't do it all. I'm finishing up some projects and I'm about to get into the thick of things with a new multi-book contract for Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense.
I will also be celebrating twenty years with Love Inspired Books this year. I sold to LI in 1996 and my first book, The Wedding Quilt, came out at the end of 1997. So I've been here since the beginning. The other day I walked into a big bookstore and became overwhelmed with the many, many books I wanted to buy and read. I thought "How did I ever get one published?" Now I'm at seventy-five books and counting. Recently, I reached a milestone with LI and Harlequin. Sixty-five books published with this particular publisher! But I'm still not sure how I did it!
So I plan on celebrating a lot this year. In February, I'll enjoy the release of the fifth book in my "Men of Millbrook Lake" series. I will miss these characters and the small Florida town of Millbrook Lake. But I hope you'll be able to read this last installment:
And I plan to actually read more books this year, too. You can help someone else read by taking a picture of yourself with a good book and posting it to Twitter with the hashtag #magicofstorytelling
Disney will make sure a child gets a book if you do! Here's what I shared:
I hope you have a year full of good books, good friend and great times. What are your plans for this new year?
Posts
Congrats on your success, Lenora! I still remember when you spoke at my local Georgia Romance Writers Chapter about writing inspirational fiction. I greatly admired you for embracing strong Christian values in your life and in your stories. You made a huge impression on me.I bought your book and fell in love with your writing and with you!
ReplyDeletePlus, you were always so helpful when I was a new LI author with lots of questions!!!
Hugs and Happy New Year!
I didn't know about the #magicofstorytelling hashtag. Must post a picture!
65! That is so awesome. I was trying to remember an LI author's name the other day and went to FictionDB and scrolled through the authors from book one. It was like meeting friends.
ReplyDeleteI wish you'd come speak to my chapter. Tell me when you'll be in AZ, and I'll arrange it.
Congratulations on your success and best of luck with 2017. The only resolution I made was "simplify". From my closets, to my garage, to work and writing, the goal is to make my life more simple and my space(s) minimal. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, from me, too. In 2017, I'm looking forward to my publication of my eighth LI in August, which probably has me as amazed and blessed feeling as your 65th. I'm finishing up a ninth (due February 1) and hope to have a new contract in 2017. I'm also trying two other projects, a novella in an a fun inspirational anthology with two authors I met through the RWA FHL chapter and ACFW and (fingers crossed) a novella in a sweet romance Christmas boxed set -- both new types of project for me. And my word dor 2017 is FREE, so I'm going to work on letting go on things I "burden" myself with.
ReplyDeleteJeab
Thank you, Debby, Pamela and Jean. I'm so proud of all of you. I love seeing a new LI author taking off. Your books are wonderful! Debby, I remember speaking at your chapter and being in awe of all the talent there!
ReplyDeleteAnd Savannah Rose, I wish you the best this year. Simplifying is a good start. I need to do that myself. Sometimes the more I try to simplify, the more complicated it gets.
I do love this job, however. As I like to say, even on the worstest days it's still the bestest job. (improper English deliberate!)
Congrats, Lenora. I remember that meeting where you announced you sold. You've produced a wonderful body of work.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Leann. It's amazing how long we've know each other!! Another perk of this job!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! You did it because you work hard. I plan to read more this year, too.
ReplyDeleteWOW!! 65 books & 20yrs!! That's a lot of books and a lot of years in the LI line Lenora, congrats to you :-) How exciting that you have upcoming contracts for multi-books. Sounds like a busy crazy but fun time for you as a writer :-) God has blessed you tremendously!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up about the Twitter promotion, I may just have to do that! Plans for the new year, just keep reading good books and living the life God has given me :-)