10-10 phone numbers

Any of you ever try to call internationally? I 'd never done it before today, but after "my" Ukranian orphan girls called me at 3 a.m., I had to make sure they were okay. After an hour of trying and searching, I finally figured out how to use a 10-10 number. They're a lot cheaper than ATT! But much more confusing to use. First you have to know the country code, which I didn't. I left this out or did something wrong anyway and ended up reaching a Spanish speaking country. No habla Espanol is the limit of my Spanish, so I hung up.

Finally, after many tries I reached Vika and Masha at their orphanage. They were fine. Someone had let them use a cell phone and they wanted to talk to me. Sweet girls. Even though my Russian is horrid and they don't speak English, we laughed and had fun for a few minutes. I didn't even mention the time difference.

Now, I'm afraid to get my phone bill! EEEK.

Anyone have any secrets for calling abroad? I'd love to know them.

Stormy Weather

The old song applies to Oklahoma today! Last night at 3 a.m. a huge thunderstorm moved through. We have one of those weather alert radios which wakes us up in bad weather, so we got up to check out the storm. Our dog, a rat terrier, is terrified of thunder so he was a nuisance and a total wreck. The vet gave us some anxiety tablets for him, but they don't seem to have much effect. When Mugsy is awake and scared, everyone is awake.

To add to the fun and excitement, our telephone rang, not once but several times. With lightning crashing and sizzling the lines, I wasn't too sure about answering. When we did, we were dismayed to find it was a child, calling from Ukraine, that we had hosted one Christmas. It was 11 a.m. in Ukraine. This was the first time ever she'd called, so I was very disappointed that the lightning cut us off.

Anyway, in all this fun, we received 5 inches of rain! We're going to appreciate that much better in August when the dry heat attacks.

How's the weather in your neighborhood????

Agent Research

I've been researching literary agents. Never having worked with agent, although I've had 29 book sales, I started to get interested in maybe, perhaps, someday hiring one. So I set out to find out as much as I could. I'm not done by any means, but a number of folks have asked to see my list. In a total act of self-interest, I decided to post the list here for your perusal. Please, please read my disclaimer. I'm researching and open to corrections and additions.



AGENTS LIST

Disclaimer: This is a personal list of info I’ve been gathering for my own use. Since I write both secular and Christian fiction, I wanted to find agents who not only are willing to work in both ABA and CBA, but who have shown a successful track record in both arenas. This list does pretend to be all inclusive and there could be errors. If you know for certain of a correction or an additional agent who works in both CBA and ABA, please let me know. I want to make this as correct as possible. Where possible I listed a website.



2008 - Agents who work in both CBA and ABA

Karen Solem – former editor, has been an agent a long time. Very successful and well respected. Colleen Coble’s agent. According to an article here, CBA authors make up 20% of her clientele with the rest being ABA. Could not find a website for her agency.
http://books.google.com/books?id=sHpBFqfSIr0C&pg=PA179&lpg=PA179&dq=spencerhill+associates+karen+solem+agent+CBA&source=web&ots=SAFw-ULCSk&sig=a2HGG4_a_PttbJxOm1xffErFwD4

Natasha Kern - Robin Hatcher’s agent. Comfortably sells in both ABA and CBA. Well respected and successful agent. Not specifically Christian. http://www.natashakern.com/

Browne/Miller Literary http://www.browneandmiller.com/ Formerly the late Jane Jordan Browne’s agency. Agents Angela Hunt. Probably not for category writers, but is respected in both ABA and CBA.

Claudia Cross – Sterling Lord literistics, Inc. was listed on the Thomas Nelson site as a recent sale (2-08) but a former author told me she is no longer taking CBA authors. She does have several CBA authors listed as well as many ABA authors. http://www.sll.com/

Deidre Knight & Pamela Harty (Knight Agency)– website shows she’s recently sold to a number of ABA AND CBA houses. An author who has used her told me Deidre had backed off CBA somewhat. An agent with a strong rep. Has a blog. www.knightagency.net

Janet Benrey www.benreyliterary.com, Mostly CBA but says she will work in ABA as well. Has several sales on her website to both.

Jennifer Jackson - Donald Maass Agency – agents Shelly Bates (Faithwords) Lots of ABA but Shelly was the only CBA author I found. http://www.maassagency.com/

Chip McGregor – mostly CBA sales, but a good number in ABA. Has had NYT bestsellers(Let’s Roll) and other very successful writers in the past. Several authors sang his praises. http://macgregorliterary.com/index.php

Mary Sue Seymour -- Takes only romance and Christian work. She has sales to big ABA houses and several CBA. Has sold to Steeple Hill. http://www.theseymouragency.com/titles.html

Wendy Lawson & Janet Kobobel Grant – Books and Such Agency. Primarily CBA. Agents Gayle Roper, plus a number of CBA authors (Robin Jones Guinn). Didn’t see any other ABA authors besides Gayle who sells to Steeple Hill. http://www.janetgrant.com/

Kelly Mortimer – small client list, a few sales in both arenas. Robin Miller’s agent (LIS) http://www.mortimerliterary.com/

Other agencies someone sent me:

Alive Communications – Major CBA Agency with many high-profile authors. Karen Kingsbury, Jerry Jenkins, etc. Found no ABA sales other than Love Inspired.
http://www.alivecommunications.com/aboutus.asp

Steve Laube - His website says his focus is the CBA. He does have a number of Steeple Hill (ABA) authors. Former editor, strong in CBA. http://www.stevelaube.com/authors.htm

Pattie Steele Perkins – can’t find a website so I have no info on her sales but she has several LI authors including LIH and HH author, Vicki Bylin. She does sell mostly in the ABA, I believe. No knowledge of sales into CBA houses.

Pam Hopkins – has some LI authors but isn’t that comfortable working with CBA publishers. She told me this herself. A great lady, honest and well respected in ABA.

Three Seas Agency –I checked her list of books sold for the last two years. Many ABA sales but none to a CBA house. Has sold to Steeple Hill LIS (Lisa Mondelllo) www.threeseaslit.com

Same with Pema Brown

Holly Root - The Waxman Agency - According to their website, this agency has many, many nonfiction sales and smattering of fiction, including two or three CBA sales of late. http://www.waxmanagency.com/

Meredith Bernstein – One Steeple Hill author I know of but no evidence of working with CBA houses. No website found. A well known and respected ABA agent with NYT bestselling authors. Tough negotiator.

Sha-Shana Chrichton – says she accepts insp. romance, but I cannot find any place where she’s sold to CBA.

Hartline agency – all agents seem interested in taking on both, but other than Love Inspired and Avalon, I didn’t find any ABA sales.. www.hartlineliterary.com

Marcy Posner-Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. Can’t find any sales record on her or her interest list.

Elaine English – Website specifically says she does not take inspirational books http://www.elaineenglish.com/literary_services.html

Caren Johnson - Caren Johnson Literary Agency. No Christian authors on her website. No CBA sales http://cjla.squarespace.com/cjla-authors/

WEDDING PLANNER Blog URL

Don't forget to visit the Wedding Planners blog!

http://harlequin-theweddingplanners.blogspot.com/

RITA flowers

I write for an awesome publisher! Look what the executive officers of Harlequin Enterprises sent me as a congratulations gift for my book, A TOUCH OF GRACE, finaling in the RITA contest.

Thanks, Harlequin! I feel doubly blessed.

(I tried to post a photo of me, red-eyed from writing, holding this glorious bouquet, but I guess I scared Blogger. It wouldn't load the photo!)

Firefighters and research

Writing books can be a taxing occupation. Research, on the other hand, is just plain fun. Take for instance my work in progress, a Love Inspired romance with a firefighter hero. Other than having a son who is a firefighter I know little about the job. So, being a good mom, I strong armed my son into a visit to the fire station. Not only did the guys of Norman Station One show me around, explain all the equipment and let me climb on the fire truck, they let me ride along on a call! How exciting to fly down the street in a brand new state of the art fire engine with the sirens and lights blaring. Fortunately, the call was minor so I don't have to feel too bad about enjoying it so much.

I tried to take photos of those good looking guys, but every time I aimed the camera, they scattered like cockroaches! I did, however, manage to force two cuties to pose for me. Enjoy!

And thanks to all the great FF at Station One. You guys are awesome!

Be Careful What you Google

Did you ever Google something only to get something entirely different from what you'd planned? Uh-huh, I thought so. Sometimes the results are funny. Sometimes they are just plain goofy. And sometimes they are shocking.

Recently, my husband Gene, who is basically illiterate on the computer decided to search for a lawnmower part. Since I was not home at the time, he was on his own. He typed in---are you ready for this?-- "rear end". Sigh. Poor man.

Be careful what you google today!

Linda

WEDDING PLANNER Blog

The Wedding Planner Blog is up and running. Please drop over to http://harlequin-theweddingplanners.blogspot.com and say hello.

We're off to a nice start with lots of fun offerings concerning anything to do with weddings or writing. So ya'll come!

RITA NOMINATION

Please share my joy. If you're a writer you know how much it means to have others enjoy your books. If you're a reader--well-you are the most important people in the world to us writers.

So, today when I received the thrilling phone call, announcing that A TOUCH OF GRACE, book 2 in my Brothers' Bond series is nominated for romance writing's biggest award, I guess you can say I was excited to know that others loved that book as much as I did.

Wow. A RITA finalist. I've dreamed of this, but never figured it would happen.

This is a very cool feeling.

God be praised, not because I'm a finalist, but because he lets me follow the dream.

WEDDING PLANNER Blog

Come on over to the Wedding Planners Blog, a fun and lively spot a group of 6 authors created just for you! http://harlequin-theweddingplanners.blogspot.com/

We're also chit-chatting at eharlequin community if you want to stop in and say hello. Be sure to leave comments in both places. We LOVE visiting with you.

We've just kicked off this fun and fantabulous time, so be sure to check back again and again. In the coming weeks and months, we'll be giving away lots of great prizes, visiting with wedding experts, NYT bestselling authors, brides, grooms, and a host of other wonderfully informative and delightful folks.

Ya'll come!!
Linda Goodnight

Firefighter Daddy

The life of a new dad. He's discovered that fighting fires is easier than having a new baby. :-)

I think this looks like a good romance cover, don't you? Or maybe have Cody wear his turnout jacket, put some ashy smudges on his face, toss the helmet down to the side? What do you think?

Baby boy Noah

Try again. Here's my boy, compliments of my son and his wife. Noah Goodnight

Baby Noah

Better than any book cover. Here's my new grandson, Noah Goodnight. 8 lbs. 10 oz.

Here is the cover for my next book, coming in July. I think it's lovely, don't you?

THE WEDDING PLANNERS

It's been my great good fortune to be part of a series from Harlequin Romance called The Wedding Planners. The first book, Sweetheart Lost and Found by New York Times Bestseller Shirley Jump, releases in early April. Shirley also has a short story about the Wedding Planners at eharlequin. I hope you'll try it out and stay tuned for all six books in the Wedding Planners. Mine releases in early July.

http://www.eharlequin.com/article.html?articleId=1328&cmpid=WNORS200802260027

Books still available

I'm getting numerous emails about my series, THE BROTHERS' BOND. It seems a number of readers have discovered one of the three books, loves it, and wants the others but is having a problem finding them. Here is the best place to get any or all of the three: A SEASON FOR GRACE, A TOUCH OF GRACE, THE HEART OF GRACE.

www.christianbooks.com Simply type my name in the search and the books will appear. There's a nice little discount on that site, as well.

Thanks to all who have emailed and asked that question. I love hearing from you!
Be blessed!

Stay tuned in the near future for THE WEDDING PLANNERS!

Territorial Birthday Gift

Oklahoma is 100 years old this year. I'm having a birthday too but I'm not quite that old. However, I love old historical things and Oklahoma is full of late 1880s history. In fact, one town, Guthrie is a step back int time. The old buildings and homes of this first state capital town have been beatifully perserved. Every December, Guthrie hosts the Territorial Christmas celebration. Townsolk dress up and step back in time. There are carriage and trolly rides, historical tours, and at night a Victorian Walk in which the shop windows are filled with living Christmas cards, shop owners welcome you inside with a cup of wassail and warm cookies, carolers abound, children in period dress sell peanuts on the streets, and an entire building is filled with Christmas trees decorated by hand in wonderful old-time methods.

Visiting Guthrie and partaking of the great historical fun was my birthday present this year. And it was also GREAT research for the historical Christmas novella I am currently writing for Barbour.

Miracle of a new baby

I had the most amazing experience yesterday. My son and daughter-in-law invited Gene and I, along with her mom and grandparents, to a 4-D ultrasound of our unborn grandson, Noah. The place was set up very nicely with a large sectional for family and a nice twin bed for Mommy. Daddy had a chair beside the bed. A large screen, plus a TV screen were positioned so all could see. And then, the miraculous show began. Baby Noah, whom we await with great excitement anyway, is now so real to us. We've seen his precious face with the big eyes like his Daddy had, the tilted little nose and the perfect, round face. We've watched him kick his legs, cross his feet, and suck his fingers. He is a real, unique little person, blood of my blood, bone of my bone, that we have yet to meet.

Today's technology is marvelous. A baby is a miracle.

Advent thoughts

My family never celebrated advent. In fact, I didn't understand the concept until recently when I decided to put more Christ into my Christmas and less of the media's idea of the 'holiday'. I will never be politcally correct because, no matter how much a small, deluded group of people try to change it, Christmas is Christ. And more importantly, Christ is everything. And everything He brings into life, everything He stands for and wanted for us, is so wonderful and so positive and so loving. I cannot understand why anyone would want to push Him out of the season--or out of their lives, for that matter.

One of the ways I'm keeping focused on Jesus this season is by reading a scripture each day from the Old Testament that pointed to the coming Messiah. I am amazed and blessed to see how clearly God heralded Christ's birth and ministry over a thousand years before it happened! Check it out for yourself: Isaiah 9: 6 is perhaps the most amazingly clear, but there are many others.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Middle School kids are great!

I had the nicest experience recently. Moore West Middle School invited me to speak to 9th graders during their career day. I'll admit some trepidation. Ninth graders are not known to suffer fools gladly or to be polite or even politically correct unless they want to be. Well, I was wonderfully blessed by this group of kids. Six classes rotated through to hear my spiel on the joy of being a working novlist. They were awesome. The questions they asked were insightful and intelligent. They were polite and listened as though my words were gold. They were warm and welcoming. I think I may have even met a future John Grisham and a future Amy Tan.

Sure, some of them had weird hair and funky outfits. But beneath the tatoos and the orange dos, were a building full of great kids. I hope they invite me back some time.