It’s here! Can you tell I’m smiling:) UPS rolled down our very long driveway and brought me my first copy. It’s a joy to hold it in my hands, smell that fresh book scent, and peek at my favorite scenes…
I so wish I could be a reader and open those pages for the very first time!
But here’s hoping you will soon:)
Happy reading…
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Yay! So exciting! Congrats! According to Amazon, estimated delivery for my copy of Love’s Reckoning is between Sept. 17th and 21st–which gives me something to look forward to after the ACFW Conference. I hope this lovely book finds its way into many purchaser’s hands. Blessings, Laura!
Renee, I love thinking of it waiting for you after conference. Just wish I could see you there! Hopefully next year:) Thanks so much for ordering the book. That means so much to me.
What a thrill, Laura! Your fourth book baby! I ordered it from Amazon, too (Can’t beat their prices!) so I will not get mine until mid-Sept. as Renee said. Can’t wait to dig in and discover the new world you have created!
Oh, love how you word that, Caroline – I’ve missed you!! Yes, it really is my 4th baby only I feel I’m in premature labor and it’s arrived a bit early;) Thanks so much for ordering it. That enables me to keep writing. I hope you like this new world very much. Bless you for being here.
Woohoooooooooooo!!!!!!!! I so can’t wait to hold that book in my hands! Congrats Laura!!!
Eva, I can’t wait for you to hold it either – you’ll probably be balancing that new baby in one hand and my baby in the other:)
Yay! That’s one of my favorite moments–seeing the very first copy! Congrats! Can’t wait to read it!
You’re next, dear Anne:) I hope you take a pic of it in hand, too! It is a favorite moment. Never feels quite real for some reason…
You look so great!! Your face radiates with excitement! 🙂 I have a bit of jealousy because we have to wait another month! Or do you think Family or Barnes Noble Bookstores will have it early?!?!?
Stacie, I think part of that radiating had to do with our going out to dinner, lol, which is something we rarely do! We were heading out the door to Soho Bistro on the pier for some honey walnut prawns:) I DO think yur local bookstore will have it early, probably by mid-August. It’s released way earlier than I anticipated. And I hope it’s worth the wait:)
LAURA!!! Congrats on getting your first copy! So exciting and you look so cute holding that beauty in your hands. Love that smile:) I SO can’t wait to do the same. Btw, I absolutely LOVE that lacey sweater your wearing. It’s gorgeous!
Oh, Angi, It’s my Goodwill outfit and I love it:) Thx for noticing! It’s wonderful to have it in hand at last. All that work is done, lol:)
Laura!! I am so excited for you. I can’t wait to hold a copy in hands. I know I will read it all in one weekend. My poor family might feel a little neglected, but it will be so worth it. 😉
I pray for some reading time for you, Stacey! I remember those days of having little ones and little reading time! Thanks so much for being here:)
Congratulations! I’m SO looking forward to it.
Sarah, You’re one discerning reader – I so hope you like this one!
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS, DEAR LAURA!!!!!!!!!
You look so beautiful holding your new baby, glowing like a proud mama should!!!! 🙂
I was just about to head off to bed and something said stop by before you log off and, SURPRISE, just look at what I find!!! Gosh, I am so happy for you, my friend!!! I’ve felt the Lord’s hand on this day in a very different and special way from when my eyes opened this morning. Seeing you holding Love’s Reckoning and knowing it’s finally here is just the perfect way for Him to end my day!!! Praise the Lord!!! 🙂 Lol, so many exclamation points I hope I can fall asleep with all this excitement! 😉
Sweet dreams, dear Laura!
Amanda
Amanda, So thrilled you peeked here and got a surprise:) This baby came early! Paul took these pics and if they’re any good it’s because he’s such a trooper:) Praising the Lord with you! I still pinch myself over these books:) Thanks so much for sharing my JOY! Sweet dreams, indeed!
Yay! I cannot wait to read this book. 🙂 I’ve had it pre-ordered for a month or two. Several months ago you said your templates for the two ladies (in looks) were Gemma Arterton as Tess in Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Kimberley Nixon as Sophie Hutton in Cranford. Are those the templates you ended up with in the final product? What about Silas? Wasn’t he supposed to look like Richard Armitage?
Here’s a completely off the topic question. Since Baker Books owns Revell and Bethany House Publishers how do they decide which author’s work fits better in one house or the other? Do the agents pitch an author’s book to all the houses? How do they decide which one is the best fit? I seem some authors have books in three or four different publishing houses.
Sylvia, You ask the best questions. When I put those templates up, I thought they looked like my characters but then, when the actual writing got underway Eden and Silas and Elspeth assumed identies all their own! I tried to make Silas be Richard aka John Thornton but he wasn’t cooperating. Same with the girls. It’s a very odd thing and I’m not kidding. YOu’ll see what I mean when you read the book! And thanks so much for pre-ordering. Publishers love that because it helps them calculate print runs.
Your last question is one I’ve been thinking a lot about. Like you, I wondered why so many authors published at different houses when I started out. A lot has to do with your contract. I can’t publish with anyone else as I’m exclusively Revells, so to speak, for the duration of my contract (until I finish The Ballantyne Legacy Series). But some people only publish one or two books per house and so move around wherever they can contract. Or there contract allows them to publish with other houses and there’s no exclusivity built into it. Some authors are proflific and write so many books they publish with a variety of houses and seem to do well this way. Me, I’m such a slow writer and my books require so much research, I can’t turn out more than one a year or the quality would suffer.
Bethany and Revell are different imprints for Baker and they are even in different buildings/cities. Their editorial and art teams and marketing teams are different. And their criteria for what they publish is different too. To be honest, I don’t think many publishers would have taken a chance on my books because I write too out of the box. But Revell was willing to take the risk. Christian publishers tend to be very conservative about subject matter. But I believe as Christian fiction grows, more variety will result. A good agent or even an unagented author knows which publishers like which type books and they go from there. They submit their work to the right match of a publishing house. I am learning, learning. Whew! Sometimes I don’t think I’ll ever stop!
Thank you, Laura! Wow! Those agents must really know what they’re doing. I cannot begin to figure out what these publishing houses’ criteria for their books are that would be different from all the others. I think I have one publishing house figured out and then along comes a very edgy book that does not seem to fit in with the rest of their books. Then a publisher that seems more edgy comes out with a conservative book. Oh, well, that’s not my job. I’ll just continue to read whatever looks and sounds good! 🙂
Sylvia, You’re pretty astute:) Pubs are always morphing, changing, trying out new things even in the CBA. I recently heard one say that they’re willing to take a risk if they quality is there in the book itself. I love your attitude – YES, just continue to read whatever looks and sounds good! Amen to that!
I pre-ordered from Barnes and Nobles, I can’t wait to read it. According to Barnes and Nobles it will ship on Remembered 1st. For me it was cheaper through BN I get free shipping as a member.
Oh, I am so thankful for Barness&Noble – they’ve been really good about carrying my books, Carissa. Probably because you keep ordering them:) Bless you so much for that and being so encouraging!
Ah Laura, I love the pictures of you holding LR. Such a great day. I can’t wait to start reading it. Hopefully tomorrow, when I’m feeling less sleep deprived. I’ve had some very late nights watching the Olympics this week. 🙂
Michelle, I’ve thought about you so often as we’ve watched the swimming and gymnastics:) Only I do miss that ice skating! And please, don’t feel the need to rush on this book. I think, strangely enough, you almost have to be in a certain mood to read a book! And I sometimes wish I released in winter as that’s so much better for books! Something about curling up by a fire and turning those pages… THRILLED you can’t wait to dive in, though!!
I’ve really enjoyed the gymnastics, and I loved the women’s podium. I started reading during my lunch and afternoon breaks today. Will probably eat while I’m eating dinner too. 🙂 I’m only a couple of chapters in.
I love how you squeeze books in to those mundane moments, dear Michelle:) Here’s hoping it sweeps you away! What will we do when the Olympics end?!
You know that was supposed to say read while I’m eating dinner above, but I guess you probably realized that. My mind was going much faster than my fingers, lol. As for what to do when the Olympics are over, I’m thinking sleep.
Of course junior level figure skating starts at the end of August, and there are a couple of juniors that I just love.
LOL, Michelle, I must have been reading it fast as I missed it completely! After all, I’m the typo queen;) It’s so neat that you follow figure skating so closely. I think it would be so easy to get caught up in the details as you learn more about the skaters, where they’re from, their personalities and families, etc. There’s something so romantic and beautiful about figure skating. I already have favs in the Olympics and I don’t know these people!!
That’s awesome news! So looking forward to reading it Laura and love that you so happy with it!
Mairead, I always smile when I see your name – and want to put it in a book:) Love that you’re here to share my happiness. It’s a long road to get a book in print with lots of ups and downs along the way but reading friends like you make is so very worthwhile. Bless you so much!
How exciting!! Maybe, maybe, maybe Amazon will ship my pre-ordered copy today!
Laura, sometime I’ll have to tell you a story about the word “believe.” 🙂 My heart leaped for joy when I noticed the blocks on the window sill behind you spelling it out (in the above photo).
“The Frontiersman’s Daughter” continues to make its rounds in my family! One of my aunts told me yesterday that she carted it everywhere with her – even to the doctor’s office after she fell and cracked a rib – until she finished it yesterday. When I told her that you have other books, she got so excited.
Bless you for your beautiful, inspiring writing. My heart is floating on air.
OH, love that your heart is floating on air, Cynthia. Mine, too:) And it’s neat to know we’re kindred spirits with those BELIEVE blocks. I do love them and would love to hear your story sometime! I see I’m sitting on my FAITH pillow, lol. And I’m beyond thrilled that Leal is still making the rounds – bless you for having so many aunts!! I LOVE your mom, too! Ouch on that cracked rib but glad Lael was in tow:) And that I have other books to keep her company!
I’m so touched by your words. I pray your own writing is going very well and you feel God’s hand on every page.
Yeah Laura! So excited for you! I’m really looking forward to reading it. 🙂
Blessings!
Brenda, I’m so glad my books are in your radar:) You are such a voracious reader. But I always tell people there’s no rush. The book will always be there now. And sometimes it’s far easier to read in winter than summer! Thanks so much for being here!
If you had an early delivery does that mean the bookstores will as well???? Love that beaming, proud mama face. I can’t imagine what a sense of completion that must feel like — but I’m trying!!! Such a long labour of love! Here’s hoping it comes to my bookstore faster than all those amazon orders!!!! The race is on! 🙂
Kav, I’ll NEVER forget you scurrying to your bookstore for CML And TCL and telling me the status there:) That meant so much to me. Yes, the book is being shipped right now. I’m not sure how long it takes for Canadian stock but this release seems really early and CBD is saying August 15 now. I suspect Amazon will ship ahead of schedule, too. But again, the author is always the last to know. Sometimes dear readers like you tell me things I have no clue about! I’d love to know when you first see it, my fine reading friend:)
Yay, Laura!!!! That cover just doesn’t get old. Can’t wait to get my copy.
Did you enjoy reading your favorite scenes? I just took a break at 31,000 words into my wip and calendarized my scenes–which meant skimming them. I found myself caught up in it again and loving it! But that’s only my second time through it. Give me about thirty more reads, and I’m sure I’ll be tempted to trash it. 🙂
Sally, That’s so interesting that you’ve calendarized them – good idea! The test of a compelling novel is one that you get caught up in again when you skim scenes and then find yourself thinking about them when you’re away from them:) Sounds like a fine start – you’re nearly halfway there on this one! But yes, lol, by the time I finish the page edits, I am done, done, done. I could quote paragraphs of the book in my sleep – and sometimes I do dream about them. That sub-conscious, or those little men in the basement, as Stephen King calls them, are always working overtime:)
Oh, and yes, I do enjoy reading my fav scenes over but I always do it with one eye closed as I still find things I wish I’d changed!!
I remember hearing Francine Rivers say that she never read her books once they were done and sometimes had a hard time remembering characters and stories when people talked to her about them. I can’t imagine that, but then again I have a memory that makes me forget everything I’m supposed to do–except writing–and remember everything that’s happened.
Looking forward to a new book!
Sally, we’re on here at the same time, lol, so how cool is that?! I should be editing…sigh…
YES, Francine says some very true things. My debut novel now seems so distant I have trouble recalling names of secondary characters and details! And I lived with that story for so long. Like you, I’m usually the last to forget anything about the written word but the more books I turn out…
So glad you’re wanting to meet Silas and cast. Fasten your seatbelt – it’s quite a rocky ride!! But you’re an intrepid reading soul, I just know it;)
Oh yay!!! What a wonderful giddy feeling it must be to open up that box and see fresh new copies of YOUR story! The cover is gorgeous and I cant wait to peek inside the pages for myself. This is so exciting! Congratulations!~!
Heather, It is a giddy feeling – well said! I’m still waiting on that box – so far I just have one copy! But hopefully it will arrive soon. I have a lot of giveaways to do and there never seems to be enough of them! I love the cover, too, and hope Brandon Hill the designer is able to do the entire series. I just finished a titling and cover questionaire of several pages and feel this next cover may be quite different. The story opens in spring and it’s 1822 instead of 1784 so that’s a big leap! But hopefully it will be just as eye-catching:) SO happy you want to read!!
Oh, Laura…I love it!! You look so delighted! Can’t wait to read it. You dressed well to match your cover!
OH, you’re right, Julia:) I am color coordinated by accident! So happy you want to read. I sure hope the story blesses you. It’s quite a bumpy ride but the ending is a very happy one:)
GOOD MORNING, sweet Laura!! Just sent you an email!! 🙂
Now I’m REALLY sharing in the JOY with you, dear friend!!! 😉
Blessings,
Amanda
It is a GOOD morning, Amanda:) The sun is actually shining here, it’s Friday, and we have a new book! Thanks so much for sharing the JOY. I can’t imagine posting this and not having you all with me here. It takes time to leave comments and navigate this WordPress thingy and I really, really appreciate each and every one:)
How awesome!!!! I CANNOT wait to get my copy. I let Donna know when I signed up for the tour that this is the book I’ve been waiting for LOL! Woot!!!! Congratulations again on the new book. 🙂
xoxo~ Renee C.
Oh, that Donna is such a sweetheart – she sent me some wonderful comments last year when the blog tour came round for TCL and I just KNEW one of them was from you, dear Renee!! I hope this book was worth the wait. I know you’ll give me an honest report – you’re really good at balancing both sides of a book. In fact, I was on my Kindle checking out books to buy the other night and a review by you came up and I was so impressed (yes, I do read reveiws about other books, just not my own, lol). It wasn’t your cup of tea but you handled it so well and so fairly!! But then you always do. Thanks so much for being an encourager – you just don’t know how many miles that goesxoxoxoxoxoxo!!
Aww thanks you so much! Since I don’t write books, just a blog, it’s always good to know that my reviews are helpful. I try to be as helpful to readers as I can without being hurtful to an author because I know how much work is put into it. I honestly don’t know how you blog, write and raise a family because I can barely handle my blog LOL!
Renee, Your blog is like a job and it’s a blessing/ministry to many! And yes, it IS hard to keep on top of everything. Sometimes I have to have breaks where I can’t blog. This week is one of them as I have to be at another site for a week so am not posting much or have to close comments. Anyway, thanks so much for your encouragement!
Awe, you look so happy, Laura! I cannot wait until I have a copy in my hands as well! I will be smiling just like you! The waiting part is so hard, but so worth it in the end! 🙂
Emma, I so hope you love this story!! It’s always interesting for an author because one never knows how a book will go over. But it’s heartening to have readers who like them all even if they have favorites. I hope some readers will like LR best. And then there’s always the next one, hoping you’ll love that, too!
As for that happy smile, I remember the saying, “Happiness is the best cosmetic.” I agree! Bless you so much for your comments!!
Congratulations, Laura! What an exciting day for you! I’m so happy for you!! And I agree with others who say that you’re glowing! 🙂
And can I just say I’m jealous of your tan! You’re getting a lot of sun up there in WA! 😀
Hi Michelle! It has been such a whirlwind of a week and having the book in hand is really something:) It’s always kind of a bittersweet time for me as I know that this particular story is done. But thankfully, it’s just beginning for faithful readers like you.
And I’m chuckling about my tan! We’ve only had about 2 days of sun and that was this week! I was out on the deck every minute I could spare:) It’s been such a dismal June and July weatherwise. Here’s hoping for a pretty August!
Oh, what a wonderful accomplishment!!! Your smile tells it all!!! Congratulations!!!
I love the “book stool” by your chair:)
A post about your favorite scenes in your books (both to read again and write) would be fun to hear about!
Thanks for sharing!
Looking forward to meeting Silas, Eden, and Elsbeth!!!
Jennie
Jennie, That’s a wonderful idea for a post and you can count on it for August:) As soon as I read the idea several scenes flashed to mind from TFD, CML, and TCL. And then there’s now LR…OH MY! I’ll be happy to do that if you all will share your fav scenes, too. It will be a test of memory, I guess, for both author and readers!
Oh, you spied that little stool:) I love it. Right on top is Mesu Andrews beautiful story of Job called Love Amid the Ashes. You may have seen that, too. You can’t see my other book stool – it has almost 20 books on it!
Can’t wait till you meet that crazy cast of characters in Love’s Reckoning. Well, one of them is crazy, anyway! You’ll soon find out:)
Oh, hooray! I’m so glad you like the idea! It will be like a party sharing all those sigh – worthy events! We may need to put on spoiler alerts;)
I was wondering if I knew the book on top of your stool:) I have seen it and am familiar with the cover (I see it now when I look at your picture again). I should add it to my 2BRead pile.
Wish I could see your avalanche! We can never have too many books!
A crazy person? Hmmm? male?/female? young?/old? relative?/ towns-person? – now you got my brain spinning and I know you’ll just leave me in suspense!
I’m all smiles,
Jennie
Jennie, Oh, I think you’d like LATA – Mesu is just terrific! The one underneat his her 2nd book about Solomon and his bride, titled Love’s Sacred Song. It has a beautiful cover, too, but there’s something about the colors for Ashes that just stops you right there. Interestingly, they’re the same colors for Love’s Reckoning:)
I’m so excited about that post you thought about! I’ve already gone in and set it up so I can work on it in the next couple of weeks. And you’re right, we’ll have to put a spoiler alert on it like a red flag, for LR excerpts anyway. I just hope I can do your fine idea justice:)
Yes, one particular person in this book needs to be behind bars:( But said person gets their comeuppance in the end:) Glad to keep you in suspense!
Congratulations, my friend! It is a beautiful-looking book and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy!
Ruth, I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that you’re looking forward to it! That speaks volumes to me. Here’s hoping Colonel McLinn makes room for Silas Ballantyne;)
How exciting! And you are just glowing. BTW, I have a “believe” in my writing room, too!
I think that word is very special to us writers:) It’s wonderful to see you here, Carla. You’ve been on my mind and heart a lot lately! And I can’t wait till your next book comes out. I remember you glowing over your last one, too!
Thank you, Laura. I haven’t been around as much online since my wrist injury, but I love poking in on you!
And I love your poking, dear Carla!! So please poke away;)
CONGRATULATIONS, Laura…I LOVE your pictures…Can’t wait to read Eden & Silas’ story 🙂
karenk
Karen, I can’t wait for you to read it either!! You’re always so good about sharing my enthusiasm and I so appreciate it. Plus you write great emails:) Not too much longer now. I hope you and other readers here will take part in the giveaways coming up. Even for those of you who’ve preordered the book, please enter to give as a gift if you like, etc. Bless you, dear Karen!
CONGRATS!!! Laura that’s SO exciting! You’re cover is gorgeous and I can’t wait to dive into this book. YAY
I was so hoping you would come by, Hannah:) Yes, it’s here!! Well, one copy anyway, lol. I should have my author copies in the next 2 weeks, hopefully. Here’s hoping you have some reading time! I can just see you bobbing on the boat, book in hand:)
I love your books. Just read The Frontiersman’s Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, and The Colonel’s Lady and they were great. I’m looking forward to reading your next book. Keep up the good work!
Brenda, So happy to meet you here and know you’ve met Lael, Morrow, and Roxanna:) And want to meet Eden and cast! Oh how that blesses me! Thanks so much for your gracious words. I’m so thankful to have you as a reader!!
Congratulations Laura! How awesome. I also have to say, this book looks so different from your others! But I have noticed a lot of Christian fiction book covers look so unlike the covers of the past. Who knows how the future ones will look.
Adrienne, So happy to see you again:) It means a lot that you’d be here to help celebrate. God is so good. Yes, I think it’s very different, too. I just turned in paperwork for the next cover set in 1822 so that one will be interesting to see! I’ve leaped a whole century ahead and so much has changed in the way of the story and character dress, etc. I hope you are having a great summer with lots of reading time. You are missed but never forgotten:)
Now, don’t you look gorgeous right along side that beautiful book?! So looking forward to meeting Silas and the girls – love your character development and I know you won’t disappoint 🙂
I hope you are getting a glimpse of the blessing you bring to others with your stories, your blog and your sweet encouragement to readers who connect with you. You are a gem, my friend xo
Can’t wait for you to meet Silas and the girls – love the way you put that;) I’ve actually had a dear Michigan reader contact me this morning who’s just finished the book! I think she may be the first in the country, lol. Brought tears to my eyes especially since she worked till midnight and stayed up late to begin and finish it!
You are always a blessing, Rel. In more ways than I can count!
It’s here, it’s here?!?! I’m so blessed to be one of those readers who get to open it for the first time (I love how you put that!) – and soon I hear! My copy should be mailed out tomorrow. I can’t wait – it’s a little like Christmas.
I love the pictures of you. Does it get any less exciting with each new book? (I know what the answer will be!) Congratulations, Laura. Thank you for sharing your words and heart with the rest of us.
Do you have a favorite scene in this book? I’d love to keep on the look out for it while I read.
Gabrielle, I’m so happy YOU’RE here:) And are anxious to read it! I hope it’s worth the buzz and wait! It’s so fun hearing from readers who’ve actually rec’d their copy already and have just finished it! So Silas and the girls are out there now, for sure. You put it so well – it does feel a bit like Christmas, especially unwrapping that UPS package for the first time. I never know what my back covers look like till I open them though a dear reader from Rhode Island actually found the back cover copy on the web last month and sent it to me so I had a peek:)
And like you thought, it’s just as exciting each time, maybe because each book is so unique and has a different cover, etc.
LOVE talking favorite scenes! Please be on the lookout for Chapter 39!!! I had so much fun writing it (and rewriting it to get it just right and now hope it’s right!). You have to read pretty far in to get there. I had one reader tell me she had to clutch the book like crazy to keep from jumping ahead to make sure a certain something happened, lol. But she didn’t peek so was very surprised:)
Bless you for being here and sharing the JOY, Gabrielle. No doubt we’ll be doing the same for you in His perfect time.
I am so excited to read your next book! It comes out on my birthday, so I am going to make it a birthday present to myself :). I have read and love all your other books, and just recently finished The Frontiersman’s Daughter. This one took me the longest to process. At first I wasn’t sure if I liked it, but I think it is very real life. I think many books are more like fairy tales, and your books definitely have happy endings but are much more realistic. I like that. I love your strong focus on the Lord too! Keep up the good work! Thanks for your gift and for sharing it with your readers!
Hannah! Happy early birthday:) I’m thrilled you want to make Eden and Silas part of your day! Yes, Lael’s story is not a typical historical romance novel. It’s more a coming of age story and is truly historical fiction. Poor Ian doesn’t come in till over half way! You’re right – my books are very realistic. I think you’ll find this in Love’s Reckoning, too. A very bumpy ride but a very happy ending, I promise:) I’d love to hear your thoughts once you read Eden’s story. And thanks so much for your wonderful comments. You’re a blessing:)
I’m late, so late (like the bunny in Alice in Wonderland), but I too have Eden’s story! Oh my, but if only time were to stand still so I might lose myself in those pages. I can’t WAIT!! 😀
Casey, I can just imagine how many books are in your stack – I’m THRILLED Eden is among them:) You’re never late, my friend. It’s always a JOY to see you anytime!!