We’re just about halfway through the summer, and it’s been as busy as I predicted. It’s been about six weeks since I’ve done a blog update on my writing life. Today, I’ll bring you up to speed.

My Trip to Grand Rapids

Back in mid-June, I was flown up to Grand Rapids, Michigan to visit with my publishing team at Revell (Revell is a division of Baker Publishing Group). This was an exciting trip on many levels for me. For one thing, I got to meet all of the people I’ve been working with over the last four years. I’ve met some of them at conferences here and there, but on this trip I got to see them all at their desks and meet with them in their conference rooms, doing what they do best.

I also got to spend more time with Gary Smalley, my co-author in the new fiction series I’m working on now. I love Gary, love working with him, and especially love getting to spend time with him face-to-face. Gary and I were there to discuss marketing strategies with the sales and publicity team for our first novel, The Dance, which we’ve already finished. It will be released this coming April.

We were also there to talk about The Dance and the entire Restoration series with the entire Baker sales team, who had flown in from all over country and different parts of the world to hear all the exciting projects being released in the spring of 2013. At this conference, they released Baker’s new spring catalog which featured a two-page spread of our book, including the new cover.

For fans of my previous six novels with Revell, you’ll notice a change. While I’ve written this book with my same writing style, we realize there’s a huge audience out there who’ve read Gary’s earlier series with best-selling author Karen Kingsbury. We decided this cover should be something that connects better with them. And since 80% of them are women, well, you get the idea.

But both Gary and I believe, and so does our publishing team, this book will equally bless men and women alike.

Attending ICRS

The International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) launches this week in Orlando, Florida. I’m actually leaving just after I finish this blog post to speak at a luncheon attended by owners and managers of Logos Christian bookstores. I’ll be sharing about my latest book, the discovery, and the new series with Gary Smalley. Each of them will receive a signed copy of my latest book.

Tomorrow evening, Cindi will join me at the Baker Publishing Group dinner at Sea World. Then on Monday, I’ll be doing a book signing at the Baker Publishing booth in the morning, attending an ACFW press conference, then doing three interviews in the afternoon.

Should be a lot of fun. Cindi and I went to this event back in 2008, just after Revell signed me for The Unfinished Gift. But it hadn’t come out yet, and we walked around the huge Orange County Convention Center, our eyes bugging out at this strange new world of publishing on display all around us.

USA Today and FIRST for Women Magazine

We’ve enjoyed some great publicity opportunities this summer, especially excited about two of them. Just this past week I was featured, along with three other male authors, in a USA Today interview about men who write inspirational Romantic fiction. It would seem we are a rare breed.

Serena Chase, a writer for USA Today, put the interview together and did an excellent job. She’s the same writer who gave The Discovery a marvelous review back in May. Click here to read it. I loved the questions she asked us, and really hope this article opens the door for a lot of women who love reading inspirational love stories to give us guys a chance. Click here to read the interview.

We just learned another exciting development. First for Women Magazine has selected, The Discovery, as one of its “Editor’s Picks” for an October issue. This could open a very wide door to some brand-new readers. This magazine sells on the checkout stands of thousands of grocery stores, and has a 1.3 million readership.

Personal Update

As I wrap things up, I would appreciate your prayers for some medical issues I’m having. Particularly in my arms and hands. I guess writing eight novels in the last four years has taken its toll, particularly when you type with lousy posture, your hands in the wrong position and on a tiny laptop. I’m going to the doctor soon, but I’m already having to make some serious changes due to some weakness and pain I’ve been experiencing for the past month.

Thankfully, I can keep up my writing schedule for the books by using voice recognition software. But I’m having to cut back on other kinds of writing like Facebook and e-mails. I can do some, but the voice recognition software doesn’t work as well with short bits of info. And I really need to rest my hands as much as possible.

I’ll let you know when I know more but, again, would appreciate your prayers.