One of the highlights of our days in the Fiction department at Thomas Nelson? Receiving reader letters—either directly addressed to us or passed along from our talented authors. It’s critical to be reminded that at the end of our long days acquiring, editing, designing, selling, marketing, and publicizing books, those stories are reaching readers, striking nerves, changing lives. We want readers’ feedback. How stories have given you hope. Which authors’ series you can’t help from sharing with everyone you meet. We want to know what makes you stay up late in the night to finish a story, and conversely what turns you away.
We’re conducting a series of surveys—seeking answers from readers who love Christian fiction. Up for grabs is a free ebook for every respondent who completes the survery, as well as a $10,000 prize for one entrant. The responses we gather will help shape the future of the books we publish for years to come. As well as the data we’re collecting here, we’ll also seek more in-depth feedback from a panel we’ll develop over the next year. More details to come. The note below from one of authors gives a specific picture of how reader feedback shapes her work. In short, your opinion matters! We thank you for your time and appreciate your responding.
Publishing books is a team effort, and there are a lot of players—authors, editors, cover designers, marketing staff, and a host of other behind-the-scene folks who help get the books on the shelves. And readers are also a large part of the process. Your input matters, probably more than you know.
When I hear from readers, I really listen to what they want. This is particularly true with my series books. For example, Seek Me With All Your Heart (book #1 in the Land of Canaan series) wraps up nicely at the end, but one of my minor characters (Katie Ann) was left pregnant after her husband left her. I received lots of emails about Katie Ann from readers, so book #2 in the series—The Wonder of Your Love—is Katie Ann’s story.
With the popularity of social media resources such as Facebook, it has allowed me to keep in close contact with readers and to seek opinions and advice. Several times, the publisher and I couldn’t decide on a cover, so we posted the cover options on Facebook and let readers decide. And if you’re posting anywhere on my Facebook Fans Page, your name could end up in a book. I often scan the names there, so you are unknowingly helping me just by being on the site.
Readers also made it clear that they wanted books in digital format, large print, and audio versions. Authors and publishers listened, and most (if not all) of my books are available in multiple formats.
As an author, I hope to write entertaining stories that will be enjoyed for many years. As a reader, I have favorite authors, and I’m not afraid to let them know what I want in future books. We listen to the likes and the dislikes in our effort to bring you the best stories we can, so don’t be shy. Tell us what you think!
Yvonne Harris earned a BS in Education from the University of Hartford and has taught throughout New England and the mid-Atlantic. Unofficially retired from teaching, she teaches writing at Burlington County College in southern New Jersey, where she resides. She is a winner and three-time finalist for the Golden Heart, once for The Vigilante’s Bride, which was her debut novel.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Texas Ranger Jake Nelson patrols the U.S.-Mexico border, protecting the settlers from cattle rustlers, outlaws, and bandits. Sparks fly when Manuel Diego stirs up a revolt against the government, which leads to the murder of a newspaperman, who is the son of a U.S. senator, and the kidnapping of his sister, Elizabeth Madison, a journalist in the making.
With Elizabeth’s photograph in hand–a dark-haired beauty with smiling eyes–Jake rides over the border to find her. After the Rangers defeat the marauders and rescue Elizabeth, Jake is surprised to learn she’s not the spoiled daughter of a senator that he was expecting. In fact, he finds himself taken by her. And she by him.
But the Mexicans won’t give up that easily, as Elizabeth becomes the target of an all-out hunt. Leaving Elizabeth back at Fort Williams, Jake and his men set off again, this time to go after Diego himself–to apprehend him and his renegades and bring them all to justice.
Meanwhile, Jake knows what’s begun between him and Elizabeth is undeniable. Amid all the turmoil, Jake finally admits how much he loves her. She tells him the same. Until now, they’ve lived in different worlds, yet it is those differences that drew them together.
Learn more about Yvonne and her books on her Website .
MY REVIEW:
Because of my affinity for books with Old West settings, the cover alone of A River to Cross would have bene enough to catch my attention. My very positive experience with the author’s previous novel, The Vigilante’s Bride would definitely seal the deal. If I hadn’t received a copy of this book to review, I would have bought it at first sight.
As you can tell, I approached A River to Cross with high expectations. I am happy to report that I was not the least bit disappointed. Set along the Texas Mexican border near El Paso, A River to Cross is an action filled, suspenseful tale that highlights the exploits of a certain Texas Ranger as he endeavors to rescue and protect the sister of his murdered friend. Jake, the hero is strong, handsome, determined, and totally dedicated to helping others and seeing justice served. The heroine Elizabeth is strong, spunky, beautiful, and equally determined to do her part. As can be expected, the pair are irresistibly drawn to each other despite their intentions to avoid involvement with the opposite gender.
Yvonne Harris has a way with words and her characters come alive within the pages of her books. The historical settings reach out and pull the reader into the story and leave them thinking about what they have read. Harris is one new author that has earned her place on my “to read” list and I am looking forward to what she has to offer next.
Cindy Woodsmall will kick off her The Harvest of GraceBook Tour in Memphis on August 9. Come out and show your support for this author if you can.
Tuesday, August 9 (Release day!), 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Memphis East LifeWay Christian Store
The Commons
8025 Giacosa Place
Memphis, TN 38133 Phone: 901-373-4900
Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Christy Award Finalist, a Carol Award Finalist and an IRCC Award finalist.
The Lassoed in Texas Series, Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and Gingham Mountain. Petticoat Ranch was a Carol Award Finalist. Calico Canyon was a Christy Award Finalist and a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now contained in one large volume called Lassoed in Texas Trilogy.
The Montana Marriages Series, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. Montana Rose was a Carol Award Finalist.
Cowboy Christmas—the 2010 Carol Award for Best Long Historical Romance, and an Inspirational Readers Choice Contest Finalist.
The Sophie’s Daughters series. Doctor in Petticoats, Wrangler in Petticoats, Sharpshooter in Petticoats.
She is also the author of; Black Hills Blessing a 3-in-1 collection of sweet contemporary romances, Nosy in Nebraska, a 3-in-1 collection of cozy romantic mysteries and she’s one of the three authors contributing to Alaska Brides with her Carol Award Winning historical romance Golden Days.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Julia Gilliland has always been interested in the natural world around her. She particularly enjoys her outings to the cavern near her father’s homestead, where she explores for fossils and formations, and plans to write a book about her discoveries. The cave seems plenty safe–until the day a mysterious intruder steals the rope she uses to find her way out.
Rafe Kincaid has spent years keeping his family’s cattle ranch going, all without help from his two younger brothers, who fled the ranch–and Rafe’s controlling ways–as soon as they were able. He’s haunted by one terrible day at the cave on a far-flung corner of the Kincaid property, a day that changed his life forever. Ready to put the past behind him, he plans to visit the cave one final time. He sure doesn’t expect to find a young woman trapped in one of the tunnels–or to be forced to kiss her!
Rafe is more intrigued by Julia than any woman he’s ever known, but how can he overlook her fascination with the cave he despises? And when his developing relationship with Julia threatens his chance at reconciliation with his brothers, will he be forced to choose between the family bonds that could restore his trust and the love that could heal his heart?
The title Out Of Control is an apt one in more ways than one. Like a team of wild horses, the plot takes off from the very beginning and its breakneck speed has you holding on to your hat until the very end. Out of control also describes what happens to Rafe Kincaid’s very carefully planned life when he stumbles upon Julia Gilliland trapped in a cave on his property. Sparks fly from their first encounter and the heat between them builds until the conclusion.
Out Of Control is all that I expected from Mary Connealy’s newest novel. The imaginative and well paced plot is laced with plenty of action, adventure, humor, and romance. The primary characters are well developed, likeable and just plain fun. Interaction between them was often witty and entertaining. The women are smart and spunky and the men are true heroes who seem to have been raised right by their mama. Even if the guys come across as a bit dense at times, their hearts are in the right place. They did manage to overcome some deeply seated fears in order to help protect the women.
I loved the story’s setting and how everything revolved around the caverns. The historical background added to its interest. It also helped that we were given a good peek into what I suspect could be the next Kincaid romance. A strong message of faith is a natural part of the story without being obtrusive. Can’t wait for the next installment.
I thoroughly enjoyed a trip back in time to the late 1950’s through the pages of Melody Carlson’s River’s Song. This slow paced but quickly read story is beautifully simple yet wonderfully complex.
A naive young girl when she married, Anna Larson spent the next twenty years verbally abused, manipulated, controlled and taken advantage of by the mother-in-law who despised her. She continued to live with and serve her mother-in-law after her husband’s death because the woman’s lies convinced her that there were no other options. Only when she ventured to her mother’s home on the Suislaw River to settle her estate, did Anna realize just how unhappy she had become.
With the encouragement of friends, both old and new, memories of her parents and grandmother, and the peace she finds on the banks of the river, Anna’s true identity begins to emerge. Rather than return to the domination of her mother-in-law, Anna decides to remain at the family property that now belongs to her. It is there that she finds the healing that she needs and even more.
I can always expect at least one practical or spiritual lesson in life when I read one of Carlson’s books. Several are present in River’s Song, most of which are revealed in the retelling of the stories of Anna’s grandmother. A strong message of forgiveness is a primary theme.
I loved the setting of River’s Song and enjoyed the characters. I look forward to visiting with them again in the next volume of this series.
A digital copy of this book was provided for review by NetGalley.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Her relationship with her daughter in shambles and tensions mounting with her mother-in-law, Anna Larson returns to her childhood home on the banks of the Suislaw River to sort out her parent’s belongings and put the pieces of her own life back together.
Embracing her native heritage for the first time since childhood Anna transforms her old family home into Shining Waters Inn, a place she hopes will give her family a new beginning.
River’s Song is Book One in the Inn at Shining Waters series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Melody Carlson published her first book in 1995 and she has been writing prolifically ever since. To date, Melody has published over 200 books, making her one of the top 20 most prolific authors of all time. With total sales of over 1.4 million her award-winning books include: Homeward, Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon; Limelight; the Diary of a Teenage Girl series; the True Colors series; and the Charter House Girls series.
In her professional life, Melody has worn many hats: from pre-school teacher to political activist to senior editor. Currently, she writes full-time, and freelances from her home. She has two grown sons and lives in Sisters, Oregon with her husband, Chris, and Bailey, her chocolate lab. They enjoy skiing, hiking, and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Many links on this site are supplied by the Reviewer groups that provide the books I review. Occasionally other links may be my personal associate links.
