Sundays through the Seasons: Eternal Life (Re-Posted)

Today I'm re-posting the Easter devotional I wrote last year. I love the movie Tuck Everlasting, and I appreciate how it shows the difference in a life that lasts eternally and true eternal life. This post was also inspired by one of my college professors, who taught my Johannine Theology class and who had some thought-provoking and wonderfully encouraging things to say on this subject. 

Anyway, I hope you don't mind the repeat post, and I hope it encourages you! Have a blessed Easter!

***

What is eternal life?

I recently explored this topic in a paper for my Johannine Theology class (a class studying the theology presented in the books of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation). In Sunday School as children, and perhaps even in certain contexts as adults, we are taught that eternal life is that which will begin after we die and go to heaven.

When Jesus prayed for His disciples before being arrested and crucified, He said, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). And at an earlier time He declared, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:10b-11).

At Easter we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus - that incredible, powerful reality that allows us to claim eternal life through faith.

So again, remembering and considering the Resurrection of Christ, what is the eternal life that God has offered us?

I think the movie Tuck Everlasting gives us a picture of what eternal life is not - as well as a beautiful hint at what eternal life is.

Tuck Everlasting is about a girl who meets the Tucks - a family who inadvertently found a spring that gave them immortal life when they drank from it. But while their way of life is unhurried and leisurely, and they don't have to worry about disease or death, they aren't exactly happy. Angus Tuck says at one point, "What we Tucks have you can't call livin'."

And it isn't living. The point of eternal life is not endless days. The point, as Jesus Himself declared, is a relationship with God:

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

Eternal life isn't endless, meaningless days without God. That is hell. "Eternal life" here on earth is not what we truly desire or need. True eternal life begins when we believe in God - and it continues on through eternity, beyond death.

The glimpse of this in Tuck Everlasting is found in the line, "Do not fear death. Fear the unlived life." It's a great reminder of the message of 1 Corinthians 15:54-57...

"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

So if you are saved through the grace of God, through faith in Jesus, may today's (and every) remembrance of the empty tomb thrill you with the knowledge of the eternal life with the Lord that you have already begun.

"Do not fear death. Fear the unlived life."

(Movie image from tribute.ca. This devotional was originally posted here on April 8, 2012.)

3rd Blogoversary Party ~ Winners!

Today is officially my third blogoversary, and what fun these three years have been! Thank you to all of my wonderful, sweet, encouraging, inspiring readers for making blogging such a joy for me, and for making this party a blast! And thank you to our awesome guests this week - Lena, Rachelle, and Sandra. I'm so grateful to know and work with you three, and I'm wishing you the best with your writing!

And now, here are the winners of the blog party book giveaways:

 Jill Stengl won an e-book version of Aire

 Julie Graves won The Price of Victory

 CentralEast2 won Current of Love

Congratulations, winners! I'll be sending you an e-mail, so be sure to check your inboxes! And thank you to Lena and Sandra for your generosity!

Hope you all have a great Saturday! I'll be re-posting an Easter devotional tomorrow. =)

3rd Blogoversary Party ~ Meet Me!

I've shared the three guest interviews for the 3rd Blogoversary Writers Party, and the winners of the giveaways will be announced tomorrow. (You still have until tonight to enter!) So, what do I have for you today?

Well, since this week's guests were all people who have helped me in this "season" of my editing business, and since I'm making plans to self-publish my WIP in a few months, I thought I might have a go at those questions I've been asking our guests so I can share a bit about the business and my writing. Hope you don't mind! And I hope you enjoy the Q&A between me and...me! ;)

***

Question ~ When did you start blogging? And how has your blog changed since you first created it? 

Answer ~ Well, I'm pretty sure you all can figure out that I've been blogging for three years! ;) I started blogging on March 30th, 2010. (You can read my first post HERE.) It's been such a wonderful journey so far! When I first started out I was full of energy and excitement for the new endeavor. I had a lot of fun putting together themed weeks, discovering the thrill of getting books for free in exchange for writing reviews, and, most of all, meeting new friends. Since then some blog features have come and gone, and I've settled into a less frantic blogging pace. But, also since then, the friendships I've made have only continued to deepen and expand. I'm continually blessed by the opportunities blogging has provided in terms of growing in my writing, broadening my reading horizons, making connections with like-minded people, and so much more. I love blogging!

Question ~ How would you describe the current "season" of your editing business?

Answer ~ As you can see from the wonderful guests this week, I've truly been blessed! Editing Through the Seasons was slow to get off the ground (but I suppose I should have realized that was the way of things when it comes to starting a new business!). It's still in a slow season, like I described in my guest post on Seekerville back in February. And yet, I'm actually starting to see those green shoots sprouting up out of the ground now.

This is an exciting time! I know that things might still be slow, and I know that my business might not ever become a huge success in terms of the world's standards. But I'm feeling hopeful that the word might continue to spread, and I'm going to keep fighting for the chance to do what I love in this way, Lord willing. I'm grateful for these writers who have taken a chance on me, and I'm eager to keep on working to help others in the seasons of their writing careers, while nurturing my own, so that we can share well-crafted stories to encourage and challenge and inspire others.

Question ~ You recently finished the first draft of your WIP, and you're working toward self-publishing it this summer. Can you give your readers a glimpse into the story?

Answer ~ Of course! ;) Bleeding Heart is my second manuscript, and the sequel to my first book, Forget Me Not. I don't know if I'll ever publish FMN... Maybe I can edit it to be a novella prequel someday? Not sure - it was a pretty personal story, but then, so is Bleeding Heart in its own ways.

Anyway, BH is an Inspirational Historical Romance story. It might grow (or shrink?) a tad in the editing stages over the next couple of months, but I'm guessing it will generally remain a shorter novel. Here's my current working back-cover synopsis (subject to tweaking):

***

Summer 1886 

Sally Clay’s livelihood has been snatched away – but in its place arises an opportunity to escape from her sordid past and an unrelenting, unwanted suitor. Boarding a train with a heartsick rancher and an enigmatic miner, she leaves Virginia City behind and heads to Northern California, waiting for the chance to make right what went wrong three long years before. 

When a kind-hearted Cornish miner tells Joe Clifton about potential work at a logging town in the redwoods, Joe can think of no better way to put the painful memories of a broken engagement behind him. But Sally’s schemes – and the past that trails closely behind her – might destroy the promise he made to keep his heart safe from further harm. 

A desperate soiled dove. Three men who come to care for her. One man determined to claim her. 

All on a journey that will show them what true love really involves. 

***

And here's an excerpt from Chapter 1 (first draft of BH), wherein Sally begs for help in leaving Virginia City:

Spotting a familiar face in the line at the ticket counter, she rushed to Joe’s side. “Joe,” she said softly as she touched his arm and put on her best desperate look. It wasn’t too much of a challenge at this moment. 

Recognition was quickly followed by disgust in his dirt-brown eyes as he looked down on her. “Whaddya want, Sally?” 

She countered his question with a question of her own, leaning in ever so slightly as she had been taught. “Where ya headed?” 

“I don’t see how that’s any of yer business.” 

Peering around his tall frame, she saw another familiar face. For the first time since the day she found herself begging Jacob for a job, she felt shame burn through her. It was a rare day when she blushed with embarrassment anymore. 

The red-headed, rail-thin Cornish miner didn’t say a word, but she saw suppressed anger, and perhaps a hint of pity, glaring back at her. She nodded in acknowledgement, and turned her pleading gaze back to Joe. 

“I know you don’t owe me any favors. But you and Jacob were friends for a long time. And with Jacob leavin’ and all… Well, I’m out of a job.” She swallowed, longing for some water and a moment to plan the rest of her speech. 

“So?” 

She flinched. It shouldn’t cut her anymore, these rejections. But they did. Tears welled up in her eyes – real ones, if anyone here at the train station could believe that. “Please – I’m bein’ pursued by a cruel man and I need some help to get out of this two-bit town. Just a little bit of money and some company for as far as yer headed.” 

She knew the word “company” was a mistake as soon as the word slipped past her lips. Joe’s eyes turned rock-hard and he shook his head vehemently. 

Grasping his arm tighter, she let the tears flow down her cheeks, not caring at the scene she was making. It hadn’t taken long to get over the desire to please society. They had rejected her, and so she rejected them by refusing to follow their unspoken rules. 

“I don’t mean it that way, Joe. Please! I won’t be any trouble.” 

And then he had the nerve to laugh. 

Pushing him away, she spun on her heel and marched out of the station. She still had some pride. 

But as she forced her way through the crowd and out the door, her heart sank. Rufus O’Daniel was across the street, staring right at her with eyes that promised retribution and enslavement – a frightening look that had haunted her dreams for far too long.

###

Question ~ Your favorite season?

Answer ~ Probably fall. I love summer, especially because it generally means family vacations and fun outings and the like. But as far as nature goes, I love the colors of fall...the occasional warm autumn day...the Apple Harvest Festival and trips to the pumpkin patch/corn maze...the feeling of change and release and new beginnings following the time of "letting go"...the anticipation of the holidays to come... I just love it all!

Question ~ Two quirky dreams (small or big) that you have?

Answer ~ I would love to own a Bed & Breakfast someday. Don't know how that would really work out in reality, but I dream of having a beautiful little place out in the country, where I can design historical-themed rooms and meet new people all the time who will share stories about their adventures over shared meals. This is probably a strange dream for me to have, as I don't really cook that much and I'm introverted. But still... It just seems so romantic!

Second dream? I really want to go to Prince Edward Island, Canada - preferably in the spring or fall. And yes, this has everything to do with Anne of Green Gables, along with the Road to Avonlea show!

Question ~ Three blogs you love to visit?

Answer ~ Only three? Who came up with these questions?? ;) 

Well, there are so many blogs that are fun to visit. It's especially fun comparing thoughts with fellow book bloggers on our latest reads! As for naming three blogs, though, I'll go with StoryMonster, Tours Departing Daily, and Best Reads (2010-2013). The first is by the extremely talented Heather Dixon, whose book Entwined was one of my favorite reads of 2012! Her book is amazing, her art is wonderful, and her posts are usually pretty stinkin' hilarious. You can spend hours just browsing all of her posts... The second is one I found via Heather's blog. If you love all things Disneyland and wish you could be there, their beautiful photos capture the atmosphere of Disneyland so well! And the third is by Kav, a dear blogging friend who is also super generous. It's fun to read her great reviews, and it's awesome to have so many chances to win new books to read!

Question ~ Four Twitter friends you enjoy following?

Answer ~ Again, too many to name! But I'll note that I love talking books with Rissi (@scriptsandsuch) and Rel (@Relz) and Charity (@CharityUAusten), and I love doing #1K1Hrs with Krissi (@KrissiDallas) and Gale (@GaleRWordsmith). Yes, that was 5 (I majored in English, but I can still do basic math - oh, well!).

Question ~  Five different themes for a party that would be fun to attend or host?

Answer ~

1. Murder Mystery. I've had such fun hosting these types of parties with some friends from high school! Plus, my dad has a dummy that he uses for homicide investigation scenarios at a local community college. Enough said.
2. Mardi Gras. That was actually the theme for my 10th birthday. I love the color scheme (purple, gold, and green), along with the jazz music. (Think Princess and the Frog.)
3. Old West. It would be super fun to set up a book-signing party here on the North Coast of California, or in Virginia City (Nevada), where Bleeding Heart is set. I love day-dreaming!
4. Hallmark. Hallmark-movies marathon, anyone? And we could exchange Hallmark greeting cards, LOL! Rissi, you're totally for this, right? 
5. Jane Austen. Charity, this one's for you! ;) English country dancing, dressing up, watching movies based on Jane Austen's books... Sounds good to me!

***

It was a lot of fun to answer these questions! Please feel free to answer any or all of them yourself in the comments section (or you can link to a blog post), if you'd like. It's always great to get to know one another better! =)

And don't forget to check out the interviews with Lena Goldfinch, Rachelle Rea, and Sandra Leesmith, if you haven't already! The winners of the book giveaways will be announced tomorrow!

3rd Blogoversary Party ~ Meet Sandra Leesmith!

It's my pleasure to welcome, Sandra Leesmith to the blog as our third guest this week! Sandra is a current client for Editing Through the Seasons, and I'm honored to be working with her.

Sandra contacted me the day I shared a guest post on Seekerville regarding my freelance editing business and what I've learned about spreading the word (and surviving) online. Color me thrilled! We're working on re-publishing some of her backlist titles as e-books - and it's been a great experience for me so far. I'm excited to share more about these projects with you in the near future!

Until then, read on to learn more about Sandra and today's giveaway...

*** 

Amber ~ Welcome, Sandra! Since this is a blogoversary party, could you share with us a little bit about your own blogging history? When did you start blogging for “Seekerville,” and how has that blog changed since it was created? 


Sandra ~ We started Seekerville in 2005. We had bumped into each for the past few years in writing
contests. We started emailing each other and stating that we wished each other would get published so we could win the contests. *smile* We decided that it would be easier to communicate on a loop, so we started sharing information. Then in 2005 it occurred to us that the info we were sharing should be shared with everyone. Until recently, the ins and outs of the publishing world seemed to be a big secret. We learned the hard way and wanted to share our information.

We started the blog and of course had no followers in the beginning. But word of mouth spread the news that we had valuable information for those trying to sail off "unpubbed island." We mostly shared contest information in the beginning, and then it evolved to articles on craft.

Eventually all of us ended up published, hence no more Unpubbed Island and into the village of Seekerville. Many of our friends have sailed into the publishing world and we love celebrating with them. Editors and agents find our information valuable and have supported us by guest-blogging with us. We keep on growing and have reader fans, as well, who are interested in the life of an author.

It has been a blessing to have a blog with a group because then the job doesn’t become so overwhelming. And with so much creative talent, we are always coming up with new and fresh ideas that our readers enjoy, such as the Yankee Belle Café, Speedbo, various parties, etc. Be sure and check us out. You won’t be disappointed.

 Amber ~ That's an awesome story! Seekerville is a happenin' place! ;)

How would you describe the current “season” of your writing career? (Slow? Growing? A harvest of creativity? A dry spell? Hopeful? Frustrating? However you want to describe it!)

Sandra ~ I honestly don’t know how to describe this season. I think it ties in with the season that the publishing world is in right now. A state of flux and major change. That describes me to a T at this point in the game. I pretty much knew what I wanted to accomplish and how the publishing world worked and had set my goals toward those means and ends. But I find myself smack in the middle of the changing paradigm and finding I have to reset my goals to match this new world. The exciting part is learning all of the new aspects of marketing in this new electronic age. I guess I’m learning right along with the traditional publishers.

Amber ~ I’m excited for this chance to work with you on some projects as you navigate the e-world! Can you tell us one thing you’re looking forward to sharing with your readers in the coming months?

Sandra ~ I’m really excited to get some of my out-of-print books back out there. It was a blow when they went off the shelves in six weeks. And the way the distribution went in those days, some of these books were not even in all of the stores. I had friends who could not buy the books even when they were out. Now with Amazon, the books can be purchased at a reasonable price anywhere in the country.

Amber ~ Reminds me of a line from the movie I.Q.: "What an exciting time to be alive!" 

These next questions are fun, brief-response questions. Your favorite season?

Sandra ~ Summer is my favorite season because it always means travel and time outdoors, two of my favorite things to do. When I was a teacher, summer meant travel and time to write.

Amber ~ Two quirky dreams (small or big) that you have?

Sandra ~ I want to travel to Spain to do research for a book that has been in my heart for a long time.

Amber ~ Three blogs you love to visit?

Sandra ~ Seekerville, Love Inspired Authors, and Harlequin Heartwarming

Amber ~ Four books you read recently?

Sandra ~

1. THE BIBLE - I am always reading the Bible.
2. SWEPT AWAY by Mary Connealy
3. THE GENERAL’S SECRETARY by Debby Giusti
4.  JESUS CALLING by Sarah Young

Amber ~ Five different themes for a party that would be fun to attend or host?

Sandra ~

1. I love to go to parties and celebrate an author and his/her books. 
2. I love impromptu happy hours when everyone brings an appetizer to share (our pickleball parties are great).
3. Christmas parties are always a favorite.
4. Picnic in the desert/woods (actually anywhere outdoors).
5. Bunco parties. (At least I don’t fall asleep in those, lol.) 

Amber ~ Thank you for sharing with my readers today, Sandra! I'm looking forward to all that is yet to come. :)

***

Giveaway!

I've discovered that Sandra is a very generous person. She basically told me she would go with any sort of book-giveaway I wanted to offer. ;) So today there will be two winners! One winner will receive a hardcover copy of The Price of Victory; another winner will receive a paperback copy of Current of Love. (These are Sandra's most recent novels.)

To enter, just leave a comment with your e-mail address. (If you have a preference as to which book you want to win, please note that in your comment, as well!)

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. The winners will be chosen via the List Randomizer on Random.org and announced on Saturday, March 30th. Good luck!

3rd Blogoversary Party ~ Meet Rachelle Rea!

The 3rd Blogoversary Writers Party continues with our second guest: Rachelle Rea!

I knew Rachelle had a lovely, lyrical writing style from following her blog, Inspiring Daring. But I found out how wonderfully that translated to fiction writing when Rachelle won my editing-package giveaway on The Writers Alley back in December.

Editing Rachelle's historical romance book was a treat - and it gave me important experience, helping me to see how long such projects might take and how the process would work when interacting with clients. On top of all that, Rachelle wrote some super sweet blog posts about our experiences ("My Editor and I" and "Polishing the Diamond"), along with my second endorsement!

Want to learn more about Rachelle? Read on!

***

Amber ~ Welcome, Rachelle! Since this is a blogoversary party, please share with us a little bit about the history of your own blog. When did you start blogging? How has your blog changed since you first created it? 

Rachelle ~ I started Inspiring Daring (before it was ID) with a Read-A-Thon. For Haiti. With a pen name. I confess, I had to check to see how long I’ve been blogging! Lo and behold, my own third blogoversary came and went without much fanfare in wintery February. (Amber: Happy belated blogoversary, Rachelle!)

I no longer go by a pen name, and I’ve definitely grown as a writer since that first post. I still write about the places and people that capture my heart, though. It seems I also write a lot about writing. :) And I am a book blogger. I enjoy writing book reviews and hosting giveaways in support of my favorite authors, whose ranks I’d love to one day join. In fact, my favorite labels are book reviews, life, and published.

Amber ~ How would you describe the current “season” of your blog? (Slow? Growing? A harvest of creativity? A dry spell? However you want to describe it!)

Rachelle ~ In a word: promise. Spring crackles at the corners, whipping wind through the hollow spaces that winter has left bare and open to possibility.

My blog recently underwent a redesign, courtesy of the lovely Hannah Beasley. I didn’t know this until just now, but the new look launched about the time my third blogoversary arrived! As far as the season of my blog goes, I’m embracing my role as a book blogger (and thanking God for the opportunity to interact with other avid readers and amazing authors I admire). Also, I’m blessed to be able to write for four other blog-ministries, which I have the pleasure of supporting at my own online haven.

Amber ~ Very cool - all of it! 

These next questions are fun, brief-response questions. Your favorite season?

Rachelle ~ Winter and summer. Sorry! I just couldn’t pick one! And I know, I know, most gals would pick spring and fall, right? I guess I’m just a girl of extremes…

Amber ~ Two quirky dreams (small or big) that you have?

Rachelle ~ To hold my diploma in my hands. To hold my published book in my hands.

Amber ~ Three blogs you love to visit?

Rachelle ~ Go Teen Writers, because it has shaped the writer I have become. Kindred Grace, because it has shaped the young woman I have become. A Holy Experience, because it has shaped my heart.

Amber ~ Four Twitter friends you enjoy following?

Rachelle ~ Lisa T. Bergren, because she’s uber-friendly. {@LisaTBergren} Sarah Elizabeth, because her heart is beautiful. {@OhRestlessBird} Chantel Brankshire, because she makes me smile. {@CBrankshire} Everly Pleasant, because I’m left thinking. {@EverlyPleasant}

Amber ~ Five different themes for a party that would be fun to attend or host?

Rachelle ~

1. English Tea Party 
2. Country Girl 
3. We-Made-It-to-the-End-of-the-Semester 
4. Italian Elegance 
5. Doctor Who! 

Amber ~ So much fun to host you, Rachelle! Love your responses. I'm inspired to see all the things God has been doing in and through you, and I'm excited to see where He'll lead you next!

***

Extras

Find Rachelle on:

~ Facebook
~ Twitter
~ Blogger

3rd Blogoversary Party ~ Meet Lena Goldfinch!

Welcome to my 3rd Blogoversary Writers Party! Our first guest is Lena Goldfinch, a super-sweet, super-talented indie author.

I was introduced to Lena and her work via Juju's blog, Tales of Whimsy. I didn't win the book giveaway Juju was hosting, but I decided to buy Lena's novella The Language of Souls, since it was only $.99 on Amazon.com... And I promptly fell in love with Lena's writing style! So when Lena was looking for beta readers for her upcoming release, Aire, I obviously volunteered. Thus began a beautiful friendship that has been a true blessing in my life.

As far as my freelance editing business, Editing Through the Seasons, goes, Lena offered some fantastic advice on making my website more author-friendly and pretty. She spiffed up my editor picture and gave me my first endorsement. And reading her stories has given me invaluable experience in providing general and proofreading feedback to authors. I've so appreciated her help, and I'm so excited for you all to meet her! Read on to learn more about Lena and today's giveaway...

***

Amber ~ Welcome, Lena! Since this is a blogoversary party, why don't you share with us a little bit about your own blogging history? When did you start blogging, and where do you see your blog heading in the future? And do tell about the “Scene 13” blog!

Lena ~ First: Hi, Amber! Thanks for having me, and Happy Blogoversary!

I’ve been a sporadic blogger for about five years. These days, I post mostly book news on my blog. I also like to do short, lighthearted interviews with other authors occasionally, under the theme "Three Things & a Cupcake," where they answer three quick questions, and I post a drool-worthy picture of a cupcake. LOL It’s been a while since I’ve done an interview, so I look forward to getting back to those after my book release.

I also participate in a couple of group blogs, which prods me into being more active. :) I’m a member of The Enchanted Inkpot (a blog for writers and readers of YA & MG fantasy), where I serve as a blog moderator/admin, and on The Scene13 Blog too (a blog for “Debut Authors, Published Authors, and Indie Authors with new book releases in 2013,” in a variety of genres).

Amber ~ Fun stuff! 

How would you describe the current “season” of your writing career? (Slow? Growing? A harvest of creativity? A dry spell? Hopeful? Frustrating? However you want to describe it!)

Lena ~ After writing seriously for about twelve years, I recently dove into indie publishing. And, I have to say, I’m having the best time! This is the most exciting part of my writing life yet. It feels like I’m reaping a harvest of my work. Autumn happens to be my favorite season too. (I love the air in New England when the temps are around 70 and there’s a crispness to the air, and the apples are in season.... :))

Amber ~ Yay for harvest-time!! 

Being a beta reader for you has been such a privilege – your stories are so fascinating and sweet! Could you share a glimpse from one of your upcoming releases with my readers? 

Lena ~ Awwww, it’s been such a privilege to have you as a beta reader, Amber! You have such wonderful insights and have helped me so much with molding my books and helping me get them ready for publication! THANK YOU!!! (Amber: *blushing* It's been a blast!)

My YA fantasy romance, Aire, is coming out soon (checks watch ;)). It was such fun to write (and rewrite and rewrite and rewrite ;)).

Aire is about a princess, Annalisia, who sees visions, and a handsome young commoner, Jovanni, who’s secretly a sentinel and can change into a falcon. My world-building research led me on paths to ancient Italy & Turkey, which I found fascinating. I was led there in part because I was curious about the era of silence between the Old Testament and the New Testament, and wondered what it would have been like to be an outlier in those times, a person with a special gift when no one else had them, and, in fact, many had come to think of those times as legends or myths...

Here’s a photo from my research, which actually ended up on the new cover:

To me this captures the essence of Isalla, where the book is set. (This particular shot is of Old Port in Dubrovnik, Croatia, but the book is set in a fictionalized ancient Italy/ Mediterranean. It’s so beautiful, isn’t it? I want to go!)

Amber ~ I love the story, and that pic totally captures the setting! I want to go there, too! We should plan a trip. ;)

These next questions are fun, brief-response questions. Your favorite season?

Lena ~ I jumped the gun there, I guess. ;) Autumn. I love it!

Amber ~ Two quirky dreams (small or big) that you have?

Lena ~ I want to see my books in a library someday. I grew up hauling sacks of books away from the local library every week and devouring them (we didn’t have a ton of money growing up, so didn’t buy a lot of new books. Going to the library for books was a real treat—still is!), so it would be wonderful to see my own books on the shelf.

Another dream... I just want to connect with readers. Writing is an isolating endeavor and you spend a lot of time alone. But it’s not meant to be a one-way communication. So I get a real thrill out of hearing from someone who’s read one of my books, especially if they liked it. :)

Amber ~ Three blogs you love to visit?

Lena ~ I have a whole list of publishing blogs I follow. I rely on Google Reader for this, so when I learned they’re shutting down Google Reader (noooooo.......), I’ve been searching for a new service. Open to suggestions!

Amber ~ Four Twitter friends you enjoy following?

Lena ~ Well, I follow @SeasonsHumility of course! :-) (Amber: Aww!) I follow lots of my writer friends, and chat and share links about books & writing, and occasionally mention delicious food. ;) I also follow folks who tweet about publishing-related news, like @thecreativepenn, @PublishersWkly, @WritersDigest, @GuyKawasaki, and @PassiveVoiceBlg, among others.

Amber ~ Five different themes for a party that would be fun to attend or host?

Lena ~ Oh gosh, I am so bad with party planning, even though I love hanging out with friends. I’m so impressed by anyone who can plan a party with a theme. Perhaps your blog readers could help me come up with a cool/original/fun way to celebrate my book release? Maybe something related to ancient Italy? Help? :)

Amber ~ Fun responses, Lena! I hope you get some great suggestions for a way to celebrate Aire's release. :) Thanks so much for everything!

***

Giveaway!

I had the privilege of reading an early copy of this, and it's a great story! (And isn't that cover just beautiful? Kudos, Lena!) To enter for a chance to win an e-book version of Aire, all you have to do is leave a comment with your e-mail address.

This giveaway is open internationally due to the format of the book. A winner will be chosen via the List Randomizer on Random.org and announced on Saturday, March 30th. (The expected publication date is some time in April, so the winner will receive his/her book when it becomes available.)

Good luck! (And if you want another chance to win the book, check out the Goodreads link in the sidebar!)

Contentment Reading Challenge 2013: March

March has been a bit of a crazy (in a good way!) month for me. You can read a little about that in one of this month's previous posts: "Winner and Wonders." As an update to that post, I finished the first draft of Bleeding Heart! Next step for BH? Well, it should be off to an editor in April, and I'm planning on editing BH that month through May. And I'm hoping to start talking cover design with an author friend sometime next month, which would be awesome! I've been getting pretty excited about all the things to come, but I want to try and make the most of each step along the way. =)

I'm also making some progress with my client for my freelance editing business. I'm looking forward to next week, when I can introduce you to her and a couple of other dear writer friends. Curious as to what I'm referring to? Well, March 30th will be my third blogoversary! I've been blogging for three years, and those years have all been wonderful, challenging, fun, inspiring, and encouraging, thanks to all of you!

To celebrate, I'm hosting a blog party! I wanted to showcase some of the authors who have really helped my business find its footing, so to speak. So we'll be sharing some fun interviews and a couple of giveaways, giving you a chance to learn more about their writing projects! Here's the button for the party:


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<a href="http://www.seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://mbmfiles.com/Mar2013/130322-qNbU_HkS-VGK.jpg" alt='' border=0 /></a><br>
Feel free to share the button using the code below it, if you'd like! And if you're wondering about the background picture, you can learn more HERE. (You'll find a note about the drinks I used to make these pretty "layered" concoctions, as well as a link to the "recipe"/directions on another blog.)

So, what does any of this have to do with the Contentment Reading Challenge? To be honest, nothing, really! Basically, I didn't do any re-reading this month, and I'm sharing some of my excuses as to why I didn't. ;) Since I'm doing the "Wading" level (challenging myself to re-read 10 books this year), I'm about 20% of the way through, so I think it will be all right!

What about you? If you're participating in the challenge, I'd love to hear about any books you've been re-reading lately! And if you're posting about it, feel free to link up your March update-post below: