I thought this would be a good place to keep you all informed on the latest things happening as the book makes its way through all the publishing steps and onto the shelves.

Since we are all on this journey together in many ways, I thought I'd share my newest mind-blowing moment. My agent is Wendy Lawton of Books and Such Literary Agency. She's a jewel and a top-notch agent. I appreciate her so much.

Today, I noticed Books and Such updated their Author News. Under recent deals, my name was listed. I still can't believe it's beside all of those awesome authors. If you'd like to take a look, check out the (approved) link below:

http://booksandsuch.biz/html/authornews.html

Summer of Truth comes out in the fall of 2010, so it's like being pregnant for 14 months. This is kind of like feeling the baby move or getting an ultrasound picture.

Great analogy! Hope it's an easy labor!

kav

I have a co-worker who is pregnant and due at the end of this month and she would feel your pain about a 14 month pregnancy! Congrats Lorna!

This is so exciting, Lorna!! I'm so proud of you!! I know it made your year to see your name listed!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Joy

Wow! I can't imagine how thrilled you must be. I am not the least bit surprised that you have been issued book contracts. This rocks, Lorna. Congratulations.

How wonderful to see your name there. Hope you enjoyed being pregnant as much as carrying this "baby" is going to thrill you! I just can't express how happy I am for you. I feel like a proud parent.

Lynn

Thank you to all those who've been following me on this exciting journey. Today, I have two things to share.

First, several of the writers here, including Marlene, along with several others have joined forces in a ten-writer blog. You can check it out at http://inkspirationalmessages.com. The blog will focus on author interviews, book reviews, and entries that lift your spirits and inspire you. Please drop by and leave a note.

Second, I'd like to share something about someone else's book. But this person isn't just any author to me, she's been my mentor and friend, and I couldn't have gotten this far without her.

Judith Miller is the author/co-author of 19 books. She often writes with Tracie Peterson. We met when she visited the meeting of American Christian Fiction Writers in Iowa. From that first day, she's been a Godsend and taught me a lot about the inside workings of the Christian publishing industry and writing in general.

Her newest book, The Carousel Painter, is now available. It is a wonderful historical romance . Judy is known for her detailed, thorough research. She visits the places she writes about and interviews countless experts. These things make her stories come alive with detail. The book is available online and in some stores already. Keep an eye out for it. Isn't the cover beautiful?

Thanks Lorna. Congratulations to all of you. I went out to the blog and registered to receive email updates. It looks like a very exciting undertaking by you and the other writers. I'll be following the entries via email and keep up-to-date with all of you.

Lynn

VERY exciting news, all, Lorna!!! I'll be checking out the blog too, and definitely checking out Judy's book!! I absolutely loved the 2 series (Ribbons of Steel and Ribbons West) that she co-wrote with Tracy Peterson. That cover is gorgeous and I'm very much looking forward to reading more from her! Thank you for sharing your journey, but also great information!

Janet

Thanks for the information on Judith Miller's book, Lorna. The cover is gorgeous!! I'm going to definitely check it out!!

Joy

I'm so embarrassed. I really need to get out more often and wander around the board more. I just found this and I am so so very excited for you Lorna. I'm not surprised at all, but I am very excited. God Bless you on this journey. I checked out the sight that mentioned your book. Pregnant 14 months, wow! I'm so happy and proud of you!

I'll have to check out the blog you girls are doing. Very exciting.

We can all say we knew you when!

I'm so pleased you are still able to make some time to continue your stories for us here. They are so enjoyable. It will be such a thrill to get your first baby into my hands. I feel like I should knit it a blanket.

Today's exciting news is that I have an official title now. The book is going to be titled......

Making Waves
book 1 in the
Lake Manawa Summers Series.

The next big step will be getting cover art and my content edits back, and I can't wait to see the cover!

Revell's marketing team did a great job coming up with the title. They sent me a questionaire with a bunch of questions about audience and theme. They also asked for some alternate titles. I sent them four or five, besides what I had origianally titled it which was Summer of Truth. They came up with Making Waves. It's a perfect fit as the main character, Marguerite Westing, makes a lot of waves. It's amazing how they captured the feel for the book.

Also, I want to extend a big thank you to all of you who have taken the time to stop by our ten person blog, Inkpsirational Messages . I hope you recognized a few familiar names (Marlene, Kav, Regina, Kim, and myself among others.) We're having a blast. If you haven't had the chance to drop by, please do so. You can also sign up to get the blog e-mailed to you daily.

Starting this weekend, we will be doing author interviews on occassion. This weekend we're featuring debut author Laura Frantz and her recent release "The Frontiersman's Daughter." Hope you can come party with us!


(Corrected the link, should work now. Webgoof 10/25)

I am so happy and excited for you. Thanks for keeping us updated. I'm looking forward to the book release.

Sorry I've been absent from your blog. I've had some things going on in my life which have limited my online time the past couple of months. I've only begun to get back on the past few weeks. I'm hoping to drop by soon and try to catch up. The author interviews sound very intriguing.

Lynn

When I first heard the official title, "Making Waves," my first thought was how appropriate it was! Wonderful! I'm still envisioning holding that book in my hand, and saying, "I KNOW this author!!"

Hugs,
Regina

So, the title has been selected, that's fantastic! I can just imagine how excited you must feel as you wait to see the cover.

How exciting! Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

Karen

Lorna, I'm so excited for you! Great title and after reading your stories on this site, I can imagine 'Making Waves' would be a very appropriate title for one of your creations.

Thank you for sharing your journey and I really look forward to you giving birth. Holding your book in my hands will be quite a thrill.


Anne

Good morning, RFF'ers!

I finally get to officially announce the availability of Making Waves and display the cover. The link below to Revell's site tells you all about the book.

http://www.revellbooks.com/ME2/Audiences/d...17BA28A0E6497E6

This still feels very wild to me and I am humbled to think all God had to do to make this dream come true. It's been a lot like a 15 month pregnancy. I go from being excited to terrified in minutes. Getting to share this with you all is like getting to tell you the sex of the baby.

Just to catch you all up, currently, I'm working on book 2 of the series. I'm over half way done, and hope to finish it up soon. It will take me a good while to polish!

I will get galleys on book one next month, and I'll have to shift focus when they come in from the second book. The jumping back and forth is hard. That's why I finally put "Mother May I" here to the side until I'm done writing book 2. I just kept getting too confused.

It's so exciting to share this news with all of you! There will be more frequent updates now that we're on the homestretch to September.

Great promotion website! I have Sept 10 logged on my calendar and I'll be there with you in the birthing room! I'm so thrilled for you.

Lynn

I'm still grinning . . .

I'm so happy for you, Lorna!!!!

Congratulations Lorna!

This is so exciting. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

Karen

Fantastic news, Lorna....I wish it was debuting in the summer...I'll be wishing all those long, hot days away just so that fall will come sooner and I can read your book!!!!

kav

Lorna, I am so incredibly happy for you!! This must all be so wonderful and exciting! I dream of going through the same process someday and can only imagine the excitement I would feel! The cover is beautiful, the title is great, and I'm sure your writing is downright perfect!

Congratulations!!!!

Tracy

That is so cool!

Kim

Congratulations, Lorna.

Congratulations, Lorna!

I can't even begin to think what you might be feeling right now. This is incredible and I can't wait to get my hands on this book.

Lindsy

Lorna, I'm SO proud of you!! I love the title, I love the cover (it's already pulling me into your story), I love your writing!!!

I can't wait to read Making Waves!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!

Joy

The cover is gorgeous, Lorna!

For Canadians… Lorna's book is available to pre-order online at Chapters/Indigo

Marlene

I'm so excited for you Lorna.
I love the Cover for your book and can't wait for it to be published. Love the site it's listed on and put it on my favorites. I learned a bit more about you, very nice. Also, I started to go through some of their other books and I love the selections.

Looking forward to September.
Anne

Hi everybody,

As the date of the book's release draws closer, I keep getting more excited. I sent my page proofs back. Those are paper copies where the page is printed just as it will appear in the book. It's my last chance to make changes, I had to read them carefully. I also sent back the title/cover questionnaire for book 2. Now, if I can just get book 2 finished. I'm close, but not quite there.

I wanted to update you on a couple of things. First of all, if you want to read my first online interview, check it out at Christianbook.com @ www.bit.ly/aexMz

I also now have a fan page on Facebook. So if you're a Facebooker, please check it out and click "Like This." That way, you can get a lot of the little messages and tidbits.

And finally, don't forget that several of us from here participate in a group blog at www.inkspirationalmessages.com Today, we have a special guest --author Sarah Sundin-- doing an interview. Stop by and ask her a question and leave a comment. She'd love to hear from you.

I'll keep you all posted on any more news!

Way to go Lorna. This is so exciting!

Karen

LIKE.

Great interview on Christian Book.com - although I think when the Inkspirational Messages ladies get 'hold of you for an interview, it will be much more in-depth!

I'm so proud of you!!

Lorna, I enjoyed reading your interview!! I learned quite a lot about you. I'm so very proud of you and can't wait to read your book!!!

Joy

Congratulations, Lorna. I had a hunch from reading a section of Watercolors that you were going to be published author one day.

Great interview, Lorna -- and it looks like they moved up your release date to August! Hoorah!!!!!

kav

It was fun to be interviewed for American Christian Fiction Writer's Afictionado online magazine. They have a regular column called "My First Sale." If you'd like to check it out, the link is below.

http://www.acfw.com/cgi-bin/ezine/jul10.pl?record=4

Great interview, Lorna!

kav

"He who began a good work in you..." That verse always sends me the encouragement I need, just when I need it. Great interview, Lorna!