No Blogging For The Next Few Days...

I've got a novel I'm trying to finish up and sumbmit to a publisher. This novel is NOT contracted, but I'm hoping the publisher will offer me a contract for it. Also, I'm judging ACFW's Genesis Contest. My entries are due back to the coordinator on May 1.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Illegitimate by Brian Mackert

I saw this book listed on literary agent Rachelle Gardner's blog. As some of you may know, I don't read very much non-fiction. It's hard for me to stay focused while reading a non-fiction book. However, I've always been interested in the subject of cults, and the description of this book intrigued me. I ordered it from Amazon and after I receive it and finish it - whenever that may be - I'll post my thoughts about it. I posted the Amazon link on one of my loops and one of the loop members found the author's testimony here. You should listen to the testimony if you have time. Makes you stop and think - I thought it was powerful...



Illegitimate: How a Loving God Rescued a Son of Polygamy (Hardcover) by Brian Mackert
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition edition (October 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434766918
ISBN-13: 978-1434766915
From Amazon.com
Product Description
The recent events at a Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church) compound in Texas have ignited a national dialogue on religious sects. Fundamentalist Mormon sects formed as splinter groups of the mainstream LDS Church exist in a world far removed from mainstream American culture: a world of abuse and twisted theology that seems too bizarre to be true.
Yet for Brian Mackert, life inside this sect was all too real. As a son in a family of one father, four wives, and 31 children, Brian experienced firsthand the devastating realities of polygamous cults.

Now Brian tells his remarkable story of tragedy and healing. Illegitimate takes readers behind today's shocking headlines and inside the walls of this controversial sect. Brian reveals a world of loving mothers and abusive fathers, devoted children and sibling rivalry, deceptive religion and the truth eventually found in Christ--outside the walls of the FLDS. Ultimately, Illegitimate demonstrates the incredible love of God, and His ability to bring light into the darkest of places.

About the Author
Brian Mackert was raised in a splinter group of the LDS church that endorsed polygamy. He later embraced a true relationship with Christ and became a licensed Baptist minister and is dedicated to doing church plants in heavily populated Mormon regions. In addition to his profession as a telecom engineer, Brian regularly speaks to church groups about the realities of radical Mormonism.

Any of you read this book? If so, what'd you think?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Another Review For John's Quest!

Here's another positive review for John's Quest on Amazon.
From Amazon.com:
"John's Quest" was a little away from the genres I usually read. It is a cozy Christian romance novel that teaches us about the powerful Love of Jesus. That is near and dear to my heart.

Monica Crawford is an independent woman who lives her life for the Lord. Because of her sister having a serious addiction to drugs, Monica is forced to take in her nephew, Scotty. He is blind which offers many challenges, plus his mother, Gina, has never taught manners and values to Scotty. Monica, with her Faith, begins to give Scotty the Foundation he can walk in, but the sister suddenly wants him back. What should she do? Scotty is better of with Monica, but Gina is the mother? Will Gina forsake drugs and find a cleansed path with the Lord?

John is a scientific man whose parents were agnostic until shortly before they died in a car accident. Angry with God, it is difficult when he meets Monica and falls for her. Her rules dictate that she will not yoke herself to man that doesn't Believe. Will John make an attempt to find the Lord or will Monica be heartbroken at another decision he might make?

This is a short read and I know Harlequin romance readers would enjoy this book.

Thank-you Cecelia Dowdy for the privilege of reading your book. May God bless richly bless you.

Also, I've read some great books that I want to review on this blog. A couple of Christian Fiction titles as well as one secular title I read a few weeks ago by Sandra Brown (She used to be one of my favorites back when I read more secular fiction.) I also have a question I received from a writer seeking publication. I'll be posting about all of this soon. I've been busy trying to finish and polish up my work-in-progress to submit to a publisher. Doing that has taken up a lot of my time and I'm tired.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Time Magazine Article About Amish Christian Fiction

Funny how I blogged about Amish Fiction Selling In The Christian Market a few weeks ago. Well, on page 52 of Time Magazine in the April 27, 2009 issue they've featured the following article: Amish Romance Novels: No Bonnet Rippers

The authors mentioned in the article were included in my own Amish research. They interviewed author Beverly Lewis, and she basically said the same things mentioned on my blog post.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Chesapeake Weddings - Book Coming Next Year!

I received an email from one of the Barbour editors with the release date of my re-released Heartsongs. Chesapeake Weddings will be released in April 2010! Chesapeake Weddings will contain the following re-released Contemporary Heartsong titles:

794 - John's Quest by Cecelia Dowdy
826 - Milk Money by Cecelia Dowdy
846 - Bittersweet Memories by Cecelia Dowdy

They are starting to work on book covers, and they MAY have the final cover in a couple of months. This re-pack will be available in bookstores and on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Very Special Delivery

A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight
Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Steeple Hill (May 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373873697
ISBN-13: 978-0373873692
This novel is available as a free PDF here.

From Amazon.com:
Editorial Reviews
Product Description

It was the surprise of a lifetime for recluse Molly McCreight when single dad Ethan Hunter entrusted her with his infant daughter while he delivered medicine to an elderly man during an ice storm. Past experience had taught Molly how fragile life could be, but she was touched by this stranger's faith in her abilities. Once the storm had passed, though, and her guests returned home, normalcy eluded Molly. The Hunters' presence had brought much-needed joy to her quiet world, but their absence threatened to crush her forever. Still, was she ready to admit that this tiny family held the key to the future she'd always secretly craved?

This book had an unusual conflict: the heroine, Molly, is afraid to care for infants. Her nephew died of SIDS while in her care, and she questions her ability to care for babies. When Ehtan is stranded in her home during an ice storm, she's forced to care for his infant while he delivers medicine to a cancer victim.

The two are immediately attracted to one another, and Molly discovers that Ethan is a fairly new Christian who's caring for his infant daughter alone.

Molly is estranged from her sister due to her infant nephew's sudden death. Molly's sister blames her for the tragedy, and Molly becomes a recluse, refusing to interact with others as she abaondons her church family.

Showing patience, faith, and healing, this novel shows the meaning of foregiveness. It's an emotional and enjoyable read.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Interview With Author Sara Mills

This is an interview done by Heartsong/Love Inspired author Cara Putman on her blog. I haven't had the pleasure of reading Sara's books yet, but I look forward to reading them in the future. I was saddened to hear about the death of Sara's husband one week ago. He was only forty. Please keep Sara in your prayers and purchase her books! They sound like great reads, and I'm eager to give them a try! Here's Cara's interview:
This interview ran on Monday -- and I just learned that Sara's husband died of a heart attack on Tuesday. He was young -- 40 -- and I am so grieved for Sara and her children. If you've considered buying one of these books, please follow the links at the end of this post to buy one or both books. I thoroughly enjoyed both, and may go buy them again they were that good.Miss Fortune and Miss Match are delightful books set in NYC in 1947.

Tell us how you got the idea for Allie and these books...

I got the idea for Miss Fortune in the middle of the night, when all good ideas come to me:One sleepless night I was watching The Maltese Falcon and I started to wonder how different the story would be if Sam Spade had been a woman. She'd never have fallen for Miss Wunderly's charms and lies. She'd have been smart and tough and she would have solved the case in half the time it took Sam because she wouldn't spend all of her time smoking cigarettes and calling her secretary Precious.The thought of a hard-boiled female detective got my mind whirling.I paused the movie and sat in my darkened living room thinking about how much fun a female Sam Spade could be. Intrigued but not yet ready to dash to my computer, I changed disks and put on Casablanca (my all time favorite movie ever). The sweeping love story, a tale full of hard choices and sacrifice was what finally made the whole idea click in my mind. If I could just combine the P.I. detective story of the Maltese Falcon with the love story from Casablanca, and make Sam Spade more of a Samantha, I could have the best of all worlds.These books are so good, I wish I'd written them.

How did you set the stage to capture that gritty PI feel without being dark?

I find that a lot of PI stories are gritty and dark, focusing on the worst of the humanity, and while I wanted the Allie Fortune mysteries to be exciting and tension-filled I didn’t want them to be stark and hopeless.One of the things I tried to do to counteract the darkness was to give Allie a multi-layered life. She has cases, relationships, friends and family, all of which I hope combine to make the stories textured, rich and full of life.Allie is a character I'd love to have coffee with.

What did she teach you while you wrote these books?

Allie was a great character to write. One of the things I learned from her was that human relationships (man/woman, mother/daughter, friends) are complicated and full of unspoken rules and expectations. Allie is a rule-breaker at heart and it complicates her life on a regular basis. One of the storylines I loved most is Allie’s relationship with her mother and how it grows and changes and how it’s shaped her.Another dimension of Allie’s character that really taught me a lot was her willingness to do whatever was needed to help those she loves. There is no price on that kind of friendship and it’s a characteristic I’d like to see more of in myself. Okay I admit it, I’ve got a bit of a friend-crush on Allie. LOL.

One last question: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would that be and who would you take with you?

If I could go anywhere right now I’d head to Monterey, California (I’m writing a book set there right now) and I’d plant myself on the beach with a notebook, writing my story as the waves crashed. Sounds like my idea of heaven on earth. There’s something about the wind-shaped Cypress trees and the crash of the surf in Monterey that calls to me. I don’t know why, it just is.

Miss Fortune, Allie Fortune Mystery Series #1 By Sara Mills / Moody PublishersIn 1947 Allie Fortune is the only female private investigator in New York City, but she's kept awake at night by a mystery of her own: her fianci disappeared in the war and no one knows if he's still alive. Until Allie finds out, she will have no peace. When there's a knock on her office door at four in the morning, Allie suspects trouble as usual, and Mary Gordon is no exception. Mary claims someone is following her, that her apartment has been ransacked, and that she's been shot at, but she has no idea why any of this is happening. Allie takes the case, and in the process discovers an international mystery that puts her own life in danger.
Meanwhile, the FBI is working the case as well, and she is partnered up with an attractive, single agent who would be perfect for her under other circumstances-if only she knew whether her fianci was still alive.


Miss Match, Allie Fortune Mystery Series #2 By Sara Mills / Moody PublishersFBI agent Jack O'Connor receives a letter from Maggie, a woman he used to love, saying she's in trouble in Berlin. The FBI refuses to get involved, so Jack asks Allie Fortune to help him investigate. Allie and Jack pose as a missionary couple who want to bring orphans back to the United States.
A child finds important documents that everyone in the city - Soviets and allies alike - want for themselves. Maggie refuses to tell Jack what the documents are, saying if things go wrong, they are better off not knowing. Through the course of the search, Allie's past is brought back to her, half a world away from home.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Great Amazon Review For Milk Money!

Here's another great four-star review on Amazon for Milk Money:
The Man . . . The Milk . . . Where's The Money?, April 8, 2009
By Tavares S. Carney "Inspire, Motivate & Encourage" (Michigan) -
Author, Cecelia Dowdy's novel, Milk Money, invites readers into the world of Emily Cooper, a twenty-something young woman who has not seen much outside the small town of Monkton. Reared on her family's farm, farming is basically all Emily knows and is familiar with, besides being an active member of her local church congregation, of course. With the recent passing of her father, Emily must quickly learn that there's more going on around her than her eyes can physically see.

An intriguing romance burgeons when Franklin Reese, initially an uninvited Certified Public Accountant, enters into Emily's world to assess the Cooper farms' worth. In spite of the reason for Franklin's presence, it is through Emily and Frank's close interactions they realize an attraction for one another. However, because of things past, the two find themselves apprehensive of taking their relationship to the next level. The two main characters, Emily and Franklin, are faced with issues of death, gambling, alcoholism and spirituality in this novel.

I liked the fact that the author held me in suspense of Laura's, Emily's stepmother's, motives as far as finances and living arrangements were concerned. Ms. Dowdy did not give away too much too soon. The imagery throughout the novel was great. I actually felt like I've visited a town like Monkton before. I was able to imagine a rural, farm town not too far from the hustle and bustle of a big city where there is open land and greenery abound. The title is very fitting of this novel and readers that aren't already aware of the importance of paying attention to detail when it comes to finances will definitely be enlightened after reading this selection. I was also pleased with the way the novel ended and was glad to see all work out for both Emily and Franklin's good. This was a relatively, short easy read and I would consider reading future novels from this author.

Thanks for the great review, Tavares!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

HAPPY EASTER!

Me, my hubby, and our three and a half year old son went to the church Easter egg hunt in the pouring rain today! When we arrived at the church, I said, "Honey, do you really want to do this? Wouldn't you rather go home?"
My son said, "No, Mommy. I want to hunt for Easter eggs."
So off we went with the rest of the crowd to get eggs. For the little kids, under five, the eggs were spread out in a field.

Hubby carried the umbrella and CJ (our son) walked around the lot and collected the plastic eggs.












I forgot to bring a basket, so we had to place the plastic eggs in my purse.


Afterwards, everybody met up at the church so that the kids could open their eggs. They were filled with candy. I said to hubby, "Wouldn't it have been easier to just buy him some candy and skip this egg hunt? That way, we would not have been standing in the rain for the last half hour!"

When we got home, I boiled some eggs and my son helped to dye them using food coloring, vinegar and water!


It's been a busy day!













Happy Easter! I hope all of you have a blessed holiday! Remember Jesus's sacrifice for our sins!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Shape Of Mercy by Susan Meissner

The Shape Of Mercy by Susan Meissner
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (September 16, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400074568
ISBN-13: 978-1400074563

From Amazon.com:

Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Meissner's newest novel is potentially life-changing, the kind of inspirational fiction that prompts readers to call up old friends, lost loves or fallen-away family members to tell them that all is forgiven and that life is too short for holding grudges. Achingly romantic, the novel features the legacy of Mercy Hayworth—a young woman convicted during the Salem witch trials—whose words reach out from the past to forever transform the lives of two present-day women. These book lovers—Abigail Boyles, elderly, bitter and frail, and Lauren Lars Durough, wealthy, earnest and young—become unlikely friends, drawn together over the untimely death of Mercy, whose precious diary is all that remains of her too short life. And what a diary! Mercy's words not only beguile but help Abigail and Lars together face life's hardest struggles about where true meaning is found, which dreams are worth chasing and which only lead to emptiness, and why faith and hope are essential on life's difficult path. Meissner's prose is exquisite and she is a stunning storyteller. This is a novel to be shared with friends. (Sept. 16)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

======
My thoughts? This is, hands down, the best book I've read so far in 2009! Run out and purchase your copy now! How many times have you seen me start a review like this??? This book captured me from the first page and wouldn't let me go - I finished most of this novel in one day.

Lauren Durough wants to start making her own money, no longer wanting to accept an allowance from her wealthy father. She answers an ad for a literary assistant. Once she arrives at her new job, she discovers that Abigail, her elderly new boss, wants her to transcribe a family diary that was written by one of Abigail's ancestors - Mercy Hayworth. Mercy writes about her experiences during the Salem witch trials and her haunting words affect Lauren, forcing her to take a look at her own life.

Lauren is used to a living a wealthy life, and her money has affected her personal relationships. Meanwhile, Abigail suffers from the affects of unrequited love, and Mercy's diary forces Abigail to question the mistakes she's made in her life.

Both Lauren and Abigail form a bond as Lauren transcibes the diary. As the story unfolds a few elements of mystery and intrigue are interwoven into this tale. Lauren's father wants to know why Abigail wants this ancient diary transcribed? Will Lauren receive credit for her work if Abigail publishes the transcription? Lauren believes she knows how Mercy was killed; however, when she finishes the diary, and speaks to a college professor about the Salem witch trials, Lauren discovers a shocking fact about Mercy Hayworth.

Meissner also addresses the issues of social class in this novel. Lauren is wealthy, and her interactions with others are affected by how she's been raised. Unknowingly, she judges others in terms of money, and she's shocked when she discovers this fact about herself. Somewhat bothered by her wealth, she wonders what she can do to form her opinions of others by not basing her conclusions about new acquaintances on money.

There are also a couple of romantic subplots within the story which give this novel an interesting angle.

If you read this novel, well, I can guarantee you'll remember it for a long time. It's one of those books that make you stop and think. I think this novel would make a great discussion for a book club.
~Cecelia Dowdy~

Featured In The Local Paper Of My Hometown

I was featured in the local paper of my old hometown, Northeast Maryland. The paper is the Cecil Whig. The article was published today. Here's the full text of the article:

Here's the full text of the story:
Local author set to release fifth novel
By Rebecca Sewald
rsewald@cecilwhig.com
Published: Tuesday, April 7, 2009 7:05 PM CDTBy day, 42-year-old Cecelia Dowdy spends her time crunching numbers as an accountant in the Washington, D.C.-area. But by night, the former Cecil County resident can often be found engrossed in a fictional world of romantic interludes, where good always triumphs and happy endings are a must.

In her spare time, between tending to her 3-year-old son and spending time with her husband of five years, Dowdy writes fiction stories, several of which have been published.

“I write Christian romance fiction,” the Greenbelt, Md. woman said. “The stories always involve a man and a woman meeting and falling in love, and there’s always a faith journey.”
Most recently published is her novel, “Milk Money,” which was released in January and inspired by a visit to a Cecil County farm.

The book tells the story of a young woman, Emily, who is left to tend to the family dairy farm after her father suddenly passes away. The task seems manageable until the day Franklin Reese, a certified public accountant, arrives to audit the business. It’s not long before Franklin falls for Emily, but he must come face-to-face with his own personal issues before he’s able to win her heart.

“The book itself is not set in Cecil County – it’s set in Monkton (Md.) – but I did go to a dairy farm in Cecil County during my research for the book,” Dowdy said. “I had to go there to get a better feel for dairy farming. They showed me how to milk cows and all the other things they have to do. It’s grueling work.”



As always, Dowdy’s story offers an inspirational message to readers, this time demonstrating faith as a means of overcoming addiction.

“Franklin, the accountant, is an alcoholic, and as the story goes on, he learns to beat the addiction. … He doesn’t know Jesus, but he ends up going to a church-sponsored alcoholic support group. He actually ends up finding Jesus in the story, which helps to give him the faith to overcome the addiction,” she said.

Dowdy, a 1984 graduate of North East High School, is awaiting the release of her fifth novel, “Bittersweet Memories,” which is set to hit bookstore shelves in June.

“That book is set in Maryland, also,” she said. “The heroine (Karen) is engaged to a fiancé (Lionel) that isn’t very nice – he’s stealing money from the church, which causes a big uproar.”

But when Karen returns home to Annapolis to live with her mother, she meets handsome plumber Keith Baxter, who just happens to be her new neighbor. Keith grows smitten with the girl next door but must face his troubled past before he can move forward.

Other books Dowdy has had published include “John’s Quest,” “First Mates” and “Promises to Keep.” The author has also produced more than 30 short stories, which have been published nationally in multiple women’s magazines.

“I have always loved to read books. That was my favorite pastime. I think I feed a lot off that,” Dowdy said.

She was 28 years old when she first began having serious thoughts of writing a book.

“I was at work on a lunch break, and I didn’t have a book to read, so what I did was start writing, and I’ve been writing ever since,” she said.

Though it took her more than five years to get her first book published, she never gave up on writing.

“I like creating the characters and their issues and helping them work through them by their faith in God so that everything is fine in the end,” Dowdy said.

As a result of her stories, the author has received a large amount of positive feedback from readers, several of them revealing that her books have strengthened their faith.

Dowdy said she plans to continue writing in the future and hopes to one day make it a fulltime career.

For those aspiring writers out there, she has one word of advice: write.

“Join a professional writers’ group that meets regularly either online or in person. Ask for advice and write,” she said. “Some people say they want to write a book, but they don’t do it. You have to actually sit your butt in the chair and write. It’s easier said than done, but it’s just what you have to do if you’re serious about it.”

For additional information about Cecelia Dowdy or to purchase one her books, visit her Web site at www.ceceliadowdy.com.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Shape Of Mercy

All I can say about this novel is mercy, it sure is good! I'll be posting a full review within the next day or so! Stay tuned!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Winner Of The March Book Giveaway

The winner of the March Book Giveaway is: Aik Yin Chien - Perak, Malaysia

Congratulations, Aik! I hope you enjoy the books!


~Cecelia Dowdy~

Bittersweet Memories Is On Sale Now!

Bittersweet Memories is on sale now on the Heartsong Presents website or by calling 1-800-847-8270. For only $2.97 you can enjoy this novel. Also, you can order up to twelve copies and pay the same amount in postage! This would be a perfect story for book club discussion groups! I hope all of you will keep Bittersweet Memories in mind when searching for a good, romantic read!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The List by Sherri Lewis

The List by Sherri Lewis

From Sherri Lewis's website:
Single and satisfied? Not Michelle, Angela and Lisa. These saved but sexy, successful black women think they’re getting too old to keep waiting on God to send their soulmates. Under the protective eye of their more spiritual sistergirlfriend, Vanessa, and the scrutiny of newly saved manhater, Nicole, the ladies go on a hilarious adventure to “be found” by their husbands.

Armed with their list of essential must-have’s, would-be-nice’s, icing-on-the-cake’s, and total-deal-breakers, they start their search – but soon encounter issues specific to the saved woman on the dating scene. Is online dating okay for Christians? How long do you wait before you tell the hottie you just met that you’re celibate and plan to stay so until married? He’s too fine to pass up – how saved does he really need to be? And of course, how do you keep things holy when he’s oh-so-sexy?

It’s not long before they realize they still have to trust God to know what’s best for them and that He loves them enough to send them everything on The List.

This book was awesome! I felt like I was reading about myself! I could really relate to the characters and their quest to find husbands. The online dating scene is not for the faint of heart! I went through the same issues when I placed an ad online several years ago. It's hard to find that special someone, and this book resonated with me because I found my hubby through an online dating service.

I could really relate to Michelle because of her attraction to Isaiah. I kind of went through the same predicament a long time ago. It's hard to have feelings for someone who's NOT financially stable, in spite of his love for the Lord.

The author also addressed the issue of staying celibate before marriage. It is very hard to do that nowadays, even though it is possible.

Michelle works hard at her job at the TV station, and she's in line to be promoted. However, a bitter co-worker, who's high in rank, is out to squelch Michelle's dream job. Michelle gets the green light from her boss to produce a new TV show, Indie Artist. While working on this show, she meets a handsome, sexy musician named Isaiah. It appears Isaiah has everything Michelle wants in a man: good looks, a passion for God, as well as a huge house and a Hummer!

As Michelle becomes more acquainted with Isaiah, she discovers things are not as they appear. With her job on the line, Michelle wonders what God has in store for her. Her attraction to her co-worker Jason makes the story more interesting. Should she date a man in the workplace?

This book addresses many issues that Christians struggle with, including: sex, dating in the workplace, financial security, and problematic relationships in corporate America.

I believe if you read this novel, you'll see at least one situation that reminds you of your own life experience.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Bittersweet Memories Is Here! Enter To Win!

I received my author copies for Bittersweet Memories today!

I'm giving away five copies! Leave a comment if interested in winning! Leave your email address so that I'll have a way to contact you if you win - ONLY CONTINENTAL US MAY ENTER TO WIN! Sorry, I can't afford foreign postage! :-)

~Cecelia Dowdy~