IT'S COMING!

My first book is due to make it's appearance officially on May 3rd. I'm anxiously awaiting the copies that will be delivered to my home the end of this week or the beginning of next week. It's a surreal kind of feeling to know that all these months of waiting and working will soon result in the book I worked on for so long.  Yes, I'm excited. But in truth, this isn't about MY BOOK. This is about the work of a lot of people behind the scenes helping me reach this point. I consider it OUR BOOK. It really is a team effort. God really knows how to bring a team together.

I thought I knew how much work and team effort went into the creation of a book before I received my contract. But now after experiencing the past year I know I didn't know as much as I thought I did. When Debbie Marrie acquired this book I was thrilled. I knew Mike Dellosso wrote for Charisma House and was a member of ACFW so I e-mailed him and asked all kinds of newbie-just-got-a-contract type questions. He was always patient and enthusiastic.

I asked Rachelle Gardner of  WordServe Literary to be my agent. We talked and she agreed. She was there for me when I really needed some guidance. Lori Vanden Bosch, my very patient editor, worked so hard to help me learn the ropes. And there were so many others Ann Mulchan, Anna Silva, Deb Moss, Jihan and Woodley. Then everyone who worked along with Bill Johnson to complete my cover, which I just love. Forgive me if I missed someone. I'm sure I probably did. Just leave a comment and remind me. :)

And of course there are all of the people who helped teach me through years. James Scott Bell, Colleen Coble, Deb Raney, Mae Nunn, Angie Hunt, Kathleen Morgan, Linda Windsor, Tamara Alexander, and many more. The American Christian Fiction Writers were paramount in helping me become the writer I am now and I know they will continue to help me grow. That's one of the things I love about the writing life, you never really know everything there is to know. It's fun to study the craft of writing and I look forward to learning more every year. I enjoy trying to get better and better.

And even more important than all of this are the writers who prayed for me and my family for years as we went through a very difficult time. It has not been an easy road, but then it rarely is for most of us. But through it all, God is faithful.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Secrets of the Heart, just leave a comment and I'll throw all the names in a hat and pull one out. Charisma House Media will send you a copy of our baby. Don't forget to leave an e-mail where I can reach you. You can leave comments until Sunday night the 17th at midnight. I'll announce the winner in a comment on Monday's post. I'd like to know what you love most about historical romance. And if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

Gratefully,
Jillian