The Traveling Rat is back!

Earlier this year, when Julie Carobini, Lauraine Snelling, Cathy Hake, and I went on a little southern California book tour (here are some of the pix from that escapade) we met a group of ladies who called their Bible study group the Yahweh Sisterhood of the Traveling Rat. They are a totally fun group of women, who have a rather large plastic rat as their mascot. Not to worry, this rat is not only housebroken, but she always dresses appropriately for any occasion :-).

It seems that the sisterhood all read A Promise to Remember as part of their summer book club-- including Reesa that rat, if this picture is to be believed. Cindy (one of the humans) tells me they had a great discussion. I wish I could have been there!! Here's to some of the nicest women -- and rats-- around!

ACFW Book of the Year Finalist

Yesterday, I was notified that A Promise to Remember is a finalist in the women's fiction category of the American Christian Fiction Writer's book of the year contest!! I am beyond thrilled!
Thanks be to God for this encouragement, just when I need it, too!
Here's the entire list of categories and finalists:

ACFW's 2008 Book of the Year Finalists

Debut Author
Bayou Justice (Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll)
In Between (Jenny B Jones)
Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
My Soul Cries Out (Sherri Lewis)
Petticoat Ranch (Mary Connealy)

Contemporary Novella (*six finalists due to a tie)
A Cloud Mountain Christmas (Robin Lee Hatcher)
Finally Home (Deb Raney in Missouri Memories anthology)
Mississippi Mud (DiAnn Mills in Sugar And Grits Anthology)
Moonlight & Mistletoe (Carrie Turansky in Big Apple Christmas anthology)
Remaking of Moe McKenna (Gloria Clover in the Race to the Altar anthology)
Sweet Dreams Drive (Robin Lee Hatcher)

Historical Novella
Beyond the Memories (DiAnn Mills in Mississippi Memories anthology)
Finishing Touches (Kelly Hake in Missouri Memories anthology)
Love Notes (Mary Davis in Love Letters anthology)
The Spinster & The Cowboy (Lena Nelson Dooley in Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner anthology)
The Spinster & The Tycoon (Vickie McDonough in Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner anthology)

Lits (*six finalists due to a tie)
Around the World in 80 Dates (Christa Banister)
One Little Secret (Bottke, Allison)
Renovating Becky Miller (Sharon Hinck)
Splitting Harriet (Tamara Leigh)
Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
The Book of Jane (Dayton/Vanderbilt)

Long contemporary
Autumn Blue (Karen Harter)
Like Always (Robert Elmer)
Taming Rafe (Susan May Warren)
When the Nile Runs Red (DiAnn Mills)
Within This Circle (Deb Raney)

Long Historical (*seven finalists due to TWO ties)
Courting Trouble (Deeanne Gist)
Fancy Pants (Cathy Hake)
Lady of Milkweed Manor (Julie Klassen)
Remember Me (Maureen Lang)
Then Came Hope (Louise Gouge)
Veil of Fire (Marlo Schalesky)
Where Willows Grow (Kim Vogel Sawyer)

Mystery
Days And Hours (Susan Meissner)
Death of a Garage Sale Newbie (Sharon Dunn)
Gone With The Groom (Janice Thompson)
Sticks And Stones (Susan Meissner)
Your Chariot Awaits (Lorena McCourtney)

Short Contemporary
Heart of the Family (Margaret Daley)
The Heart of Grace (Linda Goodnight)
The Perfect Blend (Allie Pleiter)
Wedded Bliss (Kathleen Y’Barbo)
When Love Comes Home (Arlene James)

Short Contemporary Suspense (*six finalists due to a tie)
Caught Redhanded (Gayle Roper)
Her Christmas Protector (Terri Reed)
Nowhere to Hide (Debby Giusti)
Pursuit of Justice (Pamela Tracy)
See No Evil (Gayle Roper)
Vanished (Margaret Daley)

Short Historical (*six due to a tie)
A Time to Keep (Kelly Hake)
A Wealth Beyond Riches (Vickie McDonough)
Canteen Dreams (Cara Putman)
Corduroy Road to Love (Lynn Coleman)
Golden Days (Mary Connealy)
To Trust An Outlaw (Rhonda Gibson

Speculative
Demon: A Memoir (Tosca Lee)
DragonFire (Donita Paul)
The Restorer (Sharon Hinck)
The Restorer’s Son (Sharon Hinck)
Isle of Swords (Wayne Thomas Batson)

Suspense
Abomination (Colleen Coble)
Black Ice (Linda Hall)
Coral Moon (Brandilyn Collins)
Crimson Eve (Brandilyn Collins)
Ransomed Dreams (Amy Wallace)

Women’s Fiction
A Promise To Remember (Katie Cushman)
Bygones (Kim Sawyer)
Remember to Forget (Deb Raney)
The Oak Leaves (Maureen Lang)
Watercolored Pearls (Stacy Adams)

Young Adult
In Between (Jenny B. Jones)
On The Loose (Jenny B. Jones)
Sara Jane: Liberty’s Torch (Eleanor Clark
Sarah’s Long Ride (Susan P Davis)
Saving Sailor (Renee Riva)

Home sweet ashy home

Ahhh. Evacuations are now downgraded to evacuation "warnings" for our area-- which means we all got to come home. Whew! I've never been so happy to see this place, even if it is covered in an inch of ash (which is still snowing down, depending on which way the wind is blowing).

Evacuated

This is a view down my street last night, as we prepared for our mandatory evacuation due to the Gap Fire. Rumor says we will remain under evacuation orders through the weekend, although our house appears to be out of immediate danger.

Riddle of the day: How many evacuees can a construction company office building hold?

Answer: A couple dozen, along with 8 dogs and 3 cats.



This is the view from my brother-in-law's driveway this morning. Miraculously (and because of some extreme firefighting), his house was saved. His next door neighbor's home was also saved, even though flames completely surrounded both houses. The firefighters were spraying the homes with flame retardant foam, then taking refuge inside the garage when the flames flared up.

More pictures of our burned out hillsides.

Fire!

This is what's happening in my neck of the woods right now. My home is not in danger at this point, but some strong winds could change that in a hurry. My brother-in-law's home is right on the fire line and in immediate danger. We are praying for calm winds, heroic firefighting, and most importantly, safety for all involved.

Last night, all of Santa Barbara lost power for a few hours. At a time like that, you realize just how dependent you are on TV, and computer, for news during a crisis.