Yesterday marked the 39th birthday for my husband, Jason. We did the traditional thing. I made his favorite dinner, or at least the dinner he requested and we ended our evening with cake. This year was a little different. I ordered the cake from Jillicious Desserts. Oh my! Orange Dream cake is a very yummy experience. Not the kind of experience that helps you lose a few pound, but more like the kind that’s worth throwing the diet out the window for an evening.

Here is a picture of Jason taken a couple weeks ago, when the Bacho family came over. He’s always looking for a little competition, and found it in jumping random objects in the backyard.

The finalist for the ACFW Genesis contest are notified between May 1 and May 15. I faithfully carried my cellphone, just in case this year was the year. Well, by May 13 I had begun to lose hope. Sitting at the computer, I heard by phone yelling numbers from my pocket. One of the kids has changed the settings so it reads off the incoming phone number instead of ringing like normal phones. The number it kept repeating was unfamiliar and out of state. I think my heart may have stopped beating for a moment. I managed to say hello, but when Erica said who she was, I burst into tears. Very professional, huh?

I’m a finalist in Contemporary Fiction and in Women’s Fiction! It’s been nearly a week now and I still can’t believe it happened.

So, this week is a high point in my writing life. Next week may come with rejection, but that’s just part of the game. Thanks for following me on my roller coaster ride.

If you’re an unpublished novelist, consider entering the Genesis next year.

Congratulations to everyone that entered!

• CONTEMPORARY FICTION

  1. Cindy Hays
  2. Lynnette P. Horner
  3. Chris Kraft
  4. Mark Lundgren
  5. Christina S. Nelson

• CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

  1. Jeannie Campbell
  2. Sarah Forgrave
  3. Janice LaQuiere
  4. Rebecca Syme
  5. Linda Yezak

• HISTORICAL FICTION

  1. Lori Benton
  2. Brenda Jackson
  3. Robert Kaku
  4. Lisa Karon Richardson
  5. Katie-Marie Stout

• HISTORICAL ROMANCE

  1. Susanne Dietze
  2. Anne Greene
  3. Pam Hillman
  4. Lisa Karon Richardson
  5. Ruth Trippy

• MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER

  1. Rich Bullock
  2. Barbara Early (double finalist with two entries)
  3. Lynda Schab
  4. Chawna Schroeder

• ROMANTIC SUSPENSE (there was a two-way tie for the fifth finalist slot)

  1. Valerie Goree
  2. Mindy Obenhaus
  3. Leslie Pfeil
  4. Dianna Shuford
  5. Teri Dawn Smith
  6. Terri Weldon

• SPECULATIVE FICTION

  1. Ben Erlichman
  2. Suzanne Krein
  3. Shelley Ledfors
  4. Andra Marquardt
  5. Holly Smit

• WOMEN’S FICTION (there was a three-way tie for the fifth finalist slot)

  1. Lisa Buffaloe
  2. Jennifer Fromke
  3. Terri Haynes
  4. Fay Lamb
  5. Christina S. Nelson
  6. Melissa Tagg
  7. Michelle Ule

• YOUNG ADULT

  1. Angela Bell
  2. Lin Harris
  3. Kasey Heinly
  4. LoraLee Kodzo
  5. Stefanie Morris

One of my favorite books from 2009 was The Familiar Stranger, by Christina Berry. This story kept me thinking for weeks, and I’m not just saying that because the author has an awesome first name.

This week the nominations for the Christy Awards were announced, The Familiar Stranger being one of the honored titles. Congratulations, Christina!

Here is the rest of the list. Enjoy these great reads.

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills • Tyndale House Publishers
How Sweet It Is by Alice J. Wisler • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group
Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus • Barbour Publishing

CONTEMPORARY SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS
Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson • Thomas Nelson
The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth • Zondervan

CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE
June Bug by Chris Fabry • Tyndale House Publishers
The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson • Thomas Nelson
Veiled Freedom by Jeanette Windle • Tyndale House Publishers

FIRST NOVEL
The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry • Moody Publishers
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent • Tyndale House Publishers
Scared by Tom Davis • David C. Cook

HISTORICAL
A Flickering Light by Jane Kirkpatrick • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group
The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey • Revell Books: a Division of Baker Publishing Group

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Beyond This Moment by Tamera Alexander • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group
A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group
The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander • Thomas Nelson
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group

SUSPENSE
Intervention by Terri Blackstock • Zondervan
Lost Mission by Athol Dickson • Howard Books: a Division of Simon & Schuster
The Night Watchman by Mark Mynheir • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

VISIONARY
By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson • Marcher Lord Press
The Enclave by Karen Hancock • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group
Valley of the Shadow by Tom Pawlik • Tyndale House Publishers

YOUNG ADULT
Beautiful by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma • Thomas Nelson
The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason • David C. Cook
North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

The weather was beautiful today, quite a change from the constant downpours of the last few weeks. I started my day by getting some writing done on my new laptop. Around noon Jason, Ryan and Aleasha went with the Bachos to pick up Ryan’s 4H pigs. They are so tiny. It’s amazing that they will be almost 200 pounds bigger by the beginning of August.

We had a great time outdoors fixing up the pig area and working with the lambs. On beautiful days like today, I’m so happy we have the farm and all the critters. Unfortunately my attitude is not so good when I’m out in the cold rain fixing fence or trying to convince the rams that they need to go back into their field.