Thursday, December 4, 2014

HopeSprings Giveaway Continues!

 
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It's the end of week one in the HopeSpringsBooks Advent Giveaway and...we had a few kinks. These things happen, but happily for you, it gives you a chance for some additional free stuff as our way of saying "Ooops! Please forgive us."
 
But first up, Teresa Pollard had a great post on Tuesday about hope. We hope (ha!) if you haven't already swung by and commented that you'll do so today. She's giving people until this Tuesday (12/9) to leave a comment to win either of her books (Not Guilty or Tokens of Promise. Both are wonderful reads and if you've not read them, this is a great opportunity to do that!) PLUS - every comment on one of our author posts on Hope gets you an entry into the Grand Prize giveaway.
 
 
You may be asking: are there other ways to enter for the Grand Prize? And that's a fantastic question, but the answer is nope. Rafflecopter and Facebook made some changes to the way they do things and between that and a few other logistical issues, we decided to kick it old school the year.
 
 
As a bonus, what we really want to do is connect with you! So asking you to leave a comment and chat with us works to that end as well. You may now be asking: I thought you said there were going to be two author posts each week? And that's where we get to additional free stuff. The second post with giveaway didn't happen this week - so sorry! But, because of that, we have the added bonus of offering up some audible download codes for free audio books. So - comment on this post for a special giveaway of 5 different audiobook codes. You have a choice between:
So leave a comment and let us know which FREE audio book you'd like! (Commenters from all the locations where this is posted will be put into a spreadsheet and then we'll use random.org to choose the winners - one for each audio code.)

We'll contact winners via email (and mention them in next Friday's post) on Friday (12/12.) Be sure to swing by Elizabeth Maddrey's blog on Monday and Mary Hamilton's blog on Wednesday for more chances to enter the Grand Prize Drawing and other author giveaways!

Monday, December 1, 2014

HopeSprings Advent Giveaway!

 
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It's officially Advent! Counting down to Christmas is always such a delightful time of year. It's also a call to take time to reflect on what it means that the Christ child came to earth, born in such lowly circumstances, all so He could die on the cross to bear the punishment for our sin. We are truly blessed.
 
Over the next three weeks, five authors who are also published with HopeSpringsBooks and I are going to devote a post to our thoughts on the hope of Advent. We hope you'll join us and join in on the conversation.
 
Here's the schedule of posts:
December 2 - Teresa Pollard
December 3 - Stephanie McCall
December 8 - Elizabeth Maddrey
December 10 - Mary Hamilton
December 15 - Laura Jackson
December 17 - Patrick Johnston
 
To enter individual giveaways as well as to be entered in the grand prize drawing, you just need to comment on each author's post. On Saturday, December 20th, all the comments will be put in a spreadsheet and Random.org will draw the winner. Check back here on December 22nd for the grand prize winner announcement!
 
 

Sunday, November 16, 2014

99 Cents!

 
 
The Kindle edition of Worth the Wait is on sale for 99 cents this week!
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Cover Reveal and a Contest

 
 


It's here! The cover of Worth the Time, book two in the Waltham Academy series. To celebrate, I'm giving away a 25 dollar Amazon Gift Card. (I'm giving away a second gift card on my author FB page--check it out. https://www.facebook.com/laurajacksonwrites)
 
Here's a link to pre-order the kindle edition: Worth the Time Kindle and the paperback Worth the Time Paperback.
 
And here's the chance to win the Amazon Gift Card!
 
 
 

Friday, November 14, 2014

Confessional Friday

 
Linking up with Leslie at http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/.
 
 I confess that I just realized I'm my niece and nephew's crazy aunt. Every family has one...the weird, goofy aunt. I'm theirs. And I love it. Here we are ready to go play light-up football. It was cold. And I love those socks.
 
I confess I need a pedicure. I got one two weeks ago, but I put shoes on to run an errand right after and smudged the polish. I've been polish-less since and miserable because I'm having to wear close-toed shoes.

 
I confess that I spent an hour the other day on babynames.com and I'm not even expecting a child...or married....or dating anyone. I do have names for my next book characters though!
 
I confess I have been sitting on the cover of my next book for a week now (not literally), and it's so hard. I'm NOT good at keeping secrets! But, I'm waiting to reveal it. Going to think of some contest.
 
I confess I love my job. Where else can you make wild things puppets and King of the Wild Ones crowns? It's like I'm a kid again. I need to remind myself of that sometimes when I get annoyed at work.
 

 
 
What do you need to confess?

Friday, October 31, 2014

Confessional Friday

Connecting with Leslie at http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/.
 
 
This last week was so busy--but fun.
 
I confess that it was super cool to see my book (Worth the Wait) on the shelf of a high school library.
 
 
I confess I don't always get art. Like this. Stuff glued together?
 
 
Or a book with rocks as the heads? Although I have to say I think it would be fun to read it to the kids and then make our own rockheads. In fact, I might do it soon.
 
 
 
 
BUT, I confess that I could have stayed at this exhibit for hours, just watching the trees. It was at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
 
Here are some of the pics and a video or two if I can get them to work.
 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Friday, October 24, 2014

Confessional Friday

 
Connecting with Leslie over at http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/.
 
 
 
I confess that I have a headache right now, and I'm wondering if it's because I didn't eat meat for dinner. I've been trying a kale/banana/sometimes strawberries smoothie for dinner some nights, and I'm wondering if it's not enough. I love meat (chicken).
 
I confess that I was really nervous about joining the mentoring program at my church. I'm
mentoring a few girls in high school, and I love that. But, I also joined the mentoring group as a mentee. I gave away my Florida Georgia Line ticket to go to the event tonight. I was so nervous about who I would be paired up.
 
I confess I should have trusted Jesus more. Just this week, I complained about women who got married early in life giving advice to single women about how to be content, wait on the Lord, etc. It's so frustrating, and I sometimes feel so discouraged lately. Well, I was matched up with a woman who didn't get married until she was 38. Total God thing--encouragement and hope exactly when I needed it. Why do I doubt?
 
I confess I haven't written anything since I got back from an amazing writing retreat in the middle of nowhere. I have NO idea how I survived no internet and very limited cell service (like one bar randomly), but it was amazing. I want to go back.
My writing view for the weekend.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total sidenote: Here's a chance to win a copy of BOTH of my books--Worth the Wait and Worth the Time if you like Christian YA. Enter To Win Here

Friday, October 10, 2014

Confessional Friday

 
 
Connecting with Leslie over at http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/ for Confessional Friday.
I confess that I'm a curse at my nephew's soccer games. They've only won one game--the one I missed. I'm going to be out of town this weekend, so if they win Saturday, my curse will be confirmed.

 
 
I confess that a I'm so relieved that a health issue I thought may be a big enough problem to go to the doctor solved itself. Yay! I try to only go to the doctor once a year.
 
I confess that I'm two months behind on my Read Through the Bible Chronologically in a year plan, but I'm not giving up!
 
I confess that I'm excited about going to a writer's retreat this weekend. It will in a house in the woods near Dallas, TX. No internet. No cell service. Just writers focused on getting a lot done.
 
I confess I'm super anxious about not being in communication via my phone. I'm too attached to it, so I hope it will be good for me.
 
But if you see a girl running through the woods with her phone in the air, looking for cell service, it's just me.
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, October 3, 2014

Confessional Friday

 
 
 

I confess that this was a rough week. Nothing terrible happened--just not feeling great, some things at work, some things with my novel, etc.

Then Wednesday night came. At my church, during midweek worship, we break into small groups to pray. Our pastor shared that a guy in the church had lost his wife Thursday night. He asked us to pray and then spoke about the man's unwavering faith.

Well, the guy was there, and he ended up being in my prayer group. I'd never met him before, but it's not uncommon to not know everyone in your group.

I can't tell you the words he prayed, but his gratitude and love for Jesus poured out of his heart to the whole group.

He just lost his wife less than a week before, but he was thanking God for being in control of all things and for all of his blessings.

Wow.

So, I confess that I was stressed and annoyed and full of ingratitude. But I don't want to be. I want to give it all to the One who controls all things.

And I'm so thankful for a church that prays together. That man's prayer touched me, and I'm sure it touched the heart of God.