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Welcome and thank you for sharing your time with me. If you signed up for my newsletter since the last issue, thank you for subscribing.
In this issue, our Guest Gab brings you an interview with Cindy Sproles of ChristianDevotions.us and our Writing Wisdom tips come from Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound. In What Am I Reading? I review Defiant Heart by Tracey Bateman. In Book Buzzings I highlight Christy Barritt's new book and also give you an update on my novel. Check Inspirational Insights to read what I write about this "Love Month" of February.
If you have anything you'd like to see in future issues of this newsletter or any comments or suggestions, please email me. Feel free to share this newsletter with your friends (they won't be added to any list). At the bottom of this page you'll see a place to conveniently forward this newsletter. Always remember: I value your presence here and the time you share with me.
You can take a look at earlier newsletters by clicking the Archive box on my website www.johuddleston.com
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| Quality Quote |
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Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. -Franklin P. Jones |
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 Book Buzzings |
| Yours and Mine |
In each issue of A GOOD READ I'll post your newly released books (since January 2008) if you'll let me know about them. Please, no erotica or pornography. Send me the title, your name, genre, publisher, date of release, a graphic of the book's front cover in jpg format and a short blurb about the book (50 words max).
Update on my novel, Caney Creek: Last month I told you I was contacting literary agents with a query letter about my novel, hoping one would want to represent me and my novel to publishers. Three agents have requested to see a proposal package and the first three chapters of the book. (Of course I sent them right away!) Now I wait some more to see if either one will like the book well enough to want to be my agent.
This month I highlight author Christy Barritt (www.christybarritt.com). Below is information about her book, Suspicious Minds.
 Suspicious Minds
by Christy Barritt
Humorous Mystery
Kregel Publication
July 2008
Available at Amazon.com
Crime-scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire finds herself stuck doing mold remediation to pay the bills. But her first day on the job, she uncovers a surprise in the crawlspace of a dilapidated home: Elvis, dead as a doornail and still wearing his blue suede shoes. How could she possibly keep her nose out of a case like this?
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| Guest Gab |
| Interview With Cindy Sproles
Co-founder, ChristianDevotions.us |
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 This month we welcome Cindy Sproles of ChristianDevotions.us, which is the fastest growing daily devotional site on the internet. Cindy is the co-founder of ChristianDevotions.us. Her devotions are published weekly in three newspapers across the country. She manages Tinkertime Productions, a division of the ministry of ChristianDevotions.us, which produces quality videos and book trailers for Christian writers, churches and organizations. She is a featured speaker for women's retreats and special events, and co-hosts ChristianDevotions' Speak Up! with Eddie Jones and Marianne Jordan on blogtalkradio.com. She holds a BS in Business from the University of Phoenix. Cindy lives with her husband Tim and her sons, in the mountains of East Tennessee.
Jo: Welcome, Cindy.
Jo: What is the mission of ChristianDevotions.us?
Cindy: First, it is our belief that a devotion may be someone's only Bible for the day so we strive to put quality, relatable and touching devotions into view of internet surfers. We work to encourage individuals to develop a daily relationship with Christ and learn to draw from that relationship every day, not just in times of need.
The second mission is to provide a platform for Christian authors and writers to have their work seen-to promote the art of Christian writing to a very secular world.
Jo: When did ChristianDevotions.us first appear on the internet?
Cindy: God placed the idea for ChristianDevotions on the heart of Eddie Jones, my friend and co-writer; Eddie jotted the idea down but did nothing to initiate it. Eddie did eventually follow through and check for the domain name of ChristianDevotions.com but it was taken. The URL .us was not. So he registered it and posted a devotion. The site itself came on line as a blog in August, 2007.
Jo: So, what were you doing when Eddie started this blog?
Cindy: I was managing my own small ministry called Mountain Breeze Ministries, which began four years prior to ChristianDevotions. God had me writing devotions five days a week and sending them to a small group of subscribers. Mountain Breeze was picked up by a newspaper in Knoxville, TN in the Spring of 2007.
Jo: And how did you and Eddie become the co-founders of ChristianDevotions; what brought you together in this field?
Cindy: Eddie and I met briefly at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in Black Mountain, NC about four years ago, then again in 2007. We chatted a little and laughed a lot. I'd made another friend who I'd probably see once a year at the conference.
The two of us ended up in Penwrights critique group. Eddie saw a prayer request I posted into the critique group that they would pray God would lead me to an agent who could help me pitch a manuscript of devotions. The next day Eddie emailed me asking if I'd like to contribute to his website and I agreed. Three months later I pitched the He Said, She Said devotion idea to him. This devotion would be written by Eddie and me: One Bible verse, two perspectives, his and hers. These devotions would deal with relationships and would also help readers to see Scripture from a gender specific viewpoint. Eddie and I wrote one devotion a week together and began posting it as the He Said, She Said devotion in October, 2007.
In January, 2008 the site visits jumped to nearly 1000 and we melded Mountain Breeze and its email distribution list into ChristianDevotions giving ChristianDevotions a voice both online and via email. Hence, we became co-founders. From May, 2008 to November, 2008 the site grew from 1000 hits a month to nearly 7000. Our email lists are near 1200. God is growing the ministry.
Eddie and I share the same warped sense of humor; we joke like siblings and share a vision for ChristianDevotions and for the future of Christian publishing. I am blessed that God moved this wonderful Christian influence into my life. He is my best friend, my mentor, teacher, my brother, co-writer and my ministry partner. We plant, God waters and tills.
Jo: Do you foresee a world-wide reach for ChristianDevotions.us?
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| What Am I Reading? |
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In each issue of A GOOD READ I will tell you about what I'm reading or have just read. Let me know what you've read that really bowled you over, tell why in about 100 words and I'll include it here; giving your name is optional. Again, please no erotica or pornography.
 I've just read Defiant Heart by Tracey Bateman, Book 1 of the Westward Hearts series, Avon Inspire, 2008. Bateman sets her realistic characters in the pioneer movement west. Fannie Caldwell and her two younger siblings, orphaned and indentured to a brutal man, have planned for three years how they will escape his bondage. Fannie watches as wagon trains travel west through Hawkins, Kansas and makes her plans to join one of them. As perfect as her plan appears, when she and her siblings try to execute it, roadblocks stand in the way. Toni, a former prostitute, wants to go along; the stubborn wagon master, Blake, won't allow Fannie to join his wagon train because she is not accompanied by a husband; and her abusive "owner" discovers her plan. The battle begins between Blake's stubbornness and Fannie's persistence to get her siblings to safety. A spark of attraction slowly glows between Fannie and Blake. Numerous natural and man-made hindrances get in the way of their love and the wagon train's progress to its Oregon destination. Fannie's owner and Toni's employer overtake the wagon train and try to extract the two women to return them to Hawkins. But faith and love finally prevail. Bateman's characters will live on with you after you've finished the last page. A good read.
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| Writing Wisdom |
| From Joan Stewart |
Joan Stewart publishes an e-zine called "The Publicity Hound" where she shares publicity tips. Each year she compiles her "Best of the Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week" ebook. Her 2008 edition is available and includes the best 24 tips from last year. You can claim your complimentary copy at http://tinyurl.com/Bestof2008Tips.
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| Clean Chuckle |
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 Did you hear the one about the preacher with the new bride? He told her that every meal she served him reminded him of the Old Testament.
She was delighted that he found such a spiritual application to her cuisine. "How so?" she asked.
He answered, "Every meal a burnt offering." |
| Inspirational Insight |
The Love Month
by Jo Huddleston |
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February is the love month--send love notes (valentines) to your sweetie(s); love your heart as encouraged by the American Medical Association; and wear red to support awareness for heart health.
The foundation of many principles we teach little children is based on love: be nice, don't be selfish, share your toys, don't hit, be good to your little sister/brother, and on and on.
If we learned these things well, then as adults we still practice them. And our understanding of the Golden Rule covers them all: Treat other folks as you want them to treat you. And that other, most important advice, love everybody.
Okay, so considering all the things we learned growing up and things we hear now in the month of February, here's how I sum it up: Love your heart and love with your heart.
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| Readers' Recipes |
| No recipes came in since last month. If you don't send me any this month I'll assume you don't want to see recipes here (or I could include one of mine . . . oh, my, you wouldn't want that). |
A celebrity gal said, "I don't cook and I don't care." That's me...no, not the celebrity part, the "I don't cook" part. So if you'd like to see recipes in this newsletter, send me your favorite. I'll randomly draw one for inclusion in each newsletter issue and print whose recipe it is. Please limit the attribution underneath your name to two lines.
© 2009 Jo Huddleston. All rights reserved.
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