About Deborah Raney

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2006-06-15T10:26:00.097-05:00

The Hanover Falls Novel series (Howard Books/Simon & Schuster)

ALMOST FOREVER ~ FOREVER AFTER ~ AFTER ALL

AWARDS for Almost Forever:
• 2011 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Winner

• 2011 HOLT Medallion Award of Merit

A PRAIRIE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION (Barbour Books 2010)

Nine historical novellas set on the Kansas prairie, including "Circle of Blessings" (this is the same story featured in A Currier & Ives Christmas––the only historical story I've written.) This romance collection is packaged in a beautiful Christmas edition featuring fold-over cover flaps, deckled edged pages and beautiful foil stamping and embossing.

The Clayburn Novels Series:

REMEMBER TO FORGET A Clayburn Novel (Howard Books/Simon & Schuster 2007)

Who hasn't dreamed of getting a chance to reinvent yourself and begin a brand new life? That's exactly what graphic designer Maggie Anderson is offered when a terrifying carjacking leaves her stranded a hundred miles from her New York apartment—and her abusive boyfriend. When a kind stranger offers Maggie a ride, she begins a cross-country journey that ultimately lands her in tiny Clayburn, Kansas. Reinventing herself as Meg Anders, she is welcomed with open arms at Wren’s Nest, in exchange for helping Trevor Ashlock remodel the cozy inn. But can Maggie trust Trevor? Trevor has always been Clayburn's favored son, but tragedy has put his faith in crisis, and now he has trust issues of his own. Once Maggie realizes Trevor is for real, she falls for him...hard. But if she confesses all the lies she’s let him believe about her, she will lose his trust and destroy everything she's worked so hard to build. Meanwhile, Kevin Bryson isn't crazy about the fact that his girlfriend and erstwhile punching bag has disappeared. When he unearths a clue to Maggie’s whereabouts, her life may depend on revealing the truth to Trevor.

AWARDS:

• 2008 Christy Award Finalist

• 2008 HOLT Award of Merit

• 2008 FHL Inspirational Reader's Choice Winner

• 2008 ACFW Carol Award

LEAVING NOVEMBER A Clayburn Novel (Howard Books/Simon & Schuster 2008)

Daughter of the town drunk, Vienne Kenney has escaped Clayburn for law school in California. But after failing the bar exam—twice—she’s back home with her tail between her legs, managing Latte-dah, the Clayburn café turned upscale coffee shop. Jackson Linder runs the art gallery across the street and Vienne has had her eye on him since she was a skinny seventh grader and he was the hunky high school lifeguard who didn’t know she existed. Now it’s his turn to fall for her and suddenly Clayburn seems like a pretty nice place to be...until Vienne discovers that Jack is fresh out of rehab and still struggling with the same addiction that ultimately killed her father.

AWARDS:

• 2009 National Readers Choice Award finalist

• 2009 Booksellers Best Award finalist

YESTERDAY'S EMBERS A Clayburn Novel (Howard Books/Simon & Schuster)Tragedy has left Doug DeVore with five children to raise alone. When Mickey Valdez, the children’s daycare teacher, lends a helping hand, sparks flicker between them and quickly ignite. But romance and real life are two very different things, and too late, Doug and Mickey realize they've said "I do" to something neither of them bargained for. Now they must find a way to untangle their knot of hasty choices without breaking the hearts of five precious children—or their own—in the process.

AWARDS:

• 2010 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence finalist

• 2010 Carol Award finalist

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ABOVE ALL THINGS (Steeple Hill)

Expecting their first baby, Judd and Evette McGlin are thrilled to become parents. But the couple faces the ultimate test when Judd learns he already has a child: a six-year-old mixed-race girl born amid secrets and lies. Now, Evette must decide if she can accept the child. She thought she was open-minded--until hidden prejudices threaten the future of an innocent little girl, Evette's marriage and the very notion of who she thinks she is.

AWARDS:

• 2010 Carol Award finalist

INSIGHT

(Steeple Hill 2009)

She's having a baby. It's a blessing that brings comfort to newly widowed Olivia Cline. Yet with no insurance, no job and precious little money, how will Olivia care for herself and her child?

The answer is a handsome and brooding artist seeking an assistant. Reed Vincent has recently regained his eyesight thanks to a donor. And through his eyes, Olivia begins to see all the possibilities before her. Before them. Until, in a flash of insight, she knows why his signature is so hauntingly familiar.

WITHIN THIS CIRCLE

sequel to A VOW TO CHERISH (Steeple Hill 2007)

Within This Circle continues the story of John Brighton and Julia Sinclair. After a tumultuous courtship, John and Julia Brighton have a second chance at happiness, a fresh marriage and, now that their children are grown, a new era in their lives to revel in the promise of the future. Only such a promise is never guaranteed. And life can change in a heartbeat. The Brightons' life is turned upside down when John's daughter, Jana, abandons her husband Mark and three-year-old daughter. As Jana struggles through delayed grief over her mother's death, her actions put her marriage and her own daughter in danger. John and Julia reach out to little Ellie, to give the young couple time to heal, but the little girl is confused and longing for her mother. How much sorrow and stress can both fledgling marriages endure? Two very different couples–each with only their love and faith to guide them–can only pray it will be enough.(A Vow to Cherish released in mass market format recently. This beautiful book duo would make a wonderful Christmas gift for your favorite reader.)AWARDS:• 2008 ACFW Carol AwardNOW AVAILABLE IN MASS MARKET SIZE!

A VOW TO CHERISH

(Steeple Hill Books 2006; mass market 2007)

When his wife of thirty years receives a devastating diagnosis, John Brighton's love is tested as never before. While Ellen slips away from him day by day, a young widow, Julia, becomes John’s confidante. She understands his pain as no one else can, and John finds himself torn between doing what he knows is right and what his heart tells him can not be wrong, John soon discovers the heart cannot be trusted where true love is concerned.

A Vow to Cherish was the inspiration for World Wide Pictures’ acclaimed motion picture of the same title. This edition of the novel from Steeple Hill is an updated and expanded version from the original published by Bethany House Publishers in 1996 and again in 1999 with a movie tie-in cover. The film is available on video in English and Spanish, and on DVD in 7 languages. Order from World Wide Pictures.AWARDS:• 1997 Angel Award from Excellence in MediaA VOW TO CHERISH was first published in 1996 by Bethany House Publishers. The novel was reissued by Steeple Hill in 2006, and came out in mass market size in October 2007 with Steeple Hill.

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MISSOURI MEMORIES

with Deb's novella "Finally Home" (Barbour Books 2007)

AWARDS:

• 2008 ACFW Carol Award

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OVER THE WATERS

(Steeple Hill Books 2005, mass market size new May 2008)

As "Dr. Botox" to the bored rich women of Chicago, plastic surgeon Max Jordan was shocked by the decision of his son, Joshua, to focus his medical talent on Haitian orphans. Embittered by Joshua's death, Max searches for resolution in the very place his son called home. The selfless labor of Joshua's coworkers stuns Max. He is particularly taken by American volunteer Valerie Austin, whose dream of a honeymoon on a tropical beach were crushed, replaced by a stint working in the impoverished orphanage. But Valerie's view of Joshua's sacrifice challenges everything Max has lived for. Now Max wonders if he can ever return to his "Max-a-Million" lifestyle, or if the doors to his gilded cage have finally opened.

AWARDS:

• 2005 RT BOOKclub Reviewers’ Choice nominee

• 2005 Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence finalist

• 2006 Inspirational Readers Choice, 2nd place

• 2006 ACFW Carol Award, 2nd place

OVER THE WATERS in mass market size features a brand new epilogue containing "the rest of the story."______________________________

A NEST OF SPARROWS

(WaterBrook Press/Random House 2004)

Starr Parnell was the only woman Wade Sullivan ever loved. Now his fiancee's three children are all he has left. But when Starr's abusive ex-husband shows up claiming custody - and Wade's grieving heart is stirred by a compassionate social worker - he must learn when to fight, when to let go, and when to simply wait. A Nest of Sparrows is the tender story of a love that defies the odds. A Nest of Sparrows won the HOLT Medallion and the More Than Magic Award in 2004 and was a finalist for the prestigious RITA Award, and six other awards.

AWARDS:

• 2004 HOLT Medallion winner

• 2004 More Than Magic Award

• 2004 RITA Award finalist

• 2004 National Readers Choice Award finalist

• 2004 Booksellers Best Award finalist

• 2004 Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence finalist

• 2004 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence finalist

• 2004 Golden Quill finalist

• 2004 ACFW Carol Award, 3rd place

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A SCARLET CORD

(WaterBrook Press/Random House 2003)

Managing the graphic arts firm of her former in-laws and caring for her 5-year-old daughter, widow Melanie LaSalle doesn't have time for a new relationship - until she meets Joel Ellington, a new staff member at her church. As their love blossoms, something doesn't seem quite right. Then, without warning, cash disappears from a church bank account, and Joel along with it. Can Melanie ever forget the man who opened her heart to love, the man her little girl had already begun to call Daddy? A Scarlet Cord explores what life is like for an ordinary citizen hiding in the witness protection program.

AWARDS:

• 2003 Golden Quill Finalist

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PLAYING BY HEART

(Barbour Books 2003)

When young novelist Madeline Houser is offered the sanctuary of a charming bed-and-breakfast in which to write while her kitchen is suffering a remodeling, she gladly accepts. The owner of the inn, 40-year-old English professor Arthur Tyler, is not home during the day, but his lonely cat Alex is, so the situation is ideal for each of them. The arrangement has been coordinated by their spry octogenarian friend, Ginny Ross. Arthur and Madeline have never met, but a wonderful correspondence begins through the daily notes they leave each other. But because Art and Maddie each believe the other to be Ginny's elderly friend, finding love with each other is the furthest thing from their minds. Playing by Heart was conceived one autumn when Deborah went away to write at a bed and breakfast while on a tight deadline.

AWARDS:

• 2003 National Readers Choice Award Best Novella

• 2004 ACFW Carol Award

• 2004 Christy Award Finalist

• 2003 HOLT Medallion Finalist

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BENEATH A SOUTHERN SKY

(WaterBrook Press/Random House 2001)

After two years serving as a missionary in a remote area of South America, Daria Camfield has returned to the States to mourn her husband, reportedly killed while providing medical aid to a neighboring Colombian village. At first, Daria finds comfort only in the daughter born to her after Nate’s tragic death. As she begins to heal, she also finds a listening ear and a tender heart in her new boss, veterinarian Colson Hunter. Determined to move forward with life, Daria ignores the still small voice calling her to wait and accepts Cole’s marriage proposal. But after the wedding, Daria’s new dream life turns into a nightmare with the arrival of an unbelievable telegram:“Nathan Camfield found alive. Flying into K.C. Int’l. via Bogota…” Now two men have the right to her daughter, her life, and her love.

Beneath a Southern Sky, winner of the 2002 RITA Award, has a sequel, After the Rains, which continues the story of Natalie Camfield as she grows into a young woman. The novel was re-released in 2010 with a new cover in WaterBrook Press' Value Line.

AWARDS:

• 2002 RITA Award from RWA

• 2002 Inspirational Readers' Choice Award

• ACFW Carol Award (formerly Book of the Year), 2nd place

• 2001 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award

• 2002 HOLT Medallion Finalist

• 2002 Aspen Gold Award, 2nd place

• Also named one of the Top 10 Fiction books of 2001in christianbook.com's Fiction Newsletter, Dec. 26, 2001

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AFTER THE RAINS

(WaterBrook Press/Random House 2002)

Long ago, Natalie’s mother faced an agonizing choice between the two people she loved most, and the difficult resolution to her predicament affects Natalie throughout her young life–fueling a season of teenage rebellion that results in tragedy. As a young woman, Natalie attempts to put her troubles behind her, ultimately finding solace in the arms of a man with close ties to the tragedy. Yet neither time nor love can liberate her from the past. Determined to confront her terrible guilt, Natalie embarks on a journey that will take her thousands of miles from home and straight into the life and heart of a man unlike any she has ever known. Confronted with a decision that echoes the one her mother faced so many years before, Natalie must confront the sins of her past before her heart will be free to find its home. After the Rains is the sequel to Beneath a Southern Sky, continuing the story of Natalie Camfield as she grows into a young woman.

AWARDS:

• 2003 American Christian Romance Writers Book of the Year

• First Place Blue Boa Award Inspirational Fiction

• 2002 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice nominee

• Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence finalist

• Also named one of the Top 20 Fiction books of 2002in christianbook.com's Fiction Newsletter, Dec. 27, 2002

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ALSO BY DEBORAH RANEY

Fiction:

CURRIER & IVES CHRISTMAS with Deb's novella, "A Circle of Blessings" (Barbour 2002)

The artistry of renowned lithographers Currier & Ives captures the beauty and nostalgia of simpler days and Christmases past. Yet, while a picture may be worth a thousand words, there are times when even the best illustrations leave viewers with a yearning to know more. These seasonal, historical love stories delve deep inside the artists' portrayals to imagine the untold tales behind each wintry scene. (A special hardcover collector's edition is also available.)

A VOW TO CHERISH (Bethany House 1999, 1996 out of print, please order 2006 or 2007 mass market editions from Steeple Hill Books.) Now available on video in English and Spanish, and on DVD in 7 languages. Order from World Wide Pictures

KINDRED BOND (Bethany House 1998, out of print)

For Claire Anderson, landing a teaching job in Hanover Falls is the realization of a long-held dream. In this loving community she attempts to cast aside the memories of her troubled childhood. Michael Meredith finds worth as a nursing home administrator until an unwelcome investigation concerning suspicious deaths among the residents threatens his career. In the midst of this crisis, the linking of Claire's and Michael's lives seems a gift. Until an agonizing secret is revealed that threatens to destroy their love.

IN THE STILL OF NIGHT (Bethany House 1997, out of print)

Anna Marquette accompanies her husband on a business trip to Orlando. A terrifying encounter there will forever change their lives. Anna and Paul’s love for God and for each other faces the ultimate test, and for a season the painful choice they must make wrenches them from each other's arms. Can even this give new meaning to their love?

Non-fiction:

MORE CHILDREN'S SERMONS TO GO (Abingdon Press 2001)

CHILDREN'S SERMONS TO GO (Abingdon Press 1998)

both written with Deb's sister, Vicky Miller

Contributor to:

PEARL GIRLS (Moody 2009)

I'M GLAD I'M A MOM (Harvest House 2008)

THE ONE-YEAR LIFE VERSE DEVOTIONAL (Tyndale House 2007)

INTIMATE ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD (Honor Books 2003)

THE STORYTELLERS' COLLECTION-Tales from Home (Multnomah 2001)

THE STORYTELLERS' COLLECTION-Tales of Faraway Places (Multnomah 2000)

TEATIME STORIES FOR MOTHERS (Honor/River Oak 2001)

TEATIME STORIES FOR WOMEN (Honor Books 2000)

Contributor to these books on the craft of writing:

A NOVEL IDEA (Tyndale House Publishers 2009)

WRITING THE CHRISTIAN ROMANCE (Writer's Digest Books 2007)

THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO WRITING CHRISTIAN FICTION (Alpha 2007)

THE NEW WRITER'S HANDBOOK (Scarletta Press 2007)

YOU CAN MARKET YOUR BOOK (ACW Press 2003)

Featured in:

LET GOD SURPRISE YOU by Heather Whitestone McCallum (Zondervan 2003)

BEHIND THE STORIES by Diane Eble (Bethany House 2002)

All Deborah Raney novels are available at your local Christian bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Borders,and online at cbd.com, amazon.com, etc. They can be ordered anywhere books are sold.

NOTE TO READERS: There has been some confusion about a non-fiction book, Someday a Blessing, by an author also writing under the name of Deborah Raney. This is that author's only title to date, so any other books or articles with a Deborah Raney byline were probably written by the author featured on this Web site.

ABOUT DEBORAH:

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FOR PRESS KIT CLICK HERE.

From the moment Deborah Raney opened the cover of "Tip and Mitten" in first grade, she has loved to read. Growing up on a farm in Kansas, she was inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder’s "Little House on the Prairie" series, and first tried her hand at novel writing at the age of twelve. But after accidentally putting airplanes in a story set in the 1700s, she tore up her manuscript in frustration and vowed never to write historical fiction again. More than a quarter of a century passed before she dared to attempt another book. After spending two happy decades as an at-home mom to two sons and two daughters, Deborah finally began work on her first novel–a contemporary story–after an intriguing discussion about Alzheimer's disease with her husband, Ken, and their young teenagers. Drawing on her experiences working in a New York nursing home early in her marriage, she crafted a fictional account of one family's struggle with Alzheimer's disease. A VOW TO CHERISH was published by Bethany House Publishers in 1996 and won an Angel Award from Excellence in Media. It has been translated into the Swedish, Danish and Norwegian languages, and is also available in a hardcover large-print edition from Thorndike Press. Steeple Hill Books recently released an updated and expanded version of the book, available in trade or mass market size.

A VOW TO CHERISH was the inspiration for World Wide Pictures' highly acclaimed film of the same title. The film won a Silver Angel, a bronze Omni Award and a Gold Special Jury Award at the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival. It is now available on video and on DVD in seven languages. Book and film continue to shed healing light on the ravages of Alzheimer's disease for families and caregivers. See photos of the Hollywood PREMIERE of A VOW TO CHERISH Ken and Deborah attended in June 1999.

Since then, Deborah has written more than twenty books. Her newest series is The Hanover Falls Novels, published by Howard/Simon & Schuster.
Publishers Weekly said of her 2004 novel, A NEST OF SPARROWS (WaterBrook Press/Random House), "In this thoughtful novel by Raney...multifaceted characters and a fresh story line keep the pages turning. Raney intertwines poignant moments with genuine humor... This is one of Raney's best novels..."

Deborah's novels have also won the RITA Award, the National Readers Choice Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, ACFW Carol Award, and numerous others. In addition, PLAYING BY HEART (Barbour Books 2004) and REMEMBER TO FORGET (Howard/Simon & Schuster 2007) were both Christy Award finalists. Deborah has been a contributor to numerous books on the craft of writing, and has also written essays and articles for such publications as Christian Parenting Today, Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, Writer's Digest's Writing Success, Welcome Home, as well as writing a column for Crosswalk.com with her daughter Tobi Layton.

Deborah and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in central Kansas. The Raneys recently became empty nesters. They have four children and four grandchildren who all live much too far away.

FOR PRESS KIT CLICK HERE.

• Welcome to my studio!

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After writing my first novel at our kitchen table, and others in the bedroom and various corners of our living room, I'm delighted to finally have my very own writing studio. I never minded having my desk in the hub of the house, and in fact, I once vowed that even if we lived in a mansion, I'd never move my little makeshift office out of our living room. Good thing it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind, because I love this sunny, colorful room and the painted farmhouse table that serves as my desk.

Come on in and I'll show you around.

If you've visited before, you know that I frequently revamp my office. Something about changing things up really sparks my writing creativity. Here are just a couple of many ways I've had my office arranged:

Recently my sister stripped the "little boy" striped wallpaper and painted my office a lovely, grown-up shade of mink. A new chair replaced the pink and blue chairs I've had in my office, but don't worry: they both found a happy home in our family room downstairs.

My Dad built this reference bookcase for me a few years ago, and I don't know how I ever wrote without it! It's so nice to have my dictionary, thesaurus, and other reference books within easy reach and at just the right angle. There's also room for my printer on the top shelf, and some writing awards on the bottom (to remind me what my priorities should be?)

Another Dad-crafted item is this "clip wheel" that reminds me of those order wheels chefs use in cafés. It's perfect for hanging research materials, inspirational cards, coupons, tickets ... whatever suits my fancy.

Another favorite addition is a world map used as a blotter on my desk. I'm inspired looking at continents I've never visited and countries I would love to tour – or at least set a story in.

My book covers are framed on the wall near my desk, and a "turntable" taboret holds supplies, and a blackboard and cork for the IdeaBoard I pin up for each novel with photos of my characters, setting, and other items to inspire me as I write.

The comfy chair doubles as my office chair as well as a great place for my husband—or our college-age daughter when she's home—to plop in for a visit.

And no, my desk isn't always neat and tidy. Here's what it looks like when I'm on deadline:

I write on my trusty MacBook Pro laptop, so if I ever need a change of scenery, I can easily move my office out to the front porch . . .

. . . or the sunny deck that overlooks the beautiful Kansas prairie garden my husband has created in our backyard.

My flower pots are a tempting distraction in the spring, but I love writing outdoors with our kitties snoozing beside me and the birds and fountain making music to write by. For almost seven years now, I've written in my new office—and I love it. My studio is where my writing day begins every weekday morning. But more and more, around mid-morning, I find myself bringing my laptop out to the hub of the house...curled up on the sofa by the fireplace, or perched on a tall bar stool at the counter in our sunny kitchen. There, I can see out the window to watch for the mail carrier or the UPS and Fed-Ex guys.

I can keep an eye on the weather, and enjoy our fluffy cat as she observes the world from her perch on the kitchen window sill.

My first novel was written at this kitchen table: But where we lived then, it was our only table, meaning before we could eat supper each evening, I had to put away all my research books and notes and move my little computer so we could fit our family of six around the dinner table. Now, in a way, I feel like I've come full circle—back to the kitchen again.

Lincoln Perk

Metro Coffee

Other favorite spots to write are a local coffee shop, Lincoln Perk (above) where Mary and friends make a Very Vanilla Latte to die for, Metro Coffee (right), and a new favorite, Sips.

Sips

I always get a ton of words written in the inspiring atmosphere of a coffee shop, and recently my husband suggested I try to "import" some of that productivity to my own office by turning it into a mini coffee shop.

A Keurig coffeemaker was just the ticket. Now I can enjoy a hot cup of coffee at the push of a button, two steps from my desk.

Thanks for coming along on the tour. I hope you've enjoyed this peek into my writing world.

A Vow to Cherish Hollywood Premiere!

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Click on photo for a slideshow presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Deb's writing studio early morning

Q: What motivates you to keep writing day after day?
Well, the most honest answer to that is that sometimes I don't feel very motivated. But when God gives you a gift and you dedicate it back to Him, then He also gives you the desire and motivation to use that gift to His glory. Also, I hear from readers every week who have been touched and blessed by the words I've written. That is an incredible encouragement and motivation!

Q: If you could be working on your dream project today, what writing project would that be?
I feel like I am writing exactly the kind of novels I want to write already, so in a sense I’m living my dream. The only thing that would make my dream come any 'truer' would be a chance for my husband and I to live in Europe for several months so that I could write a novel in that beautiful setting.

Q: Where do your ideas come from, and how much of your own personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Because I write contemporary stories, many of my scenes are drawn from my own life experiences. (This is one reason that I'm certain I could not have written my novels when I was in my twenties!) I like issues-based stories and dilemmas. My first novel tells the story of a family dealing with Alzheimer's Disease and a husband's struggle to remain true to his wife. Although no one in my immediate family has suffered from the disease, I worked with many Alzheimer's patients early in my marriage as an assistant to an occupational therapist. The experience was invaluable to my understanding of the topic. Other novels I've written have begun with the tiny seed of an idea from a newspaper article or a newscast or an overheard conversation. It just seems natural to me to hear an unusual story and begin asking "what if?" And of course, the natural progression is "what if this happened to me? How would I respond?" So, in that sense, every ounce of my personality goes into my writing!

Q: Why do you write inspirational fiction (as opposed to mainstream)?
I actually wrote both a mainstream and an inspirational version of my first novel, A Vow to Cherish, and had contract offers for both versions. But in the end, I began to realize that my story could not be told in a true and helpful way without boldly using the name of God and especially the name of my Lord, Jesus Christ. I decided that I would write the story from my heart, from my own faith experiences and leave it up to the Lord to get it in the hands of unbelievers if He so desired. Judging by the amazing response that World Wide Pictures reports the film version of A Vow to Cherish has had, I guess He 'so desired'!

Q: How do you juggle writing along with all your other responsibilities?
Well, if I'm totally honest, I have to admit that my "other responsibilities" sometimes go by the wayside! The first thing I learned as a writer is that houses do not have to be dusted and vacuumed weekly (at times mine has gone over a month without anyone complaining!) I also have a very understanding and supportive family who doesn't mind eating pizza or hamburgers three nights a week when I'm on deadline, and who have been wonderful to pitch in with the housework and errands when I'm in the throes of completing a book. But I also want to make it clear that my most important and most joyful job continues to be that of wife and mom. I realized early on that the season of our children’s' childhood would be so very short. I feel privileged to have been able to stay home full-time with my kids. I'm here to testify that although the glamour and fulfillment of writing are everything I hoped they would be, nothing in my life has compared to the adventure of raising children and the joy of having four beautiful kids call me "Mom." That said, our whole family did definitely make some adjustments in order to accommodate my writing career. When I got my first royalty check, I started sending all the ironing out, and not long ago, my husband treated me to the luxury of someone to clean my house every three weeks (believe me, if I ever strike it rich, a full-time housekeeper will be one of my first investments!) I've become a master at the art of delegation, and the Schwan man (a frozen food delivery service) is one of my best friends!

Deb's writing studio mid-day

Q: How do you handle rejections?
Not very well! But my husband actually paved the way for me to understand that rejection is just part of the writer's life. Ken is a children's book illustrator/author and was rejected more than 80 times before his first book was finally picked up by a publisher. I learned from his experience that just because you receive a rejection letter, it doesn't necessarily mean your work is no good. Getting published is very much about being the right person in the right place at the right time with the right manuscript on the right editor's desk in the right publishing house! That's a LOT of 'rights' that have to line up! But I fully believe that if God gave you a story to write, in His perfect time, that story will find its intended audience – be it bookstore customers or perhaps great-grandchildren! It is a rare author who has never received a rejection slip, so I advise would-be writers to collect those rejections proudly and display them as evidence that they are working towards a career in writing. After all, getting a rejection letter is proof positive that you wrote something, had the wherewithal to put together a proposal package, and the guts to send it out! Many, many (maybe most?) aspiring writers never get even that far in the process!

Q: What do you believe are keys to writing inspirational fiction?
I think something that might not seem obvious is the level of subtlety required. No reader – regardless of how strong their faith - wants to be hit over the head with the "religious" applications of a story. Just as a living and vital faith is a natural, integrated part of the life of a strong Christian, so should elements of faith be well integrated into our stories. Along with that, it is important to readers to identify with the characters in a book. No one can identify with a sinless character. But having said that, it is important that our readers see that our characters are empowered by their faith to do the right thing, or are redeemed by their faith when they have done the wrong thing.

Q: Which comes first when you write - story, characters, or setting?
Although I have a reputation as an author of "character-driven" stories, when I am plotting a novel - when the idea for a book first comes - it's always in the form of a situation, a dilemma with which my characters will be faced. After I have the plot ideas firmly in mind, then I begin to learn to know the characters who will people my story. Setting, for me, is purely a matter of convenience! I don't enjoy the research aspects of writing nearly as much as the actual storytelling, so I purposely set my stories in the Midwest, write about topics I'm already somewhat knowledgeable about, etc. Of course, there is still an enormous amount of research that goes into any novel, regardless of how much you subscribe to the write-what-you-know maxim.

Q: What process do you go through in coming up with your main characters? (For example: their looks, mannerisms, backgrounds)
It might sound strange, but my characters seem to "make themselves known to me" as I plot. I usually give them an arbitrary birthday and a bit of background history (some of which the reader never learns - it's simply a vehicle to help me know my character better, and thus write true to that character.) Sometimes I've been thinking about a character for a certain story and I'll be leafing through a magazine or reading a newspaper and suddenly, there he or she is staring back at me from a laundry soap ad or a news story. I clip that photo out and work from there. But having said that, I've never really liked book covers that show clear pictures of the hero and heroine. I prefer a silhouette or back view or even a type-only cover. As a reader I'd much rather put the faces to the characters as I go, and I'm always glad when the designers of my book covers give readers of my novels the same freedom!

Deb's writing studio at night

Q: What have you learned that you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?
I wish I had studied the basics of writing more before I tore into my first novel! I truly had no idea that there were rules to writing. My first editor, Sharon Asmus at Bethany House, was a wonderful teacher who helped me learn some of those rules. But I've gleaned so much in the past eight years from studying books on writing, networking and brainstorming with other authors, sitting under the watchful eye of great editors, etc. that I sometimes look back on my first attempts at writing and cringe!

Q: What does your husband think of your writing?
My husband is my biggest supporter and encourager. Ken reads all my books (although he refuses to be seen in public reading a book with a typical romance cover!) He is my best sounding board when I'm stumped about my plot or characters and we often discuss books we've read or are writing ourselves. Ken is an illustrator and author of children's books, so he understands and appreciates the rather unconventional life of a writer.

Go back to www.deborahraney.com

Media Info:

2005-09-09T10:35:00.029-05:00

AUTHOR PHOTOS:

To download high resolution image, first click on photo to open in new window.
Then right click on image and select Save Image or Save Target.

AUTHOR BIO:
DEBORAH RANEY is bestselling novelist whose books have garnered multiple industry awards including the RITA Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel from Excellence in Media, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, shed light on the ravages of Alzheimer's disease. The novel inspired the highly acclaimed World Wide Pictures film of the same title and continues to be a tool for Alzheimer's families and caregivers. Deborah is on faculty for several national writers' conferences and serves on the advisory board of the 2500-member American Christian Fiction Writers organization. She has written more than 20 novels, and her recent Hanover Falls Novels series is published by Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas.

Suggested Introduction for speaking events:
Deborah Raney is probably best known for her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, which was the inspiration for the award-winning film of the same title from World Wide Pictures. Her newest books, The Hanover Falls Novels series are published by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. Deb is at work on her twenty-third novel and is thoroughly enjoying her career as a writer. However, her first and most cherished calling is wife to Ken, her husband of 37 years, and mother to their four children. Ken and Deb love small-town life in Kansas and being "Papa and Mimi" to four precious grandchildren who all live much too far away.

For full bio, click here:

For interview, click here:

For Deborah's events schedule, click here:

TO BOOK DEBORAH FOR YOUR EVENT:
Please use the CONTACT link at the top of the home page to send me an e-mail inquiry. I handle my own bookings rather than using a speakers' bureau, which helps keep my fees down.

• Recommended Authors

2005-09-08T17:47:00.180-05:00

Throw the Devil
Off the Train

by Stephen Bly

It's 1880. Catherine's got to escape from her hometown in Virginia. She heads west to marry a childhood friend she hasn't seen in 17 years. She needs a fresh start and he's got a booming business in Paradise Springs. She'll do almost anything to get there. . .except reveal her true last name.

Race heads west set to avenge his brother's death, with a body aching for sleep, and determined to avoid the conniving lady with a throw-away heart. But it's a long, cramped, chaotic train ride from Omaha to Sacramento.

The only thing these two agree upon: they despise each other. And something evil's on board. As they gnaw on each other's nerves, a holdup, hijack, kidnapping and gold mine swindle shove them together, then push them apart. Fiery, opinionated and quick to react, can they team up long enough to throw the devil off the train?

Throw The Devil Off The Train can be ordered through your favorite local or online bookstore, such as www.Amazon.com. It's also available through http://BlyBooks.com.

AUTHOR BIO:
Stephen Bly is a Christy Award winner for westerns and author of 105 books of fiction and nonfiction, some of them co-authored with wife, Janet. They live in north-central Idaho at 4,000 ft. elev. on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. They have 3 married sons, 4 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild.

*****

The Fine Art
of Insincerity
by Angela Hunt

Three Southern sisters with nine marriages between them — and more looming on the horizon – travel to St. Simons Island to empty their late grandmother’s house. Ginger, the eldest, wonders if she’s the only one who hasn’t inherited what their family calls “the Grandma Gene”— the tendency to enjoy the casualness of courtship more than the intimacy of marriage. Could it be that her sisters are fated to serially marry, just like their seven-times wed grandmother, Lillian Irene Harper Winslow Goldstein Carey James Bobrinski Gordon George? It takes a “girls only” weekend, closing up Grandma’s memory-filled beach cottage for the last time, for the sisters to unpack their family baggage, examine their relationship DNA, and discover the true legacy their much-marrying grandmother left behind.

The Fine Art of Insincerity is a stunning masterpiece. I was pulled into the lives of Ginger, Pennyroyal and Rosemary--sisters touched by tragedy, coping in their own ways. So real, so powerful. Pull out the tissues! This one will make you cry, laugh, and smile. I recommend it highly.

––Traci DePree, author of The Lake Emily series

“Only Angela Hunt could write a relationship novel that’s a page-turner! As one of three sisters, I can promise you this: Ginger, Penny, and Rose Lawrence ring very true indeed. Their flaws and strengths make them different, yet their shared experiences and tender feelings make them family. From one crisis to the next, the Lawrence sisters are pulled apart, then knit back together, taking me right along with them. I worried about Ginger one moment, then Penny, and always Rose—a sure sign of a good novel, engaging both mind and heart. Come spend the weekend in coastal Georgia with three women who clean house in more ways than one!”

––Liz Curtis Higgs, best-selling author of Here Burns My Candle

Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly four million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 100 works ranging from picture books to non-fiction to novels. Visit her website at www.angelahuntbooks.com.

Order this book and others featured at CBD.com.

2005-07-03T15:30:00.110-05:00

2012

JANUARY

6-8 – Brainstorming retreat in Kansas City
19-20 – ACFW Board meetings in Dallas, TX

FEBRUARY

19 – Speak to Mozark ACFW Chapter, Springfield, MO

MARCH

March 29-April 3 - Teach continuing track at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, Santa Cruz, CA

APRIL

March 29-April 3 – Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, Santa Cruz, CA

21 – Keynote Greensburg Mennonite Church women's event, Greensburg, KS

MAY

1– Release of After All from Howard/Simon & Schuster

JUNE

1 – First draft Face of the Earth due at Howard/Simon & Schuster

Reserved for Writing

JULY

1 – First draft Love Finds you in Madison County, Iowa due at Summerside Press

15-18 – International Christian Retail Show, Orlando, FL

AUGUST

11-16 – Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival, Ridgecrest, NC

SEPTEMBER

20-23 – On faculty, American Christian Fiction Writers Conference, Dallas, TX

28-30 – Presenter at Missouri State Teachers Association Creative Retreat, MO

OCTOBER

1 – Release of We've Only Just Begun from Summerside Press

TBA – Autumn in the Mountains, Ridgecrest, NC

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER

Reserved for writing

2013

JANUARY

4-6 – TBA

FEBRUARY

1 – Release of Love Finds You in Madison County, Iowa from Summerside Press

14-17 – On faculty Christian Writers Guild Writing for the Soul Conference, Colorado Springs, CO

APRIL

5-6 – On faculty Called to Write Conference, Pittsburg, KS

JUNE

1– Release of Face of the Earth from Howard/Simon & Schuster

23-26 – International Christian Retail Show, St. Louis, MO

SEPTEMBER

19-22 – On faculty, American Christian Fiction Writers Conference, Indianapolis, IN

2014

JANUARY

3-5 – TBA

FEBRUARY

22 – Keynote Oregon Christian Writers Conference, Salem, OR

JUNE

22-25 – International Christian Retail Show, Atlanta, GA

SEPTEMBER

25-28 – On faculty, American Christian Fiction Writers Conference, TBA

TO BOOK DEBORAH FOR YOUR EVENT:

Please use the CONTACT link at the top of the home page to send me an e-mail inquiry. I handle my own bookings rather than using a speakers' bureau, which helps keep my fees lower.

How can you help promote a new book?

2005-01-20T06:07:00.005-06:00

I'm often asked by my faithful readers and friends who've received promotional copies of my book or who've enjoyed my books and just want to get the word out to others, “How can I help promote your book?”

Oh, thank you for offering! There are so many ways to help spread the word and start a "buzz" about a new book and you'll never know how much the author appreciates readers who do that!

Not everyone will feel comfortable or have the means to drop leaflets while parachuting from an airplane, but on the list below, you’ll find at least one thing that will be a perfect fit with the ways God has gifted you.

•Write a review for the book on online bookstores such as:
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com
http://www.christianbook.com

•Write a review at one of the many online book review sites, including:
http://www.acfw.com/bookreviews.shtml
http://www.faithfulreader.com/wom/wom.asp
http://www.epinions.com

•As soon as you start reading the book, post a comment and/or link to your facebook profile page, or send a tweet on Twitter letting friends and followers know you're reading (and enjoying!) the book.

•At http://www.christianbook.com you can recommend books via an e-mail link that will take your friends right to the page of the book you’re promoting.

•Recommend the book as a featured title for an area book discussion group (or start your own bookclub!). This is especially appropriate if the book has discussion questions in the back.

•Start a discussion about the book on your blog or on e-mail loops you’re a part of.

•If you have a website or write a newsletter, consider featuring novels you’ve read and enjoyed.

•Add the book to your list of favorites on myspace, facebook, shoutlife, or other online communities.

•After reading and reviewing the book, give it away as a prize in a drawing on your website or blog.

•If you have a unique perspective—for instance, personal experience with the book’s topic, a man offering a male perspective for a women’s fiction book, etc.—offer your insights in venues that might not ordinarily hear about the book.

•Donate your influencer copy to your public library or church library when you’re finished reading it. Better yet, share your copy in other ways and buy a second copy for the library.

•Print out a review you’ve written, or other reviews of the book and give them to your public or church librarians for consideration.

•Offer to distribute bookmarks and/or postcards for the author or publisher. Public libraries, church libraries, bookstores and gift shops are usually happy to have giveaways on their counters.

•Ask your church if you could tuck postcards or bookmarks in the morning service bulletin some Sunday.

•Place bookmarks or postcards about the book at each place setting as favors for a luncheon or banquet.

•Hang out in your local bookstore and “hand sell” the book by talking it up to customers shopping in the fiction department.

•Talk to the clerks in any bookstores and libraries you visit and ask if they carry the book. If not give them a short book report and recommend they order a few copies.

•When visiting bookstores, do a little creative rearranging to turn the book face out on the shelves. Use good judgment and don’t hide one book to promote another. Also keep in mind that in some stores front-table space is paid for by the publisher, so don’t “steal.”

•Offer to write a book review for your church newsletter, neighborhood newspaper or any other printed source that might reach readers.

•At your next women’s retreat, volunteer to organize a book table, where you will feature the book.

•Offer to organize a blog tour for the author, setting up a week when numerous blogs will feature the book and interviews with the author.

•When you’re finished with the book, tuck it into a gift basket for someone who is ill or in the hospital; or take it to your next dinner party as a hostess gift.

•Leave the book in a waiting room where someone with a few extra minutes might start reading it.

•Prison ministries are always looking for wholesome books to distribute. Check out groups like Prison Book Project.

•Word-of-mouth is still probably the number one way books hit bestseller lists, so simply start conversations about the book. Tell your friends and family what you’ve been reading and why you enjoyed it so much.

•Drop leaflets as you parachute out of a plane. (Thanks to Karen Wevick for this MOST creative idea! Even though, come to find out, Karen is a member in good standing of the Big Honkin’ Chicken Club and wouldn’t agree to actually follow through on her suggestion. LOL!)

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

IF YOU LIKE... THEN YOU MIGHT LIKE....

B.J. Hoff, author of the Mountain Song Legacy series from Harvest House (and many other wonderful novels) has put together one of those "If you like _____, then try _____" lists as a way of introducing readers to some of the best in Christian fiction. I've read something from almost every author on both sides of the list, and B.J.'s comparisons are spot on:

If you like Philippa Gregory, Diana Gabaldon, and Sara Donati, try Liz Curtis Higgs, Jane Kirkpatrick, and Lynn Austin.

If you like Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes, try Kristin Billerbeck and Trish Perry.

If you like John Grisham, Harlan Coben, and Robert Parker, try James Scott Bell, Alton Gansky, and Brandt Dodson.

If you like Luanne Rice, Richard Paul Evans, Nicholas Sparks, and Anita Shreve, try Deborah Raney, Karen Kingsbury, Karen Ball, and Robin Lee Hatcher.

If you like Jodi Picoult, try Angela Hunt.

If you like John Jakes, try Jack Cavanaugh.

If you like Harper Lee and Dorothea Benton Frank, try Jamie Langston Turner and Ann Tatlock.

If you like Anne Tyler and Alice Hoffman, try Lisa Samson and Patty Hickman.

If you like Pat Conroy and Leif Enger, try Athol Dickson and W. Dale Cramer.

If you like Julie Garwood and Debbie Macomber, try Lori Copeland and Diann Mills.

If you like Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton, Tami Hoag, and Kathy Reichs, try Colleen Coble, Terri Blackstock, Brandilyn Collins, and Dee Henderson.

If you like L.B. Graham and C.S. Lewis, try Karen Hancock and Kathy Tyers.

And please don't forget B.J. Hoff's wonderful stories about Irish immigrants! B.J.'s writing has the flavor of two of my favorite all-time authors, the late Eugenia Price and Catherine Marshall. This is a wonderful list whether you are new to Christian fiction or not.

• Wren's Peaches-and-Cream Cheesecake

2005-01-01T06:05:00.005-06:00

PEACHES-AND-CREAM CHEESECAKE
from Wren's Nest

Wren's Nest is the fictional bed-and-breakfast that provides a warm haven for my characters in Remember to Forget, the first of the Clayburn Novels. Proprietor Wren Johannsen just happens to serve a delicious cheesecake that is a Raney family favorite! Here, by popular demand, is the recipe.

Crust:
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 large package vanilla cook-and-serve pudding mix (not instant)
3 Tblsp. salted butter
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
• Beat until smooth and thick, and pour in bottom of well-greased 10-inch quiche pan.

Fruit filling:
1 29-oz. can sliced peaches, drained
• Arrange fan-style on top of batter, leaving about 1/2 inch from the edge.

Cream Topping:
1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tblsp. orange juice
• Beat for 2 minutes and spread over peaches, leaving 1/2 space all around edge.

Sprinkle topping with:
Mixture of 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon

• Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until crust around edge is golden.
• Cool and chill for several hours before serving. Keeps for several days and is great as a breakfast coffee cake.

VARIATIONS: Instead of peaches, spread one can of blueberry or cherry pie filling over crust.

2004-11-09T21:25:00.030-06:00

ARCHIVES 2009

I recently attended the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference near Santa Cruz, California and what a GREAT week it was. I taught three workshops and did critiques for conferees, but I also got a chance to sit in on some classes in the professional track, and they were excellent! My favorite things about the conference (besides the fact that it was glorious spring at Mount Hermon) were: the fellowship with writer friends, the amazing worship music (thanks to Dave Talbott), and hilarious, yet profound keynotes each evening with Bill Butterworth. Oh! And the hike to the cross on Palm Sunday morning, and the snake-in-the-book caper with Brandilyn (read all about it HERE) and...so much more! To see a few more photos from the week CLICK HERE.

The Christian Book Expo in Dallas in March was a wonderful weekend of meeting readers, catching up with author friends, and hearing some great interviews and workshops from so many authors I admire, including (l to r on panel below) Terri Blackstock, Davis Bunn, Mindy Starns Clark, Jerry Jenkins, Beverly Lewis, Robert Liparulo, Liz Curtis Higgs, Bill Myers and Janet Oke.
I also enjoyed meeting with several bloggers who have reviewed my books. A couple of favorites are Cathy Bryant of WordVessel and Linda of Mocha with Linda. It was also fun to do my first book signings for Yesterday's Embers, which officially releases Tuesday, March 24. I signed with American Christian Fiction Writers on Friday evening, and for my publisher, Howard/Simon & Schuster, on Saturday afternoon.

I was so glad that my husband, Ken, could travel to Dallas with me this trip. We had a nice view of the city from our room at the Hyatt, and enjoyed exploring the restaurants there.

Kansas Author Dinner in Wichita, February 2009

I was one of three authors speaking in Wichita recently at the beautiful Hotel at Old Town for a Kappa Kappa Gamma fundraiser for Reading is FUNdamental. Emcee for the evening was Larry Hatteberg, KAKE TV anchor and creator of Larry Hatteberg's Kansas People (I'm honored to be one of Larry's people!)

Other keynoters for the event were Max McCoy Mike Everhart. It was fun to share the platform with these accomplished writers.

CLICK HERE for a brief interview Wichita TV station KSN did with event organizer Jane Knight and me.

Brainstorming in Kansas City January 2009

Spent the first weekend of January in Kansas City – a working weekend, but it felt like a vacation. Though sadly, three had to cancel at the last minute, this is the eighth year our group has gathered to brainstorm each other's novels, talk shop, and eat the wonderful food our hostess, Nancy Moser, prepares. A new wrinkle this year: Speed Scrabble. What a great game for a bunch of wordsmiths! (Below, from top: Dr. Mel and Cheryl Hodde, who write as Hannah Alexander; Deborah Raney and Colleen Coble, Stephanie Grace Whitson and Nancy Moser.)

ARCHIVES 2008

My Club Deb friends gathered at our house over pizza and coffee to discuss a novel we've all read recently, and one people all across the country have been talking about––The Shack.
We had a great conversation about this novel and concluded that, while the analogies in the book aren't theologically perfect, for readers who are truly seeking God, it points them in the right direction. It made us all think about the amazing ways God has worked in our lives, even when we didn't understand what He was up to. What a privilege to share books with friends...iron sharpening iron.

Writer friends Stephanie Grace Whitson and Nancy Moser came to my house for a fun weekend of brainstorming, including a visit with a wonderful book club group in Lindsborg, KS, the small Kansas town that inspired my Clayburn Novels series.

This book club has read more books than any other group I've talked to, and they are fantastic supporters of CBA fiction. After coffee with the book club, Steph, Nancy and I spent the morning browsing Lindsborg's public library, and had lunch at a great Swedish cafe.ACFW Conference in Minneapolis September 2008

With fellow author and friend Sharon Ewell Foster
and my wonderful editor from Howard/Simon & Schuster, Dave Lambert.

The ACFW conference in Minneapolis in September was one of the best! Some highlights:

• Wonderful keynote speaker Angela Hunt, one of my favorite authors.
• Teaching a continuing class with my dear friend and critique partner Tamera Alexander. We roomed together too, so got to catch up on each other's lives.
• A great burger at Twin Cities Grill with Roxy Henke, another favorite writer friend. Had face-to-face time with so many dear friends this weekend, but it's never quite enough.
• A 124-author booksigning in the Mall of America! What a production, but we had a great response and met lots of interested readers.
• The Book of the Year awards banquet. It was a very good night and I owe a world of thanks to my wonderful agent and editors.

With the best agent in the whole wide world, Steve Laube, at the Book of the Year Awards.

Signing books at the HUGE Mall of America in Minneapolis with author and friend Denise Hunter (and 122 other authors!) We met some very special readers and sat on a panel together at this amazing gathering of Christian authors.

Before the conference started, ACFW boards met for their annual meeting and I also got a chance to attend a couple of book signings in Minneapolis. Here Colleen Coble, Gail Martin and I sign books at a Northwestern Bookstore.

Houston, August 2008

I spent the first two days of August in Houston at two different writers events. Friday night, was a special event for readers at Woods Edge Church in The Woodlands, then on Saturday, I served on faculty at the Texas Christian Writers Conference in Houston. Above, I'm with fellow authors, Linda Kozar and Susan Titus Osborn.

*****

The week surrounding the International Christian Retail Show is always a fun week with a novelists' retreat, great workshops, meetings with my editors and agent, and signing books for retailers on the convention floor.

The Christy Awards were extra special this year since Remember to Forget was a nominee. My sweet and talented critique partner and friend, Tamera Alexander won her first Christy for her novel Remembered! Tammy gave such a touching (and funny!) acceptance speech. DiAnn Mills was the other author and friend in our romance category, and the three of us have had such fun being finalists together.
At right, I'm with Philis Boultinghouse, the wonderful editor at Howard/Simon & Schuster, who edited Remember to Forget.

Another highlight each year is the time spent with my conference roomie (and one of my favorite authors!) Roxanne Henke. At left, Roxy and I are in front of our hotel, headed to Christy Awards. Roxy joked that she was my "handler" for the evening, and truly, I don't know what I'd have done without her to get me where I needed to be, get the photos I wanted, and just provide moral support, and plenty of laughter.

*****

Here are some photos from the Howard/Simon & Schuster booth at the International Christian Retail Show in Orlando where I met and signed books for the Christian retailers in attendance. I also got to clown around with writer friends DiAnn Mills, Robin Lee Hatcher, and others who stopped by to say "hi."

It was an opportunity to meet some of the great people who sell my books all over the country. I also had a chance to get to know some of the people at Howard a little better and to thank everyone from publisher John Howard (above), John's wife, Chrys, who designs my book covers, to the editorial, publicity, sales and marketing teams at Howard, for all they do to promote my books and other Christian literature and media.On our last day in Orlando, fellow novelists Tamera Alexander, Susan Meissner and I caught a ride to the airport together. We'd figured out that sharing a towncar was almost as cheap as a cab, and on the trip into Orlando, we rode in a modest SUV. So that's what we were expecting on the return trip. Imagine our surprise when THIS showed up at the hotel. Apparently all the other cars in the fleet were in service. We did NOT complain! ; )

*****

An amazing book club that's been meeting in Wichita, KS for more than 10 years now chose Beneath a Southern Sky as their read for June. I was honored to be invited to join them (along with my daughter, Tobi Layton, above right). A beautiful summer evening in a stunning garden with great conversation (and fabulous food!)

*****

On June 14 I signed books with dear friends (and talented authors) Kim Vogel Sawyer and Judith Miller at Body & Soul, a great Christian bookstore that includes a quilt/fabric shop, health food store, and the Hearth Room, the coffee shop where the signing was held. It was a beautiful summer day (so traffic was slim) but we enjoyed each other's company, and connected with the friends and readers who stopped by.

*****

I had an opportunity to teach at the ACFW WIN chapter mini-conference June 21 and what a great bunch of students. We had fun (lunch at Zio's, what's not to love?) and I think we all grew in the craft...me included, as always.

*****

Perfect Peace Christian Lifestyle Store in Wichita, KS has launched WRITE IT RIGHT, a beginning writer's workshop being held at Perfect Peace West on Friday evenings during the summer. I got to launch this innovative program on June 13. The event takes place in Higher Grounds, the store's great coffee shop.

*****

I had a blast on the last day of May as a guest of a wonderful book club group in the little town of Lindsborg, Kansas, where the idea for the Clayburn novels was born. This creative group of women let me in on their discussion of Remember to Forget and Leaving November, and I don't know when I've had so much fun! (Not to mention a great cup of coffee at The Old Grind where the meeting was held.) The coffee shop was kind enough to let me bring in mugs from Clayburn's fictional Latte-dah coffee shop for all the gals, who laughingly dubbed the photo above our "mug shot."

*****

This past year I've spent a good number of days at Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville, North Carolina. Ridgecrest is a beautiful facility and the events I've attended - Autumn in the Mountains, a novelists' retreat; the Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival, and the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference - have been highlights of my year. Above are some of the members of the class I taught on writing women's fiction.

*****

At Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival, author Kathryn Mackel taught a fabulous class on adapting a novel to a screenplay. A few members of the class (l to r) Terri Blackstock, Deborah Raney, Jenny Cote, Karen Ball with instructor Kathy Mackel.Here, as part of the Honored Authors program at the Gideon conference, are novelists (clockwise from the arm of the sofa) Yvonne Lehman, Sharon Ewell Foster, Karen Ball, Terri Blackstock, Ray Blackston, Gayle Roper, Martha Bolton, DiAnn Mills, Ann Tatlock, Deborah Raney and Doug Peterson.

I had the neatest opportunity at the Gideon Conference to adapt a short scene from one of my novels to be read by professional actors. Actress Bonnie Johnson served as casting director and the two actors she cast in the roles of Art Tyler and Maddie Houser for my scene from Playing by Heart could have stepped right out of the novel. It was amazing to see them bring the scene to life exactly as I imagined it when I wrote it. They nailed it and the audience laughed in all the right places. Author Steven James presided over the rehearsal with narrator, author Vonda Skelton, and actors Gary Moore and Lyndi Patton-Gura.

*****

Spent a fantastic week at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference near San Jose, California, in March. It was my very first time there after fourteen years of writing! What an amazing experience! Above is the faculty being introduced the first day of the conference. The entire conference was a spiritual retreat - how could it help but be amid God's gorgeous creation! And the incredible worship times led by camp director and talented musician Dave Talbott were inspired.

I got a chance to visit with my wonderful agent, Steve Laube... and lots of writer friends like: Gayle Roper, Susan Schreer Davis, Brandilyn Collins, and Sarah Sundin. Sarah and I buddied up on the 6 a.m. hike to Mount Hermon's cross on Palm Sunday morning. We were rather proud to be among the 33 out of almost 500 who made the hike up the mountain!

*****

Leaving November, book 2 in the Clayburn Novels series from Howard/Simon & Schuster, is now in bookstores all across the country. Much of the story is set in a great little (fictional) coffee shop called Latte-dah. Well, I've discovered my own Latte-dah. It's called Lincoln Perk and it's my new favorite place to write. On March 11, Mary and Ana and the gang at "the Perk" hosted my very first booksigning for Leaving November and it was a blast! Got to visit with many hometown friends, and a few from much farther away! Lou and Howard Miller drove all the way from St. Joseph, Missouri for the event! Lou is a dear encourager and supporter of Christian fiction. I treasure the notes she's sent me over the years. For more on Lincoln Perk, read this review.

The weeks around Mother's Day are always a busy time for speaking events. This year was especially fun as I spoke at a brunch at my home church, and a dinner at my sister's church. Even though our grown children live out of state, I feel very blessed to have so many in my family close by. Above, and at my book table with my youngest daughter, and some friends from church.

Below, my mom, my sister and her daughter, who now lives in England.

Celebrating Sisters and 75th birthdays. Already, 2008 has been a year of fun family celebrations! My sweet sisters and sister-in-law (my brother's wife) had a fun late afternoon lunch at Panera Bread Company in Wichita to celebrate the New Year's Day birthday of my "baby" sister. It's never easy to find a time when we can all get together, but we always have so much fun when we do!

We also had the privilege of celebrating both of my parents' 75th birthdays recently. They run circles around all their kids, and what a blessing they are in all our lives.

Prolific graphic artist and author Mary Engelbreit was in Wichita recently, signing copies of her children's books. I waited in line for forty-five minutes to have a copy of her delightful Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose book signed for our two little grandsons (who live in Missouri, just like Mary Engelbreit). Mary also graciously autographed my copy of the December/January 2002 issue of her magazine, Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, in which my essay "The Snowflake Party" appeared in the Traditions column. Our youngest daughter snapped a photo of the artist signing the boys' book. As we were leaving, Mary said, "Write another story for us!" I just might do that.

I've subscribed to Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion almost since its inception ten years ago, and its arrival in my mailbox each month is always a reason to stop what I'm doing and sit down with a cup of coffee and the newest issue.

ARCHIVES 2007

A surprising number of shoppers braved icy roads and freezing temperatures to come to a book signing at Faith & Life Bookstore in Newton, Kansas on December 8. It was great to see some old friends and meet some new readers. And especially fun to share the day with fellow Kansas writer Kim Vogel Sawyer. Kim and I met several years ago through American Christian Fiction Writers (at that time ACRW - R for romance) and we've enjoyed sharing several book signings - as well as brainstorming retreats and writers conferences - since then. Kim is single-handedly responsible for finding homes (including hers!) for four of our nine kittens this past summer.

Ken and I spent a wonderful five days in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Our purpose for going was to help with Yvonne Lehman's fantastic Autumn in the Mountains Novelists Retreat, but we got the bonus of some vacation-like time together. Much needed, since we've both been traveling and away from home and each other too much.

We toured the beautiful Biltmore Estate one day, and hiked the trails at Ridgecrest, the Lifeway conference center where the retreat was held. The program was excellent with keynoters like T. Davis Bunn and Dr. Dennis Hensley. Evenings were reserved for discussion groups, with plenty of time for writing and reflecting.

I'm just back from the annual ACFW conference in Dallas and wanted to post some photos of the great time we had. I could write a book about all the conference events, but since I should be working on an actual novel, I'll let these pictures tell the story.

Deb and Tammy Alexander with keynote speaker
James Scott Bell after the gala awards banquet Saturday night.

Newlyweds, Stuart and Tiff Stockton,
ACFW's first "match made in heaven."

Jill Eileen Smith and son Ryan Smith.

Bethany House editor Karen Schurrer and
our conference director, Sydney Zech.

Tamera Alexander and our Verse of the Week
Coordinator Martha Rogers.

Left to right: Tamera Alexander, Deborah Raney,
Meredith Efken, Jill Eileen Smith, Maureen Lang.

Faithful fan Nadine Smith and her daughter Peggy King drove
from Kansas to attend the Saturday afternoon book signing.
Nadine came bearing gifts: hand-crocheted hand towels for
a group of authors she's corresponded with over the years.

Deb with Lori Chally (a fellow Kansan) and Betsy Ann St. Amant,
who shares the "Raney" name via her grandparents.

D'Ann Mateer played me and Gina Holmes played Brandilyn Collins in a hilarious spoof on the board members at the opening session. At right, me and the real D'Ann.

Fun before the conference started with roomie
Tammy Alexander and wacky Brandilyn Collins.

An informal snapshot of the Advisory Board of ACFW.
Left to right, Brandilyn Collins, Rachel Hauck, Gail Martin,
Randy Ingermanson, Deb Raney and Colleen Coble.

Go back to www.deborahraney.com

I've been in Atlanta for an authors' retreat and the International Christian Retail Show , a wonderful time to connect with other authors, publishers and booksellers, not to mention some wonderful readers of Christian fiction. I'm rooming with one of my favorite authors and a dear friend, Roxanne Henke, and as always it's been fun to catch up with each other's news.
We spent almost three days in retreat with other CBA novelists. Worshipping together, studying the craft (on Friday with the wonderful Donald Maass) and just sharing the joys and pitfalls of this crazy business.

On Saturday night, many of us attended the Christy Awards at the Marriott Marquis. (Above, Creston Mapes, Roxanne Henke and me; and below, novelists, Dr. Harry Kraus, Dr. Mel Hodde (the "Alexander" half of Hannah Alexander), Creston Mapes and Mark Mynheir.

What a fun evening for the industry, with great food and fellowship, and an entertaining and encouraging speech by Lauren Winner. (Below, decked out for the Christy awards: Deborah Raney, Rachel Hauck, Patricia Rushford, Christine Lynxwiler, Susan May Warren and Cindy Woodsmall.)

During the week of ICRS, there are many publisher dinners and meetings with agents, editors, media. All fun (if a bit stressful) events designed to promote Christian books, music and gifts, and thus promote the Good News of Jesus Christ. At left, I'm with fellow Kansas author Kim Vogel Sawyer and my sweet critique partner and friend, Tamera Alexander at the Bethany House/Baker Books dinner at the Georgia Aquarium Sunday night.

Having asthma as a child meant I sometimes had to stay indoors while my brother and sisters were playing on the farm. But my mother turned that into a magical time for me by introducing me to the wonder of books - and of libraries. I've loved books, libraries - and my mother - ever since. This year I've been privileged to present reader programs at several libraries in Kansas, including one in the small town where my mother grew up, Little River Community Library (see photos). It was wonderful to connect with some of my parents' friends, and I had a special surprise when my childhood Sunday School teacher showed up! Iris will always have a special place in my heart for the way she brought the stories of the Bible to life, and tucked God's Word into my mind through Scripture memory. I've also spoken this year at the Newton Public Library, Lyons Public Library (my hometown), the Hesston Public Library (our kids' hometown) and most recently, in our state's capital at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.

Our youngest daughter, the ham

Seventeen years ago we got some shocking news: at 35 and 37, with all three of our kids in school and a whole wide world of possibilities in front of us, my husband and I were about to become parents again! As much as it rocked our world, it didn't take long to get excited about this gift from God's hand. But I confess we worried a little about how OLD we'd be when this baby was a teenager. Well, she's sixteen now, and yes, we're old...but I think in many ways, she's kept us young. (Maybe we should have had a couple more!) At any rate, she is a joy and a blessing, and we wouldn't trade her for the world. She came into my office last night, picked up the camera and took this shot. Then she looked in the viewfinder and gasped. "Oh. My. Gosh. Mom, I look like YOU!" Ya gotta love it! ; )
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Above, Coach Rusty Allen and his women’s basketball team from Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS, show off copies of Remember to Forget. This team sports two conference championships and three consecutive runs at a national title. According to the Tabor website, the Tabor College women's basketball team plays first for God's glory. The primary goal for the team is to create an atmosphere where each team member is encouraged to grow in her relationship with Christ.

Coach Allen happens to be married to one of my good friends from Club Deb, and he read Remember to Forget on a flight recently and was so touched by the book and it’s message of new life in Christ, that he gave each girl on the team a copy at their end-of-year banquet. Apparently the girls got a laugh out of learning their coach had read a Christian "romance" novel, but I couldn't be more honored with his choice of gift for his players.

Go back to www.deborahraney.com
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I spent a wonderful day with my two "little" sisters at the home my sister Vicky and her husband just moved into. It was such a fun day with these women who know me like no one else, who share my history, and who have become so much more than "just" sisters to me.

We have nine children between us, and we talked about how different each of our children are for being siblings raised in the same family. But it struck me how true that is of my sisters and me, too. We have very different lives. Our homes are all decorated differently. We went shopping and couldn't agree on clothes and colors. And yet we agree on all the truly important things - loving our husbands, parents and children, the importance of family and faith. And chocolate brownies with ice cream.

While shopping, we saw a little sign that said "Fate made us sisters; Prozac made us friends." Well, thankfully, we don't need Prozac to be friends, but it was just one more reason to laugh together. I'm thanking the Lord today for my sisters. And for our lone brother who won't go shopping with us, but who survived growing up with four sisters just fine, thank you. And I'm thinking, too, how much I still - after almost 28 years - miss our sister Kim who died in a car accident at 21. So grateful there's a joyful reunion ahead in Heaven for us all!
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ACFW Central Gang (l-r) Mary Allen, Trish Falck, Deb Raney, Kim Vogel
Sawyer, Deborah Dykeman and Jamie Driggers

The Central Zone of American Christian Fiction Writers had a fun meeting at Starbucks in Emporia, Kansas the afternoon of January 27. Over great coffee, six writers from Kansas and Missouri gathered to chat (for three hours!) about the craft and business of writing. It's such an encouragement to visit with other writers and was just the break I needed from a heavy deadline. A bonus was the ride up and back with fellow author Kim Vogel Sawyer, who is always a joy to spend time with.

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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. . .
Kansas finally got a snow worth talking about! Somewhere between 6-8 inches of the fluffy stuff fell Saturday and it was perfect for packing. Our son and his girlfriend were home for a visit and we spent a fun Sunday making snow angels, building a snowman, and tromping in the meadow east of our house - a winter wonderland! Now I'm looking forward to a productive week of writing with God's beautiful handiwork - and a pretty cute snowman! - right outside my window.

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Midwest Authors Retreat: clockwise from front center: Dr. Mel and
Cheryl Hodde (aka Hannah Alexander), Doris Elaine Fell, Stephanie Grace
Whitson, Nancy Moser, Colleen Coble, Deborah Raney, and Judith Miller.

I spent a wonderful weekend with some author friends in Kansas City. We spent hours brainstorming our works in progress, talking shop and just having fun hanging out together - oh, and lots of great food! I don't know how I ever wrote before I had my wonderful authors groups to encourage and challenge me!
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Headed for Top Pot Doughnuts

My husband and I and our teenage daughter recently spent a few days in Seattle visiting our oldest son. We had a fantastic time, in spite of the fact that Seattle had record amounts of rain the week we were there. We stayed in a little inn with tons of character (read not a 4-star hotel) and as I often do when I travel, I came home with a great idea for a new book. This one happened to be our son's idea, sparked by some interesting photos we saw in an antique store in Pike Place Market. Our son thinks I need to turn my royalties over to him if this book sells. I'm thinking one little idea is a small price to pay for giving birth to him—all 9 lbs. 13 ozs. of him—thirty years ago!

With my oldest and youngest in Seattle

We had such fun spending time with our oldest and our youngest—fourteen years between them! Our son lives downtown with a view of the Space Needle and he was a great tour guide as we did all the touristy things in Seattle—Pike Place market, Pioneer Square, Elliott Bay Book Co., Seattle Underground, rode the Ducks... But I think one of our favorite discoveries was Top Pot Doughnuts! Yummy! All I can say is it's a good thing we walked several miles each day.

To see a slide show of photos from our trip click here.
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Deb & Tammy Alexander at Journey

I spent a recent October weekend in Greeley, Colorado with my dear friend and critique partner, author Tamera Alexander. Tammy invited me to speak at a women's retreat at Journey Christian Church where she and her family attend. What a warm, welcoming group! The whole retreat was a real blessing to me and it was a wonderful bonus to be a guest in Tammy's home and spend time with her and her family.

Darla Moxon with her mother and daughters

A highlight of the weekend was getting to meet Bill and Darla Moxon, and their three beautiful daughters, as well as Darla's mother. The Moxon family spent eight years as missionaries to Haiti and came to my rescue when I was writing Over the Waters. After two cancelled research trips due to unrest in Haiti, I was desperate for some firsthand information for my novel.

Suzi made Deb's gorgeous quilt

Darla not only read the manuscript and shared Haiti's culture with me, she also translated many lines of dialogue into Creole. I truly could not have completed my book without her! It was a joy to finally be able to thank her in person.

Another highlight was the gift of a warm quilt for my writing studio. Suzi Buggeln made the gorgeous quilt that the women of Journey presented to me at the conference. I'm looking forward to a cozy fall and winter at my desk, wrapped in Suzi's unique quilt as I work on my next book, Leaving November, due January 1.
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Novelists Brandilyn Collins, Colleen Coble, Deborah
Raney and Tamera Alexander leaving for the 2006
Christy Awards

Early in July, I flew to Denver to attend a writers retreat, along with the Christy Awards (given for excellence in Christian fiction) and the Golden Scroll Awards, which honor editors and publishers in the Christian publishing industry. These events occur annually prior to the International Christian Retail Show. This year was the first time in seven years that I didn't stay for the convention following our retreat.

Back row: Tamera Alexander, Deborah Raney,
Sunni Jeffers and Robin Lee Hatcher; front row:
Colleen Coble, Diann Hunt, Kristin Billerbeck
and Denise Hunter

I've traveled too much this year and have too many projects on my desk, so decided it was a good year to come home early. I'm glad I did. As much as I enjoy these events, it seems I miss my family more each year and it's always a joy to be home again.

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Just Talk About Ellsworth, Kansas 1948.

Rascal Flatts new CD Me and My Gang

Most of the novels I write are set in small towns in Kansas or elsewhere in the Midwest. My all-time favorite country group, Rascal Flatts, has written some poignant songs that have become my own personal soundtracks while I write. Rascal Flatts has a new CD, and one of the songs on the CD is about Ellsworth, Kansas, the small town my husband was born and raised in. As newlyweds, Ken and I lived in Ellsworth for eight years in the house he grew up in. Three of our four children were born in the old Ellsworth hospital. Ken's mom and his grandparents (who celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary in May!) still live there, so that little town has a very special place in our hearts.

Ellsworth, along with many other little towns here in the heartland, inspired the warm, friendly fictional small towns of my novels - Coyote, Clayburn, Bristol. Ellsworth is a great place to live and this song is a wonderful tribute to the town and its people. You can hear Rascal Flatts' Ellsworth by clicking here.

Go back to www.deborahraney.com
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A few members of American Christian Fiction
Writers gathered for a photo at the Called to
Write conference in Girard, Kansas. Deborah
Raney, JoAnn Swearingen,Crystal Ratzlaff,
Deborah Vogts, Deborah Dykeman, Mary
Allen, Susan Mires, Rose McCauley, Jeff
Feuquay.

April 13-14, 2007 it was my privilege to teach at the Called to Write Christian writers conference in Girard, Kansas. This was my first time at this wonderful conference and I was very impressed with how well organized it was. There were about sixty in attendance and the theme of the conference was woven throughout. I came away inspired and energized, and reminded again of my calling.

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Biscuit, the sweet stray calico who adopted the Raney family a year ago, presented us with four adorable kittens late in March. We enjoyed every minute of the nine weeks we got to have them here, and the kittens are all settled in with their new families. But surprise, surprise! Several days before Biscuit's vet appointment to be "fixed," we started to suspect that she would bless us with another batch of kittens.

.

Batch number 2 was born July 11 and we moved Biscuit and her five little ones into the basement where we could make sure this was the last litter. When they were seven weeks old, Batch 2 moved out to the back deck. And now, one by one, they've gone to new homes, thanks to my author friend Kim Vogel Sawyer. Kim calls herself a kitty broker. And it's an apt title, since she adopted Maizie herself, placed Snickers with her parents, and found a home together for two others.

After a lot of begging and pleading (and a few tears), my daughter and I convinced the master of the house that in spite of lyrics to the contrary, three cats in the yard really does make for a very, very, very fine house. Now it's over. Our summer of the kittens. Our 11-cat yard is down to three cats, and it's quiet - a little too quiet. But I will always look back with wistfulness on the summer of 2007 and remember it fondly as the summer of the kittens. In a perfect world, all nine kittens could have lived all nine lives right here in our backyard. But for now, I'm happy we got to keep one. And fluffy little Sundae seems quite content to call our yard home.

It's raining cats and...well, kittens!
Cats and kittens are the topic in my email box since my guest column for Suzanne Beecher's popular DearReader feature went out to her more than 350,000 readers. I've been enjoying Suzanne's book club for years - probably more because of the charming note Suzanne posts with the book selection each day than for the selection itself. When she went on vacation last year, she asked me if I'd fill in and write a guest column. That story, about my husband's grandparents (who are doing very well and celebrated their 79th wedding anniversary in May) brought in over 350 emails from Suzanne's readers. What a delight it was to hear from so many! Click on the appropriate link to read this year's column, see more pictures of the kittens I wrote about, or sign up for one of the book clubs yourself. Happy reading, and as Suzanne always says, "It's so good to read with friends."

A Legacy of Love

2004-09-12T21:08:00.005-05:00

[The following column first appeared in DearReader.com, an online book club that goes out to over 350,000 readers each weekday.]

by Deborah Raney

A couple very dear to me split up a few weeks ago. These days, it’s not really news when long-married people go their separate ways. But this split was too close to home. This was my husband’s grandparents, who’ve been part of my life for three decades—since the day I walked into their farmhouse as a fresh-faced teenager, only to have Grandpa razz me about being just one of a string of girlfriends Ken had brought out to meet them.

It wasn’t long before I learned to read that ornery twinkle in Grandpa’s eye. Soon I could dish his tongue-in-cheek teasing right back, even as Grandma dished up her famous fried chicken and made-from-scratch chocolate cake.

Throughout the lean years of our marriage Grandma and Grandpa never sent us away without fresh-dug potatoes, jars of home-canned tomatoes or homemade cinnamon rolls Grandma kept in the deep freeze for anyone who might drop by.

Our photo albums are crowded with images of Grandma and Grandpa cradling our babies. They were never too busy for great-grandchildren’s birthday parties or ballgames. Through trials and tragedies, Ken’s grandparents modeled undying commitment. So it hit hard when they split up.

Oh, it’s not that the split was their choice. It was a heart-wrenching decision after Grandpa began to wander away from home, and Grandma’s failing eyesight and four-foot-eleven stature kept her from going after him. In recent months, we would come to visit and the vacant stare, the missing twinkle in his eyes, told the truth. Still, his stock greeting was, “Come on in! I don’t know who you are, but we sure do love you.”

Then one day Grandma couldn’t get Grandpa up out of his chair, and the difficult decision was made to move him to a nursing home.

Ken and I took Grandma to visit yesterday. Grandpa is failing day by day. He lives in his own impenetrable world, wolfing down nursing home fare, ignoring his tablemates.

But Grandma’s voice brought a ghost of that famous twinkle to his eyes. She touched his arm and he turned to wrap her in a hug and plant a kiss square on her lips. He must have kissed her half a dozen times during our hour-long visit.

Sitting knee-to-knee in the dayroom––Grandma on a vinyl loveseat, Grandpa in his wheelchair––he looked her in the eye. “Are you married?”

Grandma’s self-conscious chuckle made her sound like a schoolgirl. “I thought I was.”

“Well, you sure are good-looking,” Grandpa declared.

Grandma threw us a sidewise wink before turning back to Grandpa. “I’m married to you,” she said.

Grandpa pumped a frail fist in the air. “Thank you, Lord!”

Ever notice how much it hurts to laugh and cry at the same time.

Grandpa will be 98 at Thanksgiving and on New Year’s Day Grandma turns 97. Grandma sleeps alone now in their double bed layered with quilts. But mere miles could never truly split them up. And if Grandpa makes it through the winter, there will be a big celebration come May 26. Ken’s mom will drive out to the farm to pick up Grandma and bring her to the nursing home. Somebody will order a cake and we’ll have to tell the bakery at least twice, “No, that’s not a typo. The cake should read:

Happy 79th anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa. We love you.

DEBORAH RANEY is at work on her 20th novel. Her books have won the RITA Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Almost Forever, first in her new Hanover Falls Novels series, will release in May from Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas. They are new empty nesters with four grown children and two precious grandsons, all of whom live much too far away.

UPDATE MAY 2010: Grandpa celebrated his 100th birthday at Thanksgiving, Grandma turned 99 on New Years Day, and they celebrated their 81sh (eighty-first!) wedding anniversary quietly on May 26, 2009. Grandpa doesn't really know any of us, except Grandma, but he is cheerful and sweet and always has a smile for anyone who greets him. Grandma remains on the farm with the help of my wonderful, devoted mother-in-law and they each continue to be a wonderful blessing in our lives.

• Read Deb's Newsletter

2002-09-04T13:15:00.003-05:00

My free quarterly newsletter goes out to subscribers via email four times a year. Click here to subscribe.

(Click on each image to enlarge.)

DearReader.com

2001-12-20T19:57:00.002-06:00

To join any of the DearReader book clubs, click here.

Cats and kittens are the topic in my email box since my guest column for Suzanne Beecher's popular DearReader feature went out to her more than 350,000 readers. I've been enjoying Suzanne's book club for years - probably more because of the charming note Suzanne posts with the book selection each day than for the selection itself. When she went on vacation last year, she asked me if I'd fill in and write a guest column. That story, about my husband's grandparents (who are doing very well and celebrated their 79th wedding anniversary in May) brought in over 350 emails from Suzanne's readers. What a delight it was to hear from so many! Click on the appropriate link to read this year's column, see more pictures of the kittens I wrote about, or sign up for one of the book clubs yourself. Happy reading, and as Suzanne always says, "It's so good to read with friends."

August 2007 - I've had the privilege of knowing my husband's wonderful grandparents for almost 35 years now. They are in their late nineties now and sadly, Grandpa had to be moved to a nursing home a few weeks ago. It was hard to see Grandma and Grandpa separated, but they've proven that it takes more than mere miles to separate two people who've been married for over 78 years. That's right...that's not a typo. Lord willing, come next May we will celebrate Grandma and Grandpa's 79th anniversary! Can you even imagine being married that long? Makes the 33 years my husband and I celebrated last month seem like a drop in the bucket. We're not even halfway to 78! But because of the example Grandma and Grandpa have set by their devotion to each other, I feel pretty certain that we'll at least make it till "death do us part."

UPDATE: Grandpa will celebrated his 99th birthday this Thanksgiving, Grandma will celebrated her 98th on New Years Day, and Lord willing, they will celebrate their 80th anniversary next May. Grandma remains on the farm with the help of my devoted mother-in-law and they all continue to be a blessing in our lives.

CLICK HERE to read a column I wrote about Grandma and Grandpa for DearReader.com, an online book club that goes out to over 350,000 readers each weekday.

My favorite books on the craft of writing:

2001-11-13T04:59:00.003-06:00

* Titles in red are those I've found most helpful for the way I write (as a seat-of-the-pants plotter).

A Novel Idea: Best advice on writing Inspirational Fiction, ChiLibris, Tyndale House
Getting Into Character, Brandilyn Collins, John Wiley & Sons
GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict, Debra Dixon, Gryphon Books
An Introduction to Christian Writing, Ethel Herr, Write Now Publications
The New Writers Handbook 2007, Philip Martin, ed., Scarletta Press
On Writing Well, William Zinsser, Harper & Row
Polishing the PUGS (Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling), Kathy Ide, UpWrite Books
Plot & Structure, James Scott Bell, Writer’s Digest Books
Quit Your Day Job, Jim Denney, Quill Driver Books (To order, call 1-800-497-4909)
Revision & Self-Editing, James Scott Bell, Writer's Digest Books
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Renni Browne & Dave King, HarperCollins
Stein on Writing, Sol Stein, St. Martin’s Press
Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style, Longman Publisher
The Christian Imagination, Leland Ryken, Shaw Books
The Christian Writer’s Market Guide, Sally E. Stuart, Shaw Books
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Christian Fiction, Ron Benrey, Alpha
The Creative Call, Janice Elsheimer, Shaw Books
The Heart of the Artist, Rory Noland, Zondervan
The Writer’s Journey, Christopher Vogler, Michael Wiese Productions
The Writer’s Market, Writer’s Digest Books
Writing the Breakout Novel, Donald Maass, Writer's Digest Books
Writing the Christian Romance, Gail Gaymer Martin, Writer's Digest Books
You Can Market Your Book, Carmen Leal, ACW Press

2001-11-12T09:32:00.000-06:00

Read-alike List

2000-12-28T13:21:00.001-06:00

IF YOU LIKE... THEN YOU MIGHT LIKE....

B.J. Hoff, author of the Mountain Song Legacy series from Harvest House (and many other wonderful novels) has put together one of those "If you like _____, then try _____" lists as a way of introducing readers to some of the best in Christian fiction. I've read something from almost every author on both sides of the list, and B.J.'s comparisons are spot on:

If you like Philippa Gregory, Diana Gabaldon, and Sara Donati, try Liz Curtis Higgs, Jane Kirkpatrick, and Lynn Austin.

If you like Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes, try Kristin Billerbeck and Trish Perry.

If you like John Grisham, Harlan Coben, and Robert Parker, try James Scott Bell, Alton Gansky, and Brandt Dodson.

If you like Luanne Rice, Richard Paul Evans, Nicholas Sparks, and Anita Shreve, try Deborah Raney, Karen Kingsbury, Karen Ball, and Robin Lee Hatcher.

If you like Jodi Picoult, try Angela Hunt.

If you like John Jakes, try Jack Cavanaugh.

If you like Harper Lee and Dorothea Benton Frank, try Jamie Langston Turner and Ann Tatlock.

If you like Anne Tyler and Alice Hoffman, try Lisa Samson and Patty Hickman.

If you like Pat Conroy and Leif Enger, try Athol Dickson and W. Dale Cramer.

If you like Julie Garwood and Debbie Macomber, try Lori Copeland and Diann Mills.

If you like Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton, Tami Hoag, and Kathy Reichs, try Colleen Coble, Terri Blackstock, Brandilyn Collins, and Dee Henderson.

If you like L.B. Graham and C.S. Lewis, try Karen Hancock and Kathy Tyers.

And please don't forget B.J. Hoff's wonderful stories about Irish immigrants! B.J.'s writing has the flavor of two of my favorite all-time authors, the late Eugenia Price and Catherine Marshall. This is a wonderful list whether you are new to Christian fiction or not.

Talking with novelist Deborah Raney

2000-12-21T16:13:00.005-06:00

Writing is a solitary occupation ninety-nine percent of the time. Being an extrovert by nature, I enjoy the rare opportunities I get to interact with people during my workday...especially when the subject is writing! Below are links to some recent interviews about the writing life and my novels.

NEW! Christian Fiction Online Cover interview
On Blogtalk Radio with Marianne Jordan
Interview with Cathy Bryant on WordVessel
Interview with Nora St. Laurent
Author of the Week: Grit for the Oyster
Interview with "Relz" Australian Book Club
Christmas interview with author Rachel Hauck
Audio interview with Dianne Burnett of CBD.com
Interview with author Dr. Richard Mabry
Interview with radio personality Cindy Swanson
Interview with author/columnist/artist MaryAnn Diorio
Interview with Crystal Miller's Chat'N'Chew Cafe
Titletrakk Interview with C.J. Darlington
Blog Interview with Katy McKenna Raymond
Blog Interview on faithwebbin.net
Interview with Dianne Burnett at christianbook.com
Audio Interview with Kelli Standish of Focus on Fiction
Interview/Video with Larry Hatteberg at ABC/KAKE-TV
Interview with Bob Latta at The Hesston Record
On Rewriting-Interview with The Writers Corner, christianbook.com
Novel Journey-Interview with Gina Holmes, noveljourney.blogspot.com

Christian Writers Conferences

1999-12-10T13:11:00.006-06:00

Writing for the Soul (Christian Writers Guild)
February–Colorado Springs, Colorado

Florida Christian Writers Conference
February/March–Bradenton, Florida

Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference
March/April–Mount Hermon, California

Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference
May–Ridgecrest, North Carolina

Colorado Christian Writers Conference
May–Estes Park, Colorado

Write-to-Publish Writers Conference
June–Wheaton, Illinois

Oregon Christian Writers Conference
July–Portland, Oregon

Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference
August–Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

American Christian Fiction Writers Conference
September–various cities (in Dallas for 2012)

San Diego Christian Writers Guild
September–San Diego, California

Sandy Cove Christian Communicators’ Experience
September/October–Maryland

Autumn in the Mountains Novelists Retreat
October–Ridgecrest, North Carolina