I'm headed to the St. Louis airport this morning to catch my flight back to Nashville. I've had a marvelous last few days at a writers retreat and then at the International Christian Retail Show, but I'm ready to be home. Since I'm out the door and a little rushed, I'm simply going to share some glimpses of the past few days...
I was thrilled when Dave Long (editor with Bethany House) introduced me to Jenni Burke, the model who posed for the cover of Remembered. (Click the title to see the "historical" Jenni)
Bethany House prepared ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) of Within My Heart, and I signed those at the Baker Booth yesterday.
Me with Julie Klassen (author of The Silent Governess and the winner of the 2010 Christy for Historical Romance, so proud for her), and Sunni Jeffers (author for Guideposts and my sweet roomie who saved my life this weekend with her traveling pharmacy. My allergies really acted up...)
The lovely Nancy Moser who signed ARCs of her newest novel, Masquerade (which I'm going to start reading on my way home today!). Love you, Nancy, and really enjoyed getting to know you better.
The oh-so-sweet and talented Lynn Austin (who won the 2010 Christy for Historical Fiction, her sixth Christy, I think?) and her hysterical husband, Ken. We shared dinner together (with Bethany House folks) before the Christys on Saturday night.
Clowning around with Nancy Moser, Lynn Austin, and Julie Klassen.
Me with Julie Klassen and Dee Gist following the Christys on Saturday night. If you haven't read The Silent Governess yet, treat yourself and do! It's marvelous! So is Dee's A Bride in the Bargain. I'm honored to be among such talented authors.
Sunni Jeffers and I are lovin' up on good friend and author Tricia Goyer and her new daughter, Alyssa. So precious (both of them)!
We had a scavenger hunt during the writers retreat, and one of the "to dos" was to have one member of your group do a cartwheel. Well...this is Lynn Austin attempting a cartwheel with the help of Neta Jackson and Julie Klassen. Teamwork almost made it happen! :)
Another feat of the scavenger hunt was to take a picture of your entire team SEATED in a bathtub. (L to R: Ken Blackstock (Terri's husband), Gayle Martin, me on Neta Jackson's lap and Lynn Austin)
The lovely Colleen Coble and Terri Blackstock
And lastly, a shot of the arch at dusk.
What a fun time we've had! And now, off to grab some breakfast with my roomie, Sunni Jeffers, and then catch our planes.
Continued blessings, friends...
