Annual Retreat with writing buddies

Every July I meet a group of writers (and soul sisters) up in Idaho to plot and plan our next books, and what fun we have! We laugh, and plot, and brainstorm, and eat, and walk, and laugh some more, all amidst five days of "close to Heaven" fellowship. I'm so grateful to have these extraordinary women in my life!

The whole motley crew

Hard at work, can you tell?

Relaxing on the back deck

Brandilyn Collins listening intently (or about to fall asleep?)

One amongst us LOVES Rolos. Can you tell who?

A lovely gift from a writing buddy

Every year Janet makes the BEST fruit salads!

Delicious!

Friend and writer Robin Lee Hatcher, brainstormer extraordinaire! During the retreat, I share a room with Robin, and ahem…on occasion we've been known to stay up late and talk. I know it's hard to believe...

Me with Janet between brainstorming sessions

Three of us have size 9.5 feet and over... Can you guess who these feet belong to? (Click here and view the comments for the answer)

The traditional picture on the stairs

I'm a little cold natured so enjoy sitting in the sun in the early mornings

Another group shot (Oh, I love these women!)

Brainstorming with Sheila

Gorgeous flowers are in bloom this time of year 

Caught chatting in the upstairs hallway

Funning around with Tricia Goyer

Frani and Brandilyn, master brainstormers (and jokesters)

Me getting tickled at something Frani did

And getting even more tickled!

 

More beauty in nature

And the wildlife...so pretty!

After a walk...

A precious little Yorkie named Bear joined us this year too

And finally, our traditional "Tada!" picture. Another wonderful time of sharing and singing and fellowship behind us. I can hardly wait for July 2013! (L to R: Tricia Goyer, Brandilyn Collins, Karen Ball, Janet Ulbright, Robin Lee Hatcher, Francine Rivers, me, Gayle DeSalles, Sheila Lovell, Sharon Dunn. Sunni Jeffers is normally in our number but couldn't make it this year.)

Don't you love your sister time! And aren't we grateful for the women in our lives...

ChristianAudio.com, Giveaways, and more...

Did you know that ChristianAudio.com offers a free download every month? And that they have sample chapters you can listen to before you buy? It's true. Check it out.

If you have a minute, join me over at Writes of Passage today where I'm giving away some brand new releases and sharing about manna, and a not so gentle "nudge" I felt in church this past weekend.

And last but not least, I'm giving away five copies of From a Distance this month. From a Distance is the first novel in the Timber Ridge Reflections series, and the 2009 Christy Award Winner* for Best Historical Romance. No strings attached. Just leave your information and you're entered! It's my way of saying "Thank you for reading." Sign up for the giveaway here on my website.

Grateful for you,
Tammy

* Never heard about the Christy Award? You can learn more about the Christy Award here!

German book video for REKINDLED

My husband found this video today and forwarded it to me. It's the German book video for Rekindled, which has been translated into German (and Dutch and Turkish!). Cool... The German cover is pictured to the left, and they translated the title to be "The Return of the Stranger." Love it!

And FYI, if you haven't read Rekindled yet, the ebook is available right now for $1.99 (!) on Amazon. Just think…15 months of my life for $1.99 (ROFLOL).

Hope you enjoy the video... I have no idea what it says but it sounds and looks pretty!

A glimpse at A Lasting Impression

October is almost here and that means it's almost time for A Lasting Impression to hit the shelves. It's also time to share the first two chapters from this novel. A Lasting Impression was over two years in the "research and writing," but what a journey it was.

This story––set against the backdrop of Nashville's Belmont Mansion (pictured below in the 1860s, and now present day)––is packed with "real life" Southern history, and I hope you enjoy it!

“Tamera Alexander paints vivid scenes, not with oils on canvas but with words on the page, as she sweeps us away to the cafes of New Orleans and the hills of Tennessee. In Claire Laurent we find a true artist, ever doubting her talents, ever questioning her calling. And in Sutton Monroe we meet a hero whose bright mind is eclipsed only by his tender heart. A lovely story, sure to please anyone who treasures a good romance.”
—Liz Curtis Higgs, New York Times best-selling author of Mine Is the Night


"A Lasting Impression is a wonderful start to a new series. With writing that is rich and textured, Ms. Alexander paints a portrait of Belmont and Nashville after the Civil War that will pull you in and almost make you believe that you are living there yourself."
—Robin Lee Hatcher, best-selling author of Belonging

Belmont Mansion circa 1860s

Belmont Mansion circa 2011

A Lasting Impression-back to front

Hey friends, we're one step closer to having a finished book!

It's always exciting to get the PDF of a cover, and here's a glimpse of A Lasting Impression (from back cover to front)…

(Click for larger image, then back arrow to return)

This book has been a long time in coming. In some ways––okay, in all ways––I wish I were a faster writer, like some of my colleagues. But I'm simply not. It takes me months and months and months or, as in this case…nearly two years, to write a book. 

I hope you enjoy Sutton and Claire's story, and I'll be posting a link to the first chapter here (and on Twitter and Facebook) soon.

A Lasting Impression starts shipping in October, and should be in bookstores no later than November 1st.

Pre-order from Christan Book Distributors (CBD.com)

Pre-order from Amazon

Pre-order from Bethany House Publishers

So far, 50 is fabulous!

Thank you to everyone for your sweet bday wishes over on Facebook yesterday. I had a wonderful day. Went to see the movie Crazy, Stupid Love, which I enjoyed. [No spoilers coming, I promise.] So many parts of the movie had me laughing out loud, then others tearing up, then others, admittedly, shaking my head at what Hollywood considers humorous or promotes as acceptable behavior. But all in all, I found Crazy, Stupid Love enjoyable. And it had a great ending. That's all I'll say. No spoilers, as promised...

Seeing that movie got me to thinking about all the different kinds of love we experience in this life. And the different stages of love too. As many of you know, my precious mom went home to be with the Lord in August 2009 from gallbladder cancer. Her passing left a gaping hole in our lives and an especially huge hole (understatement) in my Dad's heart. He adored Mom, and she did him, for 55+ years. They were each other's best friends, and far more.

This past spring we encouraged Dad to attend his 60th high school reunion. He did, and long story short…several weeks later, through the encouragement of a sibling of a former childhood friend, he reconnected with that "childhood friend," and a seed of love was planted, and began to grow. Dad and Esta––a dear woman he grew up with in  Fayetteville, TN, and hadn't seen since high school––are to be married later this month. And my older brother, Doug, and I, and our families, couldn't be happier for them.

Dad and Esta visited us in Nashville recently. 

Don't they look happy!

Esta lost her husband, Merle, thirty-six years ago and then raised their children by herself. She was a nurse for forty-one years and also endured breast cancer in her late forties. She lost a daughter and sister to breast cancer in recent years as well, and yet is the most joy-filled woman. Her love for the Lord (and my dad) just radiate. We've really enjoyed getting to know her and welcoming her to our family. Thank you for your prayers for my family and for my Dad. They've made such a difference!

And now, switching gears back to movies... 

Through the power of Fandango (I don't care for their paper bag ads but love the service they provide, LOL), I've got a ticket for the first showing of the The Help on Wednesday. What a fabulous book (and audio book!), and I can hardly wait to see it on the screen. Wish we could all have a Girl's Day Out and go see it together.

Have you heard the soundtrack for the movie yet? And the original song written for the movie? Listen to The Living Proof and the story behind it. Beautiful arrangement and lyrics.

Now off for some iced coffee and to finish the discussion questions for A Lasting Impression. Oh…it's so wonderful to be at this stage with another book. My publisher will be asking for advance readers for ALI soon. I'll be sure and get you the info if you're interested.

Annual Brainstorming Retreat

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm back from my annual brainstorming retreat in Idaho but am still flying high on the shared laughter and love. I consider myself doubly blessed to be included in this group of talented writers and altogether fabulous women. This is our ninth summer to meet together––hard to believe it's been that long––and I think this year might have been the best retreat yet.

Brandilyn, Janet, Sunni, Karen, Robin, me, Tricia, Gayle, Francine, Sharon 

We've been through a lot together and on our first night there, we always share a recap of our past year––what God has taught us, what we've struggled with, what we want to praise God for, and how the group can pray for us. And of course, along with some tears, there's LOTS of laughter and praising, and delicious food! 

One of the gals LOVES Rolos candy (chocolate with caramel), so I tweaked my sweet mom's recipe for Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake and added some Rolos. Yum!! Then I glazed it with warm fudge sauce, froze it overnight, and popped it into my checked baggage. As they say in Steel Magnolias, "It freezes beautifully!" And traveled without a hitch.

Hanging out in the kitchen

 We all loved Janet's scarf and wanted to share it

We met a brown bear while walking (then quickly ran away before the homeowner came out and saw us accosting his decorative driveway art)

Beautiful wildlife would venture up as we were out on the back deck brainstorming 

Tricia's teaching me Mahjong. She knows how to do everything!

Robin "off kilter" (which is usually the case!)

Thinking about marketing these...

(for the "backstory" on this t-shirt, click here)

Even the trees have eyes...

Hard at work during one of our free times (well, maybe Tricia's still playing Mahjong)

Cupcakes for everyone!

Relaxing on the back deck

 

Having a ball as we brainstorm

And finally, the motley crew again...

It's a little sad to think of the retreat being over so quickly, but as fast as this past year came and went––and it flew!––I know July 2012 will be here before we know it. And there's another book waiting to be written that these gals helped me brainstorm. We've started recording the brainstorming sessions too, which helps a ton. I can't tell you how many times I've gone back and listened to when we brainstormed A Lasting Impression. I'm grateful they share their immense talent with me, as well as this earthly journey.

Okay, need to get back to A Lasting Impression galleys. Blessings, friends!