NEWSLETTER

Fall 2007

Beloved Reader,

Welcome to the first Plain News newsletter! I hope this is something that will bless you as you receive it four times throughout the year.

I have to begin with a huge thank you to each of you. You made my debut novel (which came out last September) and its sequel (which came out last month) a success beyond all that I had asked or thought (Ephesians 3:20). I’m deeply grateful and pray I’ll find ways to honor your kindness to welcome this new author and your diligence in helping to get the word out about the books.

When the Morning Comes released on September 4, 2007

I just learned a few days ago that this book hit the number FOUR spot on the CBA fiction best-sellers list! Wow, I never expected that.

It came in under two Karen Kingsbury books, Just Beyond the Clouds and Summer, and Beverly Lewis’s new book, The Parting. That’s just amazing! I’m too excited to even know what to say. It landed in eighth place in the overall top fifty of fiction and nonfiction. Can you stand it if I say thank you again ... and again ... and again?

After taking a year to finish writing Hannah’s story, I turned the work in to the publisher a few weeks ago. As far as my editor and I know, the title will be When the Soul Mends. It will be out September 2008 and will conclude Hannah’s journey.

Every prayer you’ve said and every person you’ve shared about these books with has made a difference!

Blessings,

Cindy

The Year in Review ~

When the Heart Cries was released in September 2006 and made the Christian Booksellers Association best-seller list, coming in at number nineteen (out of twenty). It was nominated for the 2007 ECPA Christian Book of the Year award. Crossings, Choice Books, and CBD.com blessed me greatly by welcoming it into the marketplace. Books-A-Million wowed me beyond belief by picking When the Heart Cries as its January FaithPoint Book Club choice. What a wonderful year we had! Then I just learned that When the Heart Cries made the latest CBA best-sellers list again, this time coming in at number eleven!

When the Morning Comes has again been chosen as a Books-A-Million FaithPoint Book Club choice for January. Independent Christian book stores, as well as the Christian chain book stores, and Christianbook.com have marveled me with their support. Crossings Book Club featured it last month. And Choice Books has been an amazing supporter!

Excitement aside, I live in hope that the books will bless others and get into the hands of those who need to know the principle of "nevertheless."

News about Contests ~

We’ve had a wonderful year of contests and winners. The winner of the Amish-made quilt is April R. of Temecula, California. Even as we congratulated April for her win, a new quilt contest began. So if you haven’t entered, or if you forgot to encourage your mother, sisters, brothers, cousins, friends, and neighbors to enter (while adding your name to the list again each time), here’s your reminder: Quilt Contest ;-)

There’s also a contest each month for an autographed copy of When the Morning Comes. You can enter anew each month, and signed books make nice gifts.

We’re also starting a special newsletter contest, and the prize will be an autographed copy of book three, When the Soul Mends, as soon as it’s available. (It may be available a month or more sooner through this contest than in stores.) We’ll have the same contest for each edition of this year’s newsletter, each offering another chance to win an autographed copy of When the Soul Mends.

Feel free to forward this newsletter to family and friends, and they can enter the contest too. A winner will be drawn November 15, 2007. 

Here’s how to enter. (Please follow these steps carefully to prevent your entry from being disqualified.)

Note: You are reading the Web site version of Plain News. The Newsletter Contest is only available to those who receive the newsletter via their inbox. The newsletter is free and is sent four times per year, but on an occasion a special announcement may be sent. To sign up, to go http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/newsletter.php.

I want to give away as many books as I can!

Tidbits from author DiAnn Mills ~

DiAnn Mills is one busy author! She traveled to Sudan to do her research for her latest book, When the Nile Runs Red.

This month DiAnn was at the Glorieta Christian Writers Conference. I corresponded with her prior to the conference and asked if she’d share a few words with aspiring authors. She said:

"Courage is not about what we do but about listening to our heart and making a decision. Sometimes writing takes a lot of guts—fear of rejection, failure, or humiliation. Courage means putting aside our misgivings and listening to the story of our heart."

Tidbits from author Sharon Hinck ~

When writing a novel, it seems there’s always something deep and beautiful that unveils itself to the author. I caught up with Sharon Hinck, author of the Becky Miller series and the Swords of Lyric series, and asked her to share her latest deep discovery that came to her as she spent months writing. Sharon said:

"In working on the series, I was captivated by the way these stories unfolded and revealed God’s unrelenting love for the characters. It helped remind me of His tenderness and patience toward me. As Christ-followers, we are all on an adventurous journey. God is our ultimate hero, but He invites us to join Him in being vehicles of His love to others—not because of our qualifications. In fact, He often works in the most marvelous ways through our weaknesses. We are “jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7) but His graces leaks out through the broken and chipped places of our lives."

The Sword of Lyric series: The Restorer and The Restorer’s Son  
An adventure of fantasy and faith
 
Cast out by those he trusts, the new reluctant Restorer prefers to cross swords with the One rather than submit to His will. Pursued by his calling, he journeys to Sidian, where he finds a boy without a home, a king with burning questions, and a nation torn by darkness. As he embraces the tasks the One has set before him, this new Restorer learns that the One requires his all—perhaps even his life.

Tidbits from my editor, Shannon [Hill] Marchese

Thanks for all the support. We can’t wait to show you what we have up our sleeves next!

Christmas picks from my editor:

Leaper (by Geoffrey Wood) for the superhero fan in your family, especially those troublesome male readers.

And Let Them Eat Cake (by Sandra Byrd) for women of all ages who appreciate French baking and the foibles of an unexpected identity crisis.

A brief word from my agent Steve Laube ~

We are in a very exciting industry because there is an incredible power in a book: the power to change lives.

Recipes ~

As the weather turns cooler, I’m finding myself ready for homemade soups. Here are a few Amish recipes that are bound to warm more than just the body and make for a good supper. My Amish friend teases me that only Englischers have dinner; they always have supper :-o)

Amish Potato Noodle Dumplings Soup

1 1/2 cups water
3 medium potatoes, peeled and grated
1 celery rib, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup diced cured or smoked ham
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups milk
1/8 teaspoon celery seeds
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley or chives

Bring the water, potatoes, celery, onion, and ham to a simmer in a large saucepan; cook for 20 minutes.

In a medium bowl, mix the egg, flour, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Using floured hands, pull into stringy lumps; add to the potato mixture. Cook for 7 minutes, stirring often. Stir in milk, celery seeds, and remaining salt; heat through. Top with parsley or chives.
Serves 4–6.

Amish Chicken Noodle Soup

3 pounds chicken
2 quarts water
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 cups celery, chopped
2 cups carrots, chopped
1 tart apple, chopped
1 cup onions, chopped
Dash of pepper
4 cups egg noodles

Place chicken in kettle with 2 quarts water. Cover until tender (about 2 1/2 hours).
Remove chicken from kettle and strain broth. Debone chicken and return to kettle with strained broth. Add chicken stock, celery, carrots, apple, onions, and pepper and cook until vegetables are tender. Add noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.

Gross Dank un bis schpeeder (Many thanks and until later),
                  
Cindy Woodsmall

Baseball is a favorite sport among the children and young men of an Amish community. As long as their own people aren’t playing or watching a professional game of ball, the Old Ways of the Amish have nothing against it.