*whew* Summer days are long for a reason.

Helloo everybody!!

 So, Leaving Liberty is out and about!

Sitting right at #2 on the Christian fiction lists right  here .  I'm loving how much easier this gets every single time. I do get nervous, but it's not as bad as the first few times. Maybe by book #205 I won't even blink!!

  My next project is another historical and I'm loving this story! It's one I've wanted to write for a long time, about a girl who is a secret newspaper columnist in a time when women weren't really respected for doing anything outside the home. I have a soft spot for trailblazers and women trailblazers make me happy. :)

  Nest week we've got some very fun blog posts coming up! May the K9 spy is going to be here!! Giveaways and a treasure hunt and all sorts of fun!

  As a mom of middle grade readers, I'm always searching for good books. May is a treasure!

  Ok, all, until next Tuesday! I'll leave you with a picture of this chicken. It's wearing a diaper. We have chickens. They don't wear diapers. This little gizmo is for people who want chickens to be able to roam in their house.

Why?

No idea. People are weird.

 Until Tuesday, my friends!

New releases!

Hello, my pretties!

 I'm pretty far behind with this blog thing. I keep saying I'll pop over here to write down some quick thoughts but then end up just blogging at Yankee Belle Café. Here's my most recent post... Here.

You should click it. There are pictures of food and cabins and books and my feet. You must admit, those are some stylish feet.

And here's a new cover for a new book that's going to be up July 1st!

Whee! And it will start with a free run, so watch for it. :)

Love's Miracles blog tour comes to meeeeeeee! Five stars!

Hi everybody!

 This is a review post for a friend who has a new book out. I volunteered to spread the word because Sandra has such a beautiful way with a story. This sweet book is one of those that will keep you company on a rainy afternoon.

 I like a little edge to my stories. I like some history. I like the characters to have REAL issues, not just dealing with wacky parents or a job they don't like or the fact they can't bake a good cake. (Oh, I thin I just described my own books, haha!) Anyway, this is a beautiful story that is relevant today, even thought it was written in the 80's.

 Newly released and ready for you to enjoy, this is one you don't want to miss. A real story for real people, with real love involved. We're not talking fluff. We're talking PTSD, family tragedies, war, and having the guts to work toward healing.

 But then it had the romance I expected from the cover. I'm  romance fan and I'm proud to stand up an shout it to the world... and then I promptly sit down to read another book. Anyway, this couple wasn't contrived. This love grew from a true meeting of minds and hearts.

 Definitely a keeper... AND a re-reader. :)


I reviewed a complimentary review copy in exchange for posting my honest opinion of the book for the blog tour.


 Enjoy! And I'll see you all in a little bit

New covers!!!

Ok, everybody, it was wayyyy past due but I finally got some real covers made for these two books out now.

 First off, my baby....

My first....

My New Year's Eve moment of insanity....

All grown up. :)

 

 Of course, what comes next? Paper copies! yes, for all of you who eschew the Kindle and embrace the ancient art of paper publishing, this little (mercy, actually about 368 pages) book will be in paper soon! Until then, you all can buy it here on Kindle.

 

 

All right, ready for the next one???? Now, my historical always had a cover I hated. It was slapped together (ok, it took me 4 hours) on Powerpoint and it admittedly... sucked the big Kahuna.

But it still sold better (five thousand copies so far!) than quirky Southern Jane Austen. Everybody loves a historical, right? But not everybody loves a crapalicious cover. Here's the old one...

Yikes. What can I say? It had to go.

Much better!! And since she's a portrait painter, I really like the model's position. Isn't that SO much better??? And I think the covers are helping sales, too. (I mean, duh, of course they would but it's nice to see it for realz.)

  Ok, that's about it. Remember you can find me on facebook here and here, depending on what series you want to follow. :)

  Now, back to the AA's for Season of Hope (releasing Nov 2012) and tonight, digging back into 'Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs', which I'm absolutely loving!

  I've always loved Emma and Mr. Knightley. But as Southerners, I just have to love them a bit more.

  Take care and be good and get out into the sunshine!!

 

 

Wheeee! Give away time! Pride and Prejudice DVD!

Okay, so I recently logged the 3,000th sale of my wacky little Southern Jane Austen book and I'd like to celebrate!

(See, Calvin and Hobbes know how to celebrate... with a giveaway!)
My little baby is growing up! Through the good times (five star reviews!), the bad times (one star review because... well, you can read it), and the very best of times (hitting the top of the Christian romance lists!).

I almost missed the big day because I was working on that synopsis for the new contract (arg! SYNOPSIS!) and didn't check my sales for a few days. But I saw it, just in time, and savored the moment.... with a big cookie. 'Cause that's how I roll.
If you missed the contract announcement, it was on Yankee Belle Cafe with Mercer Meyer.

  If you haven't head how it came to be, there's a fun little interview about it on Inkwell Inspirations here. 

Or you can read another interview about it on the My Jane Austen Book Club blog here.

 Anyway! Here's what we'll do... Anyone who likes the facebook page (right here) or leaves a comment there or leaves a comment here, will be entered into the nifty drawing. Make sure you like or comment on the giveaway post, because if you like one of those pretty pictures from way back, I may not catch it.

And what are we giving away??? Of course copies of the beautiful baby girl book. AND the Kiera Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice DVD, delivered directly from Amazon.

Those who know me wil wonder aloud WHY the 2005 version, since I think Kiera has a chicken neck and walks as if there's a ruler duct-taped to her back. But I know she's popular. So, Kiera it is.

Thanks for celebrating with me! I'm going to make this cheesecake tomorrow!!

And if you've read Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits be sure to leave a review. (Not a one star. One stars are for books that make you cry yourself to sleep.)

SMALL PRINT IN BIG PRINT SO YOU WILL NOTICE AND READ IT: Feel free to comment for the chance at the digital copy (of any of my books, actually) but the DVD will be sent to a winner in the US only. Please and thank you.

Anybody home?

Hi all!!


 Sorry for the absurdly long time between posts. I've been hanging out at Yankee Belle Cafe on Wednesdays so I can just blame them... No?

Fine.

 Be that way.

Anyhoo, I put up a book on Amazon. "Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits" is my ugly baby nobody wanted. I looooooooooove her! All her little fingers and toes and quirky characters and odd Civil War tidbits.

The book video is featured over at Souther Writers Magazine 'Must Read Tv'.Here... Check it out. (If you don't like it, don't tell me because it only took me 7 hours or so.)

 ANNNNNND then I put up another book called "All The Blue of Heaven". Wheee! Historical fiction! It's bizarre how popular historicals are. Truly. I had no idea. Marking on my to-do list 'write more historicals'.

Sorry about this cover. I bought these (sort of really expensive) images and then took 3 days to figure out how to make a darn cover... and then couldn't get off the watermark. Duh. Someone rescue me from myself. Anyway, until I really figure it out, this is the way it will stay. And I probably shouldn't change it since it...

... made it to #1 in Christian Literature and Fiction Bestsellers list. That was cool. It was picked up by ereadernews and that gave it a nice kick. Lovely people. Was so very grateful! And then they chose dear ugly baby P and P and Cheese Grits....

... So then THAT book was on the bestsellers for Christian Romance for a few days. My ego is now ENORMOUS!

 Except that people are mean and leave reviews that don't give it a billion stars so I'm still the humble human being I was once before.

Sort of.

Mostly humble.

At least I was until....


I signed a two-book contract with Love Inspired a few weeks ago. 'Season of Hope' will be in print Nov 2013. yay!! And the next book will be... turned in sometime soon and I'll let you know the date on that.

 Okay, sorry to be a drag and just ramble on and on about news. You can connect with me on facebook (Virginia Carmichael or Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits).

 I'll leave you with a yummy picture. Maybe that will buy your forgiveness??? MAMA!!!!! Yummm...


 No? Not good enough? Okay, let me try again...

Yes??? Okay, fine. Bringing out the real artillary.

Uh-huh. I thought so.

Here he is as Captain Wentworth, for good measure.

 I'm off to finish a proposal. Take care, dear ones. And I'll see you around.... eveywhere!

Heloooooooo!

Now that we're into the busy season, I thought I'd blog.

 No, seriously.

  Somehow the busier I get, the more I feel the need to decompress through... yes, writing! Miracle that it is, it clears my mind, relaxes my tense muscles, keeps me sane.

  Blogging over at Yankee Belle Cafe has been great... but not for my wasitline. Do you know how many times I've decided to make something hugely caloric because 'it could go on the blog'? Yes, all the time.

  So, at least over here, my blogging won't make me fat. Er. Fatter. That's what I meant to say!

  Ok, have a wonderful Advent season and hope to see you more regularly, Mr. Blogger. :)

 In book news: Season of Joy got 4 1/2 star review from Romantic Times magazine. Whee!

AND nomintaed for RT reviewer's choice for best debut in a series 2012.

 That is all. Praying for Sandy survivors and for peace in our nation and overseas.