The Deepest Waters in Baker's Spring Catalog

Just received a copy of Baker Publishing's Spring 2011 New Releases catalog, which is sent to retailers all over the country. I knew my third novel, The Deepest Waters, would be in there, since it releases in April. But I was elated to find they featured it across two whole pages!

The book cover takes up much of the left page (it really is my favorite of the 3 books so far). They picked an exciting section of the book, just after the shipwreck, as an excerpt that runs beside the cover along the left side. On the right page, are all kinds of highlights and bullet points about the book.

You'd think I'd be used to this kind of thing by now. But I still can't believe God has opened this door for me, and given me such a wonderful publisher (Revell), willing to spend so much money to design such great covers and promote my books this way.

2 Great Reviews of The Homecoming

Just read two great blog reviews about my newest book, The Homecoming, today. Here's a couple excerpts (click on the name to read the whole review):

"Dan Walsh is a brilliant writer in my opinion. His book The Unfinished Gift was amazing and Homecoming is the sequel to that first book. Often sequels can be less impressive than the original, that is not the case here." -- Random Bits of Shoz

"You really need to have tissue handy when reading this book. It's an emotional, heartwarming, fast paced story full of adventure, love, drama, family, and forgiveness. This beautifully written historical, romance novel is a must read! I'm definitely going to grab a copy of the first book now." -- Crystal at Reading and Reviewing Blog

To me, writing is a joy in itself; all the more when a writer gets to read things like this about your work. Thank you "Shoz" and Crystal, you made my day.

4th Novel On Its Way

This past Thursday evening, I sent off my 4th of 5 novels under contract with Revell. It's as ready as I can make it. But my editor, Andrea Doering, will see wonderful things I've missed or ways to make it even better. She'll send it back after a while, I'll make some changes, and then it will be ready for print.

Like my first book, The Unfinished Gift, it's a Christmas novel. But this one is set in 1980. It's tentatively titled, The Book Nook, about a nearly enchanted little bookstore owned and run by Art and Leanne Bell. The day after Thanksgiving, Art collapses at the store and is found by a homeless man he's been helping. It's the busiest shopping time of the year, but Leanne needs to stay by Art's side, as he clings to life in the hospital. Her son, Rick, a successful CPA in Charlotte, reluctantly agrees to come home to help out with the store. Over the next few weeks, Rick meets a young woman there he can't stop thinking about. And he gets re-introduced to the mother he's ignored for almost a decade, and the step-father he's rejected completely, as he listens to a host of charming and eccentric characters, whose lives have been forever changed at...The Book Nook.

As with my first three books (the 3rd isn't out yet), Cindi and I both cried numerous times in the last 50 pages. Which is rather odd, if you think about it. You'd think since I made it up in my imagination, I'd be able to know that as I read it back. But I get sucked right in, every time.

I am such a sap.