Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to take a moment and wish all my family, friends and fans (and anyone else who might read this) a Merry Christmas 2010.

Listen to what the prophets foretold, centuries before that first Christmas Day:

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

"But you, O Bethlehem, Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." Micah 5:2

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Dan

Writing a New Book for Guideposts

Here's an exciting development, and a nice Christmas present for Cindi and me as we look to the New Year. I've been asked to be part of a writing team for Guideposts publishing, for a new book series coming out, called Miracles of Marble Cove.

I'll be writing Book 5 in the series, called Mystery of the Mill. Although the word "mystery" appears in the title, and the series certainly has some elements of mystery, it's not a mystery novel, per say. The series is set in the present in Maine, in a fictitious seaside town called Marble Cove. The book cover to the right is not part of the series. I picked it because it looks like the rocky coast of Maine, and a lighthouse is central to the storyline.

The town is charming, almost like a character itself. Four friends have been brought together in Marble Cove and all have this in common: their lives have been miraculously spared by God. They are drawn into a series of events where they, too, are being used in seemingly miraculous ways to affect the lives of others. Central to the story is the historic Orleans Point lighthouse, which is unoccupied and has been decommissioned for years. But the friends keep seeing mysterious lights coming from the lighthouse and, just after they do, wonderful things seem to happen.

The books will only be available directly through Guideposts, not in retail stores. But I loved the storylines the moment I read them and I'm thrilled to be a part of this writing team, which include bestselling authors Melody Carlson and Anne Marie Rodgers. When the books do become available, you can probably purchase them by clicking here.

Speaking at Word Weavers Retreat

I've been invited to be the keynote speaker next month at Word Weaver's 8th Annual writer's retreat. It's Friday through Sunday, Jan 28th -30th at The Enrichment Center in Fruitland Park, FL (near Leesburg). The keynote message will be Saturday evening, but I've also been asked to do a workshop that afternoon. Fellow Revell author Eva Marie Everson will also be speaking.

This will actually be a first for me.

Not speaking in public. As a pastor I've done that for 25 years. This will be the first time I'll be speaking about writing or to an audience of writers. I'm looking forward to it, and trusting God that my hosts will be glad they invited me in when it's over.

Word Weavers describe themselves as a "Christian Writers critique group" who "welcome writers of all levels and ability." The first chapter formed in 1997. They now have 7 chapters, mostly in Florida, in cities like: Orlando, Gainesville, St. Augustine and Tampa. But they also have one chapter all the way up in Rochester, New York.

If you'd like to find out more about this retreat or about Word Weavers, click here.

Unfinished Gift in National Woman's Magazine!

I'm going to do something here I don't do very often. I'm going to recommend you all go out and buy a certain Woman's magazine, the Christmas issue of FIRST for Women. It's on checkout stands all over the country (I've seen it at our local Wal-Mart and Publix). The magazine has a 1.25 million circulation.

Here's a pic of the cover, and here's why you should get one:

• You will learn how to trim 17 lbs of unwanted fat by Christmas.
• There are $102.30 in coupons.
• 4 pages on "Your Most Beautiful Holiday Hair Ever."
• Some crazy-good recipes for holiday desserts.
• A super tip on using mint tea bags to keep your toilet bowl fresh.
• And on page 110, my novel The Unfinished Gift was selected as 1 of 6 books recommended as "First Picks" for your holiday reading list.

Come to think of it, that last item alone was enough for us to pick up 3 copies.

Honestly, it was quite an amazing thing to see my book there. Even though The Unfinished Gift came out last Christmas, it seems to be reaching even more people this year. I love all the emails I'm getting every week, from people who've been touched by the story.