Dunes, Foghorns & Breakthroughs

Plus—a long-awaited WINNER and a new GIVEAWAY

Friends,

We thought there might be fog.

In fact, given the heat inland, when ten of us set out on a two-week camping route along the coast of northern California and Oregon, we expected it.

That dense, droplet air. That grainy footing. We returned from morning walks with glasses blurred, hair streaming, the unfinished waves and drifty dunes our only landmarks.

Half the time, we couldn’t see those, either.

We needed the foghorn to find our way back.

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” —James 4:14

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” —1 Corinthians 13:12

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” —1 Thessalonians 5:24

My whole summer’s been like that. I’d hoped to be back with you sooner, but one thematic thread in the plot of my newest novel fogged me in for weeks.

Patchwork edits here and there simply didn’t work.

Only after backs and forths with my editor, many hours of prayer, intense listening for guidance, and an entire rewrite did holy Light finally, finally clear things up.

The story’s new view continues to surprise and delight me. I hope you like it, too.

A few days ago my editor submitted the revised manuscript to the copyeditors, and Tyndale finalized the cover. As soon as I receive a shareable copy (next week?) you’ll be the first to see it—complete with its beautiful new title.

Funny, but the edits and cover came through a week into this trip of ours—and the next day, we awoke to blue skies. No fog anywhere.

Next week, sunshine pics.🧡

***

Meanwhile . . .

📚A GIVEAWAY WINNER:

THE WINNER of Carla Gasser’s The Beauty of an Uncluttered Soul (offered in my July 27 post) is JANE WEAVER. Congratulations, Jane! Please reply with your snail mail address, and I’ll send the book off to you next week.

📙 HAPPY BOOK NEWS:

Leaning on Air was just named a SILVER WINNER in the 2024 Readers’ Favorite Awards, Inspirational Fiction category.

Honored & grateful. Soli Deo gloria.

📙 FROM OCTOBER 19-23, LEANING ON AIR’s ebook will be on sale for $1.99 everywhere!

📘 Watch for my next book’s COVER AND TITLE REVEAL—next week, I hope.

SUBSCRIBE NOW to these Saturday Letters for chances to win:

• A THREE BOOK SET of my novels (SUGAR BIRDS, LEANING ON AIR, and ???) when # 3 releases next spring.

• and all sorts of giveaways before then.

A Bit MORE . . .

So many of you opened doors for me when I began writing fiction, and you spread the word about my novels. In like fashion, I’m delighted to introduce you to Alaska native and now part-time Whatcom County resident Lynne Curry!

A former syndicated columnist and the author of six business books, Lynne writes a weekly “Dear Abby of the Workplace” column for the Anchorage Daily News, and her agent is shopping her first novel to publishers. If you enjoy commercial, general-market, suspense fiction, you’ll want to sample Lynne’s work and track her publishing progress at her truly excellent blog: Real Life Writing https://bit.ly/45lNbVo .

I’ll close with a random shot from out in those Oregon dunes that looked like a question-popper. (If she’s an author, has he found Mrs. Write?)

How was your summer? I’d love to hear.

Warmly,

Cheryl