Hi Everyone!
I wanted to post about my new book that hits shelves in July. Many of you have already read it if you are a member of the book club and many of you have posted such nice things about it here on the blog or emailed me or sent it with a stamp. I just want you to know how much those letters and notes mean to me! This book was such fun to write but at the same time Sugar Rae Lenox really had a problem. She wanted her career so much that she was willing to do almost anything to make it happen...even if that meant ignoring the quiet urging of the Lord to give it up. Here is the blurb:
Small Town... Big Dreams
Sugar Rae Lenox is famous... in Mule Hollow. For wanting her name in lights on a Hollywood marquee. For wanting to leave. And for thinking the local matchmakers are might mistaken! Why applaud the attraction between her and a too-handsome cowboy with boots of lead?
Ross Denton lives on the outskirts of town on some dusty ranch. And the only place he wants to see his name is on a marriage certificate. So why isn't she singing and dancing away from that ranch? She can't possibly want a staring role in Ross's life as his bride... can she?
excerpt fromBy:Published by:Available:ISBN-13:ISBN-10:copyright:
The Cowboy Takes a BrideDebra CloptonLove Inspired - Steeple HillJuly, 2008 978-0-373-87490-30-373-87490-12008 by Debra Clopton
I'm not the best blogger out there, and have said to anyone who will listen that my God given talent is in writing fiction not real life...but I really want to share my thoughts with you today.
When I write a story it is my goal to put you as my reader in the story and to keep you reading as fast as possible. I try very hard to give you a completely entertaining story that will leave you smiling and wanting to come back and see my small crazy town of Mule Hollow. Many of you know that desire came from the fact that when my 47 year old husband died 5 years ago this coming July 5th that I needed to read something myself that would help me smile when I couldn't smile for myself. I had been trying to get published for 10 years but God's timing just hadn't been right. Three months after Wayne died I turned back to writing with the need to tell stories that would help others like me smile in their darkest hours. And that was when Mule Hollow came alive. The story had almost sold prior to that but something was missing and as I revised the book and inserted the faith element into the story I felt almost certain this time God's timing for my writing would be right. I submitted the book The Trouble With Lacy Brown to Love Inspired and they bought it. It was 7 months after my husband's death and God gave me a new purpose. In these five years I've missed my husband with all my heart but I know that God's plans are the only plans I want to follow because I know that I may not understand why something happens but I know He does.
I know it might seem like I'm rambling but God laid this on my heart and I feel like I should share it. You see, in my bio I state that I write what I do so that I can help others laugh in their darkest hour. And to be honest I still have a hard time getting through the last weeks of June leading up to July 5th. I don't know why the weeks prior are harder than the weeks after the day of my sweethearts death but it is. Yes I can happily say that Wayne's death was a homecoming and that one day I will see him again praise the Lord...but still, I miss him. And even though I have a wonderful full life and a fantastic writing career now and a true purpose the fact that I miss him is still there. Soooo what am I getting at well it is this. GOD knows our hearts and I just have to tell you that He has been using readers in the last two weeks to bless my soul. I have received many touching emails from readers telling me how much the Mule Hollow series has made them smile and many have shared the fact that my books have helped them in their own time of sorrow. It seems that I've especially received those type of letters from this story. And I needed to hear that. I needed to know that readers could watch a wacky, wanna be movie star and a reluctant cowboy fall in love and that the story could brighten your day. It really makes me smile to know that I've helped.
Thank you, everyone who has written YOU have touched my heart.
I think THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE is fun and touching love story and I hope if you haven't read it that you will and that you are smiling with your heart and you lips when you reach the last page!
I'll end this post like I end my Dear Reader letters.
Until next time, live, laugh and seek God with all your hearts,
Debra Clopton
