The Carol Award: I'm a double finalist!

I'm so pleased to say I'm a double finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers contest THE CAROL AWARD! (formally The ACFW Book of The Year Contest) A MULE HOLLOW MATCH is in the novella category

And HIS COWGIRL BRIDE is a finalist in the short contemporary category.

I'm thrilled to be on the list with such a great group of authors. I'm attaching the list of all the books and categories below. Congratulations to all the authors. The awards will be announced at the annual American Christian Fiction Writers conference Sept 17-20 but I won't be attending--I'll be getting married that weekend! YAY.

Debut Author

Bonnie Grove - Talking to the Dead (David C. Cook Publishing)

Liz Johnson - The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn (Steeple Hill)

Kirk Outerbridge - Eternity Falls (Marcher Lord Press)

Jill Eileen Smith - Michal (Revell)

Dan Walsh - The Unfinished Gift (Revell)

Contemporary Novella (6 Finalists due to a tie)

Barbara Cameron – One Child (Thomas Nelson)

Barbara Cameron – When Winter Comes (Thomas Nelson)

Debra Clopton – A Mule Hollow Match (Steeple Hill)

Susan May Warren – The Great Christmas Bowl (Tyndale House)

Beth Wiseman – A Change of Heart (Thomas Nelson)

Beth Wiseman – A Choice to Forgive (Thomas Nelson)

Historical Novella

Victoria Bylin – Home Again (Steeple Hill)

Vickie McDonough – A Breed Apart (Barbour Publishing)

Vickie McDonough – Beloved Enemy (Barbour Publishing)

Janet Tronstad - Christmas Bells for Dry Creek (Steeple Hill)

Carrie Turansky - A Shelter in the Storm (Barbour Publishing)

Long Contemporary (6 Finalists due to a tie)

Christina Berry - The Familiar Stranger (Moody Publishers)

Mary Ellis - A Widow's Hope (Harvest House Publishers)

Joyce Magnin - The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow (Abingdon Press)

Susan Meissner - White Picket Fences (Waterbrook Press)

Marlo Schalesky- If Tomorrow Never Comes (Multnomah)

Susan May Warren - Nothing But Trouble (Tyndale House)

Long Contemporary Romance

Candace Calvert - Critical Care (Tyndale House)

Denise Hunter - Seaside Letters (Thomas Nelson)

Jenny B. Jones - Just Between You and Me (Thomas Nelson)

Beth Wiseman - Plain Promise (Thomas Nelson)

Cindy Woodmsall - The Hope of Refuge (Waterbrook Press)

MysteryA.K. Arenz - The Case of the Mystified M.D. (Sheaf House)

Mindy Starns Clark - Under the Cajun Moon (Harvest House Publishers)

Darlene Franklin - A String of Murders (Heartsong Mysteries)

S. Dionne Moore - Polly Dent Loses Grip (Heartsong Mysteries)

Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna - Pushing up Daisies (Heartsong Mysteries)

Long Historical

Deeanne Gist - A Bride in the Bargain (Bethany House)

Robin Lee Hatcher - Fit To Be Tied (Zondervan)

Maureen Lang - Look to the East (Tyndale House)

Siri Mitchell - Love's Pursuit (Bethany House)

Allison Pittman - Stealing Home (Multnomah)

Long Historical Romance (8 Finalists due to a tie)

Amanda Cabot - Paper Roses (Revell)

Mary Connealy - Cowboy Christmas (Barbour Publishing)

Mary Connealy - Montana Rose (Barbour Publishing)

Laura Frantz - The Frontiersman's Daughter (Revell)

Ann Gabhart - The Believer (Revell)

Julie Lessman - A Passion Denied (Revell)

Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna - Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas (Summerside Press)

Kathleen Y’Barbo - The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper (Waterbrook Press)

Short Contemporary

Debra Clopton - His Cowgirl Bride (Steeple Hill)

Myra Johnson - Autumn Rains (Heartsong Presents)

Vickie McDonough - A Wagonload of Trouble (Heartsong Presents)

Mae Nunn - A Texas Ranger's Family (Steeple Hill)

Glynna Sirpless writing as Glynna Kaye - Dreaming of Home (Steeple Hill)

Short Contemporary Suspense (6 Finalists due to a tie)

Jill Elizabeth Nelson - Evidence of Murder (Steeple Hill)

Sandra Robbins - Final Warning (Steeple Hill)

Virginia Smith - Murder at Eagle Summit (Steeple Hill)

Virginia Smith - Scent of Murder (Steeple Hill)

Jenness Walker - Double Take (Steeple Hill)

Lenora Worth - Code of Honor (Steeple Hill)

Short HistoricalLyn Cote - Her Patchwork Family (Steeple Hill)

Laurie Alice Eakes - The Glassblower (Heartsong Presents)

Laurie Kingery - The Outlaw's Lady (Steeple Hill)

Lynette Sowell - All That Glitters (Heartsong Presents)

Dan Walsh - The Unfinished Gift (Revell)

Speculative (includes Science Fiction, Fantasy, Allegory -6 Finalists due to a tie)

Kirk Outerbridge - Eternity Falls (Marcher Lord Press)

Donita K. Paul - The Vanishing Sculptor (Waterbrook Press)

Steve Rzasa - The Word Reclaimed (Marcher Lord Press)

Stuart Vaughn Stockton – Starfire (Marcher Lord Press)

Fred Warren - The Muse (Splashdown Books)

Jill Williamson - By Darkness Hid (Marcher Lord Press)

Suspense/Thriller

Terri Blackstock – Intervention (Zondervan)

Colleen Coble - Lonestar Secrets (Thomas Nelson)

Brandilyn Collins – Exposure (Zondervan)

Harry Kraus - Salty Like Blood (Howard/Simon & Schuster)

DiAnn Mills - Breach of Trust (Tyndale House)

Women’s Fiction (7 Finalists due to a tie)

Julie Carobini - Sweet Waters (B&H Publishing)

Kathryn Cushman – Leaving Yesterday (Bethany House)

Sara Evans & Rachel Hauck - Sweet By and By (Thomas Nelson)

Rene Gutteridge & Cheryl McKay - Never the Bride (Waterbrook Press)

Deborah Raney - Yesterday's Embers (Howard/Simon & Schuster)

Deborah Raney - Above All Things (Steeple Hill)

Lisa Wingate - The Summer Kitchen (New American Library/Penguin)

Young Adult

Shelley Adina - Who Made You a Princess? (Hachette FaithWords)

Brandilyn & Amberly Collins - Always Watching (Zondervan)

Jenny B. Jones - I'm So Sure (Thomas Nelson)

Jenny B. Jones - So Not Happening (Thomas Nelson)

Booker T. Mattison - Unsigned Hype (Revell)

The Carol Awards will be presented at ACFW's Conference in Indianapolis, September 17-20.

My first Grandchild: God is sooo good!

Hi Everyone! I wanted to share my joy! This is a photo of me and my granddaughter Taycie! God is so wonderful. I've started a new chapter of my life and am thrilled.
Isn't she beautiful!!!!! Iam blessed.

My new book HER FOREVER COWBOY

Hi Everyone,

LOL well this is a new year and I haven't gotten any better about doing a great job with my blog. I'm still behind as you can see. But I'm here now and thrilled to show you the cover of my January release HER FOREVER COWBOY. Isn't this a great cover? I love it. I thought the art department out did themselves on it. The lighting detail glinting off of him just makes it wonderful...of course it doesn't hurt to have such a handsome cowboy too.

So far the reviews for the new trilogy have been great and readers letters have been so encouraging. I hope if you haven't read it that you'll grab one off your local Walmart's shelves or other store where you shop and that you'll send me a note when you've finished. This was a fun book to write.

Here is the blurb: HER FOREVER COWBOY By Debra Clopton

Mule Hollow, Texas, is full of handsome cowboys, all ready to say "I do." So veterinarian Susan Worth moves in, dreaming of meeting Mr. Right.
He's most certainly not gorgeous rescue worker Cole Turner, a sixth-generation Mule Hollow rancher not likely to settle down. But Susan is determined to make him her forever cowboy.

excerpt from: Her Forever Cowboy by Debra Clopton Published by Love Inspired Steeple Hill Available:ISBN-13:copyright: 978-03738145102009

New Mule Hollow Book/HIS COWGIRL BRIDE

Debra Clopton here! Hi everyone, my new book hit the shelves November 1. HIS COWGIRL BRIDE is a truly fun book.

4 1/2 stars Top Pick by Romantic Times Review Magazine!

This return to Mule Hollow Texas is a wonderfully fast-moving story with many delightfully familiar characters. Two stubborn people learn that the pathway to true love may just be paved with compromises. RT magazine

In the spirit of my first book The Trouble with Lacy Brown my character in this book is one feisty determined cowgirl. I wanted a character who showed the similar spirit as Lacy Brown and Tacy Jones came alive to me. I hope if you haven't yet you'll buy a copy and enjoy it. I'm working hard on books for 2010. I'll post the review and the blurb below. Happy reading and if you haven't come to craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com come over and join in the fun with a bunch of us Love Inspired authors. Also some special things going on over at the eharlequin website take a peek and join in the Thanksgiving fun at http://community.eharlequin.com/forums/steeple-hill

HIS COWGIRL BRIDE

By Debra Clopton
Due Out November 2009
Cow Girl for Hire
Tacy Jones had come to Mule Hollow to learn how to train wild horses. But former rodeo champion Brent Stockwell might as well carry a sign saying "No Cowgirls Allowed" in his life. If Brent doesn't think ladies belong in the pen, determined Tacy will just have to change his mind.

When Tacy learns the reason why, she longs to help him heal. She's ready to show the handsome cowboy that taking a chance on your dream is what life -- and love -- is all about.

Lone Star Cinderella

Hi Everyone, I'm running late on getting my blog updated and putting my July book up. LONE STAR CINDERELLA hit the shelves in at the first of the month. The reader mail I have recieved on this book has blessed my heart. I prayed as I was writing it that it would help families of who have lived with the heartache caused by a loved one who is addicted to drugs. My little sister has struggled with addiction most of her life and when I came up with the idea for this book it was to help myself as well as others, hopefully, find answers from the Lord on how to handle letting go and letting God take control.

Though the subject matter of Melody and her brother are deeply serious the love story and strength that Seth and Melody find is what I pray for everyone. I truly do hope you pick this book up and that it blesses you or someone you believe needs what the message is.

While this book deals with the real issue of a family member dealing with a loved ones drug addiction it is still a fun book with a treasure hunt that is mingled in with real Texas history bassed on outlaw Sam Bass. I had a blast researching Texas legends. There is so much Texas loot reportedly still buried all across Texas that it boggles the mind!

God bless and I pray that each of you have the real treasure in your heart and that is the saving grace that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Small Town Brides--My June Romance

Hi Everyone! I'm running late getting my latest book on the blog--I've been working on writing books so much I fell behind on the other things that go along with the process. Anyway, this is my novella that I did with Janet Tronstad and we had such a wonderful time coming up with the concept. Since Janet writes such a successful series set in Dry Creek Montana and I write about my small town of Mule Hollow and we share many readers, we thought readers would enjoy two stories that connect the two towns. So far the reader mail confirms it and we are so very pleased!

Small Town Brides

By Janet Tronstad & Debra Clopton

On Shelves Now.
A Dry Creek Wedding by Janet Tronstad

When her neighbor proposes a "practical" marriage, romantic Rene Mitchell throws the ring in his face. Fleeing Texas for Montana, Rene rides with trucker Clay Preston. Clay doesn't believe in romance... until Rene changes his mind!

A Mule Hollow Match by Debra Clopton

Trace Crawford broke Paisley Norton's cousin's heart -- so Paisley thinks he deserves whatever trouble he gets! Yet Trace really is lost when it comes to caring for his new niece. Paisley's got a soft heart for children... and for adorably clueless cowboys, too.

Published by:Available:ISBN-13:copyright:
Small-Town BridesJanet Tronstad & Debra CloptonLove Inspired - Steeple Hill June, 2009978-0-373-87531-32009 by Janet Tronstad & Debra Clopton

The Heroine of TEXAS RANGER DAD my April 2009 release on shelves now!

I only write strong women in my books. I love writing about strong women who face struggles. Many think strong women don't have moments of weakness but--being one myself as I'm sure many of you are--I face weakness constantly. What sets a strong woman apart is that she refuses to give into those weaknesses. She fights to get through them and become stronger on the other side. She does what she must and many times she does the wrong thing but still she pushes through. Sometimes she must learn that accepting help from others also takes strength...relying on God sometimes takes strength and also the people He sends into our lives to help us make it through whatever we are going through. Pride is a hard thing for a strong woman to overcome sometimes. Strong women tend to pride themselves on doing it themselves. But God sometimes has to bring a strong woman to a point where she has to get past her pride and totally rely on Him. Other strong women don't have this problem, they are strong always in their faith and their walk. It is this dynamic of strong women that make them facinating to write about because we come in so many different forms.
My grandmother was one of the strongest women I've ever known. Abandoned by my grandfather when my dad was about 4 she raised 3 sons alone during the depression (along with my dad's help)When I'm struggling I think of her and know that my troubles are nothing compared to what they faced.

When I came up with Rose Vincent, the heroine of my latest release TEXAS RANGER DAD, I wanted a woman of faith who stepped up and did what was right though it cost her everything. I'd always been curious about the good guys--especially women--who enter the witness protection plan and what it must have cost them to do so. I mean, criminals who enter it have to because of something they've done but, an innocent person who happens to witness a random act of violence and steps up to do whats right and then has to give up life as they've known it because of chosing to testify...those are the people who intrigue me. I loved creating Rose's story. It is a bit different from most of my Mule Hollow books but exploring what made Rose tick gave me a fresh and exciting spin to write about. IN a series that has lasted as long as Mule Hollow I loved this idea. I hope you'll pick up a copy of TEXAS RANGER DAD and find out more about Rose.