Rip Van Winkle Brings you a Colossal Update...and Another Art Giveaway

It kinda feels like my blog's been asleep for a hundred years, doesn't it?
It also seems like a hundred years' worth of STUFF has happened since the last time I was here, on my Dormant post, back on January 31.


1. The next draft of my novel, The Bridge Club Chronicles, is currently at 60,646 words. I'm planning to print out a hard copy to circulate to my critique group tomorrow. From there, I'll incorporate their feedback, and pitch it to an editor, Molly O'Neill, on May 5. And at some point between now and then, I'll be shipping my manuscript off to favorite author Haven Kimmel. 


2. Tell Me Who I Am: Stories of Faith, Family, and Identity This book is already here! So I guess my six essays and my six paintings actually made the deadline! 

But the coolest part of all is...the book literally houses the words of some of my very favorite people ever. Ever. All in one place. It feels like hanging out with friends whenever I pick it up. Which I do. Often.

It makes you laugh. Out loud. Thanks to people like DeNae Handy, Chris Clark and Ken Craig.

It makes you cry. Real tears. Sobs. Right along with Becca Wilhite, Melanie Jacobson, and Debbie Frampton.

It makes you rethink the way you see the world. Again. From the unique perspective of Luisa Perkins, Annette Lyon, Stephanie Sorensen, Michelle Budge, Cari Banning, and Karen and Gideon Burton. 

See? I told you. Favorite people. And most likely your favorite people too. Every single author takes you on a journey that opens your perspective...on faith, love, miracles and more.

I have decided to give away a painting to celebrate the book's release. They're 7 x 9 images worth $250 each. Above are my six illustrations, including the (intentionally unfinished) cover art. Just leave me a comment telling me which one you like best to be entered in the drawing. Additional entries for Facebooking, tweeting, pinning, etc. Still more entries for each book purchased (link on your left). I'm giving this to all my sisters and sisters-in-law for Mothers Day. (Oops! There went that surprise!) Feel free to steal my idea. Just come back and tell me what you did in the comment box and I'll make sure you get all the entries you deserve.

The winner will receive your choice of one of the above paintings OR a similar size and style painting of your own house/ancestral home/vacation home. Possibly in time for Mother's Day. You provide the photo. 

3. The Story at Home Conference was great! I'm already looking forward to the next one. In the meantime, I'm going to post my presentation, on Balance (and specifically balancing real life and internet use) in a series of posts over the next month or so. I'll share my five best secrets for holding it all together, plus some winner stories about how and when I failed. Stay tuned.

4. Jeff's super-secret projects are now public: The Book of Jer3miah, his award-winning conspiracy-thriller web series is finally available on DVD.
The story is fast-based and mind-bending and a whole new kind of original. It's had a ton of favorable press, including a rave review in the New York Times. The DVD has all twenty episodes in one place, so you can watch them in one two-hour sitting, like a movie, or just watch an episode at a time whenever you have a spare five or ten minutes. I know several people who couldn't STAND the suspense of waiting a whole week between episodes when the series was first released, and now? That problem's solved for you. The DVD also has a bunch of special features not found anywhere else, including deleted scenes, and commentary by my genius writer/director husband. Yay! 


I wish I could giveaway something cool for this too—like, say, lunch with the Director. But it turns out I'm still standing in line for that myself!


More good news on the Jer3miah front: Luisa Perkins has written a novelization of the first season...with amazing interstitial details, and other surprises not in the original series. It comes out in August.


On top of all the Jer3miah hoopla, he has a brand new web series, a spanking-clean comedy about women, called Pretty Darn Funny. Here's the trailer:

I had a chance to visit the set for the filming of nearly every episode. So much fun! 
And sometimes I laughed out loud just watching them set up the shot. Not kidding. I was getting in trouble with the sound people.


Here's the first episode: (It went live today!)



You might recognize a few friends in this first episode. Some well-known bloggers (and two of my kids) appear as extras at the comedy club. Tell me who you spot, and I'll send you an exclusive Pretty Darn Funny pin (while supplies last).  Here's the official site with all the character links, subscription details, contest, etc. Trust me, you don't want to miss this!


So...which porch painting do you want from Tell Me Who I Am?
What's your favorite episode of The Book of Jer3miah? (No spoilers please!)
Who's your favorite character of The Book of Jer3miah?
Who do you recognize in the first episode of Pretty Darn Funny?
Who's your favorite Pretty Darn Funny character so far?


Are we still friends?