And here's a message from Allison:
Hello Boomer Girlfriends!
When Dotsie asked me to join all of you on this forum as the Featured Author for the month of November, I was excited for many reasons. The first being that it’s always a joy to meet new friends, isn’t it? This amazing world of cyber-relationships has enabled so many people to connect with kindred spirits—I know, because there are many folks I’ve never met in person that I consider dear friends. From the hundreds of contributing authors whose true short stories are published in my God Allows U-Turns anthology series, to the folks I meet via my blog, in online writing conferences, and at a host of other Internet venues, it’s mind-boggling the outreach we can have today. I’m looking forward to building new baby boomer women friendships!
I’m also excited because I get to share my two newest books with you. One is my first novel and the other is a women’s self-help non-fiction. A Stitch in Time is my 21st published book and my first novel. It just released this past summer from Bethany House and you can read more about this contemporary woman’s “hip-lit” book by visiting my web site:
www.godallowsuturns.com My newest non-fiction (also from Bethany House) is called: I Can’t Do it All – Breaking Free from the Lies That Control Us and it was co-written with best-selling author Tracie Peterson and Dianne O’Brian.
I’m looking forward to some great communication with you regarding your thoughts about both of these books. A Stitch in Time is one of the first contemporary women’s fiction books to tackle the subject of gastric bypass surgery and plastic surgery. It’s filled with fun, fashion and faith. I had a great time writing the character of Dee Decker. For those of you who may be wondering, yes…I had gastric bypass surgery…but Dee’s life is NOT my life, let me make that clear right from the start. I’ve lost 120 pounds and my before and after photos are on my web site at this page:
http://www.godallowsuturns.com/?id=162I Can’t Do It All is a non-fiction self-help book written from the perspectives of three very different women born in three very different eras. We identify some of the lies women have come to believe and replace those lies with spiritual and scriptural truth. This page on my web site talks more about this book:
http://www.godallowsuturns.com/index.php?id=131I’m also happy to answer any questions you might have about the wide world of publish-ing. Since I write primarily with a strong focus on a Christian worldview, I know a great deal about the CBA/ICRS market (Christian Booksellers Association and/or International Christian Retailers) as opposed to the BEA/ABA market (Book Expo American and/or American Booksellers Association.) I welcome any comments or questions relating to writing, publishing, literary agents, book proposals, marketing and promotions, and everything in between.
I’ll be speaking in Jefferson, Texas at the Books Alive! event on November 3-5 to benefit survivors of Hurricane Katrina. If any of my Boomer Sisters are nearby I’d love to meet you! Come out and say hello. You can read more about this event here:
http://www.beautyandthebook.com/BooksAlive.cfmOkay, ladies. I guess I’ve yapped long enough. I really hope you’ll stop by the Boomer Women Speak Forum in November and say hello. I have an October 30th deadline for my second novel and I leave for Texas on November 2nd, but when I return home on November 5th I will be looking at an entire month with NO DEADLINES, NO TRAVEL, NO SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, and NO STRESS. Okay, maybe I’ll have a little stress trying to get my act together from a crazy year – but I am truly looking forward to spending November with my new Boomer Girlfriends. So please, check out my latest books, share this invitation with fellow readers and writers and see you in November!
God’s peace to all,
Allison Bottke, Author/Speaker