Holiday Chat Alert! Party with THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT authors Cecil Murphey & Marley Gibson on Thursday, December 15th @ 9pm ET!
Tis the season to be chatty! Join the co-authors of The Spirit of Christmas Cec Murphey and Marley Gibson, along with the books contributors, for an online holiday chat. The authors will be taking questions, as well as giving away copies of The Spirit of Christmas and other special holiday treats!
WHAT: Holiday Chat with Cec, Marley, The Knight Agency and YOU! WHEN: Thursday, December 15th at 9pm ET WHERE: Chat Room--http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545 HOW TO CHAT: Enter any combination of username and password. Your computer must be Java enabled to chat.
The 411 on THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS: At Christmastime, it’s hard not to get caught up in the shopping, the decorating, the party planning and the family drama—and too we often to lose sight of the true meaning of the season. But sometimes, through God’s grace or a simple twist of fate, we’re able to step back and understand what the holiday is truly about.
UPDATE: The winner of THE DARKEST SECRET by Gena Showalter is Sam! Congrats! Please send your physical addy to contests(AT)knightagency.net.
Sorry to keep it quick this week, but we've been crazy busy preparing for the RT BookLovers Convention in LA next week -- so no news round-up today. We do have an incredibly adorable, hilarious and heartwarming video about kittens, though. TKA authors Marley Gibson and Patrick Burns, special assistants to rising stars Madi and Boo, are helping their "bosses" compete for the job of Purina Cat Chow Correspondent(s). You can help them by viewing the YouTube video below. Trust me, it will definitely put a smile on your face!
Leave a comment to win a copy of THE DARKEST SECRET by Gena Showalter. The winner will be announced on Monday.
The 411: Keeper of the demon of Secrets, Amun can manipulate the darkest thoughts of anyone nearby. But when the immortal warrior is chained and isolated to protect those he loves, death is his only hope of release—until he meets Haidee, a fellow prisoner whose beauty and hidden vulnerability draw him into a reckless test of his loyalty….
Haidee is a demon-assassin, raised to despise Amun's kind. Yet how can she hate the man whose touch sets her aflame? But to save him, she must give herself body and soul…and face the wrath of a powerful adversary sworn to destroy her.
UPDATE: The winner of GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE by Marley Gibson is petite. Please email your physical addy to contests(at)knightagency.net. Congrats!
Marley Gibson's Ghost Huntress series is the perfect Halloween treat for any YA fan, and today she's giving away an autographed copy of the first book, GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE. Leave a comment to enter the giveaway. The winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon. Good Luck!!
The 411: Kendall and her ghost hunting team is the talk of Radisson, Georgia, but one person isn’t so pleased. Courtney Langdon doesn’t appreciate Kendall’s new popularity or her relationship with Jason, Courtney’s ex. So Courtney begins dabbling in the paranormal world. At first it’s all a game to draw attention away from Kendall. But Courtney doesn’t know what she’s getting into—or what wants in her. This is one game that’s about to turn deadly serious.
**PLEASE READ. The Knight Agency's contest rules have changed. Beginning 10/05/2010, our contests are now only open to US and Canadian residents, unless otherwise noted. We appreciate all of our past international participants, and will honor any past giveaways with an international winner that have not yet been claimed. Also, from 10/05/2010 forward, if you do not claim your prize by emailing Contests(AT)knightagency.net within 30 days of the winning announcment being posted -- your prize will be declared void. A second winner will not be chosen.**
Marley Gibson's GHOST HUNTRESS is Back on the Case
GHOST HUNTRESS: THE COUNSELING - in this fourth installment of Marley Gibson's popular GHOST HUNTRESS series, THE COUNSELING finds heroine, Kendall Moorehead at a crossroads in her life. Kendall has just discovered who her spirit guide really is, lost her boyfriend, and nearly died doing the thing she loves most–ghost hunting. It’s time to take a break and try to reconcile all the changes she’s going through. So Kendall heads to the Sierra Mountains, where there’s a camp especially for young people with gifts such as hers. It’s a time for reflection and self-discovery. But when she gets to California, she once again finds restless spirits–and the boy in her last vision. It may be the end of one chapter of her life and the beginning of a new one.
Check out Marley's awesome giveaway for GHOST HUNTRESS: THE COUNSELING on her website. The prize pack includes an autographed copy of THE COUNSELING, a one-of-a-kind ghost hunting blanket, a pendulum, and a signed copy of THE OTHER SIDE: A TEEN'S GUIDE TO GHOST HUNTING AND THE PARANORMAL, autographed by Marley.
What people are saying about GHOST HUNTRESS:
"Real life ghost huntress, Marley Gibson, pulls no punches in this series." - Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, SyFy's GHOST HUNTERS
"Every young woman needs to read this!" - Steve Gonsalves, SyFy's GHOST HUNTERS and GHOST HUNTERS ACADEMY
Marley Gibson is the author of the hit young adult paranormal fiction series, “Ghost Huntress,” from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Graphia line.
Gibson has been a lifelong paranormal enthusiast. She started conducting paranormal investigations in August 2007 as research for her “Ghost Huntress” teen fiction series and has captured some very compelling pictures, videos, and sound files. Gibson was featured on the premiere episode of The Biography Channel’s “My Ghost Story,” as well as being interviewed by CNN.com for a Halloween feature on ghost hunting in 2008. Gibson’s publishing credits include “Ghost Huntress: The Awakening,” “Ghost Huntress: The Guidance,” and “Ghost Huntress: The Reason.” The next titles in the series “Ghost Huntress: The Counseling” and “Ghost Huntress: The Discovery” will be released in September of 2010 and May 2011 respectively. She has also co-authored a teen ghost hunting how-to guide entitled “The Other Side: A Teen’s Guide to Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal” with Patrick Burns and Dave Schrader. Gibson is also the co-author of the wildly successful “Christmas Miracles,” written with Cecil Murphey, from St. Martin’s Press. The sequel, “Christmas Spirit” will be published in the Fall of 2011.
Gibson has investigated haunts throughout the USA, including Rolling Hills Sanitarium, Waverly Hills Sanatorium, The Sprague Mansion, The Houghton Mansion, The Stanley Hotel, and the Queen Mary alongside well known paranormal celebrities like Jason Hawes, Grant Wilson, Patrick Burns, Chris Fleming, John Zaffis, Shannon Sylvia, Chip Coffey, Stacey Jones, Mark and Debby Constantino, Tiffany Johnson, and many others.
Gibson holds a Bachelors of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in Advertising and a double minor in Political Science and Speech Communications from The University of Alabama. She has worked on several political campaigns, as a United States Congressional intern, and has been a marketing events manager in the medical, higher education, financial, and technology sectors. She travels extensively with her partner-in-crime, paranormal investigator Patrick Burns, and the two call Boston, Massachusetts home. She can be found online at www.marleygibson.com and www.ghosthuntress.com and via her group blog at www.booksboysbuzz.com
Submissions Call for New Holiday Book by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson
From the co-authors of the highly popular CHRISTMAS MIRACLES, Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson are seeking submissions for their follow-up book, CHRISTMAS SPIRIT, to be published by St. Martin's Press in the fall of 2011, with a foreward by New York Times bestselling author, Debbie Macomber.
The project seeks true stories that emphasize the significance of the Christmas season. We get caught up in the busy-ness of the season—the shopping, the family drama, and the event planning--that we lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. Sometimes, through God's grace or what some call a twist of fate, we're able to step back and grasp the real meaning of Christmas and our lives are enriched. This is a great opportunity for authors of all kinds to participate in a successful compilation.
Christmas Week Guest Blog and Giveaway DAY 4: Twila Belk
UPDATE: The winner of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson is Sarah! Congrats! Please send your physical address to contests(AT)knightagency.net.
A Note from Jia (a.k.a. the wizard behind the green curtain of this blog): Don't forget that we're having our annual online holiday party TONIGHT @ 9pmET. Chat with the CHRISTMAS MIRACLES authors Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson, along with contributors like Twila Belk! More than a dozen "presents" will be given out, in addition to a first chapter manuscript critique by one of our agents! Click here to bookmark our chat room. *hands mic to Twila* ----------------------
Deck the halls with Christmas miracles, fa la la la la la la la la.
As I sit here trying to come up with a brilliant blog entry, I could use a couple Christmas miracles right now. Number one would be that I actually get the blog entry written before it needs to be posted. Number two would be that my house would miraculously decorate itself. Am I the only one in the world with a naked Christmas tree and zero decorations on display? I shouldn’t be concerned—I have at least another week before Christmas, right? Then there’s the pile of presents to wrap. And the cookies and banana nut bread and bran muffin mix I wanted to make. There’s a ton of stuff hanging over my head right now.
But as I think about it, that’s the kind of stuff that doesn’t really matter in the long run. Christmas isn’t about decorations or presents or bran muffins. It’s about miracles—and one miracle in particular that happened in the little town of Bethlehem many years ago when a baby with the name of Immanuel (God with us) came on the scene. That was the first Christmas miracle, and God has been doing Christmas miracles ever since.
The dictionary describes a miracle as “an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.” I describe a miracle as “a big wow.” “Wow” is about the only thing I can say when something that doesn’t seem possible in the physical realm happens.
I work full-time with bestselling author Cecil (Cec) Murphey as his manager and personal assistant. He and author Marley Gibson joined forces to work on a wonderful book project called CHRISTMAS MIRACLES, published by St. Martin’s Press. It was already in its third printing before it released on October 13. I did a lot of behind-the-scenes work on the book. I’ve handled much of the publicity for it. I’ve worked very closely with the 44 contributors. And, because I’ve personally experienced many “wow moments,” I was able to contribute two of my own stories: “Poinsettias from God” and “It Took a Miracle.”
The book has 48 real-life stories of everyday people who have experienced life-changing moments of hope, comfort, and transformation. Some of the stories involve God’s perfect timing. Others showcase God’s provision or loving care at a difficult time. Some make the reader smile. Others bring tears to the eyes. They all serve as reminders that God still does miracles TODAY. They serve as reminders that GOD IS WITH US. That’s an encouraging message.
As I’ve corresponded with the contributors, I’ve learned of a few heartwarming stories that have happened because of the book.
The contributor copies of the book were a bit late arriving because of going into the third printing. Here’s what one contributor said: “I couldn't wait, so I ran to Barnes and Noble and picked up a copy of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES. It's beautiful! My friend and I were perusing it when a homeless man asked us about it. Long story short, God used that wonderful little book to bring a lot of hope and encouragement to him. It really was transforming for him. He went from very discouraged and depressed to eyes brimming with tears and filled with hope. He even started talking about his lost dreams and who God had created him to be.”
In a note I received this week, another contributor mentioned that she had a couple of memorable experiences because of the book. Her story, “Sean’s Question,” is the last story in the book. It’s about losing a child and how God touched her during that time. She said, “I happened to be sitting next to a man in a public place who had lost a child. I knew that this person had struggled with anger and other emotions due to the circumstances of the loss. Because someone talked about the book and he overheard, we were able to have a conversation about our common experience. I told him about sharing my story in the book and gave him a CHRISTMAS MIRACLES postcard. A week later I received a phone call from him at work, and he told me that he had gone out and bought the book after we talked, and that he had read my story and some of the other stories in the book. He said he didn't think it was a coincidence that our paths had crossed and that we had talked. He wanted me to know how much he appreciated it. He seemed very touched by the book.”
Isn’t that just like God? He does miracles around the book about miracles!
Are you longing for a touch of the miraculous in your life right now? I’m not talking about the finish-the-blog-entry type of miracle or the getting-the-house-decorated miracle. Maybe you’re discouraged because of circumstances beyond your control. Maybe you’re wondering how you’ll make it through the next few weeks. Maybe you’ve run out of hope. I want to encourage you to remember that God is with you. He’s still in the miracle business. And Christmas is the perfect time to let God show you Himself in a fresh and new way.
May your eyes and heart be open to the miracles God wants to do on your behalf, and may your days be filled with joy, peace, and hope in abundance.
Merry Christmas!
BTW—You’re invited to join us for lots of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES talk tonight in the TKA chat room. Cec, Marley, and many of the contributors will be there. We’d love to “meet” you.
CHRISTMAS WEEK CONTESTS: Remember, there are TWO ways to win! Each day this week (December 14th - 18th) a guest blogger will give away a signed book to one person randomly chosen from the comment section. Today's prize is CHRISTMAS MIRACLES by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson! Check back in this post tomorrow morning to find out if you are the winner!
Also, at the bottom of each post there is a scavenger hunt question. The answer can be located somewhere on the author's website. Send in all 5 correct answers* to the scavenger hunt questions, and you will be entered in a drawing to win a TKA Surprise Christmas Stocking filled with books and holiday treats!!!
SCAVENGER HUNT QUESTION (4 of 5): Which one of the CHRISTMAS MIRACLES authors (Cec or Marley) once worked as an elementary school teacher? Visit www.ChristmasMiraclesBook.com to find the answer!
*Please note, that the correct answers to the scavenger hunt questions must be sent in at one time. You must collect all 5 answers and send them in one email. Entries for the scavenger hunt will be accepted from Friday, December 18th thru Sunday, December 20th at midnight. The winner will be announed on this blog Monday, December 21st, 2009. If you have any questions about this contest, please contact contests(AT)knightagency.net.
UPDATE: The winner of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson is Rain Maiden! Congrats! Please email your physical addy to contests(AT)knightagency.net. Sorry for the late announcment. It's morning somewhere! :-)
Leave your name in the comment section to win a copy of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson! The winner will be announced tomorrow morning. Also, don't forget that Cecil and Marley will be the featured authors at our annual online holiday chat party! TKA Santa will be on hand to give out more than a dozen prizes, including a first chapter critique by a TKA agent. See the post below for futher details!
The 411: A man lies gravely ill in the hospital on Christmas when he hears angels singing and immediately makes a full recovery. A little boy with dyslexia sits down to read a Christmas book and realizes that his disability has vanished. And a woman’s faith is renewed by the chance discovery of a simple nativity set.
Many ordinary people experience God’s grace during those special moments when Christmas becomes more than just a holiday, but a time for miracles. Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson bring you the real-life stories of everyday people who have experienced these life-changing moments of hope, comfort, and transformation—all during the most wonderful time of the year.
TKA's Annual Online Holiday Party - Be There or Be Square!
Every year, The Knight Agency holds the best holiday party in town. Why is it the best? Because you don't have to go outside into the cold, snowy night, shop for the perfect outfit or make polite conversation with tiresome co-workers. *wink* Best of all -- we've give out prizes. Lots of prizes.
This year we are featuring the authors of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES, Marley Gibson and Cecil Murphey, along with the book's 50 contributors on December 17th @ 9pm ET. Prizes include copies of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES (natch!), plus selections from other TKA authors and a first chapter critique by one of our agents with a ONE WEEK turnaround!* Wowza! Make sure you mark your calendars for this event!!
The 411 on CHRISTMAS MIRACLES:A man lies gravely ill in the hospital on Christmas when he hears angels singing and immediately makes a full recovery. A little boy with dyslexia sits down to read a Christmas book and realizes that his disability has vanished. And a woman’s faith is renewed by the chance discovery of a simple nativity set.
Many ordinary people experience God’s grace during those special moments when Christmas becomes more than just a holiday, but a time for miracles. Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson bring you the real-life stories of everyday people who have experienced these life-changing moments of hope, comfort, and transformation—all during the most wonderful time of the year.
EVENT DETAILS:
What: Online Chat with the authors and contributors of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES
Where: TKA Chat Room When: Thursday, December 17th @ 9pm ET How To Chat: (1) Click on this link: http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545 (2) Enter a username and password (any combination) (3) Click Login
*The winner of the first chapter critique will not be able to submit their work for the one week turnaround until after our holiday break (we need rest too!). So, anytime after January 4th, 2010 this prize can be redeemed. If you have questions about this contest or chat, please email info(AT)knightagency.net.
Shannon K. Butcher Chat Transcript Available & CHRISTMAS MIRACLES Gift Basket Giveaway
Last night, TKA hosted a chat for Shannon K. Butcher, author of BURNING ALIVE and FINDING THE LOST in THE SENTINEL WARS series. We had an amazing time and gave out a lot of fun prizes. If you missed it, you can read the chat transcript here!
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Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson are on a mega blog tour this week to promote their book CHRISTMAS MIRACLES. If you visit one of the blogs below and leave a comment in their post, you'll be entered in a contest to win the very special Christmas basket featured below. November 23rd is the last day to enter a comment.
Chat Transcript Available: THE OTHER SIDE: A TEEN'S GUIDE TO GHOST HUNTING
Authors Marley Gibson, Patrick Burns and Dave Schrader ROCKED the TKA chat room last night! Thank you to everyone who came out to support these awesome writers!
Reminder: Chat with Paranormal Authors Tonight @ 9pm ET
Come chat with the authors of THE OTHER SIDE: A TEEN'S GUIDE TO GHOST HUNTING AND THE PARANORMAL tonight at 9pm ET! The TKA Chat Room will get a spooky makeover, and there will be trivia and prizes. BUT, the best part is that you get to talk to the amazing authors, Marley Gibson, Patrick Burns and Dave Schrader, who all have experience with real-life paranormal events!
What: Online Chat with Marley Gibson, Patrick Burns and Dave Schrader!
UPDATE: The winner of the 3-book prize is Beth Harar! Congrats! Thanks to everyone who participated. We look forward to seeing you all at the chat tonight @ 9pm ET with THE OTHER SIDE authors. Remember there will be more chances to win! Beth, please email your physical addytocontests (AT) knightagency.net.
Tomorrrow night, Wednesday, October 21st @ 9pm ET the TKA chat room is getting a spooky makeover in honor of our special guests. The authors of THE OTHER SIDE: A TEEN'S GUIDE TO GHOST HUNTING AND THE PARANORMAL, Marley Gibson, Patrick Burns and Dave Schrader will be answering questions about writing as a group, turning their experience with the paranormal into a nonfiction platform and much more! Leave a comment in today's post to win a copy of their book, plus two bonus books: GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE by Marley Gibson and THE GHOST CHRONICLES: A MEDIUM AND A PARANORMAL SCIENTIST INVESTIGATE 17 TRUE HAUNTINGS by Maureen Wood and Ron Kolek. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.
Bookmark this link to access our chat room tomorrow night!: http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545(Enter any combo of username and password) More prizes will be given out at the chat!!
The 411 on THE OTHER SIDE: It used to be you needed a crystal, a psychic, or a Oijia board to make contact with the spirit world. So who would think science would make it possible for just about anyone to experience a ghostly connection? Cameras, recorders, computers, magnetic field readers and other scientific means are now the tools of the trade. But there’s so much available, how does the average teen weed through it all to create the best possible ghost hunting team? Here to help sort it all out are three of today’s leading investigators of the field.
Together, Patrick Burns, Dave Schrader, and Marley Gibson have more than fifty years of experience. They’ve put together this guide to impart their knowledge and wisdom on to the next generation of ghost hunters.
What’s included: How to set up a ghost hunting team The equipment needed and how to use it Where to look for spirits Safety, safety, and more safety Ghost hunting is equal parts science and belief. Patrick, Dave, and Marley are here to help with science part.
The American Library Association kicked off Teen Read Weekon October 18th. This year's theme is "Read Beyond Reality." The purpose of this special week is to remind teens that one of the greatest forms of entertainment is reading, which is "free, fun and can be done anywhere." If there are any teens out there (or adults) looking for some fabulous books to celebrate Teen Read Week, we have several great offerings from a few of TKA's young adult authors. Enjoy!
2. Marley Gibson -- GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING (Book 2), GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE (Book 1)
3. Rosemary Clement-Moore -- THE SPLENDOR FALLS and her series MAGGIE QUINN: GIRL VS. EVIL (PROM DATES FROM HELL, HELL WEEK and HIGHWAY TO HELL)
4. Rachel Caine -- THE MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Series (GLASS HOUSES, DEAD GIRLS' DANCE, MIDNIGHT ALLEY, FEAST OF FOOLS, LORD OF MISRULE, CARPE CORPUS, FADE OUT and KISS OF DEATH)
Marley is the author of the smash hit young adult series, GHOST HUNTRESS, and has been featured on the Biography Channel's My Ghost Story: Hauntings Revealed. Patrick is a renowned paranormal researcher who co-starred on TruTV's Haunting Evidence. A noted expert in the paranormal field, he founded Ghost Hounds, one of the largest paranormal communities in the United States and is also the organizer and host of GhoStock, a paranormal enthusiast's convention held annually at haunted locations. Dave Schrader is the host of KTLK FM's Darkness Radio, a weekly broadcast that spotlights unexplained phenomena across the country.
Marley, Patrick and Dave have a wealth of information to share about writing, publishing and the paranormal -- so don't miss out on this amazing chat. Of course, there will be trivia and prizes galore!
What: Online Chat with Marley Gibson, Patrick Burns and Dave Schrader! Where: TKA Chat Room When: Wednesday, October 21st @ 9pm ET How To Chat: (1) Click on this link: http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545(2) Enter a username and password (any combination) (3) Click Login
UPDATE: The winner of GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE is Gabrielle! Congrats :). Please email your physical addy to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces).
Leave you name in the comments to win a copy ofGHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCEby Marley Gibson. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.
The 411: Kendall and her ghost hunting team is the talk of Radisson, Georgia, but one person isn't so pleased. Courtney Langdon doesn't appreciate Kendall's new popularity or her relationship with Jason, Courtney's ex.
So Courtney begins dabbling in the paranormal world. At first it's all a game to draw attention away from Kendall. But Courtney doesn't know what she's getting into--or what wants in her. This is one game that's about to turn deadly serious.
UPDATE: This contest is closed. The winner is macbeaner! Congrats! Please email your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces). Thanks to all the participants. See everyone next Tuesday!!
Leave your name in the comments below to enter the book giveaway for GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING by Marley Gibson. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning!
Publisher's Weekly recently mentioned Marley's new release GHOST HUNTRESS (Houghton Mifflin, May 2009) in the Children's Bookshelf newsletter, as well as her upcoming nonfic book on paranormal investigations, OTHER SIDE: GHOST HUNTING AND THE PARANORMAL FOR TEENS*(Houghton Mifflin, Sept. 2009), which was co-written with Patrick Burns and Dave Schrader. Click here for the article. WTG Marley!
The 411: When Kendall Moorehead moves from Chicago to the small town of Radisson, Georgia, her psychic abilities awaken. Together with her new BFF, Celia, Kendall forms a ghost hunting team. Now they're going to clean up Radisson of its less savory spirits.
*Please note, OTHER SIDE has not yet been published and is not a part of today's book giveaway. Thx!
Marley Gibson's new release, GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING is out in stores today! It has all the perfect ingredients for a YA must-read: smart, hip heroine transplanted from the big city to small town America (check), drool-worthy, cute boy (check), annoyingly overprotective mom (check), a plucky sidekick (check) and the undead (in this case...check!).
Marley has done an awesome job generating buzz on this book, and we can't wait to see this awesome series take off. Today, Marley's doing a giveaway on her blog, aptly entitled, Books, Boys, Buzz. In fact, keep checking back all week because apparently they'll be more prizes (always a good thing).
If you're not a winner, no worries. Beat a path to the nearest bookstore! Or you could click over to your fave online retailer.
Here's the 411: The first in a trilogy. Get out your tape recorders, crystals, and extra batteries— you’re about to go where our world meets the spirit world.
Psychic Kids, Paranormal State, Haunting Evidence—these and countless other television shows are making believers out of millions of people: Ghosts exist, and they’re living right beside us. For centuries, individuals have been trying to prove the existence of ghosts. But without hard evidence, it’s been difficult to make the case. But now as science and technology have progressed, ghost hunters have been able to use scientific means, along with more traditional psychic tools, to make their case. Photographs, video recordings, and sound recordings are all producing some amazing results.In this new series, Ghost Huntress, meet Kendall Moorehead, a seemingly typical teen. When her family moves from Chicago to the small historical town of Radisson, Georgia, her psychic abilities awaken. She’s hearing, feeling, and seeing things that seem unbelievable at first, but with the help of the town psychic, Kendall is able to come to terms with her newly emerging gift. So, together with her new BFF, Celia, Kendall forms a ghost hunting team. They’ve got all the latest technology. They’ve got Kendall for their psychic. Now they’re going to clean up Radisson of its less savory spirits.The story is fiction. The science is real. Welcome to a new reality.
Harlequin's 2008 Report Card & Things that make you go hmmmm...
Publisher's Weekly posted an article yesterday about revenue at Harlequin rising 2.2% and operating profit increasing 11.2% in 2008. Hopefully, this stalwart publisher will continue to weather the storm well. It's great to hear some good news from the front lines!
While fighting my way through the blog jungle this morning, I stumbled across this thought provoking video on Books, Boys, Buzz. Definitely something that will make you go hmmmm...
Marley Gibson is becoming a regular media darling! Following her appearance on the Biography Channeland an interview with CNN.com, she recently sat down with Fox 25 in Boston to discuss her upcoming book with co-author Cecil Murphey, CHRISTMAS MIRACLES.
Set to release next October, the book will feature short stories submitted by everyday people who've had their lives touched by a miraculous occurrence at Christmas-time. If you've got an amazing story, now is the time to submit! The deadline for entries is December 24th, 2008. Visit www.ChristmasMiraclesBook.com for more information, and click here to see Marley's Fox 25 interview!
Marley Gibson Takes On Christmas: Submissions Needed for Christmas Miracles Book
I'm thrilled to announce a new book I am working on with New York Times bestselling author Cecil Murphey, CHRISTMAS MIRACLES. It will feature short stories from everyday people who've had their lives miraculously touched at Christmas-time.
I can't begin to describe how excited I am to work on this book! Not only are we with an amazing editor and a powerhouse publisher, Rose Hilliard at St. Martin's, but I get to work with The Man Behind the Words, bestselling author Cecil Murphey!!
I've had several people ask me how this all came about and all I can say is that God brought us together. A couple of years ago, Cec lost his house in a tragic fire. He lost everything. Our agent, Deidre Knight, contacted her clients to let them know about Cec's loss and asked if any of us could reach out to him, to please do so. I only knew of Cec from his book 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN, but Deidre speaks the world of him, so I just had to do something to help.
My office was moving at that time and we were in huge de-clutter and dispose mode. We had stacks and stacks of office supplies that were either going to go in the trash or to a local charity. All I could think of was that Cec is this amazing writer...and he has no office supplies. So, I got a ginormous box and filled it with everything I could get my hands on that was going to go to File 13 anyway...a laptop case, paper, pencils, pens, ruler, paper clips, binders, scissors, post-its, tape, staples, stapler, staple remover, tape dispenser, pen cup, markers, highlighters, index cards, etc. I received the nicest letter ever from Cec, who was blown away at my generosity. Of course...it was the right thing to do!
Flash forward to early this spring when Cec and I met face-to-face for the first time. It was like seeing a dear friend. Deidre took one look at us and said, "Y'all need to write a book together." (Imagine it being said in Deidre's lovely accent.) So, we brainstormed and played around with ideas with Deidre and thus, CHRISTMAS MIRACLES was born.
The great thing about this project is we need your submissions! If you or anyone you know has a true story of a Christmas Miracle, we want to hear it! Here are the guidelines for submission as per our Christmas Miracles website:
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Christmas Miracles is a book project by New York Times bestselling author Cecil Murphey and young adult author Marley Gibson who have contracted with St. Martin's Press for late 2009 release. We seek true stories of miracles that took place at Christmas. They must revolve around that special time of year.
We prefer first-person narratives.
This is an excellent opportunity to see your writing in a book with other outstanding authors. You must follow these guidelines: • Deadline for stories is December 24, 2008. • All entries must be double-spaced, 12-point font, Times New Roman, Word document. • Stories may run from 900 to 1,300 words. We will not consider longer pieces. • We will edit all stories we accept so that they have a unified voice. • Your name will be listed with your story and you'll have a four-line information/resume paragraph at the end of the book. • Every story must have a positive solution that results from a miracle through events or timing at the Christmas season. • Every story must have a positive application. That is, you must tell us what you learned from that miracle or how it changed your life. • You may send an original or a reprint. (If a reprint, please tell us where it was published and assure us that you own the reprint rights.)
If we accept your story, you will retain rights. You'll also receive a $50 honorarium and a free copy of the book when it is released in October 2009. We will offer special discounts for contributors who wish to buy additional books. (We will send that information to you.)
Tis the season to be chatty! Join the co-authors of The Spirit of Christmas
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