Colleen Coble and A Chance to Win $10,000

From Thomas Nelson:



One of the highlights of our days in the Fiction department at Thomas Nelson? Receiving reader letters—either directly addressed to us or passed along from our talented authors. It’s critical to be reminded that at the end of our long days acquiring, editing, designing, selling, marketing, and publicizing books, those stories are reaching readers, striking nerves, changing lives. We want readers’ feedback. How stories have given you hope. Which authors’ series you can’t help from sharing with everyone you meet. We want to know what makes you stay up late in the night to finish a story, and conversely what turns you away.



We’re conducting a series of surveys—seeking answers from readers who love Christian fiction. Up for grabs is a free ebook for every respondent who completes the survery, as well as a $10,000 prize for one entrant. The responses we gather will help shape the future of the books we publish for years to come. As well as the data we’re collecting here, we’ll also seek more in-depth feedback from a panel we’ll develop over the next year. More details to come. The note below from one of authors gives a specific picture of how reader feedback shapes her work. In short, your opinion matters! We thank you for your time and appreciate your responding.



--Thomas Nelson Fiction

Dear Friends--

Your opinion matters. It really does. I love hearing from readers about what worked for them in a story and about what doesn’t work. Reader feedback changed the balance between romance and suspense in my novels. After the Rock Harbor trilogy, I wanted to write more suspense in my novels because that’s what I personally like. But readers really wanted more relationship and romance in the books so I moved back that direction to about the same mix of 50/50 that the Rock Harbor novels contained. I write for you even more than for myself.



I had no intention of setting a whole series of books at Bluebird, Texas. It was going to be only one book, but readers sent me requests in droves for more books. The fourth book in the Lonestar series, Lonestar Angel, will be out in October. The Rock Harbor novels were going to be complete at three. There are now five and I’m thinking about another one! All due to reader demand.



I’ve often asked for reader input on names and locations too. When I was struggling for a name for my hero in The Lightkeeper’s Ball, I turned to my readers. Harrison really fit my character, and my readers told me. Love that! When I was trying to decide on a location for the new Hope Beach series I’ve started, I asked readers. Their overwhelming response was for a series set in the Outer Banks so guess what I’m writing?!



That’s why we’re coming to you for answers. We want to give you what you really want! Don’t be afraid to let us know what you really think. We value your honesty and the time it will take to share with us. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say!



Your friend,

Colleen Coble

To Nana's House We Go

Yippee! Mom's been taking me to Nana's house to stay ALL DAY LONG! Nana said I could use her computer to update my blog, but I've only got 30 minutes. That's all any of the other grandkids get on the internet.

Monday was my first day there. I played with Taz and the kids and got lots of petting and attention. It was great! When I came home I found that someone had stolen our bathtub right out of our house! Mom didn't seem concerned about it, but I sniffed it over just to be sure it was okay. They even took the walls! I can't figure why somebody would want to steal a bathtub. Baths are no fun. I guess if they have ours, then I'm off the hook.

She took me back again this morning. It's so cool to get out of the house. Plus I get to go bye-bye TWICE in one day.

Well, I better get off the computer, Mom will be here soon to pick me up.

Later,
Jack

My Buddy Ben

Mom's been playing with her camera again. I thought I was clear of having to have my picture taken because she was shooting my buddy Ben. But nope, she made me sit too.

It was kind of a nuisance, because I'd treed a squirell and was watching to see when it might come down.

I missed it though because she kept telling me to look at the flashy-thingy. Oh well, at least my pictures turned out good. Don't I look Woof-alicious?
Jack

Revenge of the Dead Squirell

Mom tricked me.

This morning she asked if I wanted to go bye-bye. "Whoopee! Yes! I want to go! Show me the leash, baby!" So we get in the car, she lets me sit in the front seat and rolls my window down. We're cruising along, people smiling and waving at me as we pass. I'm having a great time, then Mom pulls into a parking lot and we get out.

I know this place. I know these smells.

We're at the Doctors.

What a cheap shot! Get me all excited and then take me to the vet's. They're barbaric. They actually put a stick up my butt! How rude! Then they poked me - twice! Mom says it's my own fault that I got sick, because I played with a dead squirell. But how was I supposed to know that you could get Montezuma's Revenge from a squirell? I guess that squirell got me in the end after all. (No pun intended.)

We did go to McDonald's after the doctors visit. Mom bought me Chicken McNuggets. Of course she stuffed my pills in them, but at least they tasted better that way. She also gave me one of my treats for being so good at the doctors. I guess that kind of makes up for some of the indignities I suffered. Not ALL of them, but some.

I'm gonna think twice before I agree to go bye-bye again any time soon, though.

Jack

Revenge Is Sweet

I finally got one! Those dumb squirrels will think twice about taunting me again.

They think they're so smart and fast. Well, this one got cocky and guess who won the race? Me. I left him on the backporch for Mom. I thought for sure she'd be proud of me for protecting the house and ridding the backyard of pests. But she wasn't. She threw him over the fence into the woods. I tried to stop her. I showed her how good I am at gaurding things by protecting my kill, but she just yelled at me. I finally had to let her scoop him up with the snow shovel and toss him. She didn't seem happy or proud of my kill. Beats me why she wouldn't be, it was a good catch.

That's okay. If I can catch one, I'll catch another. I'll show her.

Jack

The Jack Show

Look! Mom made me a movie star! Cool, huh?

Jack



FreeVideoCoding.com

Digging Dirt

I'm tired of rain. It rains too much. Yesterday was so nice. I played in the backyard while Mom got ready for work. There were so many cool new smells and for once the rain hadn't washed them away the night before.

There was one really interesting smell just under the grass. I tried to dig whatever it was up, but I never did find it. Mom caught me digging and yelled at me. I don't know why she was so upset, the whole wasn't that big, I only got it as deep as my head would fit. Given time, I could have done a much better job. It was so liberating to dig. The smell of dirt, the cool feel of dew and dust on your paws. She wasn't real happy with my dirty face and paws either. But really, she puts junk on her face all the time, so I just don't get it.

Mom must have decided that playing in the dirt was a good idea after all, cuz when she came home she played in the dirt, too. Only, she was putting the dirt back into the hole. Seems kind of backwards to me. At least she didn't fill it up completely.

Maybe I'll dig another one. It will give us something to do together.
Jack

This guy's got the right idea. Digging is therapeutic and fun!