Thursday, February 14, 2008

February 2008 Newsletter

WHEW!!Finally your February e-newsletter is here. I apologize for the delay to those who support my endeavors as a debut Christian author.
**First, a special thanks to the women's bookclub at the First Presbyterian Church in Ferguson. It was so much fun to share scenes and talk about the characters from Guilty of Love. THANK YOU LADIES.
**My manuscript for the November 2008 release, Talk to Me, is finally done! (Yeah) I put the 375 page novel in the mail yesterday to the publisher to review and make changes. Talk about late, it was, but I hope you will enjoy Noel and Mackenzie's story, which you can read this month's excerpt at http://www.talktomebook.blogspot.com/.
**Now I can answer 137 emails in my in box and call people back.**I wanted to have some fun due to the popularity of one character from Guilty of Love, Grandma BB now has her own blog. Get the latest scoop or ask this witty, downright sassy senior a question by signing up for her blog athttp://askgrandmabb.blog.com/
**This is an exciting year in our country with the upcoming presidential election. I hope you all had the chance to get out and vote yesterday in the primaries. It was funny to get "play by play" calls from my 23-year old son who kept my husband and I update on who was winning.It was wonderful hearing his excitement and involvement, which is a good thing.The more informed he is, the better choices he'll make, and the better prepared he will be in a career of his choice. The most important thing is he'll pay for my social security!
**A few dates ago, my husband and I visited Oklahoma City, and met some fellow new and exciting authors, one was Sean Chandler who writes black historical westerns--wow. I'll introduce you to him next month!**I also wanted to share my thoughts about touring the Alfred P. Murrah Memorial site. Sign up at www.AnythingInspirational.com and read my reflections. View some pictures at photos.patsimmons.net
**Finally, you'll find in this newsletter two exciting authors that I would briefly like to introduce to you. Check out their websites.

WHAT MADE MY DAY IN JANUARY...
Oh Taste and See that the Lord is Good (Psalm 34:8), and since the publication of Guilty of Love, God has been good to meI made another bestseller's list.Last month, I told you about the top 100 Amazon Bestsellers.--The top selling books are updated every hour, and Guilty of Love made it at 91 on the Christian Romance List.--A few times during the month, I was on the list for 8 hours. So that was exciting.--Here's an another list that I didn't know anything about, and learned by accident that I had made it for the week of January 20-January 26, 2008, Guilty of Love came in at the #29 out of the top 50.I hope you check out the complete list on my blog. BestsellersThe direct link is http://www.blackchristianbookdistributors.com/ Click on top fiction bestsellers.
Oh Taste and See that the Lord is indeed Good. I know none of this would have been possible without His blessings and yours. Thank you everyone for your support and words of encouragement.

I still don’t have a cover for TALK TO ME (Urban Christian), November 2008, but it's coming within the next few months. Until then, here's the next unedited excerpt.
Introducing Mackenzie Norton, 29, Elementary School Teacher/Theatre Assistant & Church Interpreter:
I had waited my entire life for Noel Richardson. Physically, he was perfect, and I mean perfect, built like bodybuilder. He had hazel eyes, skin the color of maple butter syrup, and a smile that became permanent when he gazed at me. He nurtured his silky black mustache that outlined his upper lip. There never a hair out of place. Lord knows, Noel was as pleasing to my eyes that at times, I couldn’t even blink.
Read more TALKTOMEBOOK.blogspot.com
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I would like to introduce my readers to fellow Urban Christian author, Keshia Dawn, By the Grace of God, July 2008.Here's a brief description of her novel and I'm inviting you to check out my interview with Keshia on my blog AnythingInspirational
When Gracie's fiance, Dillian, suddenly, and without warning, walks out of her life leaving no indication as to why and then cuts off all lines of communication with her, she is left devastated and confused. She agonizes over his disappearing act, mainly because she just wants to know why. She feels she at least deserves that much. But when Gracie finally finds the answer she's been looking for, the betrayal and secrets involved turns her life upside down.
Even with the support of her family and friends, Gracie's emotions go from bad to worse once she realizes that Dillian is not the only link to the line of betrayal. It's then, by the grace of God, that Gracie is able to search for the strength to weather the storm, but will she be able to find it through all the thick dark clouds? Read more at www.keshiadawnwrites.com

STRESS is a condition that most people take lightly. Most believe it isn’t especially serious and they can handle it well. We use phrases like “stressed out,” but what we are inferring is that we have met some resistance to goals we are attempting to accomplish. Stress is indeed resistance, but it is much more than that. It is a force or pressure that causes deleterious reactions to us in every aspect of our being.
In other words, it causes behaviors, harm and disturbances in our minds, feelings, bodies and, most of all, our spiritual selves. If you have questions about stress or any other topic, he invites you to visit his website at www.greaterinsight.net and read an excerpt from his new book, Stress: Climbing Out of its Pits with God.or write to him at AskDrStevenHaymon.blog.com
Not only is Dr. Steven a member of my church and a debut author, he is licensed psychologist who is genuinely concerned about the mental and spiritual healing of others. I checked out his blog last night and my heart ached for victims and love ones reaching out for help. Dr. Steven is really providing a ministry!

Not Just Books February Events (Support Your Local Independent Bookstores)
February 9th-Will and Nancy Jordan business owners of Fit By Faith will be conducting a class and introducing their Essentials Oils and Faith Healing Oils beginning at 1 pm
February 16-Allen Miller local author and world renowned motivation speaker will be signing his newly released book "Scarlet Tears" and speaking on Black History Month at 2 pm-4 pm
February 23rd-World Renowned Storyteller Bobby Norfolk will bring his stories to life from 1 pm-3 pm

Connie & Richard Cheek
Not Just A Bookstore
5892 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63112
314-361-9955
© 2007 Pat Simmons/ Christian Romance Author
Campaign Edit

January 2008 Newsletter

Congratulations, you've made it to 2008!Just think, a new year, new possibilities, new blessings, new mercies, you get the point.**First things first: THANK YOU for your support during 2007. God showed me so many friends that I didn't know I had. I wouldn't be an author without readers so thank you for the blessing.**I do have a request this year. Please pray for my cousin, Alonso Dunlap, who will be deployed to Iraq. I met this beloved cousin as a result of my genealogy search. **Although my 2008 cover for Talk to Me isn't available yet, check out some of Urban Christian's 2008 covers. Hopefully, mine will be available soon. http://www.uchisglorybookclub.net./**Here are some great videos from YouTube. The Wedding Dance.**Don't check into a hotel without seeing this. Hotel Beware
Top 10 Predictions for 20081.The Bible will still have the answers.2. Prayer will still work.3. The Holy Spirit will still move.4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.MORE
WHAT MADE MY DAY IN DECEMBERAlthough I have no idea how my sales have gone so far, I can rejoice with some good news: Every hour Amazon lists the top 100 book sales in different categories. For example, I have labeled Guilty of Love as: African-American fiction; African-American romance; Christian fiction; Christian romance; Women's fiction; Multicultural, etc.Two weekends this month I made the list, barely at number 93, but I MADE IT.I was in the company of Dee Henderson, Karen Kingsbury, Lori Wick--all heavy hitters who dominate Christian Fiction marketWith each passing hour, other titles sold better so that eventually my book was pushed back to who knows what number. It was unbelievable, but there's more.
Meet one character from Talk to Me, my November 2008 release.This is my maternal great-grandmother Rhoda Brownlee Wilkinson (1870-1926).Although my research on Rhoda continues, I'm excited about sharing information I've uncovered about her so please keep checking my website or blogs. The links are listed at the bottom of this newsletter.As promised, here's the first sneak peek at Talk to Me before my editor sees it: Click excerpt.
NOT JUST A BOOK STOREThat's the actually name of a new bookstore in St. Louis. Stop by and meet co-owner Connie Creek. She and her husband, Richard, held their grand opening December first. Their cash register was ringing as new customers were mingling, eating, and reading new books off the shelves.Their location is 5892 Delmar, St. Louis, Mo 63112. The store is five blocks east of one of St. Louis' hot spots--The U City Loop. Give Connie or Richard a call at 314-31-9955 about ordering a book or holding a book signing.
Do you have friends who would enjoy receiving my monthly updates? Forward this e-newsletter and have them sign up at http://www.patsimmons.net/ patsimmons.blog.comAlso visit me at:http://www.facebook.com/www.myspace.com/patsimmonsauthorwww.shelfari.com/patsimmons http://www.talktomebooks.blogspot.com/