Welcome friends and readers!
And welcome 2024!
A new year is always a time of changes here at the
Diamond Mine and this year is no exception.
We sadly say goodbye to Janet Morris
Grimes, Carlene Havel, and Lianne Bruynell Lopes, and Penny Frost McGinnis. And
while they are leaving The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction, each author will
still be penning amazing stories to feed our imaginations.
And speaking of Christian authors firing up their writing
forges, I just want to take a moment to encourage all of our readers not to forget
to show appreciation for the stories we love in this new year. In other words:
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL
AND NOT-SO-LOCAL CHRISTIAN AUTHORS!
This may seem impossible to you as a reader. But it’s so
simple! Here are some practical ways that you actually HELP Christian authors. You might call it the 12 Ways of Supporting Christian Authors, (catchy, right?!?) although I'm not promising it will match the Christmas tune.
1. Buy the book(s).
2. Use word of mouth to support an author’s
book.
3. Follow authors on Social Media.
4. Leave messages on how you enjoyed a book.
5. Follow and interact on an author’s blog.
6. Attend local (and maybe not-so-local)
book signings.
7. Send an email telling an author how much
you loved an author’s book.
8. Join an author’s newsletter. (Please!)
9. Attend a readers’ retreat and
participate. (And boy, are there lots of freebies there!)
10. Buy more books. (!) Buy books as gifts.
11. Join an author’s Street Team. (You can help
promote, read early editions, etc.)
12. LEAVE A REVIEW. on Amazon/Barnes and
Noble/Goodreads, etc. (I cannot express how much this helps/encourages a
writer.)
See? It’s easy! I challenge all readers (and we here on The
Diamond Mine are readers, too!) to show your appreciation to those Christian
Authors who write those books we love sooo much!
WE LOVE CHRISTIAN
FICTION!
Ah, I feel better now. Onward to the purpose of this post.
To welcome in some NEW Christian Authors! This year, Lisa M. James, Gay N.
Lewis (also known as G.N. Lewis), Regina Rudd Merrick, and Carrie Walker have
put on their miner’s hats to become members here on The Diamond Mine of
Christian Fiction. All together we shout:
WELCOME
ABOARD!
And now, let’s get to know a little about these authors.
Lisa M. James
Lisa M. James is an independent author, marketer, and former
Sunday School teacher. She loves writing fantasy novels featuring women of
color for both young adult and adult audiences.
Her novels have hit the Amazon Best Sellers list for
numerous Fantasy categories, including: Sword and Sorcery Fantasy, Christian
Fantasy, and Religious Science Fiction and Fantasy. Her fictional writing is
inspired by Historical Fiction, Fantasy genres, and Christian novels.
When not
writing, Lisa loves talking about her faith, Disney movies, and football while
drinking chai lattes. To keep up with her latest releases, subscribe to www.lisamjames.com.
Gay N. Lewis
Regina Rudd Merrick
Regina Rudd Merrick
started her journey as a life-long lover of reading in first grade, and
eventually parlayed that love of literature into a degree in library science,
with stints as both elementary and middle school librarians, and later as a
public library director.
After finding the
enjoyable world of reading and writing "fan-fiction"--original
stories based on characters from familiar stories, television shows, and
movies--she realized that for some reason God had given her the ability to
weave a story, whether it be in this online community or with original
characters. Her first novel, Carolina Dream, book one of the
Southern Breeze Series, was the winner of a publishing contest with Mantle Rock
Publishing, LLC (now Scrivenings Press), and her writing career was born.
Now the author of seven
novels and a contributor to four novella collections, Regina writes about
people like all of us who sometimes struggle with their faith and trusting God.
Her latest novella contribution is included in the collection, Love in
Any Season, and her latest novels are Window of Peace,
book two2 of a multi-author series entitled Stained Glass Legacy, releasing in
April 2023, and Twelve Days of Mandy Reno, a short Christmas
novel and book two of the RenoVations, Inc. series. In addition to writing,
Regina has recently added the title of “editor” to her resume.
In 2024, she’ll have
three offerings: Carolina Connections (January 2024), Rebuilding
Joy (February 2024), and Christmas, ReWired (November
2024)
Regina loves chocolate,
the beach, playing keyboard and vocals in her church's praise band, historical
homes, watching other people renovate on HGTV, and Hallmark movies. She and her
husband of forty years are empty nesters in rural western Kentucky and are the
proud parents of two grown-up daughters and a son-in-law, along with the
family's sixteen-year-old Schauzer-mix, Cedric.@
reginaruddmerrick.com.
Carrie Walker
Carrie Walker lives in Michigan with her husband and seven
children. From her ten years serving as a high school youth minister,
adventures around the globe, and raising a family, many stories have been knit
within her heart.
As an avid reader, she pens what she loves to read:
contemporary stories that bring hope to a hurting world. Weaving romance among
storylines of characters in struggle, she aims to show God working in all
situations.
When she’s not playing board games with her husband, shuttling kids
in the Walker bus, or wishing for snow, Carrie can be found at the keyboard bringing
those stories to life.
A member of ACFW, ACFW-GL and FHLCW, Carrie’s writing has
been recognized in many contests and her debut novel, Emma’s Hero, won the 2020
ACFW First Impressions Contest for Contemporary.
To learn more about Carrie and her writing or to connect
with her, follow her on social media! She’d love to hear from you. You can also
sign up for her newsletter on her website at carriewalkerwrites.com.
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Another great goal for readers is to follow The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction Blog all year! Please post us on your social media and encourage your friends to follow us as well. We highlight Christian authors and have book giveaways every Wednesday. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for 2024, can you?
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DIY addict and Christian author Peggy Trotter would love for you to subscribe to her newsletter @
peggytrotter.com. Join her on social media, well, pretty much everywhere.
