"If a great thing can be done, it can be done easily. But it is that kind of ease with which a tree blossoms after long years of gathering strength." -- John Ruskin

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CELEBRATION OF NEW CHRISTIAN FICTION V

The June 2005 edition of the Celebration of New Christian Fiction has been posted, this time hosted by author Marcia Laycock, who hails from up north, in Alberta, Canada.

As is the case every month, this is a great opportunity to see what like-minded bloggers have been writing about. This time, several contributors wrote a special piece inspired by a quote from E.B. White: "Writing is an act of faith, not a trick of grammar."

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ANOTHER HARD LUCK STORY

Congratulations (of sorts) are in order for writer and profound thinker J. Mark Bertrand (who, as you might recall, was profiled by "Learning Curve" back in April). His recent short crime fiction in Hardluck Stories, the excellent "The Inside Job," was submitted for a prestigious Edgar Award in the category of Best Short Story.

As we explained a few weeks ago when my novel was submitted, this is not the shortlist -- there is a whole lot that happens between this part of the process and someone actually getting an award in 2006 from the Mystery Writers of America.

But a submission is still pretty spiffy, so today we celebrate that.

Kudos!

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DON'T WAIT FOR THE EDGAR NOMINATION

FORGIVING SOLOMON LONG (Harvest House Publishers), Chris Well

A hit man is haunted by a preacher's dying words: "I forgive you."

"Fabulous: part Mario Puzo, part John Grisham and part Tom Clancy. I was honestly blown away." -- Jim Cumbee, President of Non-Broadcast Media, Salem Communications."

Read the first chapter

Suggested Retail: $11.99

ISBN: 0-7369-1405-6

Ask for it wherever crime fiction is sold.

Find Forgiving Solomon Long in a library near you