My friend, author Deb Raney spotted Michal in a bookstore in Wichita, Kansas! It’s not the first sighting – that happened at a Barnes & Noble in North Carolina. But this is the first picture evidence I’ve been sent. How fun to see it with the other books! Fun and surreal!

The second picture also shows Deb’s book Leaving November on the top shelf. :) Deb has a new book releasing this month as well – the sequel to Leaving November – Yesterday’s Embers. This is a wonderful series!

More news came today from my publisher – Michal will be printed in Dutch! It has also been picked up for a book club edition to come some time in the future. How great it will be to see the book in a different language! I’m thrilled!

Work on Abigail is beginning in house – cover design, titling, etc. Edits will still be a few months off, I think. I can’t wait to see what they come up with for the cover!

In the meantime, besides writing, life has had it’s share of ups and downs. God has been reminding me that forgiveness needs to be granted even where no forgiveness was requested – something I’ve learned before but apparently I needed a refresher course. Such forgiveness isn’t really for the offender. It keeps me from bitterness and allows me to pray for those who mistreat me or speak ill of me or whatever the offense might be. It’s a hard lesson, one I think we spend our lifetime repeating. For what relationship doesn’t involve forgiving one another?

God is also teaching me to be thankful in all circumstances, not just the good, wonderful stuff with the book, but the tough stuff of suffering, sorrow, and loss. Maybe that’s why God allowed, even commanded us to bring Him thank offerings as a sacrifice. To be thankful in all circumstances means we have to sacrifice our hurt, our bitterness, our anger on His altar. We have to surrender it all to Him.

But have you ever given God the sacrifice of thanksgiving in the middle of pain? It’s amazing how good we feel when we do! Tough to do, but SO worth it!