Journal Jots – Blog

NOTE: Winners of the Video Contest Announced Below. 

 

“Please sir, I want more.” 

— Oliver Twist 

Okay, confession time. I have a problem with greed. Not greed for money, mind you, or even success anymore. Nope, my greed is something that’s been creeping up on me since January 1, 2013, when my chosen word for the year was “FIRE.” You see, I wanted to be “on fire” for God, both in my personal life and my career. And guess what? It actually happened — God lit a fire in me that made me greedy for more. And when it comes to God, there are times in life when greed can actually be a good thing. Greedy to serve others, greedy to be a blessing, greedy to show God just HOW much you love Him! 

I’m proud to say it’s the last one I’m guilty of, and NEVER has guilt felt so good!! My word for this year is “BLAZE.” Not the Harlequin “Blaze” line some of you may have heard of, although I have some 1-star reviews that would certainly lead you to believe so. Nope, I want to BLAZE for God, both in my personal life and career. Because as a woman with a great marriage, great kids, and a great career writing for God, I have learned that these things in and of themselves cannot truly satisfy the soul, not like God can. It’s only when He is the Center and Source of our lives that true joy is found, enhancing those components that everyone else says will make you happy.

So for me, 2014 will be a year of exploration. Exploring God and what He wants for me, and I encourage you to do the same. I’m still planning to write, but I’m departing from the norm a wee bit. Instead of writing under contract and deadlines, I plan to step back this year and take my time to enjoy writing for the sheer pleasure of writing. And hopefully, to pen another book of my heart like A Passion Most Pure, only this one will be a contemporary. So for now—this year—it’s me and God on our own, and you know what? I’m really, really excited!!

And speaking of “excited,” I want to thank each and every one of you who prayed for me to complete the manuscript for Surprised By Love, WHICH I sent to my editor at midnight on January 1^st, so YES, I made my deadline, thanks to you! I hope you will enjoy Meg’s story, which is a love triangle between and Bram and guess who? Yes, Mr. Devin Caldwell makes his debut, so it should be fun. And Cait and Logan? Oh, you definitely don’t want to miss the conclusion of their story because it’s one of my faves. 🙂

I wish you and yours a new year overflowing with God’s abundant blessings and may we all “blaze” a trail for Him … and to Him!

Hugs,

Julie

JANUARY 3 – 17, 2014: DARE TO LOVE AGAIN “SPIRIT OF SAN FRANCISCO” GIVEAWAY! 

Yes, it’s true! My publisher Revell is kicking off a fun new contest where you can win a $100 gift card, Ghiradelli chocolate tower, a Fisherman’s Wharf gift bread basket, a Chinatown tea set, copies of Love at Any Cost and Dare to Love Again, and more! It’s easy and it’s fun, so check out the details by clicking the link below:

Click HERE for Julie Lessman’s

“Spirit of San Francisco” Giveaway!

 

WHOO-HOO, WE HAVE WINNERS IN THE VIDEO CONTEST!!

I want to thank each of you who entered my Video Contest for A Light in the Window, and I sure wish everyone could win. But unfortunately, Rafflecopter could only pick three winners, so SUPER CONGRATS to each of the following:

1st Prize (person with the most points) — gets a character named after them or a loved one in my next book, a signed copy of that book, and a $50 gift card.

Linda Marie Finn

2nd Prize (random drawing where every point earned is an extra chance to win, but even one point can win) — gets a character named after them or a loved one in my next book and a signed copy.

Jennifer Fuchikami

3rd Prize (random drawing based on 1 point per name entered) — gets a signed copy of any of my books.

Erin Roberts Reed

 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS! I WILL BE IN TOUCH.

 

 

 

Video Contest is

Below My Blog Post,

So Please Scroll Down.

(EXTRA-POINT OPTIONS ADDED!) 

***

“Family are God’s hugs and kisses.”

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, it’s been said, and I have to agree that it’s true. We lost my precious Mother-in-law this year, and although her presence was sorely missed this Christmas, her absence brought an appreciation for family that was sharper and deeper than ever before. A keener awareness that family is a gift from God, whether our circumstances are good or bad.

It took me LOTS and LOTS of prayer and repentence to forgive my mother and father for an upbringing that caused me a lot of pain, and yet, that very pain brought me to God Who has since taught me that His love — unconditional love — is the glue that binds families together. Through God’s love for me, I learned how to forgive my parents, to pray for them, and to love them the way He does.

My mother died when I was sixteen — seven years before I came to Christ — so our reconciliation yet awaits in heaven. But with my father — who died shortly after I became born again at the age of twenty-three — God gave me a year or so to make it right, to reach out to him and love him like Christ does. It was my first assignment as a Christian, and the most life-changing thus far, both for me and my father. When Daddy died, God gave me hugs and kisses galore through a healed relationship in which I was “Daddy’s girl,” a woman he respected, loved and yes — even called “pretty” — something so very critical to an insecure little girl who thought she bayed at the moon.

As a young mother, I’ll be the first to admit that I was so busy, I didn’t always give my kids the attention they deserved. And when I became an author, the busyness seemed to spin out of control, further stealing my time. But after writing about God and family for ten books now, I am happy to say that I have finally learned that family is not only the most important thing to me after God, but it’s also the most important thing to God as well.

Holidays have a way of illuminating family, whether good or bad, but the good news is that with God — through God — families can be healed to become the ebb and flow of His amazing love in our lives. I thank God it’s a lesson I’ve learned before it’s too late, when I still have time to be His hugs and kisses in their lives, deepening my relationship with them and with a Father to Whom I am — joyfully — the apple of His eye.

Although Keith and I spent our first Christmas Eve and Christmas morning alone in 30 years, our children’s absence and that of my sweet mother-in-law’s brought an awareness that helped make it wonderful nonetheless, allowing us to cherish stolen moments on Facetime, through phone calls, and a Christmas Day family function that was one of the best gifts I received this Christmas.

And so, from my family to yours — we wish you a new year overflowing with God’s abundant blessings … and endless hugs and kisses from the God of the Universe Who calls each of us His own.

Hugs and Happy New Year!

Julie

 

I NEED YOUR HELP!!  Love at Any Cost is currently up for The Book Club Network Book of the Year, so if you read it and liked it, I hope you’ll consider voting for me OR your favorite author, okay? And if you do vote, I’ll give you extra points in the Rafflecopter box of the Video Contest at the end of this blog whether you vote for me or not. Here’s the link and THANK YOU!!

DECEMBER 31, 2013 — SEEKERVILLE’S “AROUND-THE-CLOCK” ROCKIN’ NEW YEARS EVE PARTY!!

Ready to bring the new year in with lots of PRIZES, FUN, & CHATTER? Join me and the Seekers anytime — day or night — on New Year’s Eve, and we guarantee you’ll have one of the best New Year’s EVER!! I’ll be hosting the party from 3:00-4:00 PM CST with giveaways of my books and a GREAT recipe, so come on by to chat and chum for New Year’s fun!! Here’s the link and hope to see you there!  http://seekerville.blogspot.com/

VIDEO CONTEST  

HERE!!

(NOTE: EXTRA-POINT OPTIONS ADDED!) 

 

One Woman. Two Men.
One stirs her pulse and the other her faith.
But who will win her heart?

— A Light in the Window

OH. MY. GOODNESS!!!

It’s here … the video for A Light in the Window is finally HERE!! And not just “here,” my friends, but “here” with a contest to kick off both my $ .99 CHRISTMAS SALE for the A Light in the Window E-book AND the release of the paperback version too!! 

I am reallllly excited to see what you guys think about the video, especially your preference as to the two male models who play Patrick O’Connor and Sam O’Rourke. Since I haven’t run a Journal Jots contest in a long time, I thought this would be the perfect occasion for it, don’t you?, To enter the contest, all you have to do is watch the video, then tell me which of these bad-boy rogues turns your head for the title of hottest rogue in the Southie neighborhood!

THREE CHANCES TO WIN!!

Prizes:

1st Prize (person with the most points) — gets a character named after them or a loved one in my next book, a signed copy of that book, and a $50 gift card.

2nd Prize (random drawing where every point  earned is an extra chance to win, but even one point can win) — gets a character named after them or a loved one in my next book and a signed copy.

3rd Prize (random drawing based on 1 point per name entered) — gets a signed copy of any of my books.

 

Contest Rules:

To enter, scroll down to the Rafflecopter box at the bottom of today’s post and click the box that confirms you have watched the video, then click on the next option to vote for your favorite rogue. That’s ALL you have to do to enter for the two random drawings. But if you want to win the top prize by accruing extra points, then check out the other options listed in the Rafflecopter box and GO CRAZY!! The contest runs from November 11 through December 31st, with the winner announced in my January 3rd Journal Jot.

***

NEED E-BOOK OR PAPERBACK AS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO ARRIVE BY CHRISTMAS? (Or the last mail day before Christmas for the paperback?) Well now you can!! 

When you gift a Kindle or paperback book, you have the option to have the gift delivered immediately or to specify a future delivery date. To give a gift, please visit the AMAZON page of the book you wish to buy and click on the “Give as a Gift” button located under the “Buy” button on the product detail page for the book you wish to gift.

By default delivery date is set to “now” and your gift notification will be delivered immediately to the recipient’s e-mail address. HOWEVER … if you wish the gift sent at a future delivery date (i.e. Christmas morning for the e-book), the e-mail confirmation of your gift will be sent to your recipient between 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. Pacific Time on the date you selected. You may also choose to instead send the gift notification to your own e-mail address upon ordering, which you can then forward, or print out and deliver, whenever you choose.

NEED A SIGNED BOOKPLATE FOR PAPERBACK CHRISTMAS GIFTS?

Simply purchase a paperback of ALITW or any of my other books as a Christmas gifts, and I will send you a signed bookplate with a special note to the person to whom you are giving the book as a gift. All you have to do is contact me directly through my website by at least ten days before Christmas to allow for mail delivery.

So, you ready to have some fun?? Click on the video link below, turn up your volume and click on full screen, then watch the video and indicate you have done so in the first Rafflecopter box at the bottom of this post.  And don’t forget to vote for your favorite rogue!!

Ready? Get set? GO!!

“A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW” VIDEO

 

LINK TO PURCHASE ALITW E-BOOK FOR 99 CENTS!

 

LINK TO PURCHASE ALITW PAPERBACK FOR PRICE REDUCED BY ALMOST $2.50 PER BOOK!

 

Hugs and HAPPY WEEKEND!!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Video Contest is

Below My Blog Post,

So Please Scroll Down.

(EXTRA-POINT OPTIONS ADDED!) 

***

 

You know, I was all set to post a Christmas Scripture because after all, that’s the right thing to do four days before Christmas, right? But when I opened one of my devotionals this morning, Jesus Calling (which is great, by the way!), the line above literally jumped out at me, and when it did, my heart clutched and tears welled in my eyes.

Jesus’ Power and Glory — in the flesh, through the birth of a human infant born in a bed of straw — is the very thing that can and will eradicte all of my fears and yours. Oh, the joy of knowing that my imperfections — and God knows they are many — are obliterated by a God Who loves me — and you — just the way we are!! Talk about “joy to the world”!!

In our weakness He is strong.

So, like the disciple Paul, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” And, oh baby, if my weakness equates to God’s strength, than I’m bending bars of steel like pretzels … and bopping them over the devil’s head. 🙂

I wish you and yours a most happy, healthy, and holy holiday season where the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Hugs,

Julie

 

I NEED YOUR HELP!!  Love at Any Cost is currently up for The Book Club Network Book of the Year, so if you read it and liked it, I hope you’ll consider voting for me OR your favorite author, okay? And if you do vote, I’ll give you extra points in the Rafflecopter box of the Video Contest at the end of this blog whether you vote for me or not. Here’s the link and THANK YOU!!

 

2.) VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTIAN AUTHORS in “THE NEW 2014 CHRISTIAN FICTION” POLL, STRICTLY FOR CHRISTIAN FICTION. You can vote for up to 100 authors, so vote for your faves and if you do and include DARE TO LOVE AGAIN, I’ll give you extra points in my VIDEO CONTEST when you click on that option in the Rafflecopter box. Here’s the link: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/35291.NEW_2014_Christian_Fiction_#18059982

 

***

VIDEO CONTEST  

HERE!!

(NOTE: EXTRA-POINT OPTIONS ADDED!) 

 

One Woman. Two Men.
One stirs her pulse and the other her faith.
But who will win her heart?

— A Light in the Window

OH. MY. GOODNESS!!!

It’s here … the video for A Light in the Window is finally HERE!! And not just “here,” my friends, but “here” with a contest to kick off both my $ .99 CHRISTMAS SALE for the A Light in the Window E-book AND the release of the paperback version too!! 

I am reallllly excited to see what you guys think about the video, especially your preference as to the two male models who play Patrick O’Connor and Sam O’Rourke. Since I haven’t run a Journal Jots contest in a long time, I thought this would be the perfect occasion for it, don’t you?, To enter the contest, all you have to do is watch the video, then tell me which of these bad-boy rogues turns your head for the title of hottest rogue in the Southie neighborhood!

THREE CHANCES TO WIN!!

Prizes:

1st Prize (person with the most points) — gets a character named after them or a loved one in my next book, a signed copy of that book, and a $50 gift card.

2nd Prize (random drawing where every point  earned is an extra chance to win, but even one point can win) — gets a character named after them or a loved one in my next book and a signed copy.

3rd Prize (random drawing based on 1 point per name entered) — gets a signed copy of any of my books.

 

Contest Rules:

To enter, scroll down to the Rafflecopter box at the bottom of today’s post and click the box that confirms you have watched the video, then click on the next option to vote for your favorite rogue. That’s ALL you have to do to enter for the two random drawings. But if you want to win the top prize by accruing extra points, then check out the other options listed in the Rafflecopter box and GO CRAZY!! The contest runs from November 11 through December 31st, with the winner announced in my January 3rd Journal Jot.

***

NEED E-BOOK OR PAPERBACK AS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO ARRIVE BY CHRISTMAS? (Or the last mail day before Christmas for the paperback?) Well now you can!! 

When you gift a Kindle or paperback book, you have the option to have the gift delivered immediately or to specify a future delivery date. To give a gift, please visit the AMAZON page of the book you wish to buy and click on the “Give as a Gift” button located under the “Buy” button on the product detail page for the book you wish to gift.

By default delivery date is set to “now” and your gift notification will be delivered immediately to the recipient’s e-mail address. HOWEVER … if you wish the gift sent at a future delivery date (i.e. Christmas morning for the e-book), the e-mail confirmation of your gift will be sent to your recipient between 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. Pacific Time on the date you selected. You may also choose to instead send the gift notification to your own e-mail address upon ordering, which you can then forward, or print out and deliver, whenever you choose.

NEED A SIGNED BOOKPLATE FOR PAPERBACK CHRISTMAS GIFTS?

Simply purchase a paperback of ALITW or any of my other books as a Christmas gifts, and I will send you a signed bookplate with a special note to the person to whom you are giving the book as a gift. All you have to do is contact me directly through my website by at least ten days before Christmas to allow for mail delivery.

So, you ready to have some fun?? Click on the video link below, turn up your volume and click on full screen, then watch the video and indicate you have done so in the first Rafflecopter box at the bottom of this post.  And don’t forget to vote for your favorite rogue!!

Ready? Get set? GO!!

“A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW” VIDEO

 

LINK TO PURCHASE ALITW E-BOOK FOR 99 CENTS!

 

LINK TO PURCHASE ALITW PAPERBACK FOR PRICE REDUCED BY ALMOST $2.50 PER BOOK!

 

Hugs and HAPPY WEEKEND!!a Rafflecopter giveaway