tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23746986051719103892024-02-18T21:55:58.532-05:00Valiant HeartsNovels for teens and adults filled with adventure and romance, passion and grace.Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-54051537418868794052017-12-24T17:06:00.000-05:002017-12-24T17:34:01.908-05:00Merry Christmas 2017 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Merry Christmas from our hearth to yours!</div>
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The Sleimans have had an exciting and busy year, starting with Christi Sleiman's college graduation at the top of her mechanical engineering program in May, followed in July by her engagement to Adam Giedd. She first met Adam when they were co-mission leaders on a trip to Israel, and they grew even closer as they worked as brother/sister dorm head resident advisors. They will be married in January! This year Adam Giedd is finishing up his Master's degree in education at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa while Christi works as a hall director for the school. Next year, they're excited to see where God will lead them, very possibly to an engineering job for Christi.</div>
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Jonny Sleiman is a junior marketing major and president of his Enactus business club at Oral Roberts University. He also works part-time in a marketing position for the school. Despite a football induced broken finger requiring surgery, he's having a great year and looking forward to a promising future in the business field.</div>
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Adam Sleiman (not to be confused with Adam Giedd above) has been focusing on soccer and piano this year. Over the summer he traveled to Guatemala on a missionary trip with Adventures in Missions. He's still learning Arabic and Spanish at the Global Studies program at Tallwood High School.</div>
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Dina Sleiman released another novel this year, Dare from Deep Within, which follows the characters from her previous Dance from Deep Within as they help a young Muslim woman escape her abusive family. Dina also continues to work as a writer for Operation Blessing and an administrator at Acts 2 Church.</div>
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Dani Sleiman has also experienced some big changes this year. Recently, he officially resigned from the Christian Broadcasting Network, where he happily served for over twenty years, and he is stepping out as a freelance contractor in the computer field. His big project is a media related app that he hopes to see launched fully some time soon.</div>
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Blessings to you and yours. We hope you have a great year filled with love, peace, and joy.</div>
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The Sleiman Family</div>
<br />Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-2830948319807510292017-11-15T15:31:00.000-05:002017-11-15T15:31:14.088-05:00The Deep Within Saga (FINALLY) Continues!<div class="post-body-container" style="background-color: white; font-family: "EB Garamond", serif; font-size: 20px;">
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Hi, friends. If you dig way back in your memories, you might recall my contemporary novel, <i>Dance from Deep Within</i>. And if you happened to actually read this novel, you might remember that there was a teaser for book 2 in the back.</div>
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<br />Fast-forward four years, and where is book 2? Well, that's a bit of a saga itself. I actually wrote book 2 shortly after book 1 released in late 2013. I even made a verbal agreement with WhiteFire to publish book 2. But, around that same time, I also had the idea for my YA Valiant Hearts series. And when Bethany House Publishers purchased that series, I had a strict exclusivity clause that didn't allow me to publish <i>Dare from Deep Within</i> during the duration of that contract. These things happen in the publishing world...no hard feelings.<br /><br />Except that a number of my readers were seriously disappointed not to get the next installment of the Deep Within series in a timely manner. So I'm happy to announce that the moment has nearly arrived. Next week, exactly four years after the release of book 1, <i>Dare from Deep Within</i> will finally release!!!<br /><br />And I have to say, I love this series, probably more than any of my other books. I love the strong sisterhood bond and the theme of intimacy with Christ and searching for truth from deep within found in book 1, along with the romance, humor, and drama that ensues. In book 2, the saga continues as the gang must work together to save an abused friend, with all the humor, romance, and spiritual depth that you might expect from the sequel in this series, plus a greater sense of suspense and urgency as they face the darker, terror-ridden side of Islam. The book examines risks and taking chances for what we truly believe.<br /><br />I hope you didn't give up on me after so many years, and that you're still excited to read the next installment. And if you haven't picked up the Deep Within series yet, I invite you to start with book 1!<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><b>Book 1 - Dance from Deep Within</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Despite her conservative Muslim heritage, Layla Al-Rai longs for a chance to earn her degree in engineering and perhaps even...dare she dream...to choose her own husband. But young women from her background rarely enjoy such freedoms. When she finally talks her parents into letting her attend college, she is drawn to fellow twenty-something students, Allie and Rain, over a class project. </span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Allie, the blonde ballerina, faces her own struggles as she deals with an ex-fiancé and a church she had hoped to leave behind. Rain, the bi-racial hippie chick, longs for something to believe in, but her questioning could cost her the love of her life. </span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When Layla's childhood sweetheart reenters her world, it seems her dreams might become real. Until everything falls apart. When she meets truth face to face, will she find the courage to accept it even if it requires the ultimate sacrifice?</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Deep-Within-D-Sleiman/dp/1939023289/ref=bseries_primary_1_1939023289" style="background: transparent; color: #be8b37; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Order now</a></span><br /><b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Book 2 - Dare from Deep Within</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Three young women from varying backgrounds risk everything to help a friend escape her abusive family. Still at odds with her own Muslim parents, Layla faces unexpected challenges when her childhood companion shows up on her doorstep. </span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">As Fatima risks everything for freedom, her desperate circumstances draw a new circle of friends who will be forever changed by her plight. Layla, the Muslim-background believer, turns to a forbidden boyfriend for the guidance both to protect Fatima and to find her identity apart from her parents and her former culture. Rain, the bi-racial hippie chick, secrets Fatima away from her violent family, but as the experience draws her closer to Christ, Rain's own relationship with her significant other, James, will suffer the consequences. Sarah, an ultra-conservative Christian on the surface, is torn between a desire to help Fatima and a need to conceal her shameful double life and dangerous habits from her older sister Allie. </span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">As they struggle to safely guide this courageous young woman through a maze of intrigue and terrorism, all will be forced to ask what they are willing to risk for love, for each other, and for God.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dare-Deep-Within-D-Sleiman/dp/1939023807/ref=bseries_lb_1939023807" style="background: transparent; color: #be8b37; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dare-Deep-Within-D-Sleiman-ebook/dp/B0778GZTLT/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Order now</a></span></div>
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Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-34034443617767036142017-08-26T12:22:00.003-04:002017-08-26T12:23:13.652-04:00Ebook Sale! Don't Miss Out!<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Right now <i>Dauntless</i> is available for only $.99 on Amazon, and <i>Chivalrous </i>and <i>Courageous</i> are only $2.99 each. Don't miss out on this great sale, and please spread the word.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-71279333747880752472017-07-03T17:06:00.000-04:002017-07-03T17:06:05.532-04:00Diversity Between the Pages!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi Friends, I really enjoyed doing this unique interview about <i>Dance from Deep Within </i>over at "Diversity Between the Pages." <a href="https://diversitybetweenthepages.wordpress.com/2017/07/03/author-interview-with-dina-sleiman/" target="_blank">Hop on over and check it out!</a>Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-36896136658790064232017-06-22T09:00:00.000-04:002017-06-22T11:11:29.315-04:00WhiteFire Scavenger Hunt Stop #6<br />
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<b style="font-family: "times new roman"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Welcome to the WhiteFire Publishing Scavenger Hunt! </span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to go back to stop #1 and collect all the clues in order. Once you have them all, you’ll have uncovered a secret message. Turn that in at the final stop for a chance to win one of THREE amazing prize packages!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunt begins at </span><a href="http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/2017/06/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-1.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roseanna White’s site</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Take your time! You have all weekend to complete the Hunt—entries will be counted until Monday June 26—so have fun reading all the posts along the way and getting to know each author</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lots of extra prizes! Many of the authors are featuring unique giveaways as well, for even more chances to win!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Submit your entry for the grand prizes back at </span><a href="http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/p/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-submit-your.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roseanna White’s blog</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>A Muslim, a hippie, and a Christian walk into a coffee shop... </i></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">No, it's not the start of a questionable joke, it's the fascinating premise for my Deep Within Series with WhiteFire Publishing. </span><span style="background-color: white;">It's hard for an author to choose a favorite book, kind of like choosing a favorite child, but I do believe my Deep Within books are the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> the most life-changing books I've written. These books are filled with romance, humor, and even suspense as the heroines search together for true meaning in their lives. I invite you to take this journey of discovery, starting with <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Deep-Within-D-Sleiman-ebook/dp/B00GNSKFNA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Dance from Deep Within</a></i>. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Deep-Within-D-Sleiman-ebook/dp/B00GNSKFNA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuL5vE4maN9Q-gmteicBOwGdpH00z3EssMYxv_XHf1pYbBxZlJJ4xnDK29X5GqjhN4ViUku-yNokXaMfs9TcaII37mO7f81Ky2AxBHTVBN9UzqrFQ925ms43sMOZ7rz3AWOYTt6W-_ty2/s320/dance+from+deep+within.jpg" width="207" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Deep-Within-D-Sleiman-ebook/dp/B00GNSKFNA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">book 1 available now</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">Despite her conservative Muslim heritage, Layla Al-Rai longs for a chance to earn her degree in engineering and perhaps even...dare she dream...to choose her own husband. But young women from her background rarely enjoy such freedoms. When she finally talks her parents into letting her attend college, she is drawn to fellow twenty-something students, Allie and Rain, over a class project. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Allie, the blonde ballerina, faces her own struggles as she deals with an ex-fiancé and a church she had hoped to leave behind. Rain, the bi-racial hippie chick, longs for something to believe in, but her questioning could cost her the love of her life. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">When Layla's childhood sweetheart reenters her world, it seems her dreams might become real. Until everything falls apart. When she meets truth face to face, will she find the courage to accept it even if it requires the ultimate sacrifice?</span></i><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Also look for the equally compelling book 2 in the series, <i>Dare from Deep Within</i>, coming in November 2017.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyNgqZjo2vhmHa_GSWDOlMOl_gpa3oXEYhgnl-zSf-ySeiaeUJzNM3c7Z-tuNJeDq_DiADChxLlxxcmXQgt6Wykrx-zgxMVb3QhBCMorGVufxhXBtotrfmWDIqEtxounPGoJ2T2fNndBC/s1600/dare+from+deep+within+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyNgqZjo2vhmHa_GSWDOlMOl_gpa3oXEYhgnl-zSf-ySeiaeUJzNM3c7Z-tuNJeDq_DiADChxLlxxcmXQgt6Wykrx-zgxMVb3QhBCMorGVufxhXBtotrfmWDIqEtxounPGoJ2T2fNndBC/s320/dare+from+deep+within+cover.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">book 2 coming November 2017</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">For those of you who re</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: inherit;">ad book 1, that's not Allie in the top left corner; it's her sister Sarah. And that's Fatima, Layla's abused Saudi friend, on the beach. The whole gang will come back together to help save Fatima in a suspense and romance filled adventure that's sure to tug at your heart and challenge your thinking. Be sure to keep an eye out for it!</span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Now back to the Scavenger Hunt</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s the Stop #6 Scoop:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can order my book at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Deep-Within-D-Sleiman-ebook/dp/B00GNSKFNA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dance-from-deep-within-d-l-sleiman/1117395258?ean=9781939023285" target="_blank">barnesandnoble</a>, or <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/?utm_content=%2F&utm_campaign=cbd.com&utm_source=referral" target="_blank">cbd</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clue to Write Down:</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>FIND</i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Next Stop on the Loop, #7: </span></span><a href="http://www.gailkittleson.com/catching-daylight-massive-giveaway/" target="_blank">Gail Kittleson</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Need the full list of stops?</span></span><br />
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/2017/06/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-1.html&source=gmail&ust=1498083714026000&usg=AFQjCNHvQacPEfDn9UVamfwoGMW_QTNUKQ" href="http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/2017/06/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-1.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Roseanna M. White</a></div>
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<a href="http://aprilmcgowan.com/2017/06/22/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-2/" target="_blank">April McGowan</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://wp.me/p2ohzH-a9&source=gmail&ust=1498083714026000&usg=AFQjCNF5wf7GUuji_obTMbH58ap6qmnaFA" href="http://wp.me/p2ohzH-a9" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Cara Luecht</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.christinelindsay.org/2017/06/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-4_22.html">Christine Lindsay</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://debraemarvin.com/?p%3D447%26preview%3Dtrue&source=gmail&ust=1498083714026000&usg=AFQjCNGN0SAJjgvLR6ELs74Z5sU7Xnc1Og" href="http://debraemarvin.com/?p=447&preview=true" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Debra Marvin</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://valiantheartsseries.blogspot.com/2017/06/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-6.html&source=gmail&ust=1498083714026000&usg=AFQjCNG-CqoufdRbTPMsx2nviZw7K3j6RQ" href="http://valiantheartsseries.blogspot.com/2017/06/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-6.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Dina Sleiman</a></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.gailkittleson.com/catching-up-with-daylight/&source=gmail&ust=1498083714026000&usg=AFQjCNFVMYGCUr4jyWAvNHGugyc9JAWj7A" href="http://www.gailkittleson.com/catching-daylight-massive-giveaway/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Gail Kittleson</a></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://vjoypalmer.blogspot.com/2017/06/whitefire-authors-scavenger-hunt.html&source=gmail&ust=1498083714026000&usg=AFQjCNGrtO64yZ8Cgk7hNAGsk62sEFTF1A" href="http://vjoypalmer.blogspot.com/2017/06/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-8.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Joy Palmer</a></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://junefoster.com/?p%3D4522&source=gmail&ust=1498083714026000&usg=AFQjCNFDAQtwKSMaqFPhoHey-qlsjzkv6Q" href="http://junefoster.com/?p=4522" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">June Foster</a></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.roseannawhitedesigns.com/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-10/&source=gmail&ust=1498083714026000&usg=AFQjCNGW3FVdjNvz4WxxGYKM4VzxX43w4A" href="http://www.roseannawhitedesigns.com/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-10/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Melody Carlson</a> (hosted)</div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://nelsonhannah.com/&source=gmail&ust=1498083714026000&usg=AFQjCNHYmF7LnFus4BrLnTQdOF5Bh61bjQ" href="http://nelsonhannah.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Nelson Hannah</a></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://rachellereacobb.com/whitefire-scavenger-hunt/&source=gmail&ust=1498083714026000&usg=AFQjCNG3P0xZeFnKfrEjQW82V3Ie8vRUPw" href="https://rachellereacobb.com/whitefire-scavenger-hunt/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Rachelle Rea Cobb</a></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.saragoff.com/2017/06/22/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-13/&source=gmail&ust=1498083714026000&usg=AFQjCNHHV6LlrozYXh1zt5FtBSJZ_w7YZQ" href="http://www.saragoff.com/2017/06/22/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-13/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Sara Goff</a></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://susiefinkbeiner.com/2017/06/22/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-14&source=gmail&ust=1498083714027000&usg=AFQjCNE09ZAfMtc-afiHcRr9OWVIQ9nK-w" href="http://susiefinkbeiner.com/2017/06/22/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-14" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Susie Finkbeiner</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://susannedietze.blogspot.com/2017/06/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-15.html&source=gmail&ust=1498083714027000&usg=AFQjCNGL1DT-7JGfGfCid8wBqDXohigBMw" href="http://susannedietze.blogspot.com/2017/06/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-15.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Susanne Dietze</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://suzieswritingplace.blogspot.com/2017/06/whitefire-scavenger-hunt_19.html&source=gmail&ust=1498083714027000&usg=AFQjCNGPtP2VVIreb751syoZudDmTtYuRg" href="http://suzieswritingplace.blogspot.com/2017/06/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-stop-16.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Suzie Johnson</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All finished? Be sure to </span></b></span><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/p/whitefire-scavenger-hunt-submit-your.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Submit Your Entries</a></span></b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by midnight on June 26th. </span></b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Wishes!</span></b></div>
Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-66925806832603186612017-02-17T14:09:00.000-05:002017-06-12T19:43:32.757-04:00Dusting off an Old Manuscript<span class="widget-item-control"><span class="item-control blog-admin"><a class="quickedit" href="http://www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID=7502152359497137754&widgetType=Text&widgetId=Text1&action=editWidget&sectionId=crosscol" target="configText1" title="Edit"></a></span></span>
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When I teach writing classes, I always talk about how
important it is to get those ideas out of your head and down on the paper. Lump
of clay writing, I call it—or in less delicate terms, word vomit! In the winter
of 2013-2014 I word vomited the sequel to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dance
from Deep Within</i> onto my computer while I awaited the decision on my
Valiant Hearts Series from Bethany House Publishers. As many of you know, I
landed that deal, and the next two years were a blur of writing, editing, and
marketing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dauntless</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chivalrous</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Courageous</i>.<br />
<br />
But now those books are out on the market, and for the last
year I’ve been launching a new career of public relations writing for the
non-profit humanitarian organization, Operation Blessing. I haven’t had much time
for writing anything new. You see where this is going, right? While I didn’t
have time for writing something new, I did have time to edit and complete my
95% finished first draft.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH4tQDKKwOX7sYTFH7Q2Jtk0OS1P2Dbm0q_JkIODamt-JCT_JtsY1iD5n1qcLUM91jBAB_kp64zXl8RU0XF5gplVSViPc7DpOIapANZOufH8o-8zSMvvVDxXDA7robKcZlMfng0A-SOei/s1600/dare+from+deep+within+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="612" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH4tQDKKwOX7sYTFH7Q2Jtk0OS1P2Dbm0q_JkIODamt-JCT_JtsY1iD5n1qcLUM91jBAB_kp64zXl8RU0XF5gplVSViPc7DpOIapANZOufH8o-8zSMvvVDxXDA7robKcZlMfng0A-SOei/s200/dare+from+deep+within+cover.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
So I dusted off (okay, I found and opened the old Microsoft Word
file of) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dare from Deep Within</i>
and
set to work. I still had some challenges to face since I had shifted
directions
somewhere in the middle and needed to clean up my characterization and
motivation. The wording needed a good edit, and I had to write the
ending. However,
just a few months later, in my spare time, I’ve managed to complete a
very
solid draft of the novel. WhiteFire, who published the first book in the
series, has agreed to release book 2 sometime in 2017!<br />
<br />
It turns out what I teach my students is true. It’s always
worth getting those ideas down on paper, even if they grow dusty on the
shelf. How about you? Have you ever dusted off an old manuscript?
What were the results?</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Deep-Within-D-Sleiman/dp/1939023289/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Dance from Deep Within is Available on Amazon now.</a></i></span></div>
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Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-3451746833252070042016-12-24T09:44:00.001-05:002016-12-24T09:51:55.186-05:00Merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Merry Christmas from the Sleimans. 2016 has been a pretty good year for us. My husband, Dani, is still working at the Christian Broadcasting Network. Adam (14) has branched out, and in addition to music, gymnastics, and online video gaming, he has been enjoying soccer and his global studies high school program. Christi (22) is finishing up her B.S. in engineering while working as a head resident advisor, and still considering options like grad school, peace corp or finding a job for next year. Jonny (19) is doing great in his business undergrad program, he's the vice president of his award-winning Enactus business club, and still fitting in a lot of surfing and other outdoor activities. Christi and Adam both plan to go on short term missionary trips during summer 2017.</div>
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For me the year brought my first "real" job. I'm enjoying my work writing for the humanitarian organization, Operation Blessing. In addition to writing social media posts, articles, webpages, and helping the team with editing and research, I also wrote a nonfiction book for them called <i>10 Ways to Live Your Faith, </i>which will hopefully be available sometime soon. My co-workers are amazing and tons of fun! This year also brought my first major published award--the Carol for young adult fiction. And I'm still chipping away at my novel writing and finding a new groove with that as a working woman.</div>
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I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful, blessed New Year!</div>
<br />Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-9722854146305768272016-09-24T13:31:00.001-04:002016-09-24T13:31:25.333-04:00Austen in Austin: Blogmates Watch a Dream Come True<table 100="" 12.8px="" arial="" border-collapse:="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" collapse="" color:="" font-family:="" font-size:="" px="" sans-serif="" width:=""><tbody>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Back in 2009, when I was first learning the writing industry and seriously seeking publication, God joined me with a group of ladies to help me along my quest. I was invited to join <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.inkwellinspirations.com/&source=gmail&ust=1474824106823000&usg=AFQjCNHUtOEtzKfG17XcA5LprvA1Xh7D8g" href="http://www.inkwellinspirations.com/" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">Inkwell Inspirations</a>, a new writers blog comprised mostly of writers who had won writing contests (I had just won the Touched by Love contest) but were still unpublished. Over the next years, we would become not only blogmates, but also close friends, prayer partners, and in many ways a writing team. So it's not surprising that we decided to band together on a writing project, and <em>Austen in Austin</em> was born. Several more years passed before this dream became a published reality, but I'm happy to share it with you today. </span></span><br /> </span><br />
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<span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.amazon.com/s/ref%3Dnb_sb_noss_1?url%3Dsearch-alias%253Dstripbooks%26field-keywords%3Dausten%2Bin%2Baustin&source=gmail&ust=1474824106823000&usg=AFQjCNHmCzdFrXqlvzDVenkbSuEaaj1JRA" href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=austen+in+austin" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank"><img align="none" class="CToWUd" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjytqYdjkL_e_6oTBnL2BwHhcRYtaQICdlCybnCdW-jrILhTb516y_2H3fsqT16z5xuekQz2VDy1ArUHo6SHB6FcsnzChT_pa4nel3YJCE4uy5_BuJlLa4Ro9hSbsb8wm2dITkFmfQna2OHOydO4lpoI_GyE_AEfL4dJRgF7HDUwufvrupbn7_ubsTU8COWQumOKhwpBaNrjj1yiTz7wj6g3dCKdgGDeg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; min-height: 282px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; width: 564px;" width="564" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px;">As you can see, these eight fun Texas-set novellas are based on Jane Austen's novels. We had such a great time inventing these stories with their overlapping settings and characters and their Austenian plot lines, and I just know that you'll enjoy them too! They're written by some great established names in Christian fiction like Lisa Richardson, Gina Welborn, and yours truly, as well as some authors who might be new to you now, but will soon become favorites. I highly recommend reading them in order for the full experience. The ebooks are a great deal at only $3.99 each for four delightful stories!</span></div>
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<span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.amazon.com/Austen-Austin-Texas-Set-Novellas-Austens-ebook/dp/1939023777/ref%3Dsr_1_1?s%3Dbooks%26ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1474734472%26sr%3D1-1%26keywords%3Dausten%2Bin%2Baustin&source=gmail&ust=1474824106823000&usg=AFQjCNEEK21gAZXfdTzPJPPx28DV8XtV7Q" href="https://www.amazon.com/Austen-Austin-Texas-Set-Novellas-Austens-ebook/dp/1939023777/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474734472&sr=1-1&keywords=austen+in+austin" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">Order Volume 1 in print or ebook </a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.amazon.com/Austen-Austin-2-Suzie-Johnson/dp/1939023793/ref%3Dsr_1_3?s%3Dbooks%26ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1474734918%26sr%3D1-3%26keywords%3Dausten%2Bin%2Baustin&source=gmail&ust=1474824106823000&usg=AFQjCNHbsodlYn3eiaxb8ufKFGOwg99ouw" href="https://www.amazon.com/Austen-Austin-2-Suzie-Johnson/dp/1939023793/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474734918&sr=1-3&keywords=austen+in+austin" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">Order Volume 2 in print </a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.amazon.com/Austen-Austin-2-Suzie-Johnson/dp/1939023793/ref%3Dsr_1_3?s%3Dbooks%26ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1474734918%26sr%3D1-3%26keywords%3Dausten%2Bin%2Baustin&source=gmail&ust=1474824106823000&usg=AFQjCNHbsodlYn3eiaxb8ufKFGOwg99ouw" href="https://www.amazon.com/Austen-Austin-2-Suzie-Johnson/dp/1939023793/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474734918&sr=1-3&keywords=austen+in+austin" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">Order Volume 2 in ebook</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 18.9px;">Here's what people are saying about <em>Austen in Austin</em>: </span></span></span><br /><em><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 18.9px;">"</span></span></span>They had me at the title! What's not to love about a collection of novellas patterned after Jane Austen's classic novels and set in the historic capital city of Austin, Texas? The result is as delightful as the premise." ~ Mocha with Linda</em></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><em><br />"Austen in Austin is one of the most well executed novellas I’ve read...All of the novellas are interrelated, so where one author leaves off another picks up months or years later, with a new lead character and a familiar cast. I enjoyed the continuity as well as the familiarity which this team of authors developed. If I Loved You Less probably held the closest to Austen’s works. In contrast, Alarmingly Charming struck me as an improvement on the original (because truthfully, I did not enjoy reading Northanger Abbey). All in all, these stories are irresistibly sweet romances with subtle elements of faith." ~ Shelf-Esteem</em></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.amazon.com/Mansford-Ranch-Austen-Austin-Sleiman-ebook/dp/B01LOBFA12/ref%3Dsr_1_1?ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1474735471%26sr%3D8-1%26keywords%3Dmansford%2Branch&source=gmail&ust=1474824106823000&usg=AFQjCNHTqb7etVpcSJic5hRlmGXUK6m8pA" href="https://www.amazon.com/Mansford-Ranch-Austen-Austin-Sleiman-ebook/dp/B01LOBFA12/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474735471&sr=8-1&keywords=mansford+ranch" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank"><img align="none" class="CToWUd" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiFwzu2idMykWXCnhzGG3X9oqeJp2ThL95vq8vSCD0mLHQxqfP8wMwM_Q7KIn0gXAtCYlRcMhXawh5PDQUK2k6yAdf4P9M2BL8YDuar7QBpvQJlJpWQBZ30DwC8aAXeajjN4IAg9y2MZ-SiH4eWpt6vWcncDfogQS8WpegE4YkaD7RnkdpU8217y4vxAzbPV05v3rgIL0AVPU6s_d0JtuJh8qKw9yV5Og=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px; min-height: 300px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; width: 200px;" width="200" /></a><br /><br />And in case you're wondering, yes, you can purchase the novellas individually in ebook format, but at $2.99 each, it's a much better deal to buy a set of four for $3.99. My contribution to the collection is called "<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.amazon.com/Mansford-Ranch-Austen-Austin-Sleiman-ebook/dp/B01LOBFA12/ref%3Dsr_1_1?s%3Dbooks%26ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1474736822%26sr%3D1-1%26keywords%3Dmansford%2Branch&source=gmail&ust=1474824106823000&usg=AFQjCNEHnDWAb1AdsxeNVv1-m6dDiruzlg" href="https://www.amazon.com/Mansford-Ranch-Austen-Austin-Sleiman-ebook/dp/B01LOBFA12/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474736822&sr=1-1&keywords=mansford+ranch" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">Mansford Ranch,</a>" a play on <em>Mansfield Park</em> of course. It's located in <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.amazon.com/Austen-Austin-Texas-Set-Novellas-Austens-ebook/dp/B01LO9P30W/ref%3Dsr_1_1?s%3Dbooks%26ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1474736868%26sr%3D1-1%26keywords%3Dausten%2Bin%2Baustin%2Bvolume%2B2&source=gmail&ust=1474824106824000&usg=AFQjCNHpSuX9nwKAT3A1fCSJxJJY19gzjg" href="https://www.amazon.com/Austen-Austin-Texas-Set-Novellas-Austens-ebook/dp/B01LO9P30W/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474736868&sr=1-1&keywords=austen+in+austin+volume+2" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">Volume 2 of<em> Austen in Austin</em></a>. </span><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><br /><br /><em>As an aspiring novelist, Franny Sue Price prides herself in being a student of human nature. When dashing Hank Crawfield returns from his studies back East, he sets his Stetson on wooing her. Although he melts her with his charm and sophistication, Franny fears something is amiss. She and her longtime friend, cowboy Eddie Mansford, devise a series of challenges to test Hank’s true character. As Hank’s crooked nature comes to light, Franny realizes that the hero she’s looking for may have been under her upturned nose all along.</em><br /><br /> <img align="none" class="CToWUd a6T" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEinez7bxNXBaYOlesKOaJkoaX5h4-MofSxJ3ZwosasvnKpDjKx9ONmYETzftJQiHJsX1gWXEFRt69IhiP-bvg4tg63aTg3pBQQNejcCwQZ0p4vwztfuycCpa1NDbqjKwrz4LDwA3km_j8TS5aBw-CZKYr9Jxezua-TT4g587QriorG2ijwUOBv6d-wotzncL0JZ7jc-Q-3g1V8yA-oU1mzTI3fqJY0IGw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 333px; outline: none; width: 500px;" tabindex="0" width="500" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;">Be sure to check out these fun novellas and share them with your friends!</span></span></span></td></tr>
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Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-52863788325177711502016-09-14T22:35:00.004-04:002016-09-14T22:35:56.387-04:00Celebrating!<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks to everyone who has celebrated with me!</div>
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<br />Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-81850976758246392832016-08-29T11:00:00.000-04:002016-08-29T11:00:23.731-04:00Thoughts on Winning the Carol Award for YA Fiction<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAnXq84TKCkk66kicoI-YnEr3B9K8sdu9g6l1A2uHuWKcHmbP6efkVVByzsjk7oXRfE0WpBhlfeKsN6Y2t09BFycwgy1EYoGcImQLBW8AWQvmBIZfRn8oEJdF3-Y4ieWrtiwppXjNcFQ1/s1600/Carol+Award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAnXq84TKCkk66kicoI-YnEr3B9K8sdu9g6l1A2uHuWKcHmbP6efkVVByzsjk7oXRfE0WpBhlfeKsN6Y2t09BFycwgy1EYoGcImQLBW8AWQvmBIZfRn8oEJdF3-Y4ieWrtiwppXjNcFQ1/s320/Carol+Award.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">This was a pretty exciting week for me. On Saturday night I learned that I won the prestigious American Christian Fiction Writer's Carol Award in the Young Adult fiction category for <i>Dauntless</i>! For anyone who doesn't know what that is, it's not quite the Oscars of the Christian fiction world (that would be the Christy), but it's definitely up there. Maybe the Golden Globes.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Those sorts of moments are always a bit overwhelming. Emotions run high, and it takes a while to sort everything out. But now that things have settled, I want to share how I'm feeling about it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">1) My writing journey has been pretty bumpy lately. Sales haven't been what I hoped for and some of the reviews have been downright harsh. I love writing, but I was feeling like it wasn't loving me back very much. So this award means a lot. It means that my industry and the ACFW organization that </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">mentored me said, "Job well done." That did my bruised writer's heart a world of good, and I'm incredibly grateful. </span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">2) I'm a little disappointed that I wasn't there for the presentation, but it just wouldn't have been financially or logistically wise for me to have traveled to Nashville this weekend. However, I feel like God orchestrated things so that I was with many of my closest friends here in Virginia (at an unrelated party) when I watched the live feed and learned I won. They whooped and hollered so loud that strangers down the street joined in just for fun :) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">That was awesome and made the evening very special even though I wasn't at the live event! I'm also blessed that I had a friend there to receive the award for me, and another who is delivering it home to me.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">3) There's also a bittersweet side to this. I started two new jobs within the last year, which was very necessary for our family finances with two kids in college, and I haven't had the mental energy to create entire worlds in my head anymore (a.k.a. write novels). This award is very encouraging, but right now I don't really know what my writing future holds. I realize some women work and raise a family and still find the time and energy to write, but evidently I'm not those women. I would appreciate prayers for guidance for my writing future. I hope to get back to it if and when God moves on my heart with a new story idea and opens the opportunity for me to work on it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">The good news is that I still have a novella coming out next month as a part of the Austen in Austin collection. I also have a nearly finished book 2 for my Deep Within series that I can potentially dust off and finally get out into the world. And I have an idea for a nonfiction book, which might prove a little less grueling to write than a novel. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">As I mentioned in my acceptance speech, God has been my writing partner in this journey, and I couldn't have done it without Him. I'll just have to continue to trust in Him as I move forward from here.</span>Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-913899562689011472016-08-15T16:08:00.002-04:002016-08-15T20:06:33.684-04:00Valiant Heroines: Simone BilesAll female Olympians certainly deserve the title of valiant heroines: young women who have faced and overcome nearly impossible odds. This year there are many who deserve great honor, including Simone Manuel, who was the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in swimming, which is quite a testament after the sad history of African-Americans and public swimming pools. And of course the entire U.S. female gymnastics team has been amazing this year.<br />
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But I especially enjoyed the story of the amazing Simone Biles. This three time world champion and now 2016 Rio Olympics all-around gold medalist started life in a difficult place. I love her spirit and her courage, and as you might have guessed from my book Dauntless, I love gymnastics too. Enjoy watching Simone's story.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/URbCILQ95Cw" width="560"></iframe>Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-91441260008780950872016-08-09T16:45:00.003-04:002016-08-09T16:45:33.383-04:00Book Signing Fun!<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.76px;">Fun news for those in Hampton Roads and the surrounding areas! I'll be signing books at the Hampton Barnes and Noble on Friday, September 12, from 5-8. Hope to see you there. Plan to hang out for a while and chat. <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/dir/''/barnes+and+noble+hampton+va/@37.0445288,-76.4613189,12z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x89ba83ab664c9f01:0x125ac045b95926f1!2m2!1d-76.3912789!2d37.0449604">Click here for map.</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.76px;"><br /></span>Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-39615805402828765102016-07-19T08:23:00.000-04:002016-07-19T08:23:25.894-04:00Women and Children on Crusade???<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> You might be wondering why I included
women and children on crusades in my new Valiant Hearts book, <i>Courageous</i>. This story is set in the early 1200s, a period known as the Fifth Crusade in the Holy Land. Of course at this time, battle was primarily for
men. It was the men’s responsibility to protect women, not the other way around.
And yet, perhaps because of the religious fervor surrounding the crusades and
the pilgrimage nature of them, there is ample record of women and children
going along as well. Sometimes even whole families. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAzlUI0iWRzRQ744QA097wNt8D3evR8mVpBjJsS0ZcUW68_y5UuRQ1AwK8uVomD0KGcbqfK0noi_pOi0vdFMJffrTnSaHvNfOoOr-Is9-qboOnR2cYZl1Kh0vIiBl7XkhYm78KIe9VvuN/s1600/crusaders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAzlUI0iWRzRQ744QA097wNt8D3evR8mVpBjJsS0ZcUW68_y5UuRQ1AwK8uVomD0KGcbqfK0noi_pOi0vdFMJffrTnSaHvNfOoOr-Is9-qboOnR2cYZl1Kh0vIiBl7XkhYm78KIe9VvuN/s320/crusaders.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical male crusaders</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Generally women supplied water and
provisions and tended the wounded. But it was also considered proper for them
to man launching weapons and shoot bows and arrows from a distance. According
to Islamic legends of the crusades, there might have been some women disguised
as knights fighting on the front lines, although European records do not concur
on this issue. Certainly in times of desperation, women throughout history have
done what they must and fought for their lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An actual, historical, "Children’s Crusade" had two waves
in the early 1200s. Thousands of children followed visionary young teens and
set off on crusade, but there is no record of any reaching the Holy Land. Many
died along the way, others turned back, and it seems some might have been lost
at sea. I wanted to complete that legend, while still presenting the vast
complexities of the crusades.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now to the toughest question you might be asking, should the
crusades have been fought at all? In the beginning, the Christian countries of
Europe were trying to turn the tide of hundreds of years of Muslim invasion and
oppression. They wanted to kick the Muslims out of Europe and take back land
lost by their Christian brothers and sisters in the Byzantine part of the
world. I would contend that those reasons were as solid and justifiable as
those fueling any war in history. But war is messy.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From the start motives were mixed. Some
wanted power and money while others had altruistic motives. Sometimes crusaders
from different European countries cooperated; sometimes they undermined each
other and broke treaties that other groups had made. Some crusades were led by
strong, chivalrous leaders, and others turned into riotous mobs. And almost
always the new crusaders from Europe failed to understand their enemy and the
complex social structure of the Middle East.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I think you'll enjoy the way I handled the potentially tricky subject of the crusades in <i>Courageous</i>. I attempt to take an honest look at both sides, showing honor to the Muslim natives, while still examining some difficult aspects of their religion and culture. This is one fictional adventure you won't want to miss out on.</span></div>
<br />Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-44606857348412889552016-07-11T06:30:00.003-04:002021-02-10T10:58:11.148-05:00Trapped in a War Zone In <i>Courageous</i>, a brave group of crusaders including both women and children face battles in Tripoli--the area known as Lebanon today. Believe it or not, I was once trapped in a war zone in Lebanon with my children. I'm not sure that I was quite as brave as the characters in my book, but I wanted to share that story with you anyway.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Trapped in a War Zone</b><br />
(As seen on Inkwell Inspirations, January 18, 2010)<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kids and I enjoying Lebanon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During
the summer of 2006 I was in Lebanon with my husband and three children
visiting family. We were having a lovely vacation filled with mountains,
beaches, caves, waterfalls, sunsets, rainbows, castles, shopping, and
parties. Then with no warning, a war broke out between Israel and a
terrorist organization (or upstanding, community oriented, political
faction—according to the smiling roadside signs). The closest Hezbollah
camp lay about two miles from my husband’s little Christian village of
Aabra in the heart of the Islamic South where Jesus once walked. Right
away we heard the bombs and felt the house shake. <br />
<br />
Life went on. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting on the balcony drinking coffee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Women
sat on the porch painting their nails. Some old men dealt cards and
drank coffee. Children played soccer on the sunny streets. This was
Lebanon after all. You could hardly put things on hold for yet another
war, and since neither Hezbollah nor Israel had a gripe with the little
Christian village, people painted nails, played soccer, and drank
coffee.<br />
<br />
Later that evening we went to a party. When we
heard a particularly seismic bang, they told the children someone had
set off fireworks for the birthday celebration. My husband took me aside
and informed me it was the bridge to Beirut. Beirut and the airport.
The way out. They always bombed it first to cut off the South from
supplies. I didn’t enjoy the cake so much. A trapped sensation began to
squeeze my chest.<br />
<br />
On the way home I watched red rockets
shoot into the sky. Not in celebration of Clara’s birthday. Teens lined
the streets watching them like fireworks anyway. That’s when I
realized: although no one had a gripe with the neutral little village,
sometimes innocent bystanders get caught in the fray. Hezbollah rockets
flew willy-nilly across the sky after streaking Israeli jets, not at all
concerned where they landed. I watched the flares apex and arch and
spin back down to earth, without a care. The rockets. Not me.<br />
<br />
That
night I kept my children in an interior room of the house. Thank God
Lebanese homes are made of stone. I prayed and sang worship songs and
read Psalms on the vibrating bed to the whistling flute and booming bass
drum of rockets blasts, until I couldn’t take it anymore. My
eleven-year-old daughter Christiana picked up the Bible and continued.
Here is a portion from the scripture she found.<br />
<br />
<i>Psalm 140 (The Message Version)<br />
</i><i>1-5 God, get me out of here, away from this evil; protect me from
these vicious people. All they do is think up new ways to be bad; they
spend their days plotting war games. They practice the sharp rhetoric of
hate and hurt, speak venomous words that maim and kill. </i><br />
<br />
Appropriate don’t you think.<br />
<br />
After
a while the kids fell asleep, but I could not. I struggled to calm my
racing heart, to still my shaking hands, to swallow back my fear. I
stroked their curly heads as they lay in peace, treasuring each child,
each moment, the tranquil features of their small faces. Finally, in the
wee hours of the morning I crawled into my own bed on the side of the
house where the rockets zoomed. I didn’t care anymore. I was desperate
to escape into dreams. <br />
<br />
But with the first light of dawn I awoke to my husband’s whispered confession. “They bombed the airport last night.”<br />
<br />
And
panic set in. I could no longer hold it at bay. It seized my heart,
clutching it, cinching tight, threatening to smash the life right out of
it. I could barely find the air to breathe. My husband spent the day on
the computer and the phone. I curled in a ball and cried and tried to
keep the kids from playing soccer on the sunny streets. My daughter read
us Psalms. <br />
<br />
Where to go? What to do? This was no
child’s game. We were truly trapped. Should we go to Syria? To Jordan?
Take a taxi? Steal a car? I couldn’t spend months in that village
listening to bombs drop. I would never survive. Besides, there were
things waiting for us back home: dance camps and church picnics,
homeschool planning and season tickets to amusement parks. <br />
<br />
This was not my life!<br />
<br />
No
good solutions surfaced, but we had to do something. My in-laws wanted
us to stay there in that—can’t eat, can’t sleep, bass drums rumbling,
must keep the kids from playing soccer on the sunny streets—hell. They’d
been through wars before. We’d be trapped but safe. They seemed
certain. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t just sit and drink
coffee on the balcony while waiting for my nails to dry. While waiting
for the war to pass and the bombs to cease. Everything within me cried
out to fight. <br />
<br />
I called my kids and husband to the
interior room. It was the most peaceful place in the house. We sang and
prayed some more. I asked the children if any of them had a word from
God. Lord knew I was far too much of a mess to hear. Adam, not quite
four-years-old, piped up. “I do,” he said in his squeaky little voice. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam, not quite four, waiting for refuge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He
proceeded to tell us the story of a boy who wandered away from home and
ended up in a library. As he described it, we could picture the two
sets of double doors and the foyer in between. The boy entered the first
set and got stuck there. He couldn’t go in, and he couldn’t get out.<br />
<br />
We
didn’t know at the time that back home people were experiencing similar
visions and dreams. But when Adam told us the story, we felt we
understood. The library represented man’s wisdom. If we did what seemed
wise and tried to flee the country, we would be trapped. I couldn’t be trapped again. I couldn’t stay
trapped in that village any longer.<br />
<br />
My husband said, “So, let’s go north to Beirut.”<br />
<br />
Now,
you have to understand traveling north to Beirut was the stupidest
thing we could have done. The Israelis were on a mission to bomb out all
the bridges and shut down transportation, and to get to Beirut would
mean crossing many, many bridges.<br />
<br />
But
as my husband spoke those words, a peace settled over the room like a
soft snuggly blanket. We knew. We had our answer. I knew. I wasn’t
trapped. My mourning was done. The world was light and bright again, and
I didn’t care about the crashing bass drums. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
I
washed off my tears and went to eat some food for the first time that
day. My mother-in-law was furious and shouting at me in Arabic. “Don’t
leave. Stay here. It’s safer here.” <i>Mafais shi</i>, she said in her own language.<i> It’s nothing</i>.</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
I
had been married for thirteen years at this point, and I always
pretended I didn’t understand my mother-in-law in such moments. But this
time I stood up and yelled back. In Arabic no less. “This is the right
thing to do. I know it. Look at me. I’m not crying. I can eat. I’m
happy. This is my family. These are my children. We’re leaving. And you
can’t stop us.” I’m sure my Arabic was broken, and I messed half of it
up. I’m probably not remembering the words quite right. But you get the
point. And so did she.</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPARUa5hcfDGYZlXveR3EsTxosGSjyMefB6QUmTcVhRyesAIY4mlhWuayaDNuea9JtwntxibKCXU3Q4dBNdiUzF-4raCVWSyfupK1Im4ySI_Ufbzm0PBKeubEwRHLZQJurUH91gKJE0c/s1600-h/Lebanon11+060.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPARUa5hcfDGYZlXveR3EsTxosGSjyMefB6QUmTcVhRyesAIY4mlhWuayaDNuea9JtwntxibKCXU3Q4dBNdiUzF-4raCVWSyfupK1Im4ySI_Ufbzm0PBKeubEwRHLZQJurUH91gKJE0c/s320/Lebanon11+060.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dina and Jonny posing on the broken down car</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
Gathering
up our suitcases, we smashed into an old car along with two of my
nieces who longed to return to their parents in the city. We drove up
and down the mountains looking for paths where bridges still crossed the
streams. As we gazed at the sky and listened for whistling rocket
flutes before speeding over each one—I felt free. Free and at peace with
God and the world. Oh, and the car broke down for a few minutes
somewhere along the way, but I didn't mind. I just sat on the hood and
smiled.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Almost
four-year-old Adam was right. If we tried to get out of the country we
would have been trapped at the border for days. And the borders were
being bombed. </div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; text-align: left;">
Instead
we piled into a two-bedroom apartment with my brother-in-law’s family
in Beirut. It was crowded, but I felt free. I spent the next week
hanging out at the local hamburger joint with a play place, swimming at
an uncle’s high rise luxury condo, and watching my favorite American
television shows in English or French. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvEKMHHXaL41SQ5RAgTx3R0FethgsBWwDROzIHT_KQlCsYHo0wE381-bLsSwZ56UkoKrH40UdsoYDOMHQ-wT0EaCCVV4LnUikIr2dZsvNXMMxMy_QnaHbClXNDvKD2rABd_BetBrcInI/s1600-h/Leb3.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvEKMHHXaL41SQ5RAgTx3R0FethgsBWwDROzIHT_KQlCsYHo0wE381-bLsSwZ56UkoKrH40UdsoYDOMHQ-wT0EaCCVV4LnUikIr2dZsvNXMMxMy_QnaHbClXNDvKD2rABd_BetBrcInI/s320/Leb3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crammed onto the refugee boat taking us to the larger ship</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All
the while, I tried to convince my parents back home that we were fine.
Because, you see, over 1,200 civilians died during the war in Lebanon in
the summer of 2006. Understandably, my parents were trapped in their
own—can’t eat, can’t sleep, bass drums rumbling, must keep the kids from
playing soccer on the sunny streets—hell. Thousands of Americans were
praying for us by this time. I got emails from old college buddies. My
mother became close friends with our local congresswoman, Thelma Drake.
Hi, Thelma. What’s up?</div>
<br />
And
although I empathized with my parents back home, I had discovered a
secret in the midst of the war. Sometimes in the middle of being
trapped, you can wind up feeling oddly…free.<br />
<br />
When the
US government finally announced they would send refugee ships, we were a
five-minute drive from the departure spot, precisely where we needed to
be. Adam’s vision proved true yet again. God had spoken. God is always
speaking if only we will stop and listen. He had been our hiding place.
Our refuge in that storm. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3Q5kgZEgz0RrpRHvqkkrYjQYKZcjel2FHwb3B0CgR04SvXEF11pZ1uqSmDIW_itbVHvncvvvQD6Du1rOluM5M8h1P2-V2BxHBskvBulq8uuW5dfXF__E3aYN9WEyS_8asjdtQ4S3TX8/s1600-h/Leb2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3Q5kgZEgz0RrpRHvqkkrYjQYKZcjel2FHwb3B0CgR04SvXEF11pZ1uqSmDIW_itbVHvncvvvQD6Du1rOluM5M8h1P2-V2BxHBskvBulq8uuW5dfXF__E3aYN9WEyS_8asjdtQ4S3TX8/s320/Leb2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy refugees!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have more great stories
about mobs and two days roasting on a concrete bridge and my kids being
passed over the heads of US Marines. But finally, we sat on the deck of the USS
Nashville watching the Lebanese skyline slip past. Feeling the cool
Mediterranean breeze under the clear blue sky. We slept right on the
deck under the stars. That might be my favorite night ever.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
There’s
something great about living through a war. The next year when my then
twelve-year-old daughter asked to go on a foreign mission trip, we said
to ourselves, “She survived a war in Lebanon; she’ll survive this.” And when we decided to put the kids in public school we said, “They survived a war in Lebanon; they’ll survive public school.”</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
There’s something great about being trapped in a war. Something that leaves you oddly…free.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium;">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfHy3PJo2VODbhAtQJNPICMBQ_acKkxy9UGgXtJeK4LYxHMRAlnkPNtHXnkX8oyDZHNuERjoWXdZRkXe1NU8HbbI7yVaGeEMbShEmE0wcVxkJCXR52Qk6zhN_2RETxV8c8bN8FkUXKbA/s1600-h/Leb1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfHy3PJo2VODbhAtQJNPICMBQ_acKkxy9UGgXtJeK4LYxHMRAlnkPNtHXnkX8oyDZHNuERjoWXdZRkXe1NU8HbbI7yVaGeEMbShEmE0wcVxkJCXR52Qk6zhN_2RETxV8c8bN8FkUXKbA/s320/Leb1.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Back safe in the states!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-color: initial; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-style: none; border-top: medium none; border-width: medium; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">
For more info on the 2006 War in Lebanon visit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Lebanon_War">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Lebanon_War</a> </span></i><br />
<br />Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-9043833082367825882016-07-05T06:30:00.001-04:002016-07-05T21:05:56.828-04:00My Middle Eastern Experiences<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Historically speaking, <i>Courageous</i> is the
hardest book I’ve ever undertaken. While there's plenty of research available on
the politics of the crusades and the battles fought, there's very little
available about day to day life in the Holy Land at that time. Everyday issues
are often ignored by history because they are taken for granted by the
chroniclers. I was able to find little snippets here and there that helped me
to picture the clothing, architecture, and food. I learned that the crusaders
in those areas tended to fuse the native and European cultures. However, the
best fact I found was the simple explanation that life in that part of the
world changed little from around 1000 A.D. until today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suddenly things became much easier for
me because my husband is from Lebanon—which was called Tripoli and the northern
part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem at the time of the crusades—and I have taken several extended trips to that part of the world. I've danced their Debke, drunk their Turkish coffee, smoked their argileh, and eaten their tabouli, hummus, and pita bread. I even speak some Arabic--at about a two-year-old level, complete with continuous grammar mistakes. LOL. Lebanon has an amazing and varied landscape. You can easily swim in the warm, blue Mediterranean and visit the snow-capped mountains in the same day in this area located just north of modern day Israel.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lebanon is varied in its religions as well. In addition to being home to Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, Druze Muslims, and even a handful of Sufi Muslims, Lebanon is also one of the only Middle Eastern countries to have a strong Christian presence from the time of the apostles until today. During its last census, taken in the mid 1900s, the majority of Lebanese people were Christian, mostly Maronite (their own denomination which is recognized by the Catholic church), Catholic, and Orthodox. The current Lebanese political system is set up to split key government roles between the dominant religions, with the president being Christian. But perhaps partly because of this diversity, Lebanon has been the setting for war after war throughout history.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfPAIUxMbY2JvO7jWj7DV-kKaCTXomopVMFRhCAoqdlBbxmci54QyV7xIF-3uxoNblJlpI-_NbAFgmcwa9TPVBaDaRMhwO9pRdZ11LdbeBYjb04XcO-Wk06dpwA5O-RcEq8tqBuAwkf9p/s1600/Lebanon-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfPAIUxMbY2JvO7jWj7DV-kKaCTXomopVMFRhCAoqdlBbxmci54QyV7xIF-3uxoNblJlpI-_NbAFgmcwa9TPVBaDaRMhwO9pRdZ11LdbeBYjb04XcO-Wk06dpwA5O-RcEq8tqBuAwkf9p/s320/Lebanon-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my kids in Lebanon, 2006.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My familiarity with the Middle
East and its customs and religions is a large part of why I chose to tackle this
story in the first place. I have even been caught in Lebanon during fighting
between the Muslim group, Hezbollah, and the Israeli forces in 2006 (I'll share more about that in an upcoming post). So I understand
the sorts of challenges they face in that part of the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Muslims are people just like us. There
are many types both religiously and ethnically, and I am blessed to call many
Muslims my friends. While there is in fact much violent and negative teaching
in the Muslim holy book, the average Muslim person just wants to live a
peaceful and prosperous life. They want to be surrounded by friends and family
and bring some good to the world. On the other hand, perhaps even more so today
than during the crusades, there is a deep religiously based hatred instilled in
children throughout the Middle East toward the Christians and especially the
Jews. That sad reality cannot be ignored. But there is one more interesting factor
to keep in mind. Muslims have been coming to
Christ in surprising numbers during recent years. Some through dreams and
visions, and many others through the new openness brought to that part of the
world by satellite television and internet.</span></div>
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I hope that by taking a historical trip through the pages of <i>Courageous, </i>you will begin to better understand this complex and fascinating part of the world and the conflicts and challenges they still face today.<br />
<br />
<i>Have you ever been to the Middle East? Would you like to travel there? Do you have any Muslim friends or acquaintances? </i>Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-21376338366967867962016-06-27T06:30:00.000-04:002016-06-27T06:30:07.079-04:00A Sneak Peek at Courageous<i>Courageous</i>, Book 3 in my Valiant Hearts Series, will release July 5th! I thought it might be fun to give you a visual sneak peek at what's coming your way.<br />
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This is actress Katie McGrath from the BBC's show Merlin. She's who I've been picturing for Rosalind, both in book 2 when she serves as Gwendolyn's lady's maid, and now in book 3 as she travels to the Holy Land on crusade in search of redemption. Some readers were very concerned about her at the end of book 2. She can't forgive herself for a mistake she made and feels she no longer deserves marriage or family. Rest assured, I as the author did not share her harsh judgement of herself. In this book she will discover God's forgiveness, grace, and receive a fresh start on life.</div>
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And here's actor Michael Socha from Once Upon a Time--my pick for Randel. In book 2 Gwendolyn kept thinking of him as an awkward teen, until she realized he had grown up quite nicely. I fell in love with Randel, and decided he needed to be the hero of book 3. To me he represents those boys who are awkward in high school, but grow up to be the best husbands. Randel wants to stay in the Holy Land to become a celibate Templar knight in the hopes of pleasing his parents, who planned for him to be a priest, while still fulfilling his own dream of being a knight. We'll see if God might have other plans for him.</div>
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Another important character in <i>Courageous </i>is thirteen-year-old Sapphira. I had a hard time finding a model to capture her fairy-like appearance, but this one comes pretty close. Of course she would never have shown her shoulders (or even her elbows) in the middle ages. Don't let her ethereal appearance fool you, though. Sapphira is as strong as they come, at least on the inside. In true Joan of Arc fashion, her vision has prompted their entire crusade, and she comes in tow with her own troop of children. Although she's not a natural born fighter, Sapphira does everything she undertakes with all her might. I love the way Sapphira balances some of Rosalind and Randel's difficult life experiences with such purity, innocence, and idealism.<br />
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One of the most interesting things I learned while researching this book was about medieval ships. I had no idea they had such huge sailing vessels at that time--big enough to take entire armies on crusade. And I was fascinated by the defensive "castle" structures featured in this picture on the front and back of the ships, like floating forts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHpW7UHSynMOy_3L46rf4rmrSaCmN4fI47ATfy_QKnvBIsi_m-sgHNqe4vE6yRSXB_agNhLhjxpACO7XoGGOYsGaf9j0qGY4CaqWW6zMTddOBdl0J-L6vvP2nnBH_mAL2ARA530Q6kjk_/s1600/medieval+tripoli+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHpW7UHSynMOy_3L46rf4rmrSaCmN4fI47ATfy_QKnvBIsi_m-sgHNqe4vE6yRSXB_agNhLhjxpACO7XoGGOYsGaf9j0qGY4CaqWW6zMTddOBdl0J-L6vvP2nnBH_mAL2ARA530Q6kjk_/s320/medieval+tripoli+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, here are some pictures of the primary setting for the book, the area of medieval Tripoli. It's not the desert you might imagine, but rather a beautiful mountainous area along the Mediterranean. Today, this city is found in Northern Lebanon, but during the early 1200s, it was its own "Crusader State" within the Holy Roman Empire. Rosalind, Randel, Sapphira, and the rest of the cast are about to discover a new and exotic world as they undertake the adventure of a lifetime!<br />
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I hope this whets your appetite for <i>Courageous</i>, coming next week. And you can <a href="http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/book-resources/files/Excerpt_9780764213144.pdf?1463145994">read a sneak peek here</a> on the Bethany House website. Now's the perfect time to pre-order. So what are you waiting for?<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Courageous-Valiant-Hearts-Dina-Sleiman/dp/0764213148/ref=bseries_lb_0764213148">Pre-order on Amazon</a></span><br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/courageous-dina-l-sleiman/1122773873?ean=9780764213144">Pre-order on Barnes and Noble</a><br />
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/new-3-courageous-dina-sleiman/9780764213144/pd/213143?event=ESRCG">Pre-order on Christian Book Distributors</a><br />
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<br />Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-4048514293763586002016-05-23T10:00:00.000-04:002016-05-23T10:00:18.450-04:00Mansford Ranch Cover Reveal!In addition to my Valiant Hearts novels, I have a novella coming out this fall. Volume 2 of <i>Austen in Austin</i> is on the horizon, as evidenced by this gorgeous new cover for <i>Mansford Ranch</i>! This series will feature Jane Austen style heroines in Austin, Texas during the 1890s.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><i>An aspiring novelist with a keen eye for character must determine who is worthy of playing her own leading man.</i></span></div>
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The volume 2 collection will release in September from WhiteFire Publishing, and you won't want to miss a single one of them. You can currently pre-order the paperback version <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Austen-Austin-2-Suzie-Johnson/dp/1939023793?ie=UTF8&keywords=austin%20in%20austen%20volume%202&qid=1463788176&ref_=sr_1_cc_1&s=aps&sr=1-1-catcorr">by clicking here</a>, but the ebook will be available in time for the release. Single novella ebooks will also be available, but the collection is such a great deal, just pick up the whole set.</div>
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For the full <i>Austen in Austin</i> experience, and to enjoy the overlaps between stories and interconnected characters, you'll want to start from the very beginning. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Austen-Austin-Texas-Set-Novellas-Austens-ebook/dp/B0182KLXXM?ie=UTF8&keywords=austin%20in%20austen%20volume%201&qid=1463789392&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1">Click here to order volume 1</a>, which is available for you reading pleasure right now!</div>
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Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-17016329689211186932016-04-18T08:50:00.001-04:002016-04-18T08:50:15.944-04:00Strong is Beautiful!A big shout out and thank you to Pantene for their "Strong is Beautiful" campaign. I love this!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KXPvh8kMFek" width="560"></iframe>Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-79706244622271208842016-04-04T19:19:00.000-04:002016-04-04T19:19:23.742-04:00Join Me This Saturday!If you live in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, please join me this weekend for the Second Annual Christian Author's Festival! It's a fun event and totally free.<br />
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<span class="_5yi-">Join us for the 2nd Annual Virginia Beach Christian Authors Festival!</span> <span class="_5yi-">Meet
Christian authors, attend seminars, enter for a chance to win free
books and enjoy good Christian fellowship at this FREE EVENT to the
public.</span></h2>
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<span class="_5yi-">Where:</span> Landstown Community Church</h2>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3220 Monet Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23453</span></b></div>
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<span class="_5yi-">When:</span> Saturday, April 9 from 11 am - 2 pm</h2>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yi- _we">Free Seminars:</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yi- _we"> </span></span></b> </div>
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<b><span class="_5yi-">Holy Spirit Inspiration and Writing With God</span></b></div>
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Presented by Dina Sleiman, 11:00 - 11:30</div>
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Is God calling you to write? Dina Sleiman, an Author with Bethany House Publishers and an Acquisitions and Content Editor for the Christian publisher WhiteFire Press, explores the intimate connection between faith and following God’s guidance as you use your writing talents for His glory.</div>
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<b><span class="_5yi-">Breaking Into Freelance Writing</span></b></div>
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Presented by Ruth O’Neil, 11:30 - 12:00</div>
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How do you become a freelance writer? It doesn’t have to be an intimidating process. Join Ruth O’Neil, an accomplished Author, Freelance Writer and Writing Instructor, as you delve into the path to becoming a freelance writer from a Christian perspective. The opportunities await you!</div>
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<b><span class="_5yi-">Bio’s & Blurbs and Blogs, Oh My!</span></b></div>
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Presented by Ginger Marcinkowski, 12:00 - 12:30</div>
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A writer should be well prepared for the unexpected tasks that come before, during, and after publication. In this fast-paced seminar, Ginger Marcinkowski, Author and Columnist for Book Fun Magazine, explains the crazy process and provides you with a “must-do" checklist that will make you stand out to publishers and set you on your exciting journey while honoring God with your writing talents!</div>
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<b><span class="_5yi-">Finding Time to Write</span></b></div>
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Presented by Gene Markland, 12:30 - 1:00</div>
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Join Gene Markland, bestselling Author and Contributing Writer for CBN.com, as he shares tips and tricks to help you become better writer. Be enriched as he discusses strategies and 21st century tools to improve your journey as a writer. </div>
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<b><span class="_5yi-">Crowdfunding</span></b></div>
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Presented by Tracey L. Moore, 1:00 - 1:30</div>
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Have you ever wondered if crowdfunding could help you as an author? Join Author and Motivational Speaker Tracey L. Moore to learn more about this exciting opportunity for authors and how it can help you accomplish your writing mission for God.</div>
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<b><span class="_5yi-">Publishing Alternatives</span></b></div>
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Panel discussion with Dina Sleiman, Linda J. White, and Tracey L. Moore, 1:30 - 2:00</div>
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The road to publishing can be fraught with many confusing options. Remove the confusion in this discussion focusing on the pro’s and con’s of both traditional and self-publishing routes with Authors Dina Sleiman, Linda J. White, and Tracey L. Moore. </div>
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<span class="_5yi-">For more information about the festival or participating as an author, contact Christine Tate at wrtate83@gmail.com.</span></div>
Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-73992370531733560942016-03-21T06:00:00.000-04:002016-03-21T06:00:07.464-04:00Free and Reduced Valiant Hearts Books!<h1 style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; line-height: 32.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,</span></span></h1>
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 18.9px;">I won't keep you long today. I just wanted to let you know that <em>Dauntless</em>(Valiant Hearts Book 1) is FREE right now for ebooks on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dauntless-Valiant-Hearts-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00MBTYK8G/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dauntless-dina-sleiman/1119744212?ean=9781441265371" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>, <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/dauntless-ebook-dina-sleiman/9781441265371/pd/67943EB?event=ESRCP" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">Christia</a><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/dauntless-ebook-dina-sleiman/9781441265371/pd/67943EB?event=ESRCP" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">nbook</a>, etc... So click on your favorite distributor and download your free copy right away! Meanwhile, <em>Chivalrous</em> (Valiant Hearts Book 2) is available for the reduced price of $5.99. And if anyone is looking for a great deal on print books, both <em><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/dauntless-valiant-hearts-dina-sleiman/9780764213120/pd/213121?event=AAI" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">Dauntless</a></em> </span>and <em><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/chivalrous-2-dina-sleiman/9780764213137/pd/13137X?product_redirect=1&Ntt=13137X&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP" style="color: #8f3092;" target="_blank">Chivalrous</a></em> are a available for the low price of only $6.49 on Christianbook.<br /><br /><span style="color: black; line-height: 18.9px;">Now is the perfect opportunity to pick up a copy of each and get them read before <em>Courageous</em> (Valiant Hearts Book 3) releases this July. And if you already own them, please consider ordering them as a gift or sharing the news with a friend :)</span><br /><br />Blessings,<br />Dina Sleiman</span></span>Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-17452922644249486712016-02-29T06:00:00.000-05:002016-04-08T14:47:36.007-04:00Girls with Swords!!!I recently discovered a new author, Lisa Bevere. Wow! Her books are the perfect complement to my Valiant Hearts Series. If you've felt inspired to become strong and courageous, to grow into a valiant heroine who is up for the fight, you might want to check out her books too. I just purchased <i>Girls with Swords, Lioness Arising, </i>and<i> Fight Like a Girl</i>. Pretty awesome titles, right? I'll share more after I've finished reading them. But for now, here's the video that encouraged me to order the books. I hope it will encourage you too.<br />
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<br />Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-3648506548703879112016-02-15T06:00:00.000-05:002016-02-15T06:00:03.854-05:00Valiant in the Everyday<div class="MsoNormal">
As you’re reading this, I’m not at home. I’m starting a new
job, and boy did this whole job search put all I’ve learned writing my Valiant Hearts Series to the test. It can be scary to go and hunt for a new job, especially when you’ve never had a full-time job and you’ve been (for most intents and purposes) a stay at home mom for two decades.</div>
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But much like my heroines, I had to find my courage and prepare for this battle. Maybe my preparations were more along the lines of studying the job market, preparing a kick-butt resume, and taking online classes to fill in some missing skills. And instead of armor, I donned a new business suit, classy jewelry, makeup, and professional-looking nail polish.</div>
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All along a little voice in the back of my head wanted to tell me that I’d never find a decent job, that no one wanted to hire a middle-aged mom, that I was crazy to intentionally enter the “rat race,” that I’d have to give up writing novels because I’d be too wiped out after a forty hour work week. But with two kids in private college and the debts stacking up, my family needed this, and again much like my heroines who never make excuses and do what must be done, I took up my sword (okay, my resume) and prepared to fight.</div>
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As the battle waged on I realized a few things. First of all, I needed to prove to myself that I could do this. That I hadn’t given up my chance at a career by staying home, and that all of the accomplishments I’d had in life and writing weren’t for nothing. I also realized that this was really just a continuation of what I had always done, putting my family first, but that my family was in a new season and needed me to ward off financial stress and help my children pursue their dreams and passions rather than stay home and nurture little people. Finally, I realized that deep down…I was a huge weenie, and it was time to show that courage I’ve been writing about.</div>
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Sometimes when God calls us to a mission, like writing novels, we make that mission the goal. But the true goal is serving God. And when we get too focused on the mission, God often asks us to lay it down, at least for a while. I was ready to take my focus off writing novels and put my focus on God. I was willing to put novel writing on the shelf for a year or two until I adjusted to a more intensive schedule, and see if and when God asked me to take it back down.</div>
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As it turned out, all my weenie worrying was for nothing. In less than a month I was offered a dream job. I will be writing (yes, writing!) for a wonderful Christian humanitarian organization called <a href="http://www.ob.org/global-impact/" target="_blank">Operation Blessing International</a>. I have no doubt this job will be enjoyable and fulfilling and that I won’t be entering the “rat race.” In fact, I’m really excited about it. Beyond that, it’s not actually a full-time job. It’s a solid twenty-five hour a week job that will still meet our financial needs. AND…the hours are flexible and I’m allowed to work remotely, so I can be there for my teenager who’s still at home when he needs me. Perhaps best of all, at twenty-five hours a week, I don’t think novel writing will have to stay on the shelf nearly as long as I imagined it might.</div>
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So being valiant, facing my fears, and fighting this battle turned out to be a great thing. I feel incredibly blessed that God has seen fit to allow me this new opportunity. But don’t worry, <i>Courageous</i> (Valiant Hearts book 3) is all finished and ready to release in July, and I’ll also have a novella in <i>Austen in Austin</i> Volume 2 releasing in September. After that, my writing career is in God’s very capable hands.</div>
Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-50371027604996033822016-02-04T22:11:00.001-05:002016-02-04T22:11:28.460-05:00Dance from Deep Within on sale this weekend!!!<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12.864px;"><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">Great news!!! This weekend's $0.99 sale on Dance from Deep Within has already started. This is an incredibly relevant book at a time when it is important for every American to understand what it means to have Muslims living in our midst and how we might reach out to these people with the love of Jesus. Please share this post with your friends.</span><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1Pa8rBX">Click here to order. </a></span><br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1Pa8rBX"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lvhoXvdneTuPs8397cMCK4arCEYDKKNUYhSx5CrvsYKjQ_jxnY4Av2hCOJRT4cLrFbnmXWIAtIy20jODtF-Ma1Dr5uLBukBtyarA_u78EwwcziiWYrzk7kqDv4Sl2SCeAbR_7jDuXh4i/s400/DFDWsalebanner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-25761531240496983032016-02-01T06:00:00.000-05:002016-02-01T06:00:28.774-05:00More Courageous HeroinesIt will be about five more months until my third Valiant Hearts book, <i>Courageous</i>, releases. However, I think all of my books feature heroines who are courageous in their own ways. This weekend my contemporary novel, <i>Dance from Deep Within</i>, will be on sale for kindle for only $.99. What a great opportunity to meet Layla, Rain, and Allie, three young women from very different backgrounds who courageously search for love, truth, and meaning together, even in the face of serious danger. Well, let me tell you more about them (somewhat) in person...<br />
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I'll tell you a little secret. I love all of my books and all of my characters, but this book is probably my favorite. If you consider yourself a "Dina Sleiman fan" on any level, I highly encourage you to check it out, and this weekend, February 5-7, will be the perfect chance.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Deep-Within-D-Sleiman-ebook/dp/B00GNSKFNA/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1454286741&sr=1-1">Click here to order on amazon</a></td></tr>
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"This is not my kind of book. So when I say it went deep into my heart, you'll know it's a story that will impact you no matter what genre you typically read. This novel will open your eyes. You'll start seeing the people around you in a vastly different way than you do right now. And you can't help but be changed by the three young women who Sleiman portrays with authenticity, penetrating insight, and well-crafted prose." -Bestselling Author - James Rubart<div>
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"Dina Sleiman allows the reader to see the beauty hidden inside her characters, especially Layla the Muslim girl--the beauty hidden because of social and religious restrictions. The author captured this feeling in the book itself when she said through her college professor, 'This is the power of literature. It allows us to see the beauty in people around us. Gives us glimpses into their minds and their souls." -Host of DARING QUESTIONS - Brother Rasheed</div>
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"Deeply drawn characters take you on a journey that will change their lives . . . and yours. Women's fiction at its finest." -Award-winning Author - Nikki Arana</div>
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Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2374698605171910389.post-62906658416722823412016-01-18T06:00:00.000-05:002016-05-20T20:20:25.941-04:00Austen in Austin Volume 1 is Here!Austen in Austin volume 1 is now available. I'll be in book 2 of this exciting new collection in September. This is the culmination of a dream that started years ago. The ladies of my group blog, <a href="http://www.inkwellinspirations.com/">Inkwell Inspirations</a>, decided that it would be great fun to write a connected series of novellas together. We also thought this would be a wonderful way to help get some of our unpublished ladies published. With the release of Volume 1, every member of our blog is now traditionally published :) Our thanks to WhiteFire Publishing for making our dream a reality.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><i>Four Texas-Set Novellas Based on Jane Austen's Novels</i></span></div>
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<i>Discover four heroines in historical Austin, TX, as they find love--Jane Austen style. Volume 1 includes:</i></div>
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<i style="line-height: 22.4px;">If I Loved You Less by Gina Welborn, based on Emma </i></div>
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<i><i style="line-height: 22.4px;">A prideful matchmaker examines her own heart when her protégé falls for the wrong suitor.</i></i></div>
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<i style="line-height: 22.4px;">Romantic Refinements by Anita Mae Draper, based on Sense and Sensibility </i></div>
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<i><i style="line-height: 22.4px;">A misguided academy graduate spends the summer falling in love . . . twice.</i></i></div>
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<i style="line-height: 22.4px;">One Word from You by Susanne Dietze, based on Pride and Prejudice </i></div>
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<i><i style="line-height: 22.4px;">A down-on-her-luck journalist finds the story of her dreams, but her prejudice may cost her true love . . . and her career.</i></i></div>
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<i style="line-height: 22.4px;">Alarmingly Charming by Debra E. Marvin, based on Northanger Abbey </i></div>
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<i><i style="line-height: 22.4px;">A timid gothic dime-novel enthusiast tries to solve the mystery of a haunted cemetery and, even more shocking, why two equally charming suitors compete for her attentions.</i></i></div>
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<i>Four more exciting novellas will follow in volume 2!</i></div>
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These books are available on amazon in ebook form for the amazing price of $3.99 for the whole collection, or $14.99 for the print collection. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Austen-Austin-1-Gina-Welborn/dp/1939023777/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453077016&sr=1-1&keywords=austen+in+austin">Click here.</a></div>
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You can also purchase ebooks of the individual novellas for $2.99 each. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=if+I+loved+you+less">Click here</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Romantic-Refinements-Austen-Austin-Draper-ebook/dp/B0182L3LIG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453077516&sr=1-1&keywords=romantic+refinements">Click here</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Word-You-Austen-Austin-ebook/dp/B0182LT21Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453077600&sr=1-1&keywords=one+word+from+you">Click here</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alarmingly-Charming-Austen-Austin-Marvin-ebook/dp/B0182SIUW6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453077301&sr=1-1&keywords=Alarmingly+charming">Click here</a></td></tr>
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Of course it's a much better deal to purchase the whole collection, and much more fun too! The stories are meant to be read in order, and they include overlapping settings and characters, particularly the Austen Academy (shown small on the top of the covers) where all the heroines attended finishing school.</div>
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I thoroughly enjoyed every moment this delightful collection, and I'm certain you will too.</div>
<br />Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.com0