Austen in Austin: Blogmates Watch a Dream Come True

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 Inkwell Inspirations, 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comprised mostly of writers who had won writing contests (I had just won the Touched by Love contest) but were still unpublished.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 Austen in Austin was born. Several more years passed before this dream became a published reality, but I'm happy to share it with you today.    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! Order Volume 1 in print or ebook  Order Volume 2 in print  Order Volume 2 in ebook Here's what people are saying about Austen in Austin:  "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 "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 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 "Mansford Ranch," a play on Mansfield Park of course. It's located in Volume 2 of Austen in Austin.   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.          Be sure to check out these fun novellas and share them with your friends!

Mansford Ranch Cover Reveal!

In addition to my Valiant Hearts novels, I have a novella coming out this fall. Volume 2 of Austen in Austin is on the horizon, as evidenced by this gorgeous new cover for Mansford Ranch! This series will feature Jane Austen style heroines in Austin, Texas during the 1890s.

An aspiring novelist with a keen eye for character must determine who is worthy of playing her own leading man.

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 by clicking here, 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.

For the full Austen in Austin experience, and to enjoy the overlaps between stories and interconnected characters, you'll want to start from the very beginning. Click here to order volume 1, which is available for you reading pleasure right now!

More Courageous Heroines

It will be about five more months until my third Valiant Hearts book, Courageous, releases. However, I think all of my books feature heroines who are courageous in their own ways. This weekend my contemporary novel, Dance from Deep Within, 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...

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.

Click here to order on amazon

"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

"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

"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

Austen 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, Inkwell Inspirations, 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.

Four Texas-Set Novellas Based on Jane Austen's Novels

Discover four heroines in historical Austin, TX, as they find love--Jane Austen style. Volume 1 includes:

If I Loved You Less by Gina Welborn, based on Emma 

A prideful matchmaker examines her own heart when her protégé falls for the wrong suitor.

Romantic Refinements by Anita Mae Draper, based on Sense and Sensibility 

A misguided academy graduate spends the summer falling in love . . . twice.

One Word from You by Susanne Dietze, based on Pride and Prejudice 

A down-on-her-luck journalist finds the story of her dreams, but her prejudice may cost her true love . . . and her career.

Alarmingly Charming by Debra E. Marvin, based on Northanger Abbey 

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.

Four more exciting novellas will follow in volume 2!

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. Click here.

You can also purchase ebooks of the individual novellas for $2.99 each. 

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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.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment this delightful collection, and I'm certain you will too.

Favorite Fiction of 2015

I've made no secret of the fact that since becoming an author/editor, I have a hard time reading fiction for pleasure. But this year I read three books that not only held my interest, but also fed my soul. I love those stories that reach deep into your heart and change you, and all three of these met that very high standard.

So in no particular order, since they are each brilliant in such different ways...

Click here to order

I Always Cry at Weddings

I fell in love with this debut book from the first moment it came across my editor's desk. In no time at all, I was sending excited email updates to the rest of my WhiteFire team. Not only is the book written with a lovely style, charming characters, and a winning setting, this witty, urbane fairy tale is truly unique and surprisingly heartwarming with powerful spiritual messages. 

Imagine (if you possibly can stretch your mind that far) the Christian version of Sex in the City with a missional theme, and you will begin to get a feel for this wonderful romantic comedy. You won't want the amazing ride to come to an end. I'll mention that this book might be too mature for some teen readers since the main character is not walking with Christ in the beginning of the book and she takes a long journey to get to that point. But I think adults will find it both real and delightful.

Read a full description here.

Click here to order

A Soft Breath of Wind

This Biblical novel is my favorite book by my favorite author, Roseanna White, which I suppose puts it in a class of its own. Set during the New Testament Era, this book simply has it all: adventure, romance, suspense, deep spiritual content, incredible history, and intelligent insights into the human condition. For this one you're going to need to imagine Frank Peretti meets Francine Rivers, and oh, what an idyllic meeting it is! You'll see the New Testament church brought to stunning light at a time when it was persecuted yet thriving and full of the Holy Spirit's power. The heroine is truly unique with her ability to see into the spiritual realm and the high price she pays for that gift. Meanwhile she deals with very normal human longings, and wonders if a man will ever accept her.

If you had the pleasure of reading A Stray Drop of Blood first, that will be an extra bonus, but as this book takes place nearly a generation later, anyone can enjoy it.

Read a full description here.

Spirit Bridge

Click here to order book 1

Last but most certainly not least is Spirit Bridge. This is the final book in the new Well Spring Series by James Rubart, and since it is a true series, you will need to read all three books in order to fully understand the plot, premise, and characters. This series takes a speculative journey into the spiritual realm. It examines spiritual matters quite literally, and imagines what it would be like to truly and completely walk in the spirit throughout this action-packed tale as good battles epic evil.

In book one the "Warriors Riding" go into the soul to do battle for inner healing, in book two they face devastating memories, and in book three, as the war intensifies, they must learn to fight on a new and challenging level.

This series is hard to explain with just a few words, but it is truly life changing. Particularly after reading Spirit Bridge, I felt as if I had gone through some sort of intensive inner healing session. God definitely shifted something deep inside of me through this book, and set me free from religious bondage at a level where I didn't even know I struggled with it. If you long for truth in the inward parts, do yourself a favor and read these books.

Read a full description of Spirit Bridge here.

What was the most life-changing novel you read in 2015, or for that matter, ever?