Friday, January 3, 2014

Reduced Price for Finding Grace!

Just a few minutes ago, I visited my book's page on Amazon, and to my surprise I found that the price for the paperback copy (which originally sold for $17.99) had recently been reduced from $16.19 to $14.99.  Not long ago, the Kindle price came down from $9.99 to $4.99.   Maybe at these new affordable prices, Finding Grace will find a broader readership.

Did you see what I did there?  I embedded a handy link, on which you can click--easy peasy--if you'd like to get yourself a copy.  At these new low prices, what have you got to lose?

Okay, I've got some questions for you.

Do you love to immerse yourself in a nice, long book that draws you in and makes you care about its characters?

Are you always up for a good "will they or won't they" love story, where the heroine must choose between two possible love interests?

Are you tired of books about vampires, werewolves, and zombies--not to mention ones filled with lurid sex scenes, rampant immorality, and the verbal trashing of every Catholic character and everything the Catholic Faith stands for?

Are you sick of the whole moral relativism mindset, and anxious to read about characters who--though they may fall at times--are striving to live good lives and wind up saints in Heaven?

Would you like to read a sweet story that is unapologetically pro-chastity and pro-life, but in a way that doesn't shove it down your throat and is compassionate toward those who make big mistakes in life, yet find their way to peace and forgiveness?

Do you have a teenaged daughter who might be edified and inspired by such a story?  (And this book is not just for her, Mom; I think you'd enjoy it, too!)

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then Finding Grace is for you!  (Did you see what I did there--again?)

Back in November of 2011, my middle son (son #3) was spending the Thanksgiving weekend with my husband and me and his oldest brother (along with his oldest brother's wife and twin baby daughters).  He'd asked me to print out a copy of Finding Grace so he could read it.  I hadn't yet completed the final two chapters, and I had some "tweaking" to do here and there, but it was otherwise essentially a finished manuscript.  He'd been very interested in my project from the beginning, when I sat down to start writing in August of 2007--and he was the one who worried that when I began blogging in March of 2011, it would take too much time away from the book.  (He was one of my first loyal blog followers, but still--he didn't want me to spend so much time at it that I gave up on Finding Grace.)

Well, my then-25-year-old-son sped through those pages I gave him and practically finished the whole thing that weekend.  He kept telling me how good he thought it was--particularly after Grace's five older brothers make their appearance in the story.  Once I finally provided him with the ending chapters and he read them, he sent me a professional-looking multi-page document with a game plan for publishing the book, and he named himself my official CFO.  He believed in the book so much that he ended up investing half the publishing costs at the outset, splitting them with his dad.

When I opened up the attachment to that e-mail and saw that he had sent what was essentially a business power-point presentation, I cried.  Especially when I got to the last page: "You have written an amazing story, and I know that Regina*, myself, and most importantly Dad believe that this book could not only sell very well, but it could also change people's lives for the better.  Do not worry about my initial investment or whether or not I lose most or all of it.  I am happy to do it, and it would be completely worth it to see your dream of writing a book come true."

What difference do sales numbers make when you've been blessed with sons such as this one?  I am humbled by the blessings God has granted me.

One of the reasons I wanted to tell this story about my son is to show you that although this book has been given a "Young Adult" tag, it is not just for teenaged girls.  Adult women--and even men, like my son--have enjoyed it, too.

Okay, that's the end of my little sales pitch.  I'll just leave you with this recent image of my adorable middle son (the new husband, as of December 7, 2013!) promoting his mom's book.  With that face, I tell you, that boy could sell ice to the Eskimos.  I hope he can sell Finding Grace to you!  (That's the last embedded link--promise!)
 
*At that time, only my first daughter-in-law, blog name "Regina," had read all the chapters I'd written before son #3 joined her as an early reader/typo locator.

11 comments:

  1. Great blog and a WONDERFUL book! Everyone should read it!!!

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  2. I tweeted this last night (and tried to comment here and let you know - blogger and iPhones don't like each other very much). But, Barb @ franciscanmom retweeted this morning "what I'm reading today" includes this page! Yay!

    Warmly,
    Cristina

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    1. You are an angel, that's all there is to it. I can't believe that you are going out of your way to help me out, and you don't even know me! Thank you so much for your kind words and your tweets. (And I wish I had a way to thank Barb, too! Does she have a blog?)

      I just heard from my publisher, who keeps reminding me that without effort on the part of the author, works of Catholic fiction go largely unheard of and unread. I'd really like to figure out how to get the word out, but I'm feeling a bit lost as far as that goes lately. Do you think I should get on Twitter? (As if this old dog could learn that new trick!)

      Thanks again! {{{}}} You truly are an angel!

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  3. If you're cool with St. Therese, you're cool with me! I will tweet and share on Faebook whenever you like! I don't have much but can help with the little that I've got. Twitter is something I am getting used to too. Try it? And as for Barb! She's great! She even writes for CatholicMom (among other ventures). Super nice and funny lady. Does she have a blog?!? http://franciscanmom.com

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    1. Guess what? When I looked up her blog, I realized I "know" Barb! Back in November of 2012, Lisa Hendey let me send in an article about Finding Grace that was posted on CatholicMom.com. Only one reader commented on it--and it was Barb! What a small Catholic blogging world this is.

      I am now following both Barb and you via e-mail. (If I ever get on Twitter, perhaps I'll follow that way as well.)

      Thanks again for everything!

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    2. That's awesome! I love when little links like this happen!! Can't wait to comment on your next post tomorrow! That veil is gorgeous!

      Pax,
      Cristina

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  4. My first Christmas Kindle gift card purchase was Finding Grace! I haven't dug into it yet but I will soon and I'll have it as a WWRW post certainly. :)

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  5. Laura, I am a faithful reader of your blog. Just let you know that I purchased your book at Amazon after reading how much your son loves your book. I am looking forward to receiving your book soon,

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    1. Margaret, thank you.

      That boy really is a doll. I was a stay-at-home mom his whole life, and I think he was just so happy for me that I'd done this thing I'd always dreamed of doing. It was so cute to see him pick those pages up and have trouble putting them down. It was also cute how excited he was once Grace's five brothers were introduced--because of course they were inspired by my five boys.

      I hope you enjoy the book. :)

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