I stumbled upon this amazing video of David Robinson giving his NBA Hall of Fame speech on September 11 of this year. I’m floored by his humility and love for the Lord. David, who played for the San Antonio Spurs, is a member of the church which Max Lucado pastors. If you’ve read every Lucado book, as I have, then you’ve read lots of anecdotes about Robinson. One of my favorites is the story in Lucado’s new book Fearless, which tells of Robinson praying with his son during communion on a Sunday morning between championship games. Pretty awesome testimony.

I watched this today at work, and I’m not kidding it made me cry. I hope you enjoy it too!

So you’ll likely notice that I missed a couple posts this weekend–like a Friday Favorite and a Monday Movie. But here’s the deal, I was in Denver at the annual American Christian Fiction Writers conference. I joined 500 fellow fiction writers for an amazing weekend of worshiping God, learning some new writing techniques, and meeting lots of new friends.

I took a bunch of pictures, but I haven’t had time to download them yet. I’ll try to get them up in time for Friday, along with a complete rundown of the weekend.

But mostly, I wanted to share that I met with a lovely agent, who expressed an interest in seeing my proposals for two books that I’m working on! I know it doesn’t sound very interesting, but being asked to submit a proposal is a big deal in the writing world. It means she liked what I told her about the stories. I’m praying that she’ll like the proposals and will want to represent my work.

If you think of it, maybe you could pray along with me. 🙂

Anyway, it’s crazy how the highlight of my weekend could be a simple request that led to quite a nerve-wracking evening tonight as I re-read my proposals to catch any final typos … and then e-mailed it off! Wow! I’m feeling really scared just thinking that this agent will be really analyzing my stuff in the coming weeks.

Trying not to shake all the way out of my books until next time. -LJ

Seriously, I saw this trailer the other night and it made me laugh for 20 minutes straight. (Just ask Amy, who finally texted me from her room in the basement, where apparently she could hear me laughing–sorry, Amy!) I’m not quite sure what tickled my funny bone so hard, but I’ll be at the theater in January when When in Rome releases. Maybe I’ll see you there …

P.S. Just get past this crazy picture and the set up. The trailer is the really awesome part.

I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering what on earth you’re going to do next Saturday. You’re thinking … wouldn’t it be cool if I could go to one location and meet over a hundred authors, get some good books signed? Well, lucky you!

Saturday, September 19 from 4-5:30p.m. at the Marriott Tech Center in Denver, more than 100 Christian authors will be selling and signing their books. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity. So if you happen to be in the Denver area, swing by and meet one or more of these great authors, including me!
 Carolyne Aarsen  
 Diane Ashley  
 Ruth Axtell Morren  
 Rick Barry  
 Christina Berry  
 Lauralee Bliss  
 Diana Brandmeyer  
 Sandra Bricker  
 Margaret Brownley  
 Candace Calvert  
 Robin Caroll  
 Jeanie Smith Cash  
 Colleen Coble  
 Brandilyn Collins  
 Mary Connealy    
 Shirley Connolly  
 Margaret Daley  
 Susan Page Davis  
 Mary Davis  
 Janet Dean  
 Megan DiMaria  
 Lena Nelson Dooley  
 Wanda Dyson  
 Leanna Ellis  
 Pamela Ewen  
 Miralee Ferrell  
 Linda Ford  
 Tina Ann Forkner  
 Judy Gann  
 Jeff Gerke  
 Rhonda Gibson  
 Debby Giusti  
 Sandra Glahn  
 Elizabeth Goddard  
 Winnie Griggs  
 Cathy Marie Hake  
 Lisa Harris  
 Mary Hawkins  
 Roxanne Henke  
 Cynthia Hickey  
 Patti Hill  
 Denise Hunter  
 Annette Irby  
 Myra Johnson  
 Liz Johnson  
 Jenny Jones  
 Eileen Key  
 LAURIE Kingery  
 Kathleen Kovach  
 Harry Kraus  
 Jeanne Marie Leach  
 Tosca Lee  
 Julie Lessman  
 Loree Lough  
 Elizabeth Ludwig  
 Richard Mabry  
 Debbie Macomber  
 Joyce Magnin  
 Gail Gaymer Martin  
 Judy/Jude Martin-Urban/Urbanski  
 Debby Mayne  
 Aaron McCarver  
 Vickie McDonough  
 Dana Mentink  
 Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll  
 DiAnn Mills  
 Stephanie Morrill  
 Janelle Mowery  
 Jill Elizabeth Nelson  
 Kevin Parsons  
 Golden Keyes Parsons  
 Donita K. Paul  
 Tracie Peterson  
 Allie Pleiter  
 Cara Putman  
 Tara Randel  
 Deborah Raney  
 Sandra Robbins  
 Kim Sawyer  
 Marc Schooley  
 Michael Sheehan  
 Shelley Shepard Gray  
 Ann Shorey  
 Beth Shriver  
 Sandra Lee Smith  
 Virginia Smith  
 Betsy St. Amant  
 Therese Stenzel  
 Stuart Stockton  
 Alison Strobel  
 Michelle Sutton  
 Camy Tang  
 Donn Taylor  
 Janice (Hanna) Thompson  
 Missy Tippens  
 Pamela Tracy  
 Carrie Turansky  
 Deborah Vogts  
 Jenness Walker  
 Dan Walsh  
 Susan May Warren  
 Michael Webb  
 Kit Wilkinson  
 Lisa Wingate  
 Beth Wiseman  
 Kimberley Woodhouse  
 Lenora Worth  
 Cheryl Wyatt  
 Kathleen Y’Barbo

When I was in high school my dad told me about the day that President Kennedy was shot. It was unforgetable for him, and he told me how he was in high school English class, how he’d always remember that moment.

I couldn’t imagine ever living through a moment so memorable. And then I was a junior in college working out on an eliptical at the fitness center on campus watching the news, confounded how a plane could have crashed into the World Trade Center. Then as other students and I watched those tiny screens, we saw that second plane hit. And in a moment, I understood what my dad meant when he said he he’d never forget that day in November 1963.

So I just wanted to say to all the families who lost loved ones 8 years ago today that my prayers are with you. I appreciate what the NYPD, FDNY, and all the other men and women serving that day did. Thank you!

So tonight I’m watching the Titans play the Steelers in the first football game of my season. 🙂 And to go along with that, I’m ranking players for the fantasy football draft. (Apparently my league is running a week behind, which is totally cool, because I hadn’t ranked any players yet. So I would have missed trying to get my favorites. Thanks, Amy!)

I’ve never been in a fantasy football league before, but I’m kind of excited! Anyone out there have any advice for this FF newbie?

Can’t wait to find out who I end up with after the draft until next time. -LJ

P.S. Tomorrow I’ll be posting about my #1 draft pick!

My lovely and dear friend/writing buddy Jess B. sent me a link this morning at work. I saw it right away, but I was distracted by … well … things that needed to get done. At about 4:20 I finally had time to take a peek. What should I discover, but this t-shirt for sale on Amazon.com.

While the shirt is obviously ridiculously awesome, it’s the product reviews that make it my Friday Favorite. As I read a few of them this afternoon, I was laughing so hard, I nearly fell out of my chair.

Visit the three wolf moon t-shirt here, read some reviews, and see if this isn’t the most amazing shirt you’ve ever heard of.

My favorite part? It’s #3 in apparel on all of Amazon!

One word. Awesome!

I’ve been asking myself all week where I’ve been. It seems like I haven’t had 2 minutes to blog this week and almost as little time to tweet. My parents ended up coming for a visit last weekend, and I ended up spending all day Friday in the hospital with my mom. Not to worry! She’s totally okay, but she gave us a bit of scare.

So I had to make a decision. Brandon Heath or my mom.

I had to go with my mom. So while my good friends Ashley and Lauren went to interview Brandon, I hung out in the cardiac unit at one of the hospitals here in town. But at about 6:15, I got a call from Ashley. Apparently Brandon wanted to talk to me. So I did have a 3 minute conversation with him. Pretty amazing! 🙂

My parents were nearly as excited as I was, and it was a really cool moment. Brandon was super genuine, and he made me love him just that much more.

Anyway, so mom and dad and I had a kick-back weekend watching movies and hanging out. I’m really glad to have gotten to spend time with them.

Looking forward to seeing them again until next time. -LJ

P.S. I’m having a twitter GIVEAWAY! I have 2 more signed copies of The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn to give away, so drop me an @reply tweet and tell me you want a signed book, and I’ll send it your way.

I do love a good show on USA, and this fall, Matt Bomer (who I loved in the tragically cancelled series Traveler and also in Chuck) stars in White Collar. In case you’ve missed the previews, check it out.

Maybe I’ll see you around the network on Thursday nights. 🙂

So tomorrow is a big day for me! I get to meet Brandon Heath. Finally! 🙂 If all goes as planned.

Huge shout outs to Lauren and Ashley for making it happen. These girls are amazing!

In honor of Brandon and his concert/retreat at the Glen, I’m happy to present the video for his 3rd number 1 hit. Congrats, Brandon! Looking forward to many more.