Thursday, February 25, 2010

What A Difference A Year Makes!


First, let me just say what a pleasure it is to be here among authors I’ve read and admired for years.

I’m still pinching myself, amazed to have my first book ON THE SHELVES NOW!!!!! Yes, Winter’s End, which I’m delighted to say got a 4 ½ Star rating from Romantic Times, is available online and wherever Harlequin romances are sold. Oh my stars, how cool is that????

And I’m celebrating the joy of two more books scheduled for release this year.

This past week I was chatting with The Seekers (a sisterhood of authors) about what a difference a year makes. Last year at this time we were mourning the loss of a grandchild, a tiny fellow named Joseph who made it to five months in-utero, then died for unexplained reasons. Our hearts were broken for our daughter, her husband, and the families involved. Since we’re no strangers to miscarriages, you’d have thought we’d handle it better, but something about that added 6-8 weeks, of thinking we were home free, weighed us down. But God was with us throughout all of it, strengthening us, helping us, easing us beyond guilt and pain. A rough road that many have traveled and our hearts go out to each and every one.

And now this year…

I got “The Call” in June and have been on a whirlwind ride of amazement ever since. Now published and multi-contracted, I’m thrilled to be a part of the growing Steeple Hill family, delighted to work with Melissa Endlich and the whole SH team AND…

Super delighted that my daughter and her husband have a baby due in a few weeks time, that all is calm, all is bright…

Somewhere in heaven is a sweet baby boy named Joseph, a tiny fellow with big round eyes and soft, sweet skin. He’s laughing down at us, waiting for us to welcome his little brother or sister with open arms. And maybe, just maybe, his great-grandma is rocking him, holding him close, spinning silly tall tales about being a wee Irish laddie amongst the clouds.

It wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Ruthy

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Ruthy, on your upcoming release! I'll be watching for it.

Prayers for your daughter and her family. I'm sure that Joseph is listening to the Irish tales.

God bless....

Ruth Logan Herne said...

Catherine, good morning to you!

Oops. I bumped Missy. I thought I'd scheduled to post at midnight, but... There's my techno ineptitude showing! Oh, man. But if you're going to bump someone, BUMP MISSY TIPPENS. She's just too stinkin' nice to get mad about it.

:) Laughing here!

Thank you for both the congrats and the prayers! We are blessed, truly. And I'm pretty sure little Joey and Mom are watching.

When they're not having a game of catch. It IS spring training time for baseball lovers! And if Joey were here, I'd be teaching him to LOVE JETER.

:)

Ruthy

Sandra Leesmith said...

Congrats Ruthy for your debut novel. Winter's End is a wonderful read, the characters inspiring and the story compelling.

Can hardly wait for your next book to be out.

Your family sounds amazing. Blessings to all of you.

PS, I brought you a latte from Starbucks.

Glynna Kaye said...

Good morning, Ruthy, my "Seekerville.blogspot.com" friend! Such a blessing that things are looking good for both the soon-to-debut new baby AND "Winter's End." Loved the book and I believe Love Inspired readers are in for a REAL treat with three of your books issuing in 2010!

I know how thrilled I was to hold my own "Dreaming of Home" in my hands a few months ago. That first book is so special, as YOU now know!

Welcome to Love Inspired, Ruthy!

Ruth Logan Herne said...

Sandra, good morning, SWEET THANG!!!

:)

Kisses, hugs and thanks to my first and ONLY critique partner, the one person who was/is never afraid to send me back to "Start" and begin again.

Love you. And we're TOTALLY SNOWED IN UP HERE!!!!! so the latte' is a delightful gift!

YAY!!!!

Ruth Logan Herne said...

Glynna!!!!

So Many Firsts This Year For Seekers!!!!

That should be our new banner!

What an honor and a privilege it is to be here, to work with Melissa and Joan, to GET PAID!!!

(It's okay to mention money, right??? Cold, hard cash? Distributable funding???)

I'm SO loving this and can't wait to go to my first NATIONAL CONVENTION....RWA....

Oh my stars, it will be so much fun.

And of course LOTS OF HARD WORK.

(That's in case Dave stops by and reads this!)

:)

Grinning in Snowy WNY

Janet Dean said...

Ruthy, celebrating the release of your debut Winter's End, a great story of hope and second chances and on shelves now! Yippee!!!

I'm thankful all is well with your grandbaby. There's no greater blessing than a baby, wherever they reside.

Hugs, Janet

Mary Connealy said...

Ahhh Ruthy, now I'm all weepy. Why'd you go and be so sweet.

Mary Connealy said...

By the way, I read Winter's End and just loved it.

Buy it HERE

:)

Ruth Logan Herne said...

Janet, welcome, girlfriend!!!

Obviously the check arrived, right?? The one I sent to BRIBE my friends to visit so I wouldn't be alone today.

:)

But what great friends to have!!

Yee Haw!

And yes, babies are miracles, amazing gifts from God, each and every one. Love 'em. There's one crawling through the kitchen right now, dismantling a bag of potatoes.

Better that than peaches, I guess. ;)

Thanks for coming over!

Love you.

Ruthy

Ruth Logan Herne said...

MARY!!!

Thanks for the link!!!

And HEY!!!! Amazon only has ONE COPY of Winter's End left...

But they've re-ordered!

YAY! Obviously someone besides my kids is buying the book!

YIPPEE!!!!

Mary, I love when you get weepy. Such a rare occasion.

Beth says she loves you guys.

Just sayin'.

Me, too.

And you would be laughing at our snow right now, kind of like I laughed at you on Christmas.

Oh mylanta, hysterical!

Perfect for curling up with a good book!!!

Ruth Logan Herne said...

April, thank you! I'm so glad you stopped by today.

We are tickled pink for both, but I've got the book in my hands now...

Have I mentioned that??? :)

I'm sure I must have!

But I can't wait to get my hands on this baby.

And it's a surprise baby. We don't know boy or girl.

But I'm pretty sure he/she will look like me.

(talk about an ego trip!)

Ruthy

Project Journal said...

Hey Ruthy!!
I can't wait to get to Walmart : ) Gotta get this book, girl!! I've been waiting.... *grin*

Awwww! I'm so excited for your daughter. Now, you can't go and forget about us. You're gonna have to remember to tell us if it's a boy or girl *wink* I'm sure you'll have a hard time with that request!

CONGRATS Ruthy!!!! I'm so fortunate to have met you and go through this journey a lil bit with you.

*hugs till next time!*
Hannah

Ruth Logan Herne said...

Hannah, thanks for finding me over here, girlfriend!!!

You rock!

And yes, we'll announce baby's identity when he/she gets born.

If it's a girl she's going to be Adelaide Ruth...

(I think they're trying for brownie points!!!)

And a boy, he'll be Elijah Thomas.

We'll see. We just want a safe delivery for mom and baby.

And then cuddle time!

And stories, of course. :)

Project Journal said...

Ruthy,
Those names are gorgeous!!! And they definitely should get Brownie Points *wink*

I was going to be Hannah Elizabeth, if a girl. If a boy, I'd be Ryan Matthew. : )
Hannah

Missy Tippens said...

Goodness, I had to come by and act nice, even though Ruthy bumped me!

[big grin]

I'm so thrilled to have your first book in my hands, Ruthy! :) It's in my TBR pile, calling my name loudly.

Audra Harders said...

Ruthy, I'm so proud of you! Winter's End is a marvelous book and I promise to finish it tonight if the family will quit bugging me!!

Ahh, babies calm your soul, don't they? Well sort of. Prayers are surrounding the arrival of the newest additon to your family!!

And puppies! Lots of puppies!
LOL!

Julie Lessman said...

Ruthy, JUST finished Winter's End and am now mourning its "end," which is the mark of an exceptional novel.

I mean you made me cry ... three times ... and once over the birth of a foal???? Either my hormones are off or you are one heck of a writer.

I think I know which it is, and why am I NOT surprised????

Congrats on your success, Ruth, LONG overdue but extra sweet because it's in His timing.

Hugs,
Julie

Anonymous said...

Congrats Ruthy on Winter's End. I just finished reading it today. The story was wonderful. I really appreciate the way you portrayed the hospice nurse program. It brought back some warm and wonderful memories of the special nurses that were such a part of our lives just before my brother died. It was a blessing. Shirley