One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
One Imperfect Christmas
Abingdon Press (September 2009)
by
Myra Johnson


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Making up stories has been second nature to me for as long as I can remember. A select group of trusted friends back at dear old Mission High waited eagerly for the next installment of my "Great American Spy Novel" (think Man from Uncle) and my "All-American Teen Novel" (remember Gidget and Tammy?). I even had a private notebook of angst-ridden poetry a la Rod McKuen.

The dream of writing persisted into adulthood, although it often remained on the back burner while I attended to home and family and several "real" (read paying) jobs along the way. Then in 1983, while recovering from sinus surgery, I came upon one of those magazine ads for the Institute of Children’s Literature. I knew it was time to get serious, and the next thing I knew, I'd enrolled in the “Writing for Children and Teenagers” course.

Within a year or so I sold my first story, which appeared in the Christian publication Alive! for Young Teens. For many years I enjoyed success writing stories and articles for middle-graders and young adults. I even taught for ICL for 9 years.

Then my girls grew up, and there went my live-in inspiration. Time to switch gears. I began my first women's fiction manuscript and started attending Christian writers conferences. Eventually I learned about American Christian Romance Writers (which later became American Christian Fiction Writers) and couldn't wait to get involved. Friends in ACFW led me to RWA and the online inspirational chapter, Faith, Hope & Love.

So here I am today, still on this crazy roller-coaster ride. Still writing. Still hopeful. Writing, I'm learning, is not about the destination, it's about the journey. My current projects are primarily women's fiction and romance . . . novels of hope, love, and encouragement. Novels about real women living out their faith and finding love in the midst of everyday, and sometimes not so everyday, situations.


ABOUT THE BOOK


Graphic designer Natalie Pearce faces the most difficult Christmas of her life. For almost a year, her mother has lain in a nursing home, the victim of a massive stroke, and Natalie blames herself for not being there when it happened. Worse, she's allowed the monstrous load of guilt to drive a wedge between her and everyone she loves-most of all her husband Daniel. Her marriage is on the verge of dissolving, her prayer life is suffering, and she's one Christmas away from hitting rock bottom.

Junior-high basketball coach Daniel Pearce is at his wit's end. Nothing he's done has been able to break through the wall Natalie has erected between them. And their daughter Lissa's adolescent rebellion isn't helping matters. As Daniel's hope reaches its lowest ebb, he wonders if this Christmas will spell the end of his marriage and the loss of everything he holds dear.

If you would like to read the first chapter of One Imperfect Christmas, go HERE


Watch the trailer:







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Posting Information

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1426700709

Author's picture is:
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq5eFOAdBlJN-o-yp3eI2dNbnPJRauWYZCSu_LKcVGe5icDKEp_8eTMzWwnpWUNy4R0Z60rUrPnnc-HKauTtBqRl_fg_-oSWjtuBt8MOAK5axpYJlqx733J7F9E3g7rosPBkcsA/s1600-h/shapeimage_2.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 149px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq5eFOAdBlJN-o-yp3eI2dNbnPJRauWYZCSu_LKcVGe5icDKEp_8eTMzWwnpWUNy4R0Z60rUrPnnc-HKauTtBqRl_fg_-oSWjtuBt8MOAK5axpYJlqx733J7F9E3g7rosPBkcsA/s320/shapeimage_2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383740401668701362" /></a>


The book cover photo is:
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTmDmTKmzXzn-dlm2uh1EeAMtmLbNU7mF0kiLkVJH06hsMeGiY-glyIK8YGX16ySPJy7vsW4GCqSknVqsqPl4TMZ9EUvcl0wmrocR_adH1xNir8X7lhTgnZzdSA1di1z57Os72w/s1600-h/oneimperfectchristmas.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTmDmTKmzXzn-dlm2uh1EeAMtmLbNU7mF0kiLkVJH06hsMeGiY-glyIK8YGX16ySPJy7vsW4GCqSknVqsqPl4TMZ9EUvcl0wmrocR_adH1xNir8X7lhTgnZzdSA1di1z57Os72w/s320/oneimperfectchristmas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383739705140298898" /></a>

The code for this post is:
<div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5500/1432/1600/CFBAreviewer_gif.0.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5500/1432/320/CFBAreviewer_gif.0.gif" border="0" /></a></div><br /><center><span style="font-size:130%;">This week, the</span></center><br /><center><a href="http://www.christianfictionblogalliance.com/"><span style="font-size:100%;">Christian Fiction Blog Alliance</span></a></center><br /><center><span style="font-size:100%;">is introducing</span></center><br /><center><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993300;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1426700709">One Imperfect Christmas</a></span></center><br /><center>Abingdon Press (September 2009)</center><br /><center>by</center><br /><center><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"><a href="http://www.myrajohnson.com/Myra_Langley_Johnson,_Writer/Welcome.html">Myra Johnson</a></span></center><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ff6600;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq5eFOAdBlJN-o-yp3eI2dNbnPJRauWYZCSu_LKcVGe5icDKEp_8eTMzWwnpWUNy4R0Z60rUrPnnc-HKauTtBqRl_fg_-oSWjtuBt8MOAK5axpYJlqx733J7F9E3g7rosPBkcsA/s1600-h/shapeimage_2.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 149px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq5eFOAdBlJN-o-yp3eI2dNbnPJRauWYZCSu_LKcVGe5icDKEp_8eTMzWwnpWUNy4R0Z60rUrPnnc-HKauTtBqRl_fg_-oSWjtuBt8MOAK5axpYJlqx733J7F9E3g7rosPBkcsA/s320/shapeimage_2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383740401668701362" /></a>Making up stories has been second nature to me for as long as I can remember. A select group of trusted friends back at dear old Mission High waited eagerly for the next installment of my "Great American Spy Novel" (think Man from Uncle) and my "All-American Teen Novel" (remember Gidget and Tammy?). I even had a private notebook of angst-ridden poetry a la Rod McKuen.<br /><br />The dream of writing persisted into adulthood, although it often remained on the back burner while I attended to home and family and several "real" (read paying) jobs along the way. Then in 1983, while recovering from sinus surgery, I came upon one of those magazine ads for the Institute of Children’s Literature. I knew it was time to get serious, and the next thing I knew, I'd enrolled in the “Writing for Children and Teenagers” course.<br /><br /> Within a year or so I sold my first story, which appeared in the Christian publication Alive! for Young Teens. For many years I enjoyed success writing stories and articles for middle-graders and young adults. I even taught for ICL for 9 years.<br /><br />Then my girls grew up, and there went my live-in inspiration. Time to switch gears. I began my first women's fiction manuscript and started attending Christian writers conferences. Eventually I learned about American Christian Romance Writers (which later became American Christian Fiction Writers) and couldn't wait to get involved. Friends in ACFW led me to RWA and the online inspirational chapter, Faith, Hope & Love.<br /><br />So here I am today, still on this crazy roller-coaster ride. Still writing. Still hopeful. Writing, I'm learning, is not about the destination, it's about the journey. My current projects are primarily women's fiction and romance . . . novels of hope, love, and encouragement. Novels about real women living out their faith and finding love in the midst of everyday, and sometimes not so everyday, situations. <br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffcc00;">ABOUT THE BOOK</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTmDmTKmzXzn-dlm2uh1EeAMtmLbNU7mF0kiLkVJH06hsMeGiY-glyIK8YGX16ySPJy7vsW4GCqSknVqsqPl4TMZ9EUvcl0wmrocR_adH1xNir8X7lhTgnZzdSA1di1z57Os72w/s1600-h/oneimperfectchristmas.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTmDmTKmzXzn-dlm2uh1EeAMtmLbNU7mF0kiLkVJH06hsMeGiY-glyIK8YGX16ySPJy7vsW4GCqSknVqsqPl4TMZ9EUvcl0wmrocR_adH1xNir8X7lhTgnZzdSA1di1z57Os72w/s320/oneimperfectchristmas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383739705140298898" /></a><br />Graphic designer Natalie Pearce faces the most difficult Christmas of her life. For almost a year, her mother has lain in a nursing home, the victim of a massive stroke, and Natalie blames herself for not being there when it happened. Worse, she's allowed the monstrous load of guilt to drive a wedge between her and everyone she loves-most of all her husband Daniel. Her marriage is on the verge of dissolving, her prayer life is suffering, and she's one Christmas away from hitting rock bottom. <br /><br />Junior-high basketball coach Daniel Pearce is at his wit's end. Nothing he's done has been able to break through the wall Natalie has erected between them. And their daughter Lissa's adolescent rebellion isn't helping matters. As Daniel's hope reaches its lowest ebb, he wonders if this Christmas will spell the end of his marriage and the loss of everything he holds dear.<br /><br />If you would like to read the first chapter of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1426700709">One Imperfect Christmas</a>, go <a href="http://thestorybeginnings.blogspot.com/2009/09/one-imperfect-christmas-chapter-1.html">HERE</a><br /><br /><br />Watch the trailer:<br /><br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FP967TJ65Do&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FP967TJ65Do&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>

Myra can be reached through the Contact link on her Website

Come and visit with those joining in this blog tour:

Abi at lighter side
Alexis at Ramblings From Life
Amy at My Life
Andie at Radiant Light
April at Projecting A
Barbara at Victoria Hill Farm
Becky at Joyful Mother
Bonnie at Bonnie Writes
Brittanie at A Book Lover
Camille at There is a season
Camy at Camy Tang
Carla at Carla's Writing Café
CeeCee at Book Splurge
Christy at Christy's Book Blog
Dave at The Plot Thickens
Dave at Novel Spotlight
Deanna at Deannna's Corner
Deborah at books, movies and chinese food
Debra at Soul Reflections
Gina at Portrait Of A Writer
Gretchen at Inspire Me
Heidi at Reviews By Heidi
Janis at The Nearsighted Bookworm
Janna at Cornhusker Academy
Jenn at One House Schoolroom Reviews
Jennifer at Musings on This, That, & The Other Thing
Jennifer at My Buckling Bookshelf
Jennfer at Scraps and Snippets
Jenny at Come Meet AusJenny
Jim B. at The Bedford Review
Kate at A Simple Walk
Kelly at A Disciple's Steps
Kim at Window To My World
Krista at Welcome To Married Life
Kristi at Stamped With Grace
Laura at Laura William's Musings
Linda at Mocha With Linda
Linda at Reading For His Glory
Lori at Noggin Bits
Mark at Thoughts Of A Sojourner
Nora at Finding Hope Through Christian Fiction
Pam at Daysong Reflections
Patricia at Readin N Writin With Patricia
Rel at Relz Reviewz
Rulan at Fiction Showcase
Sally at Book Critiques
Stephanie at Olive Tree
Susan at New Every Morning
Takiela at Beauty 4 Ashes
Tara at Tara's View Of The World
Tracy at Pix-N-Pens
Vanessa at Ramblings of A Texas Housewife