Chautona

I went over and over it, and as far as I can tell, it’s PERFECT.  YIPPEE!  So, it was time to DRAW FOR A WINNER…  I started by counting all entries (192) and then went to random.org… yeah, that was a nuisance.  So, instead, I printed out all questions, cut them apart, folded them up, and voila!

Then I drew for the HARDBACK….

Sorry Terran… I was really rooting for you (Sorry folks, but he won the first hardback last time!)  Then I drew again…

Ok, funny story.  Trinity has told me several times that she WON’T win, she NEVER wins, and so when that came out, I just stared.  For a second, I was tempted to fold it back up, put it back, and just draw someone else so she wouldn’t accuse me of rigging the draw.  However, I stand before you in all honesty saying that her name came out without any prompting by me.  I had no idea until it unfolded what name was on that slip.  (A part of me wants to raise my fist and say, “As God is my witness…”)

So, there you have it.  When your books arrive, ladies, I’ll get ‘em in the mail!  Um, Trinity?  If you’d rather have the first book, I’d be happy to substitute.

At midnight, at a Wal-Mart near you or down the road at Borders and Barnes and Noble, a crowd appears.  Wearing cloaks, carrying bows and arrows, and with apples in their pockets, these die-hard fans are waiting… waiting… waiting…  They know the book is coming.  They’re anxious to be the first to get their hands on it, but they will be disappointed– oh so disappointed.

Meanwhile, in a  bedroom not far away, a child falls asleep with visions of Wynnewood dancing in his head.  A half-finished book drops from his fingers while a flashlight beams, draining the batteries (let’s hope they’re rechargeable!).  The frenetic crowds jostle for the best position when the doors open, but they will not be the first to receive the book they seek.  It’s already enroute or has arrived at homes across the country– and at a discount.

The doors open.  The crazed fans rush to find pallets of books, but instead, curious employees frown at them and whisper at one another, confused.  The books aren’t there.  Disappointed, millions of eager Wynnewood fans from all over the country shuffle home, power up their computers, and send their fingers flying over the keys.  Some will find the author’s site and be disappointed to learn they missed out on a personally autographed copy at an introductory price.  Others will go to Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com and then wait days for the books to arrive.  If they had only been an early bird, they wouldn’t now feel like such a worm.  You know… nobody likes me… everybody hates me… I think I’m gonna eat some worms…

Want to know how to avoid the vast disappointment?  Order  now!  I have two exciting specials to offer– one for those who have the first book and one for those who haven’t yet “met” our friends Dove and Philip!

The Pre-order price of Cloaked in Secrets is 10.50!!!  That’s two dollars off the cover price– almost 20%!!  To pre-order your copy(ies) use the paypal button below.  If you’d like to order multiple copies, email me and I’ll send you a custom invoice.

Book + Shipping Options

Book w/media shipping (13.50) $10.50 Book w/priority shipping (15.50 $10.50 Book w/international shipping (24.50) $10.50

However, for those of you who haven’t taken the Wynnewood plunge, I have a great offer for you too!  Order Shadows & Secrets and Cloaked in Secrets for a low packaged price.  Both books INCLUDING media shipping, for $25.00!  That is a total savings of $7.00!!  It’s a bargain!  Buy a set for every one on your summer book buying list or pack them away for Christmas!

Shipment Location

Introductory Bundle US $25.00 Introductory Bundle International $34.00

Since Cloaked in Secrets is going to print VERY soon, I thought it was time for a contest!  I spent hours trying to think of a good one, but I wasn’t pleased with any of the ideas I had.  Then I had a thought.  I often have people ask me about me, my writing, where I get ideas, what is coming next, and a million other things.  Since this is my website, it’s kind of hard to do an interview on myself.  Seems weird.  However, I’ve decided that’s what we’re going to do.  You ask the questions, I’ll pick the ones I want to answer and if your question is picked, that’s one entry.  If ten of your questions are picked, you get ten entries.

There is no age limit.  If your four year old wants to know if I’ll write a book about a kung-fu gecko, let him.  I’ll probably answer it.  The first person to ask a question gets credit for it.  Similar questions may be combined.  I will likely give both questioners credit unless they’re just too similar.  The contest ends when I receive the final proof copy.

I’m going to have TWO prizes.

First place: A hardback copy of Cloaked in Secrets

Second place: A paperback copy of Cloaked in Secrets

So, get your thinking caps on!

Also!  Don’t forget.  The day I order the books is the last day you can get in on the pre-order specials. Pre-order specials must be purchased by that date.  I’ll give you a few day’s warning, but don’t wait too long.  The savings does add up!

Congratulations Carole!  Email me your address and if you want it signed or not, and if so, to whom!

Thanks for the fun everyone…

But wait!  There’s more…

Just because I’m in a great mood…. I decided to give TWO away!  Yep, the moon is in the house of Othello and my star is falling over the horizon of Zenita Shinn.

Congratulations Christina!  I don’t have your address handy, so if you’d send it along…

Until I draw for the copy of Ready or Not!  I’m so excited about it.  It’s sitting here, looking forlorn and asking for a new home.  It doesn’t like living here where it isn’t read.  It was designed to be read!  It’s failing at fulfilling its purpose!  WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH.

So, don’t forget to get your entries in.  You have several more you can get in… don’t forget facebook, your blog, if you’ve read a version of it you can review!

Go here... and enter.  You know you want to.  And even if you don’t, don’t tell me.  M’kay?

And, if you don’t win, you can always order a copy here!  Just sayin’.

Next up?  Cloaked in Secrets… Book two in the Annals of Wynnewood.  The map… oh my word.  Craig is doing AMAZING things with that map.

Every time I publish a book, friends and I go out to lunch for a “Book Signing.”  This time, I came prepared.

My friends!  From left to right.  Lupe, Glenda (her husband is where I got the name Verily for Noble Pursuits),  Teresa (my partner in so many “crimes”) and me.

Signing Lupe’s book.

Signing Glenda’s book.

Proof that it’s my book….

I couldn’t stop laughing.

You see, we laugh… a lot.  Partly, because Teresa loves to embarrass me.  She threatens to set up a table by the front door and stack up books.  Then watch people come in.  They’d stare, scratch their heads, frown, tip toe past, and order their food– to go.

So, we order, we sit on those couches, and tell stories.  Laugh.  Oh do we laugh.  We talk about how different we are, how we’re so alike, and encourage each other in the Lord.  Good times.  I doubt any other authors have book signings quite like mine, but that’s ok.  I’m happy to be me.  I’m even happier to have such good and encouraging friends.

If dragons, kidnappers, and a siege on Wynnewood Castle wasn’t enough, Dove and Philip have the adventure of a lifetime as they explore the secrets within the Cliffs of Sceadu in search of the elusive unicorns.  Their friendship grows stronger as it is tested in new ways.  Dove has to overcome fear, ignore daily assaults of prejudice and in the end, will she have a new friend?

Expected to go to print in June, Cloaked in Secrets might possibly be more exciting than Shadows and Secrets!

Fresh out of college, Aggie Milliken thinks she’s prepared for anything life can throw her way.  Think again, Aggie!
After the abrupt loss of her sister and brother-in-law, Aggie is stunned to find herself the sole guardian of their eight lively children. If learning basic parenting skills wasn’t complicated enough, she must also battle the children’s half-crazed grandmother, survive a massive remodeling project, and navigate the waters of new friendships—alone.

She has little experience with children and none with housekeeping, and it shows.  What she has going for her is grit, a double dose of determination, and the confidence that this is exactly where the Lord wants her to be.  With an unlimited P-mail account and enough hymns to keep her spirits bolstered, she tackles one catastrophe after another.

It seems like nothing Aggie does is right, but ready or not, here she comes!

For a short while, we are taking pre-orders of Ready or Not.  Once the book is released, the price will go up to 15.99 per copy, but until then, you can request your copy at the pre-publication price of 13.99.  Hey, it almost pays for media rate shipping!  We’re expecting the book to be ready for shipment by mid-March, but the publication process is unpredictable and delays are common.

Ready or Not is now available through me, Createspace, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble.com

Well, this book was one of the most unexpected of any of the books I’ve ever begun. I was sitting, writing another book (that is yet to be finished), when I wondered what medieval superstitions would do with differences that we often see as unique. I wondered about portwine stains, ‘hare lips’ (as they were called back then), and similar anomalies. Within hours, I had several chapters written and the rest is history.

No fantasy book is complete without a map of the area, so I begged everyone I knew to suggest an illustrator. My friend Michele immediately demanded suggested that I contact her friend Craig. Being the obedient person I am, I did. Craig was so enthusiastic about my little underpaid project, I knew the map would be brilliant. And don’t you agree that it is?

Isn’t it just the most amazing thing? I am so thrilled with it and I can’t wait to see what he does with the map for the sequel, The Unicorns of Sceadu.

Shadows and Secrets is written for fantasy lovers of all ages (and has been enjoyed by young children through adults), but my target audience was 11-15 year olds.

If you’d like a copy, feel free to email me at chautona @ chautona . com or hit the paypal button. I’d be happy to sign it for you, wrap it for you, and get it to wherever you need it to go by Christmas.

Books ordered media rate by Dec 10 should arrive by Christmas.  Books ordered Priority by Dec 18 should arrive by Christmas.