Of Grace and Chocolate Sneak Peek and Bonus Giveaway!

First of all, congratulations to Sarah and Megan, the winners of this month's Countdown Celebration giveaways! Hooray! As an extra treat, here is another sneak peek into Of Grace and Chocolate, coming in January!

Picture by Vincent Lock - flickr

He dropped his eyes to the ground and kicked at a tuft of grass growing along the road. “I’ve been reading your book.”

“I asked you not to—”

“I know. But after this morning, I had to go back and reread.”

“Why?”

“Because before . . . I didn’t know you.”

“And now you do?” She searched him warily. Before this morning, she was just some woman who had snubbed his attempts. Now . . .

“Yes. I mean, of course I don’t know you as well as—but I know more about where you come from, where you were once.”

He knew where I was once. The truth warmed and frightened her. How many people in her life could say that? She wrapped her arms around her body as she sensed the danger of letting him get closer, the risk of getting hurt.

She swallowed and straightened her shoulders. “So now you’re a biased reader who thinks my writing is wonderful because you feel you owe me?” She gave him a small smile, but she meant what she said. If her friends and coworkers had all been correct in their glowing reviews of her writing, she should be a bestseller by now.

“I don’t think your writing is wonderful.”

Her heart dropped, and she hated that she cared what he thought.

“I think it’s soulful and poignant and funny. I think it’s genuine.”

She stared at him, soaking in his words but trying not to. He began to walk again, and it took her a second to make her feet move.

 

*sigh*

Now onto the news.

The Christmas anthology I'm part of, A Christmas to Remember, is now available in both Kindle and paper formats! My author copies arrived Friday night. I got home from work, tore open the box, gazed lovingly, then left again for a movie. On Sunday I snuggled up and read all the stories. What a warm and cup-filling collection! I hadn't seen the other stories until then, and it was wonderful to have so many different and fresh perspectives on the true meaning of Christmas. It really is a beautiful compilation. I'm ready to put up the Christmas decorations, but it's a bit early, even for me.

The Deseret Books catalog arrive yesterday. We turned the pages, scanning each, and turned, and turned . . . and there it was, in the bottom right corner of page 15! My name is very tiny and fuzzy and a little shaded, but it's there and people will be reading a little true story I wrote about the Christmas we lost our baby girl and the strength we found in that holiday. It's my hope it will bring comfort and reassurance to anyone who has experienced loss. This really is such an unexpected way to begin my published works, but I'm grateful and delighted.

In celebration of my first publication, I'm throwing in a Bonus Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration giveaway! The prize?

A COPY OF A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER and a bag of COCOA-DUSTED ALMONDS.

This will be one giveaway of both a book AND chocolate! And just so you understand, these are organic roasted almonds, double-dipped in creamy chocolate, then dusted lightly with rich cocoa powder. You may keep these gifts for yourself or give them away! You may have a hard time doing that, though.

All that is required to enter is:

1) Become a follower of this blog.

2) "Like" my Facebook Author page, here: Krista Lynne Jensen Author, or go to the Facebook box in the sidebar on the right and click "like". Easy peasy.

3) Share this contest on Twitter, Facebook, your blog, email to your family, post it on the bulletin board at work, send it in a note to your kids' teachers, sky-writing, that kind of thing. Let me know what you did in a comment here. You will be entered for each mode of sharing the love, each day you share. The more you share, the more entries you'll have!

*Just a note: If you entered a previous contest, you do have to share the new contest for your follow and "like" status to count. :)

This contest will close at midnight, Friday, October 21st.  Remember, I'm giving away prizes every month until the release of OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE! And then we'll have even more giveaways! HOORAY!