Finally Catching Up!
Well, it looks like my schedule has finally normalized after the holidays, the book release, and my recent adoption (more about this in a minute). I think I will be back to a more regular schedule of blogging. I realize this brings great excitement to all three of my regular readers. Of course, I should point out that "normal" and my everyday life really are sort of oxymorons. Oh well, I can live with that. So, without further delay, here is a brief snapshot of where things are at in my life:
MY BOOK
Things are going well with the new book. While Life's too Short to Be an Underdog has yet to appear on the New York Times Bestseller List as of yet, things are moving along briskly. I know that currently about 100 copies have been sold at my publisher. However, I have no idea exactly how many copies of the book have been ordered from the various online bookstores that sell it. I won't have any of that information until the end of the Winter Quarter (March, 2006). I have received lots of emails congratulating me on the book and telling me how much individuals have enjoyed reading it. It has been touted in my alma mater, Florida Christian College's online newsletter. In addition, it has been reviewed on various blogs like Maybe Right, Maybe Crazy and Random Thoughts from a Fish.
I hope to soon hear back from the local newspaper about a possible review and/or interview/story on the book's release as well as a couple local bookstores where I might do a book-signing. Since I went the route of self-publishing and self-marketing, I covet any ideas or suggestions any of you might have on ways to promote my book to others. I have mainly relied on word-of-mouth to do so and appreciate everyone who has bought the book and told others about it.
THE CHURCH
We have been excited recently with the influx of some new families. We are starting to see the seeds of growth in the church that we have been working toward. The last two weeks the church has had over 50 in attendance. For a church that runs between 25-35 this is reason for encouragment.
Justin Adams, our part-time minister, was in Houston this week for a DiscipleNow weekend so I got to lead worship. While the weekly pressure of leading worship and preaching is something that I am glad to now share with Justin, it was still awesome to lead our worship on this week. The whole worship time was such an encouragment to me. I was moved at the Spirit's ability to convict me in the midst of my message of my own unwillingness to be as forgiving as I was challenging the church body. It was a message on what we should do at that point when it seems impossible to forgive. If you would like to listen to the message, it is available at the church multi-media section of the Southwood Christian Church web-site.
FAMILY STUFF
As I mentioned earlier, I have recently gone through an adoption. I am now the proud parent of a four-month old border collie/cocker spaniel mixed puppy named "Oreo." I rescued her from certain exile at the dog pound (or worse, from being given to a "nice family" -- sorry to those who may not have read the new book, that is a reference from it.)
Anyway, Oreo is learning the ground rules of living with me and generally doing a good job of training despite her "puppy-ness." However, she gave me quite a scare last week. We were coming back from her morning walk. I took off her leash at the bottom of the stairs and she ran up to the second story "Deluxe Apartment in the Sky" while I slowly trudged up the stairs. I was about halfway up when a car driving by backfired and scared the poor little puppy. She ran to the edge of the landing and, in her fear, jumped off the landing (a drop of about 15 feet). Fortunately, an immediate trip to the vet told me that little Oreo had not broken any bones. The drop did beat her up pretty good though so she limped around for about 4-5 days. All seems well now though. Apparently the Smith Family Dog Curse is indeed dead once and for all. Thanks again, Ballpark!
One other family note ... looking forward to having my eight year-old niece, Erin, over for the weekend this coming weekend. Perhaps I will coax her into sharing an entry on the blog. She is a bit of a writer herself.
Okay, blogging out for now!
MY BOOK
Things are going well with the new book. While Life's too Short to Be an Underdog has yet to appear on the New York Times Bestseller List as of yet, things are moving along briskly. I know that currently about 100 copies have been sold at my publisher. However, I have no idea exactly how many copies of the book have been ordered from the various online bookstores that sell it. I won't have any of that information until the end of the Winter Quarter (March, 2006). I have received lots of emails congratulating me on the book and telling me how much individuals have enjoyed reading it. It has been touted in my alma mater, Florida Christian College's online newsletter. In addition, it has been reviewed on various blogs like Maybe Right, Maybe Crazy and Random Thoughts from a Fish.
I hope to soon hear back from the local newspaper about a possible review and/or interview/story on the book's release as well as a couple local bookstores where I might do a book-signing. Since I went the route of self-publishing and self-marketing, I covet any ideas or suggestions any of you might have on ways to promote my book to others. I have mainly relied on word-of-mouth to do so and appreciate everyone who has bought the book and told others about it.
THE CHURCH
We have been excited recently with the influx of some new families. We are starting to see the seeds of growth in the church that we have been working toward. The last two weeks the church has had over 50 in attendance. For a church that runs between 25-35 this is reason for encouragment.
Justin Adams, our part-time minister, was in Houston this week for a DiscipleNow weekend so I got to lead worship. While the weekly pressure of leading worship and preaching is something that I am glad to now share with Justin, it was still awesome to lead our worship on this week. The whole worship time was such an encouragment to me. I was moved at the Spirit's ability to convict me in the midst of my message of my own unwillingness to be as forgiving as I was challenging the church body. It was a message on what we should do at that point when it seems impossible to forgive. If you would like to listen to the message, it is available at the church multi-media section of the Southwood Christian Church web-site.
FAMILY STUFF
As I mentioned earlier, I have recently gone through an adoption. I am now the proud parent of a four-month old border collie/cocker spaniel mixed puppy named "Oreo." I rescued her from certain exile at the dog pound (or worse, from being given to a "nice family" -- sorry to those who may not have read the new book, that is a reference from it.)
Anyway, Oreo is learning the ground rules of living with me and generally doing a good job of training despite her "puppy-ness." However, she gave me quite a scare last week. We were coming back from her morning walk. I took off her leash at the bottom of the stairs and she ran up to the second story "Deluxe Apartment in the Sky" while I slowly trudged up the stairs. I was about halfway up when a car driving by backfired and scared the poor little puppy. She ran to the edge of the landing and, in her fear, jumped off the landing (a drop of about 15 feet). Fortunately, an immediate trip to the vet told me that little Oreo had not broken any bones. The drop did beat her up pretty good though so she limped around for about 4-5 days. All seems well now though. Apparently the Smith Family Dog Curse is indeed dead once and for all. Thanks again, Ballpark!
One other family note ... looking forward to having my eight year-old niece, Erin, over for the weekend this coming weekend. Perhaps I will coax her into sharing an entry on the blog. She is a bit of a writer herself.
Okay, blogging out for now!
Wow! I haven't been out here in awhile, but you have no comments on your last blog. What happened?!! We want more, more, more (how you like it, how you like it...) Oh, sorry about the reference to the disco days.
I take it you couldn't get Erin to write a few lines either. Of course, you probably had a full weekend caring for the dog and all. But I agree, she'll follow in her uncle's footsteps soon enough and write a book of her own, complete with illustrations. She loves drawing pictures and writing stories and putting them together in a "book".
I'm glad to hear of your church growth too. I pray for your encouragement in this area of your life more than anything, Dave. Perhaps God is "tending those seeds" you planted now.
Talk to you later.
Michelle
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