Announcing Waiting for the Sun Release

Finally!  My second work of fiction, Waiting for the Sun,  hits the book stores today!  

I was more than a little worried about this novel because it was SO completely different from my last book, Captive Heart. It's still in the same category or Christian- fiction, but while one is historical fiction, this new one is set in a contemporary setting. I am hoping that my readers will give this new work a chance. 

But just in case they didn't, I decided to get some pre-reviews to hopefully open up to a wider audience.  Here's a glimpse of the notes I have gotten back:

"I just realized that I am too soon to post my review!  I did enjoy your book.  I loved the fostering of the children on the huge ranch.  Good job!" - Cindi Klemm

"I have to tell you that I love, love, love your book... I couldn't put it down! I can really see and feel the characters and setting.  I am excited to be reading your book in a way I don't often get.  I hope you have other books so I can read more!"  - Julia Wilson

"Elizabeth Bourgeret!  You have done it again!  I am SO proud of you!  I don't know what you were worried about!"  

Needless to say, I'm feeling a little better about Waiting for the Sun being added to my published library!  Being a writer has to be one of the neatest things in the whole world!!  It thrills me to no end, and yes, I giggle every time, to see one of my books pop up on the internet or see my name in printed form.  It's like... I am somebody now.  Like, my work will be around long after I'm gone and my children's children's children can say, 'yep, that was my great- grammy!"  It feels good.

Like anything made in a creative way, it's always scary to put it out there for the rest of the world to critique.  And while I smile for days for every 5 star review I get, I ponder and question and doubt and dwell on every low star. (who rarely put a review with it so I am tormented as to WHY!!)  But, so it goes.  I am happy to say that the 5 stars FAR outweigh the low stars, and so I am encouraged to keep writing.  Which I am thankful for because it gives me great satisfaction.  I thought I was content just writing for myself and my family, but the joy I receive by being welcomed in the hearts of people I haven't even met yet, is too much for words.  I am so very grateful.  

So for those who might be interested, here is the little blurb from the back of the book to hopefully pique your interest:

Waiting for the Sun is the story of Gillian Sanders who's husband left her after many years of marriage.  She took what might have been her darkest hour and turned it around by moving to a new state, opening her home to foster children, running a cattle ranch and teaching at the local theatre.
Making sure she is too busy for romance, she focuses on her "kids" until a man she never expects fits right into her life... or does he?
Sometimes hiding from love is the best way to find it.


Waiting for the Sun is available on Amazon.com, at your local book stores (don't see it?  Ask them to order it for you!) or right here on this website!

BONUS:  If you order from here, and purchase $25 or more (on any books) you will receive a free canvas book bag!  Good while supplies last!

Order your copy of WAITNG FOR THE SUN today!  Right now!!

Congratulations to all twenty winners of the Goodreads Give-away Contest!!  

​And thank you to all 984 people who entered to win!!  I am so inspired by the feedback I have gotten from this, my debut novel!

I am very grateful to have the opportunity to get this book into the hands of some avid readers and am anxious for their feed back!

For those of you who were not chosen as winners, may I offer that Amazon has Captive Heart on sale and is available for free shipping! 
(http://www.amazon.com/Captive-Heart-Elizabeth-Bourgeret/dp/147917453X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378003819&sr=8-1&keywords=elizabeth+bourgeret)

"This book is inspiring and is a great read for all of us who are or have at some point faced adversity that tested our faith in what we know and feel." - Jessie King


"This is one great novel.  I average about 3-4 books each month and this one is in a class by itself.  So realistic that it really grabs you by the throat (and heart)."  - Terry Hutton

"I absolutely loved this book!  I had trouble putting it down since there were so many exciting parts and I couldn't wait to see what happened next." -Megan Chadwick

"It was incredible! I laughed, I cried... Seriously, a good book! Thank you!" - Christy Lawson, Element Church, Wentzville, MO

Congratulations again to: D. Senn of Portland OR, D. Duncan of Dover OH, M. Geenen of Redmond OR, P. Bogue of Hopkinton RI, C. Chu of San Francisco CA, B. Wheeler of Spokane WA, H. Bridenstine of Crossville TN, G. Ocamplo of Chicago IL, J. Morris-Duffy of Portland OR, M. Melton of Lincoln NE, J. Kohman of Salina KS, M Dotson of Marshall TX, J. White of DuPont WA, S. Tromm of Tracys Landing MD, C. Diggs of Pensacola FL, H. Kinnon Tallahassee FL, L. Siebeneichen of Adamstown MD, L. Fennimore of Flagtown NJ, and T. Smith of Van Nuys CA!!

It is so exciting to see all the different cities that Captive Heart is heading out to!  I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I did writing it!

My book Captive Heart came out in October of last year.  I have had moderate success with sales on Amazon, nothing to brag about by any means.  Had a couple copies sell over-seas, that's really cool.  But I think I've sold almost 200 copies through my work place.  My boss is kind enough to allow me to have them sitting on the counter for sale.  There's no big signs or anything, but my co-workers are so supportive and never hesitate to give me a plug or two.

It's really encouraging while I'm at work, doing what I do, and someone comes up and tells me that they love my book.  It is such a warm feeling and I love it every single time and never get tired of hearing praise for something that I created.  It's flattering and and I am humbled that they took time out to read the book in the first place and that they made the effort to tell me how they felt about it. (I wish they'd put a review on Amazon, but I'll take what I can get! lol)

So anyway, today as I was leaving work and filling up my gas tank at the local QT, a woman came up to me and asked me if I had written a book called Captive Heart.  A bit taken aback, I told her "yes".  

She went on to tell me how much her mother LOVED my book.  And that she's been passing it all over the place at her work and this woman was patiently waiting for her turn to read it.  She felt as if she practically knew all the characters as much as her mom talked about it but her mom would say, "she didn't want to give anything away."

I loved it!  It was so shocking and so flattering and happened so quickly and then she bounced away with, "Just wanted to let you know!" while I stood there with a big stupid smile on my face.  I almost forgot about my gas!  

It was a good day. :)

Book Launch Party

"They say that writing is a solitary act.  And the actual sitting with a notebook or in front of the computer is, but so much happens before and during those points.  I am nothing without the people who inspire and encourage me.  Sometimes, its negative encouragement making me work harder in spite of people or circumstances... but mostly, its positive.  And as I look out to all of you, I am so filled with gratitude.  There are a few holes in the crowd, that I am missing terribly.  My oldest daughter and my siblings, but I am so happy that all of you have tried to fill in those gaps.  It means so much to me that you are here showing your support and encouraging me in this particular chapter.  

The writing of this book, ended up being about a five year process.  Probably... ok, definitely longer than it should have been.  But a very small amount of that was solitary.  Apparently, it takes a village to write my books! Editing, critiquing, pushing, irritating, praying, teasing, encouraging and all the other things and emotions it takes for me to function and move in a forward motion.  It takes you.  All of you.

I hope you enjoy this first offering.  I hope that your feedback proves that I'll be allowed to continue in this literary world.  It makes me happy to put my thoughts and story ideas down on paper and create characters and spin stories that others might be able to enjoy or perhaps even benefit from.  I couldn't be happier if this could be more than a one- time thing.

This book is a dream come true for me.  I am proof that it really can happen.  Dreams coming true...  It wasn't easy.  Maybe that's why they are called dreams.  Because its easier just to keep them behind closed eyes.  There were times, even as I was writing, that I allowed self-doubt, outside pressures and a few hundred other stumbling blocks to slow me down or even halt my progress.  But there was always someone who helped me get past every obstacle to reach this moment.

So if you have a dream, take the steps necessary to reach it.  You will be faced with hurdles, and trials and people will try and discourage you.  But if its important to you, don't just wish it, or think about it. Surround yourself with people who love you and believe in you.  Make it happen.  Go get it.  I did, and you can too."


Yes, well... That was the speech that I intended to give the evening of the Book Launch Party.  But, when the time came, things didn't go very smoothly.  By the time I got in front of my guests- forgetting my speech notes and nerves and emotions welling up in me it came out as a stuttering calamity of "thank yous" and "I'm so happys".  I think I managed to sputter out something about going after your dreams but over all, the entire speech-thing was a disaster.

So, I humbly offer up the what-I-meant-to-say speech...

There were a few other glitches other than the speech, but considering this was my first book launch, I don't think it went too terrible!  I mean, I had a great time.  It's always fun to dress up and play hostess.  Good food, good music, dancing, good friends and family.  What else really matters?  Oh, and I sold quite a few books.  That was exciting.  Really exciting.  I don't expect to get rich, by any means, but it is really nice to get a tiny bit of recognition for all of my hours and hours of hard work.  It was enough to want me to try again.  Keep writing and see what happens.

I thank everyone (again) for coming out and supporting me and putting up with my emotional roller coaster as details got ironed out (or not).

Bounce!  Bounce!  Bounce!
​I am literally bouncing off the walls! 

It's so hard to believe that this phase of my life is really happening!!  I've "waited" for so long to have all of my ducks in a row and now that they are, I really have to celebrate it because I know that it won't be long before one of those little buggers will get thrown off by the rapids!!

My debut novel, Captive Heart, just became available on Amazon.com. Let me tell you how exciting it is to not only see my name on the book itself, but seeing it out there, in the world, available for purchase by random people!!  I can barely contain my excitement.  Yes, there was an audible squeal when I looked it up on the site! Ok, yes, there was a happy dance too...

I am just so blessed by all that is happening that I don't know what to do with myself!  Thank God I have this blog- outlet to unload on so I am not constantly hugging on everyone that gets in my path!!  (Ok, I'll stop right after I post this, I promise.  I can't be held responsible for the random hug. You've been warned!)  

But listen to all this great stuff The actual hard-copy of the book will be released on Oct. 16th and I am currently working on book signing locations, then I have the Book Release Party on Nov 3, I have already increased my invitations to speak at upcoming events and I am surrounded by so much support ... I tell you, I am just so happy.
 So, however long my ducks decide to stay in this happy little row, I am going to enjoy every moment!

The Front Cover!!!

AHHHH!!! There it is!!! Look!! That's my name!!!
I'm sorry for the picture quality, I took a picture of my computer screen!! I was just too excited to share the front cover photo with everyone!! I didn't want to wait until the final proof.  I am SUCH a first time author!  (And loving every minute of it I promise you!)

I love it!  Just love it!  It's simple yet elegant, eye-catching but not obnoxious, and it has my NAME on it!! (And it's spelled correctly!!)  My heart is beating wildly.  I've been staring at this picture all morning.  It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen! 

With every step on the check list being completed, this becomes more and more "real" to me.  There have been bumps along the way, and if it were not for the encouragement of my children and mother, I would have never even pursued the actual publishing in the first place.  But this is SO much more exciting than just finishing a book, putting it back on the shelf and not sharing it with anyone!

And while I'm at it, I am so thankful for all the support I've been receiving along this journey.  The moments can get over-whelming at times and I am so grateful to have people around me to keep me encouraged and constantly pushing me to the end goal. (Not to mention listening to ateeny tiny bit of whining and complaining the might have happened a time or two...)  I am so very blessed.

 Front cover... check!