Christian Author Photos

WOW! I had the most amazing time at the huge Mall of America book signing 10 days ago. Over 100 Christian authors took part, and the turn out was terrific. Here are a few pictures taken there, as well as at conference of some of my author & aspiring author friends. If you don't have books yet by the gals designated as published authors, RUN to your local book store and pick one up. These are exceptional writers!

I just finished a book by Leanna Ellis...titled "Lookin' Back, Texas" and it was an amazing book. LOVED it!! Here's a picture of Leanna and I at the book signing. She's such a neat person and it was a joy to sit next to her at the signing.















I've been hearing great things about "Ruby Among Us" by Tina Ann Forkner, who sat next to me at the book signing. She's a talented writer and I'm looking forward to reading her books. I know we'll see more from her in the future, as well. Here's a pic of us ....and it's a reat one of her!
























Kim Vogel Sawyer took Book of the Year at the conference. It's not a great picture of Kim, as my flash wouldn't reach far enough. I'm devouring Kim's books right now. She's such a talented author (as her award proves) and I'm blessed to have her as a friend. But I'm posting a fun one she and I took in the women's bathroom, as well, LOL!





Linda Wichman's debut novel released a couple of years ago and won Fantasy Book of the Year. It's set in the days of King Arthur and looks like a fascinating read. Here's a pic of Linda and I at conference. Kim snapped this one of us in the women's bathroom, as well, LOL! Sometimes the best meetings happen in the strangest places!

Debby Mayne is a well known author of Christian romance, and one of my "Summerside Sisters"....writing for the Summerside Press "Love Finds You" romance line, as am I. She's on the far left, and Tamela, who is also a Summerside author and sister, and happens to also be my lovely agent! She's in the middle. Tamela has a number of inspirational romance's in print, and is a very talented author as well.

Irene Brand is another very well known author, who's written over 20 books. I caught up with her in the hallway just after one of Angela Hunt's talks and a she sent me this pic that someone snapped for us. Irene is also one of my Summerside Sisters. Can't wait for our books to start releasing. The first two have just hit the shelves and are available on Amazon right now. Just type in "Love Finds You In" in the search engine, and it will show the ones available to ship now.


Here's a very special person...Mimi, an online friend who read my book, The Other Daughter, and wrote a very nice review. She's been such a huge supporter of Christian fiction and made a special trip to the book signing to chat with several of her favorite authors. I was so blessed to be one of them!


My book, Love Finds You In Last Chance, California, releases with Summerside in February. My editor has it on her desk right now, and my edits and revisions will start soon. I'm soooo excited about this new book! It's a historical romance with a touch of a mystery woven in. Look for it on Amazon by typing in Miralee Ferrell in the search engine, as it doesn't show up on its own just using the title yet.

Christian Fiction--Uplifting or a Waste of Time?

I'll admit that I'm one of "those Christians" that read more fiction than non---less of the self-help books, less Christian living, devotionals, or study guides, than I do fiction. I've had some people look askance at me and wonder why I waste my time.

Of course, now I'm helping add to the mix by writing Christian fiction, as well. But for years I simply read it. No...devoured would be a more accurate word.

Why, you ask? A friend recently told me she'd never read much of any inspirational fiction until I asked her to become an advance reader for my books...prior to them hitting the bookshelves. She's now read three of them, and is loving each one more than the one before. In fact, she told me a few days ago after reading my most recent, that I'm making her into a 'believer' in Christian fiction.

She used to believe that only secular fiction would be well written...that inspirational fiction would probably be cheesy, preachy, tame and boring. Sigh. Unfortunately, for people who haven't experienced it, that's often the belief.

Or, the other side of the coin--those who will ONLY read non-fiction, because that's "real life" and fiction is simply a bunch of make believe that has no relevant use in our lives.

Not so. Take my first book, The Other Daughter. The story line revolves around a married couple who are unequally yoked spiritually. On top of that, add the crisis of broken trust, a child out o f wedlock showing up on their doorstep years after the fact, and a friend who doesn't trust Christians who's trying to destroy the marriage. Do you know anyone in even one of these situations? Maybe someone dealing with a step-child issue, or with foster children? A marriage in crisis because one partner is a committed Christian the other isn't interested? Or one that has cheated in the past, and the truth has just been revealed. Sound like real life, or just make-believe?

Much of Christian fiction now-a-days is realistic and drawn from much that happens today. The suspense/mystery thrillers could fit in with any episode of CSI, only clean and free of the smut and language. The romances can stand up with the best on the secular market, without the sex and titillation, but with all the tenderness and heart pounding romance. The historical fiction will teach you a thing or two about the past, and draw you into the fabric of yesteryear.

Do I support Christian fiction? You bet! And I get to be a part of one of the biggest Christian booksignings that's ever been undertaken. Saturday afternoon, Sept. 20th at the Minneapolis Mall of America, I'll be gathering with over 100 other published authors. Check back here in a couple of days and I'll post a list of all the authors attending. If you're anywhere near the city on that day, I'd love to have you stop by and say hi...or let me sign your book if you have a copy, or point you to one of the other awesome authors you might enjoy.