Ronie Kendig

I am absolutely delighted to share that NIGHTSHADE, Discarded Heroes #1, has been nominated for Christian Retailing's 2011 Retailer's Choice Award!! I am really tickled that someone in the retailing field--the men/women on the "front lines" of bookstores (online and brick-and-mortar stores) thought of my book when it came to this contest. It's a real honor.

Here is a full list of fiction titles that were nominated:


Fiction: Contemporary Romance

Lydia's Charm, Wanda E. Brunstetter (Barbour Publishing)
Nightshade, Ronie Kendig (Barbour Publishing)
Seek Me With All Your Heart, Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson)
Tender Vow, Sharlene MacLaren (Whitaker House)
The Bridge of Peace, Cindy Woodsmall (WaterBrook Multnomah)
They Almost Always Come Home, Cynthia Ruchti (Abingdon Press)
Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball, Donita K. Paul (WaterBrook Multnomah)

Fiction: General

Greater Love, Robert Whitlow (Thomas Nelson)
Her Mother's Hope, Francine Rivers (Tyndale House Publishers)
Unlocked, Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan)

Fiction: Historical Romance

Embers of Love, Tracie Peterson (Baker Publishing Group)
Here Burns My Candle, Liz Curtis Higgs (WaterBrook Multnomah)
The Gathering Storm, Bodie & Brock Thoene (Summerside Press)

Fiction: Mystery and Suspense

Immanuel's Veins, Ted Dekker (Thomas Nelson)
The Bishop, Steven James (Baker Publishing Group)
The Twelfth Imam, Joel C. Rosenberg (Tyndale House Publishers)

First-Time Authors

Crossing Oceans, Gina Holmes (Tyndale House Publishers)
Life Without Limits, Nick Vujicic (Doubleday Religion)
The Devil in Pew Number 7, Rebecca Alonzo (Tyndale House Publishers)

Here's a bit from the RCA website about this contest and how the finalists were chosen:

Products nominated in the competition were judged on the impact they have had on staff and customers, including their ability to speak to hearts and evoke emotion, open minds to new ways of thinking and encourage and affirm Christlike living.

Well, I'm under a pretty heavy deadline at the moment and working to get Firethorn, Discarded Heroes #4 finished (hope to share the cover with y'all very soon--waiting to hear from the art director!), so I've been snowed under with that and sickness (three weeks now--oy!).

I wanted to share some photos with you. As some of you may (or may not) know, my mom was from Ireland (actually born in Sussex, England, but was raised in Dublin Ireland (her father who was born/raised in Ireland)). She died 15 years ago March 12, and this year my cousin Graham Keane got married, so my entire family traveled to Ireland for his wedding.


It really was a fantastic trip, despite some really awful things happening--like my jewelry getting stolen (including a beloved 10-year anniversary ring). I was able to get to know my side of the family and see where I belong, identify with them. One glorious moment for me was when Graham mentioned he and his father having the "stubborn, emotional Keane" trait. I laughed--nooooo, I didn't know anything about that trait. Just massively infected with it. :-D

On another note, I will be participating in a multi-author event on April 23 with three fabulous fiction authors: Elizabeth Goddard, Lena Nelson Dooley, and Dr. Richard Mabry. It's in Frisco at the Mardel on Preston Road. Come out, buy a book, save an author!!