Another project happily ended

I wish I had a funny victory dance like TV characters (Scrubs, anyone?), but since I consider you all friends, I’m sticking with a blog post instead of an embarrasing youtube video to celebrate the end of another project. Hearts and Hands: Chronicles of the Awakening Church is off to the publisher as soon as we complete the final pass-through tonight. What a relief! Writing this series is fun and I wouldn’t trade the history I’ve learned, but the final weeks of the process are always so grueling. I mean, when did summer arrive? I’m looking forward to sorting the mail, doing laundry, and browsing all your blogs again!

Earlier this week we saw a revised sketch of the cover illustration, another beautiful one by our artist Jonathan Williams, who lives near Aberdeen. (He has a blog, by the way, where you can browse many of his illustrations, commissioned by GQ, Benetton, Ecolabs, etc.—one of my favorites is his cover for a Penguin book on Scottish literature.) This one will feature Jonathan Edwards, and I think Mr. Williams has nicely captured his features. The cover goes into production before the rest of the book; when we get a final image, I’ll post it.

Meanwhile, the curious among you can visit Brandon’s blog, where he has posted the table of contents. As my sneak preview, I offer this excerpt from the cover blurb:

Read the stories of the gifted preachers and justice fighters who led the First and Second Great Awakenings in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Meet the American preacher who started a national revival in his tiny church. Spend time with the wealthy English politician and the former American slavewoman who helped abolish slavery in their countries. Get to know the missionaries who built lasting Christian communities in China, India, Africa, and Iran.

For the first 1700 years of the church, God’s people had worked to define Christian teachings and secure their freedom to worship. Now they began to see in a new way how the power of the gospel should change their feelings toward Jesus and their fellow human beings. From John Wesley and Jonathan Edwards to Elizabeth Fry and Harriet Beecher Stowe, God used the tender hearts and strong hands of his people to offer mercy to the world.

Tomorrow it’s back to some fun reading and reviewing. My sister has already dropped off a stack of novels for me! I’ll keep you in the loop…

29. June 2007 by Mindy
Categories: My writing | 6 comments

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