Just Hit 1250 Sales

Wow!

My publicist just told me that I hit 1250 sales today on my book "The Crayon Messages." Considering the size of the Mormon market, that is a good start. I am happy but the number seems somewhat sterile.

In contrast, my sister emailed me yesterday and I danced around the room. Here's what she said, "Both my husband and I read your book while we were on vacation. We LOVED it. In fact, DH started it first. He kept saying, "Wow, Christine is a really good writer. She's able to say so much in a few words." Then the next time he read he'd say, "I'm so impressed with Christine, she is really excellent writer." SO that that was it, I took the book and finished it, before I gave it back and then he finished it. I have to tell you, I laughed out loud and I cried. I totally enjoyed it. Anyway, I'm totally impressed and so happy for you. Love you and Congratulations again!"

Now for me that was exciting. My other friend gave her mother-in-law one for Mother's Day. She said she loved it and couldn't wait for the next one. That made me thrilled too. My first novel is more than entertainment. It is a celebration of the role of women and their ability to touch the lives of those around them. I hope it is both empowering and eye-opening, making mothers realize the joy of their callings and the great force they can be for good.

I'm in the Paper!

I was in the local paper, the Newberg Graphic! It's interesting to read the reporter's take on it but what is more interesting is that he said I was participating in the art walk (which I was still vascillating about) and I didn't have any books left (gave them all away) so I had to get books FAST for Friday. Here is the article below or you can go to http://www.newberggraphic.com/NBGArts1.shtml

Novel recounts an unusual friendship

Christine Thackeray’s ‘The Crayon Messages’ loosely based on community outreach work
By David Sale For Newberg resident Christine Thackeray, faith not only supports her, it's an ongoing source of inspiration. Thackeray, 48, a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints, was inspired to write a novel loosely based on her experiences with "teaching assignments," or community outreach work. Titled "The Crayon Messages," the novel recounts an unusual friendship between a church volunteer and an elderly woman who suffers from a sleeping sickness, falling unconscious for days or weeks at a time. Ignored by the nursing home staff, the pair are able to communicate through messages written on the walls in crayon.

"It's actually based on a woman I knew who had a similar condition," Thackeray said. "Others in our church would go to visit her and tell me about these wonderful conversations they had, but she was always asleep when it was my turn to visit." Thackeray, who studied English at Brigham Young University, didn't set out to become an author, but found herself bit by the writing bug. "I think there's events in life we'd like to re-script and writing is a way to do that," she said. "Originally, I had set out to write a murder mystery set among a church congregation - I had been living in Minnesota and got a rather cool reception when I joined the church there. It came out to be about 600 pages and no one wanted to publish it. So, I took one of the side stories to make this novel."

Turning aside from mystery to inspirational fiction, Thackeray said she is already planning a sequel "that's also about people who have adventures when they reach out to others." Meanwhile, she is collaborating with her sister, a professor, on a non-fiction guide to the Christian symbolism of C.S. Lewis' "Narnia" series. "The Crayon Messages" is published by the small press Cedar Fort, and is available online at www.cedarfort.com or from Deseret Bookstore in Lake Oswego. Thackeray will be selling copies of her book at Chapters Bookstore during the First Friday Art Walk in May.