We (finally) have our 2 winners of the awesome book, Consumer Detox. Congratulations, Anita and Andrea! (E-mail me your mailing address–thanks!)

I might have mentioned a time or twenty that I find the author’s life to be a bit of a tightrope walk. You pour your heart and soul into your writing (so grueling), it becomes a book (hooray!), then you have to figure out how to convince people to buy it so you get the chance to write another one (all without coming across as the obnoxious navel-gazer you hate to be but kind of are).

A lovely and delicate balancing act. One that I will, in all probability, never perfect.

I mostly like to dangle from the tightrope by one knee pit.

In other words, instead of a graceful, pointed-toe, confident stride across the wire, I’m all bumbling and awkward and trying my darnedest not to land embarrassingly in the safety net.

But enough of the metaphors.

As much as I loathe book promotion, I know I need to do at least a little bit of it each day (ish) in order to be a good steward of what God has given me. And I got an e-mail today that’s going to make my job a little easier tonight.

From a 60-year-old woman who just read Is That All He Thinks About?: We were on our way to a mutually agreed upon divorce when I gave your suggestions a chance. Your book saved our marriage.

Can you say ALL GLORY TO GOD?!? Talk about being humbled and honored and floored all at once.

She went on to say some really cool stuff that made me just shake my head at how God works. And I had to smile when I read these words: “I think you have an untapped market of baby boomers who need your message.”

Oh, for crying. All this time I’ve been barking up the wrong tree, speaking to Mothers of Pre-Schoolers when I should have been hittin’ up the Bridge Club (okay, so I don’t even know what Bridge is, nor do I know anyone who plays it, 60 years old or otherwise, but I digress).

Untapped market indeed.

Anyway.

I have a deal for you. And by YOU, I mean a somewhat-specific demographic.

YOU = all of the following: 1.) you’re a girl (woman, lady, whatever). 2.) you’re married. 3.) you have a blog.

If YOU’re interested in a free copy of Is That All He Thinks About? in exchange for a blog post about it, I have FIVE to give away. Just leave a comment telling me why I should pick sweet little ol’ YOU for a free book. (I’ll choose the winners Monday at midnight.)

If you want a shortcut, just go ahead and buy the book now.

And while we’re on the subject of FREE, I’ll give a copy of my e-book The Husband’s Guide to Getting Lucky to ANYONE who wants to write a little something about it. And it doesn’t even have to be a blog post–a Facebook update or Tweet will do (just let me know when/where you post it).

And instead of leaving a comment, just e-mail me here. (it’ll be easier to send you the link to the book that way)

You can also buy a copy of the e-book here for just $2.99. All proceeds to the Cambodia Fund. Woot woot!

Whew. That was painless. Thanks, friends!

I started reading a book this morning, and 218 pages later, I’m just about finished. I totally didn’t mean to skim more than a couple paragraphs when I opened the front cover, but I couldn’t help myself.

Oh my word. Like, oh my STINKING WORD.

I mean, I knew by the title (Consumer Detox: Less Stuff, More Life) that it was right up my alley, but who knew that it would be RIGHT UP MY ALLEY AND ALL UP IN MY BUSINESS??

I would love to blog about the book tonight, but I’ve been trying really hard (and failing) to be in bed by midnight. And I have 40 more pages to read and just 12 minutes left in my day.

This book is INCREDIBLE.

For one thing, I LOVE this kind of stuff. For another, God spoke to me in a BIG way lots and lots of times while I was reading it.

And the author is British and hilarious, which just put it over the top.

I’ll tell you all about it soon. I promise.

Have a great day! I’ll be zoo-ing it with friends and then making goodies for my 31 party. Everything’s 15% off, but you’ll have to order today!

It’s Move-Some-Books-Out-Of-My-Closet Day!! TODAY ONLY, you can get a copy of Is That All He Thinks About?, From Blushing Bride to Wedded Wife, Changing Your World One Diaper at a Time, and The Husband’s Guide to Getting Lucky (e-book) for just $15 total! (including shipping to U.S. address)

So, basically all of my books except the one with the short title.

Check the books out on the sidebar, and e-mail me with your order. I accept Paypal and checks and will sign the books to the person(s) of your choice. Offer good until midnight (or while supplies last).

Thanks for playing!

More people asked for a homeschooling update than a book review, but the homeschooling situation makes me want to rip my eyebrows out (THIS IS SUCH A HARD DECISION!), so I’m over-ruling the verdict.

I’ve read some great books lately and really want to devote a full post to each of them, but I need to let go of that dream. This isn’t the half of them, but it’s a start.

No Biking in the House Without a Helmet (Melissa Fay Greene)

I got this book at the library per Jen Hatmaker‘s recommendation. Funny, funny stuff. It’s a memoir (my favorite genre) written by a woman who has four biological kids and adopted five more. What I love most (after her humor) is that she sugar-coats nothing. NOTHING. Gut-honest, tell-it-like-it-happened, raw, and sometimes even makes you cringe. It’s a real story about adoption and a family and how life is messy, and I loved it. (Note: It’s not a Christian book, so there’s some language.)

Jantsen’s Gift: A True Story of Grief, Rescue, and Grace (Pam Cope)

Another library book, this one recommended by my friend, Kelli. I couldn’t put this book down. Amazing, amazing (and true) story. The author’s son dies tragically, and God uses his death to open her eyes to suffering around the world. She travels to Vietnam, Cambodia (oh, this part made my heart leap!), and Ghana and ends up doing some crazy-amazing things for orphans in need. Loved, loved, loved this book. Plan to go back and re-read it.

Terrify No More (Gary A. Haugen)

I’m not sure how I missed this book. Written in 2005, it tells the story of International Justice Mission and their raids on child brothels in Cambodia (and other places). The main undercover operation took place in the very village we visited last July. The very place where I sat on the floor and bawled as I thought about the little girls my daughters’ ages who have been rescued, but also the thousands who are still being horrifically used and abused every single day. It was a hard book to read but just poured more fuel on the fire in my soul. I’ve got to help.

How to Get a Job by Me the Boss (Sally Lloyd-Jones)

If you’ve read the Jesus Storybook Bible (love, love, LOVE), then you know this author. Apparently, she and my amazing friend Missy are good buds, because Sally sent me an e-mail a couple months ago asking me if I’d like a copy of her new book (and crediting Missy). YES, thank you. And oh my word. HILARIOUS. It’s a hardcover book for ages 4-8, but this 35-year-old was cracking up the whole way through. There are other books in the series–How to be a Baby by Me the Big Sister and How to Get Married by Me the Bride (we got them from the library and they’re hilarious too). She is so witty, so brilliant, so fabulous. I’m a fan for life. (Get these books for your children!!)

The Book of Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals (Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Enuma Okoro)

I started this book on April 6, 2011, and I’ve read it every day since. I think I first heard about it from my friend, Megan, and it has been an incredible part of my morning time with God the past few months. I wouldn’t call it a “devotional” (I’m not a huge fan of those–even though I wrote one). Quotes and Scripture reading, yes. But there are also songs and chants and some very powerful stories about historic Christian heroes who dedicated their lives to loving and helping the poor. So many times I read EXACTLY what God has just been pressing on my mind that very day. I love it when he does that. If you’re out of the groove of spending time in God’s word and prayer daily, I highly recommend this (big, fat, but awesome) book.

Say Yes to God (Kay Warren)

This book? ROCKED MY WORLD. It used to be called Dangerous Surrender, and I remember reading it a few years ago and thinking, “Wow, that’s some powerful stuff. Hmmm…” And that was that. But this updated/expanded version? Popped into my life at the exact time that God is yanking on my heart to do some radical things to alleviate suffering around the world. A friend of mine at Zondervan sent me a copy of the book (with no pressure to review it–she just thought it would be something I’d like), and I DEVOURED it. Marked it all up and want to read it again. It inspired me like NUTS and scared me half to death. Read it. I mean it.

Which book sounds like something you’d like to read (or maybe you’ve read one of them)? What good book(s) have you read lately?