Just an Update

Just an Update
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 by Cindy K. Sproles

The Novels are Winning Awards

I know, I know. Coal Black Lies just came out last June, and the Selah award sticker says 2025. That's because the new year of awards has begun. I was thrilled to final again this year. We'll find out in May if she wins. For now, it's a finalist in waiting. :)

All I can say is that I am blessed. Every novel has won big awards from Novel of the Year multiple times to Chrisitan Market Book awards, the Illuminations Awards, to the prestigious Selah. I don’t say this to brag but to say I am in awe. I just never imagined this was possible. All I asked, some twenty + years ago, was if God would allow me to be a writer. I promised the glory would be His and He has blessed me. I am grateful.

BECAUSE YOU ARE ASKING: I just turned in book SEVEN to Kregel Publications in January, and I am currently writing book eight. With each strike of the keys, I still cannot believe that it is my name on the books. This is a childhood dream come true -- one that my friends said would never happen.

I had a friend in elementary school and high school who wrote beautiful poetry. Poetry was something I always wanted to write, but it didn't take long for me to realize that my gift was not in rhyme or cadence. It was simply in storytelling. Funny how we fight what we know in order to do what we want. The desire of my heart was, truthfully, to tell stories, not write poems. When I finally surrendered that desire to what I knew my gift was, God took hold and said, "Let's soar." And we have.

His wings have carried me to places I never imagined. He's allowed me to teach all over the country - definitely not something this introvert ever thought possible. It's amazing what a little faith and a lot of surrender can do when you place it in the Father's hands.

Here I am, 25 years later, writing and teaching writing, walking the path God had set in stone. Sure, there have been rejections along the way, but God has used those to teach me more. When "Yes" comes, it's all the sweeter.

That said, book seven has been turned in to the publisher. I have it currently titled "The Eyes of River," however, it's very common for the publisher to change the title if they see a better marketing tool, so for now, we call her The Eyes of River.

This is the story of Lizzy and her little brother, River, and their journey to learn trust. If you read my books then you know they are harder stories, but the life lessons are very poignant. There's always a point of historical truth in each story, though I may bend my story around the truth -- the history is accurate. And this story's truth falls back to the early 1950s when a woman who managed an orphanage decided to steal and sell babies. Oh, yes, this happened even in the 1950's. Though my story is set in the early 1900's, the history of Georgia Tann and her dealings is loosely danced around. Georgia Tann was real, and her stealing and selling babies is true.

I do not have the release date for "The Eyes of River" yet, but when it comes, I'll let you know. In the meantime, I'm searching for a street team. Are you willing to read and share The Eyes of River with your Social Media and book clubs? I'd love to add you to my team. Without folks like you, my books would not reach as far as they do. Thank you for your help. These days, publishers insist authors do a lot of the grunt work to market. It's hard. So, your help is appreciated.

If you're interested, send me an email at [email protected] and mark it Street Team. As we approach publication, you'll receive a book, and prior, you'll get the pdf of the book before publication so you can read and start to share posts and blogs. Thank you in advance.

The Gift of a Lifetime

What do you do when a sweet friend walks in your door and says, "Hey, I got something for you. It's not much, but I think you'll like it."

You answer with, "Awesome."

And then she comes into your house carrying a big black box. She sets it on the couch and opens it carefully. BOOM! You nearly fall over. A perfect condition, 1954 Remington typewriter that still has a ribbon that still types. OH, MY WORD.

It was truly the gift of a lifetime. I'd been searching rummage and estate sales, Facebook trading -- you know, all the normal places, and if I found one, it was either in ratty condition or they wanted way more than my pocketbook could cough up. But this...it is a jewel. It even has a gold place on the box with the original owner's name engraved on it. This girl was taken aback.

There's always that one thing in our lives that we "wish" we had. I can remember my mother had an old Royal typewriter and she tossed it after Dad passed. I didn't know then what it would have meant to have that now. Though this isn't Mom's old typewriter, it does bring back the days I sat at her typing table and one-finger-typed the names of my Golden Books so I could put them in my library. Even as a little girl, I aspired to be in some sort of BOOK WORLD. :)

Either way, what a joy to have this beauty sitting in my living room. Not only that, but to know the love that came along with it. It is truly, the gift of a lifetime.

Until next time...

Much love,
Cindy

Share This Blog:

Comments

Maria Holden From Braxton, MS. At 3/19/2025 11:22:24 PM

Oh, wonderful! I love your books and I am looking forward to the new one!!!

Reply by: Cindy Sproles

Thank you. I'm excited for it to arrive.

Amanda Everett From Kingsport At 3/19/2025 8:03:25 PM

Congratulations to you! You are a remarkable writer and a beautiful daughter of God. I feel so blessed that you have been given such a gift and we are all able to be a part of it!