Happy Birthday, Kianna Ravencamp!

Kianna Ravencamp is celebrating her birthday today! Hooray! Birthday's are kind of a big deal for Kianna, her 26th especially made her put life in perspective. 

Kianna is a character near and dear to my heart. I always find ways to identify with my characters (even the not so nice ones), it makes them come alive in my mind. For me, though, Kianna has become bigger than a character come to life. She's a friend and I often find myself wondering how she would think of feel about something. 

Does that make you laugh? At times it makes me laugh. In the beginning, when I first started writing Kee's story, I built her character loosely on my own experiences. As time went by and her story grew, Kianna took on a new life, becoming her own person. Sure, Kee and I share common interests and ideals, but she's so much more now than paper and ink. I don't see her as me in costume. She's Kianna - aspiring songwriter reaching for dreams, success and love. Her knees may be knocking, but faith in Jesus grants her courage to be bold. 

If anything, she's sometimes the me I wish I could be. Then I remember the mistakes Kianna sometimes makes and I realize that as silly as it sounds, she's "human" too. Each of us reaching for our own dreams, our own success and our own experiences in love and family. Really, she and I have one inescapable, undoubted thing that we share completely - our love and trust in Jesus. 

So real or not, Happy Birthday, Kianna, my friend. Thanks for letting me share your story. I look forward to sharing more. (yes....that is a hint. )

You can read a preview of Dysfunction Junction by clicking the tab at the top of the blog page. 

Get your copy HERE 

Happy Birthday MuseItUp Publishing - Enjoy a GIANT sale!

to 

Muse It Up Publishing

this month they celebrate their 4th birthday!

Do you know what that means for us? 

SAVINGS!!!!

WOO-HOO!! I'm psyched about this because they let me offer Dysfunction Junction at 80% off for the entire month of October. 

Yes. You read that right. 

I wanted a chance to say THANK YOU to all my friends and fans, and so did Muse It Up. This was a match made in heaven. I would say that definitely gives us an excuse to have a...

Here's your chance to buy a copy for your favorite people while it's on sale. Remember the Holidays and Christmas are just around the corner. You can also purchase this 80% off at Amazon.com. That's just $1.19. Don't forget to let your book loving friends know too.

“I’m twenty-six and I’ve never been kissed.” Staring into the bathroom mirror while making this brilliant comment is supposed to make it feel real. It doesn’t. 

Finding true love these days feels impossible to Kianna Ravencamp. Only dysfunction surrounds her. Her sister is married to an abusive husband and marriages she has admired for years are falling apart. Maybe relationships like her parents’ don’t exist anymore. She dreams of true love and a family, but she’s never even been kissed. 

For her birthday, her best friend gives her a journal and dares her to follow her dream of songwriting and vocal lessons quickly follow. Kianna’s finally dared to dream big…if the three men in her life don’t get in her way. 

Nick Steele, her new vocal partner is flirtatious and charming. Derek Simpson, the new vocal coach is asking her out for coffee. Even Jason Payne, a childhood friend is acting odd. For the first time in her life, she will have to navigate dating and flirtation. Will her inexperience be her downfall? How will these relationships affect her songwriting career? Letting go and trusting God is the only answer that brings the path to real love and success.

 What others have to say:

A free-fall into love and more., March 19, 2014

By 

Lady Bug Lin "Ladybug Lin Reviews" (United States) 

This review is from: Dysfunction Junction (Kindle Edition)

Kianna Ravencamp loves her job-manager of a book store. For a time it allows her to don her Fairy Princess Hat and dive into reading tales of magic and love to her youngest customers.

This is a story rich with the kind of romance we don't always see, but its always been there. To find it requires reaching beyond the comforts we all must extend our hands, minds, and sometimes, bodies past in order to find the precipice to make the free-fall dive from.

It's also a story resplendent with the soul's affirmation of love and trust in one's God.

DYSFUNCTION JUNCTION is a recent P&E 2013 Readers Poll Award winner, and rightly so.

Therefore I can do nothing less than also award this book MY highest accolades...and that's FIVE STARS.

Well Done Ms. Erwin.

 A must read for Christian chic-lit fans., February 2, 2014

By 

Sariah L. Frye (Independence, MO, US) 

This review is from: Dysfunction Junction (Kindle Edition)

Reading Kianna's story was like watching a TV show about my home town. April has perfectly captured what life can be like in Independence, MO. From the problems her characters face to the details about every day life, I was amazed at how real the story felt. I could see her characters so vividly and felt what they were feeling so strongly that I caught myself laughing at loud at times and at others crying for their pain. Kianna's struggles include dealing with well meaning church people who don't know how to mind their own business to personal insecurities about her size, talents and self worth to domestic violence in her own family. Her journey is full of stumbling blocks and obstacles, some that she overcomes and some that set her back, but she never quits and in the end, her faith in God helps her remain strong and see the path she should take.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about the every day struggle of living your life to honor God's glory. I look forward to the next installment of the Dream Big series.

Great book that I cannot recommend enough!, January 21, 2014

By 

Bethany R. Crowther (USA MO)
(REAL NAME)   

Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Dysfunction Junction (Kindle Edition)

Once again April Erwin has done it again with a thoroughly engaging read with characters so enjoyable and realistic that they draw you in,making you sad when you are finished and making you greatly anticipate her next book!

Kianna Ravencamp is 26 and has never been kissed.Although she yearns to find someone to love and be loved by, she is surrounded by dysfunctional and failed marriages, making her wonder if the marriage her parent's have is something that is obsolete. When Kianna is given a journal for her birthday and is encouraged by her friend to dream big and fulfill her lifelong dream of taking voice lessons and make a recording she does not imagine it will change her life so drastically. Now Kianna goes from being 26 and never kissed to have 3 guys interested in her.What is she to make of her handsome singing partner Nick's flirtatious attitude, her vocal coach interest in her or her dear friend childhood friend Jason acting odd around her? Whatever is going on in Kianna life she quickly finds that God is taking her in paths she did not imagine and He has a plan for her life.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good Christian book with wonderful characters who you can relate to and a great content that really causes you to reflect on God's workings in your own life.

THANK YOU! You all are amazing and I'm so happy to have the support and love that you give. God Bless! 

Win Twice Loved by Lori Copeland

It's week 2 in my birthday month celebration. This week I'm giving away a copy of:

Twice Loved by Lori Copeland

This was a really enjoyable book. I blogged about it originally in August. Click here to read all about it.

And like last week, there will be a bonuse surprise in the package! What's a birthday without surprises, right? To enter the contest, click on the book cover in the top of the sidebar and email me your entry. For every comment you leave on the blog this week, you'll get an extra entry in the drawing. Convince a friend to enter and list you in the referral line and you'll get ANOTHER entry in the drawing. Awesome, I know. :)

Just don't forget that the contest is open to US and Candian residents only and ends at midnight on Sunday, November 16, 2008.



Good Luck!

A.

And the Winner Is...

Song Stuck on the Brain: Sixteen Going on Seventeen from the Sound of Music

It's the thirtieth already and the last day of the birthday celebration. Christmas celebrations are around the corner and my days are filling up very quickly. I've got the final winner of the month to announce, so drumroll please........

Congratulations, Stephanie M.!

Stephanie won Prize Pack #4.

December starts a whole new month of fun with more contests to come, so be sure to keep visiting.

Thanks for celebrating my birthday with me.
A.

Enter to win Prize Pack #4

It's the last week of November and the Birthday celebration is winding down. This is the last week of the mega prize packs.

Enter to win Prize Pack #4 and you could receive:

*Autographed copy of my book Missing Pieces

*2008 Projecting A magnetic Calendar

*CD of our original song Rain On Me

*The Evidence by Austin Boyd

Thanks so much for being a part of the celebration this month. Good luck in the contest.

A.

World's Best Sissy

Song Stuck on the Brain: Apologize by One Republic

I have the best Sissy in the world. Hands down. Look what she had delivered to me at work today.

Aren't they beautiful? I seldom receive flowers, so this was a really cool birthday surprise. You could have knocked me over with a feather when the delivery lady said they were for me. They're my favorite flowers too, lillies and roses.

Unfortunately, I've never had fresh stargazer lillies on my desk before. Turns out they're very fragrant and not in a good way. It might not have bothered me too much, except I finally caught the terrible cold that everyone else has had for weeks. The flowers were almost too much. I couldn't bear to part with them though, so I toughed it out.

I drove with the windows down on the way home so I wouldn't be confined in the car with them. It is so cold now. We've had our first real cold snap, even got our first snow, although it only stuck to the grass in places.

Tomorrow is due to be cold and wet too, but Thanksgiving will go on as planned. I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.

A.

Prize Pack #3

Wow, the month is already half gone. Only two more prize packs to go. Here's #3.




Enter to win:

*Autographed copy of my novel Missing Pieces


*Projecting A 2008 magnetic calendar


*Free to Fly our first original single on CD


*The Secret Life of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck





To enter, click on the image at the top of the side bar and email me your entry. The contest is open to US and Canadian residents only, and ends Friday, November 23, 2007.





Good Luck!


A.

Birthday Contest #2

Song Stuck on the Brain: Tattoo by Erwin. A country song I wrote a couple of years ago.



Our first prize package is on it's way to Dana. Now you have a chance to enter to win Prize Pack #2.

Prize Pack #2 includes:

* Autographed copy of my book Missing Pieces
*The Erwins Acappella CD
*ProjectingA 2008 magnetic calendar
*Fair Game by Carol Cox

For fun, you can view a book trailer of Missing Pieces. The video link is in the sidebar.


This contest runs until November 15th. To enter, click on the picture of the Prize Pack at the top of the sidebar to email me your entry. You must live in the US or Canada to play.


Good luck and don't forget to tell others to play also. I have a lot more to give away.

Oh, and be sure to eat some birthday cake with me sometime this month.
A.

Guess What November is...

Song Stuck on the Brain: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2

Guess what? November is a very special month here at Projecting A. Do you remember why?

That's right, It's our BIRTHDAY!

Projecting A has been up and running for two full years now. WOW. I can't believe it. You all have been so fantastic and supportive, that I want to invite you to celebrate with me.

SOOOOO... that means lots of presents. Lots and LOTS of presents. A give away every week in fact. Awesome, right? I thought so too.

In addition to celebrating 2 years online, I'm asking you to let me know what you like (or don't like) on the blog. The only way to stay online is to be read, and to be read, you have to be interesting. So be sure and email or comment your opinions. (Which by the way are always welcome, but especially this month.)

You're probably wanting to know what the first contest is, right? Okay, this week from November 1st through November 8th, you can enter to win:

* Autographed copy of my book Missing Pieces
* Projecting A 2008 Magnetic calendar
* One Step Over the Border by Stephen Bly
* The Erwins Acappella CD

Prizes will vary week to week, so be sure and check back often.

Good luck and eat some birthday cake before the month is out.

A.