Christmas Book...Coming Soon!!!

Here's a sneak peek at the cover!!!  Stay tuned for a release date!!!


Start thinking...Deck the halls with boughs of holly!  Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

This Made My Day!!!!

This beautiful smile greeted me everyday of Emily's Kindergarten year!!!  She also came by to give me a hug everyday of her First Grade year!!!  She always brightened my day!!!  Her Mommy made my day by sending me this precious picture...Emily's smile still makes me so happy!!!

Just a Taste of the Fun!!!

Wow!!  What fun Gracie and I have had!!!  Just thought you might like to see!!

Our first visit was to Bethesda Christian Academy in Durham, NC.  My husband and I actually started the school...so it was a treat to have that be our first stop!

This is my dear friend, Brenda, who also happens to be the Assistant Principal of the school!!  She did a fabulous job of making all the arrangements...including having a Power Point presentation made for me!!!  The students...everyone from Kindergarten through Grade 5...were such great listeners!!!  They asked really good questions.  My favorite was, "Are you rich?"  My trip to BCA was the perfect beginning to the book tour!

Next stop...Metrolina Christian Academy, Indian Trail, NC!!!  I taught Kindergarten there before we moved to Raleigh.  Another fabulous school!!!

The day was amazing!!!  Principal, Amy Hill, and Assistant, Lynn Laney, took care of all the details!!  I spoke to each grade level...Pre-K through 5th Grade.  We started at 8:30 and went pretty much non-stop...well with one potty break and a 30 minute lunch...until 2:45!!  Thanks to Wendy Pope for coming and enjoying the time with us!  My parents also came for part of the day!

Great students...great listeners...great questions!! There are some future authors at MCA!!!

 My Kindergarteners have grown into 3rd & 4th graders!!  It was so fabulous to see them!!  I look forward to going back!

The very next morning...back in Raleigh...and off to ChickFilA for a yummy breakfast and a pajama party storytime!!

 Yes!  Me and the ChickFilA Cow...in our Pajamas!!!  He sat right with me throughout the storytime...a wonderful listener!!

Many thanks, Marnie (marketing with ChickFilA Apex at Beaver Creek Commons) for hosting us, feeding us, and taking care of everything so wonderfully!!!  Did I promise not to use this picture??

Loving time reading with my young friends in their pj's!!!  Thanks to all of my students and friends at PPCC and their families for coming out early in the morning!!  It was awesome to see the Boykin family, such precious people!  The Hairr family came in support and representing the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation...and brought some friends from church!    The Cockerham family (wife and children of Chris, campus pastor at Hope Community Church Holly Springs campus) was there...all sweetness and smiles.  My daughter, Rachel joined me...and her friend Megan Hodge!  Emily & Catherine, friends of Melea's from GRACE Christian School came to share in the fun!!  We enjoyed meeting some new friends from the Apex community too!  It was amazing!

Gracie and I loved every minute!!

Grover, Gracie, and Gloria...precious friend, prayer warrior, and photographer extraordinaire!!!

God is so good!!!

Groundhog Day is Coming! Do You Have Your Book Yet??

I must tell you that I am chuckling to myself right now...for a number of reasons!  First of all, that I just looked at my calendar and thought, "A month from now, it will all be over....like Christmas...there's all the excitement, and then it's done."  Yes, it's a little comical to me that I am feeling all giggly inside over Groundhog Day...and not wanting it to go by too fast!  (Please know that I don't equate the importance of the day to Christmas!...still giggling...How did this happen????)  Another reason for the hilarity is in God's choosing such a non-outdoorsy girl to be smitten with groundhogs...of all things!  Oh yeah, He has a sense of humor!  In fact, I feel sure that He is just as delighted as I am...as He continues to work in ways that amaze me!

So, do you have your book???  Groundhog Day is  rapidly approaching!  Leave a comment here or email me at kristi@graciesgrounds.com.  We'll get your copy shipped out!  Or...if you are in downtown Cary, stop by Beadazzled.  They have autographed copies there!!!

Also, there's another author visit booked!  I am ecstatic!!  Here's an updated schedule!
Friday, January 15, 2010 Author Visit to Bethesda Christian Academy, Durham, NC
Friday, January 22, 2010 Author & Illustrator Visit to Metrolina Christian Academy, Indian Trail, NC
Saturday, January 23, 2010 Breakfast/Storytime at Apex Chick-Fil-A, Apex, NC 8:30-10:00 am  Wear your pajamas!!!
January 30-February 2 Heading North to Punxsutawney, PA for Groundhog Day Festivities!! I'll be speaking at The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney on Sunday morning!  Daddy & I will be signing and selling books at the Community Center on February 1&2!
February 26-27, 2010 Write2Ignite Writers Conference (Check sidebar for details!)

And it doesn't stop there!!!  Cindy Kenney, author & editor extraordinaire, has finished editing my next groundhog book...Grover Groundhog Is Not Hibernating This Christmas!!!  We are expecting a summer release date...in plenty of time for the truly "most wonderful time of the year"!!!  Want to know the next in the series???  A book to celebrate July 4!!! 

I would love for you to pray with me, for God's love and truths from His Word to be spread in ways that only He can imagine!!  Pray for me as I speak in schools, churches, at Chick-Fil-A, and at Write2Ignite!  Pray for me as I continue to write, edit, and revise.  Pray for my Daddy as he illustrates my books.  That is a treasure beyond words!

On the Road!!

We're enjoying a relaxing weekend in the beautiful NC mountains!  We love it here!  The snow provided the perfect photo opportunity for a publicity shot!!  We are resting up for the exciting days ahead, as our calendar fills with appointments to share God's love and the message of forgiveness through Gracie's Groundhog Day Surprise!!!

Friday, January 22, 2010          Author & Illustrator Visit to Metrolina Christian Academy, Indian Trail, NC
Saturday, January 23, 2010      Breakfast/Storytime at Apex Chick-Fil-A, Apex, NC  8:30-10:00 am
January 30-February 2             Heading North to Punxsutawney, PA for Groundhog Day Festivities!!
February 26-27, 2010              Write2Ignite Writers Conference (Check sidebar for details!)

A couple of other author visits are in the works in the Raleigh Area!

Contact me at kristi@graciesgrounds.com if you would like to be put on our calendar or if you would like to purchase a book!

Happy New Year!!!

"...Watch--and be utterly amazed.  For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."  Habakkuk 1:5 (NIV)

Books, Books for Sale!!!

Yes, the truck finally arrived...with books...and a long awaited dream realized!  It was definitely a thrill to hold Gracie's Groundhog Day Surprise in my hands!!!  It was also exciting to place an order for another 100 books!!!  Wow!  God is so good!!!

If you would like a copy...a personalized note for that special little someone in your life, autographed by author and illustrator...just email me at kristi@graciesgrounds.com or nckristib@aol.com. 

Please contact me if your are interested in an author visit at your school, preschool, church, or library.  Groundhog Day is just around the corner!!

Somewhere On a Truck...Books!!!

It's Official!!! Gracie's Groundhog Day Surprise is in print!!!!

At this very moment, books are being shipped to my house!!

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

Thank You, Lord, for the inspiration, the words, the dream realized! May it bring glory and honor to You! You are amazing, Lord! I sing praises to Your Name!


To Order Your Books:
*Email me at kristi@graciesgrounds.com
or
*Visit www.winepressbooks.com. Enter my name (Kristi Butler) in the search rectangle in the top right hand corner.