Here at Maplehurst, 2015 ended with a solid month of rain, fog, and strangely warm weather. 2016 has dawned with sunshine and blue skies. On this, the first day of a new year, it is easy for me to believe what has always been true: God’s compassions never fail. They are new every morning.
“New” is the drumbeat of creation. It is the song of heaven.
This is always our reality, though there are seasons when the beautiful new is hidden by fog.
I am especially grateful to feel the pulse of the new after all the gray days of December. I am grateful to be sharing a few new things with you on this first day of a new year.
There is, as you may have noticed, a new website design. Thank you to Dan King of Fistbump Media for the new look and, even more importantly, a new blog subscription system. If you already subscribe to my blog posts, you should continue to receive them, but in a more timely, more readable format.
If you have never subscribed, you can enter your name and email address in the popup, or simply scroll to the bottom and find a signup form there. I promise never to share your email address, and I don’t blog frequently enough to flood your inbox. I like to call my approach “slow blogging.” Or, sometimes, “quality over quantity.” Though I appreciate your politeness in not mentioning those writers who do manage to offer both.
There is also a new book. In just a few weeks, on February 2, Revell will publish Roots and Sky: A Journey Home in Four Seasons. You can read more about the book on my book page (see the links at the top of my website). And, if you haven’t already, I hope you will pre-order a copy for yourself and perhaps a few to give as gifts.
I am glad to give a gift to each of you for supporting this book before it releases. Once you’ve pre-ordered, simply send me a brief note (yes, it’s the honor system!) at this email address: rootsandskybook[at]gmail.com. I will send you a link to a high resolution file of the following image, free for you to print. It is suitable for framing. It is also suitable for thumb-tacking to your bulletin board. Really, whatever.
I hope you like it. I hope it makes you hungry for spring. Spring is always sweeter when we’ve longed for it.
The quotation is straight out of Roots and Sky, and the image was captured last spring by my friend Chelsea of Chelsea Hudson Photography. She also took the photograph for my book cover and is responsible for the new author photos you will see sprinkled throughout this website. If you live anywhere near Washington D.C. or Baltimore I highly recommend Chelsea’s work.
Happy New Year, friends.
I hope, whether your eyes see fog or sunshine, you can feel the newness of heaven pulsing through your veins.
Just pre-ordered and I’m so excited to read your book!!
Thank you, Kim! I really do hope you enjoy it. It was written with love.
Love the new blog look Christie!
Thanks, Danielle. xoxo
It looks great, Christie. Well done, Dan.
Thank you, Laura. So glad you stopped by today. Happy new year!
Thanks, Laura! #fistbump
I can’t even wait for this!!!!
Thank you, Cara! And I really can’t wait to share it with you. 🙂
Look! I found the comment box 🙂 LOVE this new space and so excited for this new year and your new words. So glad we’ve journeyed so many of the old years together.
Me too, friend. Loved beginning the year with you today. xoxo
Love the new design — simple, fresh, and clean. Can’t wait for your book. But you’ve always known I’m a huge fan. Happy New Year Christie!!
Happy New Year to you and yours, Shelly! Hopefully your copy won’t take too long arriving in London (also, it pleases me greatly to think of Roots and Sky being read in one of my favorite far-away places).
It’s all beautiful, Christie!
Thanks so much, Tresta. Happy new year to you and yours!
So beautiful, my friend! Excited for your book to meet the world — on my birthday even. 🙂
What a sweet coincidence, Jennifer! xoxo
I preordered a while ago. I’ve really enjoyed getting acquainted with you over Instagram and can’t wait to read your book!
Thank you so very much.
Such a gorgeous new site and I cannot WAIT to read your book, Christie. xo
Thank you, Katie. I’m so excited to share it with you.
Thanks, Laura! #fistbump