I am writing this afternoon from the deck at the house we are renting on the Outer Banks. It's been a wonderful week weather-wise, thus I have the "laptop on the deck" scenario completely under control. I love Wi-Fi when it works seamlessly like this. I have tap tap tapped out notes from the deck, the patio and the "tiki bar." I kid you not. This house has a tiki bar. Our house is on the 18th fairway. I have become the spotter for many an errant ball these past days. I hear clink on the rocks and know shortly a golfer will find his way through the trees and I will point to where the ball is. It's my version of vacation multi-tasking.

One of my favorite authors is Charles Martin. I discovered him two years ago when I read THE DEAD DON'T DANCE in manuscript and said --- this is an author who can write and make me feel. His latest book, WHEN CRICKETS CRY, is just out this week. I read it, again in manuscript, last summer. I've been looking forward to sharing it with you. Our Marketing Manager, Wiley Saichek, read an advance copy last fall and told me it was one of his favorite books of 2005. And now our reviewer, Cindy Crosby, loves it too. Trust that reading Charles Martin will take you to another place and leave you looking for his next book once you're done. People tell me this over and over again after I share his work with them.

It feels like spring in New York and we love it. Readers, hit your hammocks!

Last weekend I was down in Charlottesville at the Virginia Festival of the Book, which is an event that gets better and better each year. For my report on what I heard and saw, see my blog called Bookish in Virginia. What a wonderful trip this was.

This month, FaithfulReader.com is full of new and inspirational features. We are bringing you Faithful Fifteen interviews with Steven James, author of STORY: RECAPTURE THE MYSTERY, and Sarah Zacharias Davis, author of CONFESSIONS FROM AN HONEST WIFE: On the Mess, Mystery & Miracle of Marriage. Please note that we have updated our Faithful Fifteen questions. They are now broken down into three categories --- Writing, Spirituality and Life --- and allow for authors to reveal even more about their faith and their writing.

As promised, I am writing this note from Charlottesville where I am in town for the Virginia Festival of the Book. I think this is my sixth year of coming to this event, which always is one of my favorites. I will blog about this as things happen. You can read my comments about the drive down here. Charlottesville is such a warm and welcoming town with a nice mix of college students, great restaurants and warm ambience. Also flowers are in bloom and the trees are blossoming...life is good!