“Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”  Psalm 37: 5
See details below on how you can participate in the Healthy Heart Blog Tour with Rhonda McKnight.
10% of donation during this blog tour will go to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Meet Rhonda McKnight

I’d like to introduce myself by sharing a little of my journey to publication, because it’s been filled with favor.  I’ve been writing since I was six years old, but became really serious about publication in late 2002. I attended some writers conferences, joined a few writers groups, but still had not committed to finishing a project. On New Year’s Day 2007 I sat down with the Lord and told HIM I wanted a book deal before the end of the year. My novel was in first draft form and needed a lot of rewriting, but I was determined to clean it up and get it in the mail early enough to sell it before the next new year caught me wishing I had.

I spent the first few months of the year rewriting and in early April I sent a proposal to an editor whom I knew was taking unsolicited manuscripts for a new African-American fiction imprint. I received a letter requesting the full manuscript within a week. I remember thinking it had to be a rejection letter. It came so fast. After I finished shouting for joy I realized I’d made a mistake. My manuscript wasn’t really finished. It still needed editing.  With the help of a few of my critique partners, I cleaned it up and six weeks later I put it in the mail. When I didn’t hear from her by September, I sent it off to two other publishers, because of course I’m selling before the end of the year.

On November 1st I received a call from one of them. They thought my story was very good, but they wanted me to rewrite the first chapter. I, of course, was thrilled. I rewrote the first chapter, put it in the mail with confidence that I would sell in early 2008. On December 28th the first editor called to offer me a book deal. I had sold before the end of the year. There were some other steps in between but I think you’ll agree with me that the first and most important step was that I decided that 2007 was going to be my year. Then I prayed and asked God to help me do. Then I stayed committed to seeing it through.

Speaking of commitments, did you make a resolution for the New Year? I know it’s February, but the reason I’m bringing it up is because more than seventy percent of people have quit on their resolutions already this year. I’ve noticed over the last few years “resolution” has become a dirty word. People talk about not making them because they don’t keep them. They snarl when you ask about them, as if not keeping a resolution makes the idea of a resolution wrong.  I don’t care what you call it; resolution, declaration, life plan, goal, etc, etc. it’s all the same, it’s not our enemy.  A resolution is a “thing” you say you’re going to do.  There’s nothing wrong with self-improvement. How will you ever get there if you don’t at least want it or speak it? Words have power, the bible tells us in Proverbs 18:21 that “life and death is in the power of the tongue.”

I am a living testimony that a resolution can work. I wouldn’t be published if I hadn’t resolved to do be published.  We can all achieve them. We just have to put commitment behind it. To resolve is to decide to do a thing. To commit is to devote oneself unreservedly to doing something.  There’s a difference. I say commit to your resolution and in the end what you’ve resolved to do shall be done. How’s that? To not commit to something or not make a plan is a cop-out. I mean if you haven’t said you’d do anything then I guess you don’t have to right? Fail to plan, plan to fail I always say.

Did you make resolutions for the new year? Have you committed to them? How can we be better about doing the things we said we would do for ourselves?

About the Book

Faith Morgan is struggling with her faith. Years of neglect leave her doubting that God will ever fix her marriage. When a coworker accuses her husband, Jonah, of the unthinkable, Faith begins to wonder if she really knows him at all, and if it’s truly in God’s will for them to stay married.

Pediatric cardiologist Jonah Morgan is obsessed with one thing: his work. A childhood incident cemented his desire to heal children at any cost, even his family, but now he finds himself at a crossroads in his life. Will he continue to allow the past to haunt him, or find healing and peace in a God he shut out long ago?

Read an excerpt and check the tour schedule at http://bit.ly/HealthyHeartBlogTour

About the Author

Rhonda McKnight is the owner of  Urban Christian Fiction Today, a popular Internet site that highlights African-American Christian fiction and Legacy Editing, a free-lance service for fiction writers. Her second novel, An Inconvenient Friend will be released on August 1, 2010. She has two sons, ages four and eighteen and one lonely goldfish. Originally from a small, coastal town in New Jersey, she’s called Atlanta, Georgia home for eleven years. Her website is www.rhondamcknight.net

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February is Heart Health Awareness Month

Participate in the Healthy Heart Blog Tour with Rhonda McKnight – February 1-5, 2010. 10% of donation during this blog tour will go to the American Heart Association (AHA)

Enter to Win 3 Great Giveaways!

GRAND PRIZE (one winner possible)

A “Start” Fitness Pack she purchased from the American Heart Association’s Online store. The online store helps in the fight against heart disease by promoting heart-healthy lifestyles that include physical activities like walking. Net proceeds from the sale of these items support the Start! movement.

The Fitness Kit includes: Start BackPack, Start Water Bottle, Start Shoe Wallet, and the Power to End Stroke 46 Recipe Healthy Soul Food Cook Book.

SECOND PLACE PRIZE (one winner possible)
Autographed hardcover copy of Secrets and Lies will be given away to the 2nd person whose name is pulled in the drawing.

THIRD PLACE PRIZE (one winner possible)
In honor of Rhonda’s birthday on Feb. 6th – a $10 Barnes and Nobles, Borders or Starbucks Gift Card will be given to the 3rd person whose name is pulled in the drawing. (winner chooses).

HOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING:

All entrants with 10 POINTS AND UP will be entered in a drawing to win the GRAND PRIZE – FITNESS PACK.

All entrants with 5 POINTS AND UP will be entered in a drawing to win PRIZES TWO AND THREE.

HOW TO EARN POINTS:

• +15 Point ENTRIES: Purchase a copy of Secrets and Lies from the online store during the tour.

• +1 point ENTRY: join the discussion by commenting on one of the blog tour sites each day (must comment on the day of the tour site by 9 pm). Comment must include your thoughts on the subject. (can not just say – great point or I agree).

• +1 point ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING INTERESTING YOU FIND WHEN YOU GO TO Rhonda’s WEBSITE or blog. LOOK AROUND AS THERE IS LOTS TO SEE. HERE are THE LINKs www.rhondamcknight.net and www.urbanchristianfictiontoday.com

• +1 point ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY. On Twitter Retweet @rhondamcknight or use the hashtagS #Health or #hearthealth

• +2 point ENTRIES: Join RHONDA’S FACEBOOK READER Page or SIGN UP FOR HER NEWSLETTER on her webpage.

THE RULES:

• U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
• EMAIL ADDRESS MUST BE INCLUDED IN COMMENT
• ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY.
• MAXIMUM OF 3 POINTS CAN BE EARNED ON ANY ONE TOUR DAY.
• TOUR HOST BLOGGERS CAN NOT ENTER TO WIN.

DRAWING WILL BE HELD AT 9 PM EST on FEBRUARY 7th

GOOD LUCK!