Tuesday, February 2, 2010

One month to release... tick tock...

It's hard to believe that after so long, the release of The Cross Gardener is actually in sight! It will finally be available everywhere books are sold one month from today.

I've enjoyed writing my first six books, but I must admit that this one means more to me than any other. It's the most personal, and I truly hope the story and message will resonate with you.

To celebrate the one-month countdown, let's give away a paperback Advance Reader's Copy. In the comments below, tell me the very first novel you remember reading. Catcher in the Rye? To Kill A Mocking Bird? Huck Finn? Something else?

I'll randomly select from among the comments 24-hours from now. Winner gets a free book a month before the rest of the world. Good luck!

*****

Can't wait? Pre-order right now from our friends at Amazon or BN.com

http://www.amazon.com/Cross-Gardener-Jason-F-Wright/dp/0425233286/

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Cross-Gardener/Jason-F-Wright/e/9780425233283/

43 comments:

  1. Jason, it must feel wonderful to know you have touched so many lives. Thank you for The Christmas Jar. Its such a simple thing to do yet means so much to so many.
    God bless you!

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  2. The first "novel" I read and fell in love with was A Tale of Two Cities. I love that it is also my husband's favorite book too.

    Of course, I clearly remember Where the Red Fern Grows in Junior High. Probably the first novel I really cried over. I think it is time to revisit both books....

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  3. The first novel I remember reading was "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass." I can't remember how old I was, but I must have been pretty young. I remember sitting on a pile of pillows on the floor of my closet with a book that seemed almost as big as I was, simply fascinated by the story that was so much better than the movie I knew! I've been an avid Lewis Carroll fan ever since :)

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  4. The Church Ladies enjoyed Recovering Charles I have to say.

    The first real book I remember reading (I'm not counting elementary school chapter books but that would have been all of the Little House on the Prarie and Ramona Quimby books) was Great Expectations by Charles Dickens in the 9th grade -- everyone one else hated it, but I loved it.

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  5. I love to read and reread "he Call of the Wild" when I was young. SO happy to hear your latest book is on its way to be introduced to the world!

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  6. The first novel I remember reading from cover to cover and devouring every syllable was "Rebecca" by Daphne duMaurier. I fell in love with the intrigue and the profoundness of needing open communication in a relationship. My oldest daughter is named for the book! That was my freshman year in high school, as a child I loved and secretly wished I could be a "Boxcar Children."

    I want to thank you for the selection of books you sent to my widowed daughter this past Christmas. (Rebecca Summers) We all sat there and cried as she read the Christmas Jar to the entire family. I marveled at the transformation the enactment of the Christmas Jar made in each of her seven children. YOU, Br. Wright have made a profound difference in my life, the life of my daughter, her 7 children . . . our entire family. Thank you for sharing your talents with the world!

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  7. my first book was Amityville horror yes my parent where a little crazy (as most are) but I wanted to read it so they let me ...... I am not sure how many night up late with me it cost them but I know it was a few .... they are such great people

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  8. Love your work. We aren't in great financial shape. . .(Ok, horrible) but our jar is filling up anyway! Abundance is about sharing what you DO have.

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  9. There are many books before that I have read, but the first book I remember reading that had an impact, made me think, changed the way I thought was in 6th grade, "In the Presence of Mine Enemies." The book parelled account of Commander Howie Rutledge as a POW in Vietnam and his family back home. I was 10 years old when the Vietnam war ended, I really had no concept of the realities of war were. The book awakened me on so many levels. The most important, it showed me how faith can carry you through the most horrendous times and circumstances. Many times i have tried to find the book once more so I could read it again as an adult. Even 36 years later I still remember the lessons of faith in the book.

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  10. The first novels I remember reading were in elementary school -- Where the Red Fern Grows and The Call of the Wild.

    The first novels I loved reading were The Count of Monte Cristo after 8th grade and Memoirs of a Geisha. I love reading. :)

    Annie

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  11. I have been reading forever. WhenI was little, my mom read to me every night before bed. I still continue this tradition. I think the first chapter book I really remember reading was "Ghost Cadet." As far as the first "adult book" I remember...It honestly probably was "to Kill A Mockinbird". I know the first time I read it was in Middle School and I think I have probably read that book 10 times by now.

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  12. Ok, so...I want to WIN...and ya ya so does everyone else...May your little one have sticky fingers and snatch this comment up..(is he drawing for u again?)

    All the best with your new book....

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  13. Ok I messed up already...skipping to the chase...the Win...the PRIZE...

    Honestly I was never much of a reader...it took till I was an adult and searching for answers to lifes trials that I began to read. I gave birth to my brain...and therefore can't remember the 1st real novel I read. I think one of the books I love most is The Diary of Ann Frank. She amazed me with her courage, strength and at such a young age...I can not imagine living as she did. (and the kids of today think they have it hard)

    Anyway...again , good Luck...and GREAT SUCCESS!

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  14. Oh gosh... I can't remember the first book I ever read but I do remember the first book of yours I read... The Wednesday Letters! Wow... talk about capturing my attention. At times I felt like I was reading about passed events in my life... oh how the letters caught my attention. Thank you Jason for so many wonderful books. I have read all but one of your books and I am looking forward to receiving it very soon. I appreciate you as an author and a friend. God Bless You!

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  15. The first novel I remember reading was Little House on the Prairie! I haven't stopped reading since!!

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  16. The first novel I read (not counting the Nancy Drews) was The Westing Game. My brother and I both really enjoyed it. It is Young Adult, so the first adult novel I remember loving was A Separate Peace.

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  17. The first novel I remember reading was Gone With The Wind. I loved it.

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  18. All I can remember reading religiously was The Little House on the Prairie series. I'm sure there were other novels but those are what the good ol memory will allow to come through....:)

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  19. The first "Novel" I read and has always remained one of my favorites was "Little Women". I am so anxious for your new book!

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  20. Please enter me! I have all of your novels sans the Penny book, and I would love to add this wonderful sounding novel to the Wright collection! Thanks!

    Molly

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  21. I think the first book i ever read was one of the Perry Mason books and I read them all.

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  22. It's not really a novel but my older sister used to buy little golden books and others like that for my younger sister and I after she married. The one I remember the most is "Dr. Goat". It was a story told in verse. I can still quote most of it by heart. I don't know what happened to the copy I had as a child but I recently found a copy for sale by a bookseller online and bought it for almost $50. Copies are really hard to find and I was thrilled to find one in fairly good condition.

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  23. My very first novel was "Charlie's Monument".

    I was a late bloomer with reading. I never read a book until I was 16. I had no interest in reading a book before then. I would get my bookworm sister to read any books I needed to read for school, then I would ask her questions in order to do any reports etc. The only reading I did was MAD comics.

    After reading Charlie's Monument (some 30 odd years ago) I was hooked and now wish I had more time to read and I have since learned what my mother, and primary school teachers tried to teach me all those years ago, that books are my friends. :)

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  24. I loved reading biographies, so I'm not sure, but I think the first novel I read might have been Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer. I'm 66 now, so it has been many years since my first novel!

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  25. Ohh a blog! Yay. I remember reading "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle, with the crazy mechanical-acting children and the bible verse "God has chosen the foolish things of this world to shame the wise and the weak things of the world to shame the strong." Yeah, that novel stuck in about 2rd or 3rd grade.

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  26. I can't remember exactly which was the first novel I read but I know Chronicles of Narnia and Anne of Green Gables were among the first. I spent many a summers day reading all day. My first and greatest passion (after sleeping :-).

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  27. There are so many books that I have read (like everyone else that has posted), I am not really sure which was the "first" novel.

    However, I do remember the Christmas I was in the 7th grade, my aunt gave me Little Women. It was (at that time) the biggest book I had ever read. I loved it. I have always wanted to be Jo.

    Thank you for all your books!

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  28. The Boxcar Children series is one of my earliest memories regarding not being able to put the book down. There have been thousands since but these started it....

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  29. I have read so many books... but I think as a teenager when I read Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee that had a big impact on me. It is probably in the top ten of my favorite books today.
    I'm really excited about the new book and wish March 2nd would hurry up and get here!

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  30. The first book I remember reading was Christmas Jars...ok just kidding, unless that makes me an automatic winner ;D! I'm pretty sure it was SUPERFUDGE by Judy Blume. I am definitely a loyal reader and if I find an author I like I am hooked for everything they have.
    Reading has always been my favorite pastime-as a child to escape the reality, and as an adult as a quiet release for this busy mom!

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  31. The Good Earth was the first novel I remember readin.

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  32. So DUNE must count based purely on size, but the first significant read to a young 5th grader was "Where the Red Fern Grows" not a novel today, but certainly then.

    Glad to see someone else read it...

    Looking forward to sharing the new read with my bride Renee

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  33. The first novel that got me hooked on reading was The Secret Garden. I couldn't put it down! In retrospect it was because it has foreshadowing, mystery, and storylines that weaved together. I love a book that I can't figure out and pleasantly surprises me with its conclusion. I think that's why I love Christmas Jars so much.

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  34. The Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter. I'm from Indiana, and as an adult I've actually been to what is left of the limberlost area, including the author's home, but I read this book every year from grade school through high school probably because it was my mother's favorite book and her mother's favorite book before her.

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  35. Aside from "Junie B. Jones" (love her!) and any Judy Blume (love her also!, though both somewhat unmemorible, I recall, it was "Gone with the Wind." Which is interesting in two-fold, my best friend since 2nd grade is named Scarlet and my now 12 yr old daughter read it when she was 11 also.

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  36. The first novel/book that I can remember reading, and loving, it 'Where the Red Fern Grows.' It was given to me by a wonderful teacher who knew that I loved to read.

    Michelle

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  37. The very first novel that I remember reading that meant anything to me was CHARLY by Jack Weyland. The very first novel of yours that I read was Recovering Charles. I was very touched by it because I was living in Arkansas when Hurricane Katina happened. That same year I returned home from Iraq and lost my own father. Thank you so much for your talent of writing and putting the inspiration into words. Thanks, Tracy Kreps

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  38. Wow time is flying by...one month left til release day! Yeay!! The first novel I remember reading was written by Kathryn Forbes "Mama's Bank Account" I've always loved reading and just remember that book. It is such fun reading all the comments because I have also read many of the books others posted about!

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  39. And the winner is...

    So I asked my daughter how I should randomly pick a winner this time, and she suggested adding the numbers in today's date together: 2/3/10

    That makes 15, and comment #15 belongs to Sandy, who said Little House on the Prairie was the first novel she read.

    Congrats Sandy! Please visit my website and fill out the Contact form with your name, address, etc. and I'll mail your book asap.

    http://www.jasonfwright.com/contact.html

    Way to go!

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  40. The first books I remember reading is The Little House on the Prairie series. I loved the series - I read it twice when I was young! I should go re-read all of it.

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  41. Jason The first book I read was in sixth grade called "The Secret Garden". A friend in my class recommended this one since I "hated" reading, due to the fact that in class you had a reading group and had to read one page, then discuss it, then the next page and discuss it. I would always get in trouble because from 1st grade up, I read the whole story, while they did it page by page. Therefore, when it came time for book reports, I read the Classic commic books and made mine from that, until Patty suggested I read "The Secret Garden". After that book I read everything in sight and still do at 70.

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  42. Jason,
    The first novel that I can remember reading was for a HS class that I had to write a paper on with two classmates. It has been one of the best books that I have ever read. James Hilton's Lost Horizon and as I read of this amazing utopian society I got lost in the horizons of the pages. Due to the fact that it was such a wonderful book writing the paper was a smooth gentle breeze of flowing words.

    Peace and Thanks for having this contest.

    Cannot wait to get my hands on this newest book of yours to read and add to my growing collection.

    Melissa

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  43. The first novel I read was a book that my uncle gave me for Christmas when I was 9 years old: "Elsie Dinsmore". I was already a reader but this set me on a lifetime of devouring AND collecting books. Only a reader would understand how excited I get when my husband brings home a new bookcase!!! And I still need more!! Poor thing! I have VERY eclectic tastes, but that little book started it all!

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