Is it really December?

I woke up, opened my laptop, and had to shake my head a couple times when I saw November 30th on my screen. Where did November go??? For that matter, where did October and September go?

So anyone who's ever heard me speak has probably heard me tell the story of Sherri Durkin. She's a wonderful woman from Tennessee who miraculously received a Christmas Jar last year. It was an answer to her prayers, and it's one of the neatest stories I've heard since Christmas Jars came out over two years ago.

Well now Sherri is telling the story herself! She's featured in the latest issue of First Magazine, available on newsstands everywhere. (Wal-Mart is a good bet to have lots on the rack.) It's the December 24 issue and it has Martina McBride on the cover. Please pick it and learn more about this fantastic woman and her Christmas Jar miracle.

Also, as if there are not enough dorky pictures of me floating around out there, check out this one in today's Deseret News. Fortunately the story is good, even if the pic is scary :)

I am a bad, bad blogger

I've been home from my last jaunt (Nashville) for a week and I'm just now finding time to post. Sigh. I'll try harder to check in now that my travel schedule has slowed.

So how about some Black Friday good news? I learned this afternoon that after two long years on the market, Christmas Jars (paperback edition) has finally hit the New York Times Bestseller list. We'll appear at #24 in next week's edition. It's a humbling, exciting, totally unexpected surprise. It's unusual for a book to hit the list for the first time in its third year. But we'll take it and thank our lucky stars above. (And Someone else above, to be more accurate.)

It's certainly nice to be home. I'm finalizing details for my next book (Recovering Charles) and getting ready to begin writing the novel in earnest. Right now it's a simple two-page synopsis. By April 1st it better be just a TAD longer, or I'm in a boat load of trouble :)

More later...

You are now free to move about the country

Well that sure was a nice break! After two weeks at home I'm off to the airport today for another trip out west. This time I'll be presenting my "Choose to Serve" assembly to middle-schoolers. It's a fun way to inspire kids to be less selfish and start thinking about others at an early age. (something I wasn't very good at as a kid) I also have a few signings, firesides and a fund raiser.

It's been terrific being home, though I'm not sure it's been fair calling it a break. I've been teaching an early-morning class, answering 763 emails every day, and working with my agent on our new deal. (I did sign up for all this craziness, right?)

Grandma is in town for a month or so and that's a big help for Kodi and the kids. I always hate leaving the gang for these trips, but having another set of adult hands sure makes it easier.

So we're off! I'll try to check in from the road.

Home at last

It's so nice to be home! I have about two weeks here before heading off for another week on the road. The next trip takes us to northern Utah and Idaho. I'll be hitting some local events in the meantime. Book clubs, local TV, rotary clubs, etc. But I'll take a day-trip over living from a suitcase any old day :)

Believe it or not we're now at 5 weeks and counting on the NYT Bestseller list! I keep expecting it to end any moment now...

Check out below some of the fun media from the last trip. We had loads of fun and met some incredible people!

Howdy from the road

I've been a lousy blogger, haven't I? I've been traveling for almost two weeks and it seems I've barely had time to breathe!

I'm in Salt Lake City today and then I head to Reno tonight. On Sunday morning I fly home for a few days. Wahoo!

We've done a lot of media on this trip, but this article in my local hometown paper really stands out. The reporter nails the essence of the story behind The Wednesday Letters. Click here to read the article in the Northern VA Daily.

Finally, I'm thrilled to announce that you all have helped us remain on the NYT Bestseller List for 4 weeks in a row! What a tremendous month we've had.

More later!

And we're off!

After a couple of crazy weeks at home, I'm off this week on tour to promote The Wednesday Letters. I'll be back on Glenn Beck this week, along with FoxNews, and some local media out west. Keep an eye on my events schedule and drop by to say hello if I pass through your backyard!

Win dinner and a book club appearance!

We've "cooked" up a new contest at the web site for The Wednesday Letters:

http://www.thewednesdayletters.com/contest.php

Enter to win the grand prize of dinner with me in your hometown at your favorite restaurant. And, if that doesn't bore the tar out of you, Jason will even appear at your local book club if you choose.

Good luck!

Shame on me...

That noise you just heard was me waking up this morning and taking a huge breath. What a week! I've been truly overwhelmed by the response to The Wednesday Letters. Never in a million and one years did we expect to have such a tremendous first week! We've been blessed to land at #6 on the New York Times Best Seller List and #10 on the Wall Street Journal Best Seller List. Thanks, thanks and triple thanks. We couldn't have done it without you.

I have to admit, giving out my cell phone number on Glenn Beck was one of the crazier things I've done. (And I've done some crazy things, trust me!) But the calls have been amazing. I've heard from over 500 people from all over the world. Many had the most incredible, inspirational stories to tell about how letters have played an important role in their lives. I'll be sharing some of those stories soon at www.thewednesdayletters.com

I'll relax a bit today, go to a church picnic with my family, then prepare for a talk I have to give in church tomorrow on the parable of the talents. Can't wait! (Did that sound sincere???) :)

Thanks again, friends, for your support. I'm forever grateful.

Yes, I'm the guy who gave his cell phone number out on Glenn Beck's TV show

Yes, that was me who gave out my cell phone number on CNN last night. And despite my wife thinking I've totally lost my mind, it was amazing! I've heard from so many neat people all over the country. Sure, there have been a few morons mixed in, but 90% of the calls (over 300!) have been so positive and supportive. You wouldn't believe some of the stories. People are connecting with the message that the lost art of letter writing needs a comeback!

Here's the clip in case you missed it. And I'm sure you missed it because you had better things to do. (like clip your toenails, watch your drapes collect dust, etc.)

What a day...

Mixed emotions on 9/11

Talk about mixed emotions.

Obviously today is an important day in American history, an anniversary that will always mean something special to everyone alive on 9/11/2001. I was working with a political think-tank in DC and felt particularly connected to the tragedy, though I was not personally affected. Yes, an acquaintance died that day, Barbara Olson from the flight that crashed into the Pentagon. But we'd not chatted in some time and it wasn't a close relationship.

So today we honor the victims. This day will always be about them...

Why then mixed emotions? Today is also the day my new book, The Wednesday Letters, hits stores nationwide. It's almost embarassing to talk about the excitement of the day for my family and me when I know others around the country are feeling the rush of grief, anger and emptiness that will come on this day as long as the survivors live.

Nevertheless this is the day, and mine certainly isn't the only book hitting stores today. (Tuesday is the industry standard for new books, CDs and DVDs.)

I'll be signing the new book tonight at a Barnes and Noble in Fairfax. (Address here.) If you're in the area and have a moment between 5-8, do stop by.

And God Bless America.

It's about time, eh?

Lots of folks in recent years have asked why I wasn't maintaining my own blog.

"Good question," I'd tell them.

I contribute regularly to www.politicalderby.com, the political junkie web site I co-founded with my old childhood pal, Stephen Fountain.

I also post new content from time-to-time on my personal web site, www.jasonfwright.com and on my book web sites, www.christmasjars.com and www.thewednesdayletters.com.

But until now I've not written regularly in one place. It's about time, eh?

So beginning today I'll use this space to blog about my books, breaking news in the shooting of the film adaptation of Christmas Jars, and occasionally I'll cross-post from www.politicalderby.com.

That ought to keep us busy!