The Timeless Love Blog and Newsletter-September 2025

In today's Timeless Love blog and newsletter:

• ACFW 2025

• Book Recommendation

• Hope for the A Lady of Hope novel series

• Joy for Tristesse—A Lady of Hope novel series, Book 3

  
  
  
  

ACFW 2025—9/4/25-9/6/25 (The Timeless Love Blog and Newsletter)

The American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference did not disappoint. This conference was my sixth, and it was probably the best yet. Why? Because I had so many friends in attendance, I couldn't find them all in the crowd. And the fellowship and encouragement I received from the friends I spent time with were so sweet.

Left to right, some of my Brainstorming Group members: authors Pamela G. Baker, Sandy Kay Slawson, Elizabeth Daghfal, and Ruth Smeckpeper

Loved meeting my online Word Weaver friend, Author Missy Eversole, in person, too!

While at the conference, I had three meetings. One with Scrivenings Press and two with WhiteFire Publishing, whose acquisition teams are reviewing my manuscript, Hope for Charity. (I'll talk more about that below.)

I also had the pleasure of cheering for three of my friends who won first place in their categories for the Genesis contest. Yay! So proud of y'all!

From left to right: authors Elizabeth Daghfal, Ruth Schmeckpeper, and Tracy Del Campo

So, I left full of hope, encouragement, more knowledge on how to write fantastic stories my readers will hopefully love, and books!

I won the Romance-ology 101 in my Romance-ology class for nothing more than being one of the first to ask a question!

And on top of all that, I had my darling husband with me, driving, and carrying luggage, and encouraging me every step of the way. Love you, Sweet Hubby.

Sweet Hubby 💗

Book Recommendation (The Timeless Love Blog and Newsletter)

Abounding Hope by Author Cindy Kay Stewart (pictured above)

German children wanted by the Nazis. An American teacher who wants no romantic entanglements. An American businessman who loves them all.

The world is on the brink of war. The Nazis are threatening Poland, but American teacher Irena Simmons refuses to flee. She won’t leave her teaching ministry, the little German boys she whisked to safety the year before, or her ailing pregnant sister who cannot travel. American shipping magnate and former classmate, Jonathan Huntwell, surprises Irena in Lvov and insists she leave with him before the war begins. But nothing will interfere with her work—especially a man making demands.

Although honor-bound to aid any friend in trouble, Irena is more than an obligation to Jonathan. With danger closing in, the woman he once cared for reignites turmoil in his heart, but he won’t share his love for fear of driving her away.

Irena discovers the Gestapo agent she successfully evaded in Germany has found her in Poland, and he’s intent on snatching her young charges. After the Germans invade, the rising danger threatens everything Irena holds dear, and she must find a way to protect those she loves.

My book recommendation this month is not based on my opinion of the book, because I haven't read it, but on my opinion of the author, Cindy Kay Stewart (Great name!) This lady was so sweet and friendly at ACFW, I just had to support her by choosing her book out of hundreds!

The cover and Back of Book blurb of Abounding Hope are so enticing, I am truly looking forward to reading her story. If you have read this novel and loved it, don't forget to leave a review at Goodreads or whatever store you purchased it from. If you haven't, you can find it here.

Hope for the A Lady of Hope novel series (The Timeless Love Blog and Newsletter)

As I mentioned above, I had three meetings with two publishing houses while at ACFW. And I told you that both houses have my manuscript, Hope for Charity, for review. The rest of the story is that while both representatives were encouraging, one of them invited me to meet with her outside of the ten minutes allotted for meetings. The next day, we met again for coffee and talked for an hour.

While she didn't make any promises, she did say she was excited to see my manuscript cross her desk, and that I might hear from them soon. She also invited me to send her my second manuscript in the A Lady of Hope series, Justice for Alethea. This is a first, and I hope an excellent sign.

If anything comes of this, I will let you know. In the meantime, please pray for God's will and my patience as I keep writing, editing, and waiting for my stories to find their perfect home.

Joy for Tristesse—A Lady of Hope novel series: Book 3 (The Timeless Love Blog and Newsletter)

My A Lady of Hope is a three-book novel series set in 18th century England.

Book 1: Hope for Charity—Out for review.

Book 2: Justice for Alethea—Final self-editing stage.

Book 3: Joy for Tristesse—

Now that Hope for Charity and Justice for Alethea are getting closer to a possible contract, my goal is to finish outlining Joy for Tristesse and get it written.

Would you like me to keep you posted on my progress? Let me know in the comments below. It might help to keep me on track if I know people are interested.

Lastly, I do have some flash fiction and short stories I plan to turn into ebooks, but it won't be my main focus. I'll work on those when I need a break from the rigors of writing and editing novels. When I have one ready, though, I'll be sure to update you.

See you next month, if not before. And you can always find me on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media sites in between @sandykayslawson.

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