Dear Friends,

       Eight weeks ago I took over my Facebook fan page and something dramatic and life-changing happened. I found the hearts and souls of you – my reader friends. I’ve always loved you, always prayed for you. But in the days after taking over my Facebook I began to truly know you. And I began to feel protective of you, my very special friends.
    Then my Prince Charming suffered a stroke.
    In the wake of that terrifying time, I realized something else. You truly love me – not just my books – but me. You came alongside me and prayed for us, you stood in the gap going before the Lord on behalf of my husband, my family, and me. We felt every prayer and I realized that you are not my ordinary readers. You are part of a special group, an inner circle and I appreciate you very much. If we met at an event, we’d go out for coffee afterwards. It’s that sort of friendship.
So a few weeks after Donald’s stroke I went to Michigan to talk to my publisher friends at Zondervan. “I have this special group of readers,” I told them. “They’re not like the other readers. They pray for me and hang out with me on Facebook. They’re my friends.” I took a deep breath. “I want to do something special for them.”
Let me give you a little background information.
For years, my publisher has recommended I have my books released first in a hardback version. That way the avid readers would have a special edition. But I would never agree to this, because a hardback book costs a lot more money. I didn’t want you to have to spend more to have something special.
So here was my idea: Let’s have a Collector’s Signature edition of my books for the readers who care the most. These would look like the other books, but there would be something different – my signature would appear on the cover. And there would only be a limited number of them.
My friends at Zondervan sat around the table in silence for a moment. “It would take a lot of effort,” one of them said. “And it would cost something.”
“I know,” I told them. “But I don’t want the readers to pay anything extra.”
More silence.
       Then I showed them my Facebook page, and the way you love my family and my ministry of Life-Changing Fiction ™. Finally the people around the table at Zondervan began to smile and nod, and the idea became contagious.
Within the day we had an official okay! I could have a limited number of Collector Signature editions of my books – starting with Take Four!
       Then I did a little more thinking. A Collector Signature edition was a fine choice for someone who loves me and my family and my books . . . but what about the reader who buys every one of my books? What could I do for them? And in a matter of hours, another idea came to life.
       I could create the Baxter Family Club! This club could let the readers actually be part of the Baxter Family! We began brainstorming up special benefits my reader friends would get if they wanted to be part of the Baxter Family, keeping in mind that these are the readers who buy all my books anyway.
       What we came up with is one of the most exciting ideas I’ve ever.

Here’s what Baxter Family members will receive

• Limited run, Collector’s Signature edition of my new releases, starting with Take Four!
• Baxter Bucks – to purchase merchandise from my online store!
• A Baxter Family Newsletter tucked inside every new release!
• Invitations to Baxter Family Reunion phone calls several times a year!
• Invitations to Baxter Family Club Receptions when I’m in your area!
• The opportunity to order limited-quantity, personally-autographed hardcover editions of my books if you’d like.
• The chance to win a Forever in Fiction package – giving you the right to be a character in one of my books. One Baxter Family Club member winner per year!
      
       NOTE: I didn’t want this to cost you anything extra. Not only did Zondervan allow me to stick with that, but they also allowed me to knock a dollar off the retail price. I figure every dollar helps. Our goal was that after shipping and handling, the price is still about what you would’ve paid to get it anywhere else. Only this edition will be specially designed for you!
       ANOTHER NOTE: I’m not a bookstore. So to handle these special editions, I asked a group called CCN to be the bookstore. Though you can only join the Baxter Family through my website, and though you can only buy the limited Collector’s Signature edition through my website – you’ll be connected to a legitimate online bookstore for the processing of the order.

Here’s how you can join the Baxter Family:

1. Order an autographed hardcover copy of either Shades of Blue or Between Sundays

-or-

2. Pre-Order the Collector’s Signature edition of Take Four

       Either way, you’ll automatically receive a Collector’s Signature Edition of each of my new releases. CCN will ship it to you the day it releases. We’ll charge your credit card automatically each time, and we’ll send you an email before each new release to remind you.

Click here to join!

       I’m very excited about the Baxter Family and I hope you’ll join! Zondervan, my publisher, was kind to let me come up with this idea! However, quantities of the Collector’s Signature edition of the book are limited. Of the people who will buy my newest book in the first few weeks, only a fraction will get this edition. I did this for you who really know me and love me. So don’t wait!

OTHER NEWS

Now that you know the announcement, here’s a few other surprises I’m sharing with you today.

• My updated website – I want you to feel more connected to me and the books that make up Life-Changing Fiction ™. My new updated website lets that happen.

• New merchandise at my store! – I realize many of you like my quote – “One Chance to Write the Story of Your Life ™”. So I created a group of mugs, T-shirts, water bottles, and travel mugs – even a beautiful frame – that includes this saying.

• Girls Night Out Events – I want to connect with you in person, so I’m committed to taking mid-week trips to an area near you! These events will happen on a Tuesday or Wednesday night at a large church in your area. This will give me the chance to meet with Baxter Family club members at a special pre-reception. Fill out this form if you are interested in having me come to your church!

    A couple things: The Baxter Family is definitely open to my international friends. If you international friends are having trouble, keep checking back. It's a busy day for CCN, the group handling this :) Also, you can choose to opt out of the Baxter Family any time. And finally, the cost for each new release will always stay the same - a dollar off of retail. Those are answers to the most popular questions I've gotten today!

       Thanks again, friends, for getting excited about this announcement! I hope you know how rare and special you are, and how much you mean to me and my family.

Until next time,

In His light and love,

Karen Kingsbury