Heidi's Back from EWTN!

It has been a busy 24 hours ... flew to Birmingham to tape two television shows, one on Canticle and one on my upcoming book through Simon Peter Press called Raising Up Mommy: Virtues for Difficult Mothering Moments. (Personally, I preferred my original title: Taming the Mommy Monster, but you can't get too attached to a working title, since most publishers reserve the right to market books as they see fit.)

Both programs will probably run in the fall. I'll keep you posted on the date (maybe we can all have a virtual tea party or something).

SPOILER ALERT! But you heard it here first ... when the program airs, LHLA is going to offer free trial subscriptions to anyone who calls in to request one. (You get one free copy to decide whether you want to continue the subscription, either by paying the enclosed invoice or signing it and returning it.) Of course, since it's such a fine magazine, no one in her right mind would ever decide not to subscribe ... right? :-)

On my way to the studio, I struck up a conversation with my driver, and learned that his daughter's husband was a Marine. Immediately I pulled out a copy of the latest issue (the one with Elena Vidal's darling daughter) and offered it to him. He looked a bit confused. "Are you Catholic?" I asked him.

"No, I like James Dobson ... you ever heard of him?"

"Oh, OK.," I replied, assuming that a Dobson fan might not want a magazine emblazoned with the Blessed Virgin. "I just thought that since your daughter was a military wife, she might find this interesting."

With that he pulled the magazine out of my hands. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter what kind of Christian you are ... mothers can always use some good advice, right?" I couldn't have said it better myself. Please pray for the driver, Steve, and his family.

While I was in Alabama, I had a chance to chat with Virginia Fisher, who wrote a wonderful article for the Sept/Oct issue based on her interview with John "Wild at Heart" Eldredge (Genevieve reviews Stasi Eldredge's book for women: Your Captivating Heart). There are many men -- both Protestant and Catholic -- who have been drawn to Eldredge's work, which focuses on authentic Christian manhood. If you don't already subscribe to Canticle (or if you know someone who is reading these books who is interested in a Catholic perspective on the Eldredge books), order your subscription today! (800-558-5452).

And if you're in the market for an apron, check out Virginia's site.

In other news, Donna O'Boyle has posted her first "Catholic Mother's Carnival." Check it out!