I was surprised yesterday to find that Year of Plenty, the book based on this blog, now has a page at Amazon and all the other major online outlets. I guess the publisher is getting things in place even though we're still a ways out from the March 1 publish date. The graphic artist is working on the cover design and we still have to do final editing on the manuscript so there is not much on the Amazon page yet. But it sure was fun to see my name listed as an "author." It will be even more fun to hold the book in my hand. If you want to be the first to buy it you can actually pre-order it now. It will also be available on Kindle and in other digital formats.

Here's the book description at Amazon:

In 2008, Pastor Craig Goodwin and his young family embarked on a year-long experiment to consume only what was local, used, homegrown, or homemade. In Year of Plenty, Goodwin shares the winsome story of how an average suburban family stumbled onto the cultural cutting edge of locavores, backyard chickens, farmers markets, simple living, and going green. More than that, it is the timely tale of Christians exploring the intersections of faith, environment, and everyday life.

This humorous yet profound book comes at just the right time for North American Christians, who are eager to engage the growing interest in the environmental movement and the quandaries of modern consumer culture.

I have a group of folks reading the manuscript so they can help prepare a small group curriculum that will be available for free download as a companion to the book. (It will make a good book for church small groups and book groups.) One of the readers offered some very encouraging feedback, saying that the story really drew him in and made it difficult to put the manuscript down. He called it "pleasure reading" and said the style of writing reminded him of Bill Bryson.

When I set out to write the book, my first priority was to craft a compelling narrative that would bring to life the issues covered in the book that are so dear to my heart. So I'm very encouraged that at least one reader found it to be so engaging. Let's hope others feel the same way.

I'm really looking forward to the conversations the book will help spark and facilitate. Of course, we've already been having a great conversation on this blog for more than two years. Thanks to all of you who have commented, encouraged, and challenged me along with the way.

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