Deeanne Gist

After a short career in elementary education, Deeanne Gist retired to raise her four children. Over the course of the next fifteen years, she ran a home accessory and antique business, became a member of the press, wrote freelance journalism for national publications such as People, Parents, Parenting, Family Fun, Houston Chronicle and Orlando Sentinel, and acted as CFO for her husband’s small engineering firm–all from the comforts of home.

Squeezed betwixt-and-between all this, she read romance novels by the truckload and even wrote a couple of her own. While those unpublished manuscripts rested on the shelf, she founded a publishing corporation for the purpose of developing, producing and marketing products that would reinforce family values, teach children responsibility and provide character building activities.

After a few short months of running her publishing company, Gist quickly discovered being a “corporate executive” was not where her gifts and talents lie. In answer to Gist’s fervent prayers, God sent a mainstream publisher to her door who licensed her parenting I Did It!® product line and committed to publish the next generation of her system, thus freeing Gist to return to her writing.

Eight months later, she sold A Bride Most Begrudging to Bethany House Publishers. Since that debut, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, two RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.

Gist lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-six years and their two border collies. They have four grown children. Visit her blog to find out the most up-to-the-minute news about Dee.

Achievements

A BRIDE MOST BEGRUDGING

• • * CHRISTY AWARD BEST ROMANCE 2006
  • * Runner Up BOOK OF THE YEAR BEST LONG HISTORICAL (ACFW)
  • * Runner Up BEST HISTORICAL COVER (CoverCafe)
  • * Bestseller Status:
    • #1 CBD Fiction, Sep 2005
    • #1 Bethany House Historical, Sep 2005
    • #5 Bethany House All Titles, Sep 2005
    • #7 FaithPoint Books*A*Million, Sep 2006 (also listed Sep 2005)

THE MEASURE OF A LADY

• • * CHRISTY AWARD BEST ROMANCE 2007
  • * Finalist RITA BEST INSPIRATIONAL (RWA)
  • * READER’S CHOICE MOST EMOTIONAL ROMANCE (Anne Bonney)
  • * Nominee AWARD OF EXCELLENCE BEST MAINSTREAM (Reviewer’s International Organization)
  • * Third BOOK OF THE YEAR Long Historical (ACFW)
  • * Finalist BOOKSELLER’S BEST Best Inspirational (RWA)
  • * Finalist READER’S CHOICE AWARD Best Inspirational (RWA)
  • * Finalist BEST INSPIRATIONAL (First Coast Romance Writers)
  • * Bestseller Status:
    • #4 CBD Fiction, May 2006
    • #9 LifeWay Christian Stores Fiction
    • #14 CBA Fiction, Jul 2006 (also listed Mar 2007)

COURTING TROUBLE

• • * Third BOOK OF THE YEAR Long Historical (ACFW)
  • * Finalist READER’S CHOICE BEST HEROINE (Anne Bonney)
  • * READER’S CHOICE BEST COVER (Anne Bonney)
  • * Bestseller Status:
    • #3 Amazon Single Women’s Fiction, Apr 2009 (also listed Mar 2009)
    • #7 CBD Fiction, Jul 2007
    • #12 CBA Fiction, Jul 2007 (also listed Aug 2007, Mar 2008)
    • #20 FaithPoint Books*A*Million Fiction, May 2008

DEEP IN THE HEART TROUBLE

• • * Finalist RITA BEST INSPIRATIONAL (RWA)
  • * Finalist WRITE TOUCH BEST INSPIRATIONAL (WisRWA)
  • * Second LORIES BEST PUBLISHED Historical (FTHRW-RWA)
  • * Bestseller Status:
    • • #3 Amazon Religious Romance, Jul 2008 (also listed Sep 2008, Feb & Apr, 2009)
      • #8 ECPA Fiction, Jul 2008 (also listed Aug 2008)
      • #8 CBA Fiction, Aug 2008 (also listed Jul 2008)
      • #9 CBD Fiction, May 2008 (also listed Mar & Jun 2008)
      • #19 ECPA Overall Bestsellers, Jul 2008 (also listed Aug 2008)

A BRIDE IN THE BARGAIN

• • * Bestseller Status:
    • #3 Amazon Christian Romance, May 2009
    • #4 Amazon Regency Romance, May 2009
    • #4 Amazon Religious Romance, May 2009
    • #8 CBD Fiction, May 2009

Website

http://www.deeannegist.com