By Lee Tobin McClain Did you ever look at Harlequin Love Inspired books and wonder why their titles are so weird? Seriously, “The Hometown Sheikh’s Secret Baby?” But those titles work because they showcase the “hooks” that make readers want to read the books. Don’t scorn them; use them to discover the hooks that will help you sell your novel! …
Choosing a Pen Name
By Lenora Livingston When my publisher told me I had to have a pen name because my novel Where’s Stephanie? is based on a true story, I had a problem. I was named by my mother who died when I was a little girl. My name was like a gift from her. I was and am proud of it. I …
Three Steps to Getting Impressive Endorsements for Your Book
By Lara Helmling If you’ve ever been in a meeting with a publisher, you’ve probably been asked this question: “Do you know anyone who will endorse your book?” “Uhhhh.” Most of my first-time authors say, “I don’t know anybody.” Maybe you do or maybe you don’t know anybody, but you can still get valuable endorsements. I’ve broken the process down …
It Was Not You Who Sent Me Here
By Bethany Turner Today is deadline day. Not for a book. There are no edits to sift through, no dialogue to tighten, no scenes to mourn as they are mercilessly wisely slashed. But I’ve got to get this blog post done today if I am to even dream of staying on schedule with everything else in my life, and for …
ACFW New Releases: October 2017
October 2017 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website. Contemporary Romance: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner — Becoming a Christian is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to Sarah Hollenbeck. Best because, well, that’s obvious. Worst because, up to this point, she’s made …
What Is Your Hero Pursuing?
By Henry McLaughlin We’ve all heard story is about conflict and tension. And that is definitely true. Stories about happy people living in Happy Valley don’t excite readers. Frankly, they can be boring. The story becomes a story when something disrupts the status quo. As John LeCarré once said, “The cat sat on the mat is not a story. The …
Help for the Time-Starved Writer
By Joanna Davidson Politano “How on earth do you find time to write a book?” This question came from my local librarian when I told her my debut was releasing soon. I had a baby in one arm and held my toddler’s hand with the other hand. I was a naptime novelist, I said, and we made it work. In …
She Stole My Idea!
by Kim Vogel Sawyer A couple of months ago, I came across an article about Lisa Wingate’s recent release, Before We Were Yours. You’ve probably heard about it—set simultaneously in 1939 Memphis and present day Aikens, South Carolina, it’s the fictionalized account of the notorious Tennessee Children’s Home Society which stole babies and adopted them out to wealthy families. I’m …
Our Journey
by Christa Kinde Travel takes courage. Away from home, without the comfort of familiar things, surrounded by strangers, we wander. Not all that long ago, my husband and I were in a foreign city, trying to navigate dark streets with nothing more than the tiny map from the back of a brochure. Drizzle added a wet sheen to the streets, …
I Have to Stay Home from the Conference
By Tamela Hancock Murray (Editor’s Note: ACFW congratulates Tamela on being named the 2017 Agent of the Year at our recent conference). As I mentioned in several recent posts about conferences, sometimes your best decision is to stay home. For example, if you missed ACFW’s conference last week, not to worry! You can become a traditionally published author, or maintain …