by Christine Sunderland Tonight is All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints Day. For now, the dark of tonight eclipses the light of tomorrow. Death shadows life. The ghoulish threaten the beautiful. In pre-Christian Celtic Britain, October 31 was considered the end of summer and harvest, the day before winter and longer nights. Believing that the spirits of their …
Why We Write
By Ian Acheson For those of us who’ve started out on this writing journey later in life it’s often a result of that burning story idea that’s been bugging us for years. That was me 15 years (really has it been that long ago?). Or how many times have we met someone who says they really want to write their …
The Christian Writer’s Cause
By John W. Tucker Christian writers have a variety of reasons for wanting to write. Here are eleven: 1) to fulfill a personal need; 2) to honor God by using this gift; 3) to reach sectors of the population with a message of hope; 4) to earn a living or supplement it; 5) to set an example and help reproduce …
A Twist on Rejection
By Norma Gail Rejection. As writers, we all receive it. We all expect it. It’s never pleasant. However, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I was positive they would accept my second novel. It was a sequel. The publisher wanted it. I had worked my heart out. Rejection came out of nowhere. The editor couched her refusal in …
Using Titles, Hooks and Tropes to Break In at Harlequin Love Inspired
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 …
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 …