by Melinda Inman This past weekend Barnes & Noble hosted a launch party for my first novel. Refuge is a “crossover” novel with appeal for both the open and the Christian markets. I signed with Koehler Books, a traditional publishing house, to gain broader access to both markets. Everything has been surreal, from receiving the early shipment of my book, …
One Person Can Make a Difference
by Ian Acheson We all can make a difference When was the last time you heard a message and thought the speaker was directing it specifically to you? It’s like you’re the only person in the auditorium, an audience of one. I experienced that sensation recently at church when a visiting pastor from the UK spoke. His message didn’t really …
Book-signings in a Bygone Era of Brick and Mortar
by Mary Ellis I often think back fondly of my very first book-signing. I had just published a romantic suspense geared to the literary/library market. So the binding and packaging were top-notch-it would truly hold up to heavy wear-and-tear. And the cover photo was imbedded in the hardback cover, beneath the paper jacket. The only problem was the list price …
Inspiration from a Rejection
By Gail Gaymer Martin How can an author receive an inspiring rejection? That sounds like an oxymoron, side by side contradictory terms. And yet a rejection recently inspired me. I’m sure you’ve sent in a proposal to a publisher, especially one you write for, thinking they will love the new idea. But when you hear back, they tell you no-it …
To Write is to be Vulnerable
By Kariss Lynch One of my coworkers likes to say that when God created me and was determining my giftings, He tapped me on the head and said, “Storyteller.” It’s pretty clear that this particular trait manifests itself better on paper than audibly. When the jumbled mess in my head begins to flow onto the page in coherent strands, magic …
Praying for Our Readers
by Cheryl Wyatt I recently saw the film Son of God, produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. One scene spoke to me with regard to praying for readers. I once asked God the best way to reach readers. His encouragement was, “just love them.” One way to do that is pray for them. In the film, a scene depicts …
Using the Gift
by Phyllis Keels When a dear friend edited a draft manuscript for me, I was grateful not only for her time and talents, but also for something else she did. She had the manuscript printed and spiral bound so she could hand write the edits. It wasn’t until later that I saw the value of her gift. After I had …
Writing Goals
by Lynn Hobbs Ever consider writing a 50,000 word novel in thirty days? Without pausing to edit, your creativity continues as new dialogue and plots are recorded to expand your imagination and story. Or at least it did for me in 2011. I joined the National Novel Writing Month at NanNoWriMo.org and along with many others, I won. You are …
Writing Contests – What’s In It For You if You Enter?
by Pamela S. Meyers Wanda Writer signed on to the ACFW eloop and scanned the list of posts. She kept her finger poised over the delete key, clicking on it every so often, picking and choosing which posts to keep and which ones to banish. She paused at a reminder from the Genesis Head Coordinator that there was still time …
What To Do About Slime
By Sarah Hamaker Remember that old Nickelodeon TV show for kids where someone got slime poured over his head? That image of the green, gooey stuff cascading out of a giant bucket onto someone’s head came to mind when I read a snarky online comment about me. The person knew nothing about me. But the anonymousness of the Internet has …