by Allie Pleiter Let’s face it…a working author must be as much marketer as writer these days. And for a largely introverted community, the challenge of hosting an event can feel too large. Still, events have many advantages and can be worth the extra effort. And they can even be fun! Here are several thoughts on how to host events …
Marketing as Ministry
by Elle E. Kay @ElleEKay777 It’s common in the Christian fiction market for authors to believe that promoting their own writing is prideful and self-promoting. I get it. I’ve felt it. I’m an introvert, which makes talking to people hard enough. Add my fear of looking like I’m bragging, and I can become paralyzed. But what if we’re looking at …
Writing in the Dark: How to Craft Suspense with Light at the Core
By Darlene L. Turner There’s something gripping about a story cloaked in shadows. The kind that makes your heart pound, your breath hitch, and your eyes race across the page. But as a suspense author who also writes with a spiritual message, I’ve learned that the most powerful stories aren’t just drenched in darkness—they carry the flicker of light that …
Every Writer Needs a Room of Strangers
How I Learned to Stop Relying on Favors and Start Finding True Fans by Fayla Ott When I first started this journey, I imagined that one day, everyone I knew would be utterly amazed that the literary genius they’d overlooked would rise from the ranks of the ordinary. And no, I wasn’t picturing myself dancing with Patrick Swayze. That would …
Visible Virtues: Fearless Fortitude
By Christine Sunderland @Chrisunderland Today is Memorial Day, a national day of memory, thanking those who possessed the Classical and Christian virtue of fortitude in their fight for our freedom. Through their courage defending our nation, these men and women ensured peace in our land of law and order. We must teach our children such fortitude, one of the cardinal …
Baking a Novel
by Roxanne Hicks I run a tearoom in my backyard during the summer months for the same reason I write novels. Creativity is a kick, and even more so when I bring a smile to a friend’s face. Writing is as diverse as baking, and almost as flavorful. Some flavor combinations work well together, and others, not so much. As …
The Gift of Deadlines
By Jane Kirkpatrick My first novel was sold before I wrote it. Somehow, I convinced a publisher that I had this great story to tell. That’s the good news. The bad news is that I didn’t know if I could actually write that story well enough to get published. My 41st novel comes out this May and it too was …
Using Family Stories in Historical Fiction
by Cherie Dargan I’ve written four books in the Grandmother’s Treasures series, set in Iowa, using my family’s history, my mother’s essays and photos, and some of our quilts. Each one has dual narrators and timelines. Book One, The Gift, (2022, WordCrafts Press) is set in WWII. My mother, Charlotte, taught in a country school before taking the train to …
The Invisible Pillar of Author Platform: Money
By Barbara M. Britton Does social media sell books? In the recent webinars I have attended, the answer is no. Social media may help in the “Rule of Seven” where a reader has to see a book seven times before they buy it, but purchases from social media do not seem to be significant. Not to mention the horror stories …
What on Earth is This Thing Called Deep POV?
by Linda Glaz (Linda S. Glaz Literary Agency) I hear it all the time: at conferences, on social media, and from other authors, but what is it? And why should I care? What happens when you incorporate Deep POV into your novel? The READER becomes completely immersed in the character’s point of view/voice rather than the author’s voice. So much …