By Jean Kavich Bloom As an avid fiction reader and a fiction editor with more than thirty years in the Christian publishing world, I understand the power Christian fiction can have. Perhaps that’s one reason I’m concerned about a topic that can be a Pandora’s box of emotions and opinions—the message a fictional character’s response to sexually oriented advances sends …
Speak Your Message
by Carol Hamilton Sell more books by developing a speaking platform. Do you shudder at the thought of presenting anything before an audience? To make yourself more comfortable, choose a topic you are passionate about and know well. Talk about the writing life, a life-changing experience, or choose a theme or topic from your book. To create a presentation, your …
One Message – Many Stories
by Lillian Duncan When people learn I’m a writer, I get lots of different reactions. Some are excited and want to learn more. Those are the ones I like. The kids usually just ask does that means if I’m rich. That one always makes me laugh even more. Then there are some who look like I started talking in another …
One Message – Many Stories
by Lillian Duncan Writing Stories of Faith…Mingled With Murder And Mayhem is the tagline on my email signature and my website. I like it, but when I tell people I write murder mysteries and suspense that are Christian Fiction, I often get a blank stare or one of disbelief. After all, how can a book where murders, mayhem, and bad …
The Doctor Is … In
by Jamie Chavez You’ve been there, I know. Those moments of extreme manuscript fatigue. You just want to walk away. I get these emails. Stop me if you’ve heard this one. You: I will never finish this book. And it doesn’t matter, because it’s no good! The writing’s crap! The plot’s crap! The dialogue’s crap! I think I’m just gonna …
Naming the Baby
by Chandra Lynn Smith Names matter. My name is unique. In my sixty-five years I have met two people with the same name as me and know of a few others. The first person was actually my boss at a job in college and he was from India. Yes, evidently my name is not gender specific in India. The other …
ACFW Conference Prayer: Day 14
Please join us in today’s prayer, written by a member of ACFW’s Forty Days of Prayer team. Day 14 (counting down to Day 1): Topic: for the Hotel Staff Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19, 23— For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. I do all things …
ACFW Conference Prayer: Day 21
Please join us in today’s prayer, written by a member of ACFW’s Forty Days of Prayer team. Day 21 (counting down to Day 1): Topic: for keynote speaker, Tosca Lee Scripture: Jeremiah 1:9–Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. Prayer: Dear …
ACFW Conference Prayer: Day 24
Please join us in today’s prayer, written by a member of ACFW’s Forty Days of Prayer team. Day 24 (counting down to Day 1): Topic: For all attending to have a servant’s heart toward those around them. Scripture: John 13: 34-35 — A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, …
What Turns Me Off as a Reader
by Jenny Powell MD I’ve been reading since I was four years old. My older sister taught me whilst playing school (I had always thought that since my mother was an elementary school teacher, she had taught us both. I assumed wrong.). I remember reading my first chapter book in third grade, the age at which they tested our reading …