by Allen Arnold Thomas Nelson, Inc. Let me cut to the chase. Do you embrace change or worry about it? Does the topic of change stir butterflies in your stomach or a sense of adventure in your soul? If you default to worry, The Publishing Industry will certainly keep you busy. Christian Fiction is unquestionably in a state of rapid-fire …
ACFW Volunteer Spotlight
The highlight of my week is announcing the person in the volunteer spotlight. This week it is Jennifer AlLee. She has been a volunteer at ACFW’s national conference. When I was the Volunteer Officer, I really appreciated that help at conference. She is also the hostess of the Women’s Fiction genre loop. Thank you, Jennifer, for taking the time to …
When Everything Stalls
By Sandra Heska King My first novel-to-be stalled last summer. Then I took a hammer to it. I haven’t even made writing goals for this year. Gasp! Well, except for pouring out words almost daily on my blog. June. I think June will be a good time. I had goals last year, but they dried up. I know. I know. …
Close POV
I’m a big fan of first person novels. Though it seems hard for a writer to break into the market unless we have a story with two or more points of view. Still, many first person stories receive literary acclaim. Steven James has won several Christys for his books. She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell, and Robin Jones Gunn’s …
My Word for 2012: Entre-Author
by Dina Sleiman The new hot thing this year seems to be coming up with one word to encapsulate your goals. Even before I noticed this trend, I had spotted my word in a quote from Mary DeMuth on Author Media. Are you ready for it…Entre-author. A friend asked if this had something to do with an author entering, like …
Getting Published
By Terry Burns Hartline Literary There’s a concept we need to get a handle on, “Publishing isn’t a selection process . . . it is a survival process.” Really?- Yes, I believe the biggest secret to publishing is the ability to get the RIGHT PRODUCT to the RIGHT PERSON at the RIGHT PLACE at exactly the RIGHT TIME. There are …
Book Review: A Deadly Game
Title: A Deadly Game Author: Virginia Smith Publisher: Steeple Hill Books Date: 2011 ISBN: 978-0-373-44428-1 Genre: Romantic Suspense Reviewed by: Holly Wolfe It’s no mystery why Virginia Smith is enjoyable to read. A Deadly Game has likable characters, high stakes, strong verbs, and a clever, intricate plot-all combined in a rich setting in and around Lexington, Kentucky. Starting with a …
GUM In Our Writing
by Martha Rogers As a former English instructor at both the high school and college levels, I am much more aware of the GUM of writing. That’s Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics for those who may not know. Grammar rules do change and the Chicago Manual of Style is what we all go by for our writing. However, some things still …
Using GMC To Meet Your New Year Resolutions
by Tina Radcliffe Resolution: the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc. (Dictionary.com) This is the time of year for all those writerly resolutions we add to our brand new, crisp moleskine notebooks. Our resolutions should be easy to create, after all, we are the masters of GMC. Goal, Motivation and Conflict. …
The Scoop on Research
by DiAnn Mills Writing romantic suspense is my passion. I stay awake at night planning a story in which a strong and vibrant heroine attempts the impossible, the forbidden, or the dangerous for the good of others. She meets a hero who compliments her strengths and challenges her weaknesses. Together they take the writer and the reader on an adventure. …