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 …
An Odd Verse about Writing
by Dwight David Croy Let me share with you a verse that you may think is counterintuitive to fiction writing. II John 1:12 says, “Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” This …
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 …
The Writer in the Corner
by Chandra Lynn Smith I’ve been a professional dog trainer since 1988. A few years ago I trained a German Shepherd who had some dangerous fear issues. I stood at the kennel, leash in hand and greeted her. She growled. For those of you who read my opening sentence and thought what a fun job, well, not always. You know …
ACCEPTED!
by Marilyn Turk As writers, we long to hear or see that word. Our writing has been accepted – by an editor who wants to read it, a publisher who wants to publish it, or a reader who wants to read it. Too often, though, we hear the opposite along this path to publication. “Rejected” is not used so often …
When Real Life Hijacks Your Writing Schedule (And How God Can Take It Back)
by Fayla Ott There’s a saying around my house: If Mom plans it, watch out and cover your head. The sky will most certainly fall. Maybe that’s why my guys are known to wear hats. I’m addicted to planners, lists, and charts. It’s like a sickness that can’t be medicated. My office looks like an Office Depot had a baby …
Simple Tricks for Staying in the Room
by Jane Kirkpatrick My forty-first book will be released in May (Across the Crying Sands, Revell) and I’m busy writing book two in the three book “Women of Cannon Beach” series. I’m discovering some of the same old negative voices creep in to make me leave my computer and clean the grout which seems much more important. To combat those …
Of Giving Up and Letting Go
By Melanie Rigney Is there a difference between giving up and letting go? That question was posed at a retreat I attended recently. The conversation was of particular interest to me. While others were spending the retreat in prayer, working on faith journey scrapbooks, or taking long walks, I was researching a nonfiction book that’s due to a Catholic publisher …
God’s Mighty Hero
by Maureen Miller “You need to be brave, like Gideon,” God said. “Who… me?” I replied, then busied myself. Maybe he’ll go away. But, of course, God didn’t go away. Instead, he repeated, “Be like Gideon.” He’s serious, I thought. Still, I argued. “But Father, I’m not courageous like Gideon. In fact, I’m really more like—” “Gideon,” God interrupted, “Remember, …
Well Done, My Good and Faithful Servant
by Roxanne Hicks My husband and I live on the edge of the Rocky Mountain range and are blessed with abundant wildlife which also call this home. On any given day, we’re likely to watch a variety of animals scamper, or amble, through our pastures. One morning while sipping my coffee, I witnessed a good-sized flock of wild turkeys pick …