Aspiring authors expend a lot of energy and angst on landing an agent and getting that first book contract. In reality, many of us never clear that hurdle. But for those “lucky” enough to do so, what happens after your first book contract? Frankly, the discussion is front-loaded, with much more on the how to [...]
This year, my family will again be participating in Serve Day. It’s the coolest idea, and I wanted to tell you a little more about it. It was started about seven years ago as a means of mobilizing Christians into community service through their local churches. From the SD brochure: Serve Day is an annual [...]
Four years ago, I woke abruptly before dawn with a Scripture blaring in my brain. Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. (Ecclesiastes 11:1 NIV) The verse was so unmistakable that I dragged myself out of bed and wrote it on an index card — a card [...]
There is a move afoot to overhaul our understanding of what it means to be a Christian. This trend is only new insofar as it is now being spear-headed by professing believers, as opposed to secularists or religious antagonists. Exhibit A. I recently commented on a post in Patrol magazine (an ezine of art, culture [...]
Last weekend at the OCCWF Conference, writer pals Merrie Destefano, Rachel Marks, and I sat at Waterbrook acquisitions editor Mick Silva‘s table for lunch, along with five other aspiring authors. If you’ve never attended a writers conference, these lunch settings can be quite awkward, full of fevered pitches, anxious wannabes, and well-meaning but overly-chatty writer-types. [...]
Having purchased a dilapidated house stockpiled with junk and intermittent antiquities, upon inspection, a friend of ours knew exactly who to call. Which is why several weeks back I found myself sifting through a cobweb-laden garage, where I extricated this baby — an Underwood typewriter circa early 1900’s. It’s in awful shape, as you can [...]
So I’m on record about being suspicious of Amazon reviews. But the disparity of reviews concerning James Rubart’s new book Rooms, takes the issue to another level. Apparently, Amazon offered a free download of the book without indicating it was a” Christian” book and many readers felt deceived. Which is why the reviews (as you [...]
Evangelical Christians are fond of saying, “It’s not about religion, it’s about relationship,” meaning a relationship with God. That’s intended to sound liberating, and indeed a real relationship with God should be. The problem is, however, we usually go on to define relationship with God in terms of religious duties and practices — church attendance, [...]
This morning, on our way to church, Lisa and I stopped into our local Barnes and Noble and purchased a copy of Gina Holmes‘ new book Crossing Oceans. Lots of buzz surrounds Gina’s first novel, and for good reason. But as I held the book and thumbed through its chapters, my mind was elsewhere. Back [...]
If you’ve been around the publishing industry for any time, you’ve probably heard the name Rachelle Gardner mentioned. In “agent years,” I suppose she’s a youngster (although I hear agents age mature fast). But with her extensive background in the publishing industry — which include marketing, sales, freelance editing, acquisitions and editorial — Rachelle has [...]
