SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT by Joyce Hart

Suzanne Woods Fisher’s new book The Keeper is #9 on the CBA bestseller book.

Revell is offering the book free today until Mid-night for Kindle or Nook readers.  

This is the link   http://bit.ly/zHTnP2

OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO SUZANNE

The form letter by Terry Burns

"That was a very nice letter you sent, very encouraging, even if it was a form letter."

Well, yeah, but he said it like a form letter was an evil thing that showed how little I cared. Quite the opposite. Instead of ripping off a fast "Sorry, not a fit for me," a form letter is something I have worked on for months if not years. I've taken the time to get words right, to say exactly what I want to say.

I have dozens of them, but that doesn't mean they aren't personal. I select the one that says the closest to what I want to convey, then I make whatever adjustments that I need to make to it to be exactly what I want. You see, the trick is to convey something a writer really needs to hear in order to continue to grow in their craft, or to have a better chance at success, but to do it without being discouraged. I'm not in the business of stepping on people's dreams any more than I have to.

It saves a lot of time, sure, but that isn't really the purpose. Just jotting off some note probably means some things are left unsaid, or maybe something is said that I wouldn't say if I thought on it enough. A really good letter takes time, more time than I have to spend if I am working hundreds of submissions a month.

There's a downside to it. When you take time to try and give someone some input like that a substantial number of them want to argue about it or explain to me the error of my way. Putting aside the fact that arguing with an editor or agent is not exactly the best way to interest them in working with you, if a person thinks I don't know my business and they have to explain it to me, why would they want me for an agent? If you have the answer to that on let me know, because I'm still working on how such arguing is a good strategy.

Taking the time to be helpful practically guarantees further communication. I've accepted that even if it does further fill my inbox. You see, I don't look on this as a job, I do this out of a genuine desire to help Christian writers get their words out there where they will serve the Lord. I gave up most of my own attempts at writing because I thought I could do more good that way.

So don't be insulted if you think some editor or agent sends you something you think is a form letter. Think of all the time and effort they have put into getting that message just exactly right.

Particulars and Universals by Andy Scheer

Two nights ago I took part in one of the last nearly universal experiences of our fragmented culture. Chances are, you also watched the Super Bowl. Probably with a group.

There were six of us watching in our house: my wife and I, our daughter and son-in-law, and our son-in-law's parents. Admittedly, we skewed the demographics, with four of us over age fifty, two in their twenties, and all of us married and Christians. But we also got word that our son, who seldom watches television and never watches sports, planned to take his wife to a Super Bowl party hosted by someone from his office.

What can attract then keep the attention of such diverse groups? A lot has to be hype and momentum. Like eating turkey on the fourth Thursday of November or putting up Christmas decorations, it's a cultural expectation. No matter if you buy into the premise behind the event, you're expected to participate.

In our house, three of us watched mostly for the commercials. Maybe in your house too. Now that two days have passed, which of those thirty-second, $3.5 million mini-dramas do you remember? (And do you remember what product they advertised?)

A few I enjoyed, but many left me offended or puzzled. I could dismiss the second two responses by the fact I'm not in the target demographic. I watch few movies and I've already purchased a web domain through a different company, so why should the advertisers care if I'm alienated by violent film trailers or the portrayal of women as sex objects? I'm unlikely to wait in line to buy an electronic gadget, so why not build an ad around the shared experience of people who would?

Still, a lot of the advertisements hyped products many of us buy, especially food and drink and lower-priced automobiles. (Do the makers of Audi really think the people who can afford their cars are into vampires?)

Reflect on the best of those ads—the ones you still remember. Most included three elements: humor, surprise, and story. (Yes, those are closely related. Humor often includes surprise. And stories depend on people being unsure what will happen next.) I probably should add a fourth element: characters. Many of those ads had you cheering for the underdog—some of them literally.

In case you paid attention to the football game, most of those same elements also came into play. (Except perhaps for humor.) The commentators made a point to focus on the characters: the opposing coaches and quarterbacks, the star players, and those who arose from obscurity to make a key play. There were abundant surprises, setbacks, and reversals of fortune, with the outcome not decided until the final seconds.

Somewhere in that Sunday night experience, there might be a lesson for writers.

Hamster on a Wheel by Linda S. Glaz

When do you reach the point where you feel like you are merely a hamster running on a wheel? Is all this work in the book industry, or any other career for that matter, worth the grief? When do you decide whether or not you are doing what God intended for your life? If He is the one leading your direction, you should be doing well, right? And therefore, God is the one who wants your book to be a bestseller!

I know plenty of agents and editors have received that very message in a hopeful query. "God told me to write this book. And He led me to your agency/publishing house." And therefore, the author should be accepted immediately and all should move forward at the speed of light.

Wrong! At the least, not necessarily.

Gads, we all want to believe that is what God wants for us, but just because he has given us talent in a field, we still have to develop it, cry, sweat, moan, and work until we feel we have nothing left but running on the wheel. Not that some folks don't automatically see success, but it is important to understand that often there are incredibly talented people who may never see publication. Never find the gold pot of coins.

You simply have to ask yourself, are you doing what is God's will for your life. If not, you might just be a hamster tiring out on a wheel, or, you might be missing the most important part--drawing closer to God to see what He intends for your life. What we want and what He has planned can often be polar opposites. And if you are miles from God's ear, how will you know if He whispers His will? Draw closer and listen; it might be an important break to take.

Be blessed all and happy writing...

Streaming Digital Books by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

First, we streamed music. Then we streamed movies. And soon, we'll stream digital books. It's the next logical step in the new process of transforming and redefining the publishing/book industry.

Publishers have clung to tradition in how to produce books for as long as possible. Likewise, book distributors and bookstores have hung onto tradition in how to sell books since their business and livelihood depended upon it. Our library systems did the same. 

Since the beginning of the printing industry, as far back as Gutenberg's printing press in the late medieval period, books were sold on a per book basis--per unit/item. In our traditional thought process, we think of books as items--things. In the new digital world, books are content, whether it is through streaming words in a visual context or words through an audio context.

Now we have Audiobooks.com where you pay for unlimited streaming of books through the cloud--a flat membership fee of $25 a month. It's the same concept as Netflix's business of streaming movies and Spotify for streaming music. The price is constant regardless of which books you download, regardless of whether you read 5 books or 20 per month, or how many minutes or hours you spend reading.

As one writer pointed out in The Atlantic article, The Future of the Book is the Stream, that streaming books reframes book-buying so that it is less about purchasing a book and more about purchasing an experience.

What are YOUR thoughts about streaming books? How do you think it will affect publishers, authors, and bookstores?

Some good news by Terry Burns

I love it when things are happening.Three clients have debut novels with Oak Tara and have now signed with them for two more books each to make their books into three series. Congratulations to Pam Meyers, Lynda Schab and Suzanne Hartmann. On the left is a picture of Pam signing her contract with Ramona Tucker of Oak Tara.

 On the left is the cover for "Path of Promise," a book in the new Stitches of Time quilting Series from Abingdon Press, to release in February 2013.

Bonnie Calhoun also has a book in the same series at Abingdon set to release in April entitled "Pieces of the Heart."

New Client Sharon Srock just signed with Harbourlight Press for the first two books in her Women of Valley View series. The first book is entitled Callie and the second one is Terri.

Max Elliott Anderson has two books coming out from Comfort Publishing and plans a special 'wolf' promotion for the two of them at once.  The books are "Terror at Wolf Lake" and "Legend of the White Wolf." Should be fun.

Dee Yoder has a new contract from Kregel for her Amish book, "The Miting."

I love it when a plan comes together.

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana Flegal

Welcome to First Page Wednesday. This is a fun way to get 'over the hump' in our week and learn a thing or two in the process.
Please let us know if you would read on in the comment section below:

Scottish Highlands

July, 1599

“Will you stand there all day, Ronan?” she teased, flipping her long red tail of hair behind her shoulder. “Or will you fight me?”

Triona McAllister, the only daughter of Laird Douglas McAllister, and the most stunningly perfect creature that ever lived, faced Ronan over her little silver dagger. It was bad enough this had been his idea, but did he have to freeze up now that he had her there, in the garden, awaiting her daily lesson?

Ronan didn’t always loose his wits before her, tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth like a callow lad. He was a full score, for pities sake; and McAllister Clan Champion. But today was different.

“Are you ill?” Triona questioned. Her heavy lashes narrowed over moss green eyes.

“Nay,” Ronan managed, strangled.

She stepped up to him in her plum gown and bare feet, her boots having been discarded under a rose bush as if they annoyed her. Creamy lace peeked from under a bodice that curved gently across the middle of her breastbone.

Triona’s head came to his shoulder, and she rose up on the balls of her dirty feet to reach his forehead. She fingered his long hair away, placing her free hand over his skin. Ronan brushed her aside. He hated being coddled.

“I am not feverish,” he retorted.

“Hmm . . .” She cocked her head to one side and pursed her lips. “Perhaps you dinna want to do this today, Ronan of the Raven Locks?” Triona used her favorite nick name for him.

“’Tis not that,” he grouched. Sakes, not that. Her lessons meant he had her undivided attention. It was the best part of his day.

Ronan reached for her arm with a calloused, sword-scarred hand, then pulled away again. “There is something I need to tell you,” he said seriously.

Triona’s full lips turned down into a scowl too fierce for such a pretty face. She sheathed her dagger with a flourish and crossed her arms over her ribcage. “What?”

Ronan took a deep breath. She was going to make this difficult for him. Of course she was.

Last weeks First page for children of the age 7-11 was shared by brave author Diane Estrella. You can find out more about Diane and her writing at www.dianeestrella.com

Thank you for joining us today. We appreciate your comments.