Diana Interviews Blog Talk Radio Co Host Cindy Sproles

Today From the Heart readers we are interviewing author Cindy Sproles. Cindy is one of the founders of Christian Devotions and Devo Kids, both online devotional sites that reach over 116 countries around the world and also co-host of a Blog Talk Radio show that airs every Tuesday evening at 6 pm EST.

Diana: Cindy, You are a co-host of the hour long Christian Devotions Speak UP! and also He Said, She Said Radio. How did you begin doing this type of interview?

Cindy: A friend put us on to Blog Talk Radio. We thought it was a great way to brand and to get to the masses since so many publishers are requiring authors do their own marketing, Blog Talk Radio basic is free. So we ventured into the water without a life jacket. There are two segments of Blog Talk Radio. The Basic Usage one is free. The other has all the bells and whistles. But honestly, the free basic is all you have to have to interview up to five guests at one time. Blog Talk archives for you and you can even store pre-recorded promos

Diana: And folks can call in and speak with your guests can't they?

Cindy: Yes. This is one of the features of Blog Talk. We can speak to 4 other folks at one time. Now, the catcher is on free basic Blog Talk, we cannot filter the calls. So we see your number come up on the switchboard, we answer. In the paid version of Blog Talk you have the additional feature to screen calls. But yes, we can speak to 4 folks at one time. They simply call the number listed on the email or the Blog Talk Page.

Diana: If an author wanted to be a guest on your show can they contact you or do they have to wait for an invite?

Cindy: We welcome their requests for Christian Devotions Speak UP! We're always looking for good interviews with a story to tell about how God Speaks UP in their lives. We can do a live interview and we have the capability to pre-record interviews. Though we do prefer live interviews

Diana: How many shows do you all do each week?

Cindy: You can schedule daily shows but we've chosen every Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. EST. You should choose a time that is good for you to launch a show and then show up for work EVERY time. The key to Blog Talk is consistency. If you don't show up regularly, people will not listen.

Diana: So can anyone sign up for Blog Talk Radio? Is there an interview process that eliminates kooks or unsavory characters?

Cindy: For lack of better words, Blog Talk Radio is public domain. So anyone can sign up. You do fill out a form on line and provide specific information. The down side to anything like this is the fact that there is always "unsavory" things around. Just like on YouTube. They do advertise with paid advertisements from listeners and from clients. So you could see things you might not approve of. However, we take the approach that everyone needs to hear God's word. After all, Jesus got His hands dirty. He didn't sit idle in the comfort of His home. He was out there in the middle of the muck. So we've opted to be in the middle in hopes that a little light will brighten the darkness that surrounds.

Diana: Admirable. So how can someone get in touch with you if they wanted to be on the air with you guys on either Christian Devotions Speak UP! and also He Said, She Said Radio?

Cindy: They can contact me at cindy@christiandevotions.us or our host, Scott McCausey

scott@christiandevotions.us

Diana: Cindy, before we say good bye, Can you share a story of how this show has had an inspirational impact in a listener’s life or in your own?

Cindy: Which one...there are so many. I suppose the one show that, to me has made a great impact was a show we did on sex trafficking. I know, touchy subject....Christians tend to think these things don't happen. But this show touched tons of people. They were told about teenage girls brought to this country to be trafficked for sex and the stories of how these kids escaped their bonds. It was a hard show and Marianne and I both were in tears by the end of the hour. But this show opened the eyes of the blind. This is a harsh reality in our world, and it's easy for us to close our eyes to the horrid things that happen to children. We received tons of email on this and how could people help. So it was successful. Heart wrenching, but successful.

Another was a fill-in show Marianne and I did along with writer Pam Klopfestin. About the adoption of special needs children. I have a special needs son but Pam had lost her child to a disability. After his death, she and her husband began to foster care these children and eventually adopt. Again, very moving.

Diana: Now you said that these shows are archived and a listener can just go to the site and look through the archived material to access these interviews?

Cindy: Yes, they are archived at www.christiandevotions.us - click the RADIO tab. Diana, readers need to know that we love to interview authors. Most have great stories, deep passions about why they write and intent words about how God has worked in their lives to bring about the stories they write.

Diana: Thank you so much for joining us here today Cindy. I am sure you will be hearing from many of our From the Heart readers. God Bless you all in your devotion ministry and all the other branch ministries that have sprouted from Christian Devotions.

Cindy: Great. We're booking shows into June 2011 at this point. We hope to hear from them. Thank you for sharing the ministry of Christian Devotions and Christian Devotions Speak UP! I encourage readers to visit ChristianDevotions.us and DevoKids.com - check out the arms of the ministry and how we work to promote God's word and His writers.

Well From The Heart Readers, if you are looking for that perfect promotional tool to help you with your platform, get in touch with Cindy or Scott.

From my heart to yours,

Diana

The 6th Decision for Success - Diana's Book Review Continues

Happy Presidents Day dear From the Heart readers!

It just happened to work out that in our continuing book review of Andy Andrews title, The Travelers Gift, Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success, the next place our traveler David finds himself is in the presence of non other than the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. As so often happens to our traveler, he materializes at this destination a bit confused as to where it is he has wound up. But there is no mistaking this historical figure before him.


After the proper introductions, David asks the President just where the tent they are in is located. The Pres. informs David that he is in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. The date is November the 19th, 1863 and he is there to dedicate a cemetery. The President and his wife Mary have recently buried their son Willie and, ' now my son Tad, has taken to bed...deathly ill.' David and the President are two men currently experiencing the worst life has to offer. (remember, our traveler began this journey while contemplating ending his life, feeling his family would be better off without him) When David asks the Pres. why he is here in Gettysburg when he is surely needed at home, the President replies, Duty, and the fact that he can just as easily pray for his son here as there. 'I believe that the good Lord would have me work and pray rather than pray and wait.'

Dear reader, if you are like me, you have found yourself in pressing circumstances at one time or another. The advise that Abraham Lincoln has for David is, well we might respond as David did when the man before him said he believed they were both poised before the enormous opportunity for change and personal growth. David wasn't sure he wanted anymore 'personal growth'.

The President asks David how powerful he wants to be. He states that personal growth leads to power and power to influence and leadership. He encourages our traveler not to run from power. To be a world changer one must develop the power to do what is right when all others are doing the wrong thing. You must learn to question yourself, ask yourself how others see you. What do they not like? Not to please others but to hone ones rough edges. You must become a person others want to be around to develop the power of influence. Every man or woman of honor will be faced with unjust criticism, but unjust criticism has no impact upon the truth.

When David questioned the President what his first priority after winning the war would be, supposing that would be the outcome of the battle, the man replied with today's Principle for success. 'I will great the day with a forgiving spirit.' He went on to say, 'It is the single most important action I take on a regular basis. Forgiveness allows me to be effective.' Forgiveness costs nothing but is worth millions. If we do not forgive, we forfeit our energy and make bad decisions that cost us, our families and others.

Sounds so simple doesn't it? Just who are we expected to forgive? Everyone. Dear reader, we have heard it said before, most of the folks that have offended us are walking around completely unaware that their actions have hurt us. Do not expect them to come and seek your forgiveness. Give it anyway. Forgiveness is not earned, it is a gift we give. When we give forgiveness, we are released. We are set free from anger and hurt. It actually becomes a gift we give ourselves.

Author Andy Andrews warns us that without a forgiving spirit we will be ineffectual in all our efforts. The key to our future success is forgiveness. Most importantly we must forgive ourselves. Forgiveness unleashes the demons of the past about which we can do nothing. Forgiveness offers a new beginning. Pres. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Slavery in any form is wrong. Are you enslaved by unforgiveness? Choose to begin this day with forgiveness. Do not let your history determine your destiny. Forgive others, and most importantly, forgive yourself. Greet this day with a forgiving spirit.

"Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

Happy Presidents Day from my heart to yours,

Diana

The Big snow of 2010 - by Joyce Hart

Do you remember when you were a kid and loved the snow? We lived in Des Moines, Iowa and we had many snowy days there. We made snow angels and went sledding down huge hills. Jim & I courted on ice skates. What fun to go to the shelter house by the fire and drink hot chocolate. Our mothers and the church ladies made big pots of chili and more hot chocolate when we had church sledding parties. We didn’t mind wearing long underwear and thick socks. Then we came in the house with red rosy cheeks and peeled off those wet clothes so we could get by the fire to get warm. I actually did walk a mile to school (one way) when I was five.

Jim & I have also lived in other cold places, Sturgis, SD, Sheridan, WY, Colorado Springs, CO, Grand Island, NE, & Fremont, OH. Western Pennsylvania is milder than we ever would have thought when we moved here. So, we’ve been spoiled. The news said we have this kind of winter about every 15 years. Not so bad. We think about moving to FL but Jim hates the summers there, so we’ll stay here where we have one son and his family.

February has been in interesting month here in Pittsburgh, PA. We’ve had about 2 and ½ feet of snow since last Saturday. We’re setting records. Needless to say, I haven’t been out of the house much. We can only gain entrance to our house through our basement. Our front porch and steps are full of snow. We did clean them once, but Jim shoved snow off of part of our roof because the snow is so heavy. Guess where it landed? On the front porch. Our dog, Abbie, has a little trough behind our sun room and that’s the only place she can go. The snow is too deep for her venture far. Our patio is a big snowy area; the patio table and grill are covered and piled high. For some reason Jim didn’t put the covers on them this year. I think he wants a new table and chairs and a new grill. Hmm. We’re looking at another storm on Monday. Maybe the weatherpersons will change their minds. They sure missed it on this one. They said – 4 to 8 inches on Saturday.

Everything was closed down; most churches had no services on Sunday. Our church had no power and then there is the problem of moving the snow so people can park. Schools were out all week, many businesses were closed. My beauty shop was closed, can you imagine!! Interstate highways were shut down; we didn’t get mail delivery for two days. There was no place for the mailman to park his truck. People are shoveled out and life is returning to normal a little bit.

We’re fortunate, we did not lose our power, except for a few minutes a few times, and we have plenty of food in the house. We’ve been warm and I’ve made potato soup, chili and vegetable beef soup. It’s that kind of weather. I have resisted the urge to bake. Why is it cold weather makes you want to bake? 230,000 families in our area have lost power, some briefly, others still have no power. One of our neighbors is in Florida (wise woman) and we noticed her family lugging suitcases and bags into her house a couple days. Probably no power at their house. Another family is moving in across the street, that’s really fun in this deep snow.
I thank the Lord that we have been safe and warm. I probably got more work done than I would have, because I didn’t go anywhere. I read manuscripts and sent out proposals. It has been so tempting to curl up with a book and read.

I know many of you who read this blog have been snowed in as well; some further east got more snow than we did. It is a winter to remember.

God bless you everyone. I hope those of you in cold climates are safe and warm in your homes and that you authors are writing, writing, writing.

In His service,
Joyce Hart

Bob Howkins Sr - In Memoriam

Bob Hawkins, Sr, passed away yesterday at the age of 88. Bob started Harvest House Publishers, was a founding member of ECPA, and was the impetus behind the Christian Book Awards. He had a tremendous impact on the publishing industry and you can read all about him at www.harvesthousepublishers.com Please join all of us at Hartline Literary in praying for Shirley, Bob Jr, and the Harvest House Family.

In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to make a tax-deductible commemorative donation to The Harvest House Foundation, a private foundation that gives to a wide variety of ministries and charities supported by Bob Hawkins, Sr. over the years.
The Harvest House Foundation
PO Box 26311
Eugene, OR 97402

Interview with Terry's Client Vicki Phillips

What is your latest project? Tell us about it
.
Moved, Left No Address is the story of a man who finds himself alone in the world after his father's death. While going through his dad's possessions, he finds some old postcards postmarked Santa Fe, New Mexico, from an uncle who disappeared the year before he was born. He decides to find out if the uncle is still alive and goes to Santa Fe. What he finds there is a life-changing experience through the people he meets and the choices he makes.


How did you research for this book?

I've been to Santa Fe twice and love the ambience of the old city. I ate the food, explored the shops, visited the museums, and observed the people. In other words I soaked up all I could while there. I also read several issues of a local magazine about Santa Fe, did some online exploring, and studied a map to be sure I had correct streets, etc.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

From personal experiences and stories I hear other people telling. I don't use their stories necessarily, I use an idea or thought that sticks with me from listening to them.

What has been the hardest part of writing your latest book and how did you overcome it?

Rewriting the book or parts of the book over and over until I felt like it worked. Sometimes I had to lay it aside for awhile and work on other projects. My critique group has been invaluable to me. We're very honest with each other about whether something works or doesn't work.

What do you hope people will take away from reading your book?

That we all need someone else. No man is an island unto himself. We can't hibernate or stick our head in the sand.

What new projects are you working on?

I'm working on some personal experience articles and some poetry. I also have a devotional book that's been in the works for some time.

What is the best writing advice you ever got?

An editor once told me that the mark of a professional was someone who could take criticism. I've never forgotten that and try to keep an open mind when people comment about my work as long as their comments are constructive.

The worst?

I don't know if I've ever gotten bad advice, just some poor criticism that threatened to sideline me as a writer.


Anything else you'd like to take this opportunity to say?

Persistence pays off. This can be a tough business, but if you feel writing is more than a hobby, that it's a real calling for you, stick it out. Don't give up. When I first started writing, I sent a children's article to a magazine which they promptly rejected. So I sent it somewhere else, but it came back again. I kept sending it out to different magazines and it kept coming back. For ten years. Meanwhile I was selling other articles on a regular basis, but I wouldn't stop submitting this one because I'd had it professionally critiqued by an editor who told me she saw no reason why it shouldn't be published. Ten years and 31 submissions later, I sold that article to the first magazine who had turned me down ten years earlier. Persistence pays. Don't get discouraged.

It's too similar - by Terry Burns

I have to respond that way from time to time and it’s a shame, but it happens. I don’t like to pit clients up against each other so if I have something under contract and something very similar comes in, whether it’s a similar story line or similar in other aspects to they would be competing with one another then I just don’t take it. That’s a no win deal for me for no matter where I might pitch or sell something the other one would be saying “why did you do that one instead of mine?” Hard question to answer, so I just avoid the conflict.

There’s another way they can be similar. When I start reading and I step and check what I’m doing because I think I’ve read that one already, that’s a bad sign. What editors and agents are looking for is unique projects with unique voices. Now I know there are a limited number of base plots, but there are a myriad of ways to treat those plots, settings and writing. If I think I’ve already seen it chances are it is too similar.

That’s a shame when an author sits down and writes something they think is quite unique only to find out there are a ton of them coming in that are quite similar to one another, and we see that a lot. Maybe a movie or TV show hit a number of months ago, or an event in the news got a lot of people thinking along the same lines. Whatever the stimulus, all of a sudden a lot of proposals hit that are very similar to one another. It happens a lot, and when it does none of them may end up being chosen as editors and agents think “with this many coming in there are bound to already be some in the pipeline by now."

When that happens the author may end up having to put it in a drawer to pull out some time later when it has a chance of better standing alone. It’s all about the fit in the marketplace. Most, however, don’t think with a career view but keep trying to push it in and then possibly self-publishing it instead of trying for the big score again when the time is right.

Too similar can be a particularly frustrating response to receive to a submission.

Interview with Diana's Client, David Stearman, Author and Songwriter

Dear From the Heart reader, it is my privilege today to introduce to you, author David Stearman. David’s first novel, Hummingbird, was co- written with Hope C. Flinchbaugh. I am currently pitching it. David, how did you come to co write this book with Hope?

Hi Diana. The idea of bringing a co-writer into this work came by way of my career as a songwriter. (Songwriters tend to co-author their works more often than not) I’d already completed a slightly shortened version of Hummingbird before contacting Hope, but the story seemed to lack some important element. Having met Hope years ago in a Pennsylvania church where I frequently minister, I read her award-winning book Daughter of China, and felt she’d be a perfect fit for co-authoring this story. So I cranked up my courage, called her, and asked. Her contributions to Hummingbird’s concept and story line have been nothing short of transformative.

You mentioned songwriting. What’s your experience in that field?

I began writing contemporary Christian music years ago, when the genre was still in its infancy. I’ve been called a Contemporary Christian Music pioneer, although I think the real CCM pioneers are the guys like Nancy Honeytree and Larry Norman, who originally fought the system and made the way for the rest of us. But I’ll still accept the title, since it kind of makes me feel like a big shot. :-) Anyway, my songs have been published on many artists’ albums since that time, and I still write music--both CCM and Country, although writing novels is definitely my first love.

In your writing journey, how and when did you decide to focus your writing on the literary genre you have?

The genre I write reflects my personal perspectives as a missionary and music industry professional. I’m just trying to live by the faithful adage, “write what you know.”

Where did you get your inspiration from for the title that is currently being shopped around?

My travels up and down the Western Mexican coast have taught me that we all have much to learn from other cultures. I dearly love the USA, but we Americans don’t know it all. I’ve learned a little about living and a lot about love from my friends south of the Line.

Do your characters represent people you know or are related to?

Absolutely. “Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent”

Have you traveled to do any of this research or spend a lot of time at your library?

Most of my research is the fruit of a life spent on the road in the US and other lands. Everything else I owe to Google.

What has been the hardest part of writing your novel and how did you overcome it?

I can sum it up in one word: dialogue. I’m learning to write my characters’ conversations in the way I naturally talk, rather than in the way I think a character in a novel should speak.

What do you hope people will take away from reading your book?

That Jesus saves to the uttermost. That your life can be transformed into something beautiful, no matter who you are, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done.

What new projects are you working on, are they in the same genre and time period?

I’m currently finishing another contemporary work, this time about the music business, entitled Hot. It’s a tale about the dark side of fame.

What is the best and worst writing advice you ever got?

The worst advice I received was to avoid writing in my own voice and vernacular. The best advice was to avoid verbosity.

What new gadget have you added as a tool to help you in your everyday writing life?

The iPhone. There’s an app for that.

I'm jealous- I definitely want to get one of those iPhones myself.

Is there an area in your writing that you are working on improving?

Devising creative plots; it’s all about the idea. I want to write innovatively, to compose fresh, poignant story lines.

What obstacles have you run up against in your writing journey?

Learning the craft itself, I think. My first novel took four years to complete, since it was kind of my “authors’ college.” Grasping the concept of POV was a tough one back then, as was the” showing-not-telling” thing. I’m still learning daily, but that’s a good thing, right? ‘Cause I’ve still got a lot to learn.

Where can people find out more about you and your writing and your previously published titles? Website, FB, Twitter, Shoutlife?

You can learn more about me at www.davidstearmanministries.org, a site devoted primarily to my missions work. Or you can friend me on Facebook. I love to make new friends.

Would you like to offer the other authors out there a last word of encouragement?

Yes, I would. Two things.

1: Yes, there is a future for you in literature, regardless of what others might say. Just keep learning, and pushing, those books. God’s on your side. Your time will come, as Book of Ecclesiastes says, “Time and chance come together for every man.”

2: Ask others for advice, and don’t stiffen your neck to what they say. But be careful--you’ve gotta know who to, and who not to, listen to. Everyone has an opinion, but the people to pay attention to are the ones who actually know what they’re talking about, i.e. heavily published authors and experienced agents.

David, thank you so much for joining us here today and I hope our readers will check out your sites and your books when they are published.

Thank you From the Heart Readers for joining us here today.

From my heart to yours,

Diana