Stand By Me by Neta Jackson

Neta Jackson

and the book:

Stand By Me

Thomas Nelson (March 13, 2012)

***Special thanks to Rick Roberson, The B&B Media Group and First Wildcard Blog Tours for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As a child growing up on the campus of a Christian school where her parents taught, Neta Jackson began creating imaginary worlds at a young age. Loving horses but not having one, she wrote stories about them instead. By the time she reached high school, she had so honed both imagination and writing skills that when her English teacher submitted one of her stories to a Scholastic magazine writing contest, it won first place. With that first win, Jackson knew beyond the shadow of a doubt she wanted to be a writer. She’s been writing ever since.

After marrying the love of her life, Dave Jackson, the couple chose to settle in the Chicago area where Neta had attended college. Throughout their marriage, the Jacksons have worked together as a team, writing a multitude of books together on topics ranging from medical ethics to stories of gang kids, sometimes sharing the task with other experts who have served as co-writers. Together, they have also penned forty historical fiction accounts of Christian heroes, called the Trailblazer Books, along with another five-volume series called Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes.

These days, both are busy penning their own works of adult fiction. Jackson began her individual effort in 2003 with the Yada Yada Prayer Group series, inspired by her real-life Bible study group, a multi-cultural gathering of dynamic women who have played an important role in her life for over fifteen years. Since publication of the first Yada Yada Prayer Group novel, the seven-book series has sold over a half-million copies and given rise to countless prayer groups across the country and the publication of a personal prayer journal for prayer group participants. In 2008, Where Do I Go?, her first book in the four-book House of Hope series, was published. The second book in the series, Who Do I Talk To?, won a Christy Award in 2010 for excellence in Christian fiction. Recently, the fourth book of the series, Who Is My Shelter?, was nominated for Best Inspirational Novel for 2011 by RT Book Reviews. Stand by Me is the first in Jackson’s new SouledOut Sisters series.

The Jacksons have been married 45 years and have raised two children plus a Cambodian foster daughter. They continue to live in urban Chicago where, together, they enjoy writing, gardening and spending time with their grandchildren.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION

How does God expect us to get along with those people who are always causing us pain? Are we supposed to keep helping those who repeatedly take advantage of us? Exactly what is the key to living in peace with difficult people? These are the questions award-winning author Neta Jackson addresses in her latest novel, Stand by Me (Thomas Nelson), the first book of her newest series, SouledOut Sisters.

Inspired by her own Bible study group, Jackson began several years ago to write about a multi-cultural gathering of dynamic women in a collection of books known as the Yada Yada Prayer Group series. Since publication of the first Yada Yada Prayer Group novel in 2003, the seven-book series has sold over a half-million copies and given rise to countless prayer groups across the country. Jackson followed the Yada Yada novels with the four-book House of Hope series. Though the series is not dependent upon its predecessors for understanding, Jackson has used the individual lives of familiar characters to introduce some of the more complex issues prevalent in our modern society. By allowing her characters to lead the way, Jackson has shed light on issues like drug addiction, the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and even the racial conflicts that can so easily arise within any culturally diverse group.

In her newest work, Stand by Me, Jackson introduces her readers to Kathryn Davis, a young college student who has left her prestigious Phoenix family behind to move to Chicago after dropping out of medical school against her father’s protests. Her newfound faith in Christ helps temper the realization that she has stepped out of her family’s good graces, but does little to alleviate the pain of their rejection.

When Kat discovers the dynamic multi-cultural membership at Souled Out Community Church, she longs to be part of it. But her unconventional behavior and brash eagerness have not helped her win favor with the church members. And, much to her dismay, Avis Douglass, the one woman in the church whom she most admires and would love to know better, is the one who is the most aloof.

Kat has no idea that, after being confronted by a number of serious problems all at once, Avis and her husband, Peter, are beginning to question God’s will for their lives. Having been recently estranged from her HIV positive daughter and being worried about her welfare, Avis would like nothing more than to quietly retreat into the recesses of her faith and find the answers she seeks. Her attempts to do so, however, are thwarted at every turn by the flamboyant Kat, who has apparently decided to foist herself on their lives whether they want her to or not.

Product Details:
List Price: $15.99
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 13, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595548645
ISBN-13: 978-1595548641


AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER

PROLOGUE

Midwest Music Festival, Central Illinois

Kat Davies ducked into the billowing exhibition tent staked down in a large pasture in central Illinois like a grounded Goodyear blimp. She’d been at the Midwest Music Fest three days already—didn’t know it was a Christian festival until she got here—and needed a little respite from the music pulsing morning-till-night on the Jazz Stage, Gospel Stage, Alternative Stage, Rock Stage, Folk Stage, and a few more she’d forgotten.

Besides, she’d be heading back to Phoenix in two days, and sooner or later she needed to figure out how to tell her parents she’d  “given her heart to Jesus”  after the Resurrection Band concert last night. Maybe this tent had a quiet corner where she could think. Or pray. Not that she had a clue how to do that.

Kat had a good idea how they’d react. Her mother would f lutter and say something like, “Don’t  take it too seriously, Kathryn dear. Getting religion is just something everyone does for a year or two.” And her father? If he didn’t blow his stack at what he’d call “another one of your little distractions,” he’d give her a lecture about keeping her priorities straight: Finish pre-med at the University of Arizona. Go to medical school. Do her internship at a prestigious hospital. Follow in the Davies’ tradition. Make her family tree of prominent physicians proud.

Except . . . she’d walked out of her biochemistry class at UA one day and realized she didn’t want to become a doctor. She’d tutored ESL kids the summer after high school and realized she liked working with kids. (“Well, you can be a pediatrician like your Uncle Bernard, darling,” her mother had said.) And the student action group on the UA campus sponsoring workshops on “Living Green”  and “Sustainable Foods” had really gotten her blood pumping. (Another one of her “distractions,” accord- ing to her father.)

Was it too late to pursue something else? Her parents were already bragging to friends and co-workers that their Kathryn had received her letter of acceptance into medical school a few months ago. Feeling squeezed till she couldn’t breathe, she’d jumped at the chance to attend a music fest in Illinois with a carload of other students—friends of friends—just to get away from the pressure for a while.

What she hadn’t expected was to find so many teenagers and twenty-somethings excited about Jesus. Jesus! Not the go- to-church-at-Christmas-and-Easter  Jesus,  the only Jesus  she’d known growing up the daughter of a wealthy Phoenix physician and socialite mother. That Jesus, frankly, had a hard time com- peting with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

But these people talked about a Jesus who cared about poor people. A Jesus who created the world and told humans to take care of it. A Jesus who might not be blond and blue-eyed after all. A Jesus who said, “Love your neighbor”—and that neighbor might be black or brown or speak Spanish or Chinese. A Jesus who said, “All have sinned” and “You must be born again.” The Son of God, who’d died to take away the sins of the world.

That Jesus.

That’s the Jesus  she’d  asked to be Lord of her life, even though she wasn’t exactly sure what that meant. But she desper- ately longed for something—Someone—to help her figure out who she was and what she should do with her life. The guitar player in the band who’d challenged the arm-waving music fans last night to be Christ-followers had said, “Jesus came to give you life—life more abundantly! But first you must give your life to Him.”

That’s what she wanted. Abundant life! A life sold out to something she could believe in. To give herself to one hundred percent. So she’d prayed the sinner’s prayer with a woman in a denim skirt whose name she never learned, and a “peace like a river” f looded her spirit.

Last night, anyway.

But by the light of day, she was still heading in a direction—medical school—that she didn’t want to go.

Big fans circulated the air in the large tent, though mostly it just moved the stif ling July heat around. Thick, curly strands of her long, dark hair had slipped out of the clip on the back of her head and stuck in wet tendrils on her skin. Redoing the clip to get the damp hair off her neck and face, she wan- dered the aisles, idly picking up brochures about Compassion International, Habitat for Humanity, and YWAM. Huh. What if she just dropped out of pre-med and did something like this Youth With A Mission thing. Far from Phoenix and the Davies Family Tradition. Go to Haiti or India or—

“Nice boots,” giggled a female voice nearby.

Kat glanced up from the brochure. A cute brunette with a shaggy pixie cut grinned at her from behind a booth that said Find Your Calling at CCU! Kat self-consciously looked down at the Arizona-chic  cowboy boots peeking out beneath her designer jeans and f lushed. Ever since she’d arrived at the fes- tival, she felt as if she’d walked into a time-warp—girls in tank tops, peasant skirts, and pierced nostrils, guys wearing pony- tails, tattoos, shredded jeans, and T-shirts  proclaiming Jesus Freak. Kat had felt as conspicuous as a mink coat in a second- hand store.

“Thanks. I think.”

The young woman, dressed in khaki Capris and a feminine lemon-yellow tee, laughed. “This your first time to the Fest? Where’re you from?”

Kat felt strangely relieved to be talking to someone else who didn’t look like a throwback to the seventies. “Phoenix. First time.”

“Wow. You came a long way.”

“You?”

“Detroit. But during the year I’m  a student at CCU in Chicago. I get a huge discount off my festival fee if I sit at this booth a couple hours a day during the Fest.” The girl grinned again and extended her hand across the stacks of informational literature. “I’m Brygitta Walczak.”

Kat shook her hand. “Kathryn Davies. But my friends call me Kat. With a K.”

“Like ‘kitty kat’ ? That’s cute. And . . . blue eyes with all that dark, curly hair? Bet the guys love that.”

Ignoring the remark, Kat glanced up at the banner above the booth. “What does CCU stand for?”

“Chicago Crista University. Usually we just call it Crista U. Located on the west side of Chicago. I’ll be a senior next year. Christian ed major.”

“Christian ed? What’s that?”

“You’re kidding.” Brygitta eyed her curiously. “Mm. You’re not kidding. Uh, are you a Christian?”

Kat allowed a wry smile. “For about twelve hours.”

The pixie-haired girl’s mouth dropped open, and then her amber eyes lit up. “That is so cool! Hey . . . want a Coke or something? I’ve got a cooler back here with some soft drinks. Wanna sit? I’d love some company.”

Brygitta dragged a folding chair from an unmanned booth nearby, and Kat found herself swapping life stories with her new friend. Unlike Kat, who had no siblings, Brygitta came from a large Polish family, had been raised in the Catholic church, “went Protestant” at a Youth for Christ rally in high school, planned to get a master’s degree at Crista U, and wanted to be a missionary overseas or a director of Christian education somewhere.

“Sorry I’m late, Bree,” said a male voice. “Uh-oh. Two gor- geous females. You’ve cloned yourself. I’m really in trouble now.”

Kat looked up. A young man about their same age grinned at them across the booth. He was maybe six feet, with short, sandy-brown hair combed forward over a nicely tanned face, wire-rim  sunglasses shading his eyes. No obvious tattoos or body piercings. Just cargo shorts and a T-shirt that said CCU Soccer.

Nick slid off his shades and flashed a smile, hazel eyes teasing. “So, Miss Blue Eyes. Has Brygitta talked you into coming to CCU yet?”

Kat laughed and started to shake her head . . . and then stopped as her eyes caught the logo on the banner across the booth. Find Your Calling at CCU.

Transfer to Crista University? Why not?

REVIEW

Technically Stand By Me is not a member of the popular Yada Yada series.  However,  this first installment in the new SouledOut Sisters series, centering upon the women of the SouledOut Community Church,  encompasses many characters made familiar in that first series.  The Yada Yada prayer group even continues to meet for weekly prayer and fellowship in this story.

But Stand By Me is about Avis Douglass, a church worship leader, married to Peter, a church trustee, and wrestling with what it means to stand by her troubled daughter, not to mention the college students who have attached themselves to SouledOut.  Avis wants to be there for her daughter, a single mother who is fresh off an abusive relationship and dealing with HIV, but the relationship between her daughter and stepfather Peter is strained.  Then, as her future as an elementary school principal is threatened, Avis feels inundated by the fresh-faced, eager college students who seem to be everywhere.

Jackson does a great job of writing a multicultural cast of characters, placing emphasis on their physical differences only as needed to advance the story.  She writes middle-aged married as well as she writes young adult single.  Each character comes alive through voice and action.  I knew a few Kat Davies in my day, and Stand By Me touched a nerve or two as I realized that perhaps I could have been more open, seeing them from one angle when a slight twist in viewing angle might have made all the difference.

That's the biggest pleasure in reading Stand By Me.  Jackson doesn't flip her characters on their heads.  Rather, she more subtly turns than a degree, just enough for readers to see vulnerabilities and frailties they might otherwise have missed, and in doing so, to consider how they relate to similar characters in real life.

Stand By Me is the first book of Jackson's that I've read.  There are too many Yada Yada books to go back and catch up, but I'll be sure to keep up with the SouledOut Sisters going forward.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

The Chase by DiAnn Mills

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  The Chase  Zondervan (March 27, 2012)  by  DiAnn Mills  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.

DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills


ABOUT THE BOOK

To the FBI it's a cold case. To Kariss Walker it's a hot idea that could either reshape or ruin her writing career. And it's a burning mission to revisit an event she can never forget. Five years ago, an unidentified little girl was found starved to death in the woods behind a Houston apartment complex. A TV news anchor at the time, Kariss reported on the terrifying case. Today, as a New York Times bestselling author, Kariss intends to turn the unsolved mystery into a suspense novel. Enlisting the help of FBI Special Agent Tigo Harris, Kariss succeeds in getting the case reopened. But the search for the dead girl's missing mother yields a discovery that plunges the partners into a witch's brew of danger. The old crime lives on in more ways than either of them could ever imagine. Will Kariss's pursuit of her dream as a writer carry a deadly price tag? Drawing from a real-life cold case, bestselling novelist DiAnn Mills presents a taut collage of suspense, faith, and romance in The Chase.


Watch the book video!



If you would like to read the first chapter of The Chase, go HERE.

Sorry, no review.  I just received this book over the weekend.  I'm a fast reader, but not that fast, especially when I already had two other books underway.  And I may not get to it for a while.  But I've never been disappointed by a DiAnn Mills book.  She writes both contemporary and historical romance with equal mastery.

So if you're got a little bandwidth in your reading plan, try The Chase.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Reader/Writer Tidbits -- March 24, 2012

How do you discover new books to read?  Authors, how do you get your books in front of readers?  Goodreads' CEO On Winning the Battle of Book Discovery.  (Note:  FB and Twitter aren't the best strategies, authors.)

Interested in indie e-publishing but lacking resources to do it?  Epubbing On a Budget, from Sibel.

Authors hate waiting for royalty statements to find out how many books they've sold.  Sure, there's Bookscan and a few other ways, but the royalty statement (purportedly) tells it all.  Until now.  Random House Launches Author Portal for online access to sales, royalties and subsidiary rights information.

In this day and age, only makes sense, right?  Assuming other publishers eventually will follow suit...

Just how fast do you read?  Well, if you're considering buying an e-reader, you might want to know how long the battery will last based on your reading speed. Staples has this nifty reading test (using excerpts from The Wizard of Oz, The War of the Worlds, or Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  Click below to try it!

Source: Staples eReader Department

Agent For Literary Change?  Lit agent April Eberhardt has joined forces with the Argo Navis Author Services program of The Perseus Book Group to help writers interested in self-publishing.  Yep, self-publishing.

Tired of the traditional publishing wait, wait, wait, and wait some more?  So was author Laura Novak.  Let her tell you about her eight-month sojourn, and how she took control of her writing career to rise to the Top of the Pack.

Have you ever said "the Big 6" when talking about publishing?  Just who are "the Big 6"?  Even if you think you know, author Dean Wesley Smith's take on it is worth consideration.  Perhaps it's one of those things that no one knows...

Are your characters ordinary?  Author C. S. Lakins says, "Ordinary People Are Just Plain Boring" and gives tips on how to spice up your characters to make them come alive.

Reading. Writing. Family time.  Possibly a track meet? Following the Trayvon Martin case.  Coming up with something special for National Black Marriage Day.

And you?

Happy Readin' N Writin!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

The Busy Mom's Guide to Writing by Suzannah Windsor Freeman

What are the qualifications for sainthood? Surely, author and mother Suzannah Windsor Freeman is a candidate.

While I’ve procrastinated and found what at times feels like a million excuses reasons for not getting the writing done, Freeman—already a mother of two, pregnant with twins and experiencing all-day morning sickness, not to mention blogging, freelancing and unexpectedly having to pack up and move—wrote a book to help other busy mother's shape their writing careers.

If Freeman doesn’t know what it takes to be a busy mom and still find time to write, I don’t know who does! Freeman, also the author of the Write It Sideways blog, started this book when she was simply--and I say that with all respect--a blogging and freelancing mother of two. But being a mother and a writer, and hearing from many other writing mothers lament about the lack of time, Freeman took it upon herself to talk with writers, conduct research, gather information from others like herself, and pen a book to help writing mothers do what many want most to do: be good mothers while also fulfilling their writing dreams.  I’m pleased that having gotten to know Freeman a little bit through her blog, I was one of the writers she invited to share from my experiences as a writing mother.

Freeman, now the mother of four young children--Congratulations, Suzannah!--begins at the beginning, helping mothers to understand why they want to write and how writing might mesh with their other priorities. Then she leads them through SMART goal setting, gives tips for tracking progress and suggests rewards for meeting their objectives. Knowing that many mothers are also juggling household budgets, Freeman offers ways to set up a writing space on a budget, even if it’s only a portable office; advice on software for writers; and tips for planning your writing.

Then, as if that were not enough, Freeman takes on something I’ve not seen in other writing advice books: household tips.  She uses concrete examples to show how it is possible to draft and revise a novel in a year’s time while dealing with family issues like single parenting and partner support and finding ways to run your home more efficiently. My favorites were the tips and tricks for getting organized and handling laundry, and the relaxation techniques.

Along the way, Freeman offers worksheet templates for everything from tracking goal progress to making a quick reference for favorite recipes, and from charting household tasks to taking a favored classic tale and revamping it with a new, fresh spin.

I had a chance to review a pre-release copy. The final version, soon to be available, includes full-color photos as well as two companion books:  The Busy Mom's Guide to Menu Planning and The Busy Mom's Guide to Cooking, a booklet of printable recipes. (Interested moms can sign-up for a free preview now, and an email when the set is released.)

Moms who are or want to become writers should grab a copy of The Busy Mom's Guide to Writing. In it, you’ll find inspiration and a wealth of tips to help you juggle two of your most pressing priorities, motherhood and writing. It will easily become a "go-to" reference for both writing and life.

Suzannah Windsor Freeman is the creator and chief editor of Write It Sideways, and author of The Busy Mom's Guide to Writing. Her short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in Grist: The Journal for Writers, Saw Palm: Florida Art & Literature, The Sand Hill Review, and The Best of the Sand Hill Review anthology.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

What Kind of Fool by Rhonda McKnight

Today I'm pleased to present the latest release from one of my writing friends and mentors, Rhonda McKnight.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Wife. Her Husband. Their faith. . . . Will it save them before it’s too late, or will an enemy from their past destroy their marriage forever?

Angelina Preston tunes out the voice of God when she decides to divorce her husband, Greg. She’s forgiven him for his affair, but she won’t forget, even though her heart is telling her to. Shortly after she files divorce papers, she finds out her non-profit organization is being investigated by the IRS for money laundering. In the midst of the very public scandal, Angelina becomes ill. Through financial and physical trials, she learns that faith and forgiveness may really be the cure for all that ails her, but can she forgive the people who hurt her most?

Sexy, successful Dr. Gregory Preston didn’t appreciate his wife when he had her. His affair with a devious man-stealer has him put out of his home and put off with women who continue to throw themselves at him. Greg wants his wife back, but he’ll have to do some fancy operating to get her. When the secrets and lies from his past continue to mess up his future, Greg finds himself looking to the God he abandoned long ago for a miracle only faith can provide.

Samaria Jacobs finally has the one thing she’s always wanted: a man with money. The fact that she’s in love with him is a bonus, but even so, life is anything but blissful. She’s paying for her past sins in ways she never imagined and living in fear that the secret she’s keeping will separate them forever.

Read an excerpt of What Kind of Fool.

REVIEW

Samaria is the other woman, Angelina, the betrayed wife, and Greg, the foolhardy now repentant husband.  What Kind of Fool continues Samaria's saga as she finds that letting go of the past--or being let go by it--even after accepting the love and salvation of Christ is easier said than done.  Angelina and Greg also learn that actions have longstanding consequences.  But to say consequences are the price of sin is to dimish the power of God's immediate grace and forgiveness, both of which are given freely and instantaneously.  Yet, actions do have consequences--what I call subsequent by-products and reactions--and all in What Kind of Fool find that reveling in the grace of God while dealing with said consequences can be difficult.

Several things make McKnight's stories so readable and enjoyable.  First, her command of her craft enables her to tell the story, painting vivid pictures of her characters and settings, such that readers are easily immersed in the tale.  Second, her stories are about everyday people working through everyday problems.  She carefully constructs her plots so, although there may be unexpected twists, at no time do they come across as drama thrown in for drama's sake.  Finally, McKnight's understanding of faith shines through her characters, even those who are not yet in right relationship with God.  Everyone at some point questions their faith or at least whether their faith will be enough to sustain them through the current ordeal.

Gotta confess that I always love a good story about a man who comes clean and learns to appreciate his wife more than he once did, especially one who deepens his  faith in the process.  McKnight handles the up-and-down reconciliation of Angelina and Greg in an even-handed manner, never allowing either to become too righteously indignant or self-serving.

I won't spoil the story, but I love that even as we see Samaria trying to turn her life around, there are enough seeds planted for yet another story.  Samaria is one of characters who readers will never get enough of.

What Kind of Fool is a fitting end to the Prestons' tale.  Now as far as Samaria?  Time, and perhaps a few more books, will tell...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rhonda McKnight is the owner of Legacy Editing, a free-lance editing service for fiction writers. She’s the vice-president of Faith Based Fiction Writers of Atlanta. When she’s not editing projects, teaching workshops about writing or penning her next novel, she spends time with her family. Originally from a small, coastal town in New Jersey, she’s called Atlanta, Georgia home for thirteen years.


Learn more about Rhonda and her books via her website and her blog.

Check out my reviews for her other books, Secrets and Lies, An Inconvenient Friend and A Woman's Revenge.

And if you missed her feature on Black Christian Fiction Authors on Parade, hop over.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Reader/Writer Tidbits -- March 17, 2012

Richard Theodore Greener (1844-1922), Harvard Class of 1870 

Nothing like starting out with a good story. The story of Richard Greener, first African American to graduate from Harvard, whose papers, including materials about President Ulysses S. Grant, were found recently in an attic on Chicago's South Side.

And another discovery of story, of more than 500 new fairy tales in Germany.

Author Catherine Stine talks about plotting and hooks in Plots and Hooks, Think Symphony!

From author Darcy Pattison, Top 5 Tools for the Writing the Setting of Your Story or Novel

Author Scott Turow, Presumed Innocent, is the President of the Authors Guild. Recently, he wrote a letter to the membership explaining why the Department of Justice shouldn't go after Apple and five of the big six publishers for collusion based on the agency pricing model. (It's Amazon's fault, he says, although he doesn't advocate going after that behometh and what he sees as a predatory pricing model.)

But, wait!  Authors Barry Eisler and J.A. Konrath examine Turow's claims and find some of them questionable.

Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz, on writing action versus description.

Nathan Bransford explains why that potential DOJ agency model lawsuit is a big deal and what it will mean for readers.

A step-by-step manual for creating your own ebook covers.

A rags-to-riches publishing story. Donovan Creed author, John Locke, is the first author to sell one million ebooks. How he did it and what he thinks contributes to his success.

Author-filmmaker-adventurer P.J. Reece overs a free ebook, "Story Structure To Die For:  A Key to Writing Focused Fiction."  Download it in pdf, mobi or epub formats.

Chick lit dead?  Nah, "Chick Lit Grows Up".

From her new book, "Outlining Your Novel:  Map Your Way to Success, K. M. Weiland explores an author's favorite question in "The What If Question".

Directed toward screenwriters, Eric Edson's "How We Feel A Film" examines developing audience trust through the creation of sympathetic characters.

Think traditional publishing or self-publishing is all there is?  How about advertiser-sponsored publishing?

Trying to push this train up a hill, the hill of procrastination.  Moving slowly, but moving.  Let's see if I can make it over the top this weekend and start sliding down! I'll try not to be too distracted by March Madness.  Yeah, right!


On a serious note...if you didn't see my post on my other blog yesterday in support of Trayvon Martin (or you have no idea who that is), please take a moment and read that post, then, prayerfully, take action.

I thank you.

Happy Readin' N Writin'!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Love's Sacred Song by Mesu Andrews

Mesu Andrews expertly weaves the words of the Song of Solomon into this touching story of the power of love. Readers will be transported from the glowing fields of Shunem to the gleaming city of Jerusalem as they experience this rich and textured novel from a master storyteller.

For young King Solomon wisdom came as God’s gift, but sacred love was forged through passion’s fire.

Standing in the massive shadow of his famous father, young king Solomon wavers between fear and bravado, wisdom and folly. In the uncertain world of alliances and treachery, Solomon longs for peace and a love that is true and pure--a love that can be his cornerstone.

A shepherdess in the northern city of Shunem, Arielah remembers the first time she laid eyes on Solomon in Jerusalem when she was just seven years old. Since then she has known that it was her destiny to become his bride. When her father, a leader of their tribe, secures a promise from King Solomon to marry Arielah as a treaty bride to help unite the kingdom, it seems her dreams may come true.

But how can this simple shepherdess live as part of Solomon’s harem? Can Solomon set aside his distractions to give himself completely to just one woman? Or will he let duty, deception, and the daily routine divide his heart?

REVIEW

I was blown away by the 2011 release by Mesu Andrews, Love Amid the Ashes, about Dinah, daughter of Jacob.  When an author's debut is that good, I anticipate their next book with a bit of trepidation.  I hate for authors I love to let me down.

I needed no such worry when it came to Andrews and Love's Sacred Song. In this her latest work, Andrews takes on the Song of Solomon, a Biblical passage which many find both beautiful and confusing, provocative and poetic.  Excepting the confusing part, that's a pretty good way to describe Andrews' writing: beautiful, provocative, poetic. In fact, throughout Love's Sacred Song, she even pens "shepherd's verse" that Arielah and Solomon speak to one another as they learn the dance and nuances of love.

Arielah is a shepherdess who is the lioness suggested by her name. Determined to fulfill her spiritual destiny, she will become Solomon's queen. But the path to Solomon's heart, both literally and figuratively, is fraught with danger, and Arielah must maneuver with care.

Many think of Solomon as a wise old man, but here Andrews focuses on him as a young and able-bodied, recently crowned king who must develop the wisdom for which he is known down through the ages as he seeks to fulfill his own destiny, to live in peace and build the promised temple.  The unfolding romance between Solomon and Arielah, a dance that first teases, then assumes a tight embrace and later becomes a tentative but sure waltz, is poignant, at times evoking ebullient smiles and at other times, disheartened sighs.

Andrews paints a vivid portrait of the life and times of the people of Israel during the early years of Solomon's reign, including a look at how their faith was a hard fought influence upon their lives.

It is both entertaining and enlightening to imagine and envision Biblical characters as flesh-and-blood people with the same passions, desires, fears, and limitations as anyone walking today.  Through skillful prose and learned insight, Andrews offers just such a glimpse to her readers, leaving behind a satisfying read and a yearning to delve more deeply into God's Word.

Fans of Biblical fiction--or any good historical romance--will enjoy Love's Sacred Song.

Love's Sacred Song

By Mesu Andrews

$14.99

Paperback

448 pages

Pub Date: March 2012

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mesu Andrews is the author of Love Amid the Ashes and is an active speaker who has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep understanding and love for God's Word, Andrews brings the biblical world vividly alive for her readers. She lives in Washington.

Learn more about Mesu and her books at her website, http://www.mesuandrews.com, or follow her on Twitter

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Night Hawk by Beverly Jenkins

Outlaw. Preacher. Night Hawk. He’s had many names, but he can’t escape the past.

Since Ian Vance’s beloved wife was murdered years ago, the hardened bounty hunter knows he’ll never feel love or tenderness again, so he’s made it his mission to ensure others get their justice. But when he’s charged with delivering a sharp-eyed beauty to the law, Ian can’t help but feel he may still have something left to lose.

Orphaned at twelve, Maggie Freeman has always found her way out of trouble. But now there’s a vigilante mob at her back who would like nothing more than to see her hang for a crime she didn’t commit. Maggie may have to accept help for the first time in her life . . . even if it’s from the one man standing between her and freedom.

As the past closes in, the sassy prisoner and toughened lawman may just find a passion between them that could bring blinding happiness . . . if they’ll let it.

What can I say?  Beverly Jenkins is one of my favorite authors.  She never disappoints.

I loved this story of Ian Vance, bounty hunter/U.S. marshall, and accused Maggie Freeman.  The love story progresses slowly and tenderly but once it heats up, it sizzles.

As always, a Beverly Jenkins novel comes with a history lesson, whether historical or contemporary, which is one of the things that makes her writing so special.  There is so much to be learned about Native American history--the histories of the individual tribes and how each was treated by a U.S. government hungry for their land and for control over a people they did not or could not understand.  Jenkins offers a glimpse into the history of Indians on the western plains in Night Hawk.

The story takes place shortly after the dark period of slavery in American history.  Another thing that Jenkins does with her fiction is to show African Americans, or I should say "people of color" as Vance is actually Scottish, during that period in history as other than they are too portrayed--uneducated, unskilled and ignorant. Jenkins' novels, what with her accomplished, intelligent and savvy protagonists, go a long way to dispute such notions.

Last, there's a bit of a surprise for fans of Ms. Jenkins' Blessings series.  It took me a while to pick up on it, but it was a sweet and welcome treat.  I won't spoil the surprise here, but it's always nice when authors find a way to link their series in a way that will appeal to fans.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Christian Fiction: A Born-Again Genre

Library Journal recently placed a spotlight on one of my favorite book genres, Christian fiction, in this article entitled, "Christian Fiction:  A Born-Again Genre."

If they were looking to be controversial, they score points on that front right from the start by quoting the publicist of a CBA (Christian Booksellers Association) publishing house that the "core demographic does seem to be middle-aged mothers, primarily white. We also have a large contingent of readers who homeschool their children."

They get a slight pass because of the adjective "core", but as the article thankfully goes on to point out, the diversity of Christian fiction readership is broader than that and changing.  "...today’s target CF audience has become more sophisticated and demographically diverse. There are more male and younger readers joining the fold and a steadily growing African American market. A faith-based perspective remains at the core of evangelical fiction, but today’s fans are reading these books not just because of the Christian focus. They also love this genre because it quenches their inner thirst for knowledge, spiritual guidance, and, yes, entertainment."

This notable because, as you may have noticed if you checked out the books by the authors who were on my Black Christian Fiction Authors parade this year, the vast majority of them are published by houses outside of the CBA.  Their stories typically do not satisfy CBA guidelines, often being deemed a little too gritty, too real, too drama-filled, too (fill in the blank) and not adhering to CBA standards, such as not including divorce, infidelity, smoking, dancing, or any number of a myriad of issues that real Christians face everyday.

This affects not only Black authors but any Christian fiction author whose stories push up against the accepted boundaries.  As noted by Christian fiction author Thomas Smith, "One of the hard truths whispered among editors is that Christian publishing consistently lags behind secular publishing by five to ten years. Secular publishers do a better job on the whole in publishing works that reflect the world as it is. Christian publishers do a better job showing the transforming power of Christ in the world, as should be expected, though (with a few exceptions) they regularly describe a much more sanitized world than it actually is. This in itself interjects a nonrealistic and unbelievable element to the reading.

So you'll frequently find Christian fiction authored by Black authors is published by major publishing houses such as Simon & Schuster and Hachette, by smaller houses that were established to fill the void created by CBA's rejection, such as Urban Christian (but who distributes through Kensington Books), or are simply self-published.

CBA publishers don't completely shun Christian fiction that pushes the boundaries.  Each has their own guidelines and some push the boundaries more than others.  One of the parade authors, Kim Cash Tate, is published by Thomas Nelson, the largest of all CBA publishers.  Stacy Hawkins Adams is published by Revell, and Tia McCollors by Moody's Lift Every Voice imprint.

In the end, I don't think it matters who publishes our stories as long as they get told and made available to the reading public.  How this has mattered, though, is in bookstore shelving, where books by major CBA houses might be shelved in Christian fiction whereas Christian fiction titles published outside of the CBA almost certainly are not.

It also makes a difference when it comes to promotional budgets, although here I'm not sure whether being published by a CBA house is an advantage or disadvantage for AA reading audiences.  Which budgets are bigger and which houses are best at targeting their audience remains a mystery to me.  From personal observation, however, the Black Christian fiction authors published by CBA seem to have bigger, sleeker advertising campaigns than those published outside of the CBA.  At the same time, the authors outside of the CBA tend to hustle and promote their books with equal, if not more, passion and to a broader audience.  Just my observations.

But the CBA and its fiction are definitely changing.  Hard to argue the opposite when I've read books from CBA publishers that have dealt with such taboo topics as sexual and emotional abuse, alcohol addiction, the death penalty, serial killers, suicide, and homosexuality.

Today's Christian fiction comes in every possible subgenre, even vampire lit.  Whatever your reading fancy, you will find "excellent stories with rich characters who strike a chord".  As Jennifer Leep of Revell notes, books by Christian novelists like Steven James, my favorite suspense author, "don’t contain explicit Christian messages as much as they implicitly explore spiritual questions such as the nature of good and evil in a way that’s consistent with Christian faith."

What I'm not sure about is whether all of the merger and acquisition activity over the past few years, that makes it difficult to know who is still an independent CBA publisher and who has been swallowed up by a Big 6 publishing house, is a factor in the broadening of the net.  It might not be a stretch to think that those imprints that are part of larger publishing companies -- Hachette's FaithWords, HarperCollinsPublisher's Zondervan, Simon & Schuster's Howard Books, etc.--are more open, even while largely adhering to their traditional guidelines, to a wider array of stories.

I don't know.  I'm just happy that I can find Christian fiction to satisfy all of my reading needs, from light, contemporary romances to realistic, urban dramas to dark, suspenseful thrillers.

What do you think about today's Christian fiction?  Are you aware of the increasing breadth of stories available?  What's the last Christian fiction title you read?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Reader/Writer Tidbits -- March 10, 2012

Black Christian Fiction on Parade Winners:  Joy Tamsin David, GA Peach33, Sidne and Vonnie Davis.  Please contact me with your mailing address.

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(image via Pinterest)

The big publishing news of the week?

Not the iPad3 announcement.  Besides, Amazon is planning two new tablets, and Samsung believes it's Galaxy Note 10.1 puts the new iPad to shame.

It's the closing/foreclosure of Dorchester Publishing.  Not unexpected, but still a bit disconcerting.

Where do action beats go in relation to dialogue?  Should a character speak before or after the accompanying action?  What's an embellished dialogue tag?  Author Kaye Dacus offers a primer on writing dialogue.

One of my favorite authors, Lisa Samson, is hanging out a shingle and offering story development assistance for writers who are "not quite there" as far as getting published.  With 30 years of writing and publishing experience behind her, Lisa's new editorial service is called Luminary.

Scholastic launches Storia to sell digital editions of books from their own imprint as well as other childrens' books publishers.

Some funny for readers..."How to Spot A Reader"

Tired of new social media networks popping up?  Don't be.  Like free online reads?  Then maybe Wattpad, a social network connecting readers and writers, is for you.  "We're the world's largest community of readers and writers."  I don't know, but there are online reads in nearly every genre, that readers get to vote on and discuss with writers.

Writing a story, contemporary or historical, with medical information?  Check with expert and suspense novelist, Jordyn Redwood's medical blog, RedWood's Medical Edge.  An emergency room and ICU nurse, Redwood offers medically oriented posts, scene analysis and consulting from a medical perspective.

Ten Places Now Accepting Manuscripts (Thanks, RT Book Reviews!)

Authors are always concerned about promotion.  One editor, Sue Grimshaw of BBD/Loveswept, weighs in on promotion, from the publisher's perspective, and takes questions/comments from readers.

25 Things You Should Know About Word Choice from TerribleMinds (NOTE:  There's always some degree of vulgarity/profanity in his posts.  Beware.)

Using the 12 Stages of Physical Intimacy to Build Tension in Your Fiction.  Did you know there were 12 stages?  I didn't.

Family time this weekend.  Getting closer to big blessings.  Patience may be a virtue, but dag, it's hard!

Happy Readin' N Writin'!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Successful Women Think Differently by Valorie Burton

"You are Capable of Far More Than You Know."

Do you trample on your own success?  Allow fears to get in your way?  Focus on your weaknesses or the things you don't have? Get mired down or give up too easily?

Today I'm posting over on my inspirational blog.  Successful Women Think Differently:  9 Habits to Make you Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient by certified personal and executive coach, Valorie Burton.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

My Go-To Authors

I heard about a new book by an author whose prior two books absolutely thrilled me, author Christa Allan.

Her latest book, one in a multi-authored series, is a bit of a departure from her other books.  The series of independent titles, both contemporary and historical, is woven around a theme, "Love Finds You", and set in real U.S. cities.  (I believe it's still called a series, although the stories are unrelated, but I'm not sure.)

Allan's new book is Love Finds You in New Orleans.  The LFY series has been popular for Summerside Press, featuring both new and established Christian authors, and I've enjoyed a few of the releases.

Anywho...

Upon hearing about it, I immediately wanted to read this book.

Because it was written by Christa Allan.

That was all I needed to know.

All?

Such certainty got me to thinking.  Who are the authors on my "go-to" list, the authors whose books I would pick up without a blurb, without cover art...without knowing anything at all about them other than the author?

It's a very short list, and although I enjoy a vast number of authors, many of whom I read quite regularly, there is a very short list of authors whose books are truly an auto-buy.  These are the authors who, if I wander into a bookstore and nothing catches my eye, their names will pop into my head and I'll go in search of their latest release (assuming I haven't already read it.)

That's not to say I've read everything these authors have written.  But everything I've read has wowed and inspired me as a reader and often, as a writer.

They're my "go-to" authors.

Now, I realize this will likely get me into trouble, given the number of author friends I have, but I'm going to do it anyway.  I'm going to reveal my list of "go-to" authors.

I have soooo many author friends.  Somebody stop me!

Here's the list.  In addition to Allan, in no particular order, my "go-to" authors are:

Francis Ray
Steven James
Victoria Christopher Murray
Ann Christopher
Julie Lessman
Angela Benson
Tosca Lee
Bettye Griffin
Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant
ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Patti Lacy
Rhonda McKnight
Gwyneth Bolton
Booker T. Mattison
Ronie Kendig
Rachel Hauck

To be on my list, the author has to have published more than one book, and I have to have been increasingly, or at least equally, thrilled by each title.

When I hear one of these authors has a new title coming out, I experience a little bit of heart palpitation.  Tiny goosebumps.  I start thinking about reading their book and it moves to the forefront of my mind if I find myself in a bookstore, physical or virtual.

That's who is on this list of authors.

Now, given how much as I love to read, I have a larger number of authors I'd call my "favorites."  Authors whose works I've thoroughly enjoyed, whose books I've recommended or shared with other readers, and many of whom I am sure to read pretty regularly, at least once a year.  I immediately add their new titles to my To-Be-Read spreadsheet, which I actually reference whenever I'm planning in advance to go book buying, and may even go out of my way to look for their book.

That's a list too long for posting, but there are lots and lots of great authors on that list, many of them my author-friends.

Well, I've done it.


Hope I'm not in the doghouse for too long.

Christa, I'm going to find and read this book.

Who's on your "go-to" author list?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

When Rain Falls by Tyora Moody

Today's featured book comes from debut novelist, Tyora Moody.  (Waving, F&F roomie!)

About the Book

“Why does God keep taking away the people I love?”

This is the lamentation of widow Candace Johnson when her best friend is brutally murdered. Ensnared by a deep-rooted bitterness, seeping her faith day by day, Candace is determined to seek justice.

Detective Darnell Jackson is in need of clues fast. The police captain is coming down hard on him and his partner to find out who murdered Pamela Coleman, the daughter of a high profile judge. Darnell confers with Candace to get the inside track on events leading up to the murder. As the investigation heats up, his growing attraction for Candace plays havoc on Darnell’s judgment.

Little does she know, Candace’s quest to find the truth has led her straight to the killer. She’s already lost loved ones. Now Candace must choose to completely trust God with her own life.


Book Trailer

Book Review

I'm still reading When Rain Falls. It's an intriguing murder mystery with a hint of romance and gentle faith thread. Can't say more than that just yet, but I'll be sure to come back and update this post with a full review. Still, don't hesitate to answer the giveaway question below for a chance to win a copy and some other great books!

UPDATE (3/20/2011):  I finished When Rain Falls.  I found it to be a pleasant read and admirable debut.

When Rain Falls is a murder mystery.  Attorney Pamela Coleman is murdered on her way home from an art gallery gala.  Whodunnit?

In actuality, the bigger question is why does this type of thing keep happening to Candace Johnson?  Candace lost her mother at an early age.  Then, her police officer husband was killed in the line of duty.  Now, her best friend is gone.

Candace can no longer wait for answers, and begins to try to unravel what happened to her friend.  Only,  doing so gets her entangled with Detective Darnell Jackson, a native of the area who has only recently returned and, while trying to solve the mystery of Pamela's murder, is trying also to put his own demons to rest.  Together, they come to an unexpected but satisfying conclusion.

I wanted to get out of Candace's head a bit more and into the action, even though at times the story action was a bit predictable.  Still, Moody writes a suspense-filled tale that presents characters living a perfect faith imperfectly, thereby coming across as very real and believable.  I look forward to more from my Faith and Family roommate and friend, Tyora Moody.



About the Author

Tyora "Ty" Moody is an author and entrepreneur.  Her debut novel, When Rain Falls, will be released March 2012 (Urban Christian/Kensington). This is the first book in the Victory Gospel series.  She is a member of Sisters in Crime and American Christian Fiction Writers. She owns and operates TywebbinCreations.com, a design and marketing company. Her company’s niche is assisting authors with branding and developing an online presence.

Purchase When Rain Falls Online at:

Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com


For More Information

Visit the author online at www.TyoraMoody.com or www.facebook.com/AuthorTyoraMoody.

View the blog tour schedule at http://www.tywebbin.com/blog-tours/authors-on-tour/2012-tours/

------------------------------

When Rain Falls Books Galore Giveaway

Virtual Book Tour - March 5 - 30, 2012

It's raining books!

From March 5-30, 2012, a winner will be chosen each week  to receive a gift pack from Tyora Moody.  There will be four (4) chances to win an autographed copy of When Rain Falls by Tyora Moody. The winner will also be eligible to win the following books during the week they are offered. The winner may choose the paperback or ebook version (except in the last week which is all ebooks).

Week 1  - March 5-9, 2012
What Kind of Fool by Rhonda McKnight
One Way or Another by Rhonda Bowen

Week 2  - March 12-16, 2012
A Good Excuse to Be Bad by Miranda Parker
Broken by Patricia Haley

Week 3  - March 19-23, 2012
Coming Home by Stacy Hawkins Adams
Stepping Into the Good Life by Tia McCollors


Week 4  - March 26-30, 2012 
Kayla's Redemption by Wanda B.Campbell (ebook only)
The Playboy's Redemption by Vanessa Miller (ebook only)
True Beauty by Shelia Lipsey (ebook only)

What do you need to do to win?

Simply answer the following question in the comments area of this blog post and REMEMBER to include your email address.

Have you ever asked a similar question to what Candace has asked. "Why does God keep taking away the people I love?"  What was your why and what were your reasons for asking? 

If not, how can you encourage someone who has experienced loss without sounding cliche? Remember loss can come in various forms (death, divorce, broken relationship, unemployment, etc.)

To qualify, please respond with a thoughtful answer.


DISCLAIMER: Drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer at http://tywebbinvirtualevents.com/contest-rules/

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Substitute Me by Lori Tharps

I'd like to share a book that had been on my horizon for a while, but that I only had a chance to read this year, Substitute Me by Lori Tharps.

Published in 2010, Substitute Me is the story of an upper middle class, young woman who hasn't quite decided what she wants to do with her life.  Despite her concerns about what her family and community will say, she takes a job as a nanny to a privileged white family and winds up having an affair with the husband.

Although the premise of the Black woman working as a nanny for the yuppie white couple who eventually falls for the husband might seem a little cliched, what makes this story work is the writing.  The freshness of of Lori Tharps' voice, with her keen eye for description that places the reader squarely in and distinguishes between the boroughs of New York City, sets this tale apart.  Tharps captures the sights, smells, places and people of New York with flair.  Add to this the fact that typically the Black nanny is of a lower socio-economic class than the people for which she works, but not here, and you have a new take on this timeworn story. Zora could easily be a friend or co-worker of her employers, by virtue of her family background, education and experiences, a fact which makes her internal voice rare and insightful in ways not often seen.

I kept hoping this story would veer into a direction not foreseen, but alas, Zora does fall for her employer, Brad, even if she is perhaps more enlightened about all of the historical and social connotations and consequences of her actions than nannies with lesser educations might be.  Then, at times, I wanted the story to speed up, probably because it was clear where it was headed, but the pace at which the story unfolds is part of the story.  Zora and Brad don't have the hots for each other at first sight.  They barely pay attention to each other for the longest time.  Rather, due to frequent interaction coupled with time and opportunity, the normal barriers break down, a little at a time, allowing familiarity and emotional intimacy to seep in and lead down a destructive path.  (NOTE:  I don't consider this a spoiler because it's so obvious from the beginning that this is where the story is headed.)

Tharps offers a conclusion which will satisfy some readers and yet may well offend others.  That's because there really are no winners when a marriage falls apart, especially in the face of adultery.  The only question is whether Zora, Brad and Kate ultimately rise above the pile of smouldering relationship ashes.

Lori L. Tharps is an assistant professor of journalism at Temple University, an author, freelance journalist and mom. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she left the Midwest in search of an authentic life experience beginning with four years at Smith College. (Technically, one of those years was spent studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain.). After graduating from Smith, with a B.A. in comparative education and Spanish, Tharps spent two years working on Madison Avenue.  After realizing she’d never succeed as a PR executive, Tharps entered Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and has been writing her way through the world ever since.

Before striking out as a freelance writer, Tharps was a staff reporter at Vibe magazine and then a correspondent for Entertainment Weekly. She has written for Ms., Savoy, Suede, Bitch, Odyssey Couleur and Essence magazines. In general she is attracted to stories about cultural cross-polination and identity.

Currently Tharps lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two sons. She doesn’t have a dog, but if she did, his name would be Otis. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. She spends her summers in Spain, is fluent in Spanish and can say "I love you" in seven languages.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Black Christian Fiction Authors on Parade: Book Giveaway Winners!

Thank you to all who followed, shared and commented on the month of posts in the Black Christian Fiction Authors on Parade.  It's my pleasure to share these authors and help to promote their work.

With no further delay, the winners of books from the parade authors are:

Clarissa -- winner of title from Kendra Norman-Bellamy

Tori --winner of title from Stacy Hawkins Adams

Nardsbaby -- winner of two titles from Miranda Parker

Ollie -- winner of title from Michelle Larks

Joy Tamsin David -- winner of title from Booker T. Mattison

GA Peach 33 -- winner of title from Rhonda McKnight

Ollie -- winner of title from Shana Burton

Ollie -- winner of title from Dwan Abrams

Dee -- winner of title from Kim Cash Tate

Sidne -- winner of one title each from Victoria Christopher Murray/ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Ollie -- winner of ebook title from Shawneda Marks

~Angela -- winner of title from Tia McCollors

Sidne -- winner of ebook title from Angela Benson

Ollie -- winner of title from Rhonda Bowen

Vonnie Davis -- winner of one ebook title each from Tori Chase/Charmaine Davis

Please forward your name and mailing address to me and I'll forward it on to the appropriate author.

Congratulations to all the winners!  (Special thanks to all the multi-book winners who came back day after day to comment and encourage our authors.)

-----------------------------

Another month-long blog feature to introduce readers to Black authors and books was hosted by The Brown Bookshelf blog throughout Feburary.  28 Days Later, focused on childrens' and YA books, is in its fifth year.  If you didn't know about it or didn't get to read all of the featured posts, hop over there and check it out.  You'll find some amazing African American authors and illustrators.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Reader/Writer Tidbits -- March 3, 2012

Did you catch that 11 films nominated for Oscars this year were based on books?  Or, that two-thirds of the Best Picture nominees came from books?  Good news for authors, except publishing companies are increasingly retaining film rights to the books they publish.

Ebook publishing is often presented as a tale of two ends--with a legacy publisher or independently.  But there's a middle too, ebook publishing with an estributor.  This is the path author Lauren Baratz-Logsted took for her latest release, The Bro-Magnet.

Perhaps one of the nice things about publishing is that there's no single way to go about it.

Remember when typists thought they would always have work?  Forbes and other publishers are using computer-generated writing.  Beware, freelance writers, and novelists, if you think this will never happen in the world of fiction, think again...

Book sales are down, particularly traditional print books, reports Shelf Awareness, while ebook sales are up sharply though growing at a slower rate than in early 2011.

It's not too late to enter the gmc Faith & Family Screenplay Competition.  gmc, the faith and family-friendly entertainment channel is looking for "relevant, contemporary, slice-of-life depictions that organically incorporate faith-friendly storylines while appealing to broad audiences."  Deadline is March 15.

Seems like editors are the Oz behind the curtain?  "Ten Myths about Editors" from editor Theresa Stevens.

Author/publisher Dean Wesley Smith continues his series "The New World of Publishing" with this entry, "Reasons for a Trade Paper Edition."

"6 Steps to Republish Your 'Out-of-Print' Book"

Naturally, with all the basketball-doings in my household, this post by author Carleen Brice appealed to me:  "What I Learned About Writing From Watching Basketball."

How about a little feel-good related to writing?  Remember actor Tray Chaney from The Wire?  Apparently he raps too, and he's down with books:

We won the Florida High School Athletic Association 3A Basketball title this week!  First basketball championship in school history.  Go, Tampa Prep!!!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

What's In A Name -- Do Editors Reject The Names They Know?

You'll have to wait one more day for the winners from the Black Christian Fiction Authors on Parade giveaways.  Come back tomorrow to find out if your name is on the list of winners.

---------------------------------------------

Whether an author should take a penname or pseudonym is a highly personal, and increasingly, a business matter.

As this New York Times article about author Patricia O'Brien (writing as Kate Alcott) highlights, sometimes a penname is the only way to get the deal done.

Reasons Authors Choose Pen Names

The "day job" -- Authors who have jobs where maintaining a professional persona apart from their writing career is important, like judges, ministers, social workers, etc.

Family/Friends -- Authors who use even snippets of their real life in their writing may wish to shield themselves behind a penname.

New genre -- Readers come to expect certain things from favorite authors.  Authors who wish to try something new often do so using a pseudonym.

Never occurred to them not to use a penname -- Some savvy authors start out using a penname from the beginning, and few, even within the writing community, learn their real identities.

Book shelving -- Authors with names at the end of the alphabet may choose pennames with surnames that fall within the first half of the alphabet for better book shelving in stores and libraries.

Difficult to pronounce/remember -- Just as actors with very ethnic sounding names frequently chose new ones years ago, authors with difficult names may choose something easier with which to build their brand.

Age -- First names change over time.  Authors who have older, traditional first names may want to appear younger to their readership.

A name which fits with the genre -- Authors may simply want a name that syncs with their chosen genre, like chick lit author Sophie Kinsella (whose real name is Madaleine Wickham.)

One more reason, perhaps one that is becoming increasingly common, is due to poor sales of previous novels.  As was the case with Patricia O'Brien, because her last novel did not have a strong history of sales, after many rejections, her agent suggested creating a penname.  With her new persona, unknown to the editors who were reading her work--and having nothing at all to do with her readers--the same manuscript that had been rejected was now desired.

How do you feel about author pennames?  Are there some reasons that you agree with and others that you don't?  Do you feel deceived?

Writers, for what reasons might you consider using a penname?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.