My review of Bliss by Tracy Bowen and Jenness Walker.

About the book:

Following the stars, Indie Moore sets off to find ultimate happiness in South Florida. But in her quest for comfort and fortune, she encounters mishap and mayhem. She finds a home in a trailer park, a job scrubbing toilets, and a moody roommate—not quite the glamorous world she’d envisioned for herself when she left Rabbit Hole, Kansas. But maybe bliss looks a little different than she’d thought.

Laugh and cry with Indie, the Miss Adventure of misadventure, as she blunders on land, by sea, and in church, seeking love and a sense of belonging...seeking true Bliss. 

My review:

Bliss was a cute story with a serious funny bone at its core. The heroine was snarky, but in an endearing way. Sort of like a combination of Kristin Billerbeck and Jenny B. Jones. I loved the humor in this story and laughed out loud so many times I lost count. Indie was a great character and very real. 

Her mother reminded me of a few of my friends' mothers when I was in high school. She had that whole flower child thing going and since my friends had flaky moms none of them knew much about church or faith either. I found Indie's search for Bliss endearing and her spiritual journey well done. I loved how she saw a difference in her new friends and how she decided that she needed to find her own way to truth and no longer follow her mother's training. That was great. I also loved the whole relationship with Nick. He was a great guy and Indie was lucky to have such an attentive male friend. 

I would love to see a second book in this series. The heat was just starting to pick up with Indie and Nick. I want more! I want to see her roommate make a few changes in her perspective and to crave the same faith that Indie found. The characters seemed like real people to me, and the humor in the story was quite addicting. Great read!

Bliss was published by Written World Communications/ Harpstring Books and was released in Sept. 2010.

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away Love Finds You on Sunset Beach, Hawaii by Robin Jones Gunn.

This week's giveaway is another great Love Finds You title. To enter for a chance to win this book simply answer the following question. Have you ever been to Hawaii? If so, where did you visit? If not, where would you like to visit? My answer is the island of Maui. I hear it's gorgeous. What about you? A winner will be selected using the Randomizer program next Sunday. Best wishes to you all.


About the book:

When a friend offers Sierra Jensen a vacation at a beach house in Hawaii, she envisions a quiet retreat. But she arrives to noisy surfing competitions and a stubborn sports photographer who's a tenant downstairs. While they each came to Sunset Beach for different reasons, will they discover something better than either of them imagined?

My thoughts:

I haven't read this book. Sorry folks. But if you want an island getaway I'm thinking this book might be just what you need and it's a whole lot cheaper than going on vacation for real. :)

New article titled 10 Deadly Sins of Website Design by Penny C. Sansevieri...

Enjoy the guest post... used with permission (see bottom of this post for statement.)


Feature Article: The 10 Deadly Sins of Website Design
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Checklist to Help You Avoid Them


So, you're ready to create your very own author site, or maybe you're updating your old one. We all know there's a lot that can go wrong with a website (server gone down?) but there's also a lot you can do in the early stages to avoid some mishaps down the road. Here's a checklist that you can take with you as you work through the design elements of your website:

1. Cluttered: Let's just start there. A cluttered site is the kiss of death to conversion. Make sure the site you choose is clean, uncluttered and easy to navigate. If you can't figure it out, I guarantee you your visitor won't, either.

2. Confusing: Tell them what you want them to do. Several times. In order to make a sale, you have to tell your visitor what you want them to do - over and over and over. When we were redesigning our website, http://www.amarketingexpert.com, I kept hearing this from my web designer: let's tell them again and again what we want them to do. I responded to her, "But my visitors aren't stupid, they'll know what to do!" The problem is most surfers don't. We're busy, we're distracted, we want information and we want it now, also we want to know right away if we've landed on a site that can help us. If you repeat your primary message, they won't be able to miss it, and if the site is what they're looking for, they will stay. Which takes me to:

3. Too many messages: You must have one primary message and objective for your website. Yes, I know you want to do so much with it. You want to sell books and get speaking engagements and maybe even some consulting gigs. But all of this starts with one, clear objective. Take my site, for example. I have books, I am a speaker, I also sell marketing services and we are a full-service marketing and publicity firm. Wow, that's a lot, right? Yes, it is, but if you look at our homepage you don't see my books or my speaking. Why? Well, as much as I'd love to sell my books by the truckload, and speaking gigs are always fun to do, they don't keep the business going the way new business does. That's my primary objective.

4. Not knowing what your consumer wants: Once you figure out what you are selling, now you have to package it in a way that will entice your buyer. Knowing what they want and how they want it is key. Let's say you've written a cookbook for busy parents. And let's say your only objective is to sell books. That's a great goal! Now, your site needs to be designed around that goal. That means the book is front and center on the homepage, and because your user is probably busier than most, there's a big 'buy now' button just under the book that takes them to a page where they can purchase and download an eBook or order a print copy. Easy! You may also want to add a sign-up on the homepage so your readers can get cooking ideas, recipes and tips in their inbox a couple of times a month!

5. Cropsharing: This is what I call those folks who use other people's website domains. I seem to recall years ago there was something called Angelfire. Anyone could get a free site there. You could never own it, or upgrade, it was on their server and that was that. The problem is when their site goes away, so does yours. There are a lot of freebie websites out there, there's nothing wrong with this per se (other than I don't think we should design our own sites), and if you're strapped for cash this is a great, initial way to get started. But be sure that you can own the site at some point. Often free sites have an upgrade option, look into it before you build your website!

6. Copying your competition: It's great to love what your competition is doing, but don't copy them pixel for pixel. Not only is it not a nice thing to do, but consumers landing on both sites may not be able to tell the difference! Additionally, if Google spots this type of duplication, you could get your site pulled down.

7. Uh-oh, typo: Please spell check your website. Really. I don't understand why anyone would launch a site that wasn't spellchecked.

8. Staying static: No one likes a site that never changes, and a quick and easy way to make sure you don't have a static site is to add a blog to it. A blog is a fantastic way to keep your site looking fresh and it's great for SEO, too.

9. Not understanding your traffic: OK, I admit this has less to do with website design, but it all flows into the same pot. Get to know your stats, and if you aren't sure how to read your site analytics, get someone to help you. Many authors I speak to don't even know if they have traffic reports. To me, that's sort of like having access to a bank account you never check!

10. Nowhere to go: Regardless of how you will sell your book, you want to be sure that the sales process is super clear on the site. Additionally, you don't want your consumer to go through a lot of steps to buy your book; with each step you lose a sale so keep that in mind. Ideally, no more than three steps to a buy!

When you're going through your website - either building one, redoing one or making sure yours is in check, take note of the points I've shared here. It's hard enough getting people to come to your site; when they get there don't send them into "surf shock" and miss a potential sale.


WHO ARE WE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author Marketing Experts, Inc. is a full-service book marketing, promotion, and publicity company. We serve authors at all stages of marketing and promotion. We offer a full range of packages and services to choose from.

To see a price list or schedule a free consultation, send your e-mail to penny@amarketingexpert.com with the subject line "Author Services Info." You can also visit our website at www.amarketingexpert.com.

Reprint permission 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are welcome to reprint any items from "The Book Marketing Expert Newsletter." However, please credit us as a source with the following paragraph:

Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

Who do you write like?

This was fun. Try it!

I write like
Margaret Atwood

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!

My review of My Son's Wife by Shelia E. Lipsey

About the book:

First Lady Audrey Graham believes she's found the perfect woman to become her eldest son, Minister Stiles Graham's wife. Sweet, sensitive, kind, and of course a fine Christian girl, Audrey couldn't ask more of lovely Rena Jackson. But skeletons fall from the closet when Audrey and Stiles discover that Rena is in love and committed to the troubled, rebellious, ex-con, Frankie. My Son's Wife is more than a love triangle, it's a time bomb set to explode with twists, turns, entanglements and sinful revelations that only a loving God can make right.

My review:

My Son's Wife is full of real-life drama and the kind of stuff that makes a reader's blood pressure spike. The way the author wrote everything from an omniscient point of view worked for the story well, otherwise it would have been difficult to know some of their internal struggles in the heat of the moment. I could hardly turn the pages fast enough to see how things would turn out. The romance was smoking hot, the characters were well-motivated in all of their dysfunctional behaviors, and the plot really grabbed my heart and held on tight. Each situation kept escalating until the deeds done in secret blew up in a number of characters' faces. When the truth finally came out, it really messed up their lives. The fallout was very well done.

The author did a great job at showing how turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to abuse because of how it might make you look (if discovered) ends up damaging the people you love most and ultimately hurting everything and everyone in your life. The author made a great point showing how parents blaming a child out of fear will not only make the child feel like they have no one safe they can turn to, but it also causes such deep pain that it can lead to destructive behavior. On top of all that, the author showed that self-righteousness and pride are uglier sins than even sexual sin because it blocks forgiveness, healing, and the ability to show mercy. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble, right?

I loved Rena. She was my favorite character because she was afraid, but she did love her husband. She wasn't what everyone assumed. I think she got pulled into an abusive relationship at a vulnerable time in her life and then she felt like she couldn't get out of it. I don't believe that was who she was meant to be. I wanted to hurt some people when the situation was revealed because those self-rightteous, judgmental people showed no mercy, and honestly, if they'd listened long enough to hear the whole story, they may have come away with a different perspective. Because I didn't know how things would ultimately turn out, I kept thinking about the story when I was forced to put it down. Life tends to get in the way of my reading time.

In the end, I was a bit bummed how things turned out, but at the same time it was very realistic. The author set the stage for more drama, and I can't help being curious about how things will turn out in My Son's Next Wife. If the sequal is half as entertaining as the first book, I'll have a tough time putting it down. The author does drama well and she made me care about the lives of the characters. I zipped right through this book and can't wait to see how the next story will turn out.

My Son's Wife was published by Urban Christian and released in Oct. 2008. The mass market paperback version released in 2011.

My top five books so far this year...

I found a blog post that asked this question of readers... What are the best five books that you've read this year  and why are they at the top of your list? Here is what I posted...


Hmmm...let's see. There may be other novels that would make my list that I simply haven't read yet, so I don't know if I would bump other books to slide them onto this list or not. Regardless, of the 104 books I have so far read this year my top five would be... tada...

Deeply Devoted by Maggie Brendan (Revell)
A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman (Revell)
Dance of the Dandelion by Dina L. Sleiman (Whitefire)
The Heiress by Susan May Warren (Summerside)

Bathsheba by Jill Eileen Smith (Revell)

What do they have in common? Well, they are all historical fiction for one. It's my favorite genre. There are three of the five that are published by Revell. I love most of their historical romances, but not all (three I didn't care for) so I tend to love their historical novels. I can't help it. There is something about historical fiction that just grabs me. Also, the books listed above were all daring. Each story delved into an area that is not typically touched on in Christian fiction. Ironically four of the five touch on domestic violence, now that I think about it. All but Bathsheba.Not that I thought about it until just now. They all deal with issues pertaining to sexuality. All of them. Desire that is somehow forbidden or for some reason seems wrong even though it seems right, too. They also deal with guilt. Major guilt. And a sense of unworthiness. Bottom line? I think this is what many people feel at times (even Christians) but so few books truly touch upon.

My review of There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones!

About the book:

Grief brought Finley to Ireland. LOVE WILL LEAD HER HOME.

Finley Sinclair is not your typical eighteen-year-old. She's witty, tough, and driven. With an upcoming interview at the Manhattan music conservatory, Finley needs to compose her audition piece. But her creativity disappeared with the death of her older brother, Will.

She decides to study abroad in Ireland so she can follow Will's travel journal. It's the place he felt closest to God, and she's hopeful being there will help her make peace over losing him. So she agrees to an exchange program and boards the plane.

Beckett Rush, teen heartthrob and Hollywood bad boy, is flying to Ireland to finish filming his latest vampire movie. On the flight, he meets Finley. She's the one girl who seems immune to his charm. Undeterred, Beckett convinces her to be his assistant in exchange for his help as a tour guide.

Once in Ireland, Finley starts to break down. The loss of her brother and the pressure of school, her audition, and whatever it is that is happening between her and Beckett, leads her to a new and dangerous vice. When is God going to show up for her in this emerald paradise?

Then she experiences something that radically changes her perspective on life. Could it be God convincing her that everything she's been looking for has been with her all along?



My review:

This was a more emotional YA read than any of the other books I have read by Jenny B. Jones. There was a lot to like about it. Cute snark, endearing dialog, and love pursuing and ordinary girl who doesn't think her life is worth much. Enter an unexpected inspiration that stirs up things in her life she isn't ready to deal with, but then provides a shoulder to lean on that is unlike any other person she has ever known.

I loved how the author showed the character's struggle with wanting to control her life because she felt so out of control and stressed. Her need for perfection took over her life but happened in such a subtle manner that at first it slipped by unnoticed. Thankfully people cared enough about Finley to not let her issues slip under the radar.

Her pursuit of God was inspirational and realistically shown. The journal her brother left her was a treasure indeed. I loved the ending and how things all came together for her. But the author didn't make it easy. She had to deal with death again and learn to take her eyes off her self long enough to help someone else who needed hope and forgiveness. That was beautifully done.

The style of this book was similar to other YA books by the author. I found that interesting. I suppose it's good to know  what to expect, though sometimes I like to be surprised a bit more. Nevertheless, this one is a keeper due to the power of the message and the deeper look at a real-life teen issue that hurts many young ladies. Hopefully someone with this issue will see themselves in Finley and ask for help. That alone makes this book a great read.

There You'll Find Me was published by Thomas Nelson and released in Oct. 2011.

The Wordsmith Journal - new site for readers.

Contests and prizes and more. Check it out! 

The Wordsmith Journal

Authors invite your readers and friends to subscribe to The Wordsmith Journal!
  
Simply blog, FB, Tweet or email your fans and ask them subscribe to The Wordsmith Journal newsletter. When they subscribe they will be asked who referred them and will enter your name. Referral names will be tallied every three days and posted so you will know who is leading the race!


Contest begins October 21, 2011 and ends November 21. 2011


Winners will be announced late November and prizes awarded in December!


Prizes:


First Place Author: $100.00 feature ad on the Interview page & $50.00 Visa gift card
Second Place Author: $75.00 placement spot in TWJ Bookstore & $25.00 gift card
Third Place Author: $35.00 quick link ad & $15.00 Starbucks gift card


One subscribing reader from every participating author will be chosen to receive either a complimentary book or music CD. 
*Books and Music CD are provided by Publishers & Labels for promotional purposes only.


                                                            ***********
We value your feedback! To submit your comments for the Reader's Voice page, go to Readers' Comments under Contact TWJ. 


                                                           ************


Watch for the Grand Opening of our Book and Music Stores on NOVEMBER 1, 2011!!! Just in time for your holiday shopping!!!


                                                             ************


Also debuting in November is The Wordsmith Journal Book of the Month Club!! Check out the helpful info and get signed up for TWJ Book Club. Books will be available for purchase October 20th at discounted prices!!


Retailers check out how you can sponsor TWJ Book Club in your store!! 

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away Love Finds You on Christmas Morning by Trish Perry and Debby Mayne!

To enter for a chance to win this book simply post a comment about Christmas themed stories and what you like about them. I will choose a winner next Sunday using the Randomizer program. Have a great week!


About the book:

Two women receive marriage proposals in the same house—85 years apart. Love finds a home on Christmas morning in two heartwarming holiday stories.

“Deck the Halls”
In 1925, the wealthy William Tronnier becomes smitten with the lovely but penniless Lillian Pickard. As Christmas descends on the picturesque town of Cary, North Carolina, William plans to make Lillian a proposal she can’t refuse. DEBBY MAYNE is the author of more than a dozen books and lives with her husband in Florida. Read more at www.debbymayne.com.

“'’Tis the Season”
Nikki Tronnier moves back home to Cary, North Carolina, with plans to buy back the Tronnier family home built by her great-grandfather, William, for his bride, Lillian. But before she is able to make an offer, the handsome Drew Cornell buys the house just before Christmas. TRISH PERRY is the award-winning author of nine inspirational romances and invites you to visit her at www.trishperry.com.

My new book cover for my Dec. 2011 release!

About the book:

She longs for physical healing, but God uses someone from a dark time in her past to heal something more important…her heart. Ten years ago Raquel dumped Scott for an abusive man, only she didn’t know Scott loved her in a romantic way. She thought they were just good friends because Scott never made his feelings known. Ten years later they meet up again, only now she's a widow—emotionally fragile from years of abuse—and in need of a friend she can trust. She is taking care of her aunt who has cancer, but now her own health is failing. Scott never got over Raquel and he worries he will fall in love with her again. Her past rejection causes Scott to guard his heart as he helps her navigate the unwanted changes in her life. Over time he begins to trust her again as she fights discouragement over her diagnosis. He gives Raquel the unconditional love she has always longed for, but will that be enough?

Seriously Write: My Reason for Writing by Michelle Sutton

Seriously Write: My Reason for Writing by Michelle Sutton: I’m so pleased to have Michelle Sutton as our guest author this Fortifying Friday. Michelle and I met in 2004 when she was the first per...

My review/endorsement of Warring Spirits by April W. Gardner

I wish I had a cover to post with this endorsement/review, but it doesn't look like one is available yet. When it is, I'll replace this with the cover (if I remember.)

About the book:

Three cultures, one battle. A thousand warring spirits.

In 1816 Georgia, escaped slaves control the land just beyond the American border in Las Floridas. Lost somewhere between white and black worlds, Milly follows hope to the only place that can offer her refuge—the place Georgians are calling Negro Fort. The first, sweet taste of freedom convinces Milly that surrender is not an option. Death would be more welcome.

Major Phillip Bailey has orders to subdue the uprising and return the runaways to their masters. Forced to fight alongside Creek warriors—the same who etched the scars into his mind and flesh—Phillip primes himself for battle. But inside, a war already rages—return for the woman he thought lost to him or concede her to the enemy she loves; follow orders or follow his heart.

My review:

Warring Spirits is just as enthralling--if not moreso--than the first book in the series was, Wounded Spirits. I read it straight through. Gardner knows how to write with conviction so readers can't miss the compassion she has for the people and their struggles in this story. There is heart-felt love and tension written on every page. No opportunity to show God's heart for mankind was wasted. And unlike some stories where the conflict feels almost forced, in this series they are a natural result of the pain and struggles that the characters face. Gardner spares none of her characters from suffering, and as a reader, you really feel that.

Reading this book was like watching a movie in my head. Several times I forgot that I was reading. I could picture each character because they were fleshed out so thoroughly. I felt their anguish. Gardner's writing and plotting was so well done it left me a bit breathless, but also rewarded for sticking with the story to the perfectly orchestrated ending.

Those joyous reunions that her persecuted characters experienced were sigh-worthy and melted my heart. I sensed the relief, the passion, and the overwhelming gratitude the characters experienced when their prayers were answered - though not usually in a way they expected. That made the story even more delightful because it wasn't predictable.

Yes, there was death, carnage, abuse and enough details to give the reader a true sense of the hardships faced, but at the same time there was such a beautiful portrayal of sacrifice. I loved how the story emphasized in a natural way the importance of not only listening to God's voice, but obeying it. It's impossible not to feel the joy gleaned in the midst of the devastation, and to see God's hand moving in spite of everything. Warring Spirits is a wonderful, passionate novel, and one I won't forget anytime soon.

Warring Spirits should release sometime in 2012 by Vinspire publishing. I will post the exact date once I know what it will be.

New giveaway and book review of This Time for Keeps by K. Dawn Byrd.

Do you love yummy romances with small town settings and love triangles? Here is a heart-pounding ebook that you'll want to enter for a chance to win. I guarantee you will enjoy it! Hurry and enter while you still have a chance to win. I'll choose a winner next Wednesday using the Randomizer program.



About the book:

India McGuire's peaceful life is shattered when on the night of her engagement to David Richards, she comes face to face with Chase Porter, a long lost love. India must come to terms with her overpowering feelings for Chase and choose between David, the neighbor who says he loves her, and Chase, the man who broke her heart.


Chase's plans of leaving quietly turn to disaster when he finds that it's impossible to disappear without seeing India one last time. Feelings begin to surface that he believed buried forever and he finds himself fighting to win her back even as David struggles to hold onto her.


India longs to follow her heart, but she's been hurt too deeply. Who will she choose? The neighbor who can provide stability or the man she vowed to love forever who may once again heed to the call of the open road?

My review:

It seems like every time I read a book by K Dawn Byrd I blast through it in one sitting. That's what happened today. I didn't get out of the chair I was sitting in until I finished the book. I have a sweet spot for love stories, especially when they involve love interests from the past tangling with current love interests. The author did a great job making me wonder what she was going to do for a long time. At the same time I could sense where her heart was at. Fear can drive a lot of our decisions. Especially fear of being alone, or of being abandoned. Those were both issues in India's life, and for good reason. It was a passionate love story, but a sweet one as well.

The romantic tension was enough to make me dizzy, but I love that in a book. I also love tension between characters. From India going to no men in her life to two wanting her at the same time? Well, that is pretty sweet, eh? The story had a nice ending, too. A bit predictable, but that's okay. I like happy endings. This story delivers one. Great book, especially if you enjoy reading about love triangles. Oh, and the small town setting and drama is a keeper, too.

This Time for Keeps was published by Desert Breeze Publishing and released in Oct 2011.

My review of Wings of a Dream by Anne Matter. Great story!

About the book:

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of a life far beyond her family's farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promised adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he's the man she's meant to marry. While she waits for the Great War to end and Arthur to return to her so they can pursue all their plans, her mother's sister falls ill. Rebekah seizes the opportunity to travel to Texas to care for Aunt Adabelle, seeing this chance to be closer to Arthur's training camp as God's approval of her plans.


But the Spanish flue epidemic changes everything. Faced with her aunt's death, Arthur's indecisiveness, and four children who have no one else to care for them, Rebeka is torn between the desire to escape the type of life she's always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart.

My review:

Masterful debut. I loved that it was in first person POV, which is not common for historical novels, but the style worked very well. Wings of a Dream totally captured my heart. I loved how the author took what was essentially a self-centered young woman and matured her through a variety of painful circumstances over which she had no control. I felt bad for Rebekah because she wanted to do the right thing, but she was afraid of being passed over entirely if she said no, so she struggled with it. That made her very easy to relate to and likable. 


I read this book in two sittings. I simply couldn't make myself break away from the story from page 81 to the end. I fell in love with those children as much as the heroine did. The author showed them in all of their good and bad behavior so well they seemed like real kids to me and not fictional characters. I could see how she felt overwhelmed at times, but on the other hand them needing her gave her a sense of purpose.


This is a passionate story about finding true love. The hero was a great guy all around, but he had his weaknesses, making him that much more real to me. I wanted to kick him in the butt and tell him to go after her and not let her get away. Thankfully, he must have heard me mentally yelling at him while I read because he did just that (much to my delight and pleasure) and so rather than being sad at the end, I sighed with relief. This book is enthralling. I can't say much more without giving some spoilers. 


I found it necessary to be vague in my above description because half the fun of this story is not knowing what she will do or who she will choose. My heart was very satisfied with how everything came together in the end. Even more than that, I loved the strong faith message in this story that God's path often doesn't match ours, but when our paths become one we are truly satisfied. 


What's the takeaway value of this book? The message that God will give us the desires of our heart, but that usually comes with necessary changes because rarely do our desires match God's at the outset. He knows just what we need. If nothing else, this book is great when it comes to encouraging us all to wait on God and to allow Him to direct our lives until we are fully and completely aligned with His will. But we can't do that if we don't surrender to Him and listen for His prompting. Well done!


Wings of a Dream was published by Bethany House and released in Sept. 2011.

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away The Ultimate Journey by Jim Stovall!

To enter for a chance to win a copy of this novel, please answer the following question. Do you have a favorite Christian movie that came from a Christian novel that was written first? 

Now "Fireproof", "Facing the Giants", "Flywheel", "Faith Like Potatoes", and "Courageous" don't count as I believe they were created at the same time as the movies because there were novelinzations made of the movie. Make sense?

Here is my answer: Mine would have to be "September Dawn". I never read the book, but the movie was pretty powerful, plus it has one of my favorite actors in it, Trent Ford. So what about you? I will select a winner next Sunday using the Randomizer program.


About the book:


Jim Stovall has penned three delightful parables for anyone who wants to be inspired or give the gift of inspiration. In The Ultimate Gift, Jason Stevens learns to appreciate the value of his life, while in The Ultimate Life, he learns the value of love. Now, in the touching conclusion to the trilogy, Jason learns that life’s journey is all about traveling well—not about the destination.

In The Ultimate Journey, readers will discover the secrets of a successful life, including:
• Money helps pay for the trip, but should never be a destination …
• Friends make the journey worthwhile …
• Laughter lightens the load of any rough or rocky uphill road …
• Time may be allotted in small or large portions but the moment is what counts …
… and so much more.

Do you know how to make your life a success? The Ultimate Journey packs a powerful message for all ages.

My thoughts:

The description reads like a non-fiction book, but this story is fiction. Has anyone read the book or seen the DVD titled The Ultimate Gift? I saw the movie and it was pretty touching. Anyway, I haven't read this book but if it's half as good as the book the movie was based on then it has to be good.

My review of Wounded Spirits by April W. Gardner

About the book: 


On the frontier, Adela McGirth's life is simple, rugged, and exactly to her liking. Her greatest concern is whether to marry the settlement's most eligible young officer. When a distant war among the Natives spills over into a nearby skirmish, life takes a perilous turn. Deep in enemy territory Adela must choose between the man she loves and a baby that has yet to be born; will she be strong enough to wait on God's provision?


A peace-loving yet loyal Creek warrior, Totka is forced to align with the extremist Red Stick faction whose purpose is to eradicate the. Whites from Creek soil. In the midst of battle, Totka is assigned to protect those he is expected to hate--and kill. Life was simpler before his enemy became a beautiful face with a quiet strength and dignity he cannot resist.


Having lived a life plagued with death and loss, Zachariah McGirth is a man on a mission - he'll have his revenge or die trying. Blinded by grief, he can't see his way clear of yet another tragedy. Why has God taken everything from him...or has He?


Their lives molded by the course of history, can these Wounded Spirits learn to rely on God's grace during one of the bloodiest conflicts in the South?


My review:


What a heart-pounding historical romance! This is my favorite kind of novel. It has emotional impact, spiritual impact, and was well-written. The plot was full of rich, historical detail and honest inner dialog. In short, this book had me near tears a few times because of it's powerful message. The pacing was fantastic and it was truly hard to put down. I loved how the author showed both sides of the horrible war through contrasting perspectives. At the same time this showed how the natives and the whites both received heavy losses because they were unable to deal with things diplomatically and reacted out of pain and the need for revenge until they ultimately decimated each other. This was very well done. The horror of the attack on Fort Mims was powerful. At the same time Zechariah's background in caring for an orphan years prior ended up helping him and his family in ways he never imagined. 


I absolutely loved Adela's character and how her heart exemplified Christ's love. Her character was in essence everything love is, and her sister exemplified everything love is not. Adela was a strong woman because of Jesus permeating her life with His spirit. People noticed this about her. I got tears in my eyes when she said regarding the invisible God, "Don't you see Jesus in me?" That's how we should all be, right? At the same time my heart broke for her because while she was obeying the Lord regarding not being unequally yolked, it obviously pained her to do the right thing. Yet in the end I couldn't help agreeing that what she did was the better choice as it caused her beloved to seek the one true God. True love does what is in the other person's best interest. What a convicting message. Tears filled my eyes as the book came to an end. Now I feel sad that I can't be part of the character's lives anymore. 


Wounded Spirits was published by Vinspire and released in Nov. 2010.

My review of Night of the Living Dead Christian by Matt Mikalatos

About the book:

What does a transformed life actually look like? 

In his follow-up to the critically acclaimed Imaginary Jesus, Matt Mikalatos tackles this question in an entertaining and thought-provoking way—with MONSTERS!!! While Christians claim to experience Christ’s resurrection power, we sometimes act like werewolves who can’t control our base desires. Or zombies, experiencing a resurrection that is 90 percent shambling death and 10 percent life. Or vampires, satiating ourselves at the expense of others. But through it all we long to stop being monsters and become truly human—the way Christ intended. We just can’t seem to figure out how.

Night of the Living Dead Christian is the story of Luther, a werewolf on the run, whose inner beast has driven him dangerously close to losing everything that matters. Desperate to conquer his dark side, Luther joins forces with Matt to find someone who can help. Yet their time is running out. A powerful and mysterious man is on their trail, determined to kill the wolf at all costs . . .

By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Night of the Living Dead Christian is a spiritual allegory that boldly explores the monstrous underpinnings of our nature and tackles head-on the question of how we can ever hope to become truly transformed.


My review:

This is definitely the oddest book I have ever read. Some parts were five star, some were three star, and some were lowers, so I decided to average it out. There is brilliant theology in this book, but the story is also insanely wacky and at times seemingly pointless. While quite a few scenes were so funny they made me laugh out loud (so I read them to my husband) other places were a tad dry, or overly silly.

I kept trying to see the spiritual allegory and I did catch it in a few places, but most of the story was plain confusing for me. There was a lot of action, hilarity, and stuff that was downright weird. As in beyond silly. But then the story would shift into some deep theology, and it almost felt bipolar to me. Odd, but that's the best way I can think of to describe it. Maybe if the transitions had been a bit smoother and not contrasted so much it would have worked more for me. Not sure. I could see the author was trying to make some good points, but they were muddied by the insanity of it all.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Revell blog tour stop for The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller - with bonus review!

Fleeing to the North Woods to Escape Her Abusive Husband  
Will Katie have the courage to allow another man into her heart?  


The Measure of Katie Calloway (ISBN: 978-0-8007-1998-2, $14.99, October), the newest book from author Serena Miller, transports readers to an era of log jams and shanty boys in the northern woods of Michigan.

About the book: 


The Civil War in America is over and former northerner, Katie Calloway, must flee for her life from Georgia, where her husband, an abusive Confederate officer, is waging war in their own home. Not only does he taunt her about her father and brother dying for the Union army, but she discovers that he is planning to kill her in order to be free to marry a local widow whose still-intact plantation he covets. Katie and her little brother find refuge in a lumber camp where she allows the camp owner to believe she is a widow.


The camp owner, Robert Foster, wonders if the lovely woman he's hired has the grit to survive the never-ending work and harsh conditions of a remote pine forest in winter. Katie, worried that Robert will fire her if he discovers she is not the grieving widow she pretends to be, fights to keep her past a secret from this good man she is growing to love.


As Katie and Robert slowly realize their deep love for one another, Katie wonders, can she truly outrun her tumultuous past and learn to trust someone new?


Miller tells the story of an unforgettable journey of love, sacrifice, and self-discovery set against the backdrop of a world that was unforgiving at best.

Serena Miller is the author of Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio, as well as numerous articles for periodicals such as Woman's World, Guideposts, Reader's Digest, Focus on the Family, Christian Woman, and more. She lives on a farm in southern Ohio.


My review:

I was pleasantly surprised and delighted by the depth of this story. Not only did I learn a lot about the logging business post Civil-war, but more about Michigan as well. I loved the anecdotal sayings and songs about the shanty boys and the dangers inherent in that business. It was amazing what our ancestors went through in both logging and mining, which are both fascinating subjects to me. 


The plot was well developed and the characters were complex. I loved that the author didn't have a predictable ending and things twisted and turned a little bit from the standard story structure. Robert was a great hero and very easy to fall for. I hurt for him and his history as a surgeon during the war. I was moved to tears when he needed to perform surgery and Katie prayed for him. It reminded me of Aaron holding up Moses's hands in the Old Testament. His children were realistically portrayed as well. The cook Jigger was something. His transformation in the story over time was heart warming. 


The heroine, Katie, was a hard worker and it was impossible to not admire her pluck. I think that was one of the things that Robert liked most about her. She wasn't a typical women. She worked hard and didn't nag or complain. That was good to see in a book. Her cooking was so well described I often imagined myself eating what Katie was creating in the kitchen. Those meals sounded yummy.


The camaraderie of the camp employees really made this novel special to me. The many characters were distinct and the author included just enough male vulgarity (if you will) to make it really feel like a camp full of men without being gross. In my mind I could smell their BO and I experienced other sensations like the rough pine and scratchy wool because they was so well described. I did find myself scratching my head every time lice and bed bugs were mentioned. Ick. 


Probably the best part of the story to me was the realistic portrayal of how an abused woman would react when threatened. Even a strong one. I loved how Robert noticed that she was almost too compliant and didn't want to make waves. She was also afraid of male anger. That was well done. I loved how Katie nurtured everyone around her including her brother and Moon Song. The spiritual thread in Sky Pilot's story was also good. I felt like I knew the characters personally. That's good writing.



***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher to give and honest review for the blog tour. The opinion expressed above is entirely my own. 


Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.


“Available October 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Now accepting submissions! (Not me, but a great publisher!)

Do you have a book that you've written and truly adore, but it just doesn't seem to fit anywhere that is taking submissions? Do you want a publisher that pays well, pays often, and will not charge you a dime? Desert Breeze Publishing may be the place for you. They loves niches genres. They love unique stories. So read the announcement below and see if the description describes your work. If it does, consider submitting. I'm glad I did. In Dec. 2011 my seventh ebook will be releasing through Desert Breeze. I have twelve books published between three publishers, but only seven are with Desert Breeze. However, if I didn't like them, I wouldn't keep selling them my wonderful stories *wink.*

** Permission to forward and share both granted and encouraged **

Desert Breeze Publishing is currently seeking submissions to fill specifically our 2012 release schedule. Desert Breeze Publishing currently releases books twice a month, and as of April 2012 we will release books three times a month.

Desert Breeze Publishing is a royalty-paying publisher of romance in electronic novel format, but are excited to announce we will be releasing our top sellers in print in 2012. We publish from the sweet to the heated, with the exclusion of erotica or erotic romance and GLBT/alternative lifestyles. Our books are currently distributed through Amazon and Amazon International affiliates for Kindle, Barnes and Noble, All Romance eBooks, Kobo, and the Apple iBookstore for distribution in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. All our Inspirational/Christian Romances are available at Christianbooks.com.

Romance should be the prevailing theme of your manuscript, not romantic elements. We are seeking manuscripts from novella length (between 25,000 and 35,000 words approximately) to super novel length (exceeding 100,000 words), with a preference for novels between 55,000 and 80,000 words. We are more than willing to accept queries on book series, and will consider a series concept when at least one book is completed and the series has been thoroughly formulated.

We are not seeking anything shorter than 25,000 words, with a strong preference for manuscripts of at least 30,000 words.

We will review previously published manuscripts; however, proof of release must be provided. We prefer to see some new material along with your previously published manuscripts.

We are looking for submissions in all of the following romance sub-genres:
* Contemporary Romance
* Romantic Suspense
* Military-themed Romance
* Romantic Comedy/Humorous Romance
* Christian Romance
* Inspirational Romance
* Fantasy Romance
* Paranormal Romance
* Science Fiction/Futuristic/Speculative Fiction Romance
* Steampunk Romance
* Modern Cowboy Romance
* Historical Romance -- both prior to 1900 and 20th Century/Vintage
* Young Adult Romance in all genres
* Manuscripts with specific celebratory or holiday themes

And while we're actively seeking all genres, there are a few types of submissions that would really excite us!

We are interested in expanding the scope of our Vintage/20th Century category, stepping outside the most popular time period surrounding World War II. An exceptional amount of change occurred in the 20th Century, and our world was challenged in many ways. We would be interested in seeing novels set around the Korean War or the Viet Nam Conflict, novels with themes involving The Great Depression, the Space Race, the end of the Cold War. There are so many possibilities.

We wish to promote the growth and expansion of the Sci Fi Rom/Futuristic Romance/Speculative Fiction Romance genres by offering exceptional character-driven novels and series offering appeal to the die hard sci fi fan as well as the adventurous romance lovers. Sci Fi romance must be smart, well planned, well thought out to build amazing worlds and possible futures with strong characters and great character chemistry and development.

In the same vein, Steampunk (and all variations thereof, ie: Gaslight, Diesel Punk, etc) is a genre in high demand.

We would like to see both single title -- as well as series -- romantic suspense novels, especially with characters who serve in law enforcement, civil service, or the military. And that's not just limited to the heroes. We'd love to see books where the heroine is the one doing the saving and protecting, or works beside the hero in an equal position.

We are actively seeking inspirational and Christian novels with a bit more real world flair. It's not always easy being a Christian, and we would like to see novels that express that.

If you are offering a manuscript with a specific celebratory or holiday theme, please indicate this in your submission. It would be our goal, if possible, to schedule your book release to coincide with whatever holiday you focus on in your manuscript to optimize sales potential.

Full details on our submission guidelines and house preferences can be found at our website:

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/policy/Page.bok

Questions regarding submissions can be sent to:
EditorInChief@DesertBreezePublishing.com

We hope to hear from you soon!
Gail R. Delaney
Editor-In-Chief
Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc

In recognition of Infertility Awareness month I'd like to introduce a book designed to encourage.

Letting Go (Healing Hearts, book 1) is about a woman dealing with infertility issues (among several others) and a single foster father who happens to be sterile and whose adoption is threatened by the State. He hires an attorney to help protect his only chance of being a father.

So if you know of any adoptive parents or couples dealing with infertility issues, you may want to tell them about this novel. The story was written to show their struggles with infertility, but also to encourage readers and heal broken hearts. The paperback is currently out of stock on Amazon and CBD (not a bad thing) so it's on back order. The paperback is not yet available on B&N. However, you can still get it on kindle and nook. Just click on the cover to take you to Amazon, or go to Christianbook.com or get the nook book on B&N. Have an encouraging month.

Marketing tips for promoting your book from The Book Marketing Expert Newsletter

Reprinted with permission. This resource comes from editor Penny C. Sansevieri's newsletter.


Promote Your Book: 250+ Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques, Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. Eastern

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepublishinginsiders/2011/10/18/promote-your-book-250-proven-low-cost-tips-and-techniques

Do you have what it takes to be a successful author, but you're not sure how to go about it? Are you a published author with a book that is struggling in the marketplace? Promote Your Book gives enterprising authors the advantage they need in order to more successfully navigate the publishing industry and gain a better understanding of their responsibilities as a published author. Join us as author Patricia Fry offers insights into tried and true book promotion techniques.

Learn how to promote creatively; when, why and how to get involved in social media; how and when to submit news releases and tip sheets; ideas for arranging book signings, radio, and TV appearances; tips for submitting articles and stories for publication; how to land and present speaking gigs and much more.

Shows available for download at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepublishinginsiders:

* How to Get Your Book Reviewed
* All About Ghostwriting
* Publishing Insights from Ellora's Cave
* Re-Purposing Your Content
* The Future of Author Events
* Selling Your Book in Bulk and Special Sales
* What Authors Must Know About Book Cover Design
* Literary Agents and Their Evolving Role in Publishing
* The Dos and Don'ts of Distribution, Parts 1, 2 and 3
* SPECIAL GUEST Seth Godin: Poke the Box
* Smart Self-Publishing: Why Book Design & Editing Matter
* Smart Self-Publishing: Making Money with eBooks
* Smart Self-Publishing Series: Becoming Your Own Publisher
* Branding: The Secret to Selling More Books
* Secrets to Getting Your Book Into Libraries
* Getting Your Book into Bookstores with Elaine Wilkes
* This Book Will Make You Money with special guest Jim Kukral
* How to Make Money on Twitter
* A Self Publishing Success Story
* From Blog to Book
* The Digital Book Revolution
* Powerhouse Promotion with Marci Shimoff
* eBooks: the Savior of Publishing or the Foe? with Joe Konrath
* Special Guest Mari Smith, queen of Facebook
* All Things Twitter! with Warren Whitlock

WHO WE ARE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author Marketing Experts, Inc. is a full-service book marketing, promotion, and publicity company. We serve authors at all stages of marketing and promotion. We offer a full range of packages and services to choose from. 

To see a price list or schedule a free consultation, send your e-mail to penny@amarketingexpert.com with the subject line "Author Services Info." You can also visit our website at www.amarketingexpert.com.

Reprint permission ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You are welcome to reprint any items from "The Book Marketing Expert Newsletter." However, please credit us as a source with the following paragraph:

Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

New giveaway! Now I'm giving away The Violet Flash by Mike Mason!

To enter for a chance to win this book simply post a comment stating whether or not you will read the book or if you'd want to win it to give it to a child. Thanks! A winner will be chosen using the Randomizer program next Sunday.



About the book: 


There’s a rip in the blue umbrella, and time—and Chelsea—are slipping through!
             
One moment she was there, the next moment she was not, and Ches Cholmondeley was watching when it happened. And he learns of other mysterious goings-on: for three days in a row the world’s atomic clocks have lost a second, resulting in bizarre accidents ranging from dropped casseroles to plane crashes. Are these events related? What’s a brother to do?
            
Figure out a way to get his sister back, of course. In search of answers, Ches befriends the local clockmaker, Myron Stinchcombe, who knows a lot about time, and seeks out Sky Porter, who knows a lot about, well, everything.
            
But time is running out. And Ches is torn, knowing that the very deed that can save the world might also keep his sister from ever returning to it.


My thoughts:  


I don't have this book to review. According to Amazon it's for ages 9 and up (4th grade and up.)
The book will be sent to the winner by Wynn Wynn Media. 

Revell blog tour stop for Hello, Hollywood by Janice Thompson with bonus review!.

Say Hello to Hollywood!

Find out just how funny life can be when you try to script it.

“Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Popular romance author and screenwriter, Janice Thompson, is charming her readers once again with a behind-the-scenes look at life in Hollywood.  Her new book, Hello, Hollywood! (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3346-9, $14.99, 288 pages, September 2011) is the second installment in the Backstage Pass series. This time, Thompson takes her readers inside the writer’s room.

At 28, Athena Pappas has a pretty great gig. She’s the head writer of one of the most popular sitcoms in television history, Stars Collide. Yet, something’s still lacking: her love life. 

Athena finds nothing wrong with still living at home with her large, wacky Greek family and making her bed with the same Strawberry Shortcake sheets she had as a kid. None of that has prevented Athena from plotting her characters’ romances. So why is her own love life so hard to script?

Athena’s love life gets the shakeup it needs when her boss hires up-and-coming Vegas comedian, Stephen Cosse, to help boost the show’s sagging ratings. Feeling her position as head writer threatened, she starts to doubt her talents, and the fact that Stephen is as good looking as Adonis doesn’t escape Athena’s attention either.

Sparks fly as the competition—and attraction—between the two heats things up. While they struggle to create conflict and comedy for their characters on the page, Athena and Stephen develop a relationship they never would have scripted for themselves and discover that not being in control of the plot of their lives may just be the best thing that’s ever happened.

Hello, Hollywood! delights readers with its charm and humor. Every character will jump off the page and into the readers’ hearts.

Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson affords an inside look at TV land, drawing on her experiences as a screenwriter. She is the author of the Weddings by Bella series and lives in Texas. To learn more about Janice visit her at: www.janicethompson.com

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.


My review:

This story made me smile from the halfway point to the end. It was a bit slow in building for me even with the dreamy Adonis (AKA Stephen) introduced in the beginning. What really touched my heart was Stephen's story and his love for his daughter. Her desire for a family was downright heart-warming. And the chemistry between Athena and Stephen was...wow. Their first kiss was a real heart-stopper...or make that a pulse-pounder. I loved how she was so into the moment, but then would drift into scripting. That was pretty funny.

The author has a knack for heart-warming romance and sizzling attraction that never leaves the sweet zone. While the kisses are delectable, they are always tastefully done. This just gels the authors consistent style with the tender way she writes her romances. There are always issues, but they never overwhelm the story. Thompson is one of the few authors whose sweet romances can actually get my heart revving. Every time. Yep.

As I said, a bit of a slow start, but definitely worth the read. Stick with it and you'll get to the memorable stuff. I enjoyed the slapstick humor and the crazy dog stuff, but what really worked for me in the story was the deep and abiding theme of people needing each other and children needing stability and families to thrive. Well done!

A copy of this book was provided to this blogger by the publisher to review for the blog tour. The opinion expressed above is entirely my own.

Inkwell Inspirations: Guest Reviewer Michelle Sutton for Dance of the Da...

Inkwell Inspirations: Guest Reviewer Michelle Sutton for Dance of the Da...: Join the Inkies in welcoming Author and Super Reviewer Michelle Sutton! I'm pretty sure she has a clone. Beside being an Author of over a ...

Healing Hearts blog introduces Anthony Garcia, guest blogger and graduate in English Literature

Getting Published in Grad School by Anthony Garcia

With the job market looking bleak for recent graduates in the current economy, it is important for students to make themselves as competitive as possible. This is true for students from traditional undergraduate programs in English and related fields to online graduate programs, and everything in between. Publishing gives students something beyond their coursework to show for their time in school, and looks impressive to both educational and office-oriented employers.

If you are in academia, publishing may also be your best chance to distinguish yourself. Most tenure requirements for assistant professors place heavy emphasis on publishing, but graduate students are more often expected to publish in order to get ahead, and sometimes even just to be considered. This trend may seem discouraging to students who really want to focus on their studies, but there are many ways to start publishing while still in school.

Something needs to be written in order to publish, so that would seem like the logical first step. However, if you do not have something already written, it will be helpful to do your homework before drafting your piece. To make your writing have the most impact, put your energy into the type of work that's tailored to your field. For example, scholarly journal articles may be the premium in your area of study, or may be it's short stories. Next scope out each publication venue that looks like it might fit your interests, and consider what types of topics are discussed, and which issues are best for the audiences in your given area of study.

Once you have found a few possible venues to tailor your writing to, you can begin. If you are having writer’s block, it is helpful to have your peers give feedback during the brainstorming process. When you dialogue with someone about your writing, it can really help get the creative method started, and help you save draft time. Many graduate students feel advanced, but it can be easy to forget basic writing tools, such as the importance for outlining. Graduate students and even professors still benefit from the outline, just as a basic writer would. This tip is especially important when the material is dense, or you are working with the jargon-filled prose common in the academe.

Turning conference papers into published articles is another way to save time in the writing process, and to utilize the audience you gained during the conference. Looking for calls for papers for different conferences can help you get motivated to write out an idea you might have, share your work with others and get direct feedback, and work with a shorter draft before lengthening it for publication.

If you already have something written, you will need to make sure that your topic is relevant in your chosen area of specialization, especially if you plan on teaching and researching at a university level. The less relevant and timely your work is, the less likely that it will be recognized by scholars in your field searching for hires. If you are a graduate-level fiction writer, make sure to scope out the best journals, reviews and magazines for your genre. Checking out the qualifications that each site offers before sending out your work is a useful way to write with those guidelines in mind, and to save yourself time later on trying to figure out where to send your work. There are many resources that list different “homes” for writing, from children's literature to horror fiction.

Keep writing, and keep submitting. Because publishing is so imperative in the academe for many professional successes, getting a head start in graduate school will show that you are a force to be reckoned with, and will definitely help you when enter the job market. 

Bio: Anthony recently completed his graduate education in English Literature. A New Mexico native, he currently resides and writes in Seattle, Washington. He writes primarily about education, travel, literature, and American culture. 

The Phoenix Rattler contest is now open!

Grand Prize: Free Registration for the 2012 ACFW Conference in Dallas ($512)! 

We are delighted to announce the 2nd annual Phoenix Rattler Does Your Story Have Bite? Contest is accepting entries now through October 29. The contest is hosted by the Arizona ACFW chapter, Christian Writers of the West. Unpublished authors may submit entries of up to ten pages in six categories.

Every entry will be judged by three authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins, Brandilyn Collins, Jenny B. Jones, and Brock Thoene in the preliminary round. A complete list of the judges appears on the contest website. The top three finalists in each category will be read by the editors and agents listed below:


Contemporary Fiction


Historical Fiction


Suspense/Thriller/Mystery


Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Allegory


Young Adult


Women’s Fiction


Don Pape, Publisher, David C Cook
Bill Jensen, William K Jensen Literary Agency


Karen Schurrer, Acquisitions Editor, Adult Fiction, Bethany House
Joyce Hart, Agent, Hartline Literary Agency


Sue Brower, Executive Editor for Fiction, Zondervan
Elizabeth Mazer, Assistant Editor, Love Inspired Suspense


Jeff Gerke, Owner, Marcher Lord Press, Author, Jefferson Scott
Amanda Luedeke, Agent, MacGregor Literary


Becky Monds, Associate Editor, Fiction, Thomas Nelson
Rachel Kent, Agent, Books & Such LiteraryAgency
Joanna MacKenzie, Browne & Miller Literary Associates


Ami McConnell, Senior Acquisitions Editor, Thomas Nelson
Sandra Bishop, Agent, MacGregor Literary
Judy Mikalonis, Senior Agent, Andrea Hurst & Associates



In addition to the Grand Prize winner, each category winner will receive $25.
Entry fee is $25. The winners will be announced Feb 11th 2012, giving finalists time to polish submissions for the ACFW 2012 Genesis contest.


We are praying that God will use our contest to encourage Christian writers and to connect authors with members of the publishing industry who may ultimately publish their novels.


For complete contest info and entry form, go to www.christianwritersofthewest.weebly.com. Click on Phoenix Rattler Contest. We heartily give permission to forward this e-mail to any friends who may be interested.