2006 in Review

Pictured here is the Shelby County Courthouse in Sidney, Ohio. Thanks to Patsy Maxwell of the Love.Christ Christian Bookstore on the courthouse square on Poplar Street in Sidney for allowing me to
come to her store for a signing and author event on November 17 during the annual town lighting on the courthouse lawn. I had a wonderful time meeting Patsy and the people of Sidney.

2006 kept me very busy with signings and library events. I wrote two books this year, including my latest which I am printing off today to give to one of my proofreaders. I should've finished this book sooner so I could get started on Book 4 of my Jenna's Creek series. In order to have it published Summer, '08, I need to have it to my publisher by April of '07. It's safe to say that isn't going to happen.

Oh well, this post isn't to lament what I didn't get done, but to remember what I did. January 2006 saw the publication of my third book, Redemption's Song, the second in my Jenna's Creek series. Redemption's Song was highly recommended among reviewers and received a five-star review from the Midwest Book Review. Late winter and early spring of 2006 were spent promoting the latest installment of the Jenna's Creek Series and working on a new series book. Tsaba House has decided to hold that book until after the Jenna's Creek series is complete.

In July, 2006 my husband & I joined the Tsaba House family at the Intl. Christian Retail Show in Denver, CO. We had a wonderful time. Denver is a beautiful city. Ralph and I enjoyed another tour into the mountains while we were there. I highly recommend taking one of these tours. They are not cheap, but you will see things you might miss if you attempt the trip on your own. Besides, who wants to worry about manuevering the trecherous mountain roads when you can sit back and enjoy the view and let a knowledgeable tour bus driver handle it for you?

Back home I began my latest book, tentatively titled Every Secret Thing. This is the first book I've written that I didn't hate throughout the writing process. Usually when I am working on a book, I don't like it. After it's finished and I am immersed in rewrites, I think, "Wow, I don't even remember writing this. It's really good."

In September Tsaba House released my fourth book, The Ultimate Guide to Darcy Carter. It is a stand-alone book that I am very excited about. Darcy also received rave reviews and it finding its way onto library and bookstore shelves around the country. How exciting.

The fall of the year is typically my busiest season. I do a lot of craft fairs and book shows where I set up a booth to sell my books. This year was my most successful to date. Either I'm getting better at selling to people or I just have so many books out, I automatically make more money. Either way, I met lots of readers and converted new ones. What a boost to my ego to hear how much you enjoy the books!

I called someone last week to look for my step-sister Lisa Douglas, who is visiting from Dallas. The nine-year-old in the house saw my name on the caller ID and said, "Is that the world famous author, Teresa Slack?" Wow! I'm not used to hearing myself referred to as world famous. But I like it.

Amidst the hustle and confusion that is the holiday season, I managed to complete another manuscript with three days to spare in 2006. Now I am looking forward to '07. What it will bring is still a mystery, but I can't wait to get started.

Special thanks to my faithful readers who bought the books for Christmas gifts or forwarded a link to my website to all their friends. Thank you to all the readers who purchased a copy of the books for the Book for a Soldier program to support our troops in Iraq. It's not too late, btw. If you're interested, let me know and I'll set you or your church up.

More than anything I want to thank my Heavenly Father for another year of health and blessings. None of this would be possible without his favor. I am truly blessed to be in this business. I read today there are an estimated 6 million manuscripts floating around the U.S. looking for a home at any given time. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt God was in the process when I found Tsaba House, and He has made it possible for me to touch hearts with my fiction.

Be blessed & have a wonderful 2007.
Teresa

Where is Christmas

Maintaining a web presence is time consuming and daunting at the best of times, but especially so this time of year when the last thing I have an abundance of is time. I'm hearing great things about Amazon Connect which allows authors to stay connected to readers. It doesn't take long to set up and the writer can post messages to readers. I just haven't had time to wander over to Amazon to check it out.

My website could use some tweaking, but alas I haven't got to that either for a while. All the usual distractions that come with December have been clogging up my schedule and keeping me from dedicating any major blocks of time to my writing. Consequently I haven't made much headway on my current WIP, though I assure you it will be worth the wait.

I am confident my pace will slow down when January stretches out in front of me and there is nothing else to do but write. As for now, December temps have been in the low 60's, the sun is shining, and it doesn't seem like Christmas. Until I try to find a parking spot at the local mall. Our sermon at church this morning was Where Is Your Christmas. Tonight members of the congregation performed a musical called A Smoky Mountain Christmas. Both messages reaffirmed family and faith and compassion and forgiveness--things we need more of in this life.

Help me, dear Lord, not to get bogged down in my to-do list so much that I forget what this season represents. When people look at me, I want them to see you, hear you, and experience your love and grace.

May you all be blessed this Christmas. Talk to you soon.

Teresa

Tick Tick Tick

Pictured are Angel and Molly, the only two residents in my house not stressing over the upcoming holidays. Not really. I'm not too stressed even though the clock is ticking and I am trying to stay focused on writing while getting the house and myself ready for the next few weeks.

My husband, Ralph and I are entertaining next week and we still don't have a Christmas tree. Last year I told my son he could have our old tree when he moved out. Who knew he would ever move out or then remember I offered him the tree. He did both so I have been tree shopping for weeks. The main problem is that I hate to buy something today when I know it will be half price on December 26th. That goes against within me. So I'm looking for sales or considering a cut tree(which seems like such a waste of a beautiful tree) or buying a balled one I can plant in my yard after the holidays. The only thing with the balled trees is they are so expensive, overpriced because they know there are people like me who love the idea of a live tree in their homes that will reside in their front yard for years. I'm sure I could buy the same tree in March for half the price.

Have you noticed a pattern here? I hate to pay full price for anything and I doubly hate feeling like retailers are taking advantage of me. I was born frugal, but getting into the writing business where a steady income is a crap shoot, has made me even more careful with money.

So I really need a tree inside my house and decorated for the holidays by next week. At least my cards are in the mail and my presents are almost completely bought--and wrapped. Now I just need to plan menus for two dinners I'm hosting and party games for the first.

But I love it all. This truly is the most wonderful time of the year for me. Tonight is my church Christmas dinner that I look forward to every year. Then it's off to the stores who are having moonlight madness sales so my husband can finish his shopping and I might just pick up a thing or two of my own.

For today, I still have a book to edit. It's coming along great. I can't wait to put it in my publisher's hand at the first of the year. I hope they love it as much as I do.

Have a wonderful weekend and I will try to post to this blog more often.

Teresa

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and I'm ready...Or at least I'm working on it. I'm one of those annoying people who has been shopping for months. Hitting the stores the day after Thanksgiving is simply a formality. It's a tradition in our house to get up at 4:00 a.m. and be in the mall parking lot at six. Crazy, I know, but my husband and I have fun. Mostly because we aren't after anything in particular so we can have fun watching everyone else stress out. The following Monday is the big shopping day for all the girls. That's when we really let our hair down and buy those impulse gifts that we swore we wouldn't get sucked into buying by all the media hype.

But this isn't about shopping and how much we add to our consumer debt. To me, the holiday season starts on Halloween. The last two months of the year are jam-packed with chores like preparing the flower beds for winter and preparing the house for out of town guests. It's for planning menus and trying new appetizers, shopping for that perfect gift and making list after list of what chores are finished and what still needs doing.

This is a three day work week so I have five days worth of work to squeeze in by Wednesday. We are hosting Thanksgiving at our house, so extra work for me. Besides cleaning and shopping and defrosting everything in time, I have several writing projects to finish. Did I mention my website has been on the fritz since August and I must get that straightened out by the end of the week because we all know December is our least productive month?

I've been setting up at craft bazaars the last few weeks, selling books and meeting readers. Yesterday I did my hometown bazaar and met lots of people who've been following my books for the last two years. I received lots of positive affirmation and feedback, which is such a joy since I often wonder if anyone is even reading the books. To add to the fun, I've sold lots of books. Thanks to all my faithful readers out there. Let me apologize to you for the mess that is my website and promise to get everything straightened out. By the first of the year, my readers' club and forum should be up and running and I invite all of you to check it out. Ask questions, stay abreast of what's coming next, enter the contests, and plenty of fun things.

I don't know how much blogging I'll get done in the next few weeks. But be patient, and I'll work on my regularity. If I don't see you for a few days, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. May you be surrounded with the people you love, doing what you enjoy most...which may very well include eating and watching football.

Teresa

Something Missing

October is almost over and I haven't finished the rewrites for my new book. I had this grand scheme of finishing this book in October, outlining Book 4 of my Jenna's Creek Novel Series in November, and polishing this one and submitting it in December. You know what they say about the best laid plans...

I've just come from church. It's Sunday night and I'm in front of the computer eating a Payday Avalanche and trying to get a head start on Monday's to-do list. One of my to-do's is posting on this blog, which I can't seem to do regularly no matter how good my intentions.

Our pastor preached tonight that we seldom know what God has planned for our lives. We can only see what's directly in front of us. God already knows which one of my books will be my break-out work. He already knows how each book will touch hearts--hearts of people I may never meet this side of glory.

I worry a lot about book promotion. The more I write, the less time I have to promote the books I've already done. The more I promote, the less time I have to focus on the next book. What to do! Promote these books or work on the next one since readers expect books at a pretty fast clip? Are my efforts even necessary? Is anyone out there reading? There are so many excellent books already on the bookstore shelves, do I need to contribute yet another book that will only take readers away from Bible study?

So I worry. I make deadlines and schedule book signings and work on my website. I seldom even ask God which way He wants me to go. There is only so much I can do with my limited talent and twenty-four hours in a day. But God's resources are limitless. Why don't I rely on Him more? With only two more workdays in October in which to get this book finished, I'm going to do what I can to use my time wisely. Even if I don't finish the rewrites like I want, I need to do my best. Limit distractions, keep the TV off, and start each day with prayer. God knows when and how this book needs finished. I'll trust him and stop worrying about what I see with my eyes. He sees the big picture. He's in charge, not me.

For the record, my wayward dog Molly was found a few hours after I told you she was missing. About ten a.m. I got in the van to go to the bank. If I didn't see her on my way through town, I was going to drive down her favorite side roads when I got finished with my errand. I had just backed out of the driveway and was straightening up the van when she came running across the yard. She was very excited from the noise of the van and the prospect of going for a ride. She was wet and smelly so she went inside the house instead of inside my wet and smelly van. Even though she enjoyed her little adventure, she was relieved to be home. She did her little circle dance that she does when she is very excited (a funny thing to watch a fifty pound dog do) and ran in the house and rolled all over her doggie bed. She was happy to see her sister, but Angel was annoyed at the fuss and just wanted to be left alone.

Now that things are back to normal, I am at the unpleasant stage of rewrites on my latest novel. I am still undecided about how to get a convicted killer out of prison. It's been 12 years, but he needs to be released so readers will have another suspect, among other reasons.

I am bummed that I lost my ebay auction yesterday for a Marie Osmond doll, Katie Sue. Let me tell you, she's gorgeous. She sold for only 3 dollars over my maximum bid. When I found out I had been outbid, I intended to wait until a few minutes before the end of the auction and then bid a few dollars more. Then I got engrossed in the Robert Redford/Morgan Freeman movie, An Unfinished Life (really enjoyed it) and forgot to bid. When the movie ended, I found out I lost the auction. Oh well, there will be more chances to win her before Christmas.

Enough stalling. Back to work.

Have you seen this dog?

Lots going on here the past few weeks. My fall schedule is in full swing. I have yet another craft fair this weekend at Lewis Mtn. Herbs & Everlasting in Manchester, Ohio, and I'm hustling to get things wrapped up on my current manuscript. Yesterday I had a doctor's appt. so I took my notebook and some fresh pencils to work on those last little problems that frustrate writers as they near the end of a work in progress. All those loose ends to tie up. There are plenty in this book. But I am loving the process.

Thunderstorms and possible tornados ravaged central Ohio last night, but we missed the brunt of the storm. Afterwards I let Molly and Angel outside to tour the damage, and Molly hasn't come back yet. It's breakfast time and she should be here. When she isn't here warm and dry where I can keep an eye on her, I always imagine she's out there somewhere cold and hurt and alone and scared. I don't know why I do this to myself. After the night she came home with a turtle hook caught in her mouth, I wonder what other dangers she'll find out there. Part terrier, part border collie, and who knows what else, she's always on the lookout for mischief.

If you see her, send her home. She knows the way.

Seasons

Here in Ohio, the leaves are starting to change. I almost hate to see it happen. Not because it means the unpredicatability of winter is just around the corner. Like all the seasons I love winter. The peaceful quiet when a heavy snow blankets the trees and the earth. The sparkling beauty of sunshine on a winter's landscape. The vivid pinks, reds, oranges, and purples the freezing temperatures splash across the sky every morning to usher in the day. I almost hate to see the leaves change because there's a good chance if I blink I might miss it.

This summer has been dry, which usually means Autumn's magnificent color show won't be as vibrant or last as long. But the cool nights and hot days mean the apples ripening on the trees will taste better, so it's a fair trade.

Everywhere around us is the beauty and splendor of Creation. I spend most of my daytime hours inside in front of my computer, so I miss some of these last gorgeous days of mild weather. I don't stop to enjoy the color changes on the trees as much as I could. But I enjoy good health, a body that cooperates with nearly any task I ask of it, and people who love me. Like everyone, I come across jealousy, strife, resentment, misunderstandings, and loneliness in my daily walk. But I also have more than my share of blessings: love, peace, joy, romance, happiness, fulfillment.

We can focus on the negative in this world; there's plenty around if you stop and look. Or we can focus on the positive and share that with the world; there's plenty of that too. You might have to look a little. Or then again, it might be right under your nose.

Fan Club

With the help of my publisher, Tsaba House, I am in the process of forming a fan club for readers of my fiction. Upon first hearing that this was in the works, my mind went back to junior high when my friends and I were reading Tiger Beat Magazine and drooling over Donny Osmond, Shaun Cassidy, and my personal favorite, Robby Benson. Did you know he's a professor now at a school in South Carolina...I think? I am really showing my age here, huh? In case you have no idea who these people are, here's a hint: the 1970's.

But a fan club for little old me? Who would have thought it! I have acquired a faithful group of readers which continues to grow each day so I suppose a fan club isn't too arrogant. It's purpose is to keep readers informed of upcoming releases, my schedule of appearances, and to get the word out to new readers. So if you are interested in signing up in these early stages, you can go to my website, zip an email over to the marketing director at Tsaba House, or to my fan club president, Katrina Gibson.

If you're into SimCity, check out Katrina's website. Join the message board and let them know what you think.

By joining the club, you will have the opportunity to read advance copies of the books, get a heads up on new releases long before anyone else, and receive all kinds of discounts and other cool stuff. There will be perks for fan club members who recruit more members to the club, so send announcements to your friends who love Inspirational fiction. It's the fastest growing segment in the publishing industry and sure to get bigger every year.

Words of blessing

I had a great writing week last week, accumulating 25,000 words in my current WIP. If I could keep this up consistently, I could pump out a first draft in 30 days without thinking twice. Unfortunately life interferes, weeds take over my flower gardens and demand my attention, I get distracted, or I'm just plain lazy. There are so many factors in a successful writing career I need to work on: discipline, consistency, time management.

But what I really need to keep in mind is how those 25,000 words I pumped out last week will impact the world. Yes, I do think it those terms. I'm not writing fulltime for my own personal gain or gratification, although those are nice. I want my words to make a difference in someone's life. Mostly, I want my words to glorify the Father.

During my devotion time the other day, I read something that reminded me of this. From that revelation, I came up with this prayer that I am going to tape over my monitor so it will be on my mind every time I sit down to work.

Heavenly Father,
I pray that only positive, uplifting words of blessings come from my heart and my pen. Words that edify and make the heart sing; that complete and make whole. May I speak and write as You would, whether it be with meekness or boldness, may they be words from Your heart.
Amen

We might all be better off to keep this sentiment in mind as we go about our lives today. Not just writers or educators or speakers but all of us. We all impact someone else, even indirectly. Let us examine ourselves and the words out of our mouths.

Have a great week!
Teresa

Where am I headed?

Joy in the Journey is a blog dedicated to chronicling my journey from author in virtual obscurity to well-known novelist. But more than that, it's my daily journey through life in this particular point in time and space that the Good Lord saw fit to put me in.

Unfortunately I'm not being a good steward of the gifts He's given me lately. I want to blog more often, but I find I am frittering away my day just wasting time. I spent yesterday outlining my new book with the help of my sister Robin. She's great at these things, she just says she has no interests in putting it all together herself. So she's willing to use her talent to make me rich & famous. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Don't know, I'll get back to you on that.

Between outlining and getting my husband off to work and reading a few mysteries to set the mood for my own book and walking the dogs and talking on the phone and making crafts for upcoming craft fairs where I promote my books, I'm not getting a lot of writing done.

Next door to the post office where we writers always have errands to run, lives a woman who spends what looks to me like most of her day sitting on her front porch smoking cigarettes. When I passed her house yesterday on my way to the library--another place where writers spend lots of time--there she sat in her chair watching traffic go by. When I came back about 30 minutes later, she was still there. I couldn't help wondering if she ever considers doing something other than sitting on that porch.

I'm not judging this woman. Part of me almost envies her. I can't see her disillusionment with her life. I don't feel her regrets or frustration over the dreams that never came true. Did she ever have dreams? Surely she was a young woman once who imagined more to life than sitting on her porch next to the post office and watching people come and go.

But can you imagine the ease of a life spent doing just that? No stress. No deadlines. No concerns over if today was productive or if she did anything to benefit mankind while the earth spun on its axis.

Maybe I think too much. Maybe I wake up every morning, determined to make good use of the next 17 hours I'll spend awake. Maybe I put too many demands on myself to be a productive member of society when all I need to do is sit on my porch and watch traffic. Maybe her days are less stressful than mine, but when it's my time to go, I want to have a life worth looking back on.

I still don't know where I'm headed. Scripture says, God's word is a lamp unto my feet. My lamp doesn't provide enough illumination to see what's waiting up ahead, just enough to take the next step. I'll take that next step in confidence, knowing that God is there with me and He knows what's around the bend, even when I don't.

Darcy is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday evening I got an email from my publisher telling me she had received her copies of my latest book, The Ultimate Guide to Darcy Carter. She was surprised that I hadn't mentioned receiving my own copies. She suggested that getting books in the mail isn't as exciting now as it was in 2004 when my first book, Streams of Mercy was published.

I wrote back, assuring her getting a delivery of books is still exciting beyond my wildest dreams. It's just that the truck arrived as I was preparing to leave to speak at a business meeting so I didn't have time to do much more than answer the delivery driver's questions and give him a bookmark. For the rest of the week, other projects took up my time and I forgot to tell her or anyone else about Darcy's arrival.

Now that everything has settled down and I have time to catch my breath, I can tell you there's nothing more thrilling than seeing a semi pull over in front of my house with a shipment for little old me. To me it's like looking forward to a new baby. It never gets old. The anticipation is still as strong as with the first one.

This book is my first romance, so I am doubly excited about its release. It isn't technically in the stores yet so I'm keeping my excitement in check. I already have several tour dates planned for Fall/Winter with more in the works. Check my website to see when I'll be in your area.

Until next time have a blessed and prosperous week.

Branding--Where is my writing going?

Let me explain branding in case you are not familiar with the term.

You go into a bookstore and see the latest Mary Higgins Clark. Without even looking at the back of the book, you scoop it up and run to the cash register. Or the latest Sue Grafton. Or Tom Clancy. Or Karen Kingsbury.

You know these authors. You're familiar with their work and you know what types of books they write. And you like what you read. That's branding. You don't just like a book written by Tom Clancy. You like Tom Clancy and can't wait for his next release.

That's where I am at this point in my career. I can't decide how I want to brand myself. Should I focus on mysteries, which I love? I aspire to someday be compared to Mary Higgins Clark. My latest books have been contemporary women's fiction. I also love historicals. I have two books in mind that would even be categorized as westerns. How's that for a stretch? I've even written the first mystery in a series for middle-grade readers.

I suppose it's good that I'm diversified in my career. But alas, branded writers traditionally sell better than those who write all over the map. So what to write while I'm looking for the niche in which I feel most comfortable. I love experimenting and combining genres, ie; romantic suspense or western/romance. I've noticed romance goes well with anything. But we already knew that.

At this point, I'm open to anything. When I'm ready to start a new project, I try to be quiet before the Lord and listen for what He wants. If I begin a project with His blessing, I figure it won't be a blind alley that won't lead someplace fascinating. That's the most fun about this writing journey. I never know where I'll end up.

Feels like 114

What a week! I started a new novel last week, but haven't made much progress. Four days out of five last week were dedicated to giving my website a long overdue overhaul. I think I did an okay job considering only a few years ago, the only way I knew to turn off a computer was to kick the surge protector under my desk. Check it out at http://www.teresaslack.com

Then Saturday morning an alleged cop killer escaped from our local jail. A massive manhunt has been under way in the surrounding wooded areas. They think they have him pinned down in a relatively small area. If that's true, why haven't they got him yet. The command center they showed from the air today on Columbus's NewsCenter, looks like a small city. What's the holdup? Or are they telling us that to make us think the authorities have the situation under control?

I am praying the Lord gives them wisdom to flush him out. Safely with no life lost. This man, John Parsons, allegedly robbed a gas station in April '05. While making his getaway, he encountered an off-duty police officer, Larry Cox, and shot and killed him. Now, the same man has escaped from the same city where he allegedly(I keep forgetting to add that word) killed one of their brothers in blue. He's not a popular guy on all counts.

Just like the sweating, frustrated, overworked officials who've been hunting for him for five days, Mr. Parsons has to be feeling the heat. It's hot here in Ohio, just like the rest of the country. For 4 consecutive days, the heat index is making it feel like 114. Unlike his pursuers, Mr. Parsons doesn't have an airconditioned motor home in which to take refuge. Nor does he have bottled water or frozen Snickers bars. (I'm speculating on the Snickers bars.)

So Mr. Parsons needs to come to his senses and turn himself in before he dies from heat exposure or takes 27 warning shots in his quest to remain a free man. I believe we must all pay for our crimes, but the Christian in me hates to think he will be gunned down in a field somewhere in Ross County. Meanwhile my carnal side is annoyed at all the tax money and manpower expended to search for this (alleged) cop killer, who was someone's husband, father, brother, and son. You realize don't you, that after he's taken alive, the state will spend thousands to restore him to health before convicting him.

Where's the justice in that? I can't even afford Lasic Eye Surgery.

I said all that to say this...

Not only have I had all these distraction keeping me from working on the new book, my editor sent rewrites for my last book, Evidence of Grace, which will be out June, 2007. Rewrites always take precedence over first drafts so I'll put the new book aside for another few days. Hopefully by the time I finish the rewrites, a cold front from Canada will have pushed the heatwave into the Atlantic, John Parsons will be back in jail and I can go outside without scanning the woods behind my house first, and my author copies of my new release The Ultimate Guide to Darcy Carter will be here. But that's a post for another day.

Stay cool.

I'm back

Last week I totally revamped my website, check it out at http://www.teresaslack.com It made me realize how important it is to maintain this blog. The entire first half of 2006 was dedicated to polishing Evidence of Grace, which is due for release in June 2007, writing another book, and starting yet another. No, I'm not as busy as I sound. I only started the new book last week. I'm very excited about it though and hope to finish it in time to start book 4 of my Jenna's Creek series by the end of the year.

Amidst all the writing and promoting and scheduling speaking events, I remind myself of what's really important. I recently told someone that another person didn't think he liked her. This man's actions do not make him seem warm or approachable. He told me since he became a Christian, he has agape love for all men. Then in the next breath, he said if someone didn't speak to him, he wouldn't speak to them.

Is it possible to have agape love (an all encompassing love) for our fellow man, yet the world can't see it by our actions? I don't think so. We all like to be told that we're loved. Especially women. We need to hear the words, fellas. But even when we're not told, we should be able to see it, feel it, experience it.

It is easy for me to judge this man who says he loves everyone yet lives as if the world is a great annoyance. But what about me? Do I reflect God's love back to everyone I see? Or do I complain so much about the heat index and gas prices and how my steak in under-cooked in a restaurant, they'd rather not spend time in my presence?

Today, let's take a serious look at ourselves. Do the people in your life know you love them? Do they know how much you look forward to Spring or the first snowfall? Do they know how the sound of a baby's laugh or the song you first danced to makes a lump rise in your throat? Or do they know you hate waiting in line and remember all the bad words you said when you found another ding in your car from a shopping cart?

Have a blessed week...and don't forget to be a blessing to someone else.