8 Tips on Creating an Army of People to Market Your Book

Thank you, Tony Eldridge who allowed me to "borrow" this post from his blog, Marketing Tips for Writers. Tony's blog is very helpful for all things writing related. You should check it out. After reading mine, of course.

Now here's what Tony had to say:
Let's face it; if you go at marketing your book alone, you will have a monumental, if not impossible job ahead of you. Even the NY Times bestselling authors need people to help them get the word of their book out. That's what we are talking about when we say "an army of people to market your book." How do we find people willing to be our spokespeople and tell the world about our book? Below are 8 ways you can start to build your own marketing army.

1. Put out a great piece of work. If you want people excited about sharing your book with the world, then you need to put in the work to create a professional book. If you are going to self-publish, then you need to treat your book like the professionals would. Have it professionally edited. Rewrite, rework, and revise over and over until you know it's as professional as you can get it. If you don't know how to do this, then it's incumbent upon you to learn. Take a writing class, read multiple how-to books, seek professional help. Your book is not the project you want to treat like amateur's night at the Improv. If you want it to go anywhere, then put in the elbow grease to make it as polished as you can possibly make it.

2. Start from your inner circle. Once you take the plunge and put your work out there for all to see, contact your inner circle of friends, family, co-workers, and other relationships to help you get the word out. Encourage them to send e-mails, blog posts, letters, phone calls, and anything else they can possibly think of to tell others about your book. These should be your most ardent supporters, but don't get discouraged if they all don't climb on board with you right away. Welcome to human nature. Even our closest relationships have good intentions but are sometimes hard to stir into action. Just keep at them; you will be surprised with what a little patience can accomplish.

3. Expand your inner circle. Don't be content with your current "inner circle." Look for ways to add others to it. Find those people whom you connect with, personally or professionally and recruit them to help you pass on the message of your book. I have been blessed by meeting some of the finest authors and marketers through my job. If it were not for them, The Samson Effect or Marketing Tips For Authors would be but a blip on the Internet scene. Even if your inner circle only tells a small number of contacts about your book, their cumulative effect can be extraordinary. And never judge a person by the number of contacts they boast. Having a friend with 10 quality contacts who each has 1000 quality contacts is far better than the person with 20,000 non-targeted Twitter followers. Passion for your book goes a long way to make up for a seemingly lack of contacts.

4. Be willing to be in someone else's army. Yes, if you want people to help get the word out about your book, then you need to be willing to serve in their army to get the word out about their pet project. In fact, be proactive about this. Ask someone what you can do for them. Just as much as you want and need people to spread the news about your book, they probably need people to spread the word about something they are doing. If you are truly a giver, and not just an emotional or professional vampire, then you will be surprised at the number of people who will gladly plug your book for you. And when you commit to help someone in their army, do it right. Put in the time and your best effort. After all, that's what your are looking for, right?

5. Network offline. Don't keep your efforts to network solely online. Get out in the community and meet people. Visit local civic clubs, volunteer to speak at your local library, or better yet, volunteer to conduct a free class at your library. Meet the editor of a small community newspaper and volunteer to write an article for them. With the 4th of July coming up quickly, find community events and see if any offer door prizes. If so, volunteer your signed book as a prize. All of these ideas put you into contact with influencers who can be powerful allies when it comes to getting the word out about your book. And many of these people are very well connected.

6. Meet new people online. Yep, gotta do this one. Why? Because online contacts can have your greatest leverage when it comes to telling people about your book. Be careful though--not all contacts are created equal. Just like you get junk mail, you can also get junk contacts. What you want to do is cultivate real life contacts. These are people you can interact with online, more than just send e-mails or tweets to. Of course you won't be able to create a real relationship with 30,000 Twitter followers, but you can make a point to reach out and touch base with a few new ones each week. Real messages, aimed just at them. All of a sudden, you just moved from being a spammer trying to sell your book to a real flesh and blood author. A personal message can make a huge impact and be the difference in someone spreading the news about your book or not.

7. Maintain contact with the people you meet. Dove tailing on the last point, it's not enough to start collecting contacts. You need to maintain communications with them. You can do this through e-mails, newsletters, web site updates, blog posts, letters, post cards, phone calls, etc... Someone is more likely to help a friend than a stranger. With each communication you have with them, the less and less of a stranger you become to them.

8. Ask. Sometimes we forget the most elementary lessons of all. Sometimes all it takes is to simply ask someone to tell their friends and family about your book. How may book sales have you missed out on already because you did not ask someone to tell people about your book? This is a very easy thing to do, but a very hard thing to get done. Make it a point to ask your neighbors, friends, your dry cleaner, your kid's teachers, anyone and everyone to help you spread the news about your book. Even a small percentage pf people who comply begins to make a difference when you keep asking more and more people to help you spread the news about your book.

So, your challenge today is to ask 10 people to help you spread the word about your book and to find 1 person whose army you can join. Good luck. I hope this helps you find more people to help you promote your book than you though possible.

Tony Eldridge
Forney, TX, United States

I am the author of the action/adventure book, The Samson Effect, that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." Read more about it at Samsoneffect.com. I also share my book marketing tips with fellow authors through my blog and through my free weekly video marketing tips for authors. I sincerely hope you can find something on my blog or in my videos to help you market your book more effectively.

I don't know about the rest of you, but the changing of the seasons always makes me anxious to change something in my life. Bad habits to kick. New habits to implement. This week over at ACFW, we are discussing spring cleaning, chiefly concerning our writing careers.

The question was: Is there a bad habit that you need to toss (like passive writing or adverbs)? Or maybe there's a new habit you need to begin now. Perhaps you have a new project that will sprout this week. Or an old WIP is begging you to dust it off and apply a fresh coat of paint. Maybe you need to look at your writing schedule or your craft to find the holes and mend them. Maybe it's time for a fresh beginning in a new WIP or the renewed fervor in finishing an old one.

There are plenty of holes in my writing schedule that need mended. Besides wasting time like nobody's business, I need to get focused.

While brainstorming on two new writing projects and trying to decide which one to move forward, I realized once again, I'm making the process too hard on myself and consequently, accomplishing nothing. I have a complete outline for both mss. I know what's going to happen, got the gist of the story down. Yet I'm dragging my feet.

Why? Besides being intimidated at the thought of beginning another novel length project, I'm thinking too much. I always tell aspiring writers to JUST DO IT.

Physician, heal thyself.

I need to take the leap of faith off the cliff and grow my wings on the way down. It's always a fun ride.

Wishing all a fabulous week.

Miss Match by Sara Mills

Keith Mills was only 40 years old when he passed away on April 7, 2009 from a massive heart attack. Keith left behind his loving wife, Christian author Sara Mills and three children, Isaiah, Laura, and Julia. Words can do little to express our sorrow for this young family who is suddenly and unexpectedly without their husband and father. As a tribute to Keith's loved ones, Sara's friends and fellow authors are hosting a blog tour in honor of her latest book, Miss Match, which was released by Moody Press in March '09.

Miss Match, Allie Fortune Mystery Series #2

By Sara Mills / Moody Publishers


FBI agent Jack O'Connor receives a letter from Maggie, a woman he used to love, saying she's in trouble in Berlin. The FBI refuses to get involved, so Jack asks Allie Fortune to help him investigate. Allie and Jack pose as a missionary couple who want to bring orphans back to the United States. A child finds important documents that everyone in the city - Soviets and allies alike - want for themselves. Maggie refuses to tell Jack what the documents are, saying if things go wrong, they are better off not knowing. Through the course of the search, Allie's past is brought back to her, half a world away from home.


Miss Fortune, Allie Fortune Mystery Series #1

By Sara Mills / Moody Publishers

In 1947 Allie Fortune is the only female private investigator in New York City, but she's kept awake at night by a mystery of her own: her fianci disappeared in the war and no one knows if he's still alive. Until Allie finds out, she will have no peace. When there's a knock on her office door at four in the morning, Allie suspects trouble as usual, and Mary Gordon is no exception. Mary claims someone is following her, that her apartment has been ransacked, and that she's been shot at, but she has no idea why any of this is happening. Allie takes the case, and in the process discovers an international mystery that puts her own life in danger.Meanwhile, the FBI is working the case as well, and she is partnered up with an attractive, single agent who would be perfect for her under other circumstances-if only she knew whether her fiancee was still alive.

Please, take this opportunity to support a friend, a writer, a grieving family and order a copy of Sara's books! Visit her website or drop by Facebook and befriend her!

If I Had My Life to Live Over

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck?
(written after she found out she was dying of cancer).?

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it...... live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us!

It's a Boy!

After three years of enjoying an empty nest…of eating dinner when we want…of staying inside where it’s warm instead of running a hundred errands for an active teenager…of watching what I want on TV…of no dirty socks on the floor…of cold Pepsi in the fridge I don’t have to share, we are taking the plunge into surrogate parenthood again.

Earlier in the week our friend from the International Student Exchange called and asked if we would be interested in hosting another exchange student. She told us first about a boy from Japan but then said a girl from Austria also needed placed. Once I got used to the idea, I started looking forward to taking the girl.

You see I have no experience with a girl. We have a son of our own and have hosted four boys from around the world—five if you count the boy from China who stayed 10 days while waiting for a flight back home. Then I got to thinking about all the things I’ve missed by not having a girl. Prom and homecoming would take on a whole new meaning. Finally someone who understood the importance of shoe and purse shopping. I might even get some advice on what to do with my hair.

I was ready to paint over the tired old blue in my son’s room and buy new linens for the bed when my friend called back. The boy from Japan will be sharing our home for the next five months.

Sigh. Another boy.

But I’m beginning to look forward to the adventure. Even though I love my peace and quiet in the afternoons and never having to tell a teenager to turn off MTV, I miss being a MOM. A teeny tiny part of me even misses the dirty socks on the floor. One of the truly exciting parts is that the boy has never attended church but is open to the experience. I would’ve enjoyed hosting a girl, but I believe God put this young man in our lives for a reason. I pray this experience will have a positive impact on his life. An impact far outreaching anything I can imagine.

I know it will impact mine.

New Year's Resolutions

Now is the time to get us thinking of New Year’s Resolutions. Whether you make them or not, whether you stick to them past January 2nd, we all think about resolutions we need to make and what we’ll do differently in the New Year.

Over on one of my writing groups the discussion this week is what we’ll do differently in our writing business.

Hmm. How about everything? I haven’t been nearly as disciplined in the actual art of writing for most of 2008. Most of my business has been focused on selling the books I have already written and marketing myself. Those things have to be done, but not at the expense of my writing.

My New Year’s Resolution as far as writing goes is to get back to basics and spend as much time in the trenches writing as I do on every other aspect of the business. One clever little tool I discovered yesterday thanks to Ronie Kendig over at ACFW is a time clock. You can download it for free I can't vouch for this program other than to say it's free as long as you have less than 3 employees using it. And don't we all. The program installs a simple time clock on your desktop, it lets you clock in/out, tallies it for you. McAfee also vouches that the company as an approved site.

Since most of us don't have a boss looking over our shoulder, this may be the motivation we need.

I’ve downloaded it and am looking forward to some real production in the coming year. Let’s get ready to shine in ’09.

Before the Season Ends

Please welcome my good friend and fellow writer Linore Rose Burkard to Joy in the Journey.

Linore creates Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul. Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the era of Regency England (circa 1800 - 1830). Fans of classic romances, such as Pride & Prejudice, Emma, and Sense & Sensibility, will enjoy meeting Ariana Forsythe, a feisty heroine who finds her heart and beliefs tested by high-society London.

Ms. Burkard's novels include Before the Seasons Ends and The House in Grosvenor Square (coming April, 2009). Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency period. Her books and monthly newsletter captivate readers with little-known facts, exciting stories, and historical insights. Experience a romantic age, where timeless lessons still apply to modern life. And, enjoy romance that reminds us happy endings are possible for everyone.

Publisher's Weekly affirms, "Ms. Burkard's command of period detail is impressive, evident in material details, but also in dialogue. Her novels even help non-Regencyphiles learn the difference between ladies' pelisses and spencers...On the whole, it's a tasty confection."

Ms. Burkard began writing when she couldn't find a Regency romance with an inspirational twist. "There were Christian books that approached the genre," she says, "But, they fell short of being a genuine Regency. I knew that many women like me want stories that are historically authentic and offer glimpses of God's involvement in our lives. So, I finally gave up looking and decided to write one myself."

Ms. Burkard was raised in New York, where she graduated magna cum laude from the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. She lives with her husband and five children in a town full of antique stores and gift shops in southwestern Ohio. Her hobbies include working on four new Regency novels, family movie nights, swimming, and gardening.

Linore, what drew you to writing Regency Romance novels?
Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen books gave me a love for the period, and there weren't any Christian regencies to be found. I wanted to change that.

Where did you find your inspiration for Ariana and Phillip?
I'm not sure. I think they're both amalgamations of people I've read about and known.
England in the 1800s is a world away from the 21st century.

What do you think we could learn today from how society operated in the Regency period?
Times have changed, but people haven't. Men and women of the time were concerned with their appearances, their finances, their futures, finding the right spouse, and so on, just as we are, today. How they went about pursuing these ends is where all the difference lies, however, and this is precisely where the interest and adventure opens up for writers. Bringing to life the means and methods of everyday life and timeless concerns from the regency. It is fun and enlightening as a glimpse into the past, but readers can also identify with the basic human need to be genuinely loved for onself, no matter the setting or time period, and to be certain of one's convictions concerning life, eternity, and faith. Having said that, it is good to remind modern readers that valuing one's purity can be mainstream, as it was then; or that the struggle to find a true love and a sense that one's life has value, has always been a human issue.

What do you hope readers will take away from your books?
I hope my readers will feel as though they've been transported to the Regency for a good, satisfying visit; While they're visiting, they'll be reminded that God is involved in their life, and that happy endings are possible for everyone.

Any Regency romance is going to be compared to Jane Austen's novels ~ how are your books similar / different?
I don't think most regencies are written with this comparison in mind at all. However, other people say my book is "Austen-like." That is a huge compliment, and one I would love to live up to.
The sequel, The House in Grosvenor Square, is releasing in 2009.

Do you have more Regency novels planned?
My editor and I are tossing around ideas right now. I do have a few more regencies in mind.

What are you working on at the moment? A sneak peek, please.
I'm exploring whether to do a third book in the Regency Series, which at present is comprised of Before the Season Ends, and The House in Grosvenor Square. Book three would begin about five years later (about 1818) and follow the lives of a number of people who were introduced in the first two books. I would also probably introduce one new couple.

Do you ever bang your head against the wall from the dreaded writer's block? If so, how do you overcome it?
I do something else. If I can't write a scene for a book, I can always write an article. I can update my blog. I can't really force a scene when it isn't coming; I find that getting busy and doing something else is the best thing I can do for the book and for me (rather than beat myself up). One thing about having an online presence today is that there is never a shortage of tasks to be done, including a great many writing tasks. Since I write historical (regency) romance, there are always tons of subjects I can research and write about, putting them into articles for my ezine, or out there on the web.

Novelists sometimes dig themselves into a hole over implausible plots, flat characters, or a host of other problems. What's the most difficult part of writing for you (or was when you first started on your novel journey)?
I think for me the biggest challenge was to believe that I could write a novel in small increments. As a mom of five, four of whom are still home year-round (one is in college), having frequent interruptions is a fact of life. Writing takes a concentration so deep so that when I first started doing scenes, I would find myself getting woozy after standing up. I was shocked at the level of exertion it took to use my brain that hard, I guess! It happens less now--I guess I've grown accustomed to it. And I've learned to appreciate those small blocks of time. Ten minutes in a waiting room can yield a part of a scene I couldn't get done at home. Every little bit counts. I don't despise small beginnings. There are times when I'm in a deep level of involvement with a story or a character, and then getting interrupted can break the mood; but I'm getting better all the time at picking up where I left off, no matter how deeply I've got to dive to get back into the character or situation. For people like me with busy households, this is a must-have ability. I believe it can be the difference between making that deadline or not.

How did (or do) you climb out (overcome it)?
If I do get stuck at some point in the plot, I let it simmer in my mind. I also exercise--for some reason, when I am physically active, my brain gets going in a way that doesn't always happen when I'm sitting with my laptop before me. Swimming and doing the treadmill (walking) almost always result in wonderful new ideas I just can 't wait to get on paper. Sometimes, I've even had to stop walking and run to the pc just to get the idea down so I don't forget. By the way, I always pray for the right idea, too. There is no better writer than God.

The second "nifty" way to solve a plot (or other) problem in a book is to let it sit awhile without reading it. When you come back to it after a long enough interval (as long as you can give it) solutions just present themselves. I find the same thing happens to me with crossword puzzles--if I'm stuck, I put it down and when I come back to it--even an hour later--the word is there. So the key is, give yourself permission to take a break.

Some authors report writing 5-10 thousand words a day. Do scenes flow freely from your veins, or do you have to tweeze each word out?
In general, I write more than I need and later have to cut back. I don't use a word count, but I may set a goal of one chapter a day or two chapters for a busy week. Other times, I don't think in terms of chapters at all, just events. I may break an event down into four scenes, say, and so my goal for that day will be to get the whole event on paper. In other words, finish the four scenes. Life changes so rapidly with the children, that for me, a hard and fast writing goal just wouldn't work. And, I focus on results, not time spent. Instead of, "Now I'll write for three hours," I say, "Now I'll have this or that happen to a character, or, 'I'll show a different side to this person." When I have accomplished that goal, no matter how long it took, I feel satisfied, and only then.

Thanks, Linore, for spending time here at Joy in the Journey. May you have a blessed and beautiful Christmas, and find much success with your Regency series.

Better to give than to receive

I don’t know if this happens to you, but I get a lot of calls this time of year from charitable organizations asking me for money. I give as much as I can afford. Besides supporting my church and the local animal rescue group, I drop a dollar into every Salvation Army kettle I see.

I’m not telling you this to brag, I’m just making a point. So when the phone calls start coming in, I refuse most of them. Not that they aren’t worthy, just that I’m already pulled a little thin.

Jesus said it is better to give than to receive.

While Jesus never intended that we think of ourselves when we give, I want you to take a moment and do just that. How does giving make you feel? Whether you buy a bag of dog food to take to the local pound or purchase a few extra toys for the Toys for Tots barrel or stuff a dollar or ten in a red kettle, it feels absolutely wonderful to give. Try it. Even a selfish person--not that we have any here--gets an emotional surge from giving something to someone else.

You will probably never see the child who receives the toy you put into the barrel. And the dog at the shelter certainly can’t thank you for the kibble. Regardless, it feels wonderful to give.

Why do we do it then if we never receive accolades? My husband was telling me the other night about a reality show in which philanthropists go into poor neighborhoods, spend time with homeless people and then decide upon which ones to bestow $50,000. I’m sure these philanthropists are well meaning compassionate people. But I don’t think they are putting themselves out too badly. They are giving from their abundance and we've already established...

It feels wonderful to give.

Don’t think on this too long. I certainly don’t want to talk you out of giving this year. Just realize there is plenty more you have to give besides monetary gifts.

Give of yourself. Give a smile. Give the clerk at the register a break. They've dealt with enough rudeness today. Give someone your seat on the bus or the person at the grocery store with a handful of items your place in line. Give a word of kindness to everyone you come in contact with.

Do you remember that song we used to sing in Sunday School: This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine.

Have you shone lately?

For it truly is better to give than to receive.

Be blessed and have a beautiful Christmas.

Taming the Tongue

Every year sparks from hot tempers or careless words start fires which consume millions of lives in beautiful relationships. Once begun, these fires move unrelenting through self-esteem and trust - nothing is safe from the fury of the tongue.

James 3:5-6
"Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body."

Our tongue has incredible power to build up and encourage - it also has an enormous ability to tear down and destroy. "But I tell you that men will have to give accouont on the day of judgment for every carless word they have spoken." (Matthew 12:36) God holds us accountable for the fires we set.

David prayed that God would "set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lips." Psamlms 141:2. While this is a wise prayer, it must be seen as an absolute last line of defense - once our words escape they can almost never be fully recovered.

A much better fire prevention plan is to control the sparks at the true source. "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34. If our heart is filled with the ways of the world, our mouth will naturally speak the world's wisdom.. However, "the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight." 1 Corinthians 3:19. Rather, we must fill our heart with the ways of God and allow our mouth to overflow with His wisdom. "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin agains You." Psalms 119:11.

Let's look at the results of our tongue. If there are raging fires or even smoldering embers, we must pray for healing and restoration. The damage may look severe, "but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26. We then must so fill our heart with the power of His Word that we truly "do not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths." Ephesians 4:29. Let's stop the fires. Let's begin today to fill our heart and prevent the sparks.

Merry Christmas and may you all rest in the Love and Peace that comes from our Savior.

Buy more books

I rec'd this announcement from on one of my online writers' groups and thought I would pass it along here.

How many of you are blessed to live close to an independent bookstore? How many of you know of at least one bookstore that has closed in the last three years? I know of several, some of which hosted me for book signings back in the day when I was first getting started in this business.

Now the independent bookstores need our help. Read the following message from Roy Blount, Jr., current president of Authors Guild.

"I've been talking to booksellers lately who report that times are hard. And local booksellers aren't known for vast reserves of capital, so a serious dip in sales can be devastating. Booksellers don't lose enough money, however, to receive congressional attention. A government bailout isn't in the cards.

"We don't want bookstores to die. Authors need them, and so do neighborhoods. So let's mount a book-buying splurge. Get your friends together, go to your local bookstore and have a book-buying party. Buy the rest of your Christmas presents, but that's just for starters. Clear out the mysteries, wrap up the histories, beam up the science fiction! Round up the westerns, go crazy for self-help, say yes to the university press books! Get a load of those coffee-table books, fatten up on slim volumes of verse, and take a chance on romance!

"There will be birthdays in the next twelve months; books keep well; they're easy to wrap: buy those books now. Buy replacements for any books looking raggedy on your shelves. Stockpile children's books as gifts for friends who look like they may eventually give birth. Hold off on the flat-screen TV and the GPS (they'll be cheaper after Christmas) and buy many, many books. Then tell the grateful booksellers, who by this time will be hanging onto your legs begging you to stay and live with their cat in the stockroom: "Got to move on, folks. Got some books to write now. You see...we're the Authors Guild."

"Enjoy the holidays."

Roy Blount Jr.
President
Authors Guild
*********************************
Blount then sent this "P.S." to the above:
"The Guild's staff informs me that many of you are writing to ask whether you can forward and post my holiday message encouraging orgiastic book-buying. Yes! Forward! Yes! Post! Sound the clarion call to every corner of the Internet: Hang in there, bookstores! We're coming! And we're coming to buy!..."

Motivation for the task ahead.

I managed to lose ten percent of my body weight in 2008 using nothing more then sheer determination and self discipline. Now if I could only apply that to my writing.

Seems my motivation to finish a project is always lagging this time of year. There is so much else that needs done, I can’t find the inspiration to spend any time writing. Shame on me. I have so much to do and need to get cracking.

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing—that’s why we recommend it daily.” Zig Ziglar; motivational speaker

Makes sense doesn't it? The secret to staying consistent with your goals, whatever they are, is to stay motivated. That means finding ways to fire yourself up on a daily basis. Being inspired at a seminar, by reading a book, or while talking to a dynamic speaker is easy. But what happens when you're on your own?

To follow through on that burst of motivation and reach the finish line, you need regular booster shots. Give yourself those little positive reminders that you have an important job to do and a good reason for doing it. What's pushing you? Surround yourself with visual, verbal, and physical "pep talks" that trigger that motive. It doesn't take long for dust to gather on your momentum, making your goals turn stale. A daily dose of motivation kicks off the dust before it can settle and gives you a fresh, clean start.

Just because you have a houseful of company coming and cookies to bake for a classroom party tomorrow morning or gifts to wrap and cards to send, doesn't mean you should set your goals aside. Whatever you see yourself doing in 2009 or 2020, get to work now.

Billy Blanks, my Taebo guru, always says; "Where I am today is where my mind put me. Where I'll be tomorrow is where my mind put me."

My mind wants to put me on a bestseller list in 2009. What about you? Where do you want to be tomorrow?

Happy writing.

Tis the season--for remakes

If you’ve ever thought of putting pen to paper, you’ve probably heard it said before; there’s nothing new under the sun. Trying to come up with an original idea in fiction is a fruitless pursuit. Anything you come up with has been done to death.

Case in point: TV movies. Just how many remakes or variations of It’s a Wonderful Life or Miracle of 34th Street can they make? How many are we viewers willing to watch?

And then there are Christmas carols. I happen to be one of those people who could listen to carols year round. I love them. Some more than others to be sure. Some are exhausting; like Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer. I’m not a big fan of Jingle Bells either. But there are many others I could hear over and over again.

With Christmas carols, as in movies remakes, much of it depends on the interpretation of the subject matter. Who is better suited to sing Blue Christmas than Elvis himself? I think all others who throw their hats in the ring should be shot. This includes the latest songstress whose version was released this week. Okay, maybe not shot. I don’t want to endorse violence. How about a firm reprimand or coal in her stocking?

Everyone who’s ever won a recording contract has tried their hand at White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, I’ll be Home for Christmas. I happen to prefer Joe Nichols version of the last one and nobody can do Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy as well as Travis Tritt.

I suppose imitation is the highest form of flattery. Frank Capra and Elvis should be pleased their work has endured all these years. Maybe they are even more pleased to know there are some things you just can’t improve upon.

Even though there are no original ideas to be found, let us keep working to make the interpretation of our stories original. After all, no one can tell your story the way you can. Just like no one can belt out Blue Christmas like Elvis, nor should they try.

Three Ugly Truths of Novel Writing

This probably would've been more helpful when so many of you were joining the November Novel Writing Month Challenge. Nevertheless I found this at sean.co.uk. by UK author and freelance journalist Sean McManus, and thought it bore repeating.

So here it is five weeks late but something to think about.

Three ugly truths of novel writing

If you're going to write a novel, you need to accept three ugly truths.

The first is that you're not writing a bestseller. If your goal is to get rich, you're better off spending your time doing a paper route and buying lottery tickets with the money. In the UK alone, 130,000 new books are published annually. That means that there are 356 new books every day. Maybe you'll strike it lucky. But the odds are stacked so overwhelmingly against you. The only good reason to write a novel is that you'll enjoy it. It's not worth being a tortured artist in the hope you'll get a payday at the end.

The second ugly truth is that writing is hard work. It takes dedication to complete a book. If you're writing a story of 100,000 words, you'll need to write about 2000 words every week for a year. I'm not saying your book should be that long. Publishing formats (including online) are much more flexible nowadays. But you do need to be sure you can commit the time necessary to finish the kind of book you want to write.

The third bad tiding is that you're going to waste a lot of time. You'll need to rewrite scenes as your story evolves. You'll probably want to re-do earlier bits, as you get to know the characters better and improve your writing skills. You might spend a weekend writing a chapter you delete outright. Sometimes you have to write a scene to see whether it works or not. I don't think anything from the first three months of writing (perhaps more) survived into my final story. And that is very much a good thing. If you can't accept you'll waste time, you'll find it hard to delete stuff that really should go.

Once you accept those truths, you have absolute creative freedom. You don't have to conform to traditional notions of what kind of books sell. You don't have to meet anyone's deadlines but your own. And you can write whatever you like. If you'll enjoy writing it, write it.

You can publish online in a range of formats, including print-on-demand paper books and ebooks. Your book will definitely be published if you want it to be. Write for the fun of it, and have faith that you can get your story into circulation at the end.

You might not have millions of readers, but you will have a wonderful experience. Enjoy the journey.

I especially agree with the last statement. Enjoy the journey, folks. There is joy to be found there.

Have a wonderful writing weekend.

Before the Season Ends

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce readers to my friend and fellow writer, Linore Rose Burkard. Linore is the creator of “Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul.” Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the era of Regency England (circa 1811 – 1820). Fans of classic romances, such as Pride & Prejudice, Emma, and Sense & Sensibility, will enjoy meeting Ariana Forsythe, a feisty heroine who finds her heart and beliefs tested by high-society London.

Linore's first novel, Before the Season Ends was released this month, and will be the subject of an exciting contest on Christmas Day. You have to check back later in the month for all the details.

Ms. Burkard’s novels include Before the Seasons Ends and The House in Grosvenor Square (coming April, 2009). Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency period. Her books and monthly newsletter captivate readers with little-known facts, exciting stories, and historical insights. Experience a romantic age, where timeless lessons still apply to modern life. And, enjoy romance that reminds us happy endings are possible for everyone.

Publisher’s Weekly affirms, “Ms. Burkard’s command of period detail is impressive, evident in material details, but also in dialogue. Her novels even help non-Regencyphiles learn the difference between ladies’ pelisses and spencers…On the whole, it’s a tasty confection.”

Ms. Burkard began writing when she couldn’t find a Regency romance with an inspirational twist. “There were Christian books that approached the genre,” she says, “But, they fell short of being a genuine Regency. I knew that many women like me want stories that are historically authentic and offer glimpses of God’s involvement in our lives. So, I finally gave up looking and decided to write one myself."

Ms. Burkard was raised in New York, where she graduated magna cum laude from the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. She lives with her husband and five children in a town full of antique stores and gift shops in southwestern Ohio. Her hobbies include working on four new Regency novels, family movie nights, swimming, and gardening.

Before the Season Ends is available from Amazon or ChristianBooks.com or by visiting your local bookstore.

Hands of Hope

This Holiday Season - Give a Gift that Transforms Lives

Hands of Hope, a charity of Women Helping Women A World Away, is announcing that their Holiday Gift Cards are available for purchase. These cards provide food, income and water for impoverished women and children in Zambia, Uganda, and Southern Sudan. They can be purchased on the Hands of Hope website for $15.00, $30.00 and $50.00. Purchasing these cards will provide goats, chickens or wells to help change lives. What could be a more meaningful gift for holiday giving for family, friends, and customer appreciation?

Hands of Hope helps mobilize communities to respond to the needs of women and children around the world. With an ever-expanding support base in the Chicago area, Hands of Hope works to raise community awareness regarding poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa and its relevance globally. We are confident in the integrity of the channels we have established so that contributions provide the highest possible impact for the most critical needs.

A teacher who received a Hands of Hope greeting card from one of his students, remarked:

"This was the most profound gift I have received from a student in all my 38 years of teaching."
Roger Prazaider, 5th Grade Teacher, Geneva, IL

This is a gift you can't afford NOT to give! A perfect gift for everyone in your life. Scroll down further to read about how Hands of Hope began and about their current projects.

How Hands of Hope Began:
A few women, A trip to Nigeria

Hands of Hope was started after a trip to Nigeria in 1999 disclosed startling conditions affecting women and the girl child due to the cultural practice of early childhood marriages (as early as age 11.) The pregnancies that follow come at time when a young girl is not adequately physically developed to permit the passage of a baby, which can lead to a prolonged and obstructed labor, death of the baby, death of the mother or a horrendous physical condition called vesico vaginal fistula (VVF). The immediate consequences of VVF are urinary incontinence, dermatitis, and some may suffer from paralysis of the lower half of the body. The social consequences of this condition are severe in a culture where a woman's value is based on her ability to bear children. Estimates are between 250,000-700,000 women are afflicted with this condition in Nigeria alone.

"To meet only one of these mothers is to be profoundly moved...Mourning the stillbirth of their baby, incontinent of urine, ashamed of their offensiveness, often spurned by their husbands, homeless, unemployable except in the fields, they endure, they exist, without hope..."

As a result of that trip and of others hearing about the plight of women and children in Nigeria a northwest suburban community of Chicago came together, bringing their skills and resources, to help address the critical needs of women and children a world away. Our initial efforts funded a hospital addition which is being used for the surgical repair of women with VVF in Jos, Nigeria. A grass roots effort of just a few has now grown to include over 250 volunteers, annual fundraising events, and cooperative relationships with other helping organizations. With an ever-expanding support base in the Chicago area and a clear vision focused on making a difference, Hands of Hope works to raise community awareness and provides resources to women and children that offer education, address health concerns and provide the tools and resources for women to be economically self sustaining. Our efforts bring hope and open doors of opportunity to women and children who want the same things we all universally value; health, safety, the ability to make a living and provide a viable future for their loved ones.

Today, Hands of Hope targets the enormous impact of poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic on women and children in Africa.

Chicken Cards

These lovely cards each represent a gift of twelve chicks. Help an impoverished family with a gift of chicks. $15.00 each

The inside of the card reads:

A gift of twelve chicks has been purchased and given to an impoverished family in Africa in your honor by:___________

As the flock multiplies, a struggling family will be given the hope to survive.

Your gift will help those in need for generations to come.


Goat Cards

These lovely cards each represent an actual goat being purchased for a needy family. Beyond providing much needed milk, a few goats can quickly become a herd, providing sustenance and additional income that can make the difference between whether a child goes to school or not. $30.00 each


The inside of the card reads:

A gift of a goat has been purchased and given to an impoverished family in Africa in your honor by: _____________

Offspring from your goat will be passed along to other needy families in villages where people are struggling to survive. This gift will bring hope and survival to many a continent away.


Well Cards

$50.00 each

The inside of the card reads:

A donation has been given towards funding a well in the Western Province of Zambia in your honor by: ______________


Statistics show that nearly half of all people in developing countries suffer from health related problems caused by unsafe water. In addition, African women and children spend several hours every day collecting water which is often miles away and may or may not be contaminated. This well will provide clean and safe drinking water and will go a long way to ease a heavy burden for hundreds of village people who struggle daily with basic physical needs.

Current Projects

Holistic Resources to Mongu in the Western Province of Zambia

Agriculture
Training, technical assistance and resource development in production and post harvest management for over 1000 rural farmers (approx. 6000 people)
Development of agricultural business services to create markets for farmer crops
Access to credit and financial services to minimize risk and maximize return for farmers

Education - Limulunga Community School

Funding a school building - 600 children receive an otherwise unattainable education in this poverty stricken rural community
Providing school uniforms, books, supplies and equipment
Funding a "children in crisis" project for critical needs of students
Providing desks for 600 children

Water

Provide wells and irrigation systems for farm families

Completed and Ongoing Projects

Agriculture
Emergency Refuge Support - Southern Sudan

Agricultural tools and seeds for 350 families returning from war
Goat and Chicken Projects - Southern Sudan, Uganda, Zambia

Providing Goats and Chickens to an expanding network of over 2000 poor rural families
Economic
Microfinance Loans - Congo, Rwanda, Uganda

Provided women seed money to establish or expand viable businesses and provide sustainable income with affordable financing that changes the future of families and transforms poverty-stricken communities.
Education
Education and Vocational Training Center for AIDS Orphans - Uganda

Working directly with First Lady Janet Museveni, we helped fund an educational complex that serves 400 children with secondary education and vocational training
School for the Blind Children - Zambia
Provided clothing, bedding, first aid kits, musical instruments and transportation for Sefula School for the Blind which cares for 200 children with urgent needs
Health Care
VVF Hostel and Vocational Training Center - Nigeria

50 bed hospital wing and rehab center serving over 2100 women suffering from horrendous gynecological problems as a result of early childhood pregnancies and subsequent pregnancies
Emergency Assistance - Southern Sudan

Mosquito nets and water containers for over 200 families returning home to rebuild their lives after 21 years of war.

Contact at Hands of Hope:
VickyWauterlek, Hands of Hope
VWAU@aol.com, 847-381-7367

That time of year again

You would think I’d be better at time management by now. Unfortunately every year around this time my writing gets pushed aside by all the other things that need done in preparation for the holidays. Between shopping, planning menus and creating newsletters to include in my Christmas cards, my regular writing schedule takes a beating.

Not this year. Just like I’m already planning to insure my weight loss survives the party going ahead, I need to make concessions so my writing won’t fall by the wayside until January.

All it takes is a little planning and forethought on my part. Regardless of what else needs done, I should be able to find two to four hours each day to devote to writing. The optimal solution is to focus the first few hours every day on writing. I seldom start a day without a cardio routine. I already know if I don’t exercise first thing in the morning, I’m not going to do it. My writing needs to be a top priority too.

I think it goes without saying that it’s imperative you write something every day. Even on Thanksgiving Day when you’re planning for company and checking the turkey and shining the mirror in the guest bathroom, take a few minutes to write. End your day in the middle of a scene (or even in the middle of a sentence), and you’ll never be faced with a blank screen at the start of your writing session.

Have a target word count to aim for each day regardless of what else is going on. I know you have to be practical that some days you can’t reach that goal. So lower your word count on the days when you’ll be out shopping with friends or wrapping gifts. But still write something.

It’s okay to count planning, outlining and editing as part of your writing. You might find you need to allocate a day for coming up with ideas (brainstorming), a day for planning in more detail, then three or four days to write the first draft. Those activities are good to focus on while your watching the turkey or stuck in traffic on your way to the mall. Take a notebook with you. Instead of focusing on the idiot in front of you who missed the light, think about your heroine and her current problems. They are probably more interesting than yours anyway.

Happy writing. And oh yeah, don’t forget to get in that cardio time. You’ll feel so much better on January 1st.

Before taking yesterday off to work at the polls, I interviewed Karen Fabian about her book Firestorm of Dragons. Today we will get to know Karen a little better by talking about Leaps of Faith.

Believe in a future where science and faith live side-by-side? Leaps of Faith contains 15 stories exploring space, time and faith. Can an ancient religion bring hope to first-line explorers for whom each trip is potential suicide? What does it mean when a physicist finds God's face in the stars? Is there a "saint gene" and can it be reproduced to create miracles? What happens to your soul when your body is shattered into quantum elements and reassembled on another world? How will the Christian faith transform alien thoughts and traditions?

Read as time travelers seeking to change Biblical history and space travelers harvesting "angels" are brought to faith by their experiences. Experience tender romance and heart-pounding adventure. Laugh at the foilables of man.

A 2002 EPPIE finalist for Best Electronic Anthology, Leaps of Faith promises the best in Christian sci-fi.

Welcome, Karen. Can you tell us what you most enjoyed about compiling this book?

Discovering the many angles at which people examine their relationship with god in the future--and reading some great stories.

Was it hard to select stories for Leaps of Faith?

Actually, no. We had about 100 stories submitted, I think (It was sooo long ago, it seems), but many of them missed one of the three core values of the anthology:
1. make the Christianity real and positive
2. make the science plausible and believable
3. show us how science and religion can interact positively together.

The stories in this anthology didn't just meet these three requirements, but also made us laugh out loud, shed a tear, or sit back and think. The authors made the choices easy for us.

What do you want people to get out of your book?

Hope for our future. An understanding that affirming God's role in our life doesn't mean rejecting the value of science or progress. Finally, a pleasant few hours of faith-filled escapism.

Do you write a lot of Christian science fiction yourself, and if so, why?

I actually did not set out to be a Christian sci-fi writer. However, faith and sci-fi are both integral parts of who I am, so that has come out in my writing. On a literary standpoint, I think religion makes an interesting point of conflict, adds to a character and feeds a part of the reader's mind and soul that other genres don't.

I've written and sold a few stories about the Rescue Sisters--nuns who live and work in space doing rescue operations. In addition to Leaps of Faith, I've edited the anthology, Infinite Space, Infinite God and its coming sequel. (From Twilight Times Books, www.isigsf.com). In the fantasy realm, I've got a Catholic dragon detective and his nun partner. That's been an interesting universe to play in, since I have a magical parallel universe interacting with ours. It's been interesting to imagine how the reality of magic changes the development of Christianity. I've several stories and two novels out or coming out so far. www.dragoneyepi.net
Finally, I'm working on my first Rescue Sisters novel, Discovery. I'm already talking with a publisher about it, but there are no promises.

What's the challenge of writing in this genre?

Placing it. If you want to really be open and frank about religion--not preachy, just prevalent--then you can get a story that's too "Christian" for sci-fi and too "sci-fi" for Christian. Fantasy and Horror share the same dilemma. In fact, there's a group of writers of speculative fiction called the Lost Genre Guild who are working to break these literary barriers.

Firestorm of Dragons

Readers, please help me welcome author Karin Fabian to Joy in the Journey. Karin is also the editor of Infinite Space, Infinite God, thought-provoking sci-fi with a Catholic twist.

Welcome Karin. I know you have several interviews over the month of November that cover you and your story and characters, so what can you tell us about Firestorm of Dragons as a book?

I loved this anthology. The level of imagination and the quality of storytelling humbled me. I think I have a lot of talent and a terrific story--and I do!--but compared to some of the others... Wow! I'm in great company, and readers are in for a great ride.

Aside from your own, which story is your favorite?

Dragonscaling! by John Teehan. Seriously tongue-in-cheek parody of extreme sports written as an instructional article for people who want to climb dragons for fun or complicated suicide. Some of his phrases are priceless!

What else do you like about the anthology? Anything you don't like?

I love the breadth of takes on dragon stories. The only thing that bothered me is there is one story that I'm not comfortable with for kids under 16. It's probably not as bad as some YA stuff out there, but it prevents me from recommending it to a lot of kids who might otherwise be able to enjoy the book.


What drew you to write for a dragon anthology?

It was something I hadn't done before. I've written about psychics, barbarian swordswomen and, in the sci-fi realm, artificial intelligence and colonizing the solar system. Plus, the guidelines specifically said they wanted something unique. That challenged me.

Now, I'm overjoyed, because it's given me my favorite universe to play in--the Faerie/Mundane worlds of DragonEye, PI.

What's next for you?

In sci-fi, I have a new anthology out, Leaps of Faith, which is Christian SF. I'm working on a Rescue Sisters novel, Discovery, with three nuns who do search and rescue operations in space. They are also favorite characters of mine.

In fantasy, I have two DragonEye, PI books coming out in 2009: Magic, Mensa and Mayhem and Live and Let Fly. These are much funnier than "Dragon Eye, PI" and have a great cast of mythological characters and clichés turned on their heads--because DragonEye is nothing without clichés.

You have a special offer for readers?

Yes! If you register on the DragonEye, PI, website this month, I'll give you a free story, "Amateurs: From the Case Files of DragonEye, PI," plus a special on the DragonEye holiday story, "Christmas Spirits." It also signs you up for the every-other-month newsletter, A Dragon's Eye View, with notes from Vern, fun Faerie facts, and news on future stories and books.

Dazzling Queries

Last week we talked about attracting the attention of a publisher or agent with a query letter. I am asked all the time what to even include in a query. It is very difficult to look objectively at your proposal. But this is exactly what you must do. You have about two seconds to attract the attention of your writer enough to make them keep reading.

No one else is in love with your book idea yet. They don’t know how talented you are, and telling them so won’t cut it. You’ve got to show them, and fast.

As I said before, all agents and publishing houses have different submission guidelines. Read those guidelines and follow them to the letter. If one house wants your synopsis first and another wants you bio before anything else, give them exactly what they asked for. Just like the Bible asks that which of you parents would give your child an egg when he asks for a fish, don’t give your agent an egg if she asks for a piece of bread.

Sadly when most of us first begin pursuing publication or representation, we don’t have many publishing credits to showcase. You can’t get published without an agent, and you can’t get an agent without having been published. Ugh! What’s a writer to do? Instead of elaborating your resume to impress, dazzle them with your ability to put forth information and ideas.

Don’t fake it. Don’t apologize. Be yourself. Don’t tell them how much your family and friends love your writing. Supply the information requested and get out of there. You have one page to dazzle. One chance. Best wishes on your great success.

I reached a goal!

This is totally unrelated to writing, but I was too excited not to post here. I’m doing the happy dance all over my house. I REACHED MY GOAL WEIGHT. WooHoo! I’ve mentioned it here before, but it bears repeating. At the first of ’08 I joined an online group called SparkPeople for folks who want to lose weight or just adopt a healthier lifestyle.

I guess this is writing related because sitting behind a desk every day pursuing this writing career helped lead to a weight gain that had me outgrowing everything in my closet. My wakeup call came when I busted out my pantyhose two Sundays in a row at church. Like the Hoover Dam, those things are only designed to withstand so much pressure.

I had to do something about my weight or resign myself to buying a whole new wardrobe, including pantyhose. I wasn’t willing to do that.

So even if you don’t need to shed any weight, but you are interested in maintaining your current weight or you just want to surround yourself with like-minded people who also are striving to live healthier, check out SparkPeople.

I’m glad I did. And I’m so glad I reached my goal weight.