Having just survived the 2014 International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta this video is somewhat illustrative of what happens when they hand out free stuff….
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Do You Have a Great Title for Your Book?
Several years ago, one of my daughters entered a photography contest at her school. One of her entries pictured our cat sitting with a plastic bag wrapped around her feet. We never will know how or why our cat did this — the pose just happened. We titled the funny picture, “Cat’s Out of the Bag!” But then we discovered the rules didn’t allow photographs to be titled. …
A Brave Heart
The 2014 Christy Awards were held last night in Atlanta, Georgia. Check the Christy Award’s website for the winners and other information. Three years ago in 2011, when the International Christian Retail Show was last held in Atlanta, the keynote speaker for the Christy Awards was Randall Wallace, who had a novel about to release from Tyndale House. Mr. Wallace is known for his writing and work in …
A Matter of Experience
Sometimes I’ll have one of those days where I’m minding my own business, when I pick up the phone to discover the author on the other end of the line is irate. (No, this is not a rerun of an article from the 20th century. I do still have a land line for my office). “Ohhh, Tamela! I know that Hell is indeed located on Earth and where is it? It’s at my publisher’s …
My Secret Writer’s Tool
Guest post by Jennifer Sienes Jennifer Sienes, one of Karen’s clients, is a talented fiction writer who according to editors has a gift for bringing out the emotional power of the scene. She was recently named as a finalist in the 2014 Genesis contest with her novel Redemption. You can find out more and read her blog at www.jennifersienes.com I’ve been reading the Steve Laube Agency …
God’s Map
“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9, NLT) This has significant implications for authors and book publishers. Over my career, I observe cases that prove that “your future is determined more by your successes than by your plans.” Anyone who knows me has probably heard me say that at one point or another, multiple times. Of course, that statement is flawed, …
Fun Fridays – June 13, 2014
Angelina Jordan, eight years old, Wins the “Norway’s Got Talent” competition with this song in the finals. We featured her a month ago with her original audition and other performances. Ironically my wife and I just saw Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” at Gammage Theatre last week. The actress who sang “Summertime” was incredible. But little Angelina …
A Favorite Character Trait
When I was younger, I felt that some of my friends allowed me to take on a disproportionate amount of expense when we did things together. Sometimes, I felt taken advantage of, even used. Now I don’t feel that way. Probably because I now have super friends and I have more money. But still, I had to learn how to navigate these minefields because I didn’t know how. Why? Because I was …
The Power of Well Chosen Words
While I was at the Write! Vancouver writers’ conference in Vancouver, BC a few weeks ago, a gentleman by the name of Wade Larson gave a talk in which he shared what have been called the most powerful speeches ever given: Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and Winston Churchill’s series of speeches. I thought he would tell us about those speeches …
How Many Would Attend a Following Conference?
I have been to many leadership conferences and seminars and read any number of books on the subject. Leadership is everywhere. Books, videos, seminars, audios, websites, organizations and ministries are in place to help people in all walks of life lead better. But I have wondered if there would be as much excitement for a book or seminar that encourages faithful following? We follow Jesus, but …