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Fun Fridays – Oct. 7, 2011

By Steve Laubeon October 7, 2011

What is Your Favorite Candy?

Need a break from a tough week? Play the Candy Smackdown game. Then tell us both your final four and your ultimate winner in the comments below.

In case you are wondering, last year’s overall winner “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup” has been retired from the competition (placed in the Candy Hall of Fame) to insure there are no repeat winners.

Either click the picture below or go to this link for the larger PDF file: 2011 candy-smackdown-bracket

from the Arizona Republic newspaper website: AZCentral.com

Conference Proposal Requests

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 6, 2011

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The recent ACFW conference (attended by nearly 700 writers and industry professionals) has writers, agents, and editors in overdrive as we all attempt to follow up on conference proposal requests. Writers are working feverishly to get proposals to editors. Some are thinking, "Surely the editor who seemed so excited about my proposal is checking email at least once or twice a day looking for it. I …

Category: Conferences, Get Published, Marketing, TamelaTag: Book Business, Conferences, Pitching, Rejection, Tamela, Writing Craft

What Makes a Christian Book “Christian”? (Part Three)

By Karen Ballon October 5, 2011

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So, there I were, surrounded by publishing professionals, faced with the question of whether or not we liked--or respected--our end consumer: the reader.

Publishing folk are a freaky bunch. They love to think and debate and share ideas and dissect and explore. Get a whole room of editors going and nothing is sacred. At the same time, everything is. At their core, publishing professionals …

Category: Book Business, Get Published, Karen, Theology, Writing CraftTag: Book Business, Ideas, Karen, Theology, Trends, Writing Craft

News You Can Use – Oct. 4, 2011

By Steve Laubeon October 4, 2011

The Future of the Book – An essay by the atheist and bestselling author Sam Harris. Do agree or disagree? His thought are provocative.

Things We Know and Don’t Know About E-books – A brilliant assessment by Mike Shatzkin.

The Future of Books – a Dystopian Timeline – John Biggs writes this depressing prediction of the demise of books for TechCrunch. Do you agree that all publishers will die …

Category: Book Business, News You Can Use, SteveTag: Book Business, News, Publishing News, Trends, Writing Craft

Bestseller List News – October 3, 2011

By Steve Laubeon October 3, 2011

Some of our authors have recently hit the bestseller lists! Congratulations to all.

Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall hit #22 on the tradepaper fiction New York Times extended bestseller list for August 28st. And is #2 on the ECPA "Multi-Channel" bestseller list for October.

Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (Center Street) hit #17 on the hardcover fiction New York Times bestseller …

Category: Book Business, Get Published, News You Can Use, SteveTag: Book Business, Bookselling, Get Published, News, Trends

Fun Fridays – Sept. 30, 2011

By Steve Laubeon September 30, 2011

This is definitely a guy thing.

But guys? DON'T be this guy.

Category: Fun Fridays, Humor, SteveTag: Humor

Loving to Laugh

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 29, 2011

At least once a week I'm asked if romantic comedy is currently marketable. While sometimes this category seems hot and then cold, I'd say that sharp, witty, well-executed romantic comedy can find a good home no matter what the publishing season. Note that I take the adjectives I used seriously. This is not a category that most writers can whip off with little effort. Successful writers of romantic …

Category: Book Proposals, Craft, Genre, Get Published, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Ideas, Pitching, Romantic Comedy, Tamela, Writing Craft

What Makes a Christian Book “Christian”? (Part Two)

By Karen Ballon September 28, 2011

So what are some of the answers I’ve been given to the question "What makes a Christian book Christian"? Consider the following:

Written from a Christian world view
Story offers hope
Core of the story shows importance of faith in Christ

Similar to the things you all wrote in your comments (though I think your responses went far deeper.) But I’ve also been peppered with the following …

Category: Book Business, Get Published, Karen, TheologyTag: Book Business, Get Published, Ideas, Karen, Theology, Trends, Writing Craft

News You Can Use – Sept. 27, 2011

By Steve Laubeon September 27, 2011

Why You Still Don’t Have a Literary Agent – A good post about query letters by Jeff Rivera

The Best Writing Advice I’ve Ever Received – by Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz)

The Power of a Book Bargain – Atlantic Magazine explores the effect of ebook pricing on the prices of all books. Do you agree or disagree? Sounds like fodder for a future blog post.

Ten Questions a Writer Should …

Category: News You Can Use, SteveTag: Get Published, News

ACFW 2011 Report

By Steve Laubeon September 26, 2011

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This past weekend nearly 700 novelists, editors, agents, and industry professionals gathers in St. Louis for the 10th annual American Christian Fiction Writers conference.

It is always invigorating to be with so many highly creative people and to be a part of the discovery and development of tomorrow's bestselling authors.

I had over 30 one-on-one appointments and editor meetings, taught …

Category: Conferences, Get Published, SteveTag: convention