Awards

Included in “Top 101 Websites for Writers”

By Steve Laubeon May 9, 2015

We are honored to be chosen by Writers Digest as one of the top websites for writers in their 2015 list. (The actual list is only available to subscribers or if you buy the May/June 2015 issue here.)

I have long admired their annual listing and have endeavored to keep our content unique and provide a service to our community of writers.

Kudos to Dan, Karen, and Tamela who faithfully work on exploring new ideas with a fresh perspective.

And even more, we appreciate you, our readers. Those who read daily as subscribers, those who visit regularly, and to the occasional visitor. We hope each one of you come away with something worthwhile with every visit.

By the way, if you don’t already subscribe to Writer’s Digest consider doing so.
At the very least sign up for their free weekly newsletter (click here to sign up).

A Definition of a Successful Artist

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 30, 2015

Recently I witnessed an artist (not a writer) put work out to the public that I believe needed some polish. Some of my close family and I agreed that it shouldn’t have been released without being improved first. However, this artist was being cheered by intimate friends and family. I’m not positive all of these people actually like the art itself. I think many of them just want to …

Category: Art, Awards, Craft, CreativityTag: Art, Career, Success

The Morals of the Story

By Karen Ballon July 30, 2014

As promised, here are the morals—and names—of the story of our young writer from last week. If you missed the post, please go back and read it. The young writer? None other than the gifted Lori Benton. Her second novel, The Pursuit of Tameson Littlejohn, released in April 2014. The first editor, who read her story from far, far away, and then became friends with Lori? Yours truly. But Lori isn’t …

Category: Awards, Career, Conferences, Creativity, Get Published, Writing CraftTag: Career, Get Published, Writing Craft

A Brave Heart

By Dan Balowon June 24, 2014

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 …

Category: Awards, Book Business, Creativity, Dan, ICRS, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, Christy Awards, publishing, The Publishing Life

But I Won a Contest

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 8, 2014

Contests cost both time and money to enter. Not to mention effort. Are they worth it? Yes, they are. Becoming a finalist is one way to get noticed. Sometimes the first prize awarded the winner is publication with a certain publisher. But will a contest win always lead to publication? No. I have been and continue to be a judge for many different contests, and here are three reasons why I can tell …

Category: Awards, Get Published, Marketing, Platform, TamelaTag: contests, Get Published

Is Christian Fiction Dying?

By Dan Balowon January 28, 2014

Last year, a couple Christian publishers stopped publishing fiction. Some publishers are nervous about it and in a wait-and-see mode. Others are excited about growth potential. The answer to the title question is no, but it is certainly interesting to explore the reason behind such widely diverse opinions on the subject.

NOTE #1: For full disclosure, I am a member of the advisory board for …

Category: Awards, Book Business, Dan, E-Books, Get Published, TrendsTag: fiction, Trends

How Entering a Writing Contest Just Might Change Your Life

By Steve Laubeon January 27, 2014

Guest Post by Susan May Warren

Far East Russia in the middle of January has all the charm of a mausoleum. Our missionary family lived in a three-room flat on the ninth floor of a cookie-cutter apartment building that, to the untrained eye, resembled a recently shelled building in Chechnya. We had no running water during the day, no telephone line and the Siberian wind froze the windows shut, …

Category: Awards, Get Published, Guest Post, SteveTag: contests, Get Published

ICRS 2013 – Observations

By Steve Laubeon July 1, 2013

by Steve Laube

This year was my 32nd consecutive annual bookseller’s convention now known as ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) held this year in St. Louis. As always it is a time of conversations, meetings, and business opportunities.

I arrived on Saturday afternoon, despite every attempt by the transportation industry to delay me…with 15 minutes to spare before giving an hour …

Category: Awards, ICRS, SteveTag: Christy Awards, ICRS, Lee Hough

Questions About Editors, Countries, and Awards

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 17, 2013

This blog is a continuation of my question-and-answer session in response to queries posted on a recent post.

1) Would you be able to get access to briefs from editors on what they are looking for and suggest to the author if there are any mutually interesting topics or genres?

Yes. Between the three of us, our agency has 81 years in publishing experience. During this time, we have forged …

Category: Agents, Awards, Conferences, Get Published, TamelaTag: Agents, Awards, Editors

ICRS Report 2012

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 26, 2012

This was my second ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) as an agent with The Steve Laube Agency. Once again, the show proved to be a marathon of information, entertainment, new connections, and strengthened friendships.

On a personal note, this year marked my younger daughter's eighteenth birthday so our family devoted Sunday to her celebration. Armed with a new camera, she took many …

Category: Awards, Book Business, ICRS, Tamela