I couldn’t resist posting this oldie but goodie. Silent Monks singing!
Humor
Duh Blog
Kyle Idelman’s AHA: The God Moment That Changes Everything (David C. Cook, 2014) is my inspiration today. If ever I write a book, it will be DUH: The Things That Never Change (Big Publisher, 20??) Today, I will reveal those things that are absolute truth that everyone should know. If you don’t, I have no advice for you. DUH would not be a self-help book because it doesn’t suggest a solution to any …
When It’s One of THOSE Days…
I won’t ask if you’ve ever had “one of those days.” You’re in publishing. Of course you have. Probably on a far too regular basis. I totally understand. In fact, my most recent “one of those days” is today. You know what it’s like. You have your little “To Do” list all laid out, and you’re up early, equipped with coffee and ready to dive in, when it happens. Life. And suddenly your plans are out …
April Fools, the Writer’s Way
Many years ago, while I was working at Tyndale House Publishers as their senior editor for books, one of my author’s titles released in late March. A few days later, on April Fool’s Day, inspiration hit. Being the serious-minded, somber person that I am, I sent an email. It was addressed to one Mr. James Watkins, whom many of you know is a humor writer, and who loves to tease others–and who …
Goofus and Gallant Go To A Writer’s Conference
Anything that has been around for almost 70 years with a billion copies in print should be used as material for blog posts once in a while. The kid’s magazine Highlights was first published in mid-1946 and was an integral part of the Boomer generation right up to kids currently in first grade in 2015. One of the features in Highlights from the very beginning was a cartoon of Goofus and Gallant, …
Valentine’s Creativity! [Plus a Giveaway]
I love to laugh. I’m one of those people who goes into card stores and stands in the aisles, reading the funny cards and chortling. So when I saw some posts on Rejected Candy Heart sayings, I totally cracked up. You know what Candy Hearts are, yes? Those little sugar hearts with sayings such as “Be Mine,” “Hug Me,” “Real Love”? We’ve all seen them, even exchanged them. In fact, I bought a box of …
Let’s Be Creative and Have Fun with Book Titles!
Steve Laube shared this hilarious thought from quirkbooks.com in our agency phone call last week: What if your favorite books were Halloween Candy? Such as… Mounds of the Baskervilles Oliver Twix Almond Joy Luck Club The Fault in our Starburst So with Halloween just past, and all the candy now on sale, I thought it would be fun to come up with our own titles using Halloween candy. So here are the …
Book Concepts That Will Never Sell
As a public service to our agency clients and the general Christian publishing industry (but mostly because it is a real drag being serious all the time) here are some book concepts that will never sell. Don’t even bother trying to develop them. I Never Knew You: Depressing Bible Verses The Dog that Returned to His Vomit: A Bible Story for All Ages The Eglon Diet: The Purpose Driven Knife …
How To Stumble Onto Your Brand…
Erin Taylor Young has a remarkable gift for making her readers laugh out loud even as she’s delivering hard truths about living a life of faith. Her down-to-earth writing style invites readers into the books that God has given her and sends them away refreshed and assured that we’re not in this gig alone. Her first humorous nonfiction, Surviving Henry: Adventures in Loving a Canine …
