Promotion in Motion: Completely Whole, with multi-talented Paulette Harper

Please welcome our special guest this morning, Author, coach, radio host, blogger, Bible study teacher, Paulette Harper Johnson.

When I wrote my first book in 2008 I had absolutely no idea about marketing or promoting.  I thought (like most aspiring authors) my publisher was going to do most of it for me. But I soon realized that I had to do about 95% of it. WOW what a shocker!  But after my dismay, I rolled up my sleeves and got busy.  I soon found that God had blessed me with another niche when it came to marketing.  My passion and desire now is to connect readers with authors.  As the owner of WNL Virtual Blog Tours I share with my clients ways they can gain more exposure while promoting their books.

Here are ten ways to help bring awareness to you as an author.

1. Send review copies of your books to book clubs and to all the journal and magazines that review books in your genre.  Most publishers will do this, but it never hurts to research other places that you can submit a copy of your book. There are plenty of places on-line that will review your book for “free.”

The importance of book reviews: Now that you have written the book, the next step is to find an audience to read it. Cultivating an audience is essential to the success of any book. It is very important that your book is reviewed. A book review is an opportunity for people to take notice to what you have written. Once your book is reviewed, there are plenty of places the review can be posted (i.e. Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites).

You should seek out those in your target audience, editors of newspapers or journals, book club presidents, and those who are willing to review the book. Include an email on your website, inviting them to review your book upon request. Ask them where they are planning to send or post the review. You want to make sure that those whom you are asking for a review copy know you are expecting them to do a review to help you promote your book. Book reviews give your book credibility! Here are just a few places you can announce your book release and reviews:

http://freebookreviews.blogspot.com http://www.bookreview.com/$spindb.query.bottom.booknew http://www.prweb.com/

2.  Offer sample chapter as free downloads on your website. This is an excellent way to “tease” readers to want more. Make sure the chapters you are offering are your best chapters, and turn those chapters into PDF files.

3. Publish an e-mail newsletter. This is a great opportunity to connect with your audience. You could pull nuggets from your book, give book excerpts, and offer other valuable information to your readers. Encourage people to subscribe on the website, and then send out an occasional newsletter with interesting new material in this book’s field.

4. Do book signings. Find places that are willing to allow you to come do a book signing. Years ago, bookstores were thriving with author’s book signing; but over the years, book stores have closed down. Because of this we have had to think outside the box.

5. Give away copies to the right people. Use this as your calling card. Give copies to potential clients and customers. Encourage them to read it and pass it on to others.

6. Sell your books out of your trunk. Always carry books and promotional material with you at all times.

7. Leave promotional items at the dentist or doctor’s office and any other professional business where people gather. I’ve left bookmarks in the pockets of the airplane.

8. Become a reviewer on Amazon. Use your own name accompanied by “author of the book…” Review other books; and when people read your reviews, some will click through to your book.

9. Become a Blogger and blog about your book.

10. Write articles using some of your book’s content.

 

Paulette Harper Johnson is an award winning author, writing coach, Bible teacher, radio host, and the owner of WNL Virtual Blog Tours. Her years of marketing her own self-published books have created a special talent in her—her ability to sell a product well. Not only does she specialize in marketing strategies, but also serves as the publicist for P.F.L. Publishing.

She serves in ministry as an Elder with her husband Sr. Pastor Tony E. Johnson at Word of Faith Worship Center in Bradenton and North Port FL. Paulette’s website: www.pauletteharper.com

Why the Label?

So I was brainstorming in my chamber of deep thought earlier this afternoon (the shower), and today’s bloppick came to mind. Why do we label Christian fiction? Not, what separates Christian fiction from everything else, but literally, why do we need the label?

I’m not hugely bothered by the label. I understand that plenty of Christian readers want to know they’re reading books that agree with their beliefs. They like to know that what they’re reading is safe for their hearts. I personally enjoy being able to enter a bookstore and head straight to the ‘inspirational’ section to browse shelves filled with some of my favorite authors. It’s like a family reunion!

Seriously though, why use the term ‘inspirational’ strictly for Christian/religious/spiritual fiction? Are no other books meant to inspire? I find that a little odd.

Anyway, my issue with labeling Christian fiction as such is that I have a lot of non-Christian friends (and a few Christian friends who don’t read much) who don’t even realize there is such a thing. Honestly, I rarely see a section in bookstores for Christian fiction; rather, I see sections marked off as ‘Christian,’ or ‘religious’ or ‘inspirational,’ period. That said, what non-Christian is going to read This Present Darkness if it’s sold on the same shelf as I Kissed Dating Goodbye? Nothing against the latter, you know what I mean. I understand the shelving logic: these books are belief-friendly, mix them together. But fiction and nonfiction have very different purposes, and I feel like those differences should be recognized.

I need a haircut.

Again, I do see the logic behind the Christian fiction label. It’s all about the marketing process, and the folks behind Christian fiction marketing are probably Christians who want other Christians to read the Christian books they Christian publish. Christian. However, I’ve read plenty of books on the…other market…which had messages of hope and spiritual growth in the plots, but simply because they were published by a different company, they didn’t get to sit at the table of Christian-labeldom. Dean Koontz, for example, is an author with a pretty hefty word count who definitely doesn’t ignore the spiritual realm in his writings. His books make me think on deep, important stuff just as much as Ted Dekker’s books do, but you’ll find no Dean Koontz on a Bible shelf.

Another thing, if Christian fiction gets its own corner in the bookstore, then why do I never see any Atheist, Buddhist, Muslim, New Age, et cetera, fiction? Sure there are nonfiction books that are by this religious group for this religious group, Richard Dawkins’s, The God Delusion comes to mind, but fiction? I haven’t seen it, and now that I think about it, wouldn’t it seem kind of weird to walk into a bookstore and see signs all over the place separating Christian fiction from Muslim fiction and so on and so forth? Right now, there seems to be Christian fiction and…everything else. Not all ‘secular fiction’ authors are unbelievers, so a Christian fiction label might even be a little off-putting to everyone else in the spectrum.

The way I see it, Christian stories are meant to aid in spiritual growth and plant seeds, so to speak. When the first thing people will see is “Hey! A Christian wrote this so you might consider accepting Jesus,” what firmly-rooted non-Christian will keep reading? Some will. Some get curious, but I can tell you from personal experience that most will glance at the bookshelf and keep walking. It’s not the label that bothers me, it’s how people react to it.

I can’t say I have an immediate solution to this. Maybe I’m the only one who sees a problem with it, but if what is currently considered Christian fiction were to simply be called ‘fiction,’ would we Christian authors not get more readers? How many more seeds could we plant if people didn’t have the obvious label to walk away from? It’s not denying our faith if we take the label away; denying our faith would be to rewrite everything without a message. What I think matters most is that we as Christians know Who and what we’re writing about, and that readers are encouraged to think on the world beyond themselves after reading what we write. They don’t need to know what we know as soon as they see the shelf the books are on, you know?

Obviously, a lot would have to be done in order for this change to be made. I’m not saying, “Let’s start a revolution with secretly-Christian-fiction,” per se, but I’d like to know if I’m not the only person who feels this way.

In closing, here’s a doodle I drew shortly after getting my first two short stories published by Splickety and OtherSheep magazines. Thanks for reading, cheers, God bless!

In Christ,

Luther D. Powell

Positively Moving Ahead

The best thing to do while you’re waiting for that contract to catch up with you, after submitting of course, or having you agent submit , is to KEEP MOVING.

I’m taking baby steps again, but that’s okay for me. I have stockpiled over twenty manuscripts, many of which are not just salvageable, but saleable. I’m chipping away at that frozen sculpture of alphabet art.

A book I wrote in 2006 while Heartsong Presents: Mysteries was unraveling was another mystery, set up for a potential series. I liked it. It’s first person, my first experiment with that POV, and has fancy cats, Egyptian Maus to be exact, as fun non-human characters. My first agent sent it out to a few publishers who weren’t interested in jumping into the inspirational cozy mystery malestrom, although one editor said she liked my voice. I’m adaptable. I rewrote the manuscript a few times. I like adverbs, but I can easily take them out again. Not a problem.

I wish my writing was noticeble by publishers that secure national television interviews and cross-country book trips, but I’m still building my name and reputation. That simply cannot be hurried, unless one of those unspeakable accidents happen. I check around for publishers who offer realistic, fair contracts who are dedicated to putting out good product. I ask authors I know who are with that publisher about their experiences.

The smoke, bronze, and siver Mau

After doing the above recently, I was offered and signed a contract with Janet Durbin at Whimsical Publications. She said right away she wasn’t crazy about my title. I can live with that. I had a blast on Facebook in a huge chat about the story. I’m excited to get into edits, and the editing team from The Map Quilt seems to think that the process for the re-release of the Gold Standard, book one, is coming up soon.

Here’s the initial blurb:

Ivy Preston keeps other people’s secrets for a living. When a small town mayor invites Ivy Preston and True Thompson to move their businesses to Apple Grove, can their love survive the sudden rise in crime?

After being left at the altar, Ivy Amanda McTeague Preston uproots herself and her cat, an Egyptian Mau named Memnet, from her boring and lonely life to start over at the urging of Mayor Conklin, a fellow pedigreed Mau owner. Truesdale Thompson is ready to move in a fresh direction with his life. A private man whose physical wounds are the only outward sign of a tragic accident in his past, True and his cat, Isis, open a branch of his trendy little bookstore and coffee shop in Apple Grove. When Ivy takes a mysterious message while the mayor is away on business, only Ivy’s criminology professor mom, and True believe there’s something rotten in Apple Grove. Can Ivy carry on her romance with True while saving the town from further Mayhem?

 

Although I’ve branched off into short stories and done more radio theater, and worked on magazines for a while, I’ve been working. I’ve been editing. I jumped into Linked In a bit more seriously. I’m working with Brenda Hendricks, and Clash of the Titles, and doing book reviews. I’m plodding forward.

I’ve been pleased with the reviews coming out for The Map Quilt, which was delayed until May 4. Watch for the electronic version, which will be available then, and the print book, coming soon.

In fact, I’ve almost caught up with myself and have to get crackin – back to finishing The Newspaper Code, book 3 in the Buried treasure mysteries. After all, my back list is still selling, and I’m selling my stockpile slowly and surely. Perhaps I’d better start jogging again.

How about you? What kind of things do you do while you’re in “wait” mode?

Market Monday: The Effective Press Release with David J Rank

Picking up from last week, Press Releases are invaluable ways to promote your work.

Traditionally, they are paper or electronic alerts to local media to let them know something exciting and newsworthy is happening right under their noses, and it would benefit them to give you some time or space in the newspaper, radio, cable spot, etc.

Another effective news release is the postcard mailing, party invitations to “get the know the author” day/night, book club invitations to read the book or let them know you’re willing to make an author visit. Radio spots/ads can be quite worth the money. A community cable tv spot might also prove a good and reasonable buy. Send a card to your library, put a packet together for your local bookstore.

 

I’ve invited Dave Rank, jounalist, to talk about the effective Press Release. Welcome, Dave.

The Effective News Release By David J. Rank

I’ve worked in journalism going on forty years now as both writer and editor for newspapers and magazines. I can honestly say thousands of news releases have crossed my desk over the years, and it never ceases to amaze me how poorly done most of them are, even many sent out by polished writers, marketers, and PR pros. They miss promotional opportunities because they fail to remember three basic principles.

1. Never forget your audience, who you need to impress with your news release–the editors who decide if your news release will see the light of publication. What does that editor need to interest his or her readership?

2. Provide an editor with reasons why your news release would be of interest to his or her readers.

3. Compose the news release in a functional format an editor can easily use. A news release is a tool, not a work of art. The point is to get the information it contains into print and generate follow up interest. Do not expect your news release to be published verbatim. Here are six tips to compose an effective news release:

1. A news release has two purposes: a) To get the basic information into print; b) to interest an editor into generating more copy about the subject matter, a feature article on the author, perhaps, or coverage of the event you are promoting.

2. A news release should be written in third person, not first. A is doing B at C, etc. That can easily be transferred into a publication. Something written as “I will be appearing at someplace with my new novel on…” will need a rewrite which an editor may or may not have time to do. You don’t want your news release ending up in the editor’s To Do When I find the Time pile.

3. Make sure you have all the facts stated clearly: What are you promoting, who are you promoting, where is it happening, when is it happening, and why anyone should care. The why is rather tricky and should be tailored to each publication you are contacting. And always provide contact information to encourage follow up.

4. Research the editors/publications you are contacting. Know what they are looking for and make sure your news release fulfills those needs. For example, if you are contacting a local newspaper, make sure you mention a “local” reason why that paper should publish the information you are providing. What is the local connection?

5. State the facts clearly: Jane Doe will be signing her new book “I’m Finally Published” at the Plenty of Books store in This City from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 20. And so on.

6. Attribute statements of opinion as direct quotes from a named person. Instead of writing “Jane Doe will be signing her marvelous and exciting new book ‘I’m Finally Published’ at the Plenty of Books store in This City from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 20” write an additional sentence like this: “Jane Doe has written a marvelous and exciting new book,” said Owen Owner of Plenty of Books. Using attributes like that are the best way to get more promotional material through the editorial filter and into print.

Here’s an example on how to format a news release to promote the release of a new book.

April 27, 2012 Contact information: Lisa Lickel, (phone number), lisalickel@yahoo.com

Local author publishes second book in mystery series

WEST BEND, Wis. – Local novelist Lisa Lickel has published her second book in her popular Buried Treasure Series. The Map Quilt is a sweet romantic, cozy mystery like Lisa’s first book in the series, The Gold Standard,” said MuseItUp Publication’s editor Anne Duguid. The Map Quilt is now available online and will soon be out in paperback, Lickel said.

“Death in rural Wisconsin is only the beginning to new chaos in Robertsville, the new home of my protagonist, school teacher Judy Wingate,” Lickel said. “The story revolves around a stolen innovative new battery, a long-buried skeleton, and an old quilt that contains its own secrets. Judy and her husband Hart unravel the murder of Hart’s boss and how Judy’s ancestors were once part of the Underground Railroad.”

Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a 160-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes mystery and romance novels, all with a touch of grace.

She also edits, writes book reviews and interviews, and has penned dozens of short stories, magazine articles, feature stories for newspapers, and radio theater scripts. She is editor in chief of Creative Wisconsin, the literary magazine of the Wisconsin Writers Association, and of Other Sheep, a Christian science fiction and fantasy magazine. Her website is LisaLickel.com.

A working journalist in Wisconsin for 38 years, David J. Rank writes for and has edited newspapers, magazines, books, and corporate publications. He’s also sold or placed freelance articles and news releases in trade, regional and national publications. Vice president of the Wisconsin Writers Association and active in local writing groups, Rank has had more than 25 short stories published online and in regional literary publications.

Wisconsin Writers Association is one of the oldest organizations in the state that promotes writing in Wisconsin. Find out more on the web site.

Journey of The Map Quilt

The journey of The Map Quilt started when I was in fifth grade, learning about the Underground Railroad, watching my grandmother sew quilts, and discovering the astonishing fact that not all black people in the United States came here on slave ships.

I grew up on the east side of Wisconsin, but as I gradually learned more about the side closer to the Mississippi River, the rich culture wove its way into my psyche long before I considered writing a novel. To the county north of our farm a colony of free black farmers settled in community, where a few of the round barns created by a master caprenter, Alga Shivers, still stand. To the west of our farm a few farmers still grow tobacco and dry the leaves in long sheds.

Back on the eastern side of the state, while on a ramble one nice day, a historian of my town points out a dilapidated tavern and, kitty-corner, a blank-eyed house on a rural crossroad. “They say there’s a tunnel under the road,” he says. “For the underground railroad.” It no longer exists, perhaps filled in, bordered up, or only a fanciful notion.

But that’s where fiction comes from – a veritable “what if” of fanciful notions. The whisper of a rumor, the wish of being part of history, the wonder of why we are the people we’ve come to be. I started my professional writing career in 2004 when I started selling magazine articles and features. I’d written two novels and eventually contracted with Barbour for a “cozy” mystery, which I had to look up. What was published as The Gold Standard, the first book in the Buried Treasure series, released in 2009. Although I’d also contracted The Map Quilt in 2007, we hit major road construction. MAJOR. It happens. In the meantime I’ve been privileged to continue to grow my craft, and although I am delighted with the editing done, know this book could be tighter and better. It was still an “early” manuscript in my career. I sought a new publisher for three years and was blessed to find one. This book releases in electronic format first at the end of the month, and oddly enough, was set three years later in time when I wrote it.

 

 

 

 

So, what is a “cozy” mystery and how hard is it to set up a sequel? Let’s chat. 

Very basically a cozy mystery:

• Is between 45-65,000 words
• Has a crime has takes place off stage, often before the book begins
• Shows little violence or gore
• Contains no graphic language or vulgarity
• Uses a non-professional investigator to solve crimes
• Most often set in small communities
• And is not always inspirational

For demonstration, I’ll analyze The Gold Standard without giving the secrets away, next time.

How do I set up the plot for sequels?

Yes, you got it—seat of the pants writers do not often do well in this type of genre. It’s not just sequels, but the mystery itself that must be laid out well, but not so tidily that you take the fun away from the reader or that the story feels contrived. In my Buried Treasure series, the sequels set up well when Judy Wingate, the teacher/sleuth, moves to the home of her previously little-familiar family and sets out to learn about her family. She finds a lot of memorabilia in the attic; specifically in an old trunk. And, yes, again…that makes sequels forever.

This book releases in another week, so I don’t have purchase information yet.

 

Tuesday Promotion in Motion with Susan Page Davis

Susan Page Davis is the author of more than 40 published novels. She grew up in Maine, where her father was a game warden. After college in New York and teaching in North Carolina, she married a man from Oregon. They lived in the West for a while, then moved back to Susan’s home state of Maine for 33 years. They now live in Kentucky, with the youngest two of their six children. They also have eight wonderful grandchildren. Susan is a past winner of the Carol Award and the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award, as well as Heartsong Presents Favorite Author of the Year. Visit her website at: www.susanpagedavis.com

One of this prolific author’s new books is Cowgirl Trail from River North publishers.

Susan, what do you love about the book?

I love the way Maggie and her friends jump in to get the job done, even though many of them have no experience working cattle and have never ridden the trail before.

Introduce us to your main characters.

Maggie Porter is still grieving her mother’s death, and she returns home to find the family ranch in chaos. Her father is at odds with his own men, and they are threatening to walk off the job. Papa won’t listen to reason. It’s up to Maggie to find a way to hold everything together. She’s baffled by the changes in her father, and she can’t imagine why he’s acting as he does, but that doesn’t stop her from doing more than her share. She puts aside her dreams of romance and a happy home to tend to business. If there’s a way to make peace with the men, Maggie will find it—but there’s not. If there’s a way to get the roundup done and drive those cattle to stockyards, Maggie will find it—and this time she is more successful.

Alex Bright is Mr. Porter’s foreman, and he’s caught in the middle. He used to respect and admire his boss, but now he can’t understand why Mr. Porter is treating the men unfairly. He wants to remain loyal to the boss and the Rocking P ranch, but he also longs to meet the men’s needs. It’s a tough decision, made tougher when the boss’s beautiful daughter comes home. Alex always liked Maggie when she was a kid. But he can’t give her what she wants now.

Tell us something about your book that we won’t find out from your web site.

This book is part of a six-book series written by three different authors. We share an agent, Chip MacGregor, and he encouraged us to write a book proposal for a family saga series set in Texas. Moody Publishers loved the idea and purchased the series for its River North Fiction line. The three of us (Vickie McDonough, Darlene Franklin and myself) studied Texas history and picked events that interested us. We came up with an outline of six stories, each set in a different decade and featuring historical events such as the cowboy strike in this book, the “Hoodoo” War, German immigration, and Indian captives. In the Texas Trails series, you will meet ranchers, homesteaders, Texas Rangers, soldiers, and many more. The Morgan family is a sturdy lot, and each generation is determined to make a go of it in Texas.

Sounds wonderful, Susan. Thanks for sharing with us.

Buy the book at

Amazon print, Kindle

Barnes and Noble print, Nook

Tuesday Promotion in Motion: Pembroke Sinclair, Beware of Zombies

Welcome Pembroke Sinclair, fellow Muse author, to Reflections in Hindsight.

 

About the Author (who doesn’t do pictures, she says):

 

Pembroke Sinclair has had several stories published in various places. She writes an eclectic mix of stories ranging from western to science fiction to fantasy to horror. Her stories have been published in Static Movement; chuckhawks.com; The Cynic Online Magazine; NVF Magazine online, NVF Magazine Issue 8, NVF Magazine Issue 2, and NVF Magazine Issue 4; Sonar 4 Publications; Golden Visions Magazine; and Residential Aliens.

Her first novel, Coming from Nowhere, is now available at eTreasures Publishing and Amazon.com. Her story, “Sohei,” was named one of the Best Stories of 2008 by The Cynic Online Magazine. If you would like to contact Pembroke, she can be reached at pembrokesinclair at hotmail dot com or pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com.

 

 About the Book:

The world has come to an end. It doesn’t go out with a bang, or even a whimper. It goes out in an orgy of blood and the dead rising from their graves to feast on living flesh. As democracy crumples and the world melts into anarchy, five families in the U.S. rise to protect the survivors. The undead hate a humid environment, so they are migrating westward to escape its deteriorating effects. The survivors are constructing a wall in North Platte to keep the zombie threat to the west, while tyranny rules among the humans to the east. Capable but naïve Krista is 15 when the first attacks occur, and she loses her family and barely escapes with her life. She makes her way to the wall and begins a new life. But, as the undead threat grows and dictators brainwash those she cares about, Krista must fight not only to survive but also to defend everything she holds dear—her country, her freedom, and ultimately those she loves.

1. What do you love about this book?

The zombies. I’m a huge zombie fan, and I’m very excited to be able to write in the genre. I like my main character, too. She’s spunky, cynical, and won’t take crap from anyone!

 

2. What’s the main thing you learned during the process of writing and publishing this book?

That things change…a lot! I never had any intention of making this a YA book, but after an agent suggested it would work better, I revised it. In the end, I think it worked out better. Instead of my character sounding like a whiner, she’s filled with teen angst!

 

3. What should your readers discover and want to share with their family and friends after reading this book?

A good plan to counteract the zombie apocalypse.

 

Ha! Sounds necessary. Thanks, Pembroke!

Buy your copy at:

eTreaures: ebook: http://www.etreasurespublishing.com/products/Life-After-The-Undead-by-Pembroke-Sinclair.html

Print book: http://www.etreasurespublishing.com/products/Life-After-The-Undead-by-Pembroke-Sinclair-%252d-Print.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Undead-Pembroke-Sinclair/dp/1937809013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331583781&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: Nook version: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/life-after-the-undead-pembroke-sinclair/1106608245?ean=2940032810445&itm=2&usri=pembroke+sinclair

 

The Sunday Book Review: Steve Miller’s Social Media Frenzy

Social Media Frenzy:

Why Time-consuming Strategies such as Facebook, Twitter, & Blogging strategies may not work for your book

J. Steven Miller

$2.99

January 2012

Wisdom Creek Press

Smashwords

The author’s goal, he states on the back cover matter, is to help me narrow down which social media alternatives might work best for my products. My product is writing and writing and reading-related material, so I’m eager to jump in and see how Steven can help me.

Six chapters with intriguing titles such as, Help This Blogger, and When Building a Following might not work, and some indexes don’t seem too scary. I understand the pain of trying to build a following, and if it doesn’t work, there’s got to be something better. Oh, catch this: these are going to become my personal mantras, and I haven’t even gotten into the reading parts:

1. Let others praise you, rather than praising yourself

2. Go where people already gather, rather than trying to gather people around you

3. Address the Interested instead of interrupting the disinterested

4. Consider your strengths and passions rather than assuming you can replication any marketing strategy.

In the opening chapters, Miller lays out a series of professional advice and marketing techniques that are commonly used and make gains. But not for everyone. He uses the example of an author who already works full time at a day job and has little time. This author’s particular goal for his web site/blog? Sell books. Everything on this web page showcases him and his achievements and introduces him to other opportunities to sell his books in a medium he’s comfortable with: radio.

But what about that mythical 1000-fan number on Facebook? Miller rightly asks: who are these people and what do you do with them? Why are you connecting and does it make a different to either of you or your sales? How many of these people are going to buy your book?

To become highly trafficked (several thousands of visits a day) one normally must spend a lot of time on a blog; it seems that those who are legitimate experts in their field, friendly, consistent, and have years to devote to its growth do best. Who is your target audience and what do they need from you? What can you provide? Continuity, offering a reason for repeat visitors, regularly new products and a specific niche are important.

 Miller presents evidence for gathering good book reviews, even after the books are published. He offers readers blank note space for gathering our thoughts and writing down strategies of our own; he advises authors to go hang out in author forums and other online and ask for review ad interview and guest exchanges, and to listen to what’s happening in the industry.

But overall, friendship marketing, like friendship evangelism, seems to still be the best marketing method.

About the Author: J. Steve Miller is president of Legacy Educational Resources (www.character-education.info), providing web based resources for those teaching character and life skills in public schools and through service agencies. Connect with Steve by interacting over Amazon reviews of this book, or at www.enjoyyourwriting.com, www.jstevemiller.com, www.sellmorebooks.org , Facebook, LinkedIn, and various other blogs and sites and forums.

♦♦♦♦♦ Reflections

Tuesday Promition in Motion: Zeke Lam and Submission Ministries

About Zeke:

ZEKE LAM is the founder of SUBMISSION Ministries—a ministry devoted to seeing lost souls encounter God and live lives fully surrendered to the risen Christ. A graduate of Liberty University, Zeke’s deep passion for following Christ’s will has led him through many years of youth ministry and itinerant evangelism. Both of these experiences have enriched and fueled his desire to hand others the keys to a Christ-centered life. Zeke resides in Virginia with his beautiful wife, Kathleen, and a growing family of future world-changers.

Author website: http://submissionministries.org/

 

About the Book: subMission

What is the greatest challenge that the Church is facing today? Zeke Lam suggests that one word is the greatest challenge:  submission, or the lack thereof. It is not external forces that nullify the testimony of a Christ-centered believer, but rather the failure to humbly submit to the voice of the Lord. This book will help you to live a surrendered life abiding in Christ.

•  Is the approval of God more important to you than the approval of man?

•  Is the presence of God evident in your life?

•  Do you fiercely protect your intimacy with Christ?

•  Do you desire to live a life of truth, free from the lies of the devil?

•  Is God’s divine character visible to those around you?

Learn how to submit your life wholeheartedly to the Lord so that you can dwell continually in the secret place—a place of intimacy, surrender and joy.

c. December 1, 2011

Burning Lamp Media 

$9.99

ISBN    978-1-9374-8100-1

ISBN    1-9374-8100-X

Prepare to be stirred by this authentic calling to return to Scriptural obedience.

—Pastor Gabe Turner, The Point Church of Charlottesville, Virginia

In my opinion Zeke has laid his finger on the defining message for our time. This message is essential for believers everywhere…

—Eric Stephens, Pastor of Life Changing Ministries and Fellowship in Sugarland, Texas

Zeke, what do you love about your book?

I love the simplicity of this book. Although it addresses a critical and complex truth, subMISSION speaks to the heart on a practical level.

Can you tell us something about the book we won’t learn from your web site?

The entire manuscript was hand written. I owe a great deal of thanks to my beautiful wife who so sweetly typed every written word! For some reason, I maintain a better flow of thought when I have a pen in my hand.

And I thought I was the only one who at least did some plotting and scenes on paper. What was the major influence for this piece of work?

The major influence was the dire need in my personal walk with the Lord for complete surrender. With all the pulls and influences around us, it can be hard at times to clearly discern God’s voice. As my family and I stepped out into the unknown, we saw the miraculous hand of God come through. I learned that a humble and obedient heart is always honored by our God. He loves to show off in the lives of the obedient. My desire to communicate and usher others into a level of complete submission was my influence to write.

Lessons From Creative Writing Workshop (A Brief Satire)

*Note:  I don’t claim to be an expert in anything writing or art related, nor do I want to come off as haughty or arrogant in saying the following. I’m writing this with humorous/informative intentions to describe the wonders of the Creative Writing Workshop course I’ve taken this semester and the pieces by my peers in said class. I’ll admit, there are definitely some talented writers in this class, but I’m been thoroughly shocked for the entirety of the semester just how many students seem to treat the class as a Creative RANTING Workshop more than anything else.

Shall we begin?

:adjusts monocle:

First and foremost, one must know that in a creative writing workshop, consistently bashing the pieces by your peers is a surefire way to showcase your own expertise as a creative writer, to earn the love and affection you deserve from your peers and future readers and most importantly of all, to raise your grades tenfold. Nobody wants to hear anything nice about the short story they spent a month conjuring and secretly, the verbal abuse only motivates them to write more. Bigger mouths = bigger encouragement! Don’t forget your obligatory expletives!

Also, taking ten minutes to feed a novice writer negativity about his/her piece will always take attention away from any mistakes or problems within your own piece for the class. Go confidence!

For those of you who have a vendetta against anything and everything governmental, who have suffered through unfortunate relationship experiences, or who simply feel misunderstood by humanity, writing creative nonfiction is for you! Be warned, the minute your pen hits the paper (or your fingers the keyboard), you’re entering a vicious contest to see who hates his/her life the most. You absolutely must delve into the deepest, darkest depths of your inner being to stir the most depressing memory of your life in order to write the most effective piece. Breakups = creative nonfiction gold, because there is nothing more depressing than a failed relationship (definitely, definitely not), and every peer and reader will take the time to give you sympathy after praising your literary mastery.

For writers of fantasy/sci-fi fiction, the only topic material ever worth exploring is that involving vampires, witches and time travel. The student who deviates from this formula will always and forever receive an F-.

Having troubles making your character(s) seem realistic and relatable? How about some expletives? Profanity tops daily conversation like whipped cream, and we all know there’s not a soul in the world without a sailor’s mouth. Why beat around the bush, right? Expletives serve as a sign of maturity and intellect, so slipping them into the dialogue of your characters (or better yet, your narrator) will give their personalities more depth and wisdom.

Writer’s block got you down while you’re composing the most mind-blowingly thrilling piece of fiction ever? One word will forever solve that problem: sexism. Expletives not giving your main character enough depth? If your main character is a woman, develop the daylights out of her by expressing what horrible monsters all men are through some awful experience she has with her father, brother, uncle, boyfriend, boss at work, et cetera, and make this the main focus of the character’s thoughts for the remainder of the piece. It’s realistic, relatable, and not offensive in the slightest! And if your main character is a man, be sure to riddle his life with romantic flops between himself and a variety of scantily-clad women whose sole purposes are to lie, cheat and steal every ounce of his sanity. Remember folks, depressing is interesting, cheerful is boring, and who in the world wants to read about two people in a perfectly stable, healthy love relationship?

Answer: nobody… unless those two people have all kinds of gratuitous sex. Graphic sex scenes are also handy for developmental purposes, because… well… it’s something real people do… therefore, people want to read about it.

Punctuation, spelling and grammatical errors mean nothing to your peers and your course instructor. Feel free to ignore them completely, as the rest of the class will, and it might even help readers focus on the actual story a bit more!

Don’t worry about your general interactions with peers, because there is no possible chance that any of them could become literary agents or end up in the publishing business and/or somehow be connected to your writing career in the near future or anything.

Last but not least, if you receive no comments or feedback of any kind of a written work, that means you should just keep doing whatever it is you did when you wrote said work. It certainly doesn’t mean the piece is so unspeakably bad that nobody had the heart to tell you that you probably shouldn’t be taking the class…

Welp, that’s what I’ve got for you today, Reflections-readers. I hope it was somewhat enjoyable and/or relatable. Until next Thursday, here’s a picture of me pretending I can paint good. Cheers and God bless!

In Christ,

Luther D. Powell