Keeping Busy

It's been a busy summer for me writing-wise. I work as a substitute teacher when school is in session, so summers are a nice time to focus more on just writing. I have three books coming out in the next two years, so I certainly have stayed busy this summer in spite of having a break in my subbing work. And what are those three books that will be releasing in '24 and '25? Well, I'll tell you a little about them. But first here is the release schedule to the extent that I know it: 

April '24: "Wonder and Worship" published by Entrusted Books, an arm of Write Integrity Press 

Summer '25: my yet unnamed debut children's book published by Elke Lake Publishers 

Sometime in '24: "Wonder and Worship through the Year", Entrusted Books

The two devotionals will be a two-book series of devotions written around small strange and interesting Bible facts that I call Bible nuggets. I am co-writing both of these with Shirley Crowder whom I have co-written devo books with before. The devotions she will contribute will be based on a hymn that relates to the Bible nugget or theme of the ones I write--hence: wonder (my Bible nuggets devos) and worship (her hymn based devos.)

The children's book will be a picture book for K-3rd grade. The main character in it is Hannah, a middle child who is trying to figure out if there is anything special about her. After all, she is not the oldest or the baby like her two sisters are. And she is not an only like her older brother is. (He is the only boy in the family.) She is just sort of stuck in the middle. What's special about that? 

These are all in different stages of writing. The first devo book manuscript is finished and turned into our publisher. Next winter and early spring I will be up to my nose in edits for it but for now it is considered completed and set aside. Book two in that series is in the writing stage and has occupied a lot of my summer break, and the children's book is in the editing stage. SI have also been doing some freelance writing too. So yeah, I've kept busy juggling my various writing projects this summer. Good thing I love to write! 

More Contest News!

 I have also recently learned that Glimpses of God Autumn, one of the devotional books I co-wrote with my lifelong friend Shirley Crowder, is a finalist in the Ames Award! 

New Book Coming Soon!

 

I am so excited to let you know that Shirley Crowder and I just signed a contract with Entrusted Books (an arm of Write Integrity Books) to co-write another devotional book! The book will release sometime next year, most likely in the fall of 2023. I will share more about it over the next few months. For now I'm thrilled to be starting a new writing project. That is like play for me. :) 

Looking Forward ... And Back

Welcome 2019! Today is the first day of a brand-new year. We have 364 more days ahead of us to live, laugh, love, and maybe cry a little before this year is behind us. As I think about the days to come, I can't help but also look back.

2018 was a mostly good year. I had some not-so-wonderful moments both personally and professionally but many more wonderful ones that far out-weighed the less than wonderful days. This blog is focused on my writing journey so that is what I will talk about today as I let you know some of the highlights of 2018 and things to look forward to in 2019.

2018 was another good year for freelancing. I had numerous articles published in an assortment of magazines and sites and even taught a workshop on freelance writing in June at the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. One highlight was getting my first acceptance in a regional magazine for an article that will not come out until late summer '19.

On the book front, 2018 saw the release of one book and re-release of another, both by PixNPens. The most recent release, Prayer Warrior Confessions is an anthology compiled (and partly written) by Shirley Crowder and me. It has been received well by readers, has just finished a blog tour, and is garnering many great reviews. Another book that has been quite successful this past year is Prayer: It's Not About You. This book remains my best-selling book, actually, partly because groups of 10 or more often buy it for group Bible studies. Last August, a men's small group studied it and the leader emailed and told me he intended to teach it in a Sunday School class he leads this spring.

What were the less-than-wonderful moments in my writing world? Well, I did receive a few rejections of submitted articles (which is the norm for freelancers but stings just the same) and I learned that SEEK magazine will be folding. It has published so many of my articles. Also, my husband and I had a couple of disappointments with large traditional publishing companies who gave us every indication they were going to publish our book, "A Stand for Truth" but in the end, they did not. One actually sent a contract but it differed greatly from what we had discussed with them and was not a contract we could sign.

So, I start 2019 with much hope and great expectancy. Here is what I know already about my writing journey in the year ahead:

Freelancing:
I will be receiving contracts from both Focus on the Family and David C. Cook in January for articles to be published sometime in the coming year. I still have articles coming out in SEEK in Jan, Feb, April, and May before they close their door in August. And I know of other articles I wrote coming out in May in Purpose Magazine and in August or September in Blueridge Country magazine and devotions in both the winter and spring issues of The Secret Place.

Books:
My husband and I are moving ahead with the publishing of A Stand for Truth with the help of Gregg Bridgeman at Olivia Kimbrell Press (the press that worked with me on my novel, The Whisper of the Palms) We do not yet have a release date for A Stand for Truth. And speaking of my novel, it will be featured in a friend's blog in mid February and will go on sale at that time too.

My co-writer on many of my books, Shirley Crowder, and I have been and will stay quite busy again this year. We are in the process of writing the Glimpses of God series of devotional books; four in total--winter, spring, summer, and fall. We have winter all done and turned into our publisher. It will release next fall. (It will keep us busy in the summer when it hits the publisher's editing schedule.) We are putting the final touches on the spring book and hope to have that to our publisher in February and are just starting on the summer one which has a deadline of next August. So, while it may be winter outside, my thoughts for the next few months will be filled with summertime!

Had a Great Time!

I just got back from the KY Christian Writers Conference last night. As a friend of mine used to say, "And once again, a good time was had by all."

My class on freelancing was well attended with eager writers who seemed appreciative to learn the things I was able to share. I told them that freelancing was like fishing and I as going to teach them how to fish, and tell them where some great fishing holes were.

I have included a picture of two writers who also write for the publishing company I am contracted with. The woman on the left is Shirley Crowder, my childhood friend and co-writer on many books, and the woman in the middle is Betty Thomason Owens who writes fiction with Write Integrity Press. (Pix-N-Pens is the nonfiction arm of Write Integrity.)

The man in the back is Carlton Hughes, a humor writer, who has photobombed our pictures at this conference so many years that it is now a tradition to have a "Carlton-photobombed pic".

I'm back home, now, and looking ahead again. My husband and I have a phone call appointment with the publishing company that is currently considering our book later this week. I hope to be able to share more on that soon.

I'm still working on book #3 of our 5-book contract, and will soon start edits on book #2. But I am also just enjoying some summer days. My grandson is visiting this week and going with me and one of my kids to my parents next week. So, I'm going to enjoy some pool time and family time.  

Cyber Monday

Thanksgiving is behind us, Christmas is right around the corner, and I have a book about to be released! Woohoo! "Glimpses of Prayer: A Devotional" will release on December 5th. It is currently up for pre-order at the discounted price of $2.99 for the Kindle. This price will go up once the book is released. So, if you are looking for a cyber Monday deal, this is it. 

The book is another collaboration between my childhood friend, Shirley Crowder and myself.

 Shirley has a passion for disciple-making and loves to share about her spiritual children who are scattered across the world serving the Lord. She is a never-married single woman and a Biblical counselor; a regular guest on "Think on These Things," a Birmingham AL radio/TV program for women; and a freelance writer. Shirley is certified by, and serves on the national Advisory Committee for The Addiction Connection. She co-authored the chapter, "Paul and Women in Ministry" in the book “Paul the Counselor” published by Focus Publishing and has several articles which have appeared in “The Gadsden Times” Religion Section's Paper Pulpit. Follow her blog at: Through the Lens of Scripture.

And the book is illustrated by my daughter, Kristin Michael.

Kristin is a freelance artist whose preferred medium is oil painting. Her style is contemporary expressionist with a focus on light and water. She obtained her liberal arts degree at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky with a double minor in fine arts and literature.

Kristin continued her education at St. Catherine College in Bardstown, KY where she earned an associate degree in Cardiac Sonography.

She is now employed full-time by Ky Children's Hospital as a pediatric and adult congenital cardiac sonographer (she performs ultrasounds on children and adults with congenital heart disease).

Kristin works hard in her healthcare and artistic endeavors as a single mother in order to take care of her sweet young son who is the light of her life. You can find more of Kristin's artwork at Kiki paintings

Cover Reveal!!!

My co-writing friend, Shirley Crowder, and I are at it again. The third in our four-part series of books on prayer will be released by PixNPens Publishing in early December  and today we can finally reveal the cover! We are so excited!

The book will be a 50 day devotional on the topic of prayer. Just as a review, our four part series on prayer include: Prayer: It's Not About You by me, Study Guide on Prayer by Shirley, "Glimpses of Prayer" to be released soon, and a collection of true stories about prayer tentatively titled, "Prayer Warrior Confessions" coming out summer '18.

The soon-to-be released book also fits into plans we have for a devotional series that will be written and in one case re-vamped in the next couple of years. These "Glimpses" devotionals will all be illustrated by my talented daughter, Kristin Michael. 

And now for the cover reveal:

Another Contract!

We're at it again!

My childhood friend, and co-writer in some of my other books, Shirley Crowder, and I are happy to announce that we have just signed another contract with PixNPens Publisher! This one is for an anthology of nonfiction stories about prayer. The working title is, "Prayer Warrior Confessions" and its tentative release date is summer 2018.

This book will complete our four-book series on the topic of prayer. The other books in the series are "Prayer: It's Not About You" written by me, "Study Guide on Prayer" written by Shirley, "Glimpses of Prayer", a devotional co-written by both of us due to be released in December 2017, and this book, "Prayer Warrior Confessions", also co-written, due out next summer.

We couldn't be more excited! Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted on the progress of both upcoming books. I've seen the tentative cover for the devotional and will do a cover reveal in the next few weeks. It's beautiful and I can't wait to share it with you! In the meantime, if you are looking for a fall Bible study about prayer, either personal or group, keep our book and study guide in mind.

Welcome 2017!

In my home of Louisville, the year greeted us with a few inches of snow. I always love the beginning of a new year. The upcoming year seems to stretch out before me like a large, open field covered in fresh snow. It beckons me to walk forward, to see what lies ahead, leaving tracks as I go.

This year looks to be busy and exciting for my writing career. I already have several things on my calendar:

Articles and devotions that will be coming out include:
3 articles in Standard Publishing's Student Magazine--Jan, March, and April
6 articles in SEEK Magazine--January, April, May, August, September, and November
7 days of devotions in Reflections Magazine--October 29-November 4
and devotions in The Upper Room on January 24, and in The Secret Place on February 17

Guest blog posts at various times for:
The Upper Room Blog
Write Integrity Press Blog
Writing Prompts & Thoughts & Ideas ... Oh, My! blog

And as for book writing, I have these irons in the fire:
My friend Shirley Crowder's "Study Guide on Prayer" a companion to my book, "Prayer: It's Not About You" is in the process of being released. Her kindle is up already. (Both are published by PixNPens)
I am anxiously awaiting the publication of my first novel, "The Whisper of the Palms" which is coming soon from Olivia Kimbrell Press.
My husband and I have been collaborating on a nonfiction for many years that is finally in the editing stages. We will be seeking a publisher for it soon.
And now that I have finished writing my novel, and the collaboration with my husband, I will begin co-writing another devotional with my friend Shirley (this one will be on prayer) and I will pick back up a nonfiction anthology I have been writing / compiling for about 2 years. My goal is to have the devotional finished by the end of 2017 and the anthology by the end of 2018.

Whew! That open field before me looks challenging ... but beautiful!

Happy Fall! The weather is starting to turn cooler and Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

I have so much to be thankful for this year. Just last week, I realized some the things for which I am thankful that I sometimes take for granted, like good health, and little things too, such as plumbing that doesn't leak and furnaces that work.

This week is election week. I have opinions on politics, but no matter how it all turns out, I am still aware of how blessed I am. My husband had surgery last week and had a few rough days afterwards, my disposal leaked, and my furnace broke just as we experienced our first frost of the season. This week my husband is healing, I have a new disposal, and will soon have a working furnace.

It's almost time to pull out the scarves and overcoats, start planning Thanksgiving dinner, and recall to our minds all that God has blessed us with over the last year. For me that list includes a brand new grand daughter!

It's also time to start reading the seasonal devotional I co-wrote with childhood friend Shirley Crowder titled, Glimpses of the Savior It's now available on Kindle Unlimited too!

More Book News!

More exciting news! I will be collaborating again with childhood friend and co-writer on a previous book, Shirley Crowder, and publishing again with Pix-N-Pens Publishing! We will be writing a Study Guide for "Prayer: It's Not About You." Here we are signing the joint contract for this book that will release in early 2017.

Book Announcement!

Though my work has been published many times, up until now, I have not had a book published. Today, I am excited to announce that is no longer the case. I now have one book released and very soon will have two. I will tell you about these in two different posts.

 

In my previous post, I told about the seasonal devotional book I co-authored with childhood friend, Shirley Crowder, and I shared one of the devotions. Today I want to share its beautiful cover and let you know how it can be ordered.

 

In my next blog I will share the news of my second book.

 

Here is the book and information pertaining to the devotional book:

 

In early November, we get busy preparing for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year, and we often forget the real meanings behind these celebrations. We can guard against this by preparing our hearts to seek Him as we focus on God’s Word, and by remembering that Thanksgiving is a time to give God thanks; Christmas is the celebration of the Savior’s birth; the New Year brings new beginnings. Then, as we go about doing the things the Lord has called us to do where He has called us to do them, we catch Glimpses of the Savior and biblical truth in the things we experience and observe. These devotionals are based on memories of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year celebrations in Africa and America. May the Holy Spirit work through these meditations to help readers recognize Glimpses of the Savior in the things they observe, and become skilled at finding Jesus among the celebrations and decorations.

http://www.amazon.com/Glimpses-Savior-Meditations-Thanksgiving-Christmas/dp/193809266X/