What Is An Influencer?

I've heard this word many times lately on the American Christian Fiction Writers email loops. I've learned that when an author has a new book coming out they will give their books to someone who will read and critique it. This is a way to get the word out about thier new books.

I've signed on to be an influencer for two new books coming out. The first one is titled "The Transformation" by Terri Kraus. This is a Christian Fiction Book. In the next few days I will post what is written on the back of the book telling a little of what it is about. By then I will have started reading it.

The second book is by Max Lucado. It is titled "Fearless." If any of you have read his books you know that he has a unique way of writing. One that you will never forget. I will write about it also. I need to go now because my shoulders and neck are hurting from typing on the computer. As always, Happy Reading!

Try It Again!

Well, you know the article I was so excited about - "The Sheriff Shoots the Deputy?" It seems that my editor thinks it needs a little more work. Alright, maybe a lot more work. After the initial shock of getting the bad news, I've decided to try even harder and rewrite it. I don't want to give up. I've got a lot of writing in me and I know there will be times when I get rejections or rewrites. That is just part of the game.

I have some exciting news. I've been asked to be an influencer for two new books coming out. When I first saw this I wondered what in the world is an influencer and what do they do. Well, it seems that when authors have a new book coming out they get so many copies to hand out for someone to read. After reading the book they hope that person will then influence others to buy thier book. This could be by word of mouth, blogging, facebook, etc. I will be sure and let you know how they are.

It's late tonight so I am going to rest for now. Next time I want to tell you about my first submission to be critiqued. This was very interesting for sure. Happy Reading!

"Georgia Backroads"

I have been writing for a historical magazine for nearly eight years. The first time I wrote for them I found out that one of the writers lived in my town. I called and asked if he would look at my article. Oh, let me back up first. How I got started writing for them.

I had been dating someone for about a year. We both liked to read a magazine called, "North Georgia Journal." We went out to eat one night and were pleasantly surprised to find the restaurant was housed in a wonderful old building. Since he is an architect he was especially interested in the beautiful athestics and we were both interested in the history. I made the comment that someone should write a story for, "North Georgia Journal" and he said, "Why don't you?" And I said, "I will." That launched a freelance job with the magazine which has lasted through today.

OK - back to the story. Dan said he would be happy to help. After I finished and sent him the manuscript he was kind enough to edit it for me - which needed a lot. He graciously gave me pointers on what the editor was looking for and told me how important old and new pictures were. I sent the story in and within a couple of weeks I heard back. The editor wanted to print the story. I was walking on cloud nine. I had to go back to the restaraunt to get a little more information, but when I got there the owner was not there for our appointment. I asked the gentleman sitting at the table where she was. You can imagaine the shock I got when he said, "That's my wife and she ran off with the cook." After the initial shock I thought this has to be a joke - that was until he starting crying. I felt bad for him and stayed a couple of hours trying to console him.

Well, needless to say the restaurant closed down and the story was not published. I experienced a roller coaster of emotions during that time. From being elated to being disappointed. But, I was heartened by the fact that he wanted to run my story. That began my writing for the magazine. What a story. It had to be true, because you can't make up that kind of stuff. LOL

Anyway, after writing for years and several published articles under my belt I was so excited to hear that my mentor, Dan had bought the magazine. By this time it had been name, "Georgia Backroads." It is now published from a small town next to where I live. I'm happy to say that I've gone on to have published several more articles with Dan.

Each story takes quite a bit of research, so there are always stories within the story. There are interviews with people who are linked to the story and thier ancestors. You have to make sure everything you write is factual so that takes a lot of digging. Then there are the pictures that have to be located. When you find an old picture it is like finding the treasure at the end of the treasure hunt.

Anyway, that is the beginning of my writing. I have just submitted a manuscript titled, "The Sheriff Shoots the Deputy." I will tell about the story in my next post. If you live in this area - or even if you don't - you can find the link to Georgia Backroads under my links. Until next time!

Genre Listings

Some one asked if anyone had a list that compared secular authors books with Christian authors books? The answer was yes! There is a list on American Fiction Christian Writers that compare authors. I would read like this: If you like John Gresham then you will like Randy Singer, Don Brown, etc. The list is great. Here is the link: http://acfw.com/readers/authorcomparison.shtml

There are many different genres listed. I hope you will take the time to hop on over and see what is available. I did not realize how much wonderful christian fiction there is until just recently. I think there are still a lot of people that don't know. I hope to help get the word out. After all, one day I hope to be on that list.

You Write Like a Girl - Lesson Two

Here is my stab at lesson two and the teachers comments. I've got a lot to learn, but I think I'm on my way! We are supposed to describe our male character and his desires, strengths, and secret fears, etc. that makes him who he is.

Beau Beaumont is 48, 6ft tall with brown hair and green eyes. His is good looking in a rugged kind of way. Beau grew up in a large family and he remembers his childhood with fondness. His father was a part time minister and they were at the church every time the doors were open. During Beau's high school years he began hanging out with a rough crowd who liked to party and cause as much a ruckus as possible. Beau was sliding down a slippery slope faster than butter melting on a hot biscuit. After graduation he got into some trouble where he barely escaped with his dignity.

RH: WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE? WHY? THIS IS A GREAT CHARACTER DEFECT TO EXPLORE. WHY DID HE RUN WITH THE TROUBLE KIDS? WHY DID HE TURN OFF HIS MORAL COMPASS TO GO HIS OWN WAY?

He decided to go into the Army to get away from a bad situation. RH: WHY? WHAT IS THE BAD SITUATION?

It was the best thing that could have happened.

RH: WHY IS IT THE BEST THINGS?

He was assigned to the MP force and after he was discharged he began a life in law enforcement. He worked his was up until he is now Sheriff of Vans Valley, a small town in Georgia.

Life was good. He was married to a woman he loved very much and had a daughter that was the apple of her daddy's eyes. One day Beau was driving down the road with his wife and daughter as passengers. One minute they were riding along and the next Beau was unconscious.

RH: WHY WAS HE UNCONSCIOUS.

There were many days that he wished he had remained that way. However, he lived while his wife and daughter lost their lives that fateful day. Beau blames himself for their deaths and has been unable to forgive himself. Their deaths haunt him.

RH: WHY DOES HE BLAME HIMSELF? IF HE WAS DRUNK OR ON DRUGS OR SPEEDING, THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE. BUT IF HE PASSED OUT FROM ILLNESS OR SOMETHING, FEELING GUILTY WOULDN'T BE AS STRONG OF A MOTIVATION.

Beau has dated many women since that time, but if he thought things were beginning to get serious he would drop them like a hot potato. He is afraid to get close to anyone for fear of losing them.

RH: WHY? TO ME, FEAR OF LOSING SOMEONE COMES MORE FROM CONSTANT LOSE. DEATH, BREAKING UP, MORE BREAKING UP, GETTING DUMPED FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND. ETC.

WHILE HE SHOULD BE GRIEVED OVER THE DEATH OF HIS FAMILY, FEARING LOSE WOULD NEED MORE SUPPORT FROM HIS BACKSTORY TO CARRY THE BOOK. BUT YOU'RE ON THE RIGH TRACK!!

He doesn't want to go through the hurt and pain he has already had to endure. He is considered to be a great catch in Vans Valley, but Trixie doesn't seem to notice. Beau is attracted to Trixie, but she has a chip on her shoulder where men are concerned.

RH: WHY DOES SHE?

This works well for Beau - he feels he can just bide his time where Trixie is concerned.

OKAY, THIS IS GOOD. I LIKE THIS STORY A LOT, BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT BEAU WANTS.

IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE: BEAU BEAUMONT DOESN'T LIKE LIKE WHAT HE SEES IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OF HIS LIFE. A TROUBLED TEEN JAILED FOR DRUGS AND VIOLENCE, A WIDOW AT THE AGE OF 40, AND FEELING THE PAIN OF LOSING HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN A CAR ACCIDENT.

HE WANTS TO MOVE ON WITH HIS LIFE AND ...

SEE, HOW WE KIND OF GET INTO THE MEAT. WE NEED TO KNOW THE BACK STORY, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHAT HIS JOURNEY IN FOR THE DURATION OF THE STORY. HE WANTS THE SHERIFF JOB IN A SMALL GEORGIA TOWN. WHEN THEY TURN DOWN HIS APPLICATION, HE MOVES THERE TO FIND OUT WHY.

NOW WE SEE THE HOOK AND MOTIVATION.

GOOD JOB, DEBORAH!!

RACHEL

Tina Forkner

I want to mention two new books that are out written by Tina Forkner and leave a link to her website. She is a great Christian Fiction Writer and the two books are: Rose House and Ruby Among Us. She also has a contest going on so I'm going to leave a link to her blog for you to check out yourself: http://tinaannforkner.wordpress.com/ I hope you enjoy your visit. Rose House has been chosen for the August pick of the American Christion Fiction Writers Bookclub. Check it out at: http://www.acfw.com/bookclub.shtml

HAPPY READING!

I Won!

I love to go to the blogs and websites of the new Christian Fiction Authors I have found. I have a few listed on the side of my blog and hope to get more in the future. They are so very interesting.

Most of them have interviews with authors and the new books they might have coming out in the near future. I hope to be one of those authors someday. In the meantime I like to keep up with the other ones. Most of them also give away free books. I am excited to say that I've won to of the contest. I won four, count them, four books from Criaftie Ladies of Suspense Blog Site. This is their link: http://ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com/ It is a great site. There are about fifteen suspense authors that blog on that one site. I hope you will visit them and enjoy their posts. Don't forget to leave a comment as that signs you up to win. I'll let you know what the four books are when they arrive. Oh, and I also won another book. Until next time!

You Write Like a Girl

Once again this is the thrid time I'm trying to post this. I am keeping my fingers crossed and my eyes by this time. Another day has come and gone. This is the third week of lessons with American Christian Fiction Writers. This week is: You Write Like a Girl. It is suppose to teach us to write from the male prospective. Here is the scene I submitted and the remarks from our teacher Rachel. Yes, I am proud.

Heres my husband to his wife conversation:

"You're home early. I thought y'all were going to stay all day. Did the fish stop biting?"

" No," Bo answered.

"Hadn't you planned on making a day of it?"

"Yes."

"Well what happened?", Tory asked.

"Travis said he had to change his plans and he could only fish a couple of hours."

"I'm sorry. I know how long you've planned this. Were you disappointed?"

"Yes." SUGG: I THINK HE'D SAY SOMETHING LIKE. "IT'S FISHING BABE, NOT A MILLION DOLLAR DEAL."

Tory went over and sat beside Bo on the couch. "Do you want to talk about it."

Bo laughed. "Not really, but what's for lunch?"

GOOD JOB!

New Releases for August - Happy Reading!

1. All That Glitters, Scenarios for Girls, book 2, by Nicole O’Dell from Barbour Publishing. The reader will decide if Drew Daniels does the right thing when sudden popularity causes her to forget about things that were once important to her.

2. Forgiven, Sisters of the Heart Series, Book 3, by Shelley Shepard Gray from Avon Inspire, a division of Harper Collins Publishing. Tragedy strikes when a brother and sister find themselves facing two difficult situations.

3. Surrender the Wind, by Rita Gerlach from Abingdon Press. When a patriot of the American Revolution inherits his grandfather's estate in England, he inherits more than a crumbling manor house.

4. Sweet Waters, Otter Bay Series Book 1, by Julie Carobini from B&H Publishing Group. Sweet Waters is the story of a newly-jilted woman who talks her sisters into moving back to their hometown only to discover family secrets that threaten the fairy tale image she'd always had..

5. The Blue Enchantress, the Charles Towne Belles Series book 2, by MaryLu Tyndall from Barbour. An adventure-seeking woman and a security-minded captain are shipwrecked together.

6. The Last Woman Standing, by Tia McCollors from Moody. A man, his woman, and his ex-wife search for love again.

7. Truth or Dare, Senarios for Girls Book 1, by Nicole O’Dell from Barbour. Peer pressure threatens to drive Lindsay Martin to doing something she doesn't want to do; the reader will decide.

8. Under the Tulip Poplar, by Diane Ashley and Aaron McCarver from Heartsong Presents. When Rebekah Taylor and Asher Landon struggle to find their ways to the other, will they allow God to direct bring their separate dreams together as one?

9. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Book #1 in the VA VA VA BOOM series, by Allison Bottke from David C. Cook. When life is a dance and Disco is a state of mind, it’s Mamma Mia goes Vegas!