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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

ACFW Conference 2009 - Pitching With Success

To all of my regular readers, I am interrupting the usual author spotlights to post about the upcoming ACFW Conference in September this year. There is a spotlight for today though, so be sure and check it out.

Many know that I'm a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). It's the premier Christian fiction organization, and I owe a great deal of thanks to the members for helping me get published. Every year, they hold a national conference, and this year it's just about in my back yard. Denver, Colorado is only about an hour away. That means over 500 writers, authors, editors, agents and other industry professionals will be coming to the great state of Colorado to teach, learn, pitch, listen to queries, network, meet each other and have a grand time.

To help promote the conference and get folks excited about all that's going to happen, a lot of members have offered to post on our blogs and spread the word. The tour schedule is at the bottom of this post.

Since the ACFW Conference in 2003 is where I first pitched my novel that received a contract in 2006, and since I've received requests from all others to whom I pitched, that's the topic of my post today. For anyone who is attending ACFW (or any other conference), here are some tips I hope will prove helpful to you:

  1. Before you make your appointment, study the needs of the publishing house or agency and what they are looking to publish or represent. Present yourself as a well-informed professional who has done your homework. The worst mistake is to sit down and pitch something only to have their eyes glaze over because your story isn't what they are looking to find.
  2. Remember that any editor or agent is looking forward to meeting you. They wouldn't be at the conference if they didn't want to hear about new stories and discover new talent. You just might be the reason they're there.
  3. Practice your pitch with someone who will be honest with you. They can give you valuable feedback on what to cut or change or even give you the extra encouragement you need to feel confident.
  4. Dress appropriately. Appearance counts just as much as what you say. The old adage proves true. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Appear professional.
  5. Be confident. Sweaty palms or a case of nerves is normal. But you have to believe in yourself and your work before you can convince someone else to buy it. So, be proud of your writing.
  6. Start off the meeting with an icebreaker or small-talk. Perhaps mention someone else who recommended this meeting, or why you chose to meet with this person. Oftentimes, the editor or agent will set you at ease and start it off themselves. If not, have something casual ready.
  7. Choose your words wisely. Keep your pitch to 25 words or less. This is often also called the "elevator pitch" or what you'd say if you were riding the elevator with your dream editor/agent. You want to catch their attention right away and don't want to take the entire 15 minutes to get to the main point.
  8. Know the main conflict of your story and highlight it when you pitch. Be ready with more details when asked to elaborate.
  9. If there is anything unique about your main characters or your story, work that into your pitch. Editors and agents hear hundreds during conference season. You want to make yours stand out.
  10. Study the editor or agent as you talk. They might be looking for what you have to offer, but you want to make sure this person is the "right" person for you. Prepare some general interview questions for them instead of waiting for them to direct the entire meeting.
  11. Be mindful of the time. When your 15 minutes comes to a close, wrap it up. Don't keep the next appointment waiting or the editor/agent from getting to the next aspect of the conference.
  12. Conclude in style. Thank them for their time and ask for a business card if they are open to you submitting to them. Offer a handshake and a smile, and confirm a request to submit if it was offered, or reaffirm a referral if it was given.

These tips only brush the surface, but I hope they give you a starting point to help guide you as you prepare for whatever meetings you have. The faculty who are selected to be on staff at the ACFW Conference are top-notch. Many of them have remarked about the quality of the manuscripts or ideas they've received each year. And each year, they return, knowing they're going to find the cream of the crop.

You just might be the one person the editor or agent has come to that conference to meet. Be confident, relaxed, proud. Most importantly, be yourself. You might end up with a successful story to tell!

Visit the other blogs on this tour:

June 15: Christa Allan: Evolving Conference Experiences
http://www.christaallan.com

June 15: Ane Mulligan: A Few of My Favorite Things...
http://anemulligan.blogspot.com

June 17: Margaret Daley: Enhancing Your Conference Experience Through Volunteering
http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com

June 18: Trish Perry: ACFW Conference Friendships at all stages of writing careers
http://www.TrishPerry.com

June 21: Megan DiMaria: Finding restaurants at conference (visit often for multiple postings beginning June 21. Megan will be posting weekly so check back often for her eye on the best eateries and how to save money eating out as well as how to impress your business associates with excellent food.)
http://megandimaria.blogspot.com


June 27: Sharon Lavy: Prayer Room
http://sharonlavy.blogspot.com
http://sharonalavy.wordpress.com

June 30: Kathleen Fuller: Amish fiction, historical romance tracks
http://www.kathleenfuller.blogspot.com

July 2-10: Amish Hearts: Group blog with various conference posts
http://www.amishhearts.com

July 5: Jeannie Campbell: Why I chose the ACFW conference: A newbie’s perspective
http://www.mindhealingfiction.blogspot.com

July 12-19 : Linda Kozar and the Internal MonoBlog- Group blog with various conference posts. (Each blogger will post at least once. One a day until the group blog has all had the opportunity to post.)
http://wwwinternalmonoblogcom.blogspot.com

July 19: Tiffany Colter 1: Long-term return on investing in a writer’s conference (multiple posts)
http://writingcareercoach.blogspot.com

July 22: Tiffany Colter 2: Investing in your professional development (multiple posts)
http://www.TheBalancedLife.com

July 25-31: Writer’s Rest Group Blog: Trusting God to use conference (multiple posts, each blogger please post at least once. One a day until your group blog has all had the opportunity.)
http://writersrest.blogspot.com

July 28: Jennifer AlLee: The Value of Face-to-Face Networking in a Twitter & Facebook World
http://jenniferallee.blogspot.com

July 31: Angie Breidenbach: Confidence at Conference
http://GodUsesBrokenVessels.blogspot.com

August 2: Deb Raney: "What if I Can't Come to the Conference?"
http://www.acfw.com/blog

August 3: Lena Nelson Dooley 1: Uplifting worship
http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

August 3-10: Writing By Faith Group blog: 6 authors, 1 great God.
Aug. 4th is Angie Breidenbach: Professionalism 101
http://writingbyfaith.blogspot.com

August 6: Lena Nelson Dooley 2: Connecting with publishers
http://lenanelsondooleynewsletter.blogspot.com

Aug 9: Ane Mulligan: A Few of My Favorite Things...
http://www.noveljourney.blogspot.com

Aug 12: Jill Elizabeth Nelson: TBD
http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com/artisticblogger.html

Aug 15: Cara Putman: First Timers and Calm Nerves
http://ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com

Spotlight on Deborah Vogts and Snow Melts in Spring

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DEBORAH VOGTS and her husband have three daughters and make their home in Southeast Kansas where they raise and train American Quarter Horses. In writing the Seasons of the Tallgrass, a contemporary romance series for Zondervan, she hopes to share her passion for one of the last tallgrass prairie regions in the world, showing that God’s great beauty rests on the prairie and in the hearts of those who live there. The first book in the series, Snow Melts in Spring, is set to release June 2009.

SNOW MELTS IN SPRING
by Deborah Vogts
Published by Zondervan

ABOUT THE BOOK

Mattie Evans, a young veterinarian in rural Kansas, saves a horse injured in a terrible accident. But she also finds herself tending the wounded relationship between a prodigal son and his ailing father. Love, conflict, forgiveness and renewal drive this first book of the Seasons of the Tallgrass series. The Seasons of the Tallgrass series captures the spirit and dreams of ordinary people living in the Flint Hills of Kansas – one of the last tallgrass prairie regions in the world.

Buy Your Copy of Snow Melts in Spring today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your debut novel. Congratulations! What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Years ago, I took a Flint Hills Folklife summer course at Emporia State University that was taught by Dr. Jim Hoy. Along with classroom study, we took field trips into the heart of the Flint Hills and visited with old-time ranchers, schoolmarms and post-mistresses. It was such a delightful experience, especially our drives into the pastures. We would get on these back roads and drive over pasture guards into the open range. We would travel for miles without seeing another car or even an electric line—just pure, native prairie. That summer, I fell in love with the Flint Hills and it has stayed with me all this time. I’m so glad I have this chance to share this place with my readers in this series.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

My love for country life and the Flint Hills comes out in my main character Mattie Evans. Mattie is a large animal veterinarian in the ranching community of Charris County. Although she struggles with her practice, she is determined to settle in the Flint Hills, a place that is firmly planted in her heart. Almost against her will, she finds herself falling in love with the owner of one of her patient’s—a man who is determined to run away from the Flint Hills and his problems at home. There are many family relationship issues in this story, but the land and particularly the Flint Hills are a major focus. I wish I were as strong-minded and determined as Mattie--but then again, maybe I am. LOL!

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

LOL - Okay, I think Gil would be Rocky-Road because he tends to take the paths in life that are hard and difficult and Mattie would be Old-fashioned Vanilla because of her simple desires & old-fashioned ideas.

4. Are there any themes in Snow Melts in Spring that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

Forgiveness. And the message that though you may have your life all mapped out, you need to be open to the path God wants you to travel, AND be prepared to follow it once He points you in that direction. And while this isn’t necessarily a theme or message, I hope to give my readers a taste of the Flint Hills and of how God’s beauty rests on the prairie and in the hearts of those who live there.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

My favorite parts were the action scenes that involved horses. Those came to me quickly. I also enjoyed the romantic scenes. The most difficult were the scenes that had dramatic tension--not that they didn't come quickly to me (because this book practically wrote itself) but I wanted to reach a deep level of emotional tension, especially for the scenes between Gil and his dad. Those were a little bit harder.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The second book of the Seasons of the Tallgrass series is Seeds of Summer, which I believe is scheduled to release in April 2010. One of the neatest parts of the publishing process is seeing what the creative team comes up with for a cover. I’m eager to view the cover for Seeds of Summer, a story about a former Miss Rodeo Kansas queen, and her return to the Flint Hills to care for her deceased father’s ranch and her two younger siblings.

* * * * *

Thank you, Deb, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Snow Melts in Spring.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Spotlight on Candace Calvert and Critical Care


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CANDACE CALVERT is an ER nurse who landed on the "other side of the stethoscope" after the equestrian accident that broke her neck and convinced her love, laughter--and faith--are the very best medicines of all. The inspirational account of her accident and recovery appears in Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, and launched her writing career.

The author of a madcap cruise mystery series in the secular market, Candace now eagerly follows her heart to write Christian fiction for Tyndale House. Her new medical drama series offers readers a chance to "scrub in" on the exciting world of emergency medicine, along with charismatic characters, pulse-pounding action, tender romance, humor, suspense--and a soul soothing prescription for hope.

Born in Northern California and the mother of two, Candace now lives in the Hill Country of Texas. She enjoys cruise travel, Bible study, bird watching, hiking, gardening, cooking, and being her husband’s biggest karaoke fan.

CRITICAL CARE
by Candace Calvert
Published by Tyndale House

ABOUT THE BOOK

After her brother dies in a trauma room, nurse Claire Avery can no longer face the ER. She’s determined to make a fresh start--new hospital, new career in nursing education--move forward, no turning back. But her plans fall apart when she’s called to offer stress counseling for medical staff after a heartbreaking day care center explosion. Worse, she’s forced back to the ER, where she clashes with Logan Caldwell, a doctor who believes touchy-feely counseling is a waste of time. He demands his staff be as tough as he is. Yet he finds himself drawn to this nurse educator . . . who just might teach him the true meaning of healing.

Buy Your Copy of Critical Care today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your debut novel. Congratulations! What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Like my heroine Claire Avery, I was a long time ER nurse. I also acted as a peer counselor for Critical Incident Stress—part of a team trained to support medical and rescue workers in the emotional aftermath of catastrophic disasters such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. And with the less dramatic but no less harmful cumulative effects of “burnout.” Very much a concept of “healing the healers.” It bothered me that medical TV shows are so very popular but rarely address issues of faith when, in truth, countless prayers are sent heavenward from hospitals by patients, family members, and medical staff. I wanted to help "Grey’s Anatomy find its soul"!

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

My experiences in the ER (and as someone who has experienced grief, loss, and a renewal of faith) absolutely influenced the dramatic struggles that the characters face on the pages of Critical Care.

I’m a goal-oriented, list-making planner: which undoubtedly spurred Claire Avery’s unwavering drive to plot her entire future out on spread sheets—and expect God to give His stamp of approval. I was a jogger, and she’s always looking for that soothing endorphin rush that comes after her runs.

I like country music, and spent wonderful summers at Lake Tahoe in northern California: Dr. Logan Caldwell escapes stress by jumping on his Harley and heading into the Sierra Mountains. And he’s not half bad at the Texas Two Step.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Amazing question! Let’s see . . .

Nurse Claire Avery would be Neopolitan—perfect, parallel stripes of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. Cautious and highly planned out. Because that’s the only way she feels safe.

Dr. Logan Caldwell would be Ben & Jerry’s "Willie Nelson’s Country Peach Cobbler"—eaten from a Styrofoam cup, with tongue depressor. On the go, mission accomplished and no excuses, STAT—because that’s what he expects from himself and his ER team.

4. Are there any themes in Critical Care that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

The overall theme in is one of hope; that there is a loving plan in place to give us hope and a future. And in order for that to happen, we must be willing reach out in faith, accept help to face our fears and past hurts. The story utilizes symbols and motifs to support the overall theme.

For instance, Claire Avery has a cat named Smokey who lost an ear in a fight with a raccoon and is afraid to venture outdoors. His struggle is similar to Claire’s refusal to work in the ER after her brother’s death in a trauma room.

Dr. Logan Caldwell repeatedly takes an axe to the oak stump stuck square in the middle of his future home site—very much like his stubborn struggle with faith.

I hope that these elements combine to offer an enjoyable and spiritually uplifting read.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

Strangely ( given my background in the ER) the intense medical scenes were likely most challenging. Not clinically; I know the subject. But when my (awesome) editors pressed me for "more emotion," I had to overcome my tendency to "protect" the reader from the tough realities of ER. Much the way I always protected my friends and family, I suppose. And I imagine that some of the scenes made me re-live those heart-wrenching moments.

On the other hand, I loved infusing warm humor and bits of quirky dialogue into the story. It tempers the highly emotive medical drama and makes the characters come alive for the reader. Dialogue is one of my favorite things to write, and I had such fun with the exchanges between Logan "McSnarly" Caldwell and Claire Avery. It was a hoot to have her nearly sit on a chicken, and for him to make a fool of himself dancing the "Watermelon Crawl" at children’s charity event.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The second book in the Mercy Hospital series, (working title) Disaster Status, is scheduled for release in January 2010:

ER nurse Erin Quinn (introduced in Critical Care) escapes personal turmoil to work at the peaceful California coast. But when a pesticide disaster brings dozens of victims to Pacific Mercy Hospital, she suddenly finds herself immersed in community panic—and at odds with ambitious fire captain Scott McKenna, a man who is no stranger to the toxic effects of tragedy.

* * * * *

Thank you, Candy, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Critical Care.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

June 2009 New Releases

I know I have a bunch of winners to pick from the spotlights of recent weeks, but I've been under deadline and sending off the book tomorrow. I'll get caught up then. Thanks so much to everyone for your patience.

Until then, here are some new June releases for some fun summer reading.

It’s Summertime, summertime, sum...sum...summertime... Wahoo!

Beach books are here and this month you've got a LOT to choose from. Congratulations to everyone on your new releases.

1. A Case of the Heart by Beth Shriver from The Wild Rose Press. An overzealous social worker develops a relationship with a cop while they keep her client safe from involvement in a drug ring.

2. A Dream to Call My Own, Brides of Gallatin County Book 3 from Bethany House Publishers by Tracie Peterson. Love and adventure still hearts in the rugged Montana frontier, while a killer threatens the peace and happiness of an entire community.

3. A Soldier's Reunion by Cheryl Wyatt from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. reunion romance between a U.S. Air Force Pararescue Jumper (PJ) and a pediatrician and first love from his past who fears their careers will push them apart again.

4. A Family for Tory/A Mother for Cindy by Margaret Daley from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Classics. Two stories that illustrate what happens when children decide to matchmake and bring two people together.

5. Above All Things by Deborah Raney from Steeple Hill. Evette must decide if she can be a mother to her husband's 6-year-old mixed race child. A baby neither of them knew existed until a fateful phone call.

6. Child Finder by Mike Angley from TotalRecall Publications, Inc. An Air Force Special Agent discovers he has a psychic gift that enables him to find missing children, but the government's exploitation of his skills leads to murder!

7. Critical Care, Mercy Hospital Series #1 by Candace Calvert from Tyndale House. When a nurse initiates disaster counseling, the process re-opens her own emotional wounds--as God prepares her heart for a love that was nowhere in her plans.

8. His Forever Love by Missy Tippins from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Can former high school buddies find love while fighting over "custody" of his grandmother?

10. Love Finds you in Revenge, Ohio by Lisa Harris from Summerside Press. Morgan finds herself torn between saving her sister's heart and losing hers to the man who jilted her seven years ago.

11. Love Finds you in Treasure Island, Florida by Debby Mayne from Summerside Press. The attraction between Amanda and Jerry is overshadowed by their sense of responsibility.

12. Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell from Bethany House Publishers. Susannah Phillips obeys the rules. But when love interferes, she faces a choice: Follow the rules or follow her heart.

13. Nosey in Nebraska by Mary Connealy from Barbour Publishing. Murder, Romance, Comedy and a really big mouse.

14. Snow Melts in Spring, Seasons of the Tallgrass Series by Deborah Vogts from Zondervan. Mattie Evans, a young veterinarian in rural Kansas saves a horse inured in a terrible accident but finds herself tending the wounded relationship between a prodigal son and his ailing father.

15. Sunset Beach, The Beach House Series #4, by Trish Perry from Harvest House Publishers. Sonny Miller invites her mother and estranged aunt to a week at the beach, not telling one about the other; but they bring a few surprises of their own.

16. The Night Watchman, the Ray Quinn Series Book #1, by Mark Mynheir from Multnomah/Waterbrook Publishers. When the case of a lifetime is thrust upon him, retried homicide detective Ray Quinn must decide rather he’ll succumb to his depression and pain or use the God-given gifts he still has left to catch a killer. Crawling from the wreckage of his former life, Ray struggles to find healing and purpose as he tracks a madman.

17. Witness to Murder by Jill Elizabeth Nelson from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. When a TV reporter witnesses a murder--she thinks--only unearthing the sinister secrets of her painful past can save her from becoming the next victim.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Spotlight on Bonnie Grove and Talking to the Dead

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

BONNIE GROVE started writing when her parents bought a typewriter, and she hasn’t stopped since. Trained in Christian Counseling (Emmanuel Bible College, Kitchener, ON), and secular psychology (University of Alberta), she developed and wrote social programs for families at risk while landing articles and stories in anthologies. She is the author of Working Your Best You: Discovering and Developing the Strengths God Gave You; and Talking to the Dead: a Novel. Grove and her pastor husband, Steve, have two children; they live in Saskatchewan.

TALKING TO THE DEAD
by Bonnie Grove
Published by David C. Cook

ABOUT THE BOOK

Twenty-something Kate Davis can't seem to get this grieving widow thing right. She's supposed to put on a brave face and get on with her life, right? Instead she's camped out on her living room floor, unwashed, unkempt, and unable to sleep—because her husband Kevin keeps talking to her.

Is she losing her mind?

Kate's attempts to find the source of the voice she hears are both humorous and humiliating, as she turns first to an "eclectically spiritual" counselor, then a shrink with a bad toupee, an exorcist, and finally group therapy. There she meets Jack, the warmhearted, unconventional pastor of a ramshackle church, and at last the voice subsides. But when she stumbles upon a secret Kevin was keeping, Kate's fragile hold on the present threatens to implode under the weight of the past…and Kevin begins to shout.

Will the voice ever stop? Kate must confront her grief to find the grace to go on, in this tender, quirky first novel about embracing life.

Buy Your Copy of Talking to the Dead today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your debut novel. Congratulations! What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Thanks so much! It’s an exciting time – I’m having fun with it.

My inspiration is difficult to nail down. In part, the story came out of my experiences as a counselor, sitting with people who were attempting to articulate their pain and distress who were concerned that what they were experiencing wasn’t “normal”. I’ve also been close to a few people who suffered debilitating mental illness, and been inspired and amazed by them as they struggle to maintain their life and dignity in the midst of chaos. What struck me about all of these situations was how, in the midst of mess, illness, pain, and loss, God was always present. He mingles with our humanity. And that is the story I wanted to tell; God in the midst of our lives.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Kate Davis is the protagonist, and she is very much her own person, but, like all writers, I hold great sway over how my characters see the world. I’m “in” my characters in bits and pieces, but it’s far more interesting to me to write characters that differ from me in most respects. For Kate, three things stood out as I began writing her. First was her strong sense of irony – this developed into a character who is socially and psychologically aware, but could still manage to find traces of humor and lightness even in the midst of dark circumstances. Secondly was her feistiness. Kate works hard to get her life back and just won’t give up until she gets the answers she needs – that tenacity pays off for her. Lastly, what stood out about Kate was her confusion. She keeps having these conversations where she gets lost in what was said and what wasn’t. She means to say one thing but ends up saying something else. I enjoyed writing those scenes because I think we can all relate to feeling confused sometimes.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Rocky Road, for sure. She walks a very rocky path in the book, but it is a road – a place that leads her somewhere. And there are a few nuts. It’s the perfect flavor for Kate.

4. Are there any themes in Talking to the Dead that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

My tag line is: Life is Messy. God is Love. I’m endless fascinated by God’s grace – the ways He finds us and shows us our deep need for Him. Everything I write is an examination of some facet of God’s interaction with humanity.

The concept of prevenient grace runs through the book – the idea that God is active and involved in everyone’s life regardless of what they believe. This is evident in Kate’s journey, but it also shows up in the lives of all the other characters as well.

There are many other themes running through the book. Somatic experience of emotion, our tendency toward avoiding pain rather than understanding it as having a role in healthy grieving, the power of our minds over circumstances, and more. Lots of goodies to sort through for those who would like to.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I don’t know about calling them “difficult”, but I tend to write emotional scenes more slowly than scenes dealing with, say, action. Scenes involving expressions of love, sorrow, hope, healing, that sort of thing, tend to come in drips of words and sentences rather than a flow. The emotional expression of characters is important – so I linger on these scenes, sometimes for a few days.

My favorite is when glimmers of humor soak through the story. It’s been my experience that no matter how difficult one’s circumstances get, if you can see a way to have a laugh, even for just a moment, it makes the journey bearable. Laughing is my favorite past time, and writing stuff that makes me laugh is a hoot. There were many times writing Talking to the Dead when the humor soaked through.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book is scheduled to release June 1, 2010. I don’t have a title for it, but from the beginning I’ve fondly referred to it as Gabby Well’s The Musical! It’s all the fun and drama of a musical without the singing. Or dancing. Or music.

It’s the story of a woman who finds hope in the ‘red words’ of the bible but her life is then thrown into chaos when she is framed for murder. She goes on the run, trying to find the real killer, all the while looking to the red words for help and hope.

* * * * *

Thank you, Bonnie, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Talking to the Dead.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Spotlight on Trish Perry and Sunset Beach

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TRISH PERRY is an award-winning novelist who has written Sunset Beach (2009), Beach Dreams (2008), Too Good to Be True (2007), and The Guy I’m Not Dating (2006), all for Harvest House Publishers. She writes a monthly column, “Real Life is Stranger,” for Christian Fiction Online Magazine. She was editor of Ink and the Spirit, the newsletter of Washington D.C.’s Capital Christian Writers organization (CCW), for seven years. Before her novels, Perry published numerous short stories, essays, devotionals, and poetry in Christian and general market media.

Perry holds a B.A. in Psychology, was a 1980s stockbroker, and held positions at the Securities and Exchange Commission and in several Washington law firms. She serves on the Board of Directors of CCW and is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers group and Romance Writers of America. Perry lives in Northern Virginia with her teenaged son. She invites you to visit her at www.trishperry.com.

SUNSET BEACH
by Trish Perry
Published by Harvest House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sonny Miller is tired of not knowing who she is. Soon she’ll begin graduate school to earn her masters in Psychology. But how can she counsel future clients about their identities when she isn’t even sure about her own? To that end she has cooked up a little meeting at a certain beach house in San Diego.

Sonny’s mother, classical soprano Teresa Miller, isn’t aware she’s about to be reunited at the beach house with her sister, Melanie Hines, after 25 years of estrangement. And Sonny isn’t aware her mother has invited a surprise guest of her own. Russian adoptee, Irina Petrova, finds herself dragged along on a trip so tumultuous she summons her handsome concert violinist brother for moral support.

The four women converge on the funky little beach house in San Diego, each with her own disappointments and hopes about family, identity, and love. For Sonny, the trip reveals all she expected and more than she ever dreamed.

Buy Your Copy of Sunset Beach today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

The setting was already a given. All of the books in the Beach House series are set at the same curious little beach house at Mission Beach in San Diego, with different characters and stories each time around. As I do before every book, I prayed and waited for inspiration before writing a single word. When I do that, tidbits just pop into my head at odd moments of the day. What came to me first for Sunset Beach were twins. When I wrote up a summary, I actually considered two sets of twins—one middle aged and American, one younger and of Russian descent. But as I bounced ideas off of my critique partners and listened to their guidance, I tweaked here and there to come to the characters now peopling the book. And my heroine was the connection between them all. Once I started thinking about her life goals and how they might be thwarted, the roles of the other characters took shape. The story simply came together from that point on.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

My characters and I seldom have much in common, and that was the case with Sunset Beach, as well. That said, I must admit, if they do or say something embarrassing or reeking of human failure, there’s often a germ of reality there. But most of what my characters do, think, and say is, for me, like acting. I step into their heads and think as they do, not as I do. That enables me to come up with characters who are more than I am—more noble, more selfish, more vulnerable, more blunt, more romantic. My writing voice is a result of my own experiences, but my characters aren’t like me at all.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

As a heroine with a true character arc, Sonny Miller changes flavor by the time the story ends. She starts out vanilla, with a slight ripple (we can make it fudge ripple); because she really knows so little about herself or her past, and she’s unnerved by that (that’s our ripple). But by the time the story ends, her flavor is more like Ben & Jerry’s “everything but the . . .” flavor. She learns more than she ever dreamed about her past and steps toward significant changes in her future, all of which could be quite overwhelming.

4. Are there any themes in Sunset Beach that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

The overriding theme has to do with personal identity. Whether we do so consciously or not, we all base our identity on something, whether it’s our family history, our accomplishments, who we love, who loves us, or how we live today. The theme that developed in the telling of Sonny’s story was where our true identity lies, if we’re believers. When we strip everything else away, who are we, really? Should nothing else about us endure, what part of our identity will always endure?

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The story itself came fairly smoothly—the relationship development and actual chain of events. The part that was the most difficult was the setting. I lived in California as a wee one, but I remember little of it. And I never lived in (or even visited) San Diego. So I had to do quite a bit of research and correspond with businesses and residents of the area to get myself grounded and familiar with where everything would happen. I’m not a big fan of research, which is one reason I don’t write historical. I fret about every detail, and that’s bad enough when you’re writing contemporary, let alone delving into history.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

I don’t know what my next book will be, actually. I have six proposals floating around at the moment, and I’m due to get a seventh one finished and submitted. I don’t know which (if any) of those projects will be next. I’m just waiting on the Lord for that. The subject matters of the various proposals are varied, as are the characters involved. So I’ll either be writing older women or thirty-somethings, and they’ll be living in the Washington, D.C. area or North Carolina or in a small town somewhere. Or not! We shall see.

Thanks, Tiff!

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Thank you, Trish, for being in the spotlight with us.

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Monday, June 01, 2009

Pictures of Victoria -- Week by Week

Yes, I know. I haven't kept up with the Monday blog posts. But I've been working on a book deadline that's coming up fast! June 15th and I'm still about 100 pages away from getting it in tip-top shape.

However, I have posted a few pix on my Facebook profile. You can find me here:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=817834215

I just posted them last night and will try to add more as FB cooperates. There are far too many networking sites, and I can't keep up with them all. So, Facebook wins for now. When I have a little more time, I'll try to get back to some regular updates on Victoria's progress and growth accomplishments.

At least I'm journaling and documenting them in the interum. I'll share as soon as possible.