May 2007 Newsletter

BLUE MOUNTAIN BACKROADS

It's May, and the trees are finally leafing out after the freezing temperatures. The plants I managed to cover are starting to put out new growth. Sweet Rocket, that beautiful pest, is glowing fuchsia pink in areas where I never planted it. It's so pretty I can't bring myself to pull it up, even though I know I'll be destroying seedlings by the hundreds before the summer is over.

The humming birds are back, and Charlie has two brand new foxhound puppies, Pete and Minnie. They're weaned, and he let them out of their pen today. They have explored every inch of the yard, chased Oliver, the blue heeler, and learned to climb the stairs. Now they're collapsed in an apparently boneless heap, completely satisfied with their first day of freedom.

After a couple of months of computer problems, I now have a new one, and I hope I can finally get caught up on the backlog of edits and book reviews. I hope May brings you lots of fresh ideas for best selling books, new contracts, huge advances, and all of the other treasures writer's dream of. Never give up, and keep writing.

WRITING NEWS OF THE MONTH

Remember if you have news be sure to let me know and I'll help you spread the word by putting it in the newsletter.

* * *

Tiffany Coulter has a new business to help writers.. I'll let her tell you about it, but I know Tiffany, and I know she has the knowledge and the ability to help others learn to be better writers. See her flyer below:

So write your story…
You have an idea that would make a great book. Maybe you've always
wanted to write articles.

But where do you start?
Tiffany Colter, Founder of Writer's Career Planning Service, has taken what she's learned from over a decade of writing and business ownership and condensed it in to a three-month program to focus your goals and create a plan.

The Writer's Career Planning Service was established to meet the needs of writers and people who want to write. Over 80% of people say they'd like to write a book. This is a program designed to focus your efforts. The lessons can be done in 20 minutes a week but the optional supplemental readings and exercises will help those who'd like to go further. At the end of the three-month program you will have:

* Tips on creating business plans, marketing plans, and books to improve your craft
* Resources that help you develop your skills
* Have a plan with long-term goals and an action plan to reach them

What does the program provide?
We have a series of lessons, targeted assignments, feedback on your lessons and weekly recommended readings. It provides you with a roadmap to your goals and the accountability to move it forward. In coming months we will add Podcasts, networking loops and Level II and Level III courses to help you continue to grow.

You couldn't be in a more perfect place than you are right now. This three month course will cost just under $1 per day when our website is up and running. That is far below any mentorship or Author career planning service I've seen. $90 for lessons and personal feedback is a great value. But conference season is starting up in full swing. I want you to be prepared. So I'm offering a very special deal to you. I'm offering my Career Mentorship program for only $75. And that $75 is not for 3 months but 5 months because not only will you go through the course at a lower price but you membership will continue on for 3 full months after our website goes live. So the sooner you join, the longer your membership, the greater your value!!

Is your dream of being a writer worth 50 cents a day and 20 minutes a week? I think it is and that is why I'm investing in writers. I'm sharing with you the tips I've implemented to develop as a writer. I'm not practicing what I preach. I'm preaching what I practice. Tips that I have seen bring success in my own life. Tips I want to share with other writers.

Don't wait until tomorrow. Each day you wait is another day you push away your dreams. And with this special "bonus month" offer you're wasting money too. All it takes is an email to greatcommission2@aol.com saying "sign me up." I'll email you personally with details and send you an invoice. Email today!

 

For additional information see Tiffany Coulter at the e-mail address above and she'll be happy to answer all of your questions. Feel free to pass on this information to struggling writers you know.

* * *

Debra Ullrick has a new contract, see below:

Tired of the southern male chauvinists telling her women don't race, they don't mechanic, and they don't build bog trucks, Camara Chevelle Cole is out to prove them all wrong. She does a pretty good job of it too, until someone starts sabotaging her mud-bog truck. All evidence points to Chase Lamar—Camara's long time Chevy/Ford/mud-bog racing rival.

Chase Lamar is in love with Camara. But as long as she believes he's the one sabotaging her bog-truck, there can be no relationship between them. When a tragic near-death accident occurs, Chase wonders if Camara will ever find it her heart to forgive him. Watch for The Bride Wore Coveralls by Debra Ullrick, coming February of 2008 from Heartsong Presents.

Barbara says: With a title like that it has to be good. Love it.

* * *

Jeanie Smith Cash entered a short story in the Crowder Quill contest and won. She received a letter inviting her to their awards ceremony on May 6th and that her story will be published in their June Magazine.

www.jeaniesmithcash.com
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
The Lord is my light and my salvation Psalms 27:1
Available now
"A Christmas Wish"- from Christmas In The Country"Barbour Publishing.

Great news, Jeanie. Congratulations

* * *

Megan DiMaria has accepted a two-book offer from Tyndale House Publishers and is awaiting a contract. The books are women's fiction, and the first one will release in February of 2008, the second in the fall of 2008. This deal is a result of a meeting made during a meal at the 2006 ACFW conference in Dallas! Megan is a member of ACFW, HIS Writers (Denver ACFW) and Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild, Rocky Mountain Region.

A prisoner of hope,
Megan DiMaria
www.megandimaria.blogspot.com

Way to go, Megan. Proud of you.

* * *

Maureen Lang has a May release that actually released a little early and can already be found in many stores! Title: The Oak Leaves, By: Maureen Lang Pub: Tyndale (First of a two-book series, the sequel will be out next Feb.)

Blurb from back cover:

Talie Ingram has an ideal life: a successful, devoted husband, a beautiful one-year-old son, and another child on the way. But her world is shattered when she discovers a shocking family secret in the nineteenth-century journal of her ancestor Cosima Escott. Only in reading Cosima's words can Talie make peace with the legacy she's inherited and the one she's passed on to her son.

Maureen Lang
www.maureenlang.com
Pieces of Silver and Remember Me, available now
The Oak Leaves, May '07 and The Image Bearers, Feb, '08

Sounds Great, Maureen. Looking forward to reading it.

* * *

Cynthia Hickey's just finished cozy mystery titled, Beneath the Midnight Blue, won first
place in the inspirational category of The Great Expectations contest and Kelly Mortimer, of Mortimer Literary Agency has requested the full.

Congratulations, Cynthia. Way to go.

* * *

April 2, 2007

Sharon Hinck was named 2007 Writer of the Year at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. She began attending four years ago, and since then has published articles in ten different book compilations, published two novels with Bethany House, is releasing a three-book fantasy series with NavPress beginning in May, and is contracted for two more novels with Bethany House in 2008. Sharon says, "I'm so grateful for the doors that God has opened, but struggle daily with my inadequacies. The award was a very kind reminder from God that He can use even me, and that He will guide me on this writing journey. It provided deep encouragement at a time I really needed it."

Hey, Sharon. That's great news. Congratulations.

* * *

Rachel Hauck has a new May release and it sound great. See below:

Diva NashVegas from Thomas Nelson?

After a decade of reigning the country music charts as the queen of country soul, Aubrey James, the daughter of legendary gospel singers, must come face-to-face with her life. After being betrayed by a close friend, Aubrey agrees to tell her exclusive story to CMT's Inside NashVegas host Beth Rose. Little does she know her future depends on reconciling with her past. But Aubrey's country world is rocked when Inside NashVegas host Scott Vaughn, a former love interest, shows up to hold the interview instead of Beth Rose. It's too late for the diva to change her mind. Scott's gentle manner and insightful interviewing wins Aubrey's trust, and ultimately her heart.

For web site, blog and book news go to: www.rachelhauck.com
Diva NashVegas, May 2007, Thomas Nelson

** *

Robin Miller was contracted on book two in her bayou series....Bayou Corruption!Release date March of 2008!

Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll
Deep South Mysteries for an Inspired Heart
BAYOU JUSTICE--October 2007 Steeple Hill
BAYOU CORRUPTION--March 2008 Steeple Hill
www.robincaroll.com
http://robinswritingworld.blogspot.com/

Sounds good Robin, I love deep south mysteries. Looking forward to it.

* * *

Deborah Vogts has an author interview for DiAnn Mills on her latest release. Debra says, "I have just updated my web site at www.deborahvogts.com. Also new this month, is an article link to National Geographic's Flint Hills story, a recipe for lemon pound cake muffins, and an exciting announcement of my own (not writing related).

Deborah Vogts
Country at Heart
www.deborahvogts.com
To enter my gift drawing, please sign-up for my newsletter listed on my web site.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men....It is the Lord you are serving." Col. 3:23-24

* * *

Brenda Coulter's second novel, A Family Forever, is a finalist in the Inspirational category for Romance Writers of America's coveted RITA Award. While the mass-market paperback of this "category" romance (Steeple Hill Love Inspired, March 2006) is now out of print, the title will soon be released in large-print hardcover by Thorndike Press

Devastated by the accidental death of her fiancé just three weeks before their wedding, violinist Shelby Franklin has just learned she carries his child. She can't give up the baby, but the only way she can keep it is by accepting a shocking proposal of marriage from a man who doesn't seem to like her very much.

Bike shop owner and semi-pro cyclist Tucker Sharpe owes Shelby more than she will ever understand. Determined to protect her and his brother's child, he presses Shelby to marry him. He insists that if they make an honest effort, God will bless their marriage and teach them to care for each other. But can it really be that simple? Can two people will themselves to fall in love? Can a home-loving worrywart find happiness with a world-traveling extreme sportsman?

Watch for A Season of Forgiveness, coming this fall from Steeple Hill Love Inspired.

Check out my blog, "No rules. Just write."
http://BrendaCoulter.Blogspot.com

* * *

IT'S PARTY TIME!!!
Linda Fulkerson sends the following

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PARTY!
A Website-launching party!
When? May 1-7, 2007—all week long!
Where: The World Wide Web (more specifically –
http://fictionfundamentals.com)
Why: To let all fiction writers, both aspiring and Experienced, know about this site.
How: You can spread the word by making a mention of Fiction Fundamentals in your blog or web site, sending out e-mails with the link to your writerly friends, or stop by and leave a comment (and you'll be registered to win a door prize)

RSVP: Not necessary! Just show up and have a Great time. Be sure to leave a comment when you Stop by so we'll know who all showed up!

Door Prize: Everyone who posts a comment during The Grand Opening week (May 1-7) will have their Name put in a drawing for a $25 3-card gift Certificate from Amazon .com(Please note—You're welcome to visit the site to see all the work in progress and even post comments or e-mail suggestions before May 1, but remember, it's still under construction for the next few days. Watch your step and brush off the dust when you leave)

Thank-you to everyone who chooses to help launch this site.

Sincerely,
Linda Fulkerson
http://www.lindafulkerson.com
http://www.fictionfundamentals.com
http://www.overweightandunderorganized.com

My apologies to Linda. I had computer problems, all last week, and ended up having to buy a new one. So the newsletter should have gone out last week. Drop by and take a look anyway. You'll enjoy it

* * *

Jan Warren says, "Yes! I learned I finaled in the RWA/KOD 2007 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense Unpublished Division. (sort of long isn't it? :0)

Needless to say, I'm excited and feel very blest. Since the entries just entered the second round of judges I can't tell you much about my entry other than it is an Inspirational Romantic Suspense. They will announce the winner at the RWA National conference in Dalllas. jandaviswarren@cox.net

* * *

Want to learn how "Ane" came about?" She's been interviewed in an All Redhead Line-up Richard Mabry's literary blog http://www.rmabry.blogspot.com/

I hope y'all will stop by and leave a comment.

Ane Mulligan
ACFW Zone Officer
ane@anemulligan.com www.anemulligan.com
Blog www.anemulligan.blogspot.com
Interviews www.noveljourney.blogspot.com
May you be covered in the dust of the Rabbi

* * *

Tiff Coulter says, "I just landed in sunny south Florida from VERY cold Detroit, MI and turned on my cell to locate my dad [who is also my ride]. By the time we got to the car my cell was ringing to tell me I'm a finalist in the RWA-KOD Daphne du Maurier, Unpubbed. So I have a week to get the stuff back but what an awesome interruption to my vacation. I'm thrilled and humbled. And congrats to my fellow ACFWer. I saw your email quickly as I was printing mine. What an exciting day!

Tiff Coulter
greatcommission2@aol.com
Blessings. God is ALWAYS so good!

* * *

Posted on my Website www.deborahvogts.com are two new gift drawings—one a book by fellow Kansan, Kim Vogel Sawyer, and another by Karen Kingsbury. Also new for May is a chicken salad recipe I hope you'll love. For those who attended the Called to Write conference held last April, I have included a slide show for your enjoyment. Many blessings to you, Debbie

Deborah Vogts
Country at Heart
www.deborahvogts.com
To enter my gift drawing, please sign-up for my newsletter listed on my web site.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men....It is the Lord you are serving." Col. 3:23-24

* * *

WHACKY NEWS OF THE MONTH.
(News too weird to make up)

Did you hear about the woman who held the police at bay by threatening them with poisonous snakes? The police were trying to take the despondent women into custody to keep her from hurting herself with a knife when she grabbed up three rattlesnakes and two copperheads and started waving them around. Rattlesnakes? Copperheads? Just the sort of thing we all keep lying around in case the police drop in.

Turns out she raises them for laboratories. Let me ask a question here? Did she keep these things in cages, or were they slithering around loose? And if they were in cages, what were the police doing while she opened the doors and took out the snakes? There's a time to stand around talking and a time for action, and this definitely would have been a time for action, like looking for the door. Or in absence of a door, maybe making a new one.

The woman received several bites and was taken to the hospital after the police subdued her with a stun gun. Listen to me, guys. The time to use the stun gun is before she takes the snakes out of the cage. Saves everyone a lot of trouble. She was sentenced with house arrest and probation. House arrest in a house full of snakes?

Isn't that cruel and unusual punishment? She told the judge "I wasn't in my right frame of mind that night." I can amen that. No woman in her right frame of mind should ever get within touching distance of a snake. Just ask Eve. She had a run in with a serpent and nothing's been the same since.

 

WRITING TIP OF THE MONTH

FINDING YOUR VOICE

One of the biggest problems for writers is finding their own voice. Part of the problem is that for the most part we feel like we are nobodies in the writing world, beginners. No one will want to read what we write, so we try to write like someone else, instead of using our own voice. Which brings up a very important question. How do we find our own voice? Remember all the rules we learned in school? Write complete sentences, never end a sentence with a proposition. Use synonyms for "said" like screamed, shouted, whispered, croaked, growled. Well, the trouble with these rules is that they don't work in real writing. I'm not saying forget all the rules. Some of them are important, but some of them are not. A careful reading of your work will show you what works. Trust your own instincts.

Listen to the way you talk, to the way others talk. How many incomplete sentences do you hear? How many times do you end a sentence with a preposition? We don't speak proper English, and the characters in your book shouldn't either.

Don't imitate. Read other writers to learn how they handle dialogue, scenes, suspense, but never try to imitate their style.

Imitation may be a form of flattery, but it won't get you published. Your writing should sound like you. I once created a sarcastic, smart-mouthed older woman and everyone who read it said, "That's Barbara." Evidently my voice was coming through just fine. Remember, the publishing world isn't looking for another John Grisham, or a new Patricia Cornwell. They want someone who doesn't sound like everyone else. Let your personality show through your writing.

Don't try to be everything to everyone. Some people love Dean Koontz or Stephen King. Others wouldn't read these writers unless you paid them. You can't please everyone. Most of us have a public voice and a private voice. The public voice is cleaned up, prettied up, safe. When we write with our public voice, it may sound good, but it isn't us. Our private voice is more personal, intense, emotional, less controlled, our tell it like it is voice. Forget the safe, proper public voice and write it the way you feel. When you try to be everything to everyone, you end up being nothing to nobody.

Write the way you talk. Even more important, write the way you think. And don't try to be politically correct. Politically correctness is censorship. It will result in bland, boring writing. You don't have to be offensive, but don't adopt a style that isn't your own voice, either, just to meet someone's list of rules. However, a word of advice. Remember not all of your readers have the same opinions you have. Leave your politics out of writing. Don't cram your opinions down your reader's throat, and expect him to come back for more.

Find your own method of plotting and writing. I've tried plotting methods from the writing books, and ended up with a confused mess. I've found a method that works for me. I outline the first half of the manuscript. Then when I have the story going I outline the rest. I print each chapter as I finish it and then read it over and correct it that night. And I read the entire manuscript over and over until it's the best I can make it before I submit it. That's what I do. But that doesn't mean you have to do the same. We each have a different personality, a different way of doing things. Don't get hung up on what the writing books say. Read them, and then use what works for you.

Don't talk down to your reader. Your reader won't be like most of the people you know. Most of the people I know don't read much. My readers are people like me. They read what I read, like what I like. They probably know as much or more than I do. It's insulting to explain everything to them, as if they aren't smart enough to figure it out for themselves. Tell them what they need to know, and turn them loose. Don't start with back story either. Start out with your main character doing something, and expect the reader to catch on. (Don't be so vague no one could understand what's going on, but don't feel you have to explain every little detail either)

Make sure your dialogue stays in character and moves the story forward. Spend a little time getting acquainted with your characters before you ever start to write. Get to know them. Who are you when you write? Are you the little girl lost in the park? Or are you the woman thinking of having an affair with her boss? Are you the kid working in a go-nowhere job and dreaming of something more exciting? Know your characters so well you can speak through them the way no one else could. And make your characters sympathetic. I read a lot of manuscripts where the character is hateful, sarcastic, or unsympathetic. When I point this out, the writer will say, "but she changes later in the book. The trouble is, your reader may not be around that long. Write characters you like, even your villains. Characters you can understand and identify with. Then you can let them be the kind of characters you have created, but still be true to your voice. No matter what genre in which you write, always know your characters. Then we'll hear your voice.

I know I've said, write for your reader, but one way to do that and remain true to your own voice is to write for yourself. Write what interests you, and you'll interest others. It's hard to write with passion if you don't feel passionate, and we are only passionate if we care. Only if we care enough will our voice show in our writing. If your writing reads like someone else (or everyone else) wrote it, then it's not your true voice. There will always be a writer who can write funnier than you can, a better romance writer or western writer. The one thing no one else can do is put your personality on the page. That's what makes you special and that's what moves you closer to being published. Don't imitate. Create. And don't try to be like someone else. Just be yourself. Write the way you feel, the way you think and talk. That's your true voice.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

A man who loves another country as much as his own is like a man who loves other women as much as he loves his own wife.

Theodore Roosevelt

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE POKE CAKE

1 package yellow cake mix
1 12 oz. Can drained, crushed pineapple

Topping No. 1:
1. 8 oz package of cream cheese
1. box instant vanilla pudding ( 3 ¾ oz)
1 c. cold milk

Topping #2
2 cups whipped topping
coconut or chopped nuts

Bake cake according to directions on box, use 9x13 pan. Cool thoroughly. Poke large holes over top of cake, using a wooden spoon handle. Pour drained pineapple over cake and spread around. Combine cream cheese, pudding and milk. Beat until thick. Spread over pineapple.

Spread whipped topping over cream cheese layer. Sprinkle with coconut or nuts. Refrigerate one hour.

Barbara

Blue Mountain Editorial Service

www.barbarawarrenbluemountainedit.com

 

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But they that wait upon the lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk, and not faint.

    - Isaiah 40:31 KJV

 

 

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