Friday, March 30, 2012

Women of Faith Writing Contest 2011 Winners!


Women of Faith Writing Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of our Women of Faith Writing Contest, and thank you to everyone who entered! Each of our 660 entries was carefully reviewed by a panel of judges who made difficult decisions in choosing the Grand-Prize winner, 1st-Place winner and 2nd-Place winner. 

WINNERS OF THE 2011 WOMEN OF FAITH WRITING CONTEST:

Grand-Prize Winner:   

Comfort and Salvation by Amy Sorrells

1st-Place Winner:

A Time for Miracles by Kathleen Brown

2nd-Place Winner:

The Eyes of the Heart by Embessie Susberry


A special congratulations to Amy Sorrells who will receive either publication through Thomas Nelson or the Bookstore Advantage package including a press release and BookSneeze submission for reviews. Kathleen Brown will receive the 1st-Place prize: a free Bookstore Advantage package. Embessie Susberry will receive the 2nd-Place prize of a 50 percent discount on any WestBow Press publishing package. 
All 30 finalists of this years contest will receive 20 percent discount on any WestBow Press publishing package.

Contest Finalists:

  • Comfort and Salvation by Amy Sorrells
  • Destination Laughter: Are We There Yet? by Donna Petty
  • Dream with Angels by Sandy Parker
  • Ethereal Keys by Mollie Rushmeyer
  • The Eyes of the Heart by Embessie Susberry
  • Falcon Heart by Azalea Dabill
  • From Power to Purpose by Tanya Marshall
  • Glass Houses by Robin Grant
  • Into the Light by Amy Lamson
  • The Knitting Ferrie by Jaime Marsman
  • Leap Year by Michelle DeRusha
  • More Great by Melodie Raines
  • The Overcomers by Molly Bull
  • Pinpricks in the Curtains by Isabella Flinn
  • Prodigal Nights by Lisa Buffaloe
  • Rose from Healing Springs by Betty Jones
  • Shaken by Kariss Lynch
  • Silent Resolve and the God Who Let Me Down by Susan Volkenburgh
  • A Soul Set Free by Angela Brackeen
  • Still to a Whisper by Katherine Jones
  • Swimming Through Clouds by Rajdeep Paulus
  • A Time for Miracles by Kathleen Brown
  • Tov by Leanne Panjer
  • Trava by Rebecca Johnson
  • The Truth About Lies by Sara Richardson
  • A View from There by Angela Slaughter
  • Waiting for Wren by Noelle Carle
  • When the Lamps Go Out by Megan Spurgin
  • Wide Planked Porches by Laura Polk
  • Without Fathers by Teresa Wright

Monday, March 19, 2012

There is a difference only you can make – Barbie --

 
by Natalia Gortova

Yes, Barbie.

Li’l Princess watched a LOT of Barbie movies in England this past month. Well, actually it was more like 4 over and over (and over) until everyone in the house was humming along to the songs.

So I decided to see what I could take away from the experience. My first thoughts were along the lines of the use of cliché plots in fiction. Then I saw the quote at the end of the credits.

“There is a difference only you can make.”

Profound words—even when wrapped in implausibly sized plastic and covered with glitter. Words that can apply to every part of our lives.

As a person there’s a change that only you can make.
I’m not talking about occupy Wall St necessarily, although if that’s the way you want to take this, then feel free. But you have the ability to make life/the world different for another person. Think about what that means to you—sharing God’s love and mercy with someone, living your life in an honest and genuine way with no pretences, giving a hot meal to someone in need, sending a care package to someone forgotten…

There’s a love that only you can give.
Sure, as ‘Mom’ it’s not hard to trump anyone else’s attempt to love your kids. You’re pretty much the best there is, which is the way it should be. Recently I read a blog on Jerry B. Jenkins’ website about guarding the time you spend with your kids. It said, ‘to kids, quality IS quantity’. That got me thinking, since my job means I’m often working at the same time I’m spending time with the kids (which is all day, every day!). Do I spend quality time with them in between typing stints?

There’s a song that only you can sing.
Cheesy, but hey, I’m a singer so this resonates with me. I’m pretty sure Martina McBride sang it in one of her songs, not that I’m a fan particularly. It goes along with having something only you can say. Your own particular story, one that’s an important part of who you are and the way you live your life. So take a moment and think on it…what do you want to say?

There’s a gift that only you can give.
Who you are is a unique creature unlike any other creature in this world. Whether you believe you were created by God (as I do), or by some other event or circumstance, it doesn’t negate the fact that you’re here. Celebrate life by making something that will touch someone’s heart and life. The best gifts are the ones we share.

FICTION CORNER: (The part of the blog that’s all about writing.)

As a writer there’s a story only you can tell.
Your experiences and your point of view belong only to you. These things shape the ideas you have as a writer, and the kind of people your characters are. That produces fiction unique to you and you alone. It’s your story to tell, and people want to read it. So write on.

Thank you, Natalia! (And thank you, Barbie). :)



Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Each Blank Page by Lynn Mosher


I'm pleased to bring you a guest post today by Lynn Mosher!

Each Blank Page

I recently entered a contest, for which I did not win, by the way, for limericks about writing. Here’s my entry...

There is an “albino monster”
That begs for attention and taunts her
It comes out day or night
Giving her such a fright
That now the “empty page” haunts her!

Oh, well! Only rarely does poetry strike my soul. However, this one is a little better...

Finger Painting

A blank canvas begs my attention,
A palette of white before my eyes,
Awaiting my fingers to begin.
What will be its completed surprise?

Painting images that dance in my head,
Drawing them in orderly fashion,
To give them substance and come alive,
That’s my desire, that’s my passion.

Coloring, shading, tinting here and there;
There must be a point at which to start,
To choose from the hues of my palette,
And blend them into a work of art.

Stirring scenes depicted by my touch,
To express the feelings of my heart,
Offered when troubles surround a soul,
For its comfort I long to impart.

Giving my fingers freedom to move,
Yet sketching with a divine restraint,
Guided by the Master Craftsman’s Hand,
I click on the keys and start to paint.

Obviously, it’s about writing also. But this post isn’t about writing. I used writing as an analogy. Just as any writer, artist, or composer uses a blank paper or canvas to display his or her work, so, too, do we.

This post is about the blank page God gives us of each day. It is to be filled for His glory with all that we say, do, and think. His plan and purpose will fill each 24 hours in the best way possible...if we follow them.

However, in all the daily hubbub of a busy schedule of running errands, working (and some working two jobs), appointments, emergencies, cleaning the house, or whatever, we get sidetracked and leave God out of our day.

Therefore, Paul exhorts us...

*“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col 3:17 NIV)
*“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Col. 3:23 NLT)

Each day’s activities will be gathered up and, on Judgment Day, they will show how well we filled each blank page of our lives. Paul said that each person’s work will be shown for what it is, because it will all be brought out into the light. “It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” (1 Cor. 3:13b NIV)

What are you writing on today’s blank page? Does it glorify God? Is it fireproof?

“He will keep you strong to the end so that
you will be free from all blame on the day when
our Lord Jesus Christ returns.”
(1 Cor. 1:8 NLT)






Thank you for sharing, Lynn!!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

April 2012 Writer Conferences

April 13-14, 2012
AMERICAN CHRISTIAN WRITERS MENTORING RETREAT
Nashville, TN - Marriott Hotel
ACWriters@aol.com // http://www.acwriters.com

April 13-14, 2012
CALLED TO WRITE CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE
Pittsburgh, KS - Lamplighter Inn
http://www.christianwritersfellowship.blogspot.com

April 14, 2012
SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN WRITERS SPRING FELLOWSHIP
Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), CA
http://www.sandiegocwg.org/?p=104

April 16 – April 19, 2012
NATURE WRITING BOOT CAMP
Highlights for Children Foundation, Honesdale, PA
http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/content/nature-writing-boot-camp-0

April 19 – April 22, 2012
SCIENCE WRITING BOOT CAMP
Highlights for Children Foundation, Honesdale, PA
http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/content/science-writing-boot-camp

April 20-21, 2012
CAROLINA CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE
First Baptist Church - Spartanburg, SC
www.fbs.org/writersconference

April 26 – April 29, 2012
CREATING AN AUTHENTIC CULTURAL VOICE
Highlights for Children Foundation, Honesdale, PA
http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/content/creating-authentic-cultural-\
voice


April 29 – May 6, 2012
FINDING YOUR STORY
Highlights for Children Foundation, Honesdale, PA
http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/content/finding-your-story-and-what-\
do-about-it



March 2012 Writing Conferences


March 10, 2012
AMERICAN CHRISTIAN WRITERS TENNESEE CONFERENCE
Memphis, TN - First Baptist Church
ACWriters@aol.com // http://www.acwriters.com

March 11 – March 17, 2012
WHOLE NOVEL WORKSHOP
Highlights for Children Foundation, Honesdale, PA
http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/content/whole-novel-workshop

MARCH 16-17, 2012
AMERICAN CHRISTIAN WRITERS OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City, OK - La Quinta Inn
ACWriters@aol.com // http://www.acwriters.com

March 16-17, 2012
INLAND NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE
Spokane Valley, WA - New Life Assembly of God Church
http://inlandnwchristianwriters.com/conference

March 16-17, 2012
WRITE2IGNITE! CONFERENCE,
North Greenville University, Tigerville, SC
http://write2ignite.com

March 17, 2012
IDAHOPE WRITERS CONFERENCE
Boise, ID -- Cole Community Church
http://idahopewriters.org/

March 22 – March 25, 2012
SCREENWRITING FOR THE CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG-ADULT AUDIENCE
Highlights for Children Foundation, Honesdale, PA
http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/content/screenwriting-childrens-and-\
young-adult-audience


March 23-24, 2012
AMERICAN CHRISTIAN WRITERS TEXAS CONFERENCE
Dallas, TX - Crown Plaza Hotel
ACWriters@aol.com // http://www.acwriters.com/

March 30-31, 2012
AMERICAN CHRISTIAN WRITERS INDIANA CONFERENCE
Fort Wayne, IN - Marriott Hotel
ACWriters@aol.com // http://www.acwriters.com/

March 30-April 3
MT. HERMON CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE
Santa Cruz, CA – Mt. Hermon Christian Camp
http://mounthermon.org/adult/professionals/writers-conference

March 31, 2012
NORTH TEXAS CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE
Keller, TX
http://ntchristianwriters.com

March 31, 2012
PEN-OF-THE-WRITER WRITEON! WORKSHOP
Dayton, OH
http://www.penofthewriter.com/conferences/write-on.html



Sunday, March 4, 2012

Writing Love


"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world."
--Mother Teresa