BookingIt

Today we have debut author Katie Ganshert . I met her a few years ago while we were both querying. She is awesome and dynamic and has a huge heart for God/love. Thanks for joining us today, Katie! 1. How many manuscripts have you written and did the one that sold feel different? I've written six. The one that sold was my third manuscript and it definitely felt different. It was the first manuscript I wrote after I read a whole bunch of craft books. I felt so much more knowledgeable about story telling and the craft of writing as I wrote that one. 2. How many years have you been writing? Well, I've written stories ever since I could pick up a pencil. But somewhere in my teen years, I stopped. I didn't come back to it until I went to Nairobi, Kenya six and a half years ago. I came home with a story exploding inside me, so I wrote my very first novel. 3. Tell us a little about the events leading up to your first sale. My manuscript was going to pub board. That's al...

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons. Sandra is currently writing a series of books based on Undercover Policemen. The underlying theme is how living a double life can affect their Christian walks and their relationships. This premise has really intrigued me and I reviewed Sandra's first book HERE . Shades of Truth (March 2012 LIS) Big city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan’s mission: ferret out who’s recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won’t tell Ethan anything— even when she’s threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career. This is the second book in Sandra’s series, Undercover Cops:
 Fighting for justice puts their lives—and hearts—on...

They vowed to keep their marriage in name only. But when the unexpected happens on the grueling journey west . . . Their carefully constructed partnership will be put to the ultimate test. Priscilla White knows she’ll never be a wife or mother and feels God’s call to the mission field. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field. Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God’s leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts. After finishing Jody's debut The Preacher's Wife , I...

If you don't know Keli , I'd be surprised. For the past few years she's been interviewing romance writers over at Romance Writers on the Journey . She even interviewed ME at one point. Keli is an encouraging, wonderful person. She sends gifts, creates First Sale Scrapbooks (I have one, it's waiting still for that sale, lol), and tries to support writers in different ways. I just found out that Keli has SOLD a book! You can read her call story HERE . She's been working toward this goal for a long time. How long have you been writing? Are you aware of the averages regarding the amount of manuscripts written and the number of years that pass before a sale is obtained? Do the stats challenge you or depress you? Congrats Keli!

Yes, there is such a thing. I babysat for my sister yesterday and was able to watch some TV (don't have channels at home). When I saw Book TV I thought, boring. But when I was flipping through channels I just happened to see a book on the screen that I'd looked over at WalMart. I wasn't sure whether this book was fiction or not when I looked at it in WalMart, but after listening to the end of the author' s speech I realized it was a political book. I liked what she was saying about the government needing more ordinary people (like teachers, mothers, business owners) to be involved, so I stayed on the station. Then an interview with an author in his home came on. Being the nosy type, I had to watch. T R Reid might write nonfiction, but from what I can tell, a writer is a writer is a writer. He showed off where he works, his computer, a poster he had on his wall to inspire him to finish his book (been there!) and then he shared his amazing bookshelf-lined walls with the c...

I first heard of Sandie thanks to a huge blog tour for her first Summerside book, Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas. Everyone posted rave reviews about how awesome this book was, and how funny. Then I met Sandie at an Orlando meeting and she was super nice. Then I met her again on the way to the ACFW conference and I thought, I really need to get her book. So I did and I laughed the entire trip home (on the plane). After Snowball came out, it seemed like Sandie's career started snowballing too! I got my hot big hands on her book, The Big 5-Oh . It's just now releasing but I read the ARC, which is kind of awesome! The story is based in Florida and highlights a woman who's in need of a break, especially since her birthday is coming up soon. Often marked by illness or tragedy, birthdays are main character Olivia's nemesis. So she travels down to Florida for some much-needed R&R, but finds instead a second chance at love (not to mention a pool-loving alligator and a ...

Here's the last part of Rachel's post! I hope you all find it helpful. You can find Rachel at her website , blog or at My Book Therapy . Here she is: Already have an agent? 1. Pray. Seriously, pray for your agent, the agency and the other clients. 2. Ask for a call once in awhile to keep communication open. If you’re not working on a project, or needing help, schedule a short call just to touch base. But make it brief. 3. When going into a contract negotiations, schedule a call with your agent to set expectations. Talk through all the possible ramifications of your deal. Ask for a marketing plan as part of the contract. 4. Ask for advice on marketing and promotions outside the publishers plan. 5. Ask your agent to be in the loop with your publisher on book covers, promotional plans, editorial ideas and issues. 6. If there are issues you believe your agent should’ve handled and did not, schedule a call. Don’t fester over it. And pray! Have an honest talk about your needs and ex...

To read part one, go here . And now Rachel: Here’s my advice on finding or working with an agent. 1. Ask God to direct you to the right agent. After talking with other writers, and watching the publishing world, it’s possible that some agents are wonderful for launching your career, but another agent will take you the rest of the way. I’m not sure how to recognize this with any particular agent, but go into your agent relationship with full confidence and faith that you’ll be together forever while keeping your ear to the heartbeat of Jesus. He will let you know if change is required. Pray for your relationship with your agent. 2. Be professional. Do your homework. Follow agent sites like Gardner’s and MacGregor’s . Thomas Nelson CEO, Michael Hyatt gives advice on how to find an agent. Meet with agents at conferences. Talk to other authors about agents or agencies. Look at agent or agency web sites. 3. Who does your potential agent represent? Look at their client list. Is this a good ...

Author Rachel Hauck was kind enough to offer some advice about finding and working with literary agents. Thank you so much Rachel! Here she is: I wasn’t looking for an agent when an author and friend called after reading the opening chapter of my first chick lit. Enthusiastic, (don’t you love those calls?) she suggested I submit the work to her agent. After learning of the agent’s reputation and client list, I whole heartily agreed. Up to this point, I wasn’t confident I was ready for an agent. I had one Heartsong published and wasn’t working on anything bigger, like a trade book. Then I started writing a chick lit in late ‘03. There’s a tendency to get in a hurry. Seeing other authors pick up agents, sell trade books out of the gate, win awards. “What, am I wood? Am I standing still?” you may ask yourself. Don’t be in a hurry. My prayer has always been and remains, “Lord, You’re my editor, agent and promoter.” I signed with my first agent in early ‘04. She really challenged me to go...

Thank you so much, Laurie Alice, for sharing your story. You can find her at her website or her blog, Seize the Chance . Continued from Part One : Then tragedy struck. My best friend found out she had four months to live. She told me to go back to writing, to pursue that dream and not let that lousy agent stop me. My friend believed in me. Several other life-changing events occurred, too, and I found myself with a renewed relationship with the Lord, glad my secular stuff had gone nowhere, joined ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), and, by a pure miracle of the Lord, got an agent who believed in me. I had done my research on her. She was new, so no former clients, but also that meant she was hungry. No, she didn’t have great contacts in the industry, but she was outgoing and warm and had a desire to succeed. She was also a writer, so knew people in the business. She was also working with an experienced agent. Frankly, I felt that I had nothing to lose at this point. Ten years ...

Thank you to Laurie Alice for sharing her agent journey with us. Laurie Alice Eakes is the award-winning author of historical romantic fiction in both the sweet-secular and inspirational markets. After a slow start, her career took off this year with the sale of eleven books in nine months. She lives in Texas with her husband and sundry animals. Worse Than No Agent At All A bad agent is worse than no agent. For me, I learned this aphorism the hard way. I was so thrilled to get an agent I said yes to her representation without getting all the scoop on her. In truth, she’d come recommended by someone I respected. Things looked good for the first three months. This post is about what can happen if you jump at the first agent who offers to represent you, or if you submit to one without doing your research on her first, research such as finding clients who have left, as well as those who have stayed, what she represents, to whom she has sold, etc. And, because I am an unashamed believer ...

The last few days I have been devouring an absolutely fabulous book. A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman is one of the best inspirational romances I've read in years. I say this because not only did her characters (especially her very sexy heroes) hook me, but she wasn't afraid to show that passion is indeed a pure gift from God! If you didn't know it, CBA has been very strict in the past about a hero and heroine's physical interactions. So strict that it often felt unreal to me. As though these people who should be completely enrapture by each other are nothing more than friends. Kudos to Julie and to many other authors who are able to portray passion in a God-honoring way. But to the point of this post . . . Her book just came out a few months ago. And la-dee-da, guess what I found! Broken rules. Now, she has a highly respected agent and is published by a Revell, a major CBA publishing house. Tons of people, professionals, read her book. No one cared when a rule was ...

Yesterday a wonderful author and beautiful woman passed away. I did not know her, have not read her stories, and yet when I heard I felt grief. Not for her. She's in heaven, dancing on streets of gold, as her husband wrote . I feel for her family and actually cried for them. When my husband heard me blubbering, I felt embarrassed and reined it in. But sorrow shared is healthy. Many cultures encourage the verbal expression of grief. Remember Dancing With Wolves? When the heroine's husband died, she cut herself. Of course, I'm not recommending that. I'm just saying that grief should be expressed. Which leads me to my topic. Sometimes new writers, including myself, think we have to spell every emotion out. But while in real life deep expression is good, in writing it can actually weaken the readers' empathy for the character. While reading Sushi For One by Camy Tang, the reader realizes something horrible happened to Lex, the heroine. The author never spells it out or ...

Ever heard of it before? Neither had I, until I saw Jeremy Shipp's place on MySpace. And he's just had a book come out called Vacation. The cover is great, really makes me wonder what's going to happen. I have to head back to his site and check it out. If you like weird/bizarro stuff, this is the place to go. I've never read other stories in the genre, but I did read his Monkey Boy story. Jeremy Shipp has a very nice style of writing. Despite my disinterest in the genre, his short story about Monkey Boy pulled me right in. Just a warning to any romance readers I have: His stories are NOT romance. lol