Life is the greatest teacher of all. Take a moment and look at the things we have learned from everyday life. We learn the lessons of love and loss. We learn how to be civilized men and women. We learn the joy of the little things this world has to offer. But life has more to teach us about so many different topics. Writing is one of those topics.
As I said before during my move a few things stood out to me that reflected brightly on writing. Painting the walls was the first and today's topic is the other. It is amazing the amount stuff a family can collect in a short period of time. That is never more evident then when you are moving. Once all the boxes were here and we started emptying all of them in their proper rooms I realized the amount we owned and it was A LOT! There was clutter everywhere. I was flabbergasted as to where we would put all these things. Of course some of the stuff was thrown out or donated but that seemed like a small percentage. Most of the clutter had value to us as some of it expressed our personalities and some had past memories attached to it.
A home is a larger extension of yourself much like your manuscript is. You begin with an empty shell full of blank walls and clutter all over the floor. At first it can be very overwhelming as you wonder what colors to use and where in the world all these things will go. But we find a beginning in one room and we start putting things together. We paint the walls, move furniture in and start placing the little things where we want them. Mind you we don't put everything where it should be as we are still thinking about a few things but we do enough to get the feel of the room. Once that is done we move to the next room and the next room until the house is painted and the majority of our things are put away. Later we may purchase something new to add such as a painting and we may rearrange a few things until we get everything just right.
This sounds a lot like writing. We start with all these thoughts and ideas strewn around our minds until we start. Each room is a character as we give it a personality and little items that add depth and detail to those characters. When everything is complete and we walk through our homes the paint flows together but is different in each room which is similar to the flow and pace of our story in contrast to our characters. Those little thoughts like items scattered all over the house will find a place throughout until they compliment the flow of both story and home.
I think the really good writers have honed their skills at finding the right place to put the small details at the right time. They know the color of the walls and what furniture will look best in the room.
Can you pick the right colors and put the right furniture in the rooms?
WELCOME
Jun 30, 2009
Jun 26, 2009
Friday + 200th Post = PARTY!
Today is a really good day here at the New Author. Not only is it Friday but this is my 200th post! To celebrate this occasion I have a few things planned. With the 4th of July holiday right around the corner I thought we could get into the spirit of things early with our own fireworks display so make sure your speakers are on, turn up the volume, push play and enjoy.
Now what would a celebration be without a party? I believe we should have fun today and meet people here in the New Author community. With that said I invite all of you, including the lurkers, to leave a link to your blog, twitter page, facebook or any other social networking site you are a part of in the comments so we can visit you. Just copy and paste this code with your site address(s) along with your comment:
Feel free to add to the party and invite others. The more the merrier. Now let the fun begin!
Jun 24, 2009
Writing and Painted Walls
My first task when we began this move was painting the walls. First my wife wiped them down to remove any dust or grim and I applied a fresh coat of primer. The next day, once I knew the primer was dry, out came the paint. After about two hours the four walls had a new color to show off to anyone lucky enough to walk in. I stepped back and enjoyed the view and my accomplishment. With that room completed I moved on to the next and after a hard day of painting long into the night I eventually retired to my bed for rest.
The next morning I woke up excited to see the rooms with the new paint. I wanted to see exactly what they looked like as the sunlight hit those walls. Walking into each one of those six rooms was a joy as the colors all flowed so nicely with each other yet gave each room its own personality. But this perception changed as I moved in for a closer look. The closer I got to the walls the more I noticed the flaws. Slightly missed spots here a few specks of primer showing through there. Even though I was tired of painting I grabbed my roller and got to it until the job was done. Some rooms took another three coats to get everything covered and looking even while other rooms only needed a touch up here or there.
What does this have to do with writing? Actually I thought the same thing after I told myself "this is just like writing." Like that old, plain, white wall your paper or computer screen is blank and devoid of life or a personality. When you begin writing your idea for a story it is the same as picking a color and painting that wall. As we progress through and complete the story we stand back and admire our work for a moment just as when we are done painting we stand in the middle of the room and soak up those four walls. After that moment has passed though we take a closer look don't we? We start to dig into that manuscript finding the errors or open ideas. Like those specks found on the wall these items we find in our manuscript almost pop out at us so we grab our pen or the keyboard and like the paint roller we go through fixing those problems.
What's the point in all of this? We as writers will never be satisfied with our work because it is our work and we will see every flaw at some point in time. We must learn when to say a novel is finished so we can move on to the next. Maybe your manuscript will need seven revisions but maybe it only needs three. At some point in time we should ask "am I making these changes because they will improve the story or because I want to?"
The other point is to not get caught up in the small things so much that you miss the big picture. When that room was painted with that first coat and I saw the look of it I knew we had the right color so making those little touch ups or applying that second coat was not all that bad. I knew what the end result would be. That is important in my opinion because it keeps us motivated.
Lastly, even though I knew where the flaws were when my wife and other visitors walked into those rooms all they talked about was the color and the overall look of that particular room. They did not scrutinize it or inspect every corner but absorbed the entire area.
We strive for perfection but we must always remember that we don't necessarily need perfection to achieve our goal. We are the painters, the publishers and agents are master painters and the readers enjoy the painting. This is why it is so tough for new writers to break into the business because the master painters catch 98% of the flaws or just don't like the color.
Write with your heart and passion. Edit and revise with your mind and knowledge. Understand when to call a manuscript done and most of all stand back and admire your hard work.
The next morning I woke up excited to see the rooms with the new paint. I wanted to see exactly what they looked like as the sunlight hit those walls. Walking into each one of those six rooms was a joy as the colors all flowed so nicely with each other yet gave each room its own personality. But this perception changed as I moved in for a closer look. The closer I got to the walls the more I noticed the flaws. Slightly missed spots here a few specks of primer showing through there. Even though I was tired of painting I grabbed my roller and got to it until the job was done. Some rooms took another three coats to get everything covered and looking even while other rooms only needed a touch up here or there.
What does this have to do with writing? Actually I thought the same thing after I told myself "this is just like writing." Like that old, plain, white wall your paper or computer screen is blank and devoid of life or a personality. When you begin writing your idea for a story it is the same as picking a color and painting that wall. As we progress through and complete the story we stand back and admire our work for a moment just as when we are done painting we stand in the middle of the room and soak up those four walls. After that moment has passed though we take a closer look don't we? We start to dig into that manuscript finding the errors or open ideas. Like those specks found on the wall these items we find in our manuscript almost pop out at us so we grab our pen or the keyboard and like the paint roller we go through fixing those problems.
What's the point in all of this? We as writers will never be satisfied with our work because it is our work and we will see every flaw at some point in time. We must learn when to say a novel is finished so we can move on to the next. Maybe your manuscript will need seven revisions but maybe it only needs three. At some point in time we should ask "am I making these changes because they will improve the story or because I want to?"
The other point is to not get caught up in the small things so much that you miss the big picture. When that room was painted with that first coat and I saw the look of it I knew we had the right color so making those little touch ups or applying that second coat was not all that bad. I knew what the end result would be. That is important in my opinion because it keeps us motivated.
Lastly, even though I knew where the flaws were when my wife and other visitors walked into those rooms all they talked about was the color and the overall look of that particular room. They did not scrutinize it or inspect every corner but absorbed the entire area.
We strive for perfection but we must always remember that we don't necessarily need perfection to achieve our goal. We are the painters, the publishers and agents are master painters and the readers enjoy the painting. This is why it is so tough for new writers to break into the business because the master painters catch 98% of the flaws or just don't like the color.
Write with your heart and passion. Edit and revise with your mind and knowledge. Understand when to call a manuscript done and most of all stand back and admire your hard work.
Jun 22, 2009
The New Rules for Literary-Twittery by Rebecca Woodhead
Essential Netiquette for Micro-Blogging Writers
First, find out what kind of twitterer you are – even if you don’t yet tweet – by taking this quick quiz then follow the link back and find out what to do next so you don’t fall foul of the emerging Twitter netiquette for writers.
The Do's and Don'ts of Literary-Twittery
The don'ts are many and I’ll start with those as some of them may surprise you:
1/ Don’t sell yourself
The first thing most people do on Twitter if they have something to sell is to try to sell it. Wrong thing to do. So wrong. I can’t even begin to tell you of the wrongness of it. In fact, it’s a lesson I need to take on board myself this week as I’ve been promoting another author way too much recently and it occurs to me that this whiffs of advertising. Advertising on Twitter is a bad, bad thing. It can lose you followers, gain you spambots and ultimately it can get you kicked off.
You'll find details of the best way to market yourself on Twitter under the heading 'Web 1.0 Spammers' at the end of the quiz, when you’ve finished reading this post.
2/ Don’t just collect followers. Follow interesting people.
This is an odd one. Of course you want followers. People ask how I’ve managed to pull in over 300 followers in only a few weeks and I chuckle because what people don’t know is that I’ve been followed by over twice that number.
I do my best to avoid all but a very specific kind of follower. If I left them all in place, the number following me would be nearing 700 but one of my daily Twitter chores is to block about half of my followers. Anyone selling anything too aggressively gets blocked; people selling sex or DVDs pertaining to Britney Spears and her nocturnal activities get blocked; people spouting too much religious dogma – even if I agree with it – get blocked. On Twitter, you are judged by the people you follow and the people following you. Publishers aren’t impressed with any of the above so giving them screen room is not a good plan.
There are a few followers with a sales agenda that I don’t block - I don’t follow them unless they follow the Twitterati rules, but I don’t block them. If they promote themselves in every five or six tweets but between these they have something interesting to say (that’s not just about getting more business), they don’t get blocked. Sometimes I’m more flexible with the rules if, when I check out the person’s site or read their tweets, there’s reason to be flexible but otherwise I’m brutal. If you find someone not matching the description on my follow list and think ‘well she hasn’t kicked them off yet,’ I simply haven’t got round to it.
3/ Beware the spambot
Block spambots with all your might. Anyone promising you thousands of followers instantly needs to be blocked. The psychology behind this is connected with spamming and earns you a very bad rep on Twitter. It appeals to the lowest possible denominator and ensures your Twitter experience will be a very dull one indeed. If you value your sanity more than your ego, hit the ‘block’ button. The only 'this might increase your following' gadget I've found to be non-invasive is tweet penguin. It's worth mentioning that I've also found it to be not particularly effective but I'll take 'not particularly effective' over 'spamtastic' any day.
3/ Don’t be too clever
Don’t be stupid but don’t be so serious about your cleverness that you forget to have fun. Twitter is a conversation. Twitter is a cocktail party. I made this comparison very early on in my Twitter experience and I’ve noticed it crop up elsewhere of late so I’m obviously not the only one to feel this way. Be polite to the guests at your party and know that, if they follow you too, you are simultaneously also a guest at their party so if things get a bit rowdy at your bash, leave a little note explaining this, as your rowdiness may be at odds with the delicate gathering they’re hosting on their side of the partition wall.
4/ Don’t follow more people than follow you
This can be a hard one to stick by in the early stages but a good rule of thumb is to try not to follow more people than follow you. It makes you look like a spammer.
5/ Don’t be afraid to unfollow famous people
The rules apply universally. If a famous person is boring you, unfollow them. Judge people by their conversational skills rather than their fame. If they’re interesting to you, follow them. If they’re not interesting then don’t follow them. Simple. Be nice about it though - they might be having a boring day. Give them a few days of being boring before you give them the boot.
5/ Do write a 'bio'
A little bit of promotion in your bio is fine. This is the one place to put the bits and bobs you want publishers to see. You have a little over the length of a tweet to promote yourself so use every letter of it.
6/ Do put up a photo
People like to connect with you. Let them. That said, I have a very interesting dog and a surprisingly intelligent cat following me and I’m sure I’d be cross if their owners’ faces suddenly appeared instead.
7/ Do talk to famous people – if they’re interesting
If you want to try to connect with famous people, there’s nothing stopping you. I get DMs from famous people most weeks. It’s a little highlight to the Twitter experience that you don’t get elsewhere. Bear in mind that they’re swamped with tweets though and don’t get cross if you don’t get a reply – especially from people like Stephen Fry or Oprah.
8/ Do become friends with publishers
Publishers are people too. Include them in your discussions. Don’t sell to them though. Just DON’T. Twitter is the place to meet and chat, not the place to sell. The people you’re likely to converse with will be in the marketing department anyhow so selling to them is not only irritating but beyond pointless. Being friendly with them is a great way to find out more about publishing, however, and more about the workings within their particular business. I also like the idea that the marketing department will be behind me when I finally get a publishing deal.
That said, the rule still applies. Follow them because they interest you. If you only follow people you find interesting you’ll care what they have to say and stop trying to turn every exchange of ideas into a business opportunity. I had a chat with one publisher about the idea of setting up a dating agency based around what kind of font people like. Not likely to win me a publishing deal but a fun chat none-the-less. Another publisher tells me things about gardening. I talked another through a technical crisis of confidence on Facebook land-grab day. Another has a problem with a cake addiction. None of this information will get me a book deal but they’re nice chaps and they know more than anyone about my favourite subject – books - so I’m happy to follow them and happy to help them out regardless of whether or not I will benefit.
In fact, I can prove this point. The agent who recently rejected me is still on my favourites list. We still DM each other and I’d still help them out. Life’s too short to be narky.
The thing to bear in mind with publishers is that offering you a publishing deal is not their principle goal on Twitter. Their principle goal is to promote books. They may pick up new authors along the way but the money’s in the books they currently have to shift so that’s their focus. Having said promotion’s a bad idea on Twitter, if you absolutely have to do it and you’re publishing your own work, you could do worse that to watch these guys. Their promotions are never annoying and frequently involve handing out free books and goodies. I’ve won 7 books from publishers in the last few weeks. Not the kind of promotion that annoys me. Thanks publishing chums. :)
Twitter is as Twitter Does
In conclusion, you define your own Twitter experience. It’s your party and you define the guest list. It can be as interesting or inane as you choose. You’re unlikely to get a publishing deal on Twitter but you can find out a lot about the industry from the people who work there. It’s fun. It’s interactive. It’s worth having a look at.
If you haven’t taken the quiz to find out what kind of twitterer you are yet, click The New Author follow button, leave a comment here then scoot over to my blog and find out what your tweeting style says about you.
Bye for now,
Rebecca
'From Brain to Bookshelf'
rebeccawoodhead.com
First, find out what kind of twitterer you are – even if you don’t yet tweet – by taking this quick quiz then follow the link back and find out what to do next so you don’t fall foul of the emerging Twitter netiquette for writers.
The Do's and Don'ts of Literary-Twittery
The don'ts are many and I’ll start with those as some of them may surprise you:
1/ Don’t sell yourself
The first thing most people do on Twitter if they have something to sell is to try to sell it. Wrong thing to do. So wrong. I can’t even begin to tell you of the wrongness of it. In fact, it’s a lesson I need to take on board myself this week as I’ve been promoting another author way too much recently and it occurs to me that this whiffs of advertising. Advertising on Twitter is a bad, bad thing. It can lose you followers, gain you spambots and ultimately it can get you kicked off.
You'll find details of the best way to market yourself on Twitter under the heading 'Web 1.0 Spammers' at the end of the quiz, when you’ve finished reading this post.
2/ Don’t just collect followers. Follow interesting people.
This is an odd one. Of course you want followers. People ask how I’ve managed to pull in over 300 followers in only a few weeks and I chuckle because what people don’t know is that I’ve been followed by over twice that number.
I do my best to avoid all but a very specific kind of follower. If I left them all in place, the number following me would be nearing 700 but one of my daily Twitter chores is to block about half of my followers. Anyone selling anything too aggressively gets blocked; people selling sex or DVDs pertaining to Britney Spears and her nocturnal activities get blocked; people spouting too much religious dogma – even if I agree with it – get blocked. On Twitter, you are judged by the people you follow and the people following you. Publishers aren’t impressed with any of the above so giving them screen room is not a good plan.
There are a few followers with a sales agenda that I don’t block - I don’t follow them unless they follow the Twitterati rules, but I don’t block them. If they promote themselves in every five or six tweets but between these they have something interesting to say (that’s not just about getting more business), they don’t get blocked. Sometimes I’m more flexible with the rules if, when I check out the person’s site or read their tweets, there’s reason to be flexible but otherwise I’m brutal. If you find someone not matching the description on my follow list and think ‘well she hasn’t kicked them off yet,’ I simply haven’t got round to it.
3/ Beware the spambot
Block spambots with all your might. Anyone promising you thousands of followers instantly needs to be blocked. The psychology behind this is connected with spamming and earns you a very bad rep on Twitter. It appeals to the lowest possible denominator and ensures your Twitter experience will be a very dull one indeed. If you value your sanity more than your ego, hit the ‘block’ button. The only 'this might increase your following' gadget I've found to be non-invasive is tweet penguin. It's worth mentioning that I've also found it to be not particularly effective but I'll take 'not particularly effective' over 'spamtastic' any day.
3/ Don’t be too clever
Don’t be stupid but don’t be so serious about your cleverness that you forget to have fun. Twitter is a conversation. Twitter is a cocktail party. I made this comparison very early on in my Twitter experience and I’ve noticed it crop up elsewhere of late so I’m obviously not the only one to feel this way. Be polite to the guests at your party and know that, if they follow you too, you are simultaneously also a guest at their party so if things get a bit rowdy at your bash, leave a little note explaining this, as your rowdiness may be at odds with the delicate gathering they’re hosting on their side of the partition wall.
4/ Don’t follow more people than follow you
This can be a hard one to stick by in the early stages but a good rule of thumb is to try not to follow more people than follow you. It makes you look like a spammer.
5/ Don’t be afraid to unfollow famous people
The rules apply universally. If a famous person is boring you, unfollow them. Judge people by their conversational skills rather than their fame. If they’re interesting to you, follow them. If they’re not interesting then don’t follow them. Simple. Be nice about it though - they might be having a boring day. Give them a few days of being boring before you give them the boot.
5/ Do write a 'bio'
A little bit of promotion in your bio is fine. This is the one place to put the bits and bobs you want publishers to see. You have a little over the length of a tweet to promote yourself so use every letter of it.
6/ Do put up a photo
People like to connect with you. Let them. That said, I have a very interesting dog and a surprisingly intelligent cat following me and I’m sure I’d be cross if their owners’ faces suddenly appeared instead.
7/ Do talk to famous people – if they’re interesting
If you want to try to connect with famous people, there’s nothing stopping you. I get DMs from famous people most weeks. It’s a little highlight to the Twitter experience that you don’t get elsewhere. Bear in mind that they’re swamped with tweets though and don’t get cross if you don’t get a reply – especially from people like Stephen Fry or Oprah.
8/ Do become friends with publishers
Publishers are people too. Include them in your discussions. Don’t sell to them though. Just DON’T. Twitter is the place to meet and chat, not the place to sell. The people you’re likely to converse with will be in the marketing department anyhow so selling to them is not only irritating but beyond pointless. Being friendly with them is a great way to find out more about publishing, however, and more about the workings within their particular business. I also like the idea that the marketing department will be behind me when I finally get a publishing deal.
That said, the rule still applies. Follow them because they interest you. If you only follow people you find interesting you’ll care what they have to say and stop trying to turn every exchange of ideas into a business opportunity. I had a chat with one publisher about the idea of setting up a dating agency based around what kind of font people like. Not likely to win me a publishing deal but a fun chat none-the-less. Another publisher tells me things about gardening. I talked another through a technical crisis of confidence on Facebook land-grab day. Another has a problem with a cake addiction. None of this information will get me a book deal but they’re nice chaps and they know more than anyone about my favourite subject – books - so I’m happy to follow them and happy to help them out regardless of whether or not I will benefit.
In fact, I can prove this point. The agent who recently rejected me is still on my favourites list. We still DM each other and I’d still help them out. Life’s too short to be narky.
The thing to bear in mind with publishers is that offering you a publishing deal is not their principle goal on Twitter. Their principle goal is to promote books. They may pick up new authors along the way but the money’s in the books they currently have to shift so that’s their focus. Having said promotion’s a bad idea on Twitter, if you absolutely have to do it and you’re publishing your own work, you could do worse that to watch these guys. Their promotions are never annoying and frequently involve handing out free books and goodies. I’ve won 7 books from publishers in the last few weeks. Not the kind of promotion that annoys me. Thanks publishing chums. :)
Twitter is as Twitter Does
In conclusion, you define your own Twitter experience. It’s your party and you define the guest list. It can be as interesting or inane as you choose. You’re unlikely to get a publishing deal on Twitter but you can find out a lot about the industry from the people who work there. It’s fun. It’s interactive. It’s worth having a look at.
If you haven’t taken the quiz to find out what kind of twitterer you are yet, click The New Author follow button, leave a comment here then scoot over to my blog and find out what your tweeting style says about you.
Bye for now,
Rebecca
'From Brain to Bookshelf'
rebeccawoodhead.com
Jun 19, 2009
Thank You Dad
Way back in January; I know...who can remember January, I shared with you the first of two reasons why I started writing on a regular basis. That occasion was my wedding anniversary. My wife was and is very supportive of my writing and for that I am blessed. Well today is the anniversary for the second reason I committed myself to writing and becoming a published author. A year ago today my father passed away after battling cancer for six years. I know it may sound strange that this would be a reason for me to really commit to writing but that's how it is.
You see before that funeral service I only wrote a little here and there with no intention of it seeing the light of day. I would write my wife poetry on certain occasions (and I still do) but that was the length of it. My writing was not very substantial to say the least. Dad changed all of that without even knowing it.
After he passed my two oldest brothers helped mom arrange the funeral, prepare the music and even dug out pictures to show during the visitation. With me in West Virginia and them in Virginia it was hard to participate in those arrangements. I decided to come up with something of my own to add to the mix. I am sure many of you have experienced the passing of a loved one and are very familiar with the emotions and feelings you have during that time. I took those emotions and feelings and poured them out on paper in the form of a poem. I can honestly say that at the time I didn't care if the poem was appreciated by anyone there that day because I wrote it for well...me because I wanted to show my respect and love for dad.
It never occurred to me until I was writing that poem just how much he taught me through his actions. His daily display of endurance, patience, thanksgiving, and the value of hard work when trying to achieve a goal are all present within me as I try to become an author. We all know how much these aspects are needed when trying to break into the publishing business.
I was planning on including that poem in this article today but I'm afraid that's not going to happen. I apologize for that as I enjoy sharing things with you. Perhaps at a later date I will.
I can say that a strange thing happened after the poem was read and the service was over. To my surprise many of the attendants complimented the poem. Why? They were amazed how accurately I captured dad's life and personality in those words. For me that was a great compliment.
That day I found the confidence to step out of the shadows and express myself through words. With that and the support of my wife I now fully pursue the day my manuscript gets published.
You see before that funeral service I only wrote a little here and there with no intention of it seeing the light of day. I would write my wife poetry on certain occasions (and I still do) but that was the length of it. My writing was not very substantial to say the least. Dad changed all of that without even knowing it.
After he passed my two oldest brothers helped mom arrange the funeral, prepare the music and even dug out pictures to show during the visitation. With me in West Virginia and them in Virginia it was hard to participate in those arrangements. I decided to come up with something of my own to add to the mix. I am sure many of you have experienced the passing of a loved one and are very familiar with the emotions and feelings you have during that time. I took those emotions and feelings and poured them out on paper in the form of a poem. I can honestly say that at the time I didn't care if the poem was appreciated by anyone there that day because I wrote it for well...me because I wanted to show my respect and love for dad.
It never occurred to me until I was writing that poem just how much he taught me through his actions. His daily display of endurance, patience, thanksgiving, and the value of hard work when trying to achieve a goal are all present within me as I try to become an author. We all know how much these aspects are needed when trying to break into the publishing business.
I was planning on including that poem in this article today but I'm afraid that's not going to happen. I apologize for that as I enjoy sharing things with you. Perhaps at a later date I will.
I can say that a strange thing happened after the poem was read and the service was over. To my surprise many of the attendants complimented the poem. Why? They were amazed how accurately I captured dad's life and personality in those words. For me that was a great compliment.
That day I found the confidence to step out of the shadows and express myself through words. With that and the support of my wife I now fully pursue the day my manuscript gets published.
I believe it is ironic that I write this on the eve of Father's Day weekend but that makes it all the sweeter knowing he left me with so many memories and examples for living life.
Jun 17, 2009
I'm Almost Back!
The move is almost complete! The walls are painted and the furniture is in place. One might think a bomb went off is here but soon things will find a new place in the cabinets and the boxes will be gone.
The best thing about the whole experience is the ideas I developed for articles to post on the New Author. Hopefully I will post the first of these articles tomorrow.
I thank you all for your patience while I have been away.
Interview with Author Perry Ennis Part II
This is part II of my interview with author Perry Ennis. Let's get back to the questions and answers. (Perry's response in bold.)
Yes I do. It truly blesses my heart to know that the scriptures and my paraphrases and teachings in the book have helped many people as they continue to grow through their faith journey. I like helping people everywhere, most that I will never meet on this side of eternity. The best way I can help them is to provide what they need most in life apart from food and the basics, and that is answers from the scriptures and my testimony that there is a true, and real living God that loves each and every one of us, and who desires to have an intimate relationship with us so He can call us one of His and bless us with all that we need in this life including protection through the coming horrific tribulation.
8. What has this novel meant to you as an author and a Christian?
8. What has this novel meant to you as an author and a Christian?
It has been a true labor of love of typing and editing many nights and weekends over an eight year period. In the book I have expounded upon wonderful revelation knowledge of the end of days prophecies to enlighten the reader of the master plan of our Creator leading up to the final showdown between Himself, His redeemed and His holy warrior angels against His and our adversary, Satan the devil, his fallen angles and the unsaved of the world that will at time be a part of the anti-Christ beast system. Helping the reader to grasp and improve their understanding of the important second coming of Messiah prophecies pales in comparison to the importance of helping the reader to make the sincere and conscious decision to accept the blood of Jesus, Yahshua the Messiah as payment for their sin debt, and to ask Him to impart His Holy Spirit into their life so they will be saved and have the assurance of eternal life. If the significant investment I have made in time, money and hard work produces the fruit of just one person reading this book and making the most important decision there is in life which is to accept Jesus, Yahshua, and be born of His Spirit, then all of the investment will be worth it and I will rejoice with that individual throughout all of eternity, forever.
9. You reference many different translations of the Holy Bible. Why?
9. You reference many different translations of the Holy Bible. Why?
I used the five different translations I had during the time I was writing the book because when teaching an important truth from the scriptures, one translation will often convey a better rendering of truth that is being taught than others. All through the book when scripture is on the page there was a studying process I did to attempt to use the best translation I had for the readers benefit.
10. What's next for author Perry Ennis?
10. What's next for author Perry Ennis?
My heart’s desire is for this book to be well received by people from many backgrounds all over the world so these important messages will reach as many people as possible because we don’t have but a few years before the dreaded great tribulation transitions onto the world scene. I hope to retire within the next year or two so I can be available to travel and teach from the book at conferences, churches and wherever our Heavenly Father Yahweh opens the doors for me go. I’ve been blessed to be able to be a part of a tour to Israel this coming November of 09. I have had a great desire to take in the land and culture of the land of our ancient Israelite ancestors for many years now and Father is faithful as always, and has made the trip possible at his appointed time. I know that He has plans for me to be a part of assisting many people to make aliyah to the place of protection in Israel just before the persecution of the Great Tribulation begins. There is a much greater than the first exodus to the promised land coming, when those of the ten lost tribes of Ephraim join with their brother of the tribes of Judah on the land to fulfill the prophecies in Ezekiel 37 and become the restored Israel that has been Father Yahweh desire from the beginning. I pray that it is in His will that I can be a part of assisting with that incredible part of His awesome end-time plan.
11. Would you like to add any closing thoughts today?
11. Would you like to add any closing thoughts today?
Our Creator loves you and I more then we can possibly comprehend in this life. Seek to know Him through prayer and His Holy Scriptures recorded in the Bible with all of your heart. Desire to understand the covenant that He established with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and the prophets, and enter into that covenant by putting your faith in the blood of His only Son, Jesus who came forth from His Father’s throne in heaven to be born as a human being and give His life so that all who accept him can be saved and not perish. Know this, we are certainly in the final years that are winding down before the time of the great persecution and tribulation begins. The time is coming when everyone will have to choose who the one true, creator God is. That decision will seal the person making it destiny for eternity. In every situation in life that requires a decision you can only make the best decision if you have the best information. Read and study, the Word of truth so you will not be ashamed when you stand before your judge and king. It is written, "They have conquered him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus, Yahshua) and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.” Revelation 12:11 NRSV
I pray that each person that reads these questions and answers will be blessed by them and encouraged to read and glen more truth from the Holy Scriptures. I pray our Heavenly Father Yahweh’s blessings of health, provision and protection to be upon you and your family members now and throughout all of your life, in the name of our risen Savior and coming King, Jesus, Yahshua the Messiah. Amen. Shalom!
I pray that each person that reads these questions and answers will be blessed by them and encouraged to read and glen more truth from the Holy Scriptures. I pray our Heavenly Father Yahweh’s blessings of health, provision and protection to be upon you and your family members now and throughout all of your life, in the name of our risen Savior and coming King, Jesus, Yahshua the Messiah. Amen. Shalom!
Jun 16, 2009
Interview with Author Perry Ennis Part I
Today is part one of a two part interview I conducted with author Perry Ennis. He has a powerful message to share with his book "Prepare for the Coming of Messiah." Let's find out a little about this author and his thought provoking, inspirational book. (Perry's response in bold.)
I’m a believer in the truth of the Holy Scriptures that reveal the one true living Creator/Savior God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I am a sinner that has been redeemed by the blood of the perfect Lamb of God, His Son, Jesus, Yahshua the Messiah. I am a humble, sanctified person that prayed for, and received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of the living God, Yahweh that empowers me to live for Him and fulfill the purposes He has for my live. I believe that one of the most important purposes that our heavenly Father envisioned for me to fulfill in this life was the researching, writing and publishing of my book entitled “Prepare for the Coming of Messiah,” and now the successful promotion of the book so people everywhere will know about it and it’s importance. I am very blessed to be the husband of my wife Deborah and the father of our children Amanda and Joshua.
2. You researched end-time prophecy for 26 years. How long did it take you to actually write your book?
2. You researched end-time prophecy for 26 years. How long did it take you to actually write your book?
Eight years.
3. What motivated you to write this in-depth, detailed novel?
3. What motivated you to write this in-depth, detailed novel?
Our Lord and Savior, bless be His Holy name, had mercy on me and saved me in the spring of 1972 from a close call with suicide. From the time I began studying the scriptures to learn more about our Creator and Savior, I was drawn to the scriptures that reveal the truth about the first and second coming of our master and King, Jesus whose name in Hebrew is translated and spelled Yahshua, or Yeshua. The more I studied and began to understand the prophecy scriptures that relate to the first and second coming of the Messiah, the more compelled I was to study and learn more.
4. Where can people purchase your book?
4. Where can people purchase your book?
So that they can read and comprehend Biblically based answers to the difficult questions that people from all backgrounds have regarding the rapid changes we are witnessing take place in our world today. It is imperative that all people, believers and non-believers, come to the truth of understanding that we are living in the last years of the last generation of this age before a new and different age is ushered in. The catastrophic events that have been happening in recent years and those happening now are only a preview of even more devastating catastrophes that will continue to escalate in numbers and intensity so that the very core and foundations of the physical earth and the societies of the nations of this world will be shaken like no other time in all of history. Our Creator has inspired me by the indwelling of His spirit to write a book that includes many of the scriptures of His words on the pages, in order to warn people everywhere to repent and prepare for His coming righteous judgment of nations and individuals. Our Creator is literally bringing about the end of this age as we know it in order to establish His Kingdom here on earth that will be made up of those that have accepted Him. The birthing of His Kingdom on this earth will come forth with much violence and devastation because Satan the present ruler of the world will not give up his kingdom without creating through his pawns, an unprecedented war at the end call Armageddon.
6. What is the message you wish to convey with 'Prepare for the Coming of Messiah'?
Educate yourself about the reality of the shadow government within the government of the US political system. Research the famine and flu plagues that are coming to this country and prepare yourself and your family the best you can for the worst. But most importantly, know who your Creator and Savior is. Recognize that you, me and all people have committed sin, and then accept what He has made available that will pay and cancel your sin debt. Trust His Holy Word from in the scripture of the Bible. Be prepared to die at any moment, because you may and will at some point in time. Have the assurance that you can stand before the awesome Creator of this universe without fear because when you had the opportunity in this life, you entered into a close, loving, covenant relationship with Him and He knows you.
Tomorrow we will conclude this interesting interview.
Jun 12, 2009
Guest Blogger - Cicily Janus
Behave Yourself!
Conference Etiquette 101
Quote of the Day:
“If the track is tough and the hill is rough,
THINKING you can just ain't enough!”
~Shel Silverstein~
Current Local Weather:
Cold toes dangling from the dark sky
Accompanied by with even colder temps,
Warmed only by the Sun and friends.
Currently on my iPod:
“Waiting for You”, Seal
The Very Best of Seal 1991-2004
Dear friends, family and my family of friends,
I must thank Brian for having me as a guest on his blog. Last week Brian was the guest on my blog and he blogged on well…blogging! Early on in his article he mentioned the importance of having a fun, informative blog without it being a lecture or a know-it-all presence. This mentality, or tip I should say applies in so many places…this applies to connections. How? Take out the word blog from his directions and insert the word connections.
I signed on with a publisher for my book recently. This publisher happens to be Random House. It’s pretty cool for sure. So how does a girl break into Random House and walk out with a contract? Simple and you don’t even have to have Brad Pitt and George Clooney wearing all black and dangling from an elevator shaft to break in. Although, now that I think about it, that wouldn’t have hurt anything...
Connections. Not necessarily there, but I had connections elsewhere that lead to that point. Most writers make the mistake of becoming overbearing and sweaty palmed individuals at the typical writing conference or utter drunks thus undoing any chance of making connections that are vitally necessary to their career. Yeah, okay, we’re all guilty of one or the other. But, if you find yourself turning into one of those people, take a step back and re-evaluate why you’re doing this not only to those around you, but to yourself.
Here are some rules to follow at all times while at conferences: (trust me, I speak from experience)
1. MS Subs: Slipping MS length anything beneath hotel room doors, bathroom stalls and or a pitch appointment, unless asked for, is NOT acceptable. Do you have any idea
how much the TSA charges for checked and overweight bags? Do this and be
prepared to have it used as kindling or thrown in the trash.
2. Public Drunkenness: Yeah, unless the editor/agent/author is the one buying the drinks, keep it to a slightly toasty level. Be in control of what you say, do and how you act around them. No one likes someone who becomes a challenge to deal with during conference, especially at the after party.
3. Pitch Appointments: Know your stuff before hand! Your pitch must give a clear view of the book in only a few sentences. It’s VERY tough to do this, so work on it well in advance, not while you’re sitting out in the hallway waiting to meet the editor/agent.
a. Rambling is not acceptable. If you’ve written your twelfth fantasy novel about the carebears and the evil master plan to take over the Mattel Kingdom, DO NOT go on and on and on with backstory or the plot of the other books unless asked.
b. Slow down with your pitch. Pronounce every word so there’s no question as to what you said. You’d hate to be asked to submit that fantasy graphic novel about carebears and have her think it was going to be about the Titanic. Instant Rejection!
4. Bragging: We’re all happy for you. And yes, I’m guilty of this too. BUT. We’re all happy for you that you just signed on with every film, foreign rights and major publisher in the world. Now shut up. Unless you’re asked about your current publications or talking to a close friend, be quiet about it. The general public will only be happy for you for so long.
5. Tenacity/Persistence/Annoyance: I must lump all these together. Yes, tenacity wins, but when that tenacity starts to bleed over into sharp persistence that inevitably leads to a hemorrhage into that super-duper state of annoyance, you’ve got another thing coming. If said editor/agent/superhero wants to talk more, then do it. But watch the body signals. Are they searching with their eyes to find a burning building so that they may rescue a few stranded stray cats? Are they asleep or nodding off? Are they waving a small white flag above their head? These are all signs for you to say, Nice talking to you, thanks for your company, adios, cya homie, or whatever. Just get out of there.
6. When things go right: The agent/editor/magic MS fairy have all asked for your partial or full manuscript, a synopsis, first born and a pile of gold made out of straw. Now what? Be frank with them. Have you REALLY finished it and is it REALLY ready for submission? If they’re in favor of the concept and you’ve hooked them, then tell them the freakin’ truth. They’ll still like it and want to see it. Don’t kill yourself finishing the novel you said was finished, but has another 20K words to go. Also, don’t overdo it. If they asked for it, then you’ve accomplished your mission. Don’t keep asking them why they liked it, if you could change something, etc….just thank them and assure them you’ll send it as soon as it’s ready.
7. Golden Rule: Despite the fabled myth of the super-agents, they really are HUMAN! Think for one second how you would want to be treated. When I met my agent, he was at a small conference with me and everyone was chastising me for sitting with him, talking with him, etc…they said I was bothering him. He was smiling, we were laughing…We were talking about music, life, religion etc. Not about a project. We formed a bond. Two years later when I had my project lined up, I hit him up to see if he’d take a look at it and the rest is history. They breathe, bleed and eat the same way we do. And most of them have been writers or are writers. They know where you are and where you’re going, but if you give them the
standoff treatment, they can assure you where you’re not going to get: Publication!
Making connections at writing conferences is vitally important to your career and behaving yourself is a must. After all you only get one shot at making that first impression. It’s always a good thing to come off as the best version of yourself and not the sweaty, smelly, freakazoid nightmare author. Get a hold of yourself and take charge of your goals, career and life.
Cicily Janus has been cultivating careers in the arts for over 15 years. She’s edited for publications such as Opium Magazine, Art Nouveau Magazine and writes for Westword/Village Voice, Downbeat Magazine and Rocky Mountain Jazz. As the owner of Writing Away Retreats, she invites authors, editors and agents into a warm luxurious setting to get away with their muse and take their career to the next level. As an author, she’s placing her first book on the shelves next summer. The New Face of Jazz is due out July, 2010 through Random House. You can contact her at creativelivesworkshop@hotmail.com.
Making connections at writing conferences is vitally important to your career and behaving yourself is a must. After all you only get one shot at making that first impression. It’s always a good thing to come off as the best version of yourself and not the sweaty, smelly, freakazoid nightmare author. Get a hold of yourself and take charge of your goals, career and life.
Cicily Janus has been cultivating careers in the arts for over 15 years. She’s edited for publications such as Opium Magazine, Art Nouveau Magazine and writes for Westword/Village Voice, Downbeat Magazine and Rocky Mountain Jazz. As the owner of Writing Away Retreats, she invites authors, editors and agents into a warm luxurious setting to get away with their muse and take their career to the next level. As an author, she’s placing her first book on the shelves next summer. The New Face of Jazz is due out July, 2010 through Random House. You can contact her at creativelivesworkshop@hotmail.com.
Jun 10, 2009
Lessons from the Workshop
Before I get to today's topic I would like to share with all of you that there is still time to enter a poem for our first New Author workshop. The two poems posted are well written with passion and intelligence in both. If you have not read them I highly recommend it.
"In this exercise we are writing about something visual and we have chosen this for a number of reasons. One of the more important reasons though is to encourage you to let your mind visualize what you are writing about and then to transfer that to being visual in your poetry.
Go in fear of abstractions. Don't use words like 'beauty' for instance, use the description and let your reader see the beauty for themselves. Think of writing as a form of painting, (the best form!)."
Our workshop instructor Bernard has posted his first critique of these poems and I will be the first to tell you that there are lessons to be learned in his post. I hope you're not thinking that the lessons are purely for writing poetry. That would be a mistake as these lessons transcend to all forms of writing. How is that? Well lets take a look at a few examples.
"In this exercise we are writing about something visual and we have chosen this for a number of reasons. One of the more important reasons though is to encourage you to let your mind visualize what you are writing about and then to transfer that to being visual in your poetry.
Go in fear of abstractions. Don't use words like 'beauty' for instance, use the description and let your reader see the beauty for themselves. Think of writing as a form of painting, (the best form!)."
Bernard is referring to the words of the poems with this instruction; however, it is very sound advise for all writers. This is a really good exercise for training our writer's mind to show and not tell.
"Check every adjective to ensure it adds something to the line, have you used any dead metaphors? Is it better to use your self (I) or would it be better to substitute a character? One thought per line. Are there any show stoppers, places where the reader might have their flow broken, maybe by a word they may not know. There is nothing that can't be said using small words. As a fisherman I often say 'You can catch a big fish on a small hook but you can't catch a small fish on a big hook' and writing is no different in my view."
"Check every adjective to ensure it adds something to the line, have you used any dead metaphors? Is it better to use your self (I) or would it be better to substitute a character? One thought per line. Are there any show stoppers, places where the reader might have their flow broken, maybe by a word they may not know. There is nothing that can't be said using small words. As a fisherman I often say 'You can catch a big fish on a small hook but you can't catch a small fish on a big hook' and writing is no different in my view."
Poetry is a very condensed story with rhythm and a tight flow. Word structure, usage and placement are very important in poetry but likewise in our manuscripts. We don't want the readers lost or confused and we really want to avoid breaking the flow of our story.
As I mentioned above, Bernard commented on the structure of the poems and how the sentences were presented. It was very interesting just how often he suggested removing words here and there in order for the flow to be crisp and clear. I believe this is advise we should keep in mind while revising our manuscript.
I encourage you to read his full post here.
Jun 8, 2009
Struck By a Rogue Thought
Have you ever been happy because you made it to Monday? Many of you may be thinking "wow that must have been a really bad weekend." Well the weekend was not really all that bad. I like being productive so if a day or weekend has been productive I count it as a good day or weekend. In that regard this weekend was really good. However, I may have been over productive. How in the world can you be over productive? Good question.
In all the projects that are going on right now it may surprise you that my writing is the source of my over productiveness. What is really remarkable is that my writing computer remained off the entire weekend. Yea, that statement really throws a wrench in the thought of actually being productive but bare with me a little longer.
I currently have two writing projects underway as we speak. One you know about as it is my first manuscript and the second I am keeping under wraps for the time being. As you know my manuscript is in the middle of a major overhaul which is progressing nicely. My second project is in the planning stages at the moment but these plans are shaping up to be a really exciting story. Both of these projects demanded my attention at different times throughout the weekend. This is not a problem as I often dwell on both from time to time. What made this weekend interesting was the rogue thought that bulled its way into my mind. Where did it come from? I'm not sure but as time progressed through the weekend this thought grew and morphed into a full fledged story ready to be typed. Strike that...this story demanded to be typed. As soon as the other two projects came to the front of the line this rogue would push past as if claiming to be king of the mountain. As Sunday afternoon approached I soon realized that I had completed the entire story for this bullish rogue.
Did I write it down or even start to write it? No I did not. Why? I'm not really sure but I felt (and still feel) that taking on a third project would simply be too much at this point in time. I do wonder if this bullish story will hamper my writing on the other projects as it forcefully demands attention; however, I suspect I will be able to block it out once I get started again. We will know soon because I plan to work on my manuscript tonight.
There are a few things we can do to handle ideas like these. If you are in the middle of a project that you are determined to complete I would suggest writing notes. How many notes? I believe you will know the answer to this question once you write enough that the thought is not nagging at you anymore. Our next option is to simply write the entire story and put it to the side. Of course this is easier said then done if that story ends up being five hundred pages long but it will allow you to focus on your current project once you are done with it. The third option is perhaps the most difficult. This would be to simply push it to the back of your mind until a later date and focus squarely on your current project.
Which option should we go with? This is the million dollar question. To be honest I can't answer this one. You will have to because you will need to decide if this powder keg idea that exploded in your head is developed to the point of stopping your current project to start it. Which one are you more passionate about completing? This answer will also help you make your decision.
Have you ever had a bullish rogue idea morph into a complete story in your head? Have did you handle this attention hungry thought?
In all the projects that are going on right now it may surprise you that my writing is the source of my over productiveness. What is really remarkable is that my writing computer remained off the entire weekend. Yea, that statement really throws a wrench in the thought of actually being productive but bare with me a little longer.
I currently have two writing projects underway as we speak. One you know about as it is my first manuscript and the second I am keeping under wraps for the time being. As you know my manuscript is in the middle of a major overhaul which is progressing nicely. My second project is in the planning stages at the moment but these plans are shaping up to be a really exciting story. Both of these projects demanded my attention at different times throughout the weekend. This is not a problem as I often dwell on both from time to time. What made this weekend interesting was the rogue thought that bulled its way into my mind. Where did it come from? I'm not sure but as time progressed through the weekend this thought grew and morphed into a full fledged story ready to be typed. Strike that...this story demanded to be typed. As soon as the other two projects came to the front of the line this rogue would push past as if claiming to be king of the mountain. As Sunday afternoon approached I soon realized that I had completed the entire story for this bullish rogue.
Did I write it down or even start to write it? No I did not. Why? I'm not really sure but I felt (and still feel) that taking on a third project would simply be too much at this point in time. I do wonder if this bullish story will hamper my writing on the other projects as it forcefully demands attention; however, I suspect I will be able to block it out once I get started again. We will know soon because I plan to work on my manuscript tonight.
There are a few things we can do to handle ideas like these. If you are in the middle of a project that you are determined to complete I would suggest writing notes. How many notes? I believe you will know the answer to this question once you write enough that the thought is not nagging at you anymore. Our next option is to simply write the entire story and put it to the side. Of course this is easier said then done if that story ends up being five hundred pages long but it will allow you to focus on your current project once you are done with it. The third option is perhaps the most difficult. This would be to simply push it to the back of your mind until a later date and focus squarely on your current project.
Which option should we go with? This is the million dollar question. To be honest I can't answer this one. You will have to because you will need to decide if this powder keg idea that exploded in your head is developed to the point of stopping your current project to start it. Which one are you more passionate about completing? This answer will also help you make your decision.
Have you ever had a bullish rogue idea morph into a complete story in your head? Have did you handle this attention hungry thought?
On a separate note, more poems have been added to the work shop for your reading pleasure. I invite you all to the work shop area of the New Author.
Jun 4, 2009
Like a Coin Life Has Two Sides
I apologize to everyone here at the New Author for the lack of articles this week. You see, we are in the process of purchasing a house and this week we were suppose to sign the closing documents. Well, as you can probably guess, that did not happen due to some unforeseen circumstances. These circumstances lead me to working on the house we are buying after work my normal job hours. Fortunately I completed those projects yesterday and hope to be closing next week.
I can honestly say that I am feeling the weight of moving, working and writing as it seems to be landing on me all at one time. Why did I not include the New Author in that list? Because this gives me a moment to breath and relax. I know, writing does that as well but the draw back I am facing with writing is time. The last few nights after working on the house after my job has left me exhausted. I miss writing and plan to get back on it very soon. Have any of you experienced this? I am in no way complaining about this as life will happen whether you like it or not. I am sharing this with you just in case any of you are feeling the weight of life on your shoulders and it is getting a little heavy. Don't give up and keep moving forward. Soon we will be through this little hurdle and back doing what we really want to do...write.
Are you feeling the weight of something in your life getting a little to heavy right now?
Just like a coin life has two sides. On one side we have the life or responsibility, work, stress and things such as those listed above and then there is the other side. This side consists of those small things that make you feel good, puts a smile on your face and makes a rotten day bearable. I have a few to share with you.
First, Bernard and I have two poems for the poetry workshop and the first of the two has been posted for all to read. Soon the others will be posted and we will start the next phase of the workshop. We were both very excited to get these poems this week.
Second, my guest post was very well received over on Cicily Janus' blog and I thank all of you who read it and those who left comments. It is a lot of fun to be a guest on another site; however, it can make you a little nervous as well because you want to present a good one.
Third, my partner Jo-Anne (without me knowing) prepared and posted a blog about...well...me. Yes, I was very surprised by this and also very honored to be the topic of a post. This is also a first for me. If you would like to read that post you can here.
There are many, many little things that make a day enjoyable and put a smile on your face. I listed just a few here today. What would you add to this list? What little things make your day better and add a little pep to your step?
Jun 3, 2009
Writing About You - Guest Blog
Cicily Janus has now posted my guest article over at her blog "Writing About You." I invite all of you to visit her blog as Cicily has a lot to offer in regards to writing and music. She has done a great job creating a fun, energy filled blog.
You can visit her blog and read my guest article by clicking here.
Jun 1, 2009
A Busy Monday
Have you ever had one of those days where you have more to do then hours to do it in? That has been my day today. When that happens it is easy to get overwhelmed and allow panic to strike. I almost fell prey to panic this afternoon but after a deep breath and a moment of clear thought I put together a to do list. So what does that have to do with today's article? Everything and nothing at the same time. With that said, I will use today's article as a springboard to the rest of the week.
Today I added a new author to the 'author sites.' Author Cicily Janus is currently writing away on her books which are published through Random house. I invite you to click on over to her site and check out the interesting things she has going on over there. I also added a link to the top link bar under the New Author header called 'Writing Retreats.' This is a business owned and operated by Cicily in which she brings new authors, editors, publishers, and published authors together in one house (and it is a big house at that). These retreats offer a unique opportunity to have one on one time with these professionals in a relaxed atmosphere. Check out the site and make sure you look through the photo album. I also added a new author to the 'featured author' box. Perry Ennis is the author of 'Prepare for the Coming of Messiah' which is an in depth look at prophecy, scripture and how it relates to our life today. I included links to his website and his blog for more information about Perry and his detailed, highly researched book.
Tomorrow I will be guest blogging over at Cicly Janus' site. She invited me last week to prepare an article in which I agreed. I will be sharing my limited knowledge and experience with building a blog and networking with others. It is my hope that you will pop over and read it. You know I always want your thoughts and opinions about the articles.
I am in the midst of conducting an interview with Perry about his book. I believe this will be an interesting interview because Perry researched the topic for nine years. That is a lot of research and I, for one, would like to know how he managed that and was able to finish the book.
I have two book reviews coming soon and it is my goal to post the first this week. That review will be for 'Prepare for the Coming of Messiah' and the second one is 'Private Lives' by Simon Marshland. I am excited to write both and share with you what I discover.
Last but not least the first New Author workshop has started as I state in the New Author Announcements. Use the link in the announcement or the top link bar to visit the workshop site. You will find the photo that will inspire the poems we will study. Both Bernard and I look forward to reading all the poems and hope for a successful workshop as this is just the start to many more.
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