Monthly Archives: February 2012
Backlinks and Blogs
As a freelancer who provides SEO work for websites and blogs, I am woefully aware that many ACFW writers treat links in blog comments as spam. Knowing how the search engines index these comments, I spend much of my time … Continue reading
A Unique . . . Surprise
by Ramona Richards Senior Acquisitions Editor, Fiction Abingdon Press When asked what they look for in a manuscript, editors often answer, “A unique voice,” a frustrating answer to any writer. “A unique voice” is hard to define, hard to develop, … Continue reading
Book Review: Ransome’s Crossing
Title: Ransome’s Crossing Author: Kaye Dacus Publisher: Harvest House Date: June 2011 ISBN: 978-0736927543 Genre: Historical Romance Reviewed by: Patricia Woodside Ransome’s Crossing brings to an end the saga of Julia Ransome and the Witherington and Ransome families. But not … Continue reading
Privacy and the Digital Age
by Cheryl Wyatt Since authors have been ushered into the digital age in terms of marketing expectations, I sought advice from Frank Ahearn, renowned skip tracer, privacy expert and author of How to Disappear, a book popular among novelists. Cheryl: … Continue reading
Deadlines: A Writer’s Friend
by Laurie Alice Eakes Deadline. It’s an ominous word. It has dead in it. Cross that line and one is dead? Scary. Most of us get that quaky, quivery feeling in our tummies when we hear that a deadline is … Continue reading
ACFW Volunteer Spotlight
This week Lynette Eason is in the volunteer spotlight. She is currently the hostess for the ACFW Suspense genre loop. In the past she had been the New Release Coordinator, collecting the information about which books were being release that … Continue reading
Finding the Reader’s Hook
by Cathy Gohlke Some of the best writing advice I’ve ever received came from the editor of a small town newspaper: “Discover what’s going on in world or national news, then find that story on a local level.” The problem … Continue reading
The Influencing Dilemma
by Laurie Alice Eakes Let’s start off with an explanation of “influencing”. This is the practice of putting your name and address on a list to receive a copy of the book either directly from the publisher or from the … Continue reading
The Perfect Ending
by Sue Brower Executive Editor – Zondervan (a division of Harper Collins) My editing world was turned upside down last week. I thought I knew what was best to deliver the “satisfying ending to a great story.” Hopefully, we want … Continue reading
Thinking Time
by Rachelle Gardner Books & Such Literary Agency Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Gen. 1:2, NIV) I’ve always loved that … Continue reading
Book Review: Stealing Jake
Title: Stealing Jake Author: Pam Hillman Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Date: June 2011 ASIN: B0057Z87DK Genre: Historical Romance Reviewed by: Lena Nelson Dooley Stealing Jake, Pam Hillman’s debut novel, reveals an evil situation prevalent in the 1800s. By 1874, child … Continue reading
Book Review: The Chair
Title: The Chair: A Novel Author: James L. Rubart Publisher: B&H Date: September 2011 ISBN: 978-1433671524 Genre: Suspense Reviewed by: Lisa Lickel When antique shopkeeper and furniture restorer Corin Roscoe receives a handcrafted chair from a mysterious elderly woman, his … Continue reading
Contests: Not About Winning
by Christine Lindsay The season of contests is upon us. There’s is nothing better than being nominated for an award, or even better winning an award to boost your chances of publication or selling your books. But what if year … Continue reading
ACFW Volunteer Spotlight
This week I want to turn the volunteer spotlight on Carol McClain. She is responsible for running the Online Courses and is doing a great job. She recruits the instructors, sends out reminders to the main loop about the new … Continue reading
The Outline: Love It or Leave It
By Julie Cantrell When I wrote my first novel, Into the Free, I didn’t write an outline. Instead, the story came to me organically, and I didn’t know what would happen until I typed the words on the page. I … Continue reading