Seven Tips for Great Travel

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“No way,” I said to the lady across the counter at the airport, “that bag has my make-up. Isn’t that crazy? When I was told my bags took their own trip to a different location, I panicked. Not worried about my clothes, books or material for the presentation, I was fretting for my make-up. Why are we that way? Why do we allow our muscles to stiffen over silly things? We fret about the glitches that really don’t matter that much.

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Help! Where’s my story?!

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  Hello, again! Maureen Pratt here with my monthly CAN blog about the art and craft of writing. This month’s topic is, “Help! Where’s my story?!” or, “What to do when your story goes one way while you go another.” Whether we write fiction or non-fiction, plotting or outlining is often an essential part of the publication process. From the first query to the last book cover blurb, most of us try to envision the beginning, middle and end of a work before we dive in. But, as we authors know, as hard as we might work on those early…

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The industry and retail stores

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I spent a lot of time this month with other writers as well as editors and retailers. I spoke at the International Christian Retail Show in early July and attended two conferences. The trade show continues to decrease in size but the energy and hope abounded. The publishing industry has done more to partner with author organizations.  

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Marketing a debut novel

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Hi everyone. Pamela Meyers here for my monthly column on what I’ve learned about marketing your debut novel. We’re almost to the end of July and with fall just around the corner, I can look forward to Love Will Find a Way, my second book in the On The Road to Love series, coming out November 2012—exactly one year after Thyme for Love made its debut appearance. Over the past several months, I’ve let the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer lull me into a kind of laid-back stance as I’ve spent time researching historical information for a book series….

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Tips from the Pros: Mike Dellosso

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the privilege of interviewing best-selling, multi-published thriller writer Mike Dellosso, who also writes contemporary drama as Michael King. Mike, how did you get into writing? I began writing in 1998 as a way of dealing with a family crisis. My brother-in-law was in a terrible motorcycle accident that nearly claimed his life. In fact, the doctors were sure he wasn’t going to make it. He was in a coma, clinging to life. I was so overwhelmed by grief and just about every emotion imaginable and I had no way to express it…so…

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MAKING POEMS DIFFERENT II

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Hello, I’m Donn Taylor, here again to talk about poetry and ways to achieve the “higher voltage” that distinguishes poetry from most prose. This month and for several more we’ll be talking about ways to make your poems different from many, perhaps most, that editors will see. Most of the new poems I’m seeing are written in the poet’s own voice, with the poet as speaker (persona) of the poem and the poet’s self as the subject. It’s safe to assume that editors will see more of that kind of poem than any other. Last month we illustrated making your…

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ICRS is Over…Now What?

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Hello from sunny Florida! Ava Pennington, CAN Secretary here, trying to get organized after a hectic week. The 2012 International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) is over. Three jam-packed days of everything related to Christian publishing. Hundreds of booths filled with books, gift items, cards, church supplies, home decor, toys—even a “Jesus Toast Toaster,” (the less said about that one, the better!) But why did I go? I didn’t carve three days out of my schedule—four, if you count the AWSA Banquet—to window-shop  in a mega-Christian version of Walmart.

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Tips from the Pros: Marcia Gruver

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the privilege of interviewing Marcia Gruver, a multi-published author of historical fiction set in “The Old South.” Her latest novel, Hunter’s Prize, was published this month by Barbour. Marcia, how did you get into writing? I taught children’s church for many years. Unhappy with our curriculum, I began to experiment with writing my own. This exercise in creativity became my proving ground. After my last little chicken flew away to college, I nestled into my empty nest to whip out the “Great American Novel.” With the guidance of the Holy Spirit,…

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