Tips from the Pros: Lynda T. Young

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Greetings from sunny–and short–springtime in central Florida! Marti Pieper here, lifting my head from my current manuscript long enough to share an insightful interview with author Lynda T. Young. Lynda not only has an interesting journey to publication but some unusual elements to her marketing strategy as well. Welcome, Lynda! Let's forge ahead with the interview.  How did you get into writing? How many books do you have published? What are a few of your latest titles? I co-founded a ministry, Kindred Spirits International, in 1999 and we sent out a newsletter. My articles mainly dealt with children’s hospitals and…

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Tips from the Pros: Stacy Hawkins Adams

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California. Today I have the privilege of interviewing multi-published women’s fiction author and speaker, Stacy Hawkins Adams. Stacy, how did you get into writing? I’m one of those "born writers" – one who started writing short stories and poems soon after I learned to read and write. Throughout my childhood, relatives, friends, and teachers encouraged me as a writer, and I always dreamed of penning books. My love of writing led me into a journalism career, where I served as a newspaper reporter and columnist for thirteen years. I loved that career, but my dream…

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Tips from the Pros: Roseanna M. White

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the privilege of interviewing historical fiction author Roseanna White. I’ve enjoyed getting to know her on line, and love her skill with words and her sense of humor. Roseanna, how did you get into writing? I’ve been writing since I learned how to put pencil to paper in primary school. It was a day when I was out sick with an ear infection that I realized I could entertain myself by scratching a story about a princess with a magical hair bow on some scrap paper–and there’s been no stopping me…

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Tips from the Pros: Cecelia Dowdy

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California. As Valentine’s Day approaches, it’s especially fun to feature Christian romance author Cecelia Dowdy! Cecelia has a unique background for a writer – with a degree in finance, she worked as an accountant for a travel agency and was able to travel the world. Nothing stokes story ideas like travel! Cecelia, how did you get into writing? About fifteen years ago, I didn’t have a book to read during my lunch break, so I started writing. I’ve been writing ever since. How many books do you have published? Five. Three of my titles (John’s…

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Tips from the Pros: Stephanie Reed

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin! Today I have the honor of interviewing historical fiction author Stephanie Reed – on her 32nd wedding anniversary! Congratulations on achieving such a wonderful milestone. Stephanie, how did you get into writing? How many books do you have published? Writing is what I always wanted to do. I have two books published by Kregel, Across the Wide River, and the sequel, The Light Across the River. The next book from Kregel will be The Bargain, with a sequel to follow. How did you get your first book contract? Kregel still accepted unsolicited manuscripts in those days,…

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Tips from the Pros: Dianne Neal Matthews

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin on a drizzly day in northern California. As the year draws to a close, we begin to plan for the coming year. What a wonderful time to feature Dianne Neal Matthews, the author of four daily devotionals! Her newest offering, Designed for Devotion: A 365-Day Journey from Genesis to Revelation, just released, and it looks like a fabulous way to tour the Bible in 2013. Dianne, how did you get into writing? I always fantasized about being a writer but didn’t do anything about it. Then in my mid-forties, I began writing occasional articles for my church’s…

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Tips from the Pros: Judy Gann

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California. Oh, what a treat I have for you today! Judy Gann is one of my dearest writer friends. I’ve been blessed by her gentle spirit and kind encouragement, and I’ve benefitted from her phenomenal knowledge as both a writer and an experienced librarian. I know you’ll be blessed too. Judy, how did you get into writing? I started scribbling little stories in second grade. My first published piece was a character sketch of a six-year-old, published in a high school literary journal. Then life became busy with college, teaching, and then library work. Several…

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Tips from the Pros: Tracy Higley

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An end-of October hello from Marti Pieper in beautiful Mount Dora, Florida, where the advent of fall means temperatures have dipped to a chilly fifty-five degrees (yeah, I know). Today, I have the privilege of sharing with you the marketing and publicity expertise of multi-published author Tracy Higley. I know you'll enjoy her insights as much as I have.  Tracy, how did you get into writing?   I've been writing since I was a little girl–short stories, newspaper articles, poems, plays, and fiction. I got serious about publishing about thirteen years ago and decided to write a novel and try to…

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Tips from the Pros: Becky Melby

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin, recently returned from a literary agency retreat in Monterey – where I got to hang out with Becky Melby! Becky’s warm humor and gentle spirit shine as well in person as they do in her delightful stories. Becky, how did you get into writing? I started writing when I was eight, but my big break didn’t come until fifth grade when my teacher tacked my bunny poem on the hall bulletin board. I knew right then what I wanted to be when I grew up. Still waiting to grow up, but I still know what I…

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Tips from the Pros: Tiffany Amber Stockton

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin, currently in gorgeous Monterey for a retreat! But I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to interview Tiffany Amber Stockton. Tiff is my website designer (Eagle Designs), a multi-talented and creative woman who talked me through a gazillion of my techno-idiot moments. She and her husband, Stuart Stockton – also an author – put together a fabulous interactive map on my website which is getting lots of raves. But Tiff is more than a techno-whiz – she’s a multi-published author of historical romances, with two new releases this month! Tiff, how did you get into writing? I…

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