When kind, generous, service-minded people do charitable work, they often say that they want to “give back.” And I think: Why not simply give? To me, “giving back” means returning something. It means I have something that was loaned or given to me and I’m giving it back. But most of the organizations I support [...]
One of the most common questions prospective clients and aspiring authors ask me is, “How long should my book be?” It’s an important question with a simple answer: It depends. Your book needs to be long enough to accomplish its purpose. For some books, that could be as few as 5,000 words; for others, it [...]
Priceless: A Devotional Cookbook Based on Proverbs 31 Vickie Burns Redemption Press Devotions, reflections, a prayer journal, menu plan and recipes—all carefully crafted and blended to help the reader move closer to becoming a Proverbs 31 woman. Blending a devotional with a cookbook is a charming and challenging idea, and Vickie Burns does it well. [...]
Have you heard that books are the new business card? That’s a bit of an overstatement. In fact, though electronic contact lists have replaced Rolodexes for most of us, traditional business cards are going to be around for a long time. Still, if you have a book, giving away a copy of it (instead of [...]
Focused Backstory: The Key to Writing Deep Character Journeys Carol Alwood Fiction authors: Learn how to construct backstories for your characters and use them throughout your novel to build and complete the character arc. I read this book while I was working on the scene outline for my second novel. I was having trouble, and [...]
Whether writing or speaking, your goal should be to communicate, not to impress. Many years ago, I was at a Mensa gathering. It was a games night and we were playing Password. I usually do well at word games, but not this time. My partner decided he wanted to show off his expansive vocabulary rather [...]
10 Publishing Myths: Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed W. Terry Whalin Morgan James Publishing The best source for information is someone who has “been there, done that”—and when it comes to publishing, W. Terry Whalin has been there, done that, and generously shares what he knows in 10 Publishing Myths. I wish this book [...]
The Choice is Yours: 52 Choices for Happier Lives Barbara Dahlgren Redemption Press The Choice is Yours is a compilation from a weekly blog Barbara Dahlgren has written for the past five years. The book includes 52 life choices, so it works as a one-year weekly study you can do alone or in a [...]
Dreaming of the Majors, Living In the Bush Dick “Lefty” O’Neal Redemption Press I became a baseball fan late in life. My husband loves baseball so when we were dating, I watched games with him because I knew he enjoyed it. And gradually, I began to appreciate the game—it’s intricacies, funny superstitions and wonderful traditions. [...]
Aspiring authors often ask if they should self-publish or try going with a traditional publisher. Of course, it’s a decision they’ll make based on their specific situation and goals, but here are 10 points that may tip the scales in favor of self-publishing. When you self-publish: 1. You have creative control. When you self-publish, [...]
