Book Beginnings: A Different Dream for My Child

A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically or Chronically Ill Children is Jolene Philo’s first book.  In this “Book Beginnings” preview, Jolene shares a taste of what promises to be an inspirational and perspective-changing look at this jouney.

When my editor emailed the final cover design for my book, A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically or Chronically Ill Children. I opened it, and chills ran down my spine.

The picture of two hands, those of a parent and child, caused the first chill. For months, a similar image had flashed into my mind whenever I tried to picture the book’s cover. The second chill came when I realized the book title was intact. Because of its length, I expected it to be changed. But the designer arranged the title and subtitle so it flows beautifully.

The tiny teddy bear in the top, right corner of the cover made me gasp and brought on the third chill. The little bear was a dead ringer for the one our son received from a neighbor when, at almost three weeks old, he was released from neo-natal intensive care. The little brown bear had a red ribbon around its neck and music box key poking from its back. When our fragile baby, still recovering from surgery, lay in his infant carrier, we would wind the key and perch the bear in front of Allen. Read more

Golden Rule Marketing for Writers

Editor’s Note: This is a guest article by Emily Akin. Read on and find out how you can enter to win a copy of Emily’s e-book, A Business Approach to Marketing Your Work .

The Golden Rule

 ”So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12 (TNIV).

Would you like to sell more of your writing? To get your work published, you must give your customers, the editors, what they need. Editors know what their readers (customers) want, and they only accept work that addresses their readers’ needs. Writers and editors apply the Golden Rule every day, not pursuing their own interests but the interests of their readers.  Read more

Imitating Ezra: Spiritually Preparing Myself to Serve Others

Editor’s Note: This is a guest article by Christian author and speaker, Kathy Howard, who challenges us with a timely message for every aspiring or seasoned author.

One of my heroes is a writer named Ezra, who lived about 450 years before the birth of Christ. The Bible describes this priest and scribe as a man who “had devoted himself to the study and observance of the law of the LORD and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel” (Ezra 7:10, NIV). Ezra passionately pursued God through the study and obedience of His Word. As he learned from God, Ezra then taught others and helped them apply God’s Word to their lives.

God has led me along a similar path. He gave me an insatiable desire to study His Word. As I study, His Word disciplines and refines me. God is faithfully shaping me into the woman He wants me to be. Meanwhile, He regularly brings teaching opportunities my way to share what He has taught me. Writing Bible studies allows me to teach the truth of God’s Word to a much larger classroom.

Why I Write

I usually write to meet specific needs in the church. For instance, a number of years ago, God began to bring adults to our church that had never studied the Bible before, but wanted to. I immediately found some material and began a short-term class. I soon realized that this material was insufficient to meet their needs. After teaching several of these classes, I began to write a curriculum specifically geared to this unique market. Read more

Author Beginnings: When God Plants a Dream

Editor’s Note: This is a guest article by award-winning Christian author and speaker, Dianne Neal Matthews.  Her passion for the dream God has planted in her heart and her obedience to pursue that dream will inspire you to continue your Servant Writer journey.

Ever since I picked up my first chunky pencil, I have adored the simple act of writing. My first-grade teacher told my parents that one day I would be an author. In fourth grade, the teacher saved time at the end of the day for a “reading” whenever someone told her that I had written a story. But as I moved toward my teen years, my self-confidence in all areas dissolved and I limited my writing efforts to school assignments.

Daydreams

Even though I minored in English in college, the idea of taking a creative writing course terrified me. What if I couldn’t come up with ideas to write about? How could I risk having work critiqued in class? I probably didn’t have any real talent anyway. So my creative writing was done in my head. It was safer that way. And I found pleasure in fantasizing about being a writer — sort of like pulling out a much-loved blanket when I needed comfort. As long as it remained just a dream, nothing could take it away from me. Read more

The Dusty Drawer: A Call to Write

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Teresa Cook, a Servant Writer and speaker who ministers to parents and youth through Porn Proof Your Child.

My husband and I stared at our eighteen-year-old son. What did he say? Addicted to what? Then the words spilled out again.

 ”I’m addicted to pornography.” Brandon raised his head to look at us, his eyes brimming with tears. “I sat down to watch TV one day when I was home alone and accidentally entered the wrong number on the remote. A porn channel came on.”

Both mesmerized and shocked by what he saw that day, Brandon promised himself he would never watch the programs again. Yet he felt drawn back as if by a magnet. He admitted he’d been watching the partially scrambled cable station at every opportunity for more than a year, sometimes sneaking from his room in the middle of the night.

 ”I’ve tried over and over to stop, but I can’t.” Brandon began to sob. “I need help!” Read more

Book Beginnings from a “Confident” Adventurer

Editor’s Note: aspiring writers often want to know how a book begins in the mind of an author, how the idea develops, and how the book finally makes it to the reader. Pam Farrel, International speaker, relationship specialist, and author of over 28 books, contributes this article to answer these questions for aspiring authors and to extend an invitation to the upcoming launch of her latest book, Woman of Confidence: Step into God’s Adventure for Your Life. Keep reading and find out how you can enter for a chance to win a San Diego adventure.

The Inspiration for the Book

When a book begins in my heart, it is usually a result of a need I see when I am out living in the real world, ministering on the front lines or in the trenches of a counseling session or conference setting. For example, Woman of Confidence: Step into God’s Adventure for Your Life, my newest book, came after a series of events: Read more