A Lesson in Book Contract Negotiations

In the following guest post, Laurie A. Gray shares the lessons she learned negotiating her first book contract. Because writers on their way to publication often forget or ignore the business side of writing, it is helpful when someone like Laurie can share her experience:

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

Why I Write…

“Words are powerful. They help us process both the joys and the struggles of life. That’s why I write.

Words reflect who we are: parents, teachers, sons, daughters, children of the King. Words revive us when the hard bits of life, the struggles and the sorrows, tempt us to despair. Words allow us to rejoice and to share the lessons we learn in every circumstance, even the hard ones.”

~ Jolene Philo
www.jolenephilo.com

Stay tuned for an upcoming glimpse into Jolene’s first book, A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically or Chronically Ill Children, scheduled for release in September 2009 by Discovery House Publishers.

Question: Why do you write? Share your thoughts below.

Related Reading:

1. The Dusty Drawer: A Call to Write

2. Communicating the Vision: An Interview with Kathi Macias

3. From ‘Samaritan Woman’ to ‘Anna’: An Interview with Jeanne Sant

Lessons from the Littlest: Interview with Cherise Bopape

I can’t count the times the children in my life — my daughter, niece, or nephew — have amazed me over the years with their profound, childish candor. “I need to write that down,” I said many times.  But I rarely did until years later.  So when I learned that Cherise Bopape not only saves all the precious gems from the mouths of her children, but has written an entire devotional inspired by them, I knew I had to interview her and share her with all of you. Cherise is one amazing lady.  She has mastered the art of taking her life experiences — both painful and joyful — to bless others and glorify God.

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

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