June 2010 Archives

In the massive new Barnes & Noble superstore on Manhattan's Upper East Side, generous display space is devoted to baby blankets, Art Deco flight clocks, stationery and adult games like Risk and Stratego.
Writers can make a free website to promote their books and share news and announcements with their readers.

No matter what type of novel a writer is working on, he can benefit greatly from having a strong online presence. While some publishers provide a website for a novel as part of the contract, some smaller houses or self-published authors do not have this luxury.
The latest popular technique for authors, and freelance writers, to promote their work consists of virtual book signings or blog tours. Rather than taking time to make a physical tour of bookstores, many writers now appear on blogs throughout the world. Many publishers have begun to expect authors to engage in online tours.
Attempting to market your book on the Internet without any guidance is like attempting to become a master chef after one cooking class. However, with a little guidance and a little practice, anyone can get started marketing their book online.
So you've written a book. Now what? What are you going to do with your book? How will you tell people it is available and why they should read it? You may be hoping that your book will become a bestseller overnight without you having to do anything. Unfortunately, that is very rarely the case and in reality you will need to do some work if you want anyone to buy and read your book.
Twice in the last 30 days I have been interviewed about the "state of the industry." The journalist's questions were insightful and thought I would share some of them with you. My answers have been expanded beyond the original ones since I have more space to work with here.
Christian retail is a hot market. Mainstream stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, and even grocery stores throughout the nation are profiting from the sale of Christian books, music, and DVDs.
How should one define victory in self-publishing? Authors have mixed reasons why they decide to self-publish. More often than not, a part of the pie chose this type of publishing because they want the world to read a piece of their mind. There are also others who want to make funds out of their writing, while the rest simply want to get their names published. The reasons for self-publishing are broad and varied. 
Today's Christian Publishing Market
While there has been a steady increase in recent years for Christian-based literature owing to interest in spiritual themes increasing as readers get older, the revenue generated from book sales is typically far lower than sales for nonfiction titles and trade paperback fiction.
I first wrote about self publishing Christian books last year, and I've heard back from a number of aspiring Christian publishers in the interim. I'm not going to got into the technical and business details about how to start a publishing company in this post, I must have returned to that topic at least a dozen times by now. Rather, I want to write about some of the more recent changes in the publishing industry that allow you to test the waters and start a publishing company on a shoe-string. Start small and you'll grow the business as you grow your skills. Try to make a big splash starting out and all you'll grow is your debt.
In my 30 plus years as a Christian writer, editor and publisher I have met many people who wanted Christian writing success. Some came to me with ideas; others came to me with completed manuscripts. But most of them never gained the success they prayed for, and I can tell you why.
Over the last decade, I have watched Christian publishers shift their focus away from being "message minded" to being "dollar minded." Rather than Christian publishers setting the trends, they have chosen to follow those of the secular book publishing market (also known as the ABA or the American Booksellers Association).
We are all surrounded with fiction. It comes in the form of movies, TV shows, literature, or political promises. Even the computer encourages fiction through games and online forums in which young and old alike can take on an imaginary identity and live out their dreams, at least in make believe.
Christian writing as the name suggest is a platform for people to write about Christian ideals and philosophies. Needless to say that this kind of writing focuses to a large extent on the various beliefs of Christianity and further evangelize and spread the word of the Gospel. The main highlight in this kind of writing is the fact that they are highly personalized in nature and deals with more of first person experiences and real life instances.
Book stores are filled with a vast array of Christian books. Great books that help us to grow our faith and stand firm in our walk with God. I commend so many Christian authors who have given of their time and skill to encourage the world spiritually.
Deborah PettisI am the youngest of three girls.  I have one daughter.  My mom who was my closest friend passed January 14, 2006.  I presently live in East St. Louis, Illinois.

I am currently employed as a teacher for the St. Louis Public Schools.

I am a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in East St. Louis, Rev. Dr. Norman E. Owens is my pastor. Pastor Owens has been instrumental in allowing me to develop my God given gift of writing.  I have written and performed several plays in local churches. My first drama, "God Who Needs Him" won first place in a Young Writers Contest.  Recently I created a monthly newsletter entitled, "Blessed to be a Blessing" to share God's goodness with the world.

As I serve God in the avenues he had opened to me as an Inspirational Writer, Motivational Speaker, Teacher and Author my message to the world is, "With God all things are possible."

Before I began writing Living Under The Influence I conducted a field study to find out if reading was a leisure activity for people and if not why not?  An overwhelming majority stated reading was not a leisure activity because they didn't have time to read and books are too expensive. Living Under The Influence is a quick and easy read that is modestly priced. Therefore , you can't afford not to get a copy. 
C. Angela holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance and a Masters Degree in Elementary Education. Currently, she is completing her doctorate in Urban Education Leadership with an emphasis in Education Planning and Administration. She is a writer, speaker, workshop presenter and musician.
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Rev. Edmund Sackey-Brown is the founder and head pastor of Lighthouse International Christian Fellowship, House of Solution - The Empowerment Zone in Mülheim an der Ruhr, a fast growing multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-national church in Germany, with about 26 nations of the world. He is also the founder of the Word of Faith Ministers Fellowship, a Global Ministerial Network with the emphasis on building a growing and a healthy church by transformational discipleship.

Pastor Edmund is a dynamic teacher and preacher of the Word with amazing simplicity and clarity. He has travelled to preach and teach the word of God in the USA, Columbia, Ecuador, Argentina, Guyana, Uruguay, Chile, England, Norway, The Netherlands, South Korea, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and various cities of Germany. His ministry is blessed with signs and wonders following, and with an unusual and unique presence of the Holy Spirit at his meetings. His overwhelming passion is to see the lost saved at all cost coupled with a desire to provide leadership and vision to this generation. Pastor Edmund is married to Pastor Mrs. Theresa Sackey-Brown and they are blessed with one child.

Visit Edmund Sackey-Brown online at: www.houseofsolution.org

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